The SBI reports that Captain Adam Bean, a deputy from Cumberland County, died after a physical altercation with another law enforcement officer. WRAL News is investigating to determine what caused the incident and whether charges will be filed.

In a closed-door speech, the White House apparently unintentionally released and then deleted it (but not before it was downloaded and shared), Donald Trump stated that the federal government cannot provide services like daycare when his focus is on military strength, not the welfare of the American people. Senator Chris Van Hollen joins to discuss.

Grandmother allegedly raped and murdered in Oklahoma.

The President is demanding that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but so far, Iran is not budging.

Iran has rejected a US ceasefire proposal and communicated its response through Pakistan, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency on Monday. Mediators have reportedly presented a two-phase peace plan to the US and Iran to end the conflict in West Asia. The proposal reportedly includes an immediate ceasefire and a promise to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Will Iran and the US accept this plan?

A 10-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy are accused of attempted murder and rape in a brutal attack on a 5-year-old girl from Cleveland. The suspects were both scheduled to appear in juvenile court on Wednesday morning, but only the 10-year-old showed up.

Wearing a face mask and a pink coat, the girl remained silent as the prosecutor outlined the charges against her. He said the case stems from Sept. 13, when a 5-year-old girl was “found naked in a field, urinated upon and assaulted with a weapon.”

A family member sat behind the accused during the hearing. Judge Kristin Sweeney placed the 10-year-old on home detention with an electronic monitor.

“I can’t really imagine circumstances under which these would be the charges that I would not release some sort of court supervision,” the judge said.

The victim’s mother, Antavia Kennibrew, was also present in court and was understandably emotional. She previously told WOIO that her daughter was beaten, assaulted, and scalped.

“This type of behavior doesn’t deserve grace. They knew what they were doing, and they were OK with that. They even played after not caring about my baby. Remember that,” Kennibrew said.

The family of the 9-year-old suspect, who did not show up to court, cited car troubles. The judge has ordered the boy to appear in court within the next week, threatening to issue an arrest warrant if he fails to comply.

Youth and domestic violence involve a pattern of abusive behaviors—physical, sexual, emotional, or psychological—used to gain power and control in teenage dating relationships or by adolescents against family members. It also includes children witnessing caregiver abuse. Victims often experience serious mental health, behavioral, and academic problems. 

Key Aspects of Youth and Domestic Violence

•Teen Dating Violence: Affects 1 in 3 teens in the U.S., including physical abuse, sexual coercion, and digital abuse (stalking, harassment).

•Witnessing Violence: Millions of children are exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) in their homes each year, leading to severe trauma.

•Juvenile Domestic Violence: Violent acts committed by youths against parents, siblings, or dating partners.

•High-Risk Group: Females between 16 and 24 years old face the highest rates of intimate partner violence. 

There are over 850,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, which amounts to roughly 2.64 per 1,000 people (about 0.26% of the total population). While estimates vary slightly by source, registered sex offenders make up a small portion of the overall U.S. population, often cited as roughly 235 to 264 per 100,000 residents. 

Key details regarding sex offender registration in the U.S.: 

•Total Numbers: Estimates range from 800,000 to 850,000 registered individuals. 

•State Variability: Oregon has one of the highest rates, with 790 per 100,000 residents, while New Jersey has one of the lowest, at 50 per 100,000. 

•Context: The registries include both violent sex offenders and those convicted of less severe, non-violent crimes, depending on state law. 

• •Demographics: Studies suggest that up to 0.56% of U.S. men are registered. 

A sexual predator is a repeat or violent sex offender who targets vulnerable individuals, often manipulating them through trust-building, grooming, and boundary-pushing to facilitate abuse. They are legally identified after convictions for serious, often first-degree, felony sex crimes or repeated offenses.

• Signs and Behaviors of a Sexual Predator
• Grooming: Initially attentive, using gifts, praise, and special attention to create dependency and a false sense of intimacy, according to WebMD.
• Boundary Testing: Frequently pushes physical, emotional, or social boundaries to see what they can get away with, starting with seemingly "innocent" touches, says Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan.
• Isolation Tactics: Isolates victims from family and friends and acts overly protective or controlling, notes the Alaska Department of Family and Community Services.
• Manipulating Vulnerability: Uses substances like alcohol to lower inhibitions or exploits a child’s need for affection, highlighting the U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
• Digital Grooming: Uses social media platforms to target and lure minors, say officials in this ABC30 Fresno report. 

Reading proficiency in the United States has declined sharply from 2012 to 2025, with scores falling to their lowest in decades, according to National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data. While literacy levels remained fairly steady in the early 2010s, the period leading up to 2025 experienced a steep decline, worsened by pandemic-related learning disruptions, resulting in a "sobering" drop in proficiency among both K-12 students and adults. 

