National News

2 New Jersey municipal water systems targeted in cyberattacks

A water tower is illuminated at dusk, Sept. 17, 2016, in Seaside Park, New Jersey. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- Two municipal water systems in New Jersey were targeted in cyberattacks in the last week, widely thought to be the work of Iran, the state said Wednesday.

The affected utilities, which were not named, were temporarily blinded when automated systems went down. Both utilities shifted to manual operations and the state said there was no disruption to service and both systems have been "secured with strengthened access controls."

"Our New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) responded to two cyber incidents affecting New Jersey municipal water systems this past week. The NJCCIC is working directly with the affected utilities alongside our federal partners at the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency," the state said Wednesday.

"The investigations found that the incidents involved vulnerable internet-exposed control systems, which temporarily limited operators' ability to monitor or manage them remotely. In both cases, staff shifted quickly to manual operations, and there was no disruption to service. Customers had uninterrupted access to safe drinking water throughout," the state said.

Sources told ABC News that Iran remains the prime suspect, perhaps showing how it could retaliate as President Donald Trump threatens to escalate the war. 

Officials are also assessing whether this could be the work of a different state actor mimicking Iran's tactics in a possible attempt to influence what the U.S. does next.

In Georgia, the Clayton County Water Authority briefly issued a boil-water advisory when it was targeted by hackers. Columbus Water Works said it also detected an intrusion, but drinking water was unaffected.

The recent hacks, affecting water and wastewater utilities in at least a dozen states, exploited a vulnerability in widely used utility software, sources told ABC News.

A fix has been issued, but utilities across the country that run the same software are racing to see if they were also hacked.

So far, it appears nobody has become sick, and there have been no widespread disruptions to water supplies. However, officials are still working to understand the scope of the hack and what could have happened to systems Americans depend on every day.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Former Olympian David Hearn's attorneys want Reflecting Pool vandalism case permanently dismissed

(WASHINGTON) -- Attorneys for David Hearn, who was alleged to have vandalized the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, filed a motion in D.C. Superior Court, citing "exceptional facts and circumstances" to have the indictment against him dismissed with prejudice.  

The Justice Department moved last week to dismiss the criminal case against Hearn, a former Olympian, acknowledging the damage to the pool "was the result of flawed installation by the contractor."

The filing by Hearn's attorneys follows U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's motion on Friday seeking to dismiss the case without prejudice, which could still leave Mr. Hearn exposed to a future indictment. 

If the motion filed by Hearn's attorneys is granted, it would block the government from trying to charge him again for the same alleged crime in the future.   

"Here, amid extraordinary political pressure and public pronouncements from President Trump demanding action, and in apparent disregard for their special duties as prosecutors, USAO-DC rushed to obtain a public felony indictment," the filing states, using an acronym for the United States Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia.

"Defying both decency and common sense, the government proceeded to indict Mr. Hearn before it had obtained or evaluated the information necessary to establish a good-faith basis for the charge," the filing continued. 

"The Court should not leave the defendant subject to the possibility of renewed prosecution," the filing states.

Hearn pleaded not guilty to a felony destruction of property charge last month after Pirro's office accused him of allegedly "forcefully and violently" ripping up parts of the pool floor.

Citing President Donald Trump's comments on the matter in recent days, the attorneys representing Hearns added, "That is particularly true when the President of the United States has already voiced his vigorous disagreement with USAO-DC’s dismissal of the case against Mr. Hearn -- saying that the U.S. Attorney “choked,” “folded like an umbrella,” and “made a mistake,” and doubling down on the false claim that the damage was caused by vandalism -- and has previously not hesitated to insinuate himself into cases that historically have been the exclusive province of the DOJ."

Should the court deny the motion to dismiss the indictment with prejudice, Hearn's attorneys asked the court to disclose grand jury materials or to conduct a review in chambers of those materials before granting the government's motion to dismiss the case without prejudice. 

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Released Nancy Guthrie ransom notes generated 'slight increase' in tips: Sheriff's department

Savannah Guthrie and mother Nancy Guthrie, June 15, 2023. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- The recent release of two credible ransom notes sent to Nancy Guthrie's family in the days after her abduction generated a "slight increase" in tips, but none that have cracked the case, authorities told ABC News.

The 84-year-old mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie was kidnapped from her Tucson, Arizona, home in the early hours of Feb. 1 and remains missing.

On Friday, the Pima County Sheriff's Department released details from two ransom notes received by Tucson media in the days after the abduction.

The first note, sent on Feb. 2 to Savannah Guthrie, said, "We have your mother Nancy. She is safe but scared." The note asked for millions of dollars in Bitcoin and said "she will be killed" if payment was not received.

The note included descriptions of a smartwatch near her bed and a damaged floodlight in the home's backyard.

The second note, sent on Feb. 6 to the Guthrie family, said Nancy Guthrie died and "is buried in nature now," according to the sheriff's department.

"We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition," the note stated. "We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken."

The note included an apology and said to the family, "Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace."

In response to an inquiry from ABC News, the sheriff's department said Tuesday that "investigators have seen a slight increase in tips since the two ransom notes were released," adding that "all tips have been followed up on."

Savannah Guthrie again pleaded for help in an Instagram post Saturday, writing, "We need someone to come forward."

"Someone knows something. Someone suspects something," the journalist said. "Someone recognizes the writing in the ransom demand notes. Someone has noticed something different, strange, troubling or just unusual -- perhaps with someone they deeply love. Perhaps they are afraid to come forward."

"We are real people, facing real grief," she said. "We will never stop looking for answers."

Anyone with information is urged to call 911, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520-351-4900.

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Cause determined in the deadly 2025 Eaton Fire in Southern California: Officials

People hold photos of those who perished in the Eaton Fire during a memorial service, July 7, 2025, honoring the 19 lives lost in Altadena, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- More than 18 months after it ignited and became one of the most destructive wildfires in U.S. history, authorities announced the cause of the 2025 Eaton Fire in Southern California.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) on Tuesday released a report blaming the Eaton Fire on electrical arcing events that took place on an out-of-service Southern California Edison (SCE) tower.

The Eaton Fire, which started on Jan. 7, 2025, ravaged the community of Altadena near Los Angeles, killing 19 people and destroying more than 9,400 homes and businesses, authorities said.

