(NEW YORK) -- A third suspect was arrested on murder charges in the death of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old Black mother of four whose body was found hanging from a tree behind an apparently vacant Jackson, Mississippi, home on Aug. 3.

Police arrested Eric Clark, a 45-year-old Black man, on murder charges in Fortune's death on Friday, the Jackson Police Department announced. Clark is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, police said. It is unclear if he has retained an attorney.

Clark's arrest came after two other Black men were arrested earlier this month and charged with murder in this case.

During a hearing on Sept. 23, bond was denied for Earnest Lloyd Jr., 25, one of the suspects, according to ABC affiliate station WAPT in Jackson. It is unclear if he has retained an attorney in his case.

Jarques Ratliff, 51, was arrested on Sept. 11 and charged with murder. According to an affidavit, Ratliff is accused of using a black cable cord to hang Fortune from a tree, WAPT reported. Ratliff pleaded not guilty during a hearing on Sept. 14, where he was also denied bond.

According to The Associated Press, police disclosed during a pre-trial hearing for Ratliff on Friday that Fortune was killed in a drug dispute before her body was hung in a tree in a "staged" scene.

Asked by ABC News to confirm this detail, a spokesperson for the Jackson Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.

Ratliff's attorney, Toney Baldwin, confirmed his client's not guilty plea to ABC News, but did not comment on the charges.

Following Ratliff's arrest, Fortune's family told ABC News in a statement that they are "grateful" for the arrest, and called for "patience" from the public as the investigation takes its course.

"We would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support and are grateful for the silence to be broken but we also want to say that we wish for people to have patience and wait for the rest of the facts to come out before jumping to conclusions," Fortune's family said in a statement Monday following Ratliffe's arrest. "We are hoping soon we will have more answers."

Christy Spivey, Fortune's mother, told ABC News in an interview on Aug. 8 that her daughter's death has "devastated" the family.

"This has just devastated us," she said. "Tasia was strong-minded, she was full of laughs and love, she had faith in God ... she had so little and gave so much."

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(NEW YORK) -- A 13-year-old boy is in custody after allegedly shooting and seriously wounding a teacher at his New Mexico middle school, authorities said.

The teacher, Kelly Matthews, remains in the hospital where he's considered "stable" but in "critical condition," Hobbs Police Chief James Jones said at a news conference on Sunday.

The shooting unfolded shortly before noon on Friday outside Highland Middle School, near the building's back doors, Jones said.

The 13-year-old went outside the building in between classes, Jones said, and when Matthews walked outside and around a corner, he encountered the suspect, who allegedly immediately began firing at him.

Police have not disclosed a potential motive and said there's no information indicating Matthews was targeted ahead of time.

The 13-year-old fled the school toward a residential area, the chief said. Officers spotted him a few blocks from the school and, after a brief foot pursuit, apprehended him, Jones said.

School nurses jumped in to care for the teacher as officers responded to the scene, police said.

Officers have recovered a semi-automatic handgun they believe the teen allegedly used in the "tragic and violent act," Jones said.

Hobbs Schools Board President Terry O'Brien praised the responding officers' quick actions, saying they prevented the violence from escalating.

The 13-year-old is being held on charges, including aggravated assault on school personnel, shooting threats and unlawfully carrying a deadly weapon, Jones said.

School will be back in session on Monday, police said. The Hobbs Police Department is increasing its officer presence at local schools, with "particular attention to Highland Middle School," the chief said.

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(NEW YORK) -- Millions across the Southwest are on alert for life-threatening flash flooding this week, with the worst of the flooding forecast for Arizona, New Mexico, southern Utah and southern Colorado. 

It's already been one of the wettest Septembers on record for parts of the Southwest. Albuquerque, New Mexico, has recorded 3.31 inches of rain this month, marking the second wettest September ever.

On Monday, a level 3 of 4 flood threat is in place for parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. Areas bracing for dangerous conditions include Santa Fe, New Mexico; Flagstaff, Arizona; Grand Canyon National Park; Zion National Park; and Bryce Canyon National Park.

One to 3 inches of rain is possible, which is more than a month's worth of rain in one day for some areas.

The level 3 flood threats will continue on Tuesday, with 4 to 6 inches of rain possible in some areas Monday through Wednesday. The significant threat will span from Tucson, Arizona, to Albuquerque to Lamar, Colorado, Amarillo, Texas and El Paso, Texas.

On Wednesday and Thursday, a level 3 of 4 flood threat is in place for Dallas, where significant flooding is possible.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Congressional Democrats are pressing federal health officials following the government's decision to end a contract with legal advocacy groups that provide legal representation to migrant children.

In a letter sent Monday to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, lawmakers raised concerns over the government's efforts to award new federal contracts to politically connected firms that they say lack immigration experience.

The 63 lawmakers wrote that they are "gravely concerned that ORR would entrust a vulnerable population with firms so plainly unqualified for the task."

The letter comes after HHS last month awarded a controversial anti-human trafficking organization a no-bid $158 million contract to provide legal services to migrant children.

