Florida sheriff’s office arrests 148 in human trafficking bust
A 102-day undercover operation in Hillsborough County, Florida, resulted in 148 arrests and the rescue of seven victims, including two minors, dealing a blow to local human trafficking networks. The Sheriff’s Office’s Human Trafficking Squad conducted “Operation Summer Shield” from April to August and arrested suspects for various human trafficking crimes.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister highlighted four suspects, including one 33-year-old man accused of engaging with an undercover detective posing as a 15-year-old girl online.
Another is a 39-year-old man who allegedly forced a 17-year-old girl into sex work while she lived at home. He is accused of posting photos of the victim on escort websites, arranging encounters and collecting profits from her exploitation.
A paramedic with Hillsborough County Fire and Rescue was taken into custody in June, according to a local news station. He is charged with soliciting another to commit prostitution.
Among the seven victims rescued were two 17-year-old girls and five adult women. The rescued minors were placed under the care of a child welfare organization called One More Child.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you work,” Sheriff Chronister said. “You’re never above committing a crime. You’re never above the law and we will hold you accountable here.”
The sheriff said law enforcement will continue employing proactive online surveillance, including scouring the internet and dark web, to identify potential traffickers before they can victimize individuals.
He emphasized his department “will not rest until every victim is safe and every trafficker is behind bars.”
‘Kite fighting’ so dangerous and deadly, Brazil considers national ban
While it may not be commonly heard of in the U.S., in Brazil, kite fighting has become so dangerous the government is considering a nationwide ban. Yes, kites — think the colorful, paper or plastic toys seen soaring through the sky on a breezy day, only deadlier.
Players use sharp-edged kite lines, known as “cerol” in Portuguese, to slash their opponents’ lines and rip their kites from the sky. The popular pastime is recognized as having cultural and historical heritage in Rio de Janeiro. Unfortunately, it’s also known to cause injuries and even deaths.
Private security guard Leonardo Duraes shows an image of his face after he was cut with a kite string while riding his motorcycle in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. Source: AP Images.
The lines are already outlawed in some of the more populous areas of Brazil, including Rio, but that doesn’t stop people from using them anyway.
While kite fighting competitions are held safely in designated areas in countries like France and Chile, in Brazil, it’s widespread and unregulated — and has been particularly dangerous on highways, where motorists can’t always see them stretched across the lanes.
So many accidents have been caused over the years that motorcyclists take precautionary measures by attaching thin posts fitted with razors to their bikes. These are able to cut through fallen kite lines. In fact, the company that oversees one of Rio’s busiest highways regularly hands the devices out to motorcyclists.
Private security guard Leonardo Duraes, who was cut on his chin by a kite string while riding his motorcycle, poses for a photo in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024. Source: AP Images.
The nation every year still sees multiple cases of Brazilian motorcyclists with severed limbs or slit throats — and the federal government is considering a ban on these cerol lines altogether. A law to do just that has already passed in Brazilian Congress and is now up for a Senate vote.
Kite fighters do everything they can to bring down the kites of their opponents — including using strings doused with wax, or sharp materials like glass or quartz, which turn kite lines into razors. 🪁 Banned in Brazil, black-market kite lines are thriving on TikTok and Instagram. #kitefighting#tech#brazil
Brazil’s government doesn’t have any official data on the number of injuries and deaths caused by the razor-sharp lines nationwide. However, one nonprofit that runs a hotline for crime victims says since 2019 there were more than 2,800 reports of illegal use of the lines in Rio alone. The lines are not completely banned there — kite fights can be legally held in certain designated areas that are far from roads and highways or people’s homes.
State laws over these cutting lines are different across Brazil, with some areas banning them completely. It remains to be seen if that will become the nationwide standard.
Fmr. President Obama rallies support for Harris at Night 2 of DNC
Former President Barack Obama headlined night two of the DNC, rallying support behind Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency. And Russian officials say Moscow came under the largest attack by Ukrainian drones since the war began over two years ago. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.
Former President Obama rallies support for Harris at Night 2 of DNC
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will formally accept the nomination for vice president at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago Wednesday night. Among those set to speak on night three of the DNC is former President Bill Clinton.
Tuesday, Aug. 20, was a night of Democratic Party star power — including speeches from the Obamas.