"I recognize that no report or investigation into the Eaton Fire can ease the deep pain and tragedy our residents have endured," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said in a statement. "While the cause has been determined, our focus remains on assisting our residents to rebuild their homes and livelihoods, and ensuring lessons learned drive meaningful and impactful change in memory of the 19 lives lost."

SCE is the primary electric utility company for much of the Southern California, serving 15 million people.

Lawyers representing plaintiffs in numerous lawsuits against SCE released a joint statement, saying the report leaves the company "no place to hide," and called it "an important step toward accountability."

Besides the thousands of homes lost in the Eaton Fire, more than 1,000 other homes were damaged, according to the plaintiffs' lawyers.

The Eaton Fire caused an estimated $8 billion to $10 billion in damage, according to a 2025 report by Verisk, a global data analytics company serving the insurance sector.

"It's time for Edison to stop fighting the victims it harmed and provide every Eaton Fire survivor with the full compensation they deserve," the plaintiffs' lawyers said.

The report by LACFD and Cal Fire found that the origin of the Eaton Fire was a hillside transmission tower above Eaton Canyon Wash, and sparks from the arching electrical lines set dry vegetation beneath the tower on fire. Gusting winds in the area rapidly spread the blaze into residential areas of Altadena, destroying block after block of homes and prompting thousands of evacuations.

It took about a month for firefighters to fully extinguish the Eaton conflagration, which burned about 22 square miles.

The Eaton Fire occurred the same week as the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people and wiped out more than 6,800 homes in nearby Pacific Palisades and Malibu. The cause of the Palisades Fire was determined to be arson, and a 29-year-old Florida man was arrested in October of 2025 on charges of setting the fire, officials said.

Together, the Eaton and Palisades fires caused an estimated $28 billion in damage, according to Verisk.

David Eisenhauer, an SCE spokesperson, told ABC News on Tuesday afternoon that the utility giant is reviewing the report from the LA County Fire Department and Cal Fire.

"We have taken our potential role in the start of this fire seriously from the beginning," Eisenhauer said. "As we’ve previously said, SCE believes that it is likely that its equipment was associated with the ignition of the Eaton Fire."

Eisenhauer added, "Our hearts are with the Altadena community, and we continue to support them as they recover and rebuild through our Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program."

ABC News reported on Jan. 13, 2025, as the Eaton and Palisades fires were still burning, that one possible theory for the cause of the Eaton blaze involved transmission lines or electric facilities.

At the time, witnesses shared with ABC News Ring camera and cellphone videos that appeared to show what they believe to be the start of the Eaton Fire at the base of a transmission tower in the Eaton Canyon area.

In their report, fire investigators said that pursuant to the California Public Utilities Code, "SCE is to maintain and operate its electrical lines and equipment in a manner that would minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfire posed by them."

SCE has claimed in lawsuits filed earlier this year that Los Angeles County emergency authorities failed to send timely evacuation warnings to residents in east and west Altadena. Most of the people who died in the fire lived in west Altadena.

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Small Texas law firm without immigration expertise set to receive $150M contract to represent unaccompanied migrant children

A logo is displayed on the doors to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) headquarters at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building on May 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- The Trump administration is set to award a multimillion-dollar contract to a small Texas law firm without immigration expertise to provide legal representation for thousands of unaccompanied migrant children in government custody during immigration proceedings.

In a notice published in the Federal Register, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced its intent to award the $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a law firm headquartered in Houston, Texas.

The notice states the contract would "provide legal orientation, legal consultation, and attorney-of-record representation services for eligible unaccompanied alien children" during immigration proceedings and hearings before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services while the children remain in government custody.

The proposed award comes after legal service providers across the country have said that the administration has withheld $65 million in overdue fees from the previous contract, alleging it is an attempt to force them to turn over confidential information about the migrant children they represent.

Burke Law Group has 26 employees across eight offices, according to its website. None of the firm's attorneys list immigration law as a practice area. Instead, their practices include administrative law, white-collar defense, commercial litigation, securities litigation and other areas.

ABC News reached out to the law firm for comment and did not immediately get a response.

In December 2023, the Acacia Center for Justice, an immigrant advocacy group, became the prime contract holder with HHS for the Unaccompanied Children Program, overseeing subcontracts with more than 100 service providers that provide legal representation to more than 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children.

A spokesperson with HHS previously told ABC News that its sub-agency, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), "offered Acacia the opportunity" to receive a new federal contract "based on requirements that include they provide the data on who they represent and that they bill [HHS] when they submit applications for immigration relief." The HHS spokesperson said Acacia refused.

Legal services providers including Acacia have said that ORR was demanding "client-level data that is confidential and legally privileged."

During the Trump administration, Acacia and many of its subcontracted groups have alleged that unaccompanied children and their sponsors are among those being targeted under the administration's immigration crackdown.

In June, DHS agents visited the offices of several Washington-area nonprofit organizations that provide legal services to unaccompanied migrant children. Last year, ABC News reported that the administration was directing immigration agents to track down unaccompanied migrant children in the United States.

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Armed man arrested at Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles County: Authorities

A sign is posted in front of the Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles on June 16, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

(LOS ANGELES) - A man allegedly armed with a pistol was arrested after he was seen taking photos and videos of the Trump National Golf Club grounds in Los Angeles County over the weekend, authorities announced on Tuesday.

Following his arrest, detectives found more firearms and "multiple notebooks containing concerning statements" at the suspect's residence, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The suspect was identified as 38-year-old Jeanine John Taele of Downey, California. Taele is being held on $250,000 bond and is expected to appear in court on Aug. 26.

Taele is charged in a federal criminal complaint with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, a felony carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.

"While we are still investigating the motives of this individual, we are thankful he was apprehended before the President's visit," Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney, said in a statement. "Federal and local law enforcement stepped in early and prevented what could have been a dangerous situation from occurring. This investigation remains ongoing."

The golf club incident occurred on Sunday, the sheriff's department said, a day before it was announced that President Donald Trump is set to visit the Rancho Palos Verdes property this week for a Republican National Committee dinner.

Deputies responded to the golf course Sunday afternoon after plainclothes federal agents reported a "suspicious individual" who was seen walking on the grounds, taking photos and videos and "appearing to monitor security-planning activities," the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a release on Tuesday.

Deputies detained the suspect, later identified as Taele, and located his vehicle in the golf club's parking lot, the sheriff's department said.

