http://www.toledoblade.com The Latest News from Toledoblade.com (v5) Wed, 19 Aug 2026 04:21:19 GMT en-us hourly 1 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/19/forecasters-warn-tropical-system-brewing-southeast-hawaii-lala/stories/20260819114 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/19/forecasters-warn-tropical-system-brewing-southeast-hawaii-lala/stories/20260819114#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2026 22:18:21 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/19/forecasters-warn-tropical-system-brewing-southeast-hawaii-lala/stories/20260819114 As people in Hawaii work to remove massive amounts of debris and fix damaged infrastructure in the wake of Lala, forecasters on Wednesday warned of the likelihood for another tropical cyclone forming southeast of the islands. This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Lala on Aug. 19 in the Pacific Ocean northeast of Hawaii. Joe Kennedy walks his dog, Cosmo, near the damaged Punalu'u Bake Shop, where his son works, after Hurricane Lala in Naalehu, Hawaii, on Aug. 17. Debris is strewn across Naalehu Park after Hurricane Lala in Naalehu, Hawaii, on Aug. 17. A section of Hawaii Belt Road damaged by Hurricane Lala is seen in Pahala, Hawaii, on Aug. 17. A worker cleans a debris-strewn section of Hawaii Belt Road after Hurricane Lala in Naalehu, Hawaii, on Aug. 17. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/19/national-debt-stands-40-trillion/stories/20260819107 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/19/national-debt-stands-40-trillion/stories/20260819107#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2026 21:34:35 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/19/national-debt-stands-40-trillion/stories/20260819107 WASHINGTON  — The national debt surpassed a record $40 trillion on Wednesday, a staggering milestone as defense costs, social programs like Social Security and Medicare and interest on the burgeoning deficit to make up an enormous share of federal spending. The likeness of George Washington is seen on a U.S. one dollar bill, in 2023, in Marple Township, Pa. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/17/flooding-risk-remains-storms-move-midwest-mid-atlantic/stories/20260817083 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/17/flooding-risk-remains-storms-move-midwest-mid-atlantic/stories/20260817083#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2026 23:41:19 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/17/flooding-risk-remains-storms-move-midwest-mid-atlantic/stories/20260817083 INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana residents remained on alert while returning to their flood-ravaged homes Monday as repeated rounds of thunderstorms and heavy rain moved east from the Midwest into the mid-Atlantic and high heat scorched much of the South and Southwest. Scott Conrad, left, Joseph Workman, second from left, Ronan Carey, in the boat, and Kesley Patterson use a kayak to transport items from their flooded homes in Indianapolis on Aug. 16. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/16/1-dead-hawaii-lala-tropical-storm-moves-west/stories/20260816113 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/16/1-dead-hawaii-lala-tropical-storm-moves-west/stories/20260816113#comments Sun, 16 Aug 2026 13:22:21 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/16/1-dead-hawaii-lala-tropical-storm-moves-west/stories/20260816113 One person is dead and tens of thousands have lost power after Hurricane Lala lashed parts of Hawaii overnight, before weakening slightly Sunday morning to a tropical storm with 70 mph sustained winds and heavy rain. Lala was starting to pull away from the islands Sunday morning, but heavy rain is expected to continue throughout the day across the island chain. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/15/lala-strengthens-hurricane-bears-down-hawaii/stories/20260815104 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/15/lala-strengthens-hurricane-bears-down-hawaii/stories/20260815104#comments Sat, 15 Aug 2026 19:55:22 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/15/lala-strengthens-hurricane-bears-down-hawaii/stories/20260815104 HONOLULU — Hurricane Lala formed Saturday on a path to make a rare landfall on Hawaii’s Big Island. Shaheer Faltas, left, and his father-in-law, Joe Brosnan, fill sandbags in preparation for the arrival of Tropical Storm Lala in Captain Cook, Hawaii, on Aug. 14. This satellite image released by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Lala over the Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii, on Aug. 15. Casey Delaries makes a sandbag in preparation for Tropical Storm Lala in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Aug. 14. The tropical storm is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches Hawaii, with up to 25 inches of rain possible on the island of Hawaii, also commonly known as the Big Island. Sandbags are seen at a Hawaii County Department of Public Works sand pile ahead of Tropical Storm Lala in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Aug. 14. The tropical storm is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it approaches Hawaii, with up to 25 inches of rain possible on the island of Hawaii, also commonly known as the Big Island. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/15/multiple-shooters-people-shot-virginia-state-university/stories/20260815094 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/15/multiple-shooters-people-shot-virginia-state-university/stories/20260815094#comments Sat, 15 Aug 2026 12:36:38 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/15/multiple-shooters-people-shot-virginia-state-university/stories/20260815094 ETTRICK, Va. — A shooting involving multiple suspects and five people shot at Virginia State University prompted a campus lockdown early Saturday. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/15/teen-charged-murder-mother-brother-chatgpt-create-fantasy-stories/stories/20260815093 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/15/teen-charged-murder-mother-brother-chatgpt-create-fantasy-stories/stories/20260815093#comments Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:18:45 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/15/teen-charged-murder-mother-brother-chatgpt-create-fantasy-stories/stories/20260815093 A Massachusetts teen charged in the double murder of his mother and younger brother had used the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT to search for “theoretical ideas or fantasy stories” about the killing of his family, prosecutors have said. Arjun Aravind attends his arraignment at Concord District Court in Concord, Mass., on Aug. 13 for the murders of his mother and younger brother at their home in Acton, Mass. Judge Lynn C. Brendemuehl listens during the arraignment of Arjun Aravind at Concord District Court in Concord, Mass., on Aug. 13 for the murders of his mother and younger brother at their home in Acton, Mass. (Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via AP) Arjun Aravind listens as his lawyer Debra DeWitt speaks during his arraignment at Concord District Court in Concord, Mass., on Aug. 13 for the murders of his mother and younger brother at their home in Acton, Mass. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/14/trump-supreme-court-white-house-ballroom-construction-appeal/stories/20260814099 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/14/trump-supreme-court-white-house-ballroom-construction-appeal/stories/20260814099#comments Fri, 14 Aug 2026 21:15:12 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/14/trump-supreme-court-white-house-ballroom-construction-appeal/stories/20260814099 WASHINGTON — President Trump’s administration on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the White House to continue construction on its $400 million ballroom project while it appeals a lower court’s order to halt the work. White House Ballroom construction continues Aug. 5 at the White House in Washington. Artist renderings relating to White House ballroom construction, contained in a filing by the Trump Administration to the U.S. Supreme Court, are photographed Aug. 14. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/14/luigi-mangione-s-lawyers-say-he-is-pleading-guilty-to-killing-unitedhealthcare-ceo/stories/20260814086 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/14/luigi-mangione-s-lawyers-say-he-is-pleading-guilty-to-killing-unitedhealthcare-ceo/stories/20260814086#comments Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:43:22 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/14/luigi-mangione-s-lawyers-say-he-is-pleading-guilty-to-killing-unitedhealthcare-ceo/stories/20260814086 NEW YORK — Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty on Friday to federal stalking charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, admitting matter-of-factly that he trailed the executive to an investor conference in 2024 and gunned him down on a New York City street. Luigi Mangione appears for a pre-trial hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, on Aug. 11. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/13/mangione-expected-plead-guilty-federal-case-unitedhealthcare-killing/stories/20260813120 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/13/mangione-expected-plead-guilty-federal-case-unitedhealthcare-killing/stories/20260813120#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2026 19:25:20 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/13/mangione-expected-plead-guilty-federal-case-unitedhealthcare-killing/stories/20260813120 NEW YORK — Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty as early as Friday in the federal case accusing him of stalking and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to a person familiar with the matter. Luigi Mangione attends a pre-trial hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on Aug. 11. Luigi Mangione appears for a pre-trial hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on Aug. 11. Luigi Mangione appears for a pre-trial hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on Aug. 11. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/13/judge-dismisses-trump-administration-lawsuit-antisemitism-harvard-university/stories/20260813115 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/13/judge-dismisses-trump-administration-lawsuit-antisemitism-harvard-university/stories/20260813115#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2026 18:08:02 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/13/judge-dismisses-trump-administration-lawsuit-antisemitism-harvard-university/stories/20260813115 WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Boston on Thursday dismissed a Trump Administration lawsuit that accused Harvard University of turning a blind eye to harassment of Jewish students. People take photos near a John Harvard statue, left, on the Harvard University campus in 2024 in Cambridge, Mass. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/13/amid-public-backlash-surveillance-tech-company-flock-announces-platform-changes/stories/20260813102 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/13/amid-public-backlash-surveillance-tech-company-flock-announces-platform-changes/stories/20260813102#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:37:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/13/amid-public-backlash-surveillance-tech-company-flock-announces-platform-changes/stories/20260813102 RICHMOND, Va. — Flock Safety, the surveillance technology company increasingly under scrutiny from lawmakers, civil liberties advocates and citizens across the U.S., announced Thursday it is making changes to its platform intended to quell privacy concerns and address documented abuses of its system by some members of law enforcement. A Flock Safety license plate reader is seen along a public road, Oct. 16, 2025, in Houston. A Flock Safety license plate reader is seen along a public road, Oct. 16, 2025, in Houston. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/12/democratic-voters-want-change/stories/20260812112 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/12/democratic-voters-want-change/stories/20260812112#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:23:16 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/12/democratic-voters-want-change/stories/20260812112 WASHINGTON — Democrats remain mixed over what ideological direction the party should take. But across a series of closely watched primaries, they are sending a clearer message about the party’s path forward: They want change. Supporters react to election results coming in during a primary election night watch party for Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley on Aug. 11 in Milwaukee, Wis. Luke Bronin, former Hartford mayor and Democratic candidate for Connecticut's 1st congressional district, stands on stage with his children during an election night watch party on Aug. 11, in Hartford, Conn. Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, attends an election night event on Aug. 11 in Minneapolis. David Crowley, Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor, shakes hands with supporters while campaigning with Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, right, on Aug. 7 in Sheboygan, Wis. Supporters hold signs during a primary election night watch party for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong on Aug. 11 in Madison, Wis. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/12/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-youngest-person-role-leave/stories/20260812109 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/12/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-youngest-person-role-leave/stories/20260812109#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:04:31 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/12/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-youngest-person-role-leave/stories/20260812109 WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person to hold the role, will leave at month’s end, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on July 16 in Washington. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/12/new-indictment-alleges-nick-reiner-wait-killing-parents/stories/20260812107 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/12/new-indictment-alleges-nick-reiner-wait-killing-parents/stories/20260812107#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2026 19:14:52 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/12/new-indictment-alleges-nick-reiner-wait-killing-parents/stories/20260812107 LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles County grand jury has indicted Nick Reiner on murder charges in the killings of his parents, actor Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, and adds the allegation that he was lying in wait before attacking them. Actor Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer, arrive for an event in 2013 in New York. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/12/ice-officers-electric-shock-gloves/stories/20260812102 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/12/ice-officers-electric-shock-gloves/stories/20260812102#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:45:20 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/12/ice-officers-electric-shock-gloves/stories/20260812102 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers may soon be outfitted with gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks intended to gain compliance from combative individuals. Federal agents walk down a street while conducting immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis in February. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/10/trump-order-spacing-out-childhood-vaccines-against-medical-groups-guidance/stories/20260810089 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/10/trump-order-spacing-out-childhood-vaccines-against-medical-groups-guidance/stories/20260810089#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2026 21:06:49 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/10/trump-order-spacing-out-childhood-vaccines-against-medical-groups-guidance/stories/20260810089 WASHINGTON  — President Trump on Monday signed an executive order calling for revamped childhood vaccine recommendations that promote his long-held but discredited theory that childhood shots should be spaced out into separate medical visits. President Trump holds up an image taken from his Truth Social account as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. watches during a meeting to sign an executive order about vaccines Aug. 10 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks as President Trump listens during a meeting to sign an executive order about vaccines Aug. 10 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya speaks during a meeting to sign an executive order about vaccines Aug. 10 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/10/trump-officials-new-requirements-food-additives-ingredients/stories/20260810092 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/10/trump-officials-new-requirements-food-additives-ingredients/stories/20260810092#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2026 21:04:58 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/10/trump-officials-new-requirements-food-additives-ingredients/stories/20260810092 WASHINGTON — U.S. health officials on Monday proposed a rule change that would require food manufacturers to notify regulators before introducing new ingredients or additives into processed or packaged foods. A sign for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is displayed outside its offices in Silver Spring, Md., on Dec. 10, 2020. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on May 27 in Washington. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/2026/08/08/senate-passes-bill-fund-government-avert-shutdown/stories/20260808076 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/2026/08/08/senate-passes-bill-fund-government-avert-shutdown/stories/20260808076#comments Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:52:13 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/2026/08/08/senate-passes-bill-fund-government-avert-shutdown/stories/20260808076 The Senate passed a bill on Saturday that would extend government funding to Dec. 11 in a bid to avert a shutdown ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, speaks before President Donald Trump signs executive orders modifying the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the Bears Ears National Monument in the Oval Office of the White House on July 13 in Washington. https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/08/senators-head-exits-voting-bill/stories/20260808075 https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/08/senators-head-exits-voting-bill/stories/20260808075#comments Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:42:52 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/news/nation/2026/08/08/senators-head-exits-voting-bill/stories/20260808075 WASHINGTON — Senators headed for the exits in the predawn hours Saturday, ending for now a crushing standoff over President Donald Trump's demands that they stay in session to pass a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill before the summer recess. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., talks with reporters outside of the Senate chamber during a vote at the U.S. Capitol on Aug. 7 in Washington. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One on Aug. 7 at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, walks through the Senate subway at the U.S. Capitol during a vote on Aug. 7 in Washington. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., departs the U.S. Capitol prior to a confirmation vote for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Aug. 7 in Washington. Sen. Thomas Tillis, R-N.C., walks through the U.S. Capitol during a recess on Aug. 7 in Washington.