Former President Barack Obama closed out the night by rallying up the crowd and throwing his full support behind Vice President Kamala Harris while speaking out against her opponent, former President Donald Trump.
“We do not need four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos,” Obama said. “We have seen that movie before, and we all know that the sequel is usually worse. America is ready for a new chapter. America is ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris.”
Her running mate, Gov. Walz, will headline night three with a primetime speech Wednesday night.
Running mate says RFK Jr. can stay in the race or back Trump
Former President Donald Trump is continuing a rally blitz across battleground states. He spent Tuesday, Aug. 20, campaigning in Michigan with an emphasis on crime and inflation.
On Wednesday, Trump will join his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, in North Carolina.
This comes as it looks like Trump could potentially pick up an endorsement from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan. Shanahan said on a podcast they have two options: stay in the race or join forces with Trump to avoid a Kamala Harris presidency.
RFK Jr. has yet to comment on this direction of his campaign, but said Tuesday he is open to talks with other political parties with similar goals.
A CNN reporter asked Trump whether he would consider RFK Jr. for a spot in his administration following the news of the potential endorsement. Trump said he is open to the idea.
Matt Gaetz defeats McCarthy-backed candidate in Florida primary
McCarthy and his allies had targeted Gaetz as well as three other Republicans who voted to oust him from the speakership late last year.
McCarthy did claim one win — helping to defeat House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, R, in Virginia earlier this summer. However, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace and Arizona Rep. Eli Crane won each of their races despite the opposition from McCarthy.
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez officially resigns after bribery conviction
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, D, has officially resigned. Tuesday, Aug, 20, was his last day in office.
It comes just over a month after a jury convicted him on federal bribery charges.
The state’s Democratic governor is tapping former top aide George Helmy to succeed the three-term incumbent until the November election results for the Senate seat are certified. It’s a high stakes race, with Democrats holding a narrow majority in the Senate.
Russia says it fought off Ukraine’s largest drone attack yet on Moscow
Russian officials said they shot down at least 12 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow late Aug. 20 night and early Aug. 21 morning, local time. Russia said it was part of one of the largest drone attacks since the Russia-Ukraine War began in 2022.
While it’s not clear how many drones were launched in total, Russia said it took out more than 45 over various regions.
The attacks come as Russia is advancing in eastern Ukraine while also trying to fight off Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region — which is the biggest foreign attack on Russian territory since World War II.
Federal judge blocks FTC’s rule banning noncompete agreements
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) plan to ban noncompete agreements in the workplace is no longer happening — at least for now. On Tuesday, Aug. 20, a federal judge in Texas blocked the new rule that would have made it easier for employees to quit a job and go work for a competitor or start a competing business.
The judge ruled the FTC “exceeded its statutory authority” in making its decision back in April and said the ban would cause irreparable harm. The FTC has previously said noncompete agreements restrict workers’ freedoms and suppress wages.
The rule was to take effect on Sept. 4. An FTC spokesperson said the agency is considering appealing the judge’s decision.
New video appears to show Thomas Crooks hours before Trump shooting
A newly released video reported on Monday, Aug. 19, added further scrutiny to the security preparation before the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13. In the video, Thomas Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate Trump, could be seen strolling the grounds of the rally hours before the shooting. Crooks wounded Trump, killed one spectator and critically injured two other spectators.
The footage is reportedly from a merchandise vendor at the event, and it comes days after an image of Crooks began circulating on Friday, Aug. 16. In the image, Crooks can be seen sitting on a wall a grassy area as he waited for Trump to take the stage
Crooks was reportedly on local law enforcement’s radar well before the attack. One local officer took pictures of Crooks, labeling him as “suspicious person” at least an hour before the incident.
The emergence of the video and picture come amid an investigation by Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., who described a trip to Butler after the assassination attempt in a preliminary report.
He said he wanted to view Crooks’ body, but discovered the FBI released his remains for cremation 10 days after the shooting. The congressman accused the FBI of obstructing the investigation by allowing the body to be cremated. He also said that both the coroner’s and autopsy reports were late.
Why US-backed international police force isn’t stopping Haitian gangs
An international police force is struggling to get Haiti’s gang crisis under control, as reported on Sunday, Aug. 18. A United States-backed, Kenyan-led police force that was deployed months ago is outmanned and underfunded.