Deputies recovered a 16-round magazine containing hollow-point ammunition from his pants pocket, as well as a loaded pistol with a round chambered and an additional loaded magazine containing hollow-point ammunition from his vehicle, authorities said.

Taele was arrested for carrying a concealed firearm and possession of armor-piercing/prohibited ammunition, the sheriff's department said.

Detectives executed a search warrant at Taele's residence Monday afternoon due to the "potential security implications surrounding the incident" and recovered more firearms and ammunition, as well as "multiple notebooks containing concerning statements," body armor and two radio signal devices, the sheriff's department said. It did not elaborate on what was allegedly found in the notebooks.

Taele remains in custody, authorities said. Investigators presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office earlier Tuesday for filing consideration.

The incident remains under investigation in coordination with the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force and the United States Secret Service, the sheriff's department said. Authorities have "identified no credible threat to our communities," it said.

Trump is planning to attend an RNC dinner at his Rancho Palos Verdes golf club Tuesday evening, where he is set to deliver an economics-focused speech, according to the White House.

Last year, a jury found a man guilty of trying to assassinate Trump at his Florida golf course. Prosecutors said Ryan Routh hid in the bushes of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach and pointed a military-grade SKS rifle towards Trump and a Secret Service agent. Routh was sentenced earlier this year to life in prison.

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Senate Judiciary Committee advances Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general

Sen. John Cornyn speaks as members of the Senate Judiciary Committee gather to vote on the nomination of Todd Blanche to be U.S. Attorney General on Capitol Hill, Aug. 4, 2026, in Washington. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

(WASHINGTON) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday voted to advance acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's nomination to permanently lead the Department of Justice.

Blanche advanced in a 12-10 party line vote. All Republicans voted in favor of him, while all Democrats voted against. 

Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis ultimately supported Blanche after securing an agreement that clarified the scope of President Donald Trump's IRS immunity deal and formally rescinded the administration's so-called $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund."

Despite the fact that the agreement reached has no language preventing the resurrection of the controversial fund under a different name or method, Cornyn said the DOJ has been "consistent" about their assertions that the fund is dead. 

"And of course, I expect them to live up to that in any future litigation," Cornyn said in remarks on the Senate panel ahead of the vote.

Tillis also said the agreement reached with Blanche satisfies his concerns. 

"I believe that we have addressed the concerns that I have. The first one I called the 'payout pot for punks.' I've never liked this 1776 fund. It made no sense to me, and I thought it was an insult to the police officers and the people that defended us on January the 6th. It's done. It's been rescinded, and I am satisfied," Tillis said.

Tillis said that both sides on the aisle "have a problem" when it comes to malicious prosecution. He said he hopes to see a "bending of the curve of this absurdity" when Blanche is confirmed.

Ahead of the vote, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley thanked Cornyn and Tillis for their work securing the agreement. He said many senators shared their concerns.

"Formally rescinding the fund and clarifying the scope of release of claims has put this issue to bed once and for all," Grassley said.

Democratic Sen. Chris Coons took a different view on the so-called "Anti-Weaponization Fund" than his Republican colleagues, arguing that Blanche's willingness to go along with its creation in the first place should disqualify him from the attorney general job. 

"In my view, we never should have gotten to this place. As acting attorney general, when asked by the president to do something plainly unethical and corrupt, Mr. Blanche should have simply said no. He did not do that, and I pressed him in his confirmation hearing whether he even tried to talk President Trump out of this widely rejected plan, and he refused to answer," Coons said.

During the hearing, Blanche responded to Coons' questions, saying he was not simply a "yes-man" in giving Trump counsel. 

"I will say that President Trump trusts me to give him counsel. Counsel does not mean I'm a 'yes-man.' And that's true in my case, like it should be in any attorneys general case," Blanche said during his confirmation hearing.

Several Democrats on the panel raised a number of concerns about Blanche.

"Today I think is a sad and embarrassing day for this committee, as it looks like, on a party line vote, we are going to advance out of this committee probably the most discreditable person ever to seek the office of attorney general of the United States," Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said.

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker, in a lengthy speech, warned that the country was in "dangerous waters" with Blanche.

"This man is not our lawyer. He is not America's lawyer. He is about to become Trump's sword against his adversaries and shield against any scrutiny," Booker said.

What's next for Blanche's nomination? 

Blanche's nomination is now ready for consideration on the Senate floor.

Unless there is an agreement to speed things along, the soonest the Senate can take a procedural vote on Blanche's nomination is Friday. That would set up a final confirmation vote sometime on Saturday.

Though Tillis and Cornyn were the most closely watched Republican votes on the Senate Judiciary Committee, there remains other GOP senators who have raised concerns about Blanche.

With Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell still absent from Congress, Blanche will ultimately only be able to lose the support of two Republicans when his nomination comes up for a vote on the Senate floor.

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ICE arrests hit record high in July as enforcement quietly ramps up

ICE agents arrive to clear protesters from a gate outside the Delaney Hall detention facility on June 11, 2026, in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andres Kudacki/Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 51,000 individuals in July, according to sources familiar with the data.

The arrests are the largest in a single month in DHS history, according to data.  

It comes as ICE is ramping up arrests at airports -- with ICE arresting over 30 people at airports in July, agency data shows.

Those being detained in some cases do not have criminal records and have valid work authorization or parole documents, according to one immigration attorney that spoke with ABC News.

The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to ABC News' request for comment about the numbers.

In June, DHS announced that the total number of deportations so far this fiscal year is 356,389, according to the numbers posted by ICE.

ICE has quietly been increasing their operations around the country, according to a law enforcement source.

Some allies of President Donald Trump say the numbers should be released in full and the enforcement doesn't go far enough.

"The point is the numbers remain wildly disproportionately low to the scale of illegals let in by Biden and the promise of mass deportation," Mike Howell, the president of the Trump-aligned Oversight Project, told ABC News. "The numbers will stay low until worksite enforcement is the central pillar of the strategy. I'm very worried about the amnesty lobby continuing to use inflated deportation statistics to push for a grand compromise and sell out.  That's why I'm suing DHS for real data and will keep doing it until I don't have to."

