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Mountbatten-Windsor seeks to void Epstein-linked search warrants in High Court
4 days ago•Source: Al Jazeera
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20.955 min•13 days ago
Bisnoff Convicted in $2M Smart Ring Ponzi Scheme
Michelle Bisnoff was found guilty on 22 federal counts for defrauding investors of nearly $2 million through a fake smart ring company. She falsely claimed ownership of a patent and partnerships with Apple and Roc Nation. Sentencing is scheduled for January 2027.
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Supreme Court Justice Kagan rejects surrogate's bid to halt custody of critically ill infant
texastribune.org•16 days ago
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Sean Combs Parts Ways With Lawyers Over Unpaid Fees and Communication Breakdown
Sean Combs’ civil attorneys from Sher Tremonte have withdrawn from representing him in a defamation suit against Nexstar Media, citing six months of unpaid invoices and a breakdown in cooperation. Combs, who is serving a 50-month federal sentence tied to prostitution offenses, says the dispute centers on unapproved charges and frames the move as a business matter. The firm also represents him in several civil sexual assault lawsuits, and it remains unclear whether they will continue in those cases.
Texas Court Denies Custody to Alaskan Surrogate Over Dallas-Born Baby
A Texas judge denied custody to Alaskan surrogate McKenna West over the medically fragile baby she carried in Dallas; West is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court while California parents Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar maintain guardianship, with Texas officials intervening to keep the child in Texas as the child undergoes life-saving surgeries.
Maryland Judge Halts Trump’s Latest Bid to Limit Birthright Citizenship
A Maryland federal judge blocked President Trump's August executive order aimed at limiting birthright citizenship, citing the Supreme Court's Barbara v. Trump ruling that children born in the U.S. are citizens at birth; the injunction follows the high court's 6-3 decision that the prior effort was unconstitutional and keeps legal challenges alive.
Judge rejects Minnesota’s bid to force Texas to extradite ICE agent Castro
A U.S. judge denied Minnesota’s bid to compel Texas to extradite ICE agent Christian Castro, who faces assault and falsely reporting a crime charges in Minnesota tied to a January immigration raid; the judge said Governor Abbott has not yet acted on the extradition warrant, so the case remains unresolved and Castro remains in Texas custody as Minnesota presses the issue.
California couple fights surrogate for parental rights in Texas amid infant’s life-threatening heart condition
In Dallas, a California couple and their surrogate are locked in a courtroom dispute over a newborn diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome; the surrogate seeks sole conservatorship to decide medical care, while the couple argues they are the child's parents and say the infant’s condition has worsened after their push to terminate the pregnancy, prompting a restraining order and an ongoing custody fight as Texas surrogacy and abortion dynamics come to the fore.
Texas drag-show ban ruled unconstitutional again by federal judge
A federal judge reaffirmed that Texas Senate Bill 12, a 2023 law restricting drag performances, is unconstitutional and paused the law again after the 5th Circuit’s reconsideration instructions, finding its broad definitions could criminalize constitutionally protected performances and violate the First Amendment; the suit was brought by LGBTQ+ groups and drag performers.
Inside MDC: A Year With Luigi Mangione Before Sentencing
Linus Fu, a fellow MDC inmate who later pled guilty in a bank-fraud case, recalls spending a year with Luigi Mangione in the intake wing of Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where Mangione became something of a celebrity, bonded over books and letters, and remained mostly quiet; Mangione admitted to the December 2024 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and pleaded guilty in August 2026 to two counts of stalking with the intent to kill, with sentencing set for December 18, 2026, after which he’s expected to move to a long-term facility. Fu was released to China earlier in 2026 following his own conviction, illustrating two fates tied to the same facility.
Texas lifts decades-old gun-tax limits on short-barrel firearms and silencers after court ruling
A federal judge’s order lifting the transfer and making taxes under the National Firearms Act on short-barrel firearms and silencers took effect in Texas after the Trump administration declined to file an emergency appeal. The change follows the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill that ended the NFA tax on these items, and its impact applies to states that joined the lawsuit; supporters call it a major Second Amendment win, while gun-control groups warn it could reduce public safety. The DOJ could still appeal within 60 days.
Gomez Family Hit with Securities Fraud Suit Over Collapsed Wondermind Startup
Investors are suing Selena Gomez, her mother Mandy Teefey, and Wondermind founder Daniella Pierson, alleging they raised about $1.2 million for the mental-health startup Wondermind with false promises about an app, advertising deals, and leadership, then let the company collapse without informing investors. The defendants face securities fraud, common law fraud, and breach-of-contract claims, with plaintiffs seeking rescission and damages.
Dallas birth sparks cross-state surrogacy rights showdown
Texas A.G. Ken Paxton intervened on behalf of an Alaska surrogate in a cross-state surrogacy dispute with California birth parents. The baby, born in Dallas with a congenital heart condition (HLHS), is receiving life-saving care in Texas. A Dallas judge ordered the child remain in Texas for treatment and barred the surrogate from making medical decisions or presenting herself as the child’s mother, even as California rulings recognized the birth parents’ rights; a hearing on parental status and care location is set for Aug. 25.