Category: Security

There is no shortage of people using Google Earth to make unbelievable discoveries across the world, from a possible secret military site in China to the largest Coca-Cola logo in Chile.

Enter the city of Los Angeles, where a small triangular plot of land along the Los Angeles River in Lincoln Heights, near the corner of Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and Mission Road, has garnered the attention of social media users and sparked conspiracy theories and concerns about criminal activity related to human trafficking and drug cartels.

The satellite images show the word “help” had been spelled out about a dozen times on the piece of land that is owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. The Spanish words for “trafficking,” “federal” and “terrorism” were also spelled out, as well as “LAPD” and “FBI.”

Despite the alarming messages online, police have yet to confirm that anything nefarious is happening in that location.

Laura Eimiller, a spokesperson for the FBI, referred all questions to the Los Angeles Police Department.

In a statement, the LAPD said that it had responded Sunday morning to an “unknown trouble” call near Mission Road and the 101 Freeway.

“Upon arrival, officers conducted a thorough investigation and found no evidence of any criminal activity or threat in the area,” the statement read.

The Police Department also concluded that the satellite images shared on social media were taken in 2023. A news helicopter for KTLA showed that the words were still at the property as of Monday afternoon.

The LAPD said it had notified Union Pacific Railroad about the incident and referred further questions to the railroad company.

Jill Micek, a spokesperson for the company, said in an email response to The Times on Monday evening that no one was or is in danger, and that Union Pacific is aware of a man who has been trespassing on the company’s property and other commercial lots “to create misleading messages.”

“We want to remind the public that it is illegal — and more importantly unsafe — to trespass on Union Pacific property,” Micek wrote.

On the social media platform X, the images sparked conspiracy theories about human trafficking at the site because of the message and because the location is near a shipping yard.

“There’s a deep subterranean system under the surface that the access points are covered by containers they use cranes to remove. There’s a lot more going on than what’s visible on the surface,” wrote a user by the name of Cyrus on X.

At least one user on X produced a video using AI images showing shipping containers filled with people, tunnels and armed men. The video included the message: “The truth is in the tunnels” along with the coordinates of the property. “Someone took time to place dozens of logs and scrap to write the words ‘help,’ ‘trafico,’ ‘LAPD’ and ‘federal’ big enough to be seen on Google maps.”

But another X user said on the platform that he had traveled to the location and interviewed homeless people in the area; he said they claimed a homeless man had been writing the messages for years. Some who said they lived in the area echoed those details and posted images that appeared to show similar messages written on trees and walls with spray paint in the area near the property in question.

In a response on X, the LAPD said officers had spoken to the man behind the mysterious messages on several occasions.

“He has refused housing or a mental health evaluation,” the department wrote in its post. “There is no evidence of Human Trafficking. He has been at the location for a few years.”

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© 2025 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

A 42-year-old man who was pardoned by President Donald Trump last week for his involvement in the storming of Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021, was shot and killed by a police officer after the suspect attempted to resist arrest during a traffic stop in Indiana.

In a Monday press release, the Indiana State Police identified 42-year-old Matthew Huttle as the deceased suspect who was killed during a traffic stop.

According to the initial press release, which was released on Sunday, preliminary investigations conducted by the Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division Lowell Post indicated that the incident occurred when a Jasper County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop at roughly 4:15 p.m. on Sunday.

“During the traffic stop, the officer attempted to arrest the suspect when the suspect resisted. An altercation took place between the suspect and the officer, which resulted in the officer firing his weapon and fatally wounding the suspect,” the India State Police said. “The investigation also shows that during the traffic stop, the suspect was in possession of a firearm.”

READ MORE: Videos: Trump pardons 1,500+ Jan 6 ‘hostages’

The Associated Press reported that Huttle was sentenced to six months in prison in 2023 after he pleaded guilty to entering the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The outlet noted that Huttle entered the Capitol Building for roughly 16 minutes and recorded the incident on video.

