USA – Page 22 – Prologue Journal

Darrin Bell, Pulitzer-Winning Cartoonist, Faces Child Pornography Charges

New York Times More than 100 videos of child sex abuse material, some of which was computer generated, have been connected to Mr. Bell, 49, according to the authorities. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/us/darrin-bell-arrest-child-pornography.html

Top Trump ally Byron Donalds turns up volume on likely 2026 run for Florida governor

Fox News Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., appears to be getting more vocal about running for Florida governor in 2026 in the race to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Donalds, a leading friend, ally and supporter of President-elect Trump in the House of Representatives, in recent days has been telling potential donors and Florida political…

L.A. Officials Warn of Compromised Drinking Water in Fire-Ravaged Areas

New York Times “Do not drink” orders have been issued in some areas where damaged pipes that lost pressure might pull in toxic smoke and harmful chemicals that could linger in the system for years. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/us/la-drinking-water-wildfires.html

DOJ releases final violent crime numbers for Biden administration

Fox News The Department of Justice (DOJ) this week released the final nationwide crime statistics under the Biden administration as the president prepares to leave office. Following an uptick in violent crime in 2021 during the pandemic, it began to trend down significantly in 2023, “including double-digit drops in homicide rates across many major cities,”…

Stick-Wielding Man Kills 2 Homeless People in Miami and Injures 2 Others

New York Times A suspect has been arrested as the police investigate the motive for what they called an unprovoked attack. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/us/miami-arrest-homeless-deaths.html

Biden Announces Ceasefire Deal Between Hamas, Israel in Farewell Address

Defense.gov President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire and hostage-exchange deal between Israel and Hamas — a truce that Defense Department officials believe signals a possible end to 15 months of conflict in the region. https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4032622/biden-announces-ceasefire-deal-between-hamas-israel-in-farewell-address/

Two Watchdogs Were Rebuffed From Joining Trump’s Cost-Cutting Effort

New York Times “We have no room in our administration for Democrats,” a transition spokeswoman replied after good-government activists tried to join the president-elect’s new efficiency department. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/us/doge-trump-watchdogs.html

President-elect Trump taps slew of administration picks days before inauguration

Fox News President-elect Trump on Thursday announced multiple nominations just days before his inauguration on Jan. 20. In a series of posts on Truth Social on Thursday afternoon, Trump congratulated his picks. Nominees include a former test engineer of missile defense systems for secretary of the Air Force, as well as a trade partnership CEO…

State Farm offers homeowners in fire areas a chance to renew insurance policies.

New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/us/state-farm-insurance-renewals-la-fires.html

Toyota truck unit fined $1.6 billion for emissions violations

Washington Post Toyota’s heavy-duty trucking unit was fined $1.6 billion on Wednesday over fraudulent emissions testing and other violations. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/16/hino-toyota-emissions-fine/