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Some Haitian immigrants in Ohio told to report to ICE and given ankle monitors

Demonstrators chant and hold signs outside U.S. Supreme Court on April 29, 2026, in Washington, DC. The court heard arguments challenging DHS's termination of Temporary Protected Status for asylum seekers. (Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- Hundreds of Haitian immigrants in Ohio who had Temporary Protected Status have been summoned by the Department of Homeland Security for in-person "check-ins" with the agency, where some have been fitted with ankle monitors, immigration advocates tell ABC News.

The move from the government comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the Trump administration could end TPS for about 350,000 Haitians, as part of the administration's ongoing immigration crackdown.

Steve Foster, the immigration policy coordinator for the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, said "Haitians with TPS, regardless of whether they have a pending asylum claim, have gotten a 'DHS Call-In Letter' to appear at ICE offices in person."

Some have been given ankle monitors and future court dates, Foster said.

Viles Dorsainvil, executive director of a Haitian support group in Springfield, Ohio, confirmed the government's effort to call Haitians in Ohio with TPS into ICE offices and fit some of them with ankle monitors.

"We are just helping these folks to go to this appointment, and when they get there, they interview them and eventually put [an] ankle monitor on them," Dorsainvil said.

TPS status, established by the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, provides work authorization and protection from deportation if a foreign country is deemed by the government to be unsafe because of armed conflict, natural disaster, or "extraordinary and temporary conditions."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said, "Temporary Protected Status is exactly that -- temporary. For too long, TPS has been allowed to function as a de facto amnesty program despite Congress never intending it to be permanent."

"What we would say now is it's closing time, which means you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here," the statement said.

Dorsainvil said that some TPS holders have lost their work permits, while others who have pending asylum cases still have valid work authorization.

"There is so much anxiety, and they are fearful, and they are uncertain when it comes to what they should do next," he said.

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1st deaths in cyclosporiasis outbreak reported in Michigan as cases surpass 11,000

Microscopic view of the Cyclospora cayetanensis oocyst, foodborne parasite taken during laboratory research. (Quantic69/Getty Images)

(WASHINGTON) The first two deaths of the cyclosporiasis outbreak have been reported in Michigan, the state's health department announced Monday.

Both people had "significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration," the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) added. No additional information will be provided, according to the department.

The deaths come as cases in the state have surpassed 11,000 for a total of 11,234, including 193 hospitalizations, MDHHS data shows.

MDHHS added that cyclosporiasis is typically not a life-threatening illness and that deaths are uncommon in the U.S.

Federal health officials have so far linked cases in Michigan and eight other states to shredded iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell restaurants. 

Taylor Farms, the supplier of the lettuce, issued a voluntary recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. Consumers are being advised to throw out or return any iceberg lettuce.

Taco Bell said last month that it is no longer using lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico at any of its restaurants. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wrote on its website that it "is aware of two cyclosporiasis-related deaths in people with underlying health conditions from Michigan as part of this outbreak. CDC will update its website to include laboratory confirmed cases, hospitalizations and deaths."

The CDC has previously said it is investigating other outbreaks and illnesses of cyclosporiasis nationally that are unrelated to the nine-state outbreak.

Since May 1, cases of cyclosporiasis have topped 18,000 in 45 states, according to data updated by the CDC on Wednesday.

There are at least 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, including 423 hospitalizations, the data shows.

The agency is also aware of at least 11,500 additional cases that have not yet been laboratory confirmed or require further investigation and analysis.

The CDC said it can take up to six weeks to determine if a sick person should be counted in the agency's tally, meaning nationally reported cases may be lower than state totals.

Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published data last week showing a "sharp rise" in cyclosporiasis infections among travelers returning from Mexico.

Between April 30 and July 15, 67 cases have been reported among returning travelers in England, Wales and Scotland. Comparatively, an annual average of 93 cases has been recorded between 2022 and 2025.

UKHSA said it is advising all travelers to take precautions when traveling abroad including "maintaining good food and water hygiene to reduce their risk of infection."

Cyclospora, the parasite that causes infection, usually spreads through food or water contaminated with feces, according to the CDC.

Foodborne outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of imported fresh produce, such as raspberries, basil, snow peas, mesclun lettuce and cilantro, the CDC says.

The most common symptom of cyclosporiasis is watery diarrhea "with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements," according to the CDC. Other symptoms nay include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or bloating.

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Trump blames Minnesota governor, not Iran, for cyberattacks on the state's water systems

U.S. President Donald Trump at a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, the presidential retreat, on July 31, 2026 in Camp David, Maryland. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump on Friday blamed Minnesota's Democratic governor for cyberattacks on the state's water systems even though U.S. officials previously told ABC News authorities are investigating whether Iran or hackers associated with the country could be behind them.

"We heard in Minnesota there was a cyberattack and they blame it on Iran. I don't think so. I think, I blame it on Minnesota because they're grossly incompetent," Trump said a Cabinet meeting at Camp David.

Walz pushed back against Trump's comments in statements on social media Friday.

"Trump knows exactly who is responsible for this attack, and knows that other states were hit too. This is what modern warfare looks like, and it further illustrates there’s no plan to win a war with Iran," Walz wrote in a social media post.

The governor also noted federal cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) weakened cybersecurity.

"DOGE took an axe to CISA and left the U.S. exposed to cyber attacks. Thankfully, our experts in Minnesota were able to identify the vulnerability quickly and work with local communities to stop it," Walz wrote.

More than 30 water systems in Minnesota were targeted in a cyberattack Sunday and Monday, according to Minnesota IT Services (MNIT).

MNIT said the attackers targeted systems to remotely monitor and control equipment, including the programmable logic controllers (PLCs), which are used for remote access.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said in an alert Thursday that cyber threat actors are targeting PLCs and modifying passwords to "to lock out operators" from U.S. water systems.

MNIT said there are no active requests from Minnesota localities for residents to change their water use and that it is working with federal investigators in the probe. The agency said it has not determined who was responsible.

Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar said in a statement Friday that she spoke with U.S. National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross about the attacks and said the director "confirmed that at this point there are no effects on services."

"Director Cairncross and I discussed updated technology, recognizing that resources are an issue for so many communities, not just in Minnesota but across the country," the senator wrote.

Klobuchar added that the FBI and Environmental Protection Agency have issued warnings to water utilities across the country about potential cyberattacks. 