“He is not a true believer in any political cause,” Andrew Hemmer, Huttle’s defense attorney, said in a court filing obtained by The Associated Press. “He instead went to the rally because he thought it would be a historic moment and he had nothing better to do after getting out of jail.”

Huttle was one of the more than 1,500 individuals who received pardons from Trump last week following a major prosecution effort against January 6 protesters under the Biden-Harris administration.

Following the fatal shooting during Sunday’s traffic stop, Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson released a statement confirming that the officer involved in the shooting incident was on “paid administrative leave” as part of standard procedures regarding an “officer involved shooting.”

“Our condolences go out to the family of the deceased as any loss of life is traumatic to those that were close to Mr. Huttle,” Williamson stated. “I will release the officer’s name once I have approval from the State Police Detectives.”

Rapper Snoop Dogg recently defended his performance at a pre-inauguration celebration for President Donald Trump after receiving criticism for performing at an event honoring the 47th president.

In a Sunday video posted on Instagram, the famous rapper shared a message that appeared to be directed at the criticism he has received regarding his decision to perform at the Crypto Ball. The New York Post reported that Snoop Dogg lost over 500,000 followers on social media following his pre-inauguration performance.

While listening to gospel music, the 53-year-old musician said, “For all the hate, I’ma answer it with love. Y’all can’t hate enough for me, I love too much.”

“Get your life right,” Snoop Dogg added. “Stop worrying about mine. I’m cool. I’m together. Still a Black man. Still 100% Black. All out ’til you ball out or ’til you fall out.”

In another portion of the video, Snoop Dogg said we have to “learn to pick each other up instead of putting each other down.”

“You can be up one minute, and they’ll try to pull you down the next,” the rapper added. “But I’m a strong Black man. I’m cut from a different cloth. Can’t tear me down.”

Snoop Dogg is calm and unbothered by critics of his performance at a Trump inauguration event:

“For all the hate, I’ma answer it with love. Y’all can’t hate enough for me, I love too much. Get your life right. Stop worrying about mine.” pic.twitter.com/hLKV8CwFlf

— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) January 28, 2025

During a Saturday appearance on an episode of the “R&B Money Podcast,” the 53-year-old rapper revealed how he responds to negative criticism in the music industry.

“You ‘gon deal with hate when you get to the top, no matter who you are… Me, personally, I answer it with success and love. That’s my answer to any hate and negativity that comes my way, ’cause it’s the strongest force that can beat it.”

READ MORE: Video/Pic: Antifa protesters attack ICE center in Portland after Trump inauguration

USA Today reported that fans of the iconic rapper were surprised by his performance at the Crypto Ball in light of Snoop Dogg’s prior comments that he would “roast” any musician who performed at the president’s first inauguration in 2017. According to Fox News, Snoop Dogg previously released a music video that included him shooting a clown dressed like Trump in the head.

Additionally, during an appearance on “Big Boy’s Neighborhood on Real 92.3” in 2020, Snoop Dogg criticized Trump ahead of the presidential election, saying, “I ain’t never voted a day in my life, but this year I think I’m going to get out and vote because I can’t stand to see this punk in office one more year.”

Despite criticizing Trump in the past, Snoop Dogg spoke positively of Trump in an interview last year with The Sunday Times, saying, “He ain’t done nothing wrong to me. He has done only great things for me. He pardoned Michael Harris.” Snoop Dogg added, “So, I have nothing but love and respect for Donald Trump.”

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Monday regarding the construction of a “next-generation missile defense shield” similar to the “Iron Dome” in Israel.

Trump’s executive order, entitled “The Iron Dome for America,” warned that the threat of ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles, along with “other advanced aerial attacks,” is “the most catastrophic threat facing the United States.”

Monday’s executive order noted that in an attempt to “further the goal of peace through strength,” the United States will “provide for the common defense of its citizens and the Nation by deploying and maintaining a next-generation missile defense shield.” The executive order explained that the Department of Defense will be required to provide Trump with a plan to implement the missile defense system within 60 days.