The 400 police troops face thousands of gang members and have yet to advance through the capital of Port-Au-Prince to clear out criminals despite being there for almost two months.
Amid the ongoing efforts, a prison break turned deadly on Friday, Aug. 16, in a coastal city just north of the Haitian capital. Haitian authorities said about a dozen people died during a shooting involved in the search and recovery of inmates. The escape stemmed from a riot by inmates over a lack of food and poor conditions.
Since the arrival of the international forces, the prison system in Haiti has been thrown into chaos. Prisons reportedly lack critical resources while facing an influx of prisoners.
Meanwhile, Haiti’s interim prime minister said on Aug. 7, “Haitians are growing impatient” with the failure to stop the violence.
U.S. officials acknowledged that the multinational security support mission is not moving at the speed they expected. However, they did say that they are strapped for money and resources, making it difficult to bring Haiti back to “normalcy.”
The U.S. government is also caught between funding Ukraine and Israel, and is hesitant to get further involved in Haiti’s security mission. However, the U.S. military did promise the delivery of armored vehicles, riot control gear and protective gear for police.
Still, the delivery may not be enough as gangs are only growing in strength and numbers. Officials estimate that there are anywhere between 5,000 to 10,000 gang members, mainly around Haiti’s capital city. The United Nations-backed mission is in need of helicopters, combat vehicles and more infrastructure to defeat the criminal organizations in Haiti.
Israeli settlers set Palestinian village ablaze, kill 1 in West Bank attack
Dozens of Israeli settlers torched several homes and cars in a Palestinian town in the West Bank on Thursday, Aug. 15, firing bullets and tear gas at residents and drawing widespread condemnation from Israeli leaders and the United States. The riot, which happened in the village Jit, led to the death of a 23-year-old Palestinian man.
Witnesses said that at least a hundred masked settlers raided the village. According to the witnesses, they were forced to fend off the attackers for a quite some time before Israel Defense Forces (IDF) showed up to the village.
Once the IDF showed up, soldiers dispersed the crowd and reported that some attackers threw rocks and Molotov cocktails before being stopped. Israeli authorities took one person into custody for questioning regarding the attack. Israel’s security agency and Israeli police announced joint investigation into the riot.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that the attackers would be “apprehended and tried.” Israel’s interior minister called the riots a “serious nationalist crime” and Israeli President Isaac Herzog demanded that police swiftly bring those responsible to justice. The White House called the incident “unacceptable.”
However, a similar attack by Israeli settlers on a Palestinian village in April went without the same condemnation by Israel as the one in Jit on Thursday.
Violence across the region is up since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel. The United Nations reported that nearly 1,200 Israel settler attacks have been documented from Oct. 7 to Aug. 5. The U.N. said that 114 of those attacks resulted in Palestinian deaths and injuries.
Israeli settlements have been built on lands controlled by Israel since Six-DayWar in 1967. The international community largely believes that these settlements are illegal under international law, which Israel disputes.
Protests erupt across India after trainee doctor’s rape, murder
Protests have erupted across India after the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at a government hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. Demonstrators gathered in cities including New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, demanding justice and improved security at medical institutions.
The protests began on Aug. 9 when the woman’s body was discovered in a seminar hall at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. An autopsy confirmed sexual assault, and a police volunteer was detained in connection with the crime. The victim’s family, however, claims it was a gang rape involving more individuals.
As public anger grows, thousands of doctors and paramedics are demanding safer working conditions at hospitals nationwide. Many hospitals have suspended non-emergency services in solidarity with the protests.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for a 24-hour nationwide strike starting Saturday, Aug. 17, urging authorities to address safety concerns for health care workers, particularly female doctors.
“Doctors, especially women, face risks due to the nature of their work. It is the responsibility of authorities to ensure their safety in hospitals and campuses,” the IMA said in a statement.
The protests have drawn comparisons to the 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student in New Delhi, which led to mass demonstrations and resulted in tougher laws on sexual violence.
Despite these legal reforms, reports of rape in India continue to rise. In 2022, police recorded over 31,500 cases, a 20% increase from the previous year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the recent incident, saying, “Monstrous behavior against women should be severely and promptly punished.”
Political leaders, celebrities, and rights activists have echoed these sentiments, calling for stronger action to protect women.
In addition to the peaceful protests, unrest occurred on Wednesday night at R.G. Kar Medical College, where demonstrators vandalized property and injured several police officers. Nineteen people have been arrested in connection with the violence.
