Saturday, October 17, 2026

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said Friday that a teacher threw her phone at 16-year-old shooter John Griffin and tackled him during Thursday's attack at Silver Rail Elementary School, which targeted a special-needs classroom Griffin had once attended. Kaylub Giamanco, 36, who witnessed the shooting outside and had two daughters at the school, followed Griffin in and shot him. Griffin killed three children and a teacher using a shotgun reportedly bought by his mother, firing up to 15 rounds.

Katie Zacharia, who left her post as White House press secretary Friday after a tenure reported as four, five or seven days, posted on X Friday night that "it was an honor" to work for President Trump. Trump said he had urged her to "reconsider" the job, citing media coverage, after scrutiny of her legal credentials and a brief Oct. 13 briefing. Zacharia, who replaced Karoline Leavitt, has not announced her next role.

The federal budget deficit for the fiscal year that just ended reached nearly $2 trillion, the largest gap since 2021, Treasury figures show. Higher interest rates increased borrowing costs, while spending included outlays tied to the Iran war and tariff refunds. The total marks President Trump's first full fiscal year in his current term.

Lawyers for Rep. Ilhan Omar asked federal prosecutors to return items seized this week when Homeland Security Investigations agents searched her Washington home. The search is part of a criminal investigation into her immigration process, which advanced after investigators reviewed family text messages from her sister's seized phone. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said her office is separately investigating Omar's financial disclosures. Omar is challenging the legality of the search.

President Trump signed an executive order late Friday waiving sweeping new sanctions and tariffs on Russia and buyers of its oil that were set to take effect within two days under the Graham Act, a law he signed last month aimed at pressuring Moscow. The order said the waiver is "in the national interests of the United States." The move follows Trump's deal allowing Russia to sell diesel internationally and comes amid his dispute with President Zelensky over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.

U.S. District Judge Ramón Reyes dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit seeking to block New York City laws limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, ruling the government lacked standing and rejecting claims the city's policies are preempted by federal law. The administration sued in July 2025, calling the policies an unlawful hindrance to immigration enforcement. It is one of more than two dozen such suits filed against jurisdictions nationwide. Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised the ruling.

Elon Musk agreed to settle two lawsuits filed in the Western District of Texas over his America PAC's $1 million giveaways to battleground-state voters who signed a petition ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The suits had accused Musk of defrauding voters by predetermining winners of the giveaway. Court filings disclosing the settlements were published Thursday.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary flight restriction barring unauthorized drone flights within one nautical mile of the U.S.-Mexico border, up to 400 feet in altitude. The restriction was announced Friday as the government increases efforts to address concerns about illegal drug shipments across the border.

President Trump said California officials who process mail ballots from suspected noncitizens could face prosecution and imprisonment. The warning follows disputes over how California handles ballots from voters whose citizenship status is questioned. State officials have not detailed a response, and no charges have been announced.

Fast-moving wildfires fueled by Santa Ana winds burned homes and prompted evacuations in Southern California, including the Norte Fire and a Malibu blaze called the Bryson Fire, part of 13 fires burning statewide. Coastal properties were engulfed and thousands evacuated. Power companies preemptively cut electricity to tens of thousands of homes and businesses on Friday as high winds threatened to spark additional fires.

Masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in the occupied West Bank on Friday, injuring several people including a Washington Post photojournalist, reportedly identified as Heidi Levine, who was hospitalized. Washington Post executive editor Matt Murray said she was wearing visible markings identifying her as a journalist. Settlers also torched cars and trees in West Bank villages, part of a wider surge of attacks during the olive harvest season.

Alberta's conservative premier joined Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday in opposing separation, ahead of a referendum on whether Alberta should pursue a path toward independence from Canada. Carney called the referendum a dangerous gamble amid growing threats to Canada's sovereignty. More than 1 million people had already cast early ballots, with pollsters saying turnout may favor the "remain" side.

Pope Leo XIV, 71, will be discharged from Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Saturday, four days after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican said. Tissue examination confirmed lung adenocarcinoma. On Friday he celebrated Mass in a hospital chapel, and his physician said tests showed steady improvement. He is expected to appear to lead prayer on Sunday.

Indian police again detained the founder of the youth-led 'cockroach' protest movement ahead of a planned Delhi demonstration, following mass detentions and the jailing of two leaders last week. The movement called the protest after a government review of voter lists, which critics say is politically motivated and could disenfranchise voters. The Election Commission and Modi's administration deny the allegations.

Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, from Norway, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted in July of conspiracy to murder in the UK. He had agreed to shoot an unknown target for 25,000 euros (about £21,500 or $28,000) after being recruited online by a group linked to Iran.