South Florida Local News

Today is Wednesday, Nov. 26, the 330th day of 2025. There are 35 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Nov. 26, 1973, President Richard Nixon’s personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, told a federal court she’d accidentally caused part of the 18 1/2-minute erasure of a key Watergate tape. The gap was in a 1972 recording of a conversation between Nixon and his chief of staff.

Also on this date:

In 1791, President George Washington held his first full cabinet meeting; in attendance were Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox and Attorney General Edmund Randolph.

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In 1864, English mathematician Charles Dodgson presented the illustrated manuscript “Alice’s Adventures Under Ground” to his friend Alice Pleasance Liddell, 12, a book later published under the pen name Lewis Carroll as “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

In 1917, the National Hockey League was founded in Montreal, succeeding the National Hockey Association.

In 1941, U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull delivered a note to Japan’s ambassador to the United States, Kichisaburo Nomura, setting forth U.S. demands for “lasting and extensive peace throughout the Pacific area.” The same day, a Japanese naval task force of six aircraft carriers left the Kuril Islands, bound for Hawaii, days before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

In 1942, the film “Casablanca,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, premiered at the Hollywood Theater in New York City.

In 1998, two trains collided in the northern town of Khanna, India, killing 210 people in one of that country’s deadliest rail disasters.

In 2000, Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris certified Republican George W. Bush the winner over Democrat Al Gore in the state’s presidential balloting by a 537-vote margin. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately stopped recounts of the vote, and Bush won Florida’s 25 electoral votes and the presidential election.

In 2008, teams of heavily armed militants from the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba stormed luxury hotels, a popular restaurant and a crowded train station in Mumbai, India, leaving at least 175 people dead (including nine of the attackers) in a rampage spanning four days.

In 2011, a rocket carrying NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

In 2019, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Albania, killing at least 49 people, injuring some 2,000 others and leaving at least 4,000 homeless.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Impressionist Rich Little is 87.
• Football Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud is 83.
• Author Marilynne Robinson is 82.
• Bass guitarist John McVie (Fleetwood Mac) is 80.
• Football Hall of Famer Art Shell is 79.
• Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is 72.
• Football Hall of Famer Harry Carson is 72.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett is 69.
• Country singer Linda Davis is 63.
• Actor-TV personality Garcelle Beauvais is 59.
• Actor Peter Facinelli is 52.
• DJ-music producer DJ Khaled (KAL’-ehd) is 50.
• Country musician Joe Nichols is 49.
• Pop singer Natasha Bedingfield is 44.
• Actor-singer-TV personality Rita Ora is 35.

UCF basketball has faced its fair share of hurdles on the court this season, yet the Knights have remained resilient, posting an impressive start to the season.

On Tuesday, the Knights faced another challenge against a seemingly unpretentious Quinnipiac team that had just pulled off an impressive 83-75 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday.

The Bobcats remained on fire from beyond the arc, sinking 10 3-pointers to build a double-digit lead before UCF went on a 22-6 run in the second half to pull out a 102-91 win at Additiona Financial Arena.

It was the first time the Knights scored 100 points since scoring 104 against Villanova on April 5, 2025.

It was a thrilling win for the Knights, who improved to 6-1 for the first time since the 2018-19 season, when the program last qualified for the NCAA tournament.

Five different UCF players scored in double figures, led by Jeremy Foumena’s career-high 18 points, Riley Kugel’s 16, Jared Burks and John Bol had 13 apiece and Chris Johnson had 11.

“The first half, we kind of came out flat,” said Burks. “In the second half, Coach told us we need to dig in and get stops, get kills. That’s what it’s all about is getting kills, getting stopped, and we scored off our defense.”

“I thought our guys did respond and they dug in and we got some stops that we need in order to get some momentum,” said coach Johnny Dawkins.

Quinnipiac was led by Jaden Zimmerman, who scored 21 points, while Amari Monroe had 14 points and Grant Randall had 12.

Kugel kicked off the scoring for UCF with the team’s first 5 points, quickly setting the tone for the Knights that evening.

