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Today is a dark day in New York State, as the Senate voted, 35 to 27, to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act (S.138) to legalize physician-assisted suicide. The Assembly passed the same bill in April; it now goes to Governor Kathy Hochul for signature.

The bill would allow physicians, at the request of patients, to write prescriptions for lethal drugs for patients who are believed by two physicians as having less than six months left to live.

As an Orthodox Jewish organization, Agudath Israel of America is guided by the timeless principle that life is sacred. Our tradition teaches that every human being is created in the image of G-d, and that every moment of life has infinite value. Society legalizing coordinated killing, even in the difficult situation where the victim is in pain, erodes that value, and tells the vulnerable among us that their lives don’t matter. The Medical Aid in Dying Act sends precisely such a dangerous and destructive message.

Agudath Israel has long advocated on behalf of terminally ill patients, particularly through its Chayim Aruchim division. Through this firsthand experience, Agudath Israel has witnessed our healthcare system marginalize the care of the elderly and patients viewed as “a burden.” It has seen many patients in which a doctor issued a grim diagnosis live rich, fulfilling lives well after their doctors’ darkest predictions were pronounced. What is more, such factors as the prevalence of depression among patients seeking to end their lives, the potential for medical misdiagnoses, the influence of family members, potential inheritors, and other financial pressures can lead patients to make irreversible decisions to end their lives prematurely.

Rabbi David Zwiebel, Agudath Israel’s executive vice president, bemoaned the Senate’s vote. “Since time immemorial, civilized societies have drawn a hard line on the issue of suicide. Taking one’s own life is a tragedy of untold proportion. Allowing physicians – whose calling is to heal – to serve as active accomplices in bringing about this tragedy of taking human life is a profound moral and practical misstep.”

“For the last decade, Agudath Israel has been an important part of a coalition of religious and disability rights groups opposing this legislation,” added Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Agudath Israel’s Director of New York Government Relations. “We have met dozens of legislators on this issue, testified publicly and sent out numerous action alerts. We are deeply disappointed at today’s vote and strongly urge Governor Hochul to veto this bill.”

{Matzav.com}

A scientist from China has been accused of attempting to bring biological substances into the United States from Wuhan and of misleading authorities about the operation.

Authorities arrested Chengxuan Han on Sunday after she arrived in the U.S. at Detroit Metropolitan Airport following a flight from Shanghai. According to federal documents, she now faces charges of illegally importing items into the country and providing false information to government officials.

This incident marks the third time in recent weeks that a Chinese researcher has been implicated in trying to transport biological materials into the state of Michigan.

According to court filings, customs agents discovered that Han had previously mailed four packages containing “biological material related to round worms” from China to the U.S.

The packages, which were sent during both 2024 and 2025, were reportedly addressed to individuals affiliated with a research lab at the University of Michigan.

When questioned by federal officers, Han allegedly denied having sent any parcels to members of the Michigan lab and claimed the contents were simply plastic cups, not petri dishes, as stated in court records.

Further questioning by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations revealed that Han confessed to shipping the biological samples as part of her academic work. She identified herself as a Ph.D. student at the College of Life Science and Technology at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Wuhan.

Officials also discovered that Han had wiped her electronic device just three days before traveling to the U.S., which investigators found suspicious.

“The alleged smuggling of biological materials by Chengxuan Han is a direct threat to public safety and national security, and it severely compromises the integrity of our nation’s research institutions,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, in a statement Monday.

“I applaud the relentless efforts of the FBI Detroit Counterintelligence Task Force, working in close coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations and ICE Homeland Security Investigations Detroit. The FBI in Michigan will aggressively pursue anyone who seeks to harm our country and will deploy every available resource to defend the United States and protect our communities,” Gibson added.

Han had previously been rejected for a U.S. visa on two occasions in March. In one interview with immigration authorities, she reportedly struggled to answer fundamental questions about her background and research.

Despite this, an invitation letter from the University of Michigan confirmed that she had been offered a position as a visiting scholar in one of its laboratories.