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Former deputy convicted of murdering Sonya Massey denied early release

Donna Massey, the mother of shooting victim Sonya Massey, is comforted during a press conference at New Mount Pilgrim Church on July 30, 2024, in Chicago. Sonya Massey was shot in the head and killed in her home by Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean Grayson after she called police to report a possible prowler. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

(WASHINGTON) -- Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff's deputy who was convicted of second-degree murder in the fatal 2024 shooting of Sonya Massey, was on Friday unanimously denied early release by a prisoner review board.

"I am writing to confirm that the Board voted 3-0 to deny Sean Grayson's medical release application," an Illinois Prisoner Review Board spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News. "He will remain in custody."

Grayson, who served in Sangamon County, had asked for an early release because he has stage 4 colon cancer. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in January, after his conviction last October.

The Sangamon County State's Attorney's office had also opposed Grayson's release, saying he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer before the shooting and his temper could pose a risk to the public.

Sonya Massey’s cousin, Sontae Massey, told ABC News in an interview after the board's announcement that the family is relieved, but said the family has to "stay on guard."

"We'll take these small victories, but we know we've got an uphill battle ahead of us because he can turn around and he can apply again and again and again. I think that he will not stop until he is out," Sontae Massey said. "We have to make sure that he is denied each and every time."

The former Sangamon County deputy fatally shot Sonya Massey, 36, in July 2024 after she called 911 to report a possible intruder at her home in Springfield, Illinois.

Massey's family told ABC News on Thursday that they fought for him to stay behind bars.

"I don't think I've seen one day since the day she died that I haven't cried," Donna Massey, Sonya Massey's mother, said. "I've never been depressed before. Now, I'm depressed all the time, especially when they keep dragging us through the mud."

Sonya Massey's son, Malachi Massey, echoed his grandmother's sentiments in the family's interview with ABC News.

"It's not registering with me why he would want compassion because, like, say for instance, roles was reversed, or like, I was in his shoes, would he want compassion for us? No, he would not," he said. "And did he have compassion for my mother throughout that whole time? No, he did not."

According to body camera footage from Grayson's partner on the night of the shooting, Grayson, who was inside Massey's home, asked her to turn off a pot of boiling water on the stove. Once she was near the stove, he pointed to the pot and said, "walk away from your hot steaming water."

Massey then appeared to pour the water into the sink and repeated the deputy's phrase before saying, "I rebuke you in the name of Jesus," according to the video.

Grayson threatened to shoot her and Massey apologized before ducking down behind a counter and covering her face with what appeared to be a red oven mitt, the video shows. As she briefly rose, Grayson shot her three times in the face, the footage shows.

"Three shots is intent to kill," Donna Massey said in the interview with ABC News. "One shot, maybe he could get away with, but three shots is intent to kill, and he does not deserve to be running around here."

The former deputy said in court testimony that after he asked her to turn off the stove with the pot of boiling water, he thought she was threatening him and was going to throw the water at him.

Attorneys for the Massey family claimed she was experiencing a mental health crisis and posed no threat.

In his handwritten request for release to the Illinois Prison Review Board, which Capitol News Illinois reported they obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, Grayson maintained Massey attacked him. 

The footage released by Illinois State Police shows the incident from the partner's point of view because Grayson did not turn his own body camera on until after the shooting, according to court documents reviewed by ABC News.

ABC News' Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report.

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Man charged after fatally shooting neighbor he allegedly mistook for bear

Ariel Gonzalez Rodriguez has been charged with manslaughter with a firearm, months after he allegedly shot and killed neighbor. (Collier County Sheriff's Office)

(NEW YORK) -- A man has been charged with manslaughter months after he allegedly shot and killed his neighbor, mistaking him for a bear, according to an arrest affidavit. 

Ariel Gonzalez Rodriguez, 25, was charged on Tuesday for the March killing of his neighbor Jason Sheffield in Naples, Florida.

Rodriguez's wife, Katherin Hidalgo, told investigators that she heard a noise around midnight and was worried a wild animal was attacking the farm animals she has in her backyard, so she woke her husband up to investigate, according to the affidavit. 

After leaving the house with a smaller caliber rifle, Rodriguez -- who was 24 at the time -- returned to tell his wife he believed it may have been a bear, before retrieving a larger caliber rifle, according to the affidavit. 

Rodriguez told investigators he fired a single round from the larger rifle to the ground. Rodriguez then alleged he believed the noise was walking closer and that he was about to be attacked, prompting him to shoot a round in the direction of his neighbor's property at about waist level, according to the affidavit. 

Hidalgo told investigators she heard at least two gunshots before her husband returned to the residence, according to the affidavit. 

Hidalgo told investigators that Rodriguez told her whatever was making the noise -- which he believed might have been a bear -- began approaching him, so he shot off a "couple of warning shots," according to the affidavit.

"According to Katherin, Ariel did not further investigate because he feared he might have wounded the bear and did not want to risk getting attacked. He told Katherin he would go check in the morning," the affidavit said. 

Around 8 a.m. the next day, Rodriguez explored his property but did not see anything. He then proceeded to explore his neighbor's property, where he discovered his neighbor lying face down with blood on his body, according to the affidavit.

In the morning, Rodriguez told his wife he had shot someone before dialing 911, according to the affidavit.

Rodriguez dialed 911 and stayed on the phone with dispatchers until deputies arrived. Rodriguez was brought in on the charge of manslaughter with a firearm, according to the affidavit. 

"Ariel was frantic as he informed the dispatcher that he shot off a gun yesterday at a noise he believed to be a bear, but now believed he accidentally shot his neighbor," investigators wrote in an arrest affidavit. 

When officers responded to the scene, Rodriguez and his wife were handcuffed, detained and placed in the back of separate patrol vehicles, according to the affidavit. 

Investigators found the neighbor dead, lying face down in an overgrown patch of vegetation behind a chicken coop. He appeared to have blood on the back of his shirt, according to the affidavit. 

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New York sues Kalshi, alleges prediction market is illegal gambling

In this photo illustration, a Kalshi logo is seen displayed on a smartphone on the top of a laptop. (Photo Illustration by Omar Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- New York sued Kalshi on Friday, alleging its prediction market is nothing more than illegal, unlicensed gambling, in large part because outcomes depend more on chance than skill.

The lawsuit does not seek to close down Kalshi, but, if successful, it could dent its ability to operate.