Quinnipiac initially fell behind by 5 points but rallied back, largely thanks to Randall, who contributed 8 points to help the Bobcats take their first lead, 10-9, with 15:33 remaining in the first half.

Jordan Burks then drained a 3-pointer, allowing the Knights to regain the lead at 12-10, but Amarri Monroe quickly answered back with a layup, leveling the score at 12.

UCF struggled to find its rhythm, making only 1 of their next 6 shots over three minutes until Carmelo Pancheco hit a floater, sparking a 10-3 run that pushed the Knights ahead 22-17.

However, the Bobcats countered with a 16-8 run, fueled by 4 3-pointers, which gave them their largest lead of the night at 33-30.

Every time UCF attempted to fight back, Quinnipiac seemed to have an answer ready. A couple of 3-pointers from Devin Cambridge and Kugel tied the game at 39, but a layup and a 3-pointer from Samson Reilly moved the Bobcats ahead by 5 at 44-39 with just 3:56 left in the half.

There were seven lead changes in the first half, but QU led 52-47 at the half after shooting 57% (16 of 28) through the first 20 minutes.

Quinnipiac (4-3) picked up where it left off in the first half, connecting on a pair of 3-pointers, extending the lead to double-digits at 60-50.

But UCF went on a 22-6 run to retake the lead and pull away midway through the second half. The Knights held the Bobcats to 1 of 15 shooting down the stretch.

Johnson scored all 11 of his points in the second half, while Foumena had 10 of his 18.

UCF hosts VMI at Addition Financial Arena on Saturday with tipoff set for 1 p.m. The last time the Knights opened a season at 7-1 was in coach Johnny Dawkins’ first season in 2016-17. That year, the team finished 24-12 and reached the NIT semifinals.

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

The Miami Hurricanes have one week left to prove they deserve a spot in the College Football Playoff, and hope is still alive.

Miami is No. 12 in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night, which likely puts them on the outside of the playoff field. But UM could still make its way in.

“Miami, again is a team that … really appears that they’re starting to look like the Miami team that started 5-0,” selection committee chair Hunter Yurachek said. “And what they’ve been able to do over the last three weeks and winning those three games and looking really good on the offensive side of the ball.”

The Hurricanes are currently in the projected bracket, but that is because they are the top-ranked ACC team. The winner of the ACC title game will likely take that spot, and UM is unlikely to play for the conference title.

Miami trails several fellow two-loss teams, including No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 10 Alabama. The Fighting Irish obliterated Syracuse last week. Oklahoma beat previously ranked Missouri in a low-scoring game. Alabama rolled to a win over an FCS team.

Miami moved one spot ahead of Utah after the Utes escaped what would have been a fatal home loss against Kansas State, winning in the game’s final minute.

The Hurricanes are also threatened from behind by No. 14 Vanderbilt, which faces No. 19 Tennessee in the final week of the season. No. 16 Texas could make a case for a playoff spot despite having three losses if it beats No. 3 Texas A&M this week.

The Hurricanes have been at the center of a national debate about their placement in the College Football Playoff rankings compared to Notre Dame. Miami has consistently ranked several spots behind the Fighting Irish since the committee started ranking the teams at the start of November even though UM and Notre Dame have the same record and Miami won the head-to-head matchup in Week 1.

The selection committee chairs, Mack Rhoades and now Yurachek, have said this season that the difference between the teams is that the Hurricanes lost to then-unranked Louisville and SMU, but the Fighting Irish lost to UM and No. 3 Texas A&M. SMU is now ranked in the top 25 and could reach the playoffs for the second consecutive year if it makes the ACC title game and wins.

“(Miami’s loss to SMU) definitively is viewed differently than it was versus an unranked SMU team,” Yurachek said.

Yurachek did praise the Hurricanes’ recent performance, singling out quarterback Carson Beck for praise.