Trump’s executive order also directs the secretary of defense to conduct an “Allied and Theater Missile Defense Review” regarding how the United States and its allies can increase “bilateral and multilateral cooperation on missile defense technology development, capabilities, and operations” and “improve theater missile defenses of forward-deployed United States troops and allied territories, troops, and populations.”

In his executive order, the 47th president explained that former President Ronald Reagan first attempted to “build an effective defense against nuclear attacks” but that the project was canceled “before its goal could be realized.” Trump noted that since the United States withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002, the country’s missile defense policy has “remained only to stay ahead of rogue-nation threats and accidental or unauthorized missile launches.”

READ MORE: Video/Pics: US Marines arrive at southern border

Trump’s executive order added, “Over the past 40 years, rather than lessening, the threat from next-generation strategic weapons has become more intense and complex with the development by peer and near-peer adversaries of next-generation delivery systems and their own homeland integrated air and missile defense capabilities.”

Prior to signing the executive order, Trump explained that under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership, the United States will “immediately begin the construction of a state-of-the-art Iron Dome missile defense shield, which will be able to protect Americans.”

Trump added, “You know, we protect other countries, but we don’t protect ourself.”

Trump explained that while America “didn’t have the technology” to complete a missile defense shield during Reagan’s time, modern technology has advanced to allow countries to develop advanced missile defense systems.

“Now we have phenomenal technology,” Trump said. “You see that with Israel.”

“So I think the United States is entitled to that,” Trump added. “And everything will be made right here in the USA 100%.”

TRUMP: THE USA IS GETTING AN IRON DOME AND EVERYTHING WILL BE MADE HERE

“ We didn’t have the technology then.

It was a concept, but we didn’t. And now we have phenomenal technology.

You see that with Israel.

We’re out of 319 rockets.

They knocked down just about every… pic.twitter.com/B7bKG3lF7n

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 27, 2025

Google announced on Monday that the company will update Google Maps to feature “Gulf of America” and “Mount McKinley” instead of Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali following President Donald Trump’s executive order last Monday.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Google wrote, “We’ve received a few questions about naming within Google Maps. We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.”

The tech giant shared an article explaining how geological features in the United States are updated by the Department of the Interior’s Geographic Names Information System.

Google noted, “When that happens, we will update Google Maps in the U.S. quickly to show Mount McKinley and Gulf of America.”

On Friday, the Department of the Interior confirmed that the agency would be changing the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali to reflect Trump’s executive order changing the name of Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America and restoring the name of Mount McKinley, which was changed to Mount Denali by former President Barack Obama in 2015, according to Fox Business.

READ MORE: Pics: Google slammed for ‘election interference’ for ‘suppressing’ Trump assassination attempt

“As directed by the President, the Gulf of Mexico will now officially be known as the Gulf of America and North America’s highest peak will once again bear the name Mount McKinley,” the Department of the Interior stated. “These changes reaffirm the Nation’s commitment to preserving the extraordinary heritage of the United States and ensuring that future generations of Americans celebrate the legacy of its heroes and historic assets.”

The Department of the Interior explained that the U.S. Board on Geographic Names was “working expeditiously” to update the Geographic Names Information System to reflect the geographic changes ordered by the president “effective immediately for federal use.”

In another post on X, Google indicated that people from other countries could still see both the Gulf of America and the Gulf of Mexico listed on Google Maps. “Also longstanding practice: When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name,” Google tweeted. “Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names. That applies here too.”

Google’s announcement on Monday comes after Trump issued the “Restoring the Names that Honor American Greatness” executive order last week.

“It is in the national interest to promote the extraordinary heritage of our Nation and ensure future generations of American citizens celebrate the legacy of our American heroes,” the executive order stated. “The naming of our national treasures, including breathtaking natural wonders and historic works of art, should honor the contributions of visionary and patriotic Americans in our Nation’s rich past.”

Another Atlanta legend is gone.