Kalshi insists its event contracts are federally regulated derivatives outside the scope of state gaming laws but New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit said Kalshi is merely seeking “to avoid the legal and financial consequences of New York’s close regulation of gambling by offering what is quintessentially wagering.”

"It's sad to see this type of political theater from the leadership in our own state. States can’t just shut down a federally licensed exchange," Elisabeth Diana, Kalshi's Head of Communications told ABC News. "This would also hurt New Yorkers, who would be driven offshore. We love New York, we love New Yorkers, and New Yorkers love our product."

The lawsuit alleged Kalshi violates state laws prohibiting wagering on games involving New York college teams and all sports betting for those under 21.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which has said prediction markets are its exclusive purview, filed for a temporary restraining order to halt the state’s lawsuit.

“New York’s gambling laws protect children from underage betting and help combat gambling addiction,” James said in a statement. “No matter what they call themselves, prediction makers like Kalshi are gambling platforms, plain and simple.”

The lawsuit sought a court order demanding Kalshi submit to state regulators and taxes, to forfeit illegal profits and pay restitution to users nationwide, a possible penalty that could cost Kalshi an estimated $36 billion, according to a statement of facts accompanying the lawsuit.

“Kalshi has chosen to ignore New York’s gambling laws, which exist to protect consumers, prevent problematic gambling, deliver funding for critical public services and ensure that every company plays by the same rules,” Governor Kathy Hochul said.

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Hair found in Nancy Guthrie's home not linked to suspect in abduction: Sheriff

Savannah Guthrie and mother Nancy Guthrie, June 15, 2023. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- Testing on hair found at the home of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie's mother in the Tucson, Arizona, area is complete and does not point to a suspect in the 84-year-old's abduction, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told ABC News on Thursday.

"The hair was done ... and there was nothing," Nanos said in an interview. 

That leaves a mixed sample of DNA retrieved from Nancy Guthrie's home as the only known piece of biological evidence, and one that has so far not been affirmatively linked to a suspect. 

The sample is a mix of as many as four people, the sheriff revealed. It's not clear the technology even exists yet to untangle it, though the sheriff said multiple labs across the country are trying, including the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, and labs in Kansas, Florida, California and Arizona.

"My understanding is there are at least five, maybe six, labs across the country that are working on all of this," Nanos said. "We have some of the brightest minds in the nation, if not the world, working on this."

Investigators believe Guthrie was taken from her home in the early hours of Feb. 1 by a masked man captured on her doorbell camera. But six months later, Nanos is unable to say whether that masked man was working alone.  

"I don't think anybody's here ready to say it's one guy, it's 10 guys," Nanos said.  "Did he have help? Could have."

"My understanding is there are at least five, maybe six, labs across the country that are working on all of this," Nanos said. "We have some of the brightest minds in the nation, if not the world, working on this."

Investigators believe Guthrie was taken from her home in the early hours of Feb. 1 by a masked man captured on her doorbell camera. But six months later, Nanos is unable to say whether that masked man was working alone.  

"I don't think anybody's here ready to say it's one guy, it's 10 guys," Nanos said.  "Did he have help? Could have."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


Investigators looking into possible Iran connection in Minnesota water system hacks: US officials

In an undated stock photo, a computer hacker is seen typing on a laptop. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images)

(WASHINGTON) -- Federal and state authorities are investigating whether Iran or hackers associated with the country were behind a series of coordinated cyberattacks at more than 30 water plants in Minnesota earlier this week, according to multiple U.S. officials. 

The officials told ABC News they are also waiting for a more detailed level of forensics from the hack.

They stressed that the analysis is preliminary, and another official says that the U.S. has not made any formal announcement or determinations on who might be behind the cyberattacks.

The probe into the Iranian connections was first reported Thursday by The New York Times.

Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) did not disclose details about the attacks that took place on Sunday and Monday, but the state agency said there were no requests from cities for their residents to change their drinking water usage.

"The investigation remains active, and responders continue to assess affected systems. The Minnesota Department of Health continues to work directly with affected water systems to help ensure public health remains protected," MNIT said in a statement Tuesday.

The hacks in Minnesota mirror a similar pattern carried out in other states by suspected Iran-linked actors. 

The FBI said in a statement that the agency is aware of the intrusions but did not assign responsibility. 

The acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) urged state and local governments to sure up their systems to protect against these kinds of attacks. 

"CISA is aware of multiple potential incidents affecting local water utilities and is coordinating with the EPA and other government and industry partners to understand the scope and provide any information or technical support to help critical infrastructure owners and operators protect their systems," acting director Nick Andersen said in a statement.

-ABC News' Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.

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Father sentenced to 15 years in prison in Georgia high school shooting carried out by teenage son

Colin Gray, the father of Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray, enters the Barrow County courthouse for his first appearance on Sept. 6, 2024, in Winder, Georgia. (Photo by Brynn Anderson-Pool/Getty Images)

(NEW YORK) -- The father of a Georgia teenager who carried out a deadly mass shooting at his high school was sentenced to 15 years in prison for second-degree murder and other charges after a jury found him criminally culpable for the attack.

Colin Gray, 55, admitted to providing the assault rifle used by his then-14-year-old son in the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School, which killed two students and two teachers.

His son, 16-year-old Colt Gray, pleaded guilty to all 55 counts against him, including murder and aggravated assault. Judge Nicholas Primm sentenced him to life in prison without parole on Tuesday. 

The teen's father appeared in the Barrow County Courthouse before the same judge on Thursday to learn his fate. He faced more than 100 years in prison after being found guilty of 27 counts, including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, cruelty to children in the second degree, and reckless conduct. The jury deliberated for fewer than two hours before returning the guilty verdicts in March.

Colin Gray is the latest parent to be charged and convicted in the U.S. in connection with a mass shooting carried out by their child. Judge Primm noted the novelty of the school shooting case, saying it's the first of its kind in Georgia and the second he's aware of in the nation.

"What we're really referencing is this new phenomenon of parents being charged in conjunction with crimes that their children are committing," Primm said. "It's a divisive case."

Primm said the father was convicted because "the warning lights were flashing brighter and brighter" and he didn't get his son help or remove his access to guns.

"No parent thinks that their child is going to be the next school shooter, but it became more and more obvious that something bad was going to happen," Primm said.