“What we’ve talked about as a committee in the middle of the season, Miami lacked some consistency, especially on the offensive side of the ball,” Yurachek said. “It appears in the last three weeks they have fixed that, especially Carson Beck is back to the Carson Beck, I think, that really played those first five games. … So Miami again is a team very much on the rise. They’ve moved six spots since the initial poll has come out and they’re really the highest climber in our top 25 during that time.”

Now Notre Dame appears to be a near-lock for the playoff, while Miami is battling for one of the last at-large berths (barring an unlikely appearance in the ACC title game).

“There’s one scenario that matters — just one — and that’s us finding a way to be 1-0,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said Monday. “That’s it. Again, (I am) a 100 percent believer, as football has always been, in the field test. That’s always the most important test. And we get one weekly, unless you have a bye week.”

Beck, who played for three College Football Playoff qualifiers (and two national champions) at Georgia, said he believes the Hurricanes have bounced back well from the losses they suffered earlier in the season.

“I think what I’ve said since the beginning of the season is the true testament of a team is how they respond when they face adversity, and we faced adversity this year,” Beck said.

“We maybe slipped up a little bit and maybe didn’t play our best, and we fell short a couple of times, and adversity was right in our face. I don’t know, you can go look at the games. We’ve responded in what I believe to be an amazing way. Guys are in here. The energy is high at practice. The energy is high in workouts and film. Guys are showing up earlier, staying later. Just the time commitment that you see from this team and the care factor from everybody is at an all-time high after facing that adversity.

“Again, like I said, the true testament of a team is when they face adversity. And I feel like we’ve really been able to show who we are, and I feel like that holds a lot of weight.”

Here is this week’s College Football Playoff rankings:

1. Ohio State

2. Indiana

3. Texas A&M

4. Georgia

5. Texas Tech

6. Oregon

7. Ole Miss

8. Oklahoma

9. Notre Dame

10. Alabama

11. BYU

12. Miami

13. Utah

14. Vanderbilt

15. Michigan

16. Texas

17. USC

18. Virginia

19. Tennessee

20. Arizona State

21. SMU

22. Pittsburgh

23. Georgia Tech

24. Tulane

25. Arizona

By COLLEEN SLEVIN

DENVER (AP) — A federal judge ruled Tuesday that immigration officers in Colorado can only arrest people without a warrant if they think those people are likely to flee.

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U.S. District Senior Judge R. Brooke Jackson issued the order in a legal challenge brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado and other lawyers.

They’re representing four people, including asylum-seekers, who were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement without warrants this year as part of President Donald Trump’s increased immigration enforcement. The lawsuit accuses immigration officers of indiscriminately arresting Latinos to meet enforcement goals without evaluating what’s required to legally detain them.

Jackson said each of those who sued had longstanding ties to their communities and no reasonable officer could have concluded they were likely to flee before getting a warrant to arrest them.

Before arresting anyone without a warrant, immigration officers must have probable cause to believe both that someone is in the country illegally and that they are likely to flee before an arrest warrant can be obtained, under federal law, he said. Jackson also said immigration officers needed to document the reasons for why they are arresting someone.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, called it an “activist ruling” and said the department follows the law.

“Allegations that DHS law enforcement engages in ‘racial profiling’ are disgusting, reckless, and categorically FALSE,” she said in a statement.

The ruling is similar to one made earlier this year in a case brought by another chapter of the ACLU in California involving arrests by Border Patrol agents. The government has appealed that ruling.

Another judge had also issued a restraining order barring federal agents from stopping people based solely on their race, language, job or location in the Los Angeles area after finding that they were conducting indiscriminate stops. The Supreme Court lifted that order in September.

McLaughlin suggested the government would appeal the Colorado ruling.

“The Supreme Court recently vindicated us on this question elsewhere, and we look forward to further vindication in this case as well,” she said.

By ELLIOT SPAGAT and VALERIE GONZALEZ

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A week before Chancely Fanfan was scheduled to attend an immigration court hearing in San Diego, he received a letter from the Department of Homeland Security instructing him to show up for what he thought would be a routine check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after his hearing.