DJ Unk, most known for snap-era songs like “2 Step” and “Walk It Out,” died on Friday, according to a statement sent from long-time producer and collaborator Korey “Big Oomp” Roberson. He was 43. A cause of death is unknown at this time.

The Atlanta DJ and rapper, whose real name is Anthony Platt, signed to the esteemed indie label Big Oomp Records in 2000. His 2006 debut album “Beat’n Down Yo Block” reached No. 21 on Billboard’s R&B and Hip-Hop chart.

“Walk It Out,” the album’s lead single and DJ Unk’s debut song, was a foundational track that fueled the rise of snap music, a dance-crazed subgenre of crunk that derived in Atlanta. It reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song inspired a dance, which includes bending your knees and twisting your legs from side-to-side, that became ubiquitous on streets and dancefloors across the country—showcasing its in-real-life virality long before social media trends.

The track got so big that André 3000 and Jim Jones hopped on the remix.

DJ Unk dropped his sophomore album “Second Season” in 2008. The following year, he was rushed to the hospital after suffering a heart attack. He talked to XXL Magazine in 2010 about his health scare, stating, “Every day, I try to make something happen in my household. I constantly be on the go, I constantly be on airplanes, in different weather and you know it just took a toll on me. It was stress.”

“DJ Unk was not just a legendary DJ, rapper and producer, but a true cornerstone of our label and the imprint that he left globally will be cherished forever,” Roberson wrote in a statement sent to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that was later posted on social media.

“Hit songs such as ‘Walk It Out’ and ‘2 Step’ have left an indelible mark on the industry, and his legacy will continue to inspire artists, DJs, and fans alike for years to come. His energy, creativity, and commitment to the craft will never be forgotten.”

DJ Unk marks the latest death in Atlanta’s rich hip-hop scene. Last month, rapper OG Maco died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 32. Rich Homie Quan died from an accidental drug overdose last September. He was 34. In April of last year, legendary Organized Noize producer Rico Wade died from heart failure at 52.

On Friday, legions of fans took to social media to mourn DJ Unk:

“DJ Unk blessed all the street dancers in the snap era with an opportunity to show off what was going on in Atlanta,” wrote one user.

“The snap era wouldn’t have been the same without DJ Unk,” another user wrote.

The Atlanta Falcons even posted a tribute:

“Please respect me and my family,” his wife, Sherkita Long-Platt, wrote on Facebook. “I just lost my husband and my kids just lost their father. Our life will never be the same. I love you Anthony forever.”

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© 2025 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

About 200 soldiers from Fort Stewart near Savannah have deployed to the U.S.-Mexican border as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

The troops, according to the military, will “support enhanced detection and monitoring efforts” and help set up and repair physical barriers. They will operate under U.S. Northern Command and Joint Task Force North, which are working with federal immigration authorities.

“Our soldiers are ready to answer our nation’s call,” said Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson. “Our units train extensively to serve our nation’s interests both stateside and abroad and we are sending our finest professionals for this mission.”

The Fort Stewart troops are part of the 549th Military Police Company, 16th Military Police Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps and the 530th Combat Engineer Company, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

The military announced their deployment Monday afternoon, though the soldiers left for their mission Sunday. The announcement says the length of their deployment is unknown but they “will carry out their missions until relieved.”

They are among about 1,500 active-duty personnel from the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps who are deploying to the southern border to augment the roughly 2,500 service members already there.

In announcing the initial troop deployments last week, then-Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses said Trump directed him “to take all appropriate action to support the activities of the secretary of homeland security in obtaining complete operational control of the southern border of the United States.”

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© 2025 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A representative for Brad Pitt has reacted to the viral story of a French woman who was catfished and conned out of her life savings by someone pretending to be the famous actor.

An interior designer, identified only as Anne, revealed on a Sunday episode of French TV’s “Seven to Eight” that she believed she was in a long-distance romance with the Oscar winner before being swindled out of what was valued at $850,000.