 Comparison Highlights: 2012 vs. 2025

• Student proficiency (K-12): Reading scores in 2024–2025 fall to their lowest levels since 1992 for 12th graders. Meanwhile, in 2013, 4th-grade reading scores had improved compared to the previous decade, making the current decline a stark reversal of earlier trends.
• Lower Performers: The decline is uneven, with lower-performing students experiencing much sharper drops in proficiency than their higher-performing peers, widening the achievement gap.
• Adult Literacy: The percentage of U.S. adults (ages 16-65) with low literacy skills increased from 17% in 2012/2014 to 28% by 2023, indicating a significant long-term decline.
• Reading for Pleasure: The percentage of nine-year-olds reading for fun dropped from 53% in 2012 to 39% in 2022, and the decline continues into 2025.
• Grade Inflation: Despite lower demonstrated reading mastery, the percentage of students earning A's in English rose from 48% in 2012 to 56% in 2022, showing that higher grades no longer reflect higher reading skills. 

College enrollment for men of color in America is decreasing due to systemic barriers, economic struggles, and inadequate K-12 preparation. Major factors include financial hardships leading to work instead of education, a lack of male role models, the impact of the affirmative action ban, and a challenging campus environment that affects retention.

Key Factors in Declining Enrollment

•Economic Pressures & Financial Hardships: Many men of color choose to enter the workforce early to support their families, viewing high tuition and student loan debt as unsustainable risks rather than opportunities.

•Systemic K-12 Inequities: A shortage of representation, with few male teachers of color, affects mentoring and aspirations. Additionally, higher suspension rates hinder academic progress, creating a "pathway problem."

•The "Belief Gap" and Campus Environment: Studies show a "belief gap" where educators have lower expectations. Many students feel disengaged or unsupported. Also, about 1 in 5 Black men face discrimination, impacting their stay in college.

•Post-Affirmative Action Effects: After the Supreme Court ruling, some top institutions have seen notable drops in Black and Hispanic male enrollment, possibly due to less targeted recruitment or students choosing not to report race.

College enrollment for men of color in America is declining due to systemic barriers, economic pressures, and inadequate K-12 preparation. Key factors include financial constraints leading to work over education, a lack of male role models, the aftermath of the affirmative action ban, and a challenging campus climate impacting retention.

Key Drivers of Declining Enrollment

• Economic Pressures & Financial Constraints: Many men of color choose to enter the workforce immediately to support families, seeing high tuition and student loan debt as unsustainable risks rather than investments.
• Systemic K-12 Disparities: A lack of representation, with few male teachers of color, affects mentoring and aspirations. Additionally, disproportionate school suspension rates hinder academic preparation, creating a "pathway problem".
• The "Belief Gap" and Campus Climate: Studies show a "belief gap" where educators have lower expectations, and many students report feeling disengaged or unsupported. Also, roughly 1 in 5 Black men experience discrimination, impacting retention.
• Post-Affirmative Action Impact: After the Supreme Court ruling, some elite institutions have seen sharp declines in Black and Hispanic male enrollment, possibly due to reduced targeted recruitment or students choosing not to report race.
• Alternative Success Routes: There is a growing, often culturally supported preference to pursue options other than college, such as music, influencer careers, or other entrepreneurial ventures, as faster paths to financial stability. 

Black Americans’ incomes have long lagged behind those of other Americans. Simultaneously, income inequality among Black Americans was the second largest of any demographic group as of 2016. That year, the highest-earning Black Americans earned nearly 10 times as much as the lowest earners.

Overall, just 6% of Black adults in the U.S. had annual earnings of $100,000 or more in 2021, according to our analysis of the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. This share increases to 16% among those with at least a bachelor’s degree or higher and decreases to 2% among those with some college education or less.

The statistics continue to paint a grim picture. The National Student Clearinghouse reported that Black male undergraduate enrollment declined by 14.3% between March 2020 and March 2021. The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) recently stated that Black men have the lowest college completion rate, at 40%.

About 27% of all Black U.S. adults aged 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Of these, 16% earned a bachelor’s degree, and 11% hold an advanced degree. As of 2023, roughly one-third (32%) have completed some college but not earned a degree, and 30% have, at best, graduated from high school or earned an equivalent like a GED.

The American people are facing a transition characterized by significant economic shifts, including high living costs and wealth concentration, as well as a possible overhaul of federal agencies, strict immigration enforcement, and cultural policy changes through initiatives like Project 2025. Key upcoming priorities include the country's 250th anniversary in 2026, advancements in AI technology, and the management of trade protections.  

Key Trends and Future Outlook:

•Economic Challenges: Middle-class Americans are struggling with the high cost of living, while a significant wealth gap remains, with a small number of billionaires holding roughly double the wealth of 66 million lower-income households.

•Policy Shifts (Project 2025): Conservative plans aim to reshape the federal government, including replacing civil service workers with political appointees, dismantling agencies like the Department of Education, and imposing stricter border security measures, including mass deportations.

•Social & Political Environment: Concerns exist about restrictions on voting access, potential rollbacks of LGBTQ+ rights, and increased limits on abortion access.

•Technology & Infrastructure: Major focus areas include implementing AI protections, upgrading cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, and expanding broadband access

•International Relations: The Trump administration has focused on re-imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum to protect domestic industries.