Northeast
Families of hostages taken in Israel on Oct. 7 plead for peace at interfaith conference in NYC
Families of hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 came together with religious leaders for an interfaith conference in New York City Monday amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
The attendees, comprising the family members of Jewish and Muslim hostages as well as pastors, rabbis, and imams, pleaded for peace at the discussion hosted by UJA-Federation of NY.
“It’s time to bring this suffering to an end. It’s time to work out a deal that will bring our children, our fathers, our sisters, our mothers back and we urge everybody to do everything that they can to press in all directions to bring this deal to fruition,” said Ronen Neutra, the father of American hostage Omer Neutra. “We need them back. It’s urgent.”
Rabbi Joel Levenson, Midway Jewish Center, Long Island (speaking), shares the stage with, Sheikh Musa Drammeh and Father Ryan Muldoon, Director of Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue of Archdiocese of New York (Fox News Digital)
Former hostage Aviva Siegel, whose husband is still being held despite her release from captivity, said she still wanted the people of Gaza to have a better life too.
“Last week somebody came up to me and said, ‘I don’t believe you. How could you want a good life for the people in Gaza after what you went through?’” Siegel said. “I am going to stay a good human being. So, I want everybody to be good, and believe that everybody deserves a better life. Also for the people [in Gaza].”
MALDIVES BANS ISRAELIS FROM ENTERING COUNTRY DURING WAR IN GAZA
Notable attendees of Monday’s event included, Rabbi Menachem Creditor, Pearl and Ira Meyer Scholar in Residence at UJA-Federation New York; Rabbi Marc Schneier, President of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding; Rabbi Joel Levenson of the Midway Jewish Center, NYPD Detective Mohamed Amen; Danyal Khan, Deputy Director of the Muslim American Leadership Alliance; Zach Erdem, Restaurateur & Television Personality; Father Ryan Muldoon, Director of Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue of Archdiocese of New York; and comms exec Matthew Hiltzik, who coordinated the event with the hostage forum and these religious leaders.
Family members of hostages taken on Oct. 7 in Israel attend an interfaith discussion in New York City. (Fox News Digital)
Monday’s event came after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that four more hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7 have died while in Hamas captivity. Three of those men were in their 80s and seen previously in a Hamas video begging to be released.
About 80 hostages in Gaza are believed to be alive, alongside the remains of 43 others. In the days since President Biden announced the cease-fire proposal Friday, Israel has seen some of its largest protests calling on the government to bring them home. Although Biden said the proposal came from Israel, the Israeli leadership has appeared to distance itself from the plan, vowing to keep conducting military operations against Hamas until the militant group is destroyed.
NETANYAHU AND TRUMP FACE SIMILAR ‘POLITICIZED PROSECUTIONS,’ LEGAL EXPERT SAYS
Hundreds of people, including relatives of the captives, gathered outside Israel’s Defense Ministry and military headquarters in central Tel Aviv late Monday, calling for a deal. Smaller protests took place across the country.
Family members hold up images of their loved ones still in Hamas captivity. (Fox News Digital)
About 100 captives were released during a week long exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners in November. Three of the men declared dead Monday had female relatives who were released during the exchange.
Israeli bombardments and ground operations in Gaza have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israel has blamed Hamas for civilian deaths, accusing the terrorist group of operating from dense residential areas.
Israel has been expanding its offensive in the southern city of Rafah, once the main hub of humanitarian aid operations. The Israeli invasion of Rafah has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and other supplies to Palