They were young, in love and planning to start a life together. Then they were gunned down outside a D.C. museum. This morning, we look at who they were, and we examine the suspect’s potential motive.
Plus, “Everything was on fire…all at once.” Those words from witnesses who saw a private jet slam into a San Diego neighborhood. We give you the death toll and who was on board.
And not so fast! A judge blocks Trump from shutting down the Department of Education. We look at why school is still in session for 1,300 federal education workers.
A community in Kansas gathered last night to honor Sarah Milgrim, a Jewish woman killed in Washington, D.C. this week.
“Today is a horrible day for the Kansas City Jewish community,” said Jay Lewis, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. “This morning, Bob and Nancy Milgrim got the unimaginable call that their beautiful daughter Sarah was murdered in Washington, D.C. She was murdered because she was an employee of the Israeli embassy. She was murdered because she was Jewish, and she was murdered alongside her boyfriend, Yaron.”
Sarah was from Overland Park, Kansas, in the Kansas City area. She and her boyfriend, Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, were shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night. Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. said Lischinsky had planned to propose to Sarah next week in Jerusalem.
The suspect, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, allegedly confessed to police, telling them: “I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza.” Rodriguez is charged with murder of foreign officials and other counts. He did not enter a plea in his first court appearance.
Pro-Palestinian leaders in the United States have denounced the act of violence and have issued calls for restraint and compassion. Israeli embassies worldwide have lowered flags to half-staff and increased security.
Six feared dead after plane crashes into San Diego neighborhood
A fiery plane crash tore through a San Diego neighborhood on Thursday, shaking an entire community awake. The private jet slammed into a power line under heavy fog, then crashed into a home, bursting into flames. All six people on board were feared to have died.
Among the dead is a top music agent and co-founder of Sound Talent Group, which represents acts like Hanson, Sum 41 and Vanessa Carlton.
Eight people on the ground were also injured, but none critically. Jet fuel spilled into the street, igniting half a dozen cars and damaging ten homes. One family escaped their burning house with help from neighbors.
The family had their home destroyed but was able to escape with their children with the help of neighbors.
The NTSB says the plane clipped power lines before impact.
Judge blocks Trump’s executive order to dismantle Department of Education
A federal judge has blocked President Trump’s executive order aimed at shutting down the Department of Education and ordered the temporary reinstatement of more than 1,300 department employees laid off in March.
The ruling determined that the mass firing of employees crippled the government’s ability to carry out federally mandated education programs.
The case was brought by a coalition of states arguing the layoffs were illegal. The judge agreed to a preliminary injunction, allowing workers to return to their jobs while the lawsuit plays out.
The judge also said Trump’s closure order directly contradicts Congress’s intent, and reminded the administration that even with a GOP majority, dismantling a federal department established by Congress still requires bipartisan approval.
Trump blasts judge over migrant deportation hearing
Eight migrants removed from the U.S. are now being held at an American military base in Djibouti after a federal judge said the Trump administration violated a court order by trying to send them to South Sudan without due process and in violation of a previous court order.
Judge Brian Murphy said the men weren’t told where they were going or given a chance to object. Experts say that South Sudan is an unsafe destination on the brink of a potential civil war.
The administration must now give prospective deportees reasonable fear interviews and 15 days to challenge their removal if needed.
President Trump blasted the judge, calling the migrants “some of the most violent criminals on Earth” and accusing the court of putting national security at risk. The White House says the men were convicted of murder, sexual assault and other violent crimes.
Senate Republicans considering sanctions against Russia if peace process stalls
More mixed signals are coming out of Washington about the war in Ukraine. Just days after President Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin for two hours, Senate Republicans are threatening harsh new sanctions if Russia doesn’t move forward on a reasonable ceasefire.
The bipartisan bill reportedly has support from more than 80 senators and would slap 500% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil and gas.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) remarked: “If Russia is not willing to engage in serious diplomacy, the Senate will work with the Trump administration for additional sanctions to force Putin to start negotiating.”
International observers across the political spectrum have criticized Putin for failing to make any serious ceasefire offer.
But the Trump administration is hesitant, warning that new sanctions could backfire and derail peace talks entirely. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that threatening Russia now would likely make Putin walk away from negotiations altogether.
Apple getting into the smart glasses game
It felt like only a matter of time. Our computers, phones and watches can already do just about everything. Now, maybe glasses can, too.
Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch smart glasses by the end of 2026.
According to Bloomberg, the company is leaning hard into AI, planning to release glasses that come pre-loaded with cameras, microphones and speakers designed to analyze the world around you.
And yes, they’ll be linked to Siri.
You might be making calls, playing music and getting turn-by-turn directions — all hands-free, straight from your face.
Apple’s move is seen as an answer to Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, which are already gaining traction in the market.
contributed to this report.
