Gang Member Arrested in Houston During Deportation Operation

In a tragic incident, a one-month-old baby girl was mauled to death by the family's dog early Tuesday morning in Long Island City, Queens, according to the New York Police Department. The attack occurred around 6:30 a.m. while the infant was sleeping between her parents, reported CBS News. Authorities stated the family's six-month-old German Shepherd-Pit Bull mix suddenly turned violent during the night. The mother informed law enforcement that the baby was peacefully asleep prior to the attack. Neighbors expressed their shock over the event, emphasizing the area's reputation as dog-friendly. "As a mom of three, I was sad," remarked neighbor Maria Gutierrez. "You don't expect your pet to attack your child." Following the incident, the dog has been taken into custody by Animal Control, and authorities are conducting interviews with the parents. As of now, no charges have been filed, and the investigation is ongoing.

A new Covid variant, NB.1.8.1, has been detected in several U.S. states following a surge in hospitalizations in Asia, according to health officials and reports from the World Health Organization (WHO). The variant has been traced to locations including New York, California, Arizona, Ohio, and Rhode Island. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that the public health risk from NB.1.8.1 is currently considered low, its transmissibility may be higher than previous variants. "Data indicates that NB.1.8.1 does not lead to more severe illness compared to previous variants, although it appears to have a growth advantage," stated Subhash Verma, a microbiology professor at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Current Covid vaccines are expected to remain effective against this variant; however, access to vaccinations has become increasingly limited due to recent changes in policy by the Trump administration, which has removed certain vaccines from the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule. Vaccine experts express concern that such limitations could hinder public health efforts.

A tragic double murder-suicide unfolded in Dalton, Georgia, this week, when 37-year-old Kevin Andrew Akins fatally shot his wife, Rebeca Nicole Akins, 35, and his pregnant girlfriend, Cindel Mae Rhoden, 33, before turning the gun on himself. Authorities confirmed the sequence of events, stating that Akins first killed Rebeca at their apartment and then traveled to Rhoden's home, where he committed another fatal shooting. Family members revealed that Cindel Rhoden was expecting a boy, and concerns about her well-being prompted her father to check on her after she had not communicated for days. Police discovered her body after responding to his call, while Rebeca’s coworkers had requested a welfare check on her after she missed three consecutive days of work. Dalton Police have not yet disclosed a motive for the tragic events, which are still under investigation, and detectives are reviewing CCTV footage related to the case. The incident raises further concerns about domestic violence and mental health, echoing previous cases of severe domestic violence in the U.S., officials noted.