American News Visiter

Indiana native was a National Merit Scholar and student journalist at Princeton PRINCETON, NJ — The Princeton University community is mourning the tragic loss of Lauren Blackburn , a 23-year-old undergraduate student who was reported missing on April 19 and was found dead near Lake Carnegie on April 25 , according to the university’s Department of Public Safety. Blackburn was last seen around 6 p.m. ET near Firestone Library on campus. His cellphone was later traced to the area surrounding Lake Carnegie , a reservoir adjacent to Princeton’s Ivy League campus, prompting focused search efforts by law enforcement and volunteers. Remembering Lauren Blackburn Blackburn, originally from Indiana , was recognized as one of 2,500 National Merit Scholarship recipients in 2019. He was also a former staff writer for The Daily Princetonian , the student-run newspaper at Princeton. Kate Robinson, Blackburn’s former English teacher at Corydon Central High School , once said: “He can rea...

Bay County deputies say the suspect tricked the victim using fake ICE gear and a radio PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL — A Florida woman is facing kidnapping and impersonation charges after allegedly posing as an ICE agent to abduct her ex-boyfriend’s wife , according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office . Authorities say Latrance Battle approached the victim at her job at a Days Inn hotel on April 10, wearing black clothing, a face mask, and a shirt that said “ICE.” Battle allegedly showed a fake ID card and demanded the victim leave with her, claiming it was an immigration matter. The victim, currently in the process of obtaining U.S. legal residency, complied out of fear, according to investigators. While riding in the back of Battle’s car, she tried calling her lawyer and husband, but Battle allegedly snatched her phone away and continued pretending to coordinate with “agents” via a handheld radio . Victim Escapes After Suspicion Grows As the car drove past the sheriff’s office a...

  Lyndell Price and two others face up to 25 years in prison for alleged arson plot Houston, TX – Federal prosecutors have indicted Lyndell Price , a well-known Houston restaurateur, in connection with a 2020 explosion and fire at Bar 5015 , a bar owned by his former business partner. Price, 42, is charged alongside Armani Williams , 27, and John Lee Price , 39. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the trio faces charges of conspiracy to commit arson and arson , both of which carry penalties of up to 25 years in prison . Lyndell and John Price also face an additional charge of conspiracy to use an interstate facility to commit arson of a vehicle , which could add another five years if convicted. Bar 5015 Explosion: What Happened? According to federal court documents, the incident occurred on June 12, 2020 , when Williams and an unidentified co-conspirator allegedly purchased gasoline, cans, and face masks at a local truck stop. Surveillance footage and phone records ...

Family says cause of death was suicide; hailed her as a warrior for abuse survivors Virginia Giuffre , a prominent survivor and accuser in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case, has died at age 41 , her family confirmed in a public statement released on April 25 . Giuffre died near her home in Neergabby, Australia , with the cause of death listed as suicide . An Advocate for Justice "Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking," her family said. "She was the light that lifted so many survivors… she will be missed beyond measure." Born Virginia Roberts , Giuffre rose to international attention for her outspoken role in bringing allegations against Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell , and several high-profile individuals. Her testimony was instrumental in publicizing and investigating the abuse scandal that eventually led to Maxwell's conviction and Epstein’s arrest. Facing Powerful Names In 2015, Giuffre a...

U.S. citizen accused of directing secessionist attacks via social media A Maryland man who called himself the "Master of Mutilation" has been indicted for inciting violence and directing separatist fighters, known as Amba Boys , to carry out mutilations and killings in Cameroon , according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Social Media as a Weapon of War Identified as Erin Tano Tataw , the man used Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter to issue commands to separatists in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions , instructing them to carry out brutal acts. Prosecutors allege Tataw coined terms like “small Garri” for finger amputations and “large Garri” for killing or dismemberment. The Justice Department said these posts reached tens of thousands and were part of a larger campaign to support a breakaway region called Ambazonia . Tataw also allegedly ran a fundraising initiative called the National AK Campaign , which raised over $110,000 to arm fighters. Facing Serious Charges Tat...

Pope Francis had one last humble wish— a simple, small funeral . But the scale of the operation currently underway in Vatican City tells a very different story. As thousands of mourners and world leaders prepare to bid farewell to the pontiff in St. Peter’s Basilica , the event has transformed into one of the most complex and high-security gatherings the modern world has seen— on par with royal funerals and presidential inaugurations . A Humble Request, Overshadowed by Reality Before his passing, Pope Francis emphasized his desire for a quiet, "simple" ceremony without particular decoration . This aligned with his mission throughout his papacy: to strip away excess and reconnect the Roman Catholic Church with ordinary people. But the sheer magnitude of his influence, the current global security climate, and the expected presence of over 200 VIPs including heads of state, meant that simplicity had to give way to caution. Security Operation of an Unprecedented Scale ...

In recent years, wildlife trafficking has become an increasing global concern, not just in terms of iconic, large animals like elephants, tigers, or rhinos, but also with lesser-known species that play crucial ecological roles. A recent case in Kenya has brought to light a shocking new trend in wildlife trafficking — the trade of ants. Two Belgian teenagers, Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19, were arrested on April 5, 2025, for trafficking 5,000 rare ants that were valued at $9,200. This case, however, is far from isolated. It underscores a growing global threat to biodiversity, with traffickers seeking to exploit even the smallest and most overlooked species for profit. The Case: Two Teenagers and 5,000 Ants David and Lodewijckx were arrested at a guest house in Naivasha, a small town located in western Kenya, known for its stunning wildlife parks and lakes. The two teenagers, who had entered the country on tourist visas, were found in possession of thousands of ants, whi...