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After the 31-year-old Haitian man showed up with his wife and 11-month-old baby to his court hearing and ICE check-in on Oct. 20, immigration officers arrested him, providing no reason other than that the government required it, his attorneys said.

Fanfan had no criminal history and showed up to all his court hearings and check-ins with ICE since his arrival in the U.S. last year, according to the petition filed Tuesday in the Southern District of California. The Center for Immigration Law and Policy and the Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law are challenging the October detentions of Fanfan and two others following their check-ins with immigration officers.

“Petitioners have had no criminal contact since their prior releases from DHS custody, and two petitioners have no criminal history of any kind,” according to the petition.

The petitioners were detained after entering through or between U.S. ports of entry when they came to the country. After vetting, they were released from federal custody.

The lawsuit alleges immigrants are being deprived of due process after previously being declared fit for release, only to be arrested and detained when suddenly summoned to reappear at an ICE office. Many cases involve people whose cases in immigration court were reopened.

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday.

The UCLA School of Law’s Center for Immigration Law and Policy said the detentions in San Diego alone “are certainly in the dozens, and likely exceeds 100.” The lawsuit is asking the judge to certify the class, which could mean that others who were arrested and detained in similar circumstances could benefit from a favorable ruling.

A gardener from Mexico who has lived in the U.S. for more than 30 years sat on the floor of a long hallway outside a packed waiting room at ICE’s San Diego office on Monday. He spoke to The Associated Press on condition that only his first name, Lorenzo, be published because he feared potential consequences.

About 10 years ago, Border Patrol arrested Lorenzo at a highway checkpoint in Southern California. He went before an immigration judge who closed his case and spared him from being deported. For years, he had heard nothing from immigration authorities until last week, when he was told his case was being reopened and that he was to report to ICE on Monday. He didn’t follow up with the AP after his check-in.

Arrests at ICE check-ins appear to have accelerated since early October in San Diego. Lynn Devine, a volunteer observer, saw one woman who checked in being escorted to an elevator in handcuffs by two officers on Monday.

“She was looking at the floor. I told her I was praying for her,” Devine said.

A federal judge will be deciding whether to release the three petitioners and whether to declare such detentions unlawful.

TALLAHASSEE — A divided federal appeals court Tuesday ruled that Florida can begin enforcing a 2024 law aimed at preventing children from having access to certain social-media platforms, rejecting arguments that the measure violates First Amendment rights.

A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, granted the state’s request for a stay of a preliminary injunction that U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued in June to block the law (HB 3). Tuesday’s decision means the state can enforce the law while a legal battle continues to play out — with Attorney General James Uthmeier quickly posting on X that “HB 3 is now the law of the state and will be enforced.”

The law prevents children under age 14 from opening accounts on certain platforms — which court documents indicate could include platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and YouTube. Parents would have to give consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to have accounts on the platforms.

Supporters of the law, one of the biggest issues of the 2024 legislative session, contend that the targeted platforms have addictive features that harm children’s mental health. The majority of the appeals-court panel rejected Walker’s conclusion that the law likely violated the First Amendment.

“Rather than blocking children from accessing social media altogether, HB 3 simply prevents them from creating accounts on platforms that employ addictive features,” Judge Elizabeth Branch wrote in the 26-page majority opinion joined by Judge Barbara Lagoa. “And even among such platforms, the law narrows its focus to those that have evidenced significant usage by children and young teens. The district court erred in holding otherwise.”

But Judge Robin Rosenbaum, in a 29-page dissent, called the law “plainly unconstitutional on its face” and said it also will affect adults, who will be subject to age verification to have accounts on the targeted platforms.

“As it’s written, the act purports to regulate the speech of everyone who uses the covered social media websites,” Rosenbaum wrote. “For minors, it acts as a categorical ban on speech (and access to speech) on covered social media platforms. And it forces the platform to demand identifying information from all users, including adults. In doing so, it chills countless users’ speech on deeply personal, political, religious and familial matters — reaching the heart of what the First Amendment was designed to protect in the first place.”