Days after the episode aired, a spokesperson for the 61-year-old actor addressed the controversy.

“It’s awful that scammers take advantage of the strong bond between fans and celebrities,” the rep said in a statement Wednesday. “But this is an important reminder not to respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence.”

Anne, 53, said she was first contacted on Instagram in February 2023 by someone claiming to be Pitt’s mother and wanting to introduce Anne to her son. Anne was then duped for more than a year by fake social media profiles and convincing AI-generated photos and videos used to impersonate Pitt.

She confessed to eventually transferring copious amount of money into a bank account after being told, among many lies, that Pitt’s own accounts were locked amid his contentious divorce battle with Angelina Jolie and that he needed help to pay for kidney cancer treatments. Many of the AI photos showed him in a hospital.

The scammer eventually proposed to Anne, which she accepted. She divorced her husband believing she would be with Pitt.

It wasn’t until Anne saw photos of the “Fight Club” star with his new girlfriend, Inés de Ramón, at the 2024 Venice Film Festival that she grew suspicious and reported the scammer to police.

“I just got played, I admit it, and that’s why I came forward, because I am not the only one,” Anne said, insisting she was not “crazy or a moron.”

After learning it was indeed a scam, Anne said she subsequently experienced severe depression, for which he had to seek mental health treatment.

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©2025 New York Daily News

Not even a week into President Trump’s second term, a congressman is pushing for Trump to have the chance to serve a third term.

Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles, a Republican, has introduced a proposal to amend the Constitution and allow a president to be elected for three terms.

“I am proposing an amendment to the Constitution to revise the limitations imposed by the 22nd Amendment on presidential terms,” Ogles said in a statement. “This amendment would allow President Trump to serve three terms, ensuring that we can sustain the bold leadership our nation so desperately needs.”

Under the 22nd Amendment, a president can only be elected twice.

Ogles’ proposed amendment reads in part, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times, nor be elected to any additional term after being elected to two consecutive terms.”

“President Trump’s decisive leadership stands in stark contrast to the chaos, suffering, and economic decline Americans have endured over the past four years,” Ogles said. “He has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation’s decay and restoring America to greatness, and he must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal.”

Because the proposed amendment would ban a president to serve a third term if they were elected to two straight terms, then Barack Obama would not be allowed to run.

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It’s highly unlikely that this resolution will pass Congress. Constitutional amendments need the support of two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, and the GOP only has a slight majority.

After passing through Congress, amendments need the support of at least 75% of states. That also would likely not happen with this Trump proposal.

©2025 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at bostonherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth referred to “Fort Liberty” as “Fort Bragg” on Monday two days after he was sworn in on a razor-thin 51-50 vote in the Senate. The military base, originally named after General Braxton Bragg, was renamed under the Biden administration due to Bragg’s service in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

“Every moment that I’m here, I’m thinking about the guys and gals in Guam, in Germany, at Fort Benning and Fort Bragg, on missile defense sites and aircraft carriers. Our job is lethality and readiness and warfighting,” Hegseth said.

“We’re going to hold people accountable, I know the chairman agrees with that. The lawful orders of the President of the United States will be executed inside this Defense Department swiftly and without excuse,” he continued. “We will be no better friend to our allies and no better adversary to those who want to test us and try us.”

Pete Hegseth, on his first full day on the job, says Trump is signing more Executive Orders banning DEI and reinstating troops that were kicked out of the military over refusal to take the COVID vaccine.

He also calls ‘Fort Liberty’ Fort Bragg. pic.twitter.com/rizp2oTPup

— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) January 27, 2025

Fort Benning, originally named after Confederate General Henry Lewis Benning, was also renamed under the previous administration. The military installation is currently called Fort Moore.

In 2022, then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin played a key role in implementing the name changes for military posts.

At the time, he explained, “The names of these installations and facilities should inspire all those who call them home, fully reflect the history and the values of the United States, and commemorate the best of the republic that we are all sworn to protect.”