Wuhan, the city Han is affiliated with, is widely recognized as the origin point of the COVID-19 outbreak that eventually spread worldwide.

{Matzav.com}

Today is a dark day in New York State, as the Senate voted, 35 to 27, to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act (S.138) to legalize physician-assisted suicide. The Assembly passed the same bill in April; it now goes to Governor Kathy Hochul for signature. The bill would allow physicians, at the request of patients, to write prescriptions for lethal drugs for patients who are believed by two physicians as having less than six months left to live. As an Orthodox Jewish organization, Agudath Israel of America is guided by the timeless principle that life is sacred. Our tradition teaches that every human being is created in the image of G-d, and that every moment of life has infinite value. Society legalizing coordinated killing, even in the difficult situation where the victim is in pain, erodes that value, and tells the vulnerable among us that their lives don’t matter. The Medical Aid in Dying Act sends precisely such a dangerous and destructive message. Agudath Israel has long advocated on behalf of terminally ill patients, particularly through its Chayim Aruchim division. Through this firsthand experience, Agudath Israel has witnessed our healthcare system marginalize the care of the elderly and patients viewed as “a burden.” It has seen many patients in which a doctor issued a grim diagnosis live rich, fulfilling lives well after their doctors’ darkest predictions were pronounced. What is more, such factors as the prevalence of depression among patients seeking to end their lives, the potential for medical misdiagnoses, the influence of family members, potential inheritors, and other financial pressures can lead patients to make irreversible decisions to end their lives prematurely. Rabbi David Zwiebel, Agudath Israel’s executive vice president, bemoaned the Senate’s vote. “Since time immemorial, civilized societies have drawn a hard line on the issue of suicide. Taking one’s own life is a tragedy of untold proportion. Allowing physicians – whose calling is to heal – to serve as active accomplices in bringing about this tragedy of taking human life is a profound moral and practical misstep.” “For the last decade, Agudath Israel has been an important part of a coalition of religious and disability rights groups opposing this legislation,” added Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Agudath Israel’s Director of New York Government Relations. “We have met dozens of legislators on this issue, testified publicly and sent out numerous action alerts. We are deeply disappointed at today’s vote and strongly urge Governor Hochul to veto this bill.”

A Chinese scientist was arrested while arriving in the U.S. at the Detroit airport, the second case in days involving the alleged smuggling of biological material, authorities said Monday. The scientist is accused of shipping biological material months ago to staff at a laboratory at the University of Michigan. The FBI, in a court filing, described it as material related to certain worms and requires a government permit. “The guidelines for importing biological materials into the U.S. for research purposes are stringent, but clear, and actions like this undermine the legitimate work of other visiting scholars,” said John Nowak, who leads field operations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The scientist was interviewed and arrested Sunday after arriving on a flight from China, where she is pursuing an advanced degree at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. She planned to spend a year completing a project at the University of Michigan. Her shipments, including an envelope stuffed inside a book, were intercepted last year and earlier this year and opened by authorities, the FBI said. The court filing doesn’t indicate whether the FBI believes the biological material was dangerous, though U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. said smuggling “threatens our security.” The government last week charged two Chinese scientists who are accused of conspiring to smuggle a toxic fungus into the U.S. One was turned around at the Detroit airport and sent back to China last year, while the other, a researcher at the University of Michigan, was arrested. She remains in custody. (AP)

Television personality and commentator Phil McGraw, widely known as Dr. Phil, spent the day immersed in the vibrant pulse of Boro Park, Brooklyn.

Dr. McGraw’s itinerary began with an introduction to emergency response work at the Boro Park Hatzolah facility. Inside the bustling nerve center, he observed dispatchers in action and listened intently to volunteers who serve on the front lines of medical emergencies. The commitment and efficiency of the Hatzolah team clearly struck a chord.

The next stop brought a lighter, more flavorful moment. McGraw visited the Taam Eden Bakery along 13th Avenue, where the aroma of fresh pastries met him at the door. Staff and patrons alike offered a hearty welcome, engaging him in friendly conversation as he took in the sights and tastes of this local favorite.

His visit then took on a more somber and reflective tone at Nachas Health Center, where he was introduced to their outreach initiatives for Holocaust survivors. Deeply moved by the stories shared and the mission of the program, McGraw spoke passionately about the critical importance of preserving historical truth and memory.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH: Dozens of LA Sheriffs are rolling up with armored trucks and full tactical gear preparing for more riots.

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After mobilizing 700 Marines for L.A. deployment, President Trump has ordered an additional 2,000 National Guard Troops to the city, Newsom says.

L.A. RIOTS | LATEST: – City on tactical alert after night of riots, looting – LAPD declares unlawful assembly – Attacks on police continue – 700 Marines mobilized – City sues Trump admin. over troop deployment

US Marines prepare to depart for Los Angeles area today, to assist in the Anti-ICE protests.

Crews on Monday worked to remove graffiti splashed across the streets of Los Angeles, after immigration riots roiled the city over the weekend.

At today’s ReDeal Conference, R’ Ruby Schron, ever gracious, expressed heartfelt gratitude, publicly thanking Ralph Herzka of Meridian for decades of remarkable financing achievements.

Likud Member of Knesset Galit Distel Atbaryan sparked a storm on Monday after suggesting during a parliamentary session that adherents of Reform Judaism should not be considered part of the Jewish people.

The incident took place during a meeting of the Subcommittee for Jewish Thought in the Education System, where Distel Atbaryan serves as chair. In a heated exchange, she ordered MK Gilad Kariv of The Democrats party to be removed from the discussion, declaring, “Remove the Reformist, [the] Jews here want to continue.”

Kariv had voiced his support for permitting girls to don tefillin in public schools as part of a broader effort to allow tefillin stands in secular educational institutions. While halacha restricts the use of tefillin to boys from the age of bar mitzvah, Reform practice supports the inclusion of girls.

Reacting to the incident, Kariv criticized Distel Atbaryan and her political allies, saying, “The hateful attack and loss of composure by Distel testify to her and her coalition partners’ convoluted Jewish worldview – a zealous, misogynistic, isolationist, and resentful Judaism.”

He continued, “We will not allow this view of Judaism to take root in our children’s schools. We will introduce them to a tradition that embraces diversity, humanity, and inclusion and that serves as the meeting point between tradition and renewal.”

Later in the day, Distel Atbaryan addressed the controversy from the Knesset floor, issuing a strong rebuttal to Kariv’s remarks.

“Listen carefully, Gilad Kariv. As long as I am leading the Subcommittee for Jewish Thought in the Education System, I will personally prevent the takeover of the education system by Reformist organizations. No matter how much you talk about religious coercion, Israeli students will know the Bible. No matter how much you try to instill fear in the secular public, Israeli students will know the biblical story,” she said.

She went on, “No matter how much you lie, distort, incite, hate, and sow discord, Israeli students will return to learning about their identity and knowing their sources. Because of fear-mongering by people like you, schools in Israel have simply stopped teaching the Bible.”

“My committee is changing this reality and leading a real and exciting reform. And I am immensely proud of this achievement. The committee is inclusive and invites everyone: secular, traditional, religious, ultra-Orthodox – everyone.

“The only thing it does not include is populists like you, who hate Israel and try to impose the minority’s opinion on the majority, all in the name of pluralism. You are a joke.”

This is not the first time Kariv, a Reform rabbi, has faced dismissive or antagonistic remarks in the Knesset, particularly from members of the ultra-Orthodox parties, who frequently question his religious legitimacy either directly or through insinuation.

Reacting to the uproar, Gusti Yehoshua Braverman, who represents the Reform Movement within the World Zionist Organization, issued a condemnation of Distel Atbaryan’s words, calling them “not only offensive and cruel, they reflect a deep and deliberate alienation toward millions of Jews in Israel and around the world who identify with Reform and Conservative Judaism.”

She added, “As a Zionist woman, a Reform Jew, and a public representative of the World Zionist Organization, I utterly reject this statement, which disgraces the Knesset and the core values of the Jewish people.”

{Matzav.com}

The long-simmering crisis over Israel’s proposed draft law has reached a boiling point. In a dramatic late-night meeting on Monday, the leaders of Degel HaTorah- HaGaon Rav Dov Landau shlit”a and HaGaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a-declared that they will support a motion to dissolve the Knesset this Wednesday, potentially triggering new elections and threatening the survival of the current government. During an in-depth conversation between the two Gedolei Yisroel, it was determined that, in the absence of a finalized and acceptable version of the draft law, the chareidi parties have no reason to remain in the coalition. Rav Hirsch reportedly said, “If there is no progress on the law, we have no choice but to push for the dissolution of the Knesset.” Rav Landau was even more forceful, warning, “When those who learn Torah are persecuted—it is a greater danger than Iran.” Degel HaTorah stressed that if an acceptable draft of the law is presented and practical discussions begin in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the decision could be reconsidered. However, if no progress is made, Degel is expected to join Agudas Yisroel in supporting the dissolution bill on Wednesday. The Sephardic Shas party also signaled a shift in position. Party spokesman Asher Medina said Tuesday morning that Shas, too, would support dissolving the Knesset due to the stalemate over the draft legislation. Last week, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel formally announced its support for early elections. If no last-minute agreement is reached, the preliminary vote on the dissolution of the Knesset is expected to pass with a large majority. The bill would then move to the Knesset Committee, followed by additional procedures before final approval in second and third readings. Adding an international dimension to the crisis, Channel 13 News reported that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee personally reached out to Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch. Huckabee reportedly warned that holding elections at this time—while the Iranian threat and Houthi aggression from Yemen dominate the security agenda—would make it significantly harder for Washington to back Israel in any major operations. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump’s new ban on travel to the U.S. by citizens from a dozen countries took effect Monday with relative calm, as some travelers with valid visas reported extra scrutiny at American airports before being allowed entry. The ban targeting mainly African and Middle Eastern countries kicked in amid rising tension over the president’s escalating campaign of immigration enforcement. But it arrived with no immediate signs of the chaos that unfolded at airports across the U.S. during Trump’s first travel ban in 2017. Vincenta Aguilar said she was anxious Monday as she and her husband, both Guatemalan citizens, were subjected to three different interviews by U.S. officials after arriving at Miami International Airport and showing tourist visas the couple received last week. “They asked us where we work, how many children we have, if we have had any problems with the law, how we are going to afford the cost of this travel, how many days we will stay here,” said Aguilar, who along with her husband was visiting their son for the first time since he left Guatemala 22 years ago. She said they were released about an hour after their flight landed, greeting their waiting family members in Florida with tears of relief. Guatemala is not among the countries included in the new ban or flagged for extra travel restrictions. Trump’s new ban shouldn’t revoke previously issued visas The new proclamation that Trump signed last week applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. It also imposes heightened restrictions on people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela who are outside the U.S. and don’t hold a valid visa. The new ban does not revoke visas previously issued to people from countries on the list, according to guidance issued Friday to all U.S. diplomatic missions. However, unless an applicant meets narrow criteria for an exemption to the ban, his or her application will be rejected starting Monday. Travelers with previously issued visas should still be able to enter the U.S. even after the ban takes effect. Narayana Lamy, a Haitian citizen who works for his home country’s government, said he was told to wait after showing his passport and tourist visa Monday at the Miami airport while a U.S. official confirmed by phone that he was allowed into the country to visit family members. Luis Hernandez, a Cuban citizen and green card holder who has lived in the U.S. for three years, said he had no problems returning Monday to Miami after a weekend visiting family in Cuba. “They did not ask me anything,” Hernandez said. “I only showed my residency card.” Ban appears to avoid chaos that followed Trump’s first-term attempt During Trump’s first term, a hastily written executive order ordering the denial of entry to citizens of mainly Muslim countries created chaos at numerous airports and other ports of entry, prompting successful legal challenges and major revisions to the policy. Many immigration experts say the new ban is more carefully crafted and appears designed to beat court challenges that hampered the first by focusing on the visa application process. Trump said this time that some countries had “deficient” screening for passports and other public documents or have historically refused […]

The Shas party has announced that unless a last-minute agreement is reached over legislation addressing chareidi military enlistment, it will back the initial vote to dissolve the Knesset scheduled for Wednesday. This was confirmed by party spokesperson Asher Medina in an interview with Kol Berama Radio on Monday.

“If there is nothing serious…that we can bring before the rabbis and say, ‘Here is an achievement we can discuss, that we can put our minds to,’ then as we promised and said, we will need to vote for dispersing the Knesset,” Medina stated.

Medina explained that Shas has made significant progress in its behind-the-scenes discussions, but noted that talks are still in motion. He criticized certain factions for using the enlistment issue as political leverage, accusing them of intentionally dragging their feet for partisan advantage.

While he emphasized that Shas has no desire to trigger elections, Medina said the ongoing mistreatment of the chareidi community—particularly by Likud MK Yuli Edelstein and others—has pushed the party to its breaking point. Edelstein, as chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, would oversee debate on any forthcoming legislation.

Still, Medina pointed to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu as bearing ultimate responsibility for the failure to produce a version of the bill acceptable to Shas. He did acknowledge that Netanyahu had become more involved in recent days and expressed cautious hope that a compromise could be brokered before the vote on Wednesday.

While United Torah Judaism has already made its intention to vote for dissolution clear, this was the first public indication from Shas. However, even if the Knesset votes to disband during the preliminary reading, the measure would still need to pass three more readings before taking effect. That legislative process could stretch out for weeks and might not conclude before the Knesset’s summer break begins at the end of July.

The legal department of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is currently drafting a version of the bill, which is expected to be presented in the coming weeks. Nevertheless, with the summer session nearing its end, there’s concern that the proposal may not pass in time. If no legislation is finalized before the recess, the current legal requirement mandating IDF service for all eligible chareidi men will remain in force through at least October. Should the Knesset dissolve, any work on the bill would be immediately halted.

The proposed law is expected to call for annual increases in chareidi enlistment, aiming to reach 50% of eligible students from each academic year, and would impose penalties on those who defy draft orders. Although the legal exemption lapsed in June 2024, most of the 24,000 summonses issued since have gone unanswered. The IDF has already signaled it will fall short of its pledge to recruit 4,800 chareidim during the 2024–2025 draft year, which ends on June 30.

Backers of the legislation claim it will lead to a substantial rise in chareidi enlistment and result in thousands joining the military. Detractors argue that penalties won’t ensure compliance and question the fairness of continuing to exempt half of all chareidim while requiring secular and national-religious Israelis to serve.

Meanwhile, quiet talks have been ongoing between Edelstein, Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs, and former Shas minister Ariel Atias. The discussions are centering around two key issues: the extent of the sanctions package, and whether those measures would go into effect immediately or after a delay.

Potential restrictions being considered for those who refuse to serve include bans on international travel, exclusion from public housing benefits, loss of subsidies for daycare and academic programs, and denial of driver’s licenses and other government-provided discounts.

Speaking to 103FM, Golan Vaknin, a previous advisor to Shas, said, “Every party in every coalition wants the government of which it is a member to fulfill its days.”

Vaknin was critical of the prime minister’s pattern of delaying action. “The real issue here is Netanyahu’s chronic procrastination over the years — in everything, by the way, not just the conscription law. That’s his way of operating, and now Netanyahu has his back against the wall. He could have dealt with this,” he said.

He emphasized the unity among chareidi parties despite their differences in tone. “The ultra-Orthodox parties are going arm-in-arm, even if the terminology differs between Goldknopf, Moshe Gafni, Aryeh Deri, or Meir Porush — the direction is clear. There are two very clear conventions in the ultra-Orthodox community: one, that everyone goes together; and two, that none of them wants elections. There isn’t a single ultra-Orthodox party today that wants elections. Even if Goldknopf makes noises about wanting to vote for dissolving the Knesset here and now, it doesn’t mean he wants elections. The real story is that they want Netanyahu to stop this entire saga.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

NATO members need to increase their air and missile defenses by 400% to counter the threat from Russia, the head of the military alliance said Monday, warning that Moscow could be ready to attack it within five years. Secretary-General Mark Rutte said during a visit to London that he expects the 32 NATO members to agree to a big hike in military spending at a summit in the Netherlands this month. Speaking at the Chatham House think tank, Rutte said Russia is outpacing the far bigger NATO in producing ammunition, and the alliance must take a “quantum leap” in collective defense. “Wishful thinking will not keep us safe,” Rutte said. “We cannot dream away the danger. Hope is not a strategy. So NATO has to become a stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance.” Rutte has proposed a target of 3.5% of economic output on military spending and another 1.5% on “defense-related expenditure” such as roads, bridges, airfields and sea ports. He said he is confident the alliance will agree to the target at its summit in The Hague on June 24-25. At the moment, 22 of the 32 members meet or exceed NATO’s current 2% target, which was set in 2014. Rutte said he expects all to reach 2% by the end of this year. The new target would meet a demand by U.S. President Donald Trump that member states spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense. Trump has long questioned the value of NATO and complained that the U.S. provides security to European countries that don’t contribute enough. Rutte said he agreed that “America has carried too much of the burden for too long.” Rutte said NATO needs thousands more armored vehicles and millions more artillery shells, as well as a 400% increase in air and missile defense. “We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies,” he said. “Russia could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years,” Rutte added. “We are all on the eastern flank now.” Rutte also held talks Monday with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and praised the U.K.’s commitment to increase defense spending as “very good stuff.” Starmer has pledged to boost military spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027 and to 3% by 2034. Like other NATO members, the U.K. has been reassessing its defense spending since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. European NATO members, led by the U.K. and France, have scrambled to coordinate their defense posture as Trump transforms American foreign policy, seemingly sidelining Europe as he looks to end the war in Ukraine. Last week the U.K. government said it would build new nuclear-powered attack submarines, prepare its army to fight a war in Europe and become “a battle-ready, armor-clad nation.” The plans represent the most sweeping changes to British defenses since the collapse of the Soviet Union more than three decades ago. (AP)

President Donald Trump announced that he had a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Monday to discuss matters related to Iran. He described the exchange as positive and noted, “trying to avoid death and destruction.”

Trump also remarked that the United States is currently heavily engaged with Iran diplomatically, commenting, “a lot of work with Iran now,” and characterizing the Iranians as “tough negotiators.”

The timing of the call coincided with Trump’s efforts to expedite humanitarian assistance into Gaza and to push Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

In the wake of the discussion between Trump and Netanyahu, the Israeli leader is set to convene a security cabinet session. Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are expected to take part.

Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer will also be present, along with high-ranking security officials including the IDF Chief of Staff, the Mossad director, and the head of the Shin Bet, according to reports from Israeli media.

During an earlier call in May, which followed a shooting incident involving Israeli embassy personnel in Washington, Trump cautioned Netanyahu against making moves that could undermine ongoing nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Trump made it clear to Netanyahu that “this is not the time to escalate the situation while he is trying to resolve the issues.”

A senior official at the White House said that Trump conveyed his desire for a peaceful resolution with Iran and stressed that he “did not want anything to interfere with that.”

The official reiterated that Trump’s guidance to Netanyahu was “this is not the time to escalate the situation while he is trying to resolve the issues.”

Trump reminded Netanyahu that “the second option is still on the table,” though he indicated a strong preference for a diplomatic path first.

According to the senior official, Trump “encouraged Netanyahu to act cautiously” during their conversation.

{Matzav.com}

The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on the two fugitive sons of incarcerated Mexican Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and announced a reward offer of up to $10 million each for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the men. The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on Archivaldo Ivan Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar who are believed to be currently located in Mexico. Guzman’s other sons — Joaquin Guzman Lopez and Ovidio Guzman Lopez — are currently incarcerated in the United States. In May, federal prosecutors announced they would not seek the death penalty for Joaquin Guzman Lopez if he’s convicted of multiple charges in Chicago. Sanctions were also imposed on a faction of the Sinaloa cartel known as the “Chapitos,” or little Chapos, which has been identified as a main exporter of fentanyl to the U.S. as well as a regional network of Chapitos associates and businesses based in Mazatlan, Mexico, that allegedly engage in drug trafficking, extortion and money laundering. According to federal prosecutors, El Chapo smuggled mountains of cocaine and other drugs into the United States over 25 years. He was convicted in 2019 on multiple conspiracy counts and sentenced to life in a U.S. prison. “At the Department of the Treasury, we are executing on President Trump’s mandate to completely eliminate drug cartels and take on violent leaders like ‘El Chapo’s’ children,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. Mexico’s foreign relations office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. David Saucedo, a Mexican security analyst, said that offering financial rewards and to protect witnesses has been an important tool employed by the U.S. government in recent years. In some key cases against cartel leaders, up to 20% of the U.S. law enforcement have obtained has been through such payouts, Saucedo said. “People inside the criminal organization betray their leaders and turn into informants,” Saucedo said. “It’s this money, this ambition that authorities in the United States are using to break apart narcotrafficking organizations in Mexico.” It’s a strategy that was employed by the Biden administration and now is being used under Trump as authorities attempt to crack down on Mexican cartels. The Sinaloa Cartel, through various incarnations, is Mexico’s oldest criminal group, dating to the 1970s. One of their most lucrative businesses in recent years has been the production of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, blamed for tens of thousands of overdose deaths each year in the U.S. The Trump administration in February labeled the Sinaloa cartel a foreign terrorist organizations. (AP)

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the launch of a $36.9 million infrastructure overhaul now underway in Brooklyn, targeting the aging Fort Hamilton Parkway bridge that spans the Gowanus Expressway (I-278). This vital crossing, originally constructed in 1964, connects the communities of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and Windsor Terrace. The project is designed to significantly strengthen safety, resilience, and multi-modal accessibility along this busy corridor.

The extensive rehabilitation will include full replacement of the bridge deck and approach slabs, as well as upgrades to the steel superstructure, bearings, piers, and abutments. In a notable enhancement for commuters, a protected bike lane will be added to the span, linking up with existing bike paths on Fort Hamilton Parkway and 7th Avenue. Travel lanes will be redesigned to accommodate the new cycling route while preserving both the sidewalk and a dedicated parking lane. Curb ramps will be upgraded for ADA compliance, and both street and underdeck lighting will receive modern enhancements.

Governor Hochul emphasized the broader goals behind the investment, stating, “New York State continues to make historic investments that will create safer, more resilient roads and bridges that will help keep our communities connected and our economy growing. The rehabilitation of this important bridge along the Fort Hamilton Parkway will help preserve a vital link in Brooklyn’s transportation network while also making it easier for people to get out of their cars and travel by bike across the borough.”

Fort Hamilton Parkway functions as a one-way, northbound arterial stretching from 101st Street in Bay Ridge to Machate Circle near Prospect Park. With this project, its bridge is expected to gain at least another 40 years of service life.

Work will be completed in multiple stages through summer 2027. During the first phase, the bridge’s left lane will be closed for long-term construction, followed by closure of the right lane during the second phase as traffic shifts. The parking lane will also be closed temporarily, and traffic on the Gowanus Expressway below will be impacted by necessary lane shifts.

The initiative is backed in part by federal infrastructure funds and has received enthusiastic endorsements from Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, as well as Council Members Justin Brannan and Alexa Avilés, who highlighted its impact on safety, economic growth, and improved access. Community Board 10 hailed the long-anticipated project as a much-needed investment in Brooklyn’s future.

{Matzav.com}