The industry groups NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association filed the lawsuit last year in federal court in Tallahassee. The group’s members include companies such as Google, Meta Platforms and Snap Inc., the operator of Snapchat.

The state went to the Atlanta-based appeals court after Walker issued the preliminary injunction.

While Tuesday’s ruling allows the law to be at least temporarily enforced, it did not resolve the underlying battle about the injunction.

“Briefing (on the preliminary injunction) has finished, and we look forward to the opportunity to explain the law’s constitutional problems to the court directly,” Paul Taske, co-director of the NetChoice Litigation Center, said in a prepared statement Tuesday. “We will consider all available options to ensure Floridians’ online communication is safe and free. Florida’s censorship regime not only violates its citizens’ free speech rights but also makes all users — especially minors — less safe.”

The law did not name platforms that would be affected. But it includes criteria such as whether platforms’ features include infinite scroll and autoplay.

The appeals court’s majority opinion said the law was “content neutral.”

“And plaintiffs do not point to any language in the statute or other evidence that the Florida Legislature’s justification for passing the law was related to the suppression of speech or disagreement with certain topics or viewpoints,” Branch wrote. “Instead, they argue that ‘HB 3 targets websites based on the social subject matter of the material they disseminate.’ But HB 3 defines social media platforms by reference to a form of expression, not a subject matter.”

But Rosenbaum wrote that the law is “content based,” saying, for example, it doesn’t apply to streaming services that include many of the same features as the targeted platforms.

“For instance, platforms like YouTube and Snapchat are covered, but websites like Hulu and Disney+ are not,” Rosenbaum wrote. “And the act determines whether a platform is covered based on what content that platform permits. Generally speaking, if a platform involves public user-to-user speech, then the platform is covered; if it doesn’t, it’s not.”

News Service senior writer Dara Kam contributed to this report.

By MICHAEL R. SISAK

The federal Bureau of Prisons is closing a California lockup that was once home to Al Capone and Charles Manson over concerns about crumbling infrastructure, including falling concrete that threatens to knock out the facility’s heating system, according to an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press.

Director William K. Marshall III told staff on Tuesday that the agency is suspending operations at the Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island, a low-security prison south of Los Angeles. It currently houses nearly 1,000 inmates, including cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried and disgraced celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti.

The decision to close the facility, at least temporarily, “is not easy, but is absolutely necessary,” Marshall wrote, calling it a matter of “safety, common sense, and doing what is right for the people who work and live inside that institution.”

FCI Terminal Island, opened in 1938, is the latest Bureau of Prisons facility to be targeted for closure as the beleaguered agency struggles with mounting staff vacancies, a $3 billion repair backlog and an expanded mission to support President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown by taking in thousands of detainees.

Marshall cited problems with underground tunnels containing the facility’s steam heating system. Ceilings in the tunnels have begun to deteriorate, causing chunks of concrete to fall and putting employees and the heating system at risk, he said.

• TOPSHOT – Inmates gather at a recreation yard behind security fencing at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Terminal Island, a low-security federal prison for men operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the harbor entrance to the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
• Inmates gather at a recreation yard behind security fencing at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Terminal Island, a low-security federal prison for men operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the harbor entrance to the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
• Inmate cell blocks behind security fencing at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Terminal Island, a low-security federal prison for men operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the harbor entrance to the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
• Bars cover windows behind security fencing at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Terminal Island, a low-security federal prison for men operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the harbor entrance to the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Show Caption1 of 4TOPSHOT – Inmates gather at a recreation yard behind security fencing at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Terminal Island, a low-security federal prison for men operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the harbor entrance to the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California on September 13, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) Expand

“We are not going to wait for a crisis,” Marshall told employees. “We are not going to gamble with lives. And we are not going to expect people to work or live in conditions that we would never accept for ourselves.”

Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Randilee Giamusso, responding to the AP’s questions about FCI Terminal Island, confirmed that the agency is taking “immediate action” to “safeguard staff and inmates.”

Inmates at the facility will be moved to other federal prisons “with a priority on keeping individuals as close as possible to their anticipated release locations,” Giamusso said. In his memo to staff, Marshall indicated that the process could take several weeks.

The facility’s future will be decided once the Bureau of Prisons has “assessed the situation further and ensured the safety of all those involved,” she said.

The Bureau of Prisons has long been bedeviled by FCI Terminal Island’s aging infrastructure, Giamusso said. In April 2024, an architectural and engineering firm contracted by the agency identified more than $110 million in critical repairs needed over the next 20 years.

The closure echoes that of the agency’s federal jail in Manhattan in 2021.

The Bureau of Prisons, the Justice Department’s largest employer, has more than 30,000 workers, 122 facilities, about 155,000 inmates and an annual budget that exceeds $8.5 billion. But the agency’s footprint has shrunk over the last year as it wrestles with financial constraints, chronic understaffing and changing priorities.

An Associated Press investigation has uncovered deep, previously unreported flaws within the Bureau of Prisons, including rampant sexual abuse, widespread criminal activity by employees, dozens of escapes and the free flow of guns, drugs and other contraband.

In December 2024, in a cost-cutting move, the agency announced it was idling six prison camps and permanently closing a women’s prison in Dublin, California, that was known as the “rape club” because of rampant sexual abuse by the warden and other employees.

In February, an agency official told Congress that 4,000 beds meant for inmates at various facilities were unusable because of dangerous conditions like leaking or failing roofs, mold, asbestos or lead.

At the same time, the agency is building a new prison in Kentucky and, at Trump’s direction, exploring the possibility of reopening Alcatraz, the notorious penitentiary in San Francisco Bay that last held inmates more than 60 years ago.

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Marshall, his top deputy and Attorney General Pam Bondi visited in July, but four months later, Alcatraz remains a tourist attraction and a relic of a bygone era in corrections.

In addition to failing facilities, the Bureau of Prisons has been plagued for years by severe staffing shortages that have led to long overtime shifts and the use of prison nurses, teachers, cooks and other workers to guard inmates.

That problem has only worsened in recent months, in part because of a hiring freeze and recruiting by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has lured correctional officers away with promises of signing bonuses of up to $50,000.

In September, Marshall said the Bureau of Prisons was canceling its collective bargaining agreement with workers. He said their union had become “an obstacle to progress instead of a partner in it.” The union, the Council of Prison Locals, is suing to block the move, calling it “arbitrary and capricious.”

By MELISSA GOLDIN

In addition to pardoning two North Carolina turkeys at the annual White House ceremony Tuesday, President Donald Trump discussed his crime-fighting efforts in Washington, D.C., claiming that it’s been months since the city has seen a murder.

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But Metropolitan Police Department statistics say otherwise.

Trump deployed National Guard troops to Washington in August in an effort to curb violent crime even though it had already reached its lowest levels in decades.

Here’s a closer look at the facts.

TRUMP: “We haven’t had a murder in six months.”

THE FACTS: That’s false. There have been 62 homicides in Washington since May 25, including one last week, according to the MPD. The city has seen 123 homicides so far in 2025. Since National Guard troops were deployed to Washington on Aug. 11, there have been 24. In some data, only 61 homicides were reported in the last six months, and only 23 since Aug. 11, because of a technical error, the MPD said.

Asked for comment on Trump’s claim, the department said that the statistics speak for themselves.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers stressed Trump’s transformation of Washington “from a crime-ridden mess into a beautiful, clean, safe city” when asked about the discrepancy between his claim and city data. She did not address the discrepancy directly.

A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to end its monthslong deployment of National Guard troops in the nation’s capital. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb found that Trump’s military takeover illegally intrudes on local officials’ authority to direct law enforcement in the district. The order is on hold for 21 days to allow for appeal.

District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb in September sued to challenge the Guard deployments. He asked the judge to bar the White House from deploying Guard troops without the mayor’s consent while the lawsuit plays out.

During the turkey pardoning, Trump said Washington “is now considered a safe zone,” making the erroneous claim that “we haven’t seen a murder in six months.”

A Department of Justice report from January showed that total violent crime in 2024 was at the lowest it had been in more than 30 years, including a 32% drop in homicides from 2023, when it experienced a post-pandemic peak.

Homicides in the past six months are down 46% from the same period last year, while homicides since the August deployment are down 38% from the previous period, MPD data shows. There has been a 29% decrease in homicides in 2025 to date compared to 2024.

Violent crime during the National Guard’s initial one-month surge in Washington was down 39% from the same period last year, including a 53% drop in homicides, with seven during the surge, compared to 15 during the same timespan in 2024.

Arson is the only type of crime that has not seen a decrease, with a 0% change from last year to this year.

The city’s statistics came into question, however, after federal authorities opened an investigation into allegations that officials altered some of the data to make it look better. The investigation is ongoing.

Associated Press writers Gary Fields and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this report.

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday it was opening an investigation into SeaWorld Orlando’s parent company after complaints that its parks’ ban on “rollator walkers” discriminates against guests with disabilities.

The investigation will look into whether SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay — all owned or licensed by United Parks & Resorts Inc — violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. The parks do not allow rollator walkers, which have wheels and a seat.

The act prohibits discrimination based on disability by public accommodations, including theme parks. Those who complained said they couldn’t access the parks without their rollators and the only alternative the parks offered would require them to rent other mobility aids that were inappropriate for their disabilities, the justice department said in a letter sent to the company’s chief executive officer.

Gregory Kehoe, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, which includes Orlando and Tampa, said his office is committed to ensuring that all individuals with disabilities are guaranteed their rights under federal law.

“Every year, millions of people from around the world travel to Florida to visit our theme parks,” Kehoe said in a statement issues with a department news release on the investigation “No one should ever be denied equal access to public accommodations based on disability.”

Kehoe and Harmeet K. Dhillon, the U.S. Assistant Attorney General for the department’s civil rights division, informed CEO Marc Swanson of the investigation in their letter and said the department had not reached any conclusions about the company’s compliance with the ADA.

They asked that company representatives meet with a DOJ attorney to discuss the matter within a week.

The company didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment Tuesday evening.

Guest accessibility pages on the websites for the three parks say rollator walkers with seats are banned, but walkers without seats are allowed. Each says standard wheelchairs and electric convenience vehicles, or ECVs, are available to rent. SeaWorld Orlando’s website says the rental prices start at $40 for wheelchairs and $110 for ECVs.

The SeaWorld Orlando page says the ban is for the safety of park guests and employees, while the pages for Aquatica Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay say the ban is due to different pathway configurations and terrain.

The DOJ letter said that suggesting visitors with disabilities who use rollator walkers rent alternative devices could be another potential violation of the law.

General Daily Insight for November 26, 2025

We’re making progress, even if we can’t see it just yet. Romantic Venus supports expansive Jupiter, and so our generosity is heightened. Cooperation could also come more naturally, especially once expressive Venus trines disciplined Saturn at 6:48 PM EST. Simple promises should be easier to keep when we’re with good company! To cap things off, the temperamental Moon challenges chatty Mercury, so we may need to keep an eye on our tone. With care and affection, success in any current arena is almost guaranteed.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Honest feelings make hard talks easier — or bearable, at least. Joint custody of anything, from a living space to a child, is today’s focus. That’s thanks to Venus in your sharing sector aligning with disciplined Saturn in your 12th House of Privacy. You may raise the topic of a budget or schedule change. The universe supports such discussions. A simple review of things at home can let off pressure and deepen closeness. Choose plain words to ensure that you’re understood.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Words mean things! Okay, maybe that’s usually obvious, but it needs to be said right now. Tender Venus is reaching from your compatibility sector to embrace good-natured Jupiter, encouraging you to consider your communication with your loved ones. Give them the benefit of the doubt when it comes to potential miscommunications regarding your schedules. If a promise feels vague, ask for a clearer time. Specific details help you (and them) feel cared for. Name simple needs, and come through for the needs of others.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Tiny tweaks can smooth over routine bumps. Venus and Saturn work together, uniting your sensible 6th house and your motivated 10th house. Whether or not you normally write down a specific to-do list, try doing so today. Knowing exactly what you have to do should make it easier to get it done! It’ll also help you touch base with anyone affected by your current efforts (or whose activities would affect you). Thinking ahead is the best way to stop potential tangles from entrapping you.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Lighthearted fun feeds your caring heart. Your 5th House of Recreation hosts Venus as she hugs Jupiter — who’s currently in your loyal sign. Inspiration is everywhere! Pay attention to the things that make you happy today, even little ones like the crunch of leaves underfoot or the warmth of your favorite jacket. If someone needs reassurance, offer a caring hug. Your presence could be enough to steady emotions and keep the mood from falling, even during tough moments. There is always room for joy!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Two viewpoints can coexist at once — despite any loud claims to the contrary. The tetchy Moon squares trickster Mercury, affecting both your amicable 7th house and traditional 4th house. A minor misunderstanding is at risk of puffing up far bigger than necessary. If a partner or roommate raises a home chore complaint, hear them out. Whether it’s actually reasonable, though, is up to you. Everyone deserves to feel seen, but not every issue is worth fighting over. Aim for fairness above all else.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Plain words make complicated plans feel possible at this time. Thankfully, Venus and Saturn’s trine across your talkative 3rd house and direct 7th house should help you speak your mind. It’s possible that you’ll need to rewrite a few messages — especially if they were first drafted out of irritation. If someone rambles, make an effort to keep track of the main point. They’ll likely be grateful that someone’s paying attention. When it’s your turn to speak, remember: concision is key.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Practical choices can still be enjoyable. The emotional Moon is in your 5th House of Frolicking, squaring cerebral Mercury in your 2nd House of Tangible Assets. If fun plans bump into financial walls, don’t panic. You can still have fun without blowing your budget. To avoid as much stress as possible, pay attention to the price tag before you make plans. Visiting a public park or watching a movie at home are both great options for inexpensive joy. Happiness shouldn’t be locked behind a paywall.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Your presence speaks before you say anything. Free-loving Venus trines karmic Saturn, helping you present yourself with warmth without making rude individuals think they can walk all over you. You may speak first in a meeting about the plan, trusting your natural poise to ensure people take you seriously. You’d also be wise to lean into creativity, because its charm can boost your confidence and magnify your social power. Leading with kindness doesn’t damage your authority — in fact, it can earn lasting respect.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

You can’t be “on” 24-7, and today is a good day to acknowledge that. With Venus in your quiet 12th house trining Saturn in your congenial 4th house, resting is even more vital than usual. Don’t worry about getting too much done (though doing a calm chore like folding laundry could be quite soothing). The main focus is patience with yourself and loved ones. There’s no need to rush! Instead, give your intuition time to work out the wisest course of action.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Friends should currently respond well to steady, thoughtful leadership. Beautiful Venus fortifies jovial Jupiter, allying your friendship quadrant and your partnership zone. Your social circles may need someone to set up plans that feel truly fair. Perhaps you’ll host a community meet-up after work or work out who’s bringing what to the friend potluck. Taking a steady approach to group plans should keep things moving in a respectful, focused manner. Lead with patience, because your team won’t function half as well without it.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

A quick check-in can calm swirling thoughts. Your self-presentation and first impressions take the spotlight as the intuitive Moon squares mental Mercury, so reactions could show on your face before words even form. A boss might question a timeline, or your audience may push for changes, particularly if you work in the public eye. Be proud of the work you do, even if they don’t understand its depth. You can defend your work without being defensive — just keep your cool.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Tiny worries may hurt a lot at the moment, but you’re capable of banishing them. Stepping back to look at the big picture is a great place to begin. Delightful Venus trines direct Saturn, combining the powers of your curious 9th house and personable 1st house. With Saturn in your sign, a mentor likely has great advice to offer about whatever’s going on. Even if they haven’t been in your exact circumstances, their experience can soothe any anxieties about your path ahead.