America Today Staff 
A brief status hearing was held Tuesday morning for Lawrence Reed, the man accused of setting a woman on fire aboard a CTA Blue Line train in November. Reed, 50, faces federal terrorism charges in connection with the attack, in which prosecutors say he ignited 26-year-old Bethany MaGee, leaving her critically injured. During the roughly … Read more
The trial of a man accused of orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot against a top U.S. Border Patrol official officially began Tuesday. The case is the first tied to Operation Midway Blitz to reach trial, and despite a recent court ruling excluding significant evidence, prosecutors are moving forward. Last week, a federal judge in Chicago ruled … Read more
Chicago police are warning residents after a series of thefts involving Honda vehicles across several neighborhoods. Police say suspects are targeting late-model Honda Civics by smashing the driver’s side window and removing the airbag from the steering wheel. Mike Spano, service manager at Victory Honda on Western Avenue, said he’s surprised to see airbag thefts … Read more
Chicago police are investigating after a man was shot and killed Tuesday evening in the Marshall Square neighborhood near Little Village. Authorities said the shooting occurred around 5:30 p.m. in the 2400 block of West 23rd Street. Investigators stated that a 23-year-old man was standing near a parking lot when an unknown SUV pulled up. … Read more
Tilon Nathani Woodard, 19, of Chesterton, has been charged in Jasper County following an investigation into alleged online communications with a minor. According to a probable cause affidavit filed Jan. 20, deputies were dispatched on Jan. 18 around 9:07 p.m. to the 100 block of Robbins Street regarding a report of a male attempting to … Read more
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office announced the seizure of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine and multiple illegal firearms from a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization following a two-month investigation. Authorities said the organization relied on Sergio Sanchez of Moreno Valley to operate a safehouse, transport drugs from the Southwest border, and facilitate distribution in Southern California, … Read more
A 74-year-old woman was struck and killed while crossing the street in Yucaipa, San Bernardino County. On Jan. 19, deputies responded to a crash at the intersection of Yucaipa Boulevard and 5th Street around 9:44 a.m. The victim, identified only as a 74-year-old Yucaipa resident, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. … Read more
Family and friends are searching for a missing Los Angeles County woman. Jennifer Leann Issa, 53, was reported missing on Jan. 18, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Issa, considered at-risk, was last seen around 10 p.m. on the 23000 block of Mulholland Drive in Calabasas. She is described as 5 feet 5 … Read more
A 39-year-old woman was taken into custody after surveillance cameras captured her allegedly stealing from a classroom at an Orange County high school. Officials with the Irvine Police Department said the theft occurred overnight on Jan. 17 at Woodbridge High School in Irvine. “Surveillance cameras captured a woman taking several items from a classroom and … Read more
Two people were hospitalized after a multi-vehicle collision on the 210 Freeway in Glendora Tuesday evening, which sparked a car fire and caused traffic backups for miles. California Highway Patrol officers responded to reports of the incident in the eastbound lanes near Sunflower Avenue around 5:40 p.m., officials confirmed to KTLA. Details about the cause … Read more