Brooklyn

A federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Halima Salman, 27, a U.S. citizen, of receiving military-type training from ISIS in Syria. Prosecutors said Salman traveled to Syria with her family as a teenager in 2016, married an ISIS fighter, and voluntarily underwent weapons training, later receiving a certificate of completion and authorization to carry an assault rifle. Evidence included photos and video recovered from her husband's phone showing her with an ISIS flag and an AK-47. She was convicted under the federal statute barring receipt of training from a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

Jackson County District Judge Nicole Hughes, appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in April, faces scrutiny over her ties to County Prosecutor Kelsey Guernsey, who has endorsed her, appeared at campaign events, and door-knocked on her behalf. Fellow Judge Robert Gaecke, who backs Hughes' opponent George Lyons, publicly criticized the arrangement as creating an "appearance of impropriety." Hughes and Guernsey deny wrongdoing, calling the criticism a campaign tactic, and Chief District Judge Daniel Goostrey backed Hughes' conduct. Legal ethics experts are split: some say a prosecutor campaigning for a judge who hears that office's cases raises serious neutrality concerns, while others see no formal violation of Michigan's judicial conduct canons.

A New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct censure detailed how Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Jeffrey Gershuny pulled out his personal firearm during an Aug. 5, 2025 suppression hearing to test whether a testifying NYPD officer could distinguish a gun from other objects inside a bag. After questioning from both sides left him unsatisfied with the officer's account of detecting a bulge, Gershuny retrieved a stapler from his chambers, removed his 9-mm handgun from its holster, unloaded it, and placed it on the floor while putting the stapler in a shopping bag instead—proceeding over prosecutors' objections and against his own court officers' advice.

The officer described sensing an L-shaped object consistent with a firearm; Gershuny then revealed the stapler, suppressed the gun evidence in the underlying case, and accused the officer of fabricating his account. The Brooklyn DA later declined to prosecute and the case was dismissed. Gershuny, who has no prior disciplinary history, cooperated with the investigation, agreed to the censure, and no longer carries his weapon into court.

Oscar Belgal, 28, a Dominican Republic native shot by federal immigration officers in New York on Oct. 8, made his first appearance before an immigration judge Thursday via video livestream from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where his lawyers say he is held in solitary confinement. He said little during the brief hearing and still needs surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his neck.

Belgal's lawyers say ICE officers, masked and in plain clothes, confronted him while he searched for parking after picking up his 5-year-old son from school, then fired into his car as he tried to drive away without identifying themselves. DHS says officers opened fire believing their lives were in danger after Belgal rammed two government vehicles. Released NYPD footage doesn't conclusively resolve the dispute. Legal Aid Society attorney Karene Brown said ICE has not honored requests to move Belgal out of solitary confinement. His next hearing is Oct. 29, and lawyers have filed a federal petition seeking his release.

The Village of Brooklyn, Michigan has launched a "Brick the Square" fundraising campaign to replace its century-old Town Square Gazebo. The current structure, built 44 years ago, is deteriorating and lacks accessibility features. The Parks Board began accepting orders Oct. 14 for engraved bricks, which will line walkways connecting the new gazebo to the adjacent Veterans Memorial and downtown sidewalks—paths that do not currently exist.

Supporters, regardless of residency, can purchase bricks with custom messages through an online portal linked to the village's website, working with Indianapolis-based Fundraising Brick. Proceeds will fund construction and any surplus will go toward future maintenance, officials said, framing the approach as a way to avoid diverting money from other village services. The redesigned gazebo will include an accessibility ramp and new stairs. The gazebo, a fixture on the village logo and host to parades and community events, anchors downtown Brooklyn. Brick orders are being accepted through Jan. 15, 2027, with construction slated to begin in spring 2027 and finish that summer.

A Bronx shooting in which an ICE agent shot Oscar Belgal, an undocumented immigrant with a prior arrest record, has become a flashpoint in New York City and state politics ahead of elections. Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized ICE's actions and has pushed to limit cooperation between federal immigration enforcement and the NYPD, drawing sharp criticism from residents and officials who argue sanctuary-city policies let repeat offenders remain free to commit crimes. Congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier faced backlash for defending Belgal, while critics drew comparisons to the case of NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran, who faces prison time after intervening to stop a fleeing suspect.

Supporters of stricter enforcement argue that had Belgal been deported after an earlier arrest, the shooting would not have occurred, while critics of the officer's actions say an investigation should determine whether the shooting was justified before conclusions are drawn. The incident has intensified debate over sanctuary-city status, bail reform, and public safety as New York heads toward upcoming elections.

Gas prices in Charlotte and across North Carolina are starting to drop after Governor Josh Stein signed a bill suspending the state's gas tax, cutting 41 cents per gallon from gas and diesel prices. The move responds to fuel price spikes tied to tensions following a U.S. attack on Iran, as officials cited the rising cost of living for North Carolinians.

The suspension runs through November 30 and could cost the state more than $350 million in revenue that would otherwise fund NCDOT road projects. Economists caution it may take up to two weeks for drivers to see the full effect at the pump, and savings may only amount to a few dollars a week for the average driver since gas stations aren't required to lower prices on fuel they've already paid taxes on. The N.C. Department of Revenue will audit tax filings but will not enforce pump prices. State lawmakers, including House Speaker Destin Hall, praised the measure as relief for drivers amid elevated fuel costs.