Utah-based Our Rescue, previously known as Operation Underground Railroad, was founded by activist Tim Ballard, who resigned in 2023 amid allegations of misconduct, which he denied in a statement posted through one of his organizations. 

Our Rescue, according to the group of lawmakers, "does not list legal services among its primary functions."

"Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, ORR is required to provide confidential and qualified legal consultation to unaccompanied children," the lawmakers wrote. "However, Our Rescue does not list legal services among its primary functions, and it is unlikely to have the needed infrastructure and legal expertise to properly provide legal representation for thousands of children across the country."

Currently, Our Rescue is run by Derek Benner, a former DHS official from the first Trump administration.

"If ORR proceeds with this contract, ORR will be gambling with the legal fate of thousands of children on an organization that has not clearly demonstrated it can do this work," the lawmakers wrote.

In a statement, an HHS spokesperson called Our Rescue "a premier organization focused on combatting human trafficking globally."

"Not only do they understand the crime, but they understand the foreign populations who have been preyed upon by criminal networks and who profit from exploiting vulnerable populations," the HHS statement said. "As such, they are perfectly positioned to understand and recognize if or when an unaccompanied child has been victimized and will have the legal representation to pursue any immigration avenues available."

The lawmakers, in their letter, also pointed to a notice from HHS that announced its intent to award a $150 million contract to a small Texas law firm founded by a former Trump appointee. Burke Law Group withdrew from consideration for the contract after lawmakers and advocacy groups raised concerns that the firm did not have experience representing migrant children.

"The withdrawal underscores our concerns with how your agency is handling these contracts and award process," the lawmakers wrote. "These children are a uniquely vulnerable population whose needs and case complexities require highly specialized expertise."

The letter from the lawmakers, which include Rep. Joaquin Castro and Rep. Jasmine Crockett, asks Kennedy and ORR for information regarding the contract with Our Rescue and whether the agencies plan to award additional contracts in support of migrant children.

"Unaccompanied minors are the most vulnerable population in the immigration system," Rep. Castro told ABC News. "We have a moral and statutory duty to provide them with quality legal representation. The Trump administration's attempt to cut out longstanding providers who are equipped to handle these cases jeopardized the well-being of children."

Michael Lukens, the executive director of the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights -- which used to receive funding through a government contract that was terminated -- said that "nonprofits are doing their best to keep the lights on and to help as many unaccompanied children as possible."

"Since the Trump administration took the unprecedented action of letting the contract for children's legal services expire with no plan in place for more than 20,000 kids, we have seen an equally unprecedented attack on immigrant children," he told ABC News.

Immigrant advocacy groups have alleged that unaccompanied children and their sponsors are among those being targeted under the administration's aggressive immigration crackdown. 

In June, DHS agents visited the offices of several Washington-area nonprofit organizations that provide legal services to unaccompanied migrant children. 

Last year, ABC News reported that the administration was directing immigration agents to track down unaccompanied migrant children in the United States.

"We are seeing children being bullied in court to take self-deportation and other children showing up without any counsel, even though the government is mandated to provide them with an attorney," Lukens said. "Unaccompanied immigrant children need meaningful and expert advocacy through the court system, not political games."

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(NEW YORK) -- The worst of the deadly nor'easter that's lashed the Northeast is behind us, and Monday will feature minor impacts as the storm winds down. 

The storm claimed at least one life. The New York Police Department confirmed to ABC News that a 56-year old man died after being struck by a falling tree on Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn while walking through a parking lot.

In a statement on social media, Mayor Zohran Mamdani identified the man as Leighton Brown, an employee of the New York City Housing Authority.

The nor'easter is weakening and drifting on Monday slowly northeast from Long Island, New York, to Massachusetts, into the Gulf of Maine by Tuesday. 

Mainly light rain continues to spin around the storm throughout New England. 

New York City, Long Island and New Jersey should see dry skies in the mid-to-late afternoon on Monday. 

By about 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Boston is also forecast to be dry. A few lingering light showers are forecast for Maine on Tuesday. 

Coastal flood alerts are in place from the Delmarva Peninsula, an area that includes parts of Delaware, Virginia and Maryland, through coastal Massachusetts on Monday.

High tides on Monday morning and Tuesday morning may bring minor to moderate coastal flooding, which is forecast to be less than over the weekend. 

A flood watch is in effect for eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island where an additional 1.5 inches of rain is possible today. Widespread issues are not expected but due to saturated soils some urban flooding is possible today. 

High surf could reach up to 12 feet today from coastal Massachusetts through coastal Maine. 

All wind advisories have been cancelled. Gusts around 20 to 30 mph are possible on Monday from New Jersey to Maine. 

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(NEW YORK) -- SpaceX on Monday launched the world's largest and most powerful rocket and spacecraft on a mission that marks the first time the spacecraft achieved orbit.

Starship splashed down in the Pacific, north of Hawaii, just before noon ET. Although the mission ended some seven hours earlier than planned, with the company choosing to return to Earth during the first scheduled mission checkpoint, SpaceX is calling flight 14 a success because it achieved both of its primary objectives: getting Starship into orbit for the first time and successfully adding Starlink satellites to its orbital constellation. 

Starship's 14th test flight was also the first Starship mission to make money for SpaceX; the company successfully deployed 26 Starlink satellites into orbit to build out its satellite internet division, SpaceX's primary revenue generator. 

Overall, this is the first time the Starship vehicle has reached orbit, deployed a revenue-generating payload and returned to Earth. While the company had some issues with two engines on the Super Heavy booster and one on the Starship spacecraft, the flight demonstrated that SpaceX is making significant progress with the Starship program, even if there is still work to be done.

The flight lifted off at 8:50 a.m. ET from SpaceX's Starbase in Cameron County, Texas. The launch was initially scheduled for 8:15 a.m. ET but that was pushed Monday morning to 8:48 a.m. ET. Flight controllers had a 75-minute launch window to get the spacecraft off the pad.

Despite the spacecraft losing one engine during the ascent to space, which was not needed to achieve orbit, it successfully executed its orbital insertion burn.

Just over a half-hour into the mission, Starship began deploying its payload of 26 Starlink V3 satellites, marking the first time that the Starlink satellites have been placed into orbit for ongoing use. Previous missions deployed either Starlink simulators or satellites that burned up in the atmosphere.

The mission was scheduled to last just under 10 hours, with SpaceX is aiming for about six orbits, traveling at about 17,500 mph more than 170 miles above Earth.  However, SpaceX decided to take advantage of their first scheduled checkpoint and ended the mission early, following the successful deployment of the Starlink satellites, making to total mission duration about three hours from launch to splashdown.

The company did not say what factored into their decision but pointed out that this is the longest SpaceX mission to date.

Starship lifted off atop the vehicle's Super Heavy booster, which separated from from the spacecraft after launch and performed a boostback burn, designed to change its direction so it can return to Earth. After the landing burn, the booster successfully splashed down in the Gulf.

Starship started its flight on what SpaceX calls a "passively safe" suborbital/free-return path. This is the same trajectory the company used for previous missions.

The flight plan included regular vehicle health checks during the flight. SpaceX says Starship has more than 500 sensors that measure things such as temperature, pressure and acceleration during the mission. In addition, the vehicle provides flight controllers with continuous telemetry data.

At the end of the mission, Starship performed a deorbit burn using a single Raptor sea-level engine to prepare to reenter Earth's atmosphere.

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(NEW YORK) -- Prosecutors in central New York say they are reopening the investigation of alleged "gang rape" at a Cornell University fraternity in 2024 after a civil lawsuit filed earlier this month sparked outrage about the incident. 

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said in a statement that his office is considering whether to bring criminal charges related to the incident, though he said the allegations in the civil complaint are “dramatically different” than the woman’s statement to police two years ago. 

“It's our intention to present the case to the Tompkins County grand jury with Jane Doe's cooperation,” Van Houten told ABC News. “We want to reexamine whether there's additional evidence that we were not aware of in November of 2024, that exists now that would change our assessment of the case and would result in the grand jury finding that there was criminal conduct.” 

The reopening of the case comes less than two weeks after a former Cornell student filed a civil lawsuit alleging that she was drugged, assaulted and gang raped by seven former and current members of the Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell. 

Cornell’s Chi Phi chapter was barred from campus after the alleged incident, though none of the individuals allegedly involved faced criminal charges, according to the DA. Van Houten said his office did not bring charges in 2024 because the woman’s statement to authorities did not allege she was drugged or that she did not consent to engage in sexual activities. 

“She never says that she was drugged without her knowledge. She admits to taking drugs and alcohol voluntarily and with knowledge. She does not allege that she was forced to engage in any acts. She does not say that she was physically helpless or unconscious or incapacitated at any point during the time at the fraternity house,” Van Houten said. 

Thomas P. Giuffra, attorney for Jane Doe, disputed Van Houten’s description of the woman’s initial statement to the Cornell University Police Department and faulted authorities for never following up with his client. 

“In my experience, speaking with an abuse survivor requires delicacy, understanding and specialized training. An average University Police officer would not have these skills. It would be the role of a specially trained detective or district attorney. However, Ms. Doe was never contacted by anybody with those skills,” he said. 

In an interview with ABC News, Van Houten acknowledged that he relied on the investigation conducted by Cornell Police and said his office didn’t “independently investigate” the allegations - a policy he said was in line with many upstate New York counties. 

Van Houten also said that a screen shot of part of a Snapchat group chat included in the complaint -- in which Jane Doe claims members of the fraternity discuss the alleged incident -- was never provided to his office. Giuffra said the messages are a “critical piece of evidence” that were provided to authorities in 2024. 

“My client went to the Cornell University Police because a crime was committed. It was the obligation of the police to investigate the complaints. They were given the group chat inviting the members of the fraternity to rape my client. This was a critical piece of evidence supporting that a crime had occurred. Despite this there was no follow-up with Ms. Doe either by the Cornell Police or the Tompkins County District Attorney,” he said. 

ABC News has reached out to the named defendants in the lawsuit, including the seven fraternity members, Cornell and others. 

Cornell said in a Sept. 21 statement that it takes allegations of sexual violence "extremely seriously" and that its Office of Civil Rights and Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards "investigated and adjudicated the allegations consistent with university policies."

The university said federal privacy law prevents it from publicly disclosing specific information about individual students or disciplinary responses. Cornell said violations of university policies could result in sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion.

Cornell also said the Xi chapter of Chi Phi "remains barred from our campus."

The university said in a new statement on Monday that it "supports the decision of the Tompkins County District Attorney (DA) to provide an opportunity for the victim’s story, in the 2024 Chi Phi fraternity Sexual Assault case, to be heard by a criminal grand jury."

"Cornell also conducted a thorough Title IX investigation, which is separate from a criminal proceeding, over the course of several months," Monday's statement said. "During that investigation temporary suspensions and other restrictive measures were used. After investigation, and pursuant to federal law, the matter was sent to a hearing where a panel of trained faculty and staff heard evidence over multiple days. The complainant and respondents had the opportunity to testify and present evidence. At its conclusion, the hearing panel issued a range of sanctions, which included expulsions and suspensions from Cornell. None of the individuals charged were offered the opportunity to write essays as a sole consequence of their involvement."

Jane Doe’s lawyers allege that the fraternity members "were afforded the opportunity to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays to Cornell."

The fraternity was closed in 2024, the school said.

"Any suggestion that the University did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false," Cornell said on Monday. "A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault."

An attorney for defendant Scott Kretzschmar denied the allegations and said the incident detailed in the complaint “did not happen.” 

“At bottom, Scott never sexually assaulted or even touched the plaintiff in any way. Period,” said attorney Jeremy Saland. “We look forward to confronting the plaintiff in a court of law for her selfishly false claims with both the evidence and her own words.” 

Defendant Scott Norris denied engaging in sexual activity or drug use, though he acknowledged that he sent a message that was included in the complaint. 

“I did not participate in any sexual activity or drug use. I was not found responsible by Cornell for any of the accusations involving sexual activity and drug use for which others received serious consequences. I thoughtlessly engaged in Snapchat and briefly stopped in the room where misconduct happened but not when it happened,” he said through an attorney.

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(NEW YORK) -- A 2-year-old girl who went missing Thursday evening in Virginia was found safe early Friday afternoon in the woods by a search team, according to the sheriff's office.

The Cumberland Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Virginia State Police and other law enforcement agencies launched a search for Bridget Maeve Zeigle, who was believed to have walked away from her home at around 6 p.m. Thursday, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities were notified within an hour of Bridget's disappearance, the sheriff's office said.

Bridget was found relatively close to her house, the sheriff's office said.

The search team used aviation and K9 resources to help in their search for the child, according to authorities.

Bridget was described as a white female with short brown hair and blue eyes, and is about 2 feet tall and 30 pounds, according to a Virginia State Police alert.

Bridget was seen wearing an orange dress, blue coat and white tennis shoes, according to the alert.

Police said the child was believed to be on foot.

Virginia State Police issued a CODI alert at approximately 11:30 p.m. Thursday on behalf of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.

Cumberland County Public Schools also issued an alert, encouraging community members to contact authorities with any information regarding Bridget's whereabouts.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The Supreme Court has given the Trump administration a green light to use a federal citizenship database to verify voters ahead of the midterm elections. 

In a 6-3 opinion, the Supreme Court, for now, lifted a lower court order that blocked the Department of Homeland Security from expanding a 40-year-old immigration database -- known as the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system -- to help states screen voter records for noncitizens.

The immediate impact of the ruling is unclear, since states are prohibited by law from purging their voter rolls within 90 days of Election Day.

"The District Court's order thus inhibits the Federal Government's efforts to assist state and local agencies in the proper administration of the midterm elections. Under these circumstances, the equities weigh in favor of a stay," the majority wrote. 

President Donald Trump has characterized noncitizen voting as a pressing threat to free and fair elections, but audits of voter rolls have suggested that voting by noncitizens is exceedingly rare.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(NEW YORK) -- Millions in the Northeast are bracing for a powerful nor'easter set to bring pounding rain and strong winds to the region through the weekend.

The nor'easter could also cause power outages and could spark flight disruptions along the Northeast coast.

Here's the latest forecast:

Waves:

The storm is bringing massive waves for days, which will cause significant beach erosion.

Waves up to 19 feet have been recorded already along North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Waves up to 12 feet are possible from the Outer Banks to the New Jersey shore through Saturday, and along the New England coast through Sunday.  

Coastal flood alerts are in effect from the Outer Banks to Maine, as some areas will see flood inundation up to 3 feet above normal levels. 

Winds:

Strong winds are also a major threat as the nor'easter moves north.

The Jersey Shore, Rhode Island and Massachusetts coasts are under a high wind warning from Friday night to Sunday, with dangerous gusts up to 60 mph possible.

The Jersey Shore is under a high wind warning from Friday night to Sunday, with dangerous gusts up to 60 mph possible.

New York City could see wind gusts of 40-to-50 mph Friday night through Sunday. 

Rain:

The rain will move in Saturday morning, falling from New Jersey to Massachusetts throughout the day.

The storm will reach peak strength on Saturday and then weaken slightly on Sunday as it stalls over New Jersey.

On Sunday, the rain will become more scattered, but still much of the day will be wet from Washington, D.C., to Maine.

The nor'easter will weaken on Monday as it slowly moves into New England, and then will die out on Tuesday. 

The storm could bring 4-to-6 inches of rain to Boston, Rhode Island, coastal New Jersey and Long Island, New York, with a widespread 2-to-4 inches of rain from Delaware to Maine.

Isolated flash flooding is possible, but because this rain is falling over multiple days, widespread and significant flash flooding is unlikely. 

Nor'easters get their name because winds over the coastal area are typically from the northeast. These storms may occur at any time of year but are most frequent and most violent between September and April.

Nor'easters nearly always bring precipitation in the form of heavy rain or snow, as well as gale-force winds, rough seas, and coastal flooding.

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(NEW YORK) -- The family of Nolan Wells on Wednesday released the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's autopsy report on the 18-year-old's death. It found that the cause and manner of death are "undetermined."

This conclusion matches the findings of the private autopsy commissioned by Wells' family, which preliminarily ruled his cause and manner of death as "undetermined pending investigation," with the independent pathologist acknowledging multiple limitations in the report.

"Losing a child, it truly breaks your heart ... especially someone like Nolan, who brought so much joy and light and life to everyone," Wells' mother, Christine Wonsley, told reporters in July.

"The only question we have is, what happened to our son?" she said.

The circumstances surrounding Wells' death garnered national interest after the college football player went missing on the 4th of July after going on a boat trip with friends to Horn Island. Officials said it appeared Wells stayed behind on the island after his friends left.

The teen's body was recovered on July 6, and authorities said they suspect he drowned.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said there was no initial indication of a crime, but he stressed that investigators were "working diligently to determine exactly what occurred."

Ledbetter also said the sheriff's office welcomed the family's independent investigation.

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(NEW YORK) -- New York Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday filed suit against the prediction market Polymarket, accusing it of being an illegal gambling operation that is operating in New York without a license.

The lawsuit mirrors the one James' office filed against the prediction market Kalshi and, if successful, could affect Polymarket's ability to operate. The suit asks a court to order Polymarket to forfeit money, distribute restitution, and pay fines.

Polymarket launched in the United States in December 2025 as a service that allowed users to bet money on the outcome of sporting events, and has expanded to allow wagers on everything from current events to weather patterns.

As the world's largest prediction market platform, the service, according to one estimate, is on pace to facilitate more than $70 billion in trading in 2026 -- more than triple the volume it handled in 2025. 

Polymarket's global website, registered in Panama, is supposed to be off limits in the U.S., and the U.S.-approved version of the site offers fewer trades than its international platform. But there is evidence that many Americans have managed to access the international site -- which offers trading on subjects like war, which is banned in the U.S. -- using digital workarounds, like virtual private networks known as VPNs. 

James suit claims that Polymarket's prediction market is an illegal, unlicensed gambling operation that exposes New Yorkers -- including those under the legal gambling age of 21 -- to serious personal and financial risk. State law prohibits wagering on games involving New York college teams and all sports betting for those under 21.

"Our gambling laws exist to protect New Yorkers, prevent the potential harms of problem gambling, and ensure funding for educational and public benefit programs," James said in a statement announcing the lawsuit.  

Polymarket's chief legal officer said in a statement that the platform would fight the suit.

"Polymarket was founded in a tiny NYC apartment and now has more than 350 employees here, embodying why people and businesses come here to make it. We believe in New York and we're staying here," said chief legal officer Neal Kumar. "While the AG's decision to copy/paste a recycled lawsuit is disappointing, we'll fight for our users."

"Any time the AG's office wants to swing by, our door is open for a conversation about how we protect consumers and offer fair, transparent and legal markets," the statement said.

The platform has insisted its event contracts are federally regulated derivatives outside the scope of state gaming laws.

James' lawsuit, however, said Polymarket's prediction markets meet the legal definition of gambling because the outcomes of the events on which its users are betting are uncertain and outside the control of the bettor, or hinge on a game of chance.

Despite this, the lawsuit said, Polymarket has failed to obtain a license from the New York State Gaming Commission, allegedly sidestepping its obligation to pay taxes like licensed casinos and mobile sports gambling platforms do.

Multiple lawsuits across the country claim prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi fall under state jurisdiction -- but if James' suit is successful, Polymarket could be forced to pay billions of dollars and change the way it operates nationwide.

"By running an unlicensed gambling operation, Polymarket has done more than just knowingly violate state law, they have put New Yorkers at risk, especially those underage who are most vulnerable to problem gaming," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement at the time of the filing of the suit.

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(NEW YORK) -- Nearly two dozen states are calling on Congress to regulate artificial intelligence, warning that unchecked development could put Americans and the country at risk.

The attorneys general of 23 states, along with the District of Columbia and American Samoa, signed a letter to congressional leaders Thursday demanding "comprehensive federal regulation and safety protocols" for AI.

"Recent developments show that unchecked AI endangers Americans and could soon threaten our financial system, critical infrastructure, and national security," the letter said. "Although we are working to hold frontier AI labs accountable under existing state laws, federal oversight is urgently needed to prevent future disasters."

The attorneys general cited recent incidents involving AI, including reports involving Hugging Face, as evidence of what they described as the risks of AI systems operating beyond their intended safeguards.

The states called for federal oversight of AI model safety testing, international cooperation to pace AI advancement and leaders empowered to make safer decisions "unburdened by profit maximization," according to the letter.

"In recent weeks, alarming reports of AI agents breaking containment have shocked the nation," New York Attorney General Letitia James said. "My colleagues and I are calling on Congress to act swiftly to establish a regulatory framework for AI development to ensure this does not continue."

The letter comes as states and the federal government continue to debate how AI should be regulated, including the appropriate balance between federal oversight and state authority.

In addition to New York, the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin signed the letter, along with the District of Columbia and American Samoa.

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(NEW YORK) -- More than 167,000 pounds of beef, pork and goat meat are being recalled nationwide after being produced without required federal inspection, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Star Meat Delivery Inc., based in Lucama, North Carolina, is recalling approximately 167,639 pounds of meat that was distributed to restaurants and retailers nationwide, USDA announced on Tuesday.

The meat was produced on various dates before Sept. 22 and sent to a distributor in Georgia before being distributed to restaurants and retailers across the country.

The USDA said it discovered the problem during a routine check. The recalled products had USDA inspection marks with the establishment number "EST. 1363," but officials said that number is not approved for federal inspection.

No illnesses or injuries linked to the recalled meat have been reported, according to the agency.

What meat is being recalled?

The recall covers a wide range of raw beef, pork and goat products, including sliced ribeye, beef chuck, oxtail, beef short ribs, ground pork, pork chorizo, pork chops, pork ribs, pork feet, pork Boston butt and goat meat.

The products were vacuum-sealed and packed in cardboard boxes before being sent to A&D Foods, a distributor in Georgia.

Identifying the recalled meat may be difficult for some shoppers. The USDA said stores may have repackaged the meat and added their own price and safe-handling labels, meaning products in consumers' refrigerators or freezers may not have the original packaging.

The agency said more products and labels could be added to the recall as officials continue to gather information.

A full list of recalled products and labels is available on the USDA's website.

What should consumers do?

The USDA said it is concerned that some of the recalled meat could still be in consumers' refrigerators and freezers or at restaurants and stores.

Consumers should not eat the recalled meat, and restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell it. The products should be thrown away or returned to the place where they were purchased.

Food that is produced without federal inspection may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria or other contaminants that could pose a health risk, according to the USDA.

Anyone concerned about an illness or injury should contact a health care provider.

ABC News has reached out to Star Meat Delivery Inc. and A&D Foods for comment but did not hear back immediately. 

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(NEW YORK) -- Local officials are looking for answers after two Ole Miss students were found dead in separate incidents in Oxford, Mississippi, this week, police said.

Despite "packaged Kratom" being found during both investigations into the students' deaths, officials asked students not to speculate as the police conduct their probe.

A cause of death hasn't immediately been determined, according to the school. The victims' identities have not been released.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we encourage everyone to avoid kratom and any other medication or substance that was not prescribed to you or obtained from a trusted, regulated source," the Oxford Police Department said in a statement on Tuesday.

The police said that packaged kratom "sold from a retail store" was found during their investigations into the two deaths. Kratom is sold in convenience stores, gas stations and online, and linked to a growing number of overdoses.

Kratom products contain chemicals that can increase alertness, physical energy and talkativeness. At higher doses, users may experience sedating effects.

The FDA has warned that kratom and especially concentrated 7-OH products can carry risks including dependence, addiction, and serious adverse effects.  

Advocates have called on the Food and Drug Administration for stricter regulations on the products and bans.

Oxford police said they are still trying to see if the drug was a factor in the students' deaths as their probes continue.

"We do not have confirmed information indicating that kratom or any other substance was a contributing factor in either death," they said in a statement.

"Local, state and federal partners are working collaboratively to gather the facts and provide answers as quickly and responsibly as possible," the police added.

The police noted that Narcan, which may be able to reverse the life-threatening effects of an overdose of Kratom and other substances, is available on the campus.

Dr. Shawnboda Mead, the vice chancellor for student affairs at Ole Miss, said in a statement Tuesday that the school expressed its condolences and remorse to the family members of the deceased students.

"We encourage our community not to speculate about the circumstances or repeat information that has not been officially confirmed," she said.

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(NEW YORK) -- The Department of Education is launching the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) earlier than ever before -- a change it says will help families navigate the rising cost of college amid affordability concerns.

The department's early rollout is welcome news for the millions of American families eager to receive financial aid for the 2027-2028 school year.

The critical resource is used to help applicants achieve funding for higher education and department officials are touting the FAFSA as its simplest version ever.

"We've simplified it," Department of Education Under Secretary for Higher Education Nicholas Kent said ahead of the launch in an exclusive interview with ABC News. "Instead of it taking hours or even days to fill out, it takes 15 minutes on average," he said.

The form goes live on studentaid.gov this morning. The major changes include clearer, less complicated language that removes "confusing jargon," and a family friendly form that allows students to invite a contributor via text or email, according to the department.

In a statement, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon told ABC News that the new form was redesigned with students and families in mind.

Kent urged families to complete the improved form because it bolsters resources for low and middle income households worried about the cost of college.

"We don't want students leaving money on the table," Kent told ABC News. "There's a lot of money out there in higher education. We want students to take advantage of it. And it starts with filling out the FAFSA form."

This is the second year in a row the agency has launched its FAFSA form before Oct. 1, which is the mandated rollout deadline set by the FAFSA Simplification Act of 2020.

Last year, the FAFSA form rolled out on Sept. 24.

During the final weeks of President Donald Trump's first term, Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act of 2020. This law overhauled the program and expanded access to federal aid, including federal Pell Grants, which are used specifically for low-income borrowers.

Kent stressed that the Trump administration is prioritizing policies that students and families deserve when deciding their futures.

"There are a few things that the Department of Education is really responsible for doing: One of them is getting the FAFSA form up and running," Kent said.

"We want students and families to be able to access this form, complete it easily, and get the financial aid that they need to get on with their lives," he added.

The announcement comes after a severely delayed FAFSA launch under Biden in 2023 and on the heels of the Trump administration's attempts to overhaul other aspects of higher education.

The administration also made a major shakeup to the federal student loan system this summer -- issuing fewer repayment plans and borrowing limits -- affecting millions of people. Critics contend that some Americans -- especially lower-income borrowers -- will face higher monthly payments from the new student loan caps.

The department argued that its loan limits from the Working Families Tax Cuts Act have curbed excessive borrowing, forcing institutions to evaluate their costs and lower them in some cases.

Meanwhile, higher education experts contend that reforming college access crosses political lines and the efforts to simplify the FAFSA have been "incremental" for more than a decade.

Kyla Hurns, a higher education policy analyst at The Education Trust, called FAFSA the "gateway" to postsecondary education but she worries that changing the system doesn't fully tackle college costs.

"While it's super important to fix the FAFSA as a form, it only truly can achieve its goal of allowing every American to choose the pathway that works best for them if Pell Grant keeps up with inflation," Hurns said.

She concluded that affordability is still families' prime concern.

"FAFSA allows us to talk about the conversation to maybe fund a portion of [college], but it's not funding all of the kids' education anymore," Hurns told ABC News.

"That's still something that is a problem that states across the country are grappling with, that families are grappling with, that students are grappling with, and I think that's determining their decisions."

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(NEW YORK) -- Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, the 28-year-old Venezuelan who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, has been released from the hospital and is back in federal custody, according to his attorney.

Garces Perez's attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, said in a social media post on Tuesday that her client was transferred back to a federal detention facility in Pearsall, Texas, after being treated at a hospital.

Lincoln-Goldfinch said that she spoke with Garces Perez by video Tuesday morning and he told her that since returning to the detention facility, Garces Perez has only been "receiving Tylenol and ibuprofen for pain." He also said he has had his communication privileges revoked, allegedly in retaliation for speaking to reporters by phone during a news conference on Monday, according to Lincoln-Goldfinch.

"Wilber tells me that after he spoke publicly, guards at the Pearsall detention center forcibly took the tablet from his hands, revoked his communication privileges, and moved him out of the infirmary into an isolated room with a flat bed that cannot be adjusted like a medical bed,” she said in a post.

Lincoln-Goldfinch said Garces Perez was transferred to a hospital Monday night after he was unable to move his arms, after which doctors determined that Garces Perez's clavicle was fractured and that he had experienced significant swelling, Lincoln-Goldfinch said.

She said Garces Perez received morphine while at the hospital. She also said she is calling on the detention facility to reinstate his communication privileges. 

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(NEW YORK) -- Investigators in New Hampshire said they were looking for two minimum security inmates, who they allege escaped from their transitional housing facility Monday while leaving to find work.

Aris Karamousianis, and James Brouillard, two minimum-security inmates of the Calumet Transitional Housing Unit in Manchester, signed out of the facility around 11:05 a.m. to seek employment, the New Hampshire Department of Corrections said.

"Neither returned to the facility, and their current whereabouts are unknown. Their last known location was in the area of Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester," the department said in a statement.

Karamousianis, 43, was convicted in December 2025 on two felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon, according to arrest records. His minimum release date was slated for Dec. 3, 2026, records show.

Karamousianis was described as  6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 220 pounds, and has blue eyes and brown hair, according to the corrections department.

He was last seen wearing a gray zip-up fleece jacket, a white T-shirt, jeans, and was wearing a gold cross necklace, the corrections department said.

Brouillard, 63, has had several convictions going back to 1990, including a recent one for armed robbery, according to arrest records. He is described as approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 200 pounds, and has light brown graying hair and blue eyes, the corrections department said.

He was last seen wearing a gray crewneck sweatshirt, jeans and white sneakers. Brouillard has several tattoos, including a skull with a heart and rose on his right forearm, a grim reaper on his right upper arm and a dragon on his left arm, according to the corrections department.

Anyone with information on the inmates is urged to call the NHDOC Investigations Bureau at (603) 848-2569.

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(NEW YORK) -- An attorney for the holdout juror in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial vowed overnight to fight a recent defense motion urging the judge to probe whether the holdout juror was honest with the court during jury selection and deliberations. 

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington asked Judge William Sullivan -- the judge overseeing Clancy's murder trial -- to question the juror about his "truthfulness" during the jury selection process, as well as some of his actions during deliberations.

A lawyer representing the holdout juror, Michael Péguy Desronvil, described Reddington's motion as "disgusting."

"Kevin Reddington's disgusting motion to investigate Michael is worthy of nothing but universal condemnation. This is certainly not the final word from us on this subject, but merely our first words," wrote the attorney, Edward Andrew Paltzik.

The defense's motion calling for questioning came as Reddington and another defense attorney, Martin Weinberg, filed a motion to dismiss the case against Clancy, a Massachusetts woman charged with killing her three young children.

The high-profile murder trial ended in a mistrial earlier this month after seven days of juror deadlock.

Several jurors who have spoken publicly since the trial said that deliberations yielded an 11-1 split in favor of not guilty by reason of insanity. They claimed the final juror would not change his position favoring conviction, despite what they described as expressions of reasonable doubt.

Juror Nick Dargie previously told ABC News' Aaron Katersky that Desronvil at times declined to engage with jurors during the deliberations and instead scrolled on his phone. 

"There was times he wouldn't engage, like he'd be scrolling on his phone while people are talking to him, things like that, where he's just not paying attention," Dargie said at the time.

Following criticism from other jurors, the holdout juror came forward publicly last week to defend his actions.

"I didn't have any doubts," Desronvil said in a statement to ABC News shared by his attorney on Sept. 18. "As I tried to explain different possible theories during deliberation, I kept getting cut off as if I had doubts based on the evidence presented."

Paltzik, Desronvil's attorney, argued in his overnight statement that the effort to get the judge to question Desronvil is "a full-frontal attack on the U.S. Constitution" that could create a dangerous precedent of investigating and punishing holdout jurors. 

"If we follow his destructive proposal to its logical conclusion, we're going to have an endless cycle of prosecutors investigating holdouts who oppose 'guilty' and defense attorneys investigating holdouts who oppose 'not guilty,'" he wrote on social media. 

Legal analyst Terri Austin, who is not involved in the Clancy trial, told ABC News Monday that Reddington's motion has the potential to hinder future jury pools.

“Now we're talking about the privacy of these individual jurors and the effect that's going to have on jury pools out there," Austin said. "Nobody's going to want to sit on a jury if, in fact, you can take my phone and look at everything that I was texting, so I think it’s a problem.”

Last week, the judge in the case, Sullivan, ordered the extension of the impoundment order preventing the release of the full list of jurors' names, citing "significant and divisive attention," according to Boston ABC affiliate WCVB.

Sullivan wrote in the order that "at least one juror" asked for the order to be extended indefinitely.

"There have been identifications of jurors and their personal information without their permission," Sullivan wrote, according to WCVB.

ABC News' Tonya Simpson contributed to this report.

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(WASHINGTON) -- A 36-year-old immigrant from Costa Rica died last week in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, according to an agency notification sent to lawmakers on Monday.

Carlos Josue Marchena-Marchena was found unresponsive Sept. 18 at the Winnfield Correctional Center in Louisiana, according to ICE.

"Upon arrival at WPMC, medical staff and EMS continued resuscitative efforts," ICE said in its notification to Congress. "Despite life-saving efforts, at approximately 8 a.m., an on-site physician at WPMC pronounced Marchena deceased."

Marchena is the 55th person to die in ICE custody during the second Trump administration -- the 25th person to die in ICE detention this year -- and the second person to die at the detention facility in Louisiana this year, according to ABC News' analysis of ICE data.

"While in custody, Marchena received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals," ICE said. 

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that ICE officers arrested the 36-year-old Marchena for entering the U.S. without inspection in 2021.

According to DHS, Marchena has convictions for retail fraud and destruction of personal property and an arrest for assault, however, ABC News has not verified this claim from the Department of Homeland Security.

DHS said Marchena received proper medical care while in custody.

"ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout their stay," the agency said in a statement.

Attorney information for Marchena was not immediately available.

An ABC News analysis of ICE data and the number of detainee deaths provided to Congress from ICE found the first 14 months of the second Trump administration represent the most deadly period for the federal detention system in recent years, with the exception of 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic contributed to detention deaths.

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