Cartel violence against migrants headed to US border on the rise: Police
While migrant crossings are reportedly down at the United States southern border, violence against asylum-seekers is on the rise, according to Mexican authorities. Police in Chihuahua, Mexico, announced on Monday, Aug. 12, that they have rescued more than 1,200 migrants from criminal gangs over the past seven months.
Law enforcement said that kidnappings, extortion and violence against immigrants trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border is increasing. Abducted migrants are often held in cramped stash houses near the United States border, according to local authorities. Law enforcement said that these migrants are rarely given food or water.
American migrant support nonprofits blame stricter U.S. immigration policy for the increasing violence toward migrants seeking asylum. The Hope Institute said the Biden administration’s order to close the border to asylum-seekers without appointments put many migrants in danger. The institute said that cartels routinely kidnap migrants and demand ransoms from their families — in some cases, up to $20,000.
On Aug. 8, authorities found 10 Sudanese and Moroccan nationals on a highway traveling from Chihuahua to Juarez. The migrants were reportedly released after their families paid a ransom. Police say what migrants want is a better life in the United States, but they are instead falling victim to violent criminals.
The Hope Institute is urging the United States and Mexican governments to change immigration policies to keep migrants safe from gangs. The group has asked for the governments to provide safe migration paths and to place “humanitarian values at the core” of policies. The advocacy group wants the U.S. and Mexico to make it easier for people to seek asylum as well.
The United States Department of Homeland Security issued a warning in July urging asylum-seekers not to rely on human smugglers. Cartels reportedly run human trafficking operations and often leave migrants stranded and malnourished, according to U.S. border agents.
Chicago taxpayers foot nearly $400 million in lawsuits for police misconduct
Chicago taxpayers have been forced to pay out $384.2 million in court costs for a pattern of police misconduct over the past five years, according to analysis of citywide data by WTTW News on Monday, Aug. 12. Data revealed that of the 1,300 officers involved in the lawsuits, 200 officers were involved in more than one incident, accounting for 43% of the total expenses in court costs.
One Chicago Police Department sergeant is reportedly responsible for $1.4 million in taxpayer costs alone. An instance of reported misconduct involved an $850,000 payout to a man the sergeant allegedly slammed to the ground after stopping him for drinking. A suspension was recommended for the sergeant. However, the sergeant is said to have received a promotion and a raise the next year instead of facing discipline.
The analysis found that the sergeant has had 22 complaints of misconduct throughout his career with the department.
The findings come as the city promises to crack down on repeat offenders among law enforcement. The Chicago Police Department has even recommended the city review settlements and judgements to identify patterns of behavior among officers. The department added that it will reduce both costs for the city and misconduct among officers.
Meanwhile, a system designed to catch officers with multiple complaints could have reportedly been rolled out citywide in 2021. However, the Chicago Police Department disclosed that it is still reviewing and assessing the program to “ensure that it’s being utilized effectively ahead of a citywide rollout.”
A new legal case management system was also scheduled to launch in March, but it is not ready. City officials said that they do not expect to have it ready until later in 2024.
The Chicago Police Department is also under a federal court order to change the way it disciplines and supervises police officers. In over four years, the department has reportedly complied with just 7% of the requirements since the agreement in 2019.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, D, responded to the findings by saying that it is his “top priority” to comply with the federal agreement’s requirements.
Taylor Swift announces Vienna concert cancellations over alleged terror plot
Taylor Swift announced the cancellation of three concerts in Vienna after two men were arrested in connection with an alleged terror plot targeting the events. Police said one of the suspects is a 19-year-old who pledged allegiance to ISIS and both men became radicalized online.
“We have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety,” a message from Barracuda Music said. “All tickets will be automatically refunded.”
A bomb squad reported finding chemical substances while taking the 19-year-old into custody at his home. Investigators are working to determine if they could be used to make a bomb.
The pair reportedly had detailed plans on how the attack would unfold.
Before the cancellation, the concerts were expected to draw 65,000 fans a day, with another 10,000 to 15,000 outside the arena.
The alleged terror plot comes after three children died after a stabbing attack in the U.K. during a Taylor Swift-themed class for kids.
Swift said the stabbings left her in “shock” and she was “at a complete loss of how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