The judge told Colin Gray that if he had used gun locks or removed the ammunition from his house, "you wouldn't be here today."

Primm sentenced the father to 15 years confinement for each second-degree murder count. Those and lesser sentences on his other counts will run concurrent with one another, for a total 15-year prison sentence, the judge said.

"You didn't intend to commit these crimes that you've been convicted of, but the loss here is profound," Primm said while handing down the sentence. "But I still have to distinguish your acts from the malignant heart and the acts that Colt Gray committed upon the Apalachee school."

The defense asked for 10 years in prison in what attorney Chris Hobbs called the first case of its kind tried in Georgia, arguing that Colin Gray knew his son was struggling but misjudged the warning signs.

"We understand the gravity of this situation. Four people are gone, and nothing the court can do today can change that. But the question today is narrower, and in some ways harder -- what does justice require when a father's negligence and a son's concealed intent meet on a single morning?" Hobbs said.

Prosecutors asked the judge that Colin Gray be sentenced to 80 years in prison, saying that he gave Colt Gray a gun months after law enforcement asked him to restrict his son's access to guns, and that the risk was "staring him in the face every day" in the form of a shrine to the shooter in the Parkland high school massacre in his son's bedroom.

"This was the risk he was ignoring, that there would be a mass shooting of children at a school, and he gave his son the exact tool he would need to accomplish this," Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith said during the sentencing hearing Thursday. "He is the reason four people are dead, seven are injured and countless others traumatized. And he is the reason a 16-year-old boy was sentenced two days ago to the rest of his life in prison."

Several of the family members of those killed in the school shooting addressed the court on Thursday, speaking to the pain they continue to endure.

Colin Gray declined to address the court prior to his sentence.

During the two-week trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Colin Gray had been warned that his son had an affinity for mass shooters and was aware that the teen kept a shrine on his bedroom wall dedicated to the shooter in the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Instead of getting his son psychological help, Colin Gray gave the boy an AR-15-style weapon as a Christmas present that the teen ultimately used to carry out the mass shooting at Apalachee High School, prosecutors said.

Colin Gray testified in his own defense during the trial, breaking down while being questioned about whether he noticed any "red flags" that would have led him to believe the boy was capable of committing a mass shooting.

"I struggle with it every day," Colin Gray testified. "He's a good kid, you know? He wasn't perfect, but to do something, uh, that heinous, like I don't, I don't know if anybody would see that type of evil."

During his testimony, Colin Gray confirmed that he gave his son the AR-15-style rifle as a Christmas present, telling jurors the gift came with rules.

"This is a weapon that I want you to shoot when we go to the range, and if you keep doing really good in school, going to school and doing all the things you should, you graduate and you're 18, this will be your gun," Colin Gray said he told his son.

Following the verdict, Smith said that evidence showed that there were "multiple warnings over a lengthy period of time."

"You just had to do one thing -- take that rifle away -- and this would have been prevented," Smith told reporters.

Several other parents have been convicted in the U.S. in connection with a mass shooting carried out by their children.

In 2024, Jennifer and James Crumbley were convicted of charges stemming from a deadly mass shooting at a Michigan high school committed by their then-15-year-old son, Ethan Crumbley. The parents were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials after prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at their home and their indifference toward their son's mental health. They were each sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.

Their son pleaded guilty in October 2022 to murdering four students and injuring several others in the November 2021 shooting at Oxford High School and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In 2023, Robert Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty to seven counts of misdemeanor reckless conduct -- one count for each person killed by his son, Robert Crimo III, during a mass shooting at a 2022 Fourth of July Parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. As part of a plea deal, Crimo Jr. was sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years of probation.

His son, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of murder and attempted murder last year and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In an ongoing case, the father of a 15-year-old girl who shot and killed a student and teacher at a Wisconsin school in 2024 faces charges alleging he allowed his daughter access to guns used in the deadly shooting.

The father, Jeffrey Rupnow, was charged with two counts of intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with the shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. His case is set to go to trial next year.

ABC News' Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


US economy slowed more than expected as the Iran war took hold

A job seeker fills out an application during the HIRE360 Diversity Hiring Expo on April 28, 2026, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

(WASHINGTON) -- The United States economy slowed more than expected as an inflation surge took hold over the early months of the Iran war, a government report on Thursday showed.

The economy grew at an annualized rate of 1.5% over three months ending in June, marking a slight slowdown from 2.1% growth recorded in the previous quarter. The figure came in lower than economists' expected.

Still, the latest data outperformed 0.5% annualized gross domestic product (GDP) recorded over final three months of 2025.

The period covered by the data release followed a historic global oil shock set off by the Middle East conflict.

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline soared to a price as high as $4.56 a gallon in May, AAA data showed, before easing somewhat after a preliminary peace agreement last month.

Annual inflation has climbed to 3.5%, putting it more than 1 percentage point higher than the Federal Reserve's target rate of 2%.

Still, hiring has proven more resilient than many economists feared, despite elevated costs for businesses and shoppers.

In recent quarters, a burst of investment in artificial intelligence has accounted for a large share of the nation's economic growth.

A surge of AI spending accounted for roughly two-thirds of gross domestic product growth over the first half of 2025, JPMorgan Asset Management found, outpacing the contribution made by hundreds of millions of U.S. consumers. Many of the nation's largest companies have poured funds into the chips and data centers necessary to operate AI.

The combination of elevated inflation and a resilient labor market, meanwhile, has raised the chances of an interest rate hike, futures markets show. The prospect of a rate increase poses the risk of a slowdown in economic activity over the coming months as corporations face the prospect of higher borrowing costs.

The benchmark rate stands at a level between 3.5% and 3.75%. That figure marks a significant drop from a recent peak attained in 2023, but borrowing costs remain well above a 0% rate established at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who took the helm of the central bank this summer, has vowed to dial back inflation.

"Persistently high prices are a burden for the American people," Warsh told reporters in Washington, D.C., last month. "This committee will deliver price stability."

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Howard president defends university’s unenrollment decisions, says more than 200 students have been re-enrolled

A sign greets people at the entrance to Howard University on June 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

(WASHINGTON) -- After gaining national attention for unenrolling more than 500 incoming first-year students over missed tuition and financial-aid deadlines, Howard University has reinstated over 200 incoming students, according to the university's interim president.

