Prospects of U.S. Democracy Decline Under Trump Examined by Scholar

Yiyun Li, a celebrated author and professor at Princeton University, has opened up about the devastating impact of losing her two sons, Vincent and James, to suicide. Vincent died in 2017 at the age of 16, and James followed in 2024 at 19. Both were found at the same location, a tragic coincidence that has left Li grappling with deep sorrow and questions about parenting and mental health. In her new book, "Things in Nature Merely Grow," Li reflects on her experiences and the emotional rollercoaster of grief. Despite providing a loving and supportive environment for her children, she acknowledges moments of regret and questions whether she adequately prepared them to cope with life's challenges. Li's perspective sheds light on the stigma surrounding suicide and the misunderstandings that often accompany such tragedies. "People who die from suicide are in extreme pain," she stated, urging for broader comprehension and compassion in discussions about mental health. The book aims to honor her sons' memories while challenging societal perceptions of depression and loss.

Michael Smith, a North Carolina medical clinic owner, has been arrested as part of the first AI streaming fraud case in the U.S., accused of generating over $10 million through fraudulent means. According to federal prosecutors, Smith allegedly deployed software bots to artificially inflate stream counts of AI-generated music, leading to a reported billion streams but no actual fan engagement. Smith and collaborator Jonathan Hay released a jazz album, "Jazz," in 2018, which initially gained popularity but vanished from charts shortly after. Suspicion grew when analytics indicated a peculiar listening pattern concentrated in unexpected regions like Vietnam. Investigations revealed that Smith directed staff at his clinics to stream the tracks, resulting in streaming service flags for fraudulent activity. The Boston-based AI song generator Boomy, linked to Smith, produced thousands of tracks that were assigned to fictitious artists with bizarre names, further complicating the scheme. Smith pleaded not guilty, while Hay, who claims ignorance of the fraud, has cooperated with authorities and expressed relief at the investigation.

A small private plane crashed in a San Diego neighborhood early Thursday, igniting fires in at least 15 homes. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. local time when a Cessna 550 went down near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. Firefighting teams responded promptly to the scene to tackle the blazes, which were reportedly fueled by jet fuel from the aircraft. Local authorities have confirmed that there are no fatalities reported, but several individuals have sustained injuries, necessitating medical attention. The full extent of property damage is still being assessed as investigations into the cause of the crash continue. Witnesses described seeing flames and smoke rising from the neighborhood shortly after the plane went down, which led to an immediate evacuation of affected homes. “We never imagined this could happen in our community,” one resident remarked. The FAA is expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.