In an interview with Stephanie Ramos on ABC News Live on Wednesday, interim President Wayne A.I. Frederick offered new insight into the university's perspective amid intense backlash from students.

"We looked at students who were able to give us the documentation we were asking for in the first place, such as evidence of an external scholarship, and also students were able to remit payment, and so we took that into consideration despite the fact that it was late," Frederick said of the decision to re-enroll students.

"Having said that, we have now reviewed all 502 students, and so most of the decisions, if not all of them, have been made," he continued.

Asked if overenrollment was a contributing factor in the university's decision-making, Frederick told ABC News that all students who were unenrolled previously had housing assigned to them and that this was not a matter of "bed capacity."

He said the reason for holding students to the payment deadline is that the university wants to avoid putting students in financial situations that would prevent them from finishing their degree, citing Howard's four-year graduation rate at under 70%.

"We really are trying to do our best to make sure that when students start, they can finish. And this is part of what we must do on the front end because I think having them leave without a degree and with debt is not the right thing as well," Frederick explained.

Multiple students who said they were unenrolled spoke with ABC News, saying they do not believe the university communicated with them effectively.

Dwayne Irvin, a 19-year-old from Missouri, told ABC News that he was blindsided by Howard's decision to unenroll him. He said he had been communicating with the university's financial aid office about pending outside scholarships and plans to enroll in a payment plan.

"They told me to wait to enroll into that payment plan until that scholarship has been deposited into my account, so my monthly payments could be cheaper. I said, OK, that makes sense. So I went with that route...A week later, I get the email saying I was out," Irvin said.

Frederick expressed a willingness to improve the university's communications but defended Howard's actions.

"Over 2,200 students, families did exactly what we expected them to do and followed the policies and procedures and met the deadline, which means that I feel that our communication was pretty comprehensive," Frederick said, adding, "We certainly need to recognize that we have to enhance our communications and really support our students even more."

Nikiyah Clark, a 17-year-old from Ohio who was set to enroll at Howard as a first-year this fall, said she was told by the university that she was not permitted to re-enroll this year. She said she had missed a tuition payment deadline, but told ABC News that she had only received notice of the deadline the day it was due.

"I tried to hold back tears as I walked out of the building. I tried to compose myself, but I couldn't. I was so sad. I was very hurt," Clark said, adding "It was a very disheartening situation, considering the fact that I worked so incredibly hard to get to earn my place at the university."

Frederick told ABC News that the university will hold enrollment space in next year's class, and transfer and deferral opportunities for unenrolled students.

"We will still make every attempt to keep those students within the Howard family," he said.

Those new enrollment processes have not yet been publicly detailed by Howard.

Irvin said he had been told about these options, but will not be re-enrolling. However, the family of Mason Farmer, another student who was unenrolled, told ABC News that the university had told them there was no more space for him to enroll this fall.

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Father to be sentenced for murder in Georgia high school shooting carried out by teenage son

Colin Gray, 54, the father of Apalachee High School shooting suspect Colt Gray, 14, enters the Barrow County courthouse for his first appearance, on September 6, 2024, in Winder, Georgia. (Photo by Brynn Anderson-Pool/Getty Images)

(ATLANTA) -- The father of a Georgia teenager who carried out a deadly mass shooting at his high school is set to be sentenced on more than two dozen charges, including second-degree murder, after a jury found him criminally culpable for the attack.

Colin Gray, 56, admitted to providing the assault rifle used by his then-14-year-old son in the September 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School, which killed two students and two teachers.

His son, 16-year-old Colt Gray, pleaded guilty to all 55 counts against him, including murder and aggravated assault. Judge Nicholas Primm sentenced him to life in prison without parole on Tuesday.

The teen's father will appear in the Barrow County Courthouse before the same judge on Thursday to learn his fate. He faces more than 100 years in prison after being found guilty of 27 counts, including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, cruelty to children in the second degree, and reckless conduct. The jury deliberated for fewer than two hours before returning the guilty verdicts in March.

Colin Gray marks the latest parent charged and convicted in the U.S. in connection with a mass shooting carried out by his child.

During the two-week trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Colin Gray had been warned that his son had an affinity for mass shooters and was aware that the teen kept a shrine in his bedroom dedicated to the shooter in the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Instead of getting his son psychological help, Colin Gray gave the boy an AR-15-style weapon as a Christmas present that the teen ultimately used to carry out the mass shooting at Apalachee High School, prosecutors said.

Colin Gray testified in his own defense during the trial, breaking down while being questioned about whether he noticed any "red flags" that would have led him to believe the boy was capable of committing a mass shooting.

"I struggle with it every day," Colin Gray testified. "He's a good kid, you know? He wasn't perfect, but to do something, uh, that heinous, like I don't, I don't know if anybody would see that type of evil."

During his testimony, Colin Gray confirmed that he gave his son the AR-15-style rifle as a Christmas present, telling jurors the gift came with rules.

"This is a weapon that I want you to shoot when we go to the range, and if you keep doing really good in school, going to school and doing all the things you should, you graduate and you're 18, this will be your gun," Colin Gray said he told his son.

Following the verdict, Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith said that evidence showed that there were "multiple warnings over a lengthy period of time."

"You just had to do one thing -- take that rifle away -- and this would have been prevented," Smith told reporters.

Several other parents have been convicted in the U.S. in connection with a mass shooting carried out by their children.

In 2024, Jennifer and James Crumbley were convicted of charges stemming from a deadly mass shooting at a Michigan high school committed by their then-15-year-old son, Ethan Crumbley. The parents were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials after prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at their home and their indifference toward their son's mental health. They were each sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.

Their son pleaded guilty in October 2022 to murdering four students and injuring several others in the November 2021 shooting at Oxford High School and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In 2023, Robert Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty to seven counts of misdemeanor reckless conduct -- one count for each person killed by his son, Robert Crimo III, during a mass shooting at a 2022 Fourth of July Parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. As part of a plea deal, Crimo Jr. was sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years of probation.

His son, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of murder and attempted murder last year and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In an ongoing case, the father of a 15-year-old girl who shot and killed a student and teacher at a Wisconsin school in 2024 faces charges alleging he allowed his daughter access to guns used in the deadly shooting.

The father, Jeffrey Rupnow, was charged with two counts of intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with the shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. His case is set to go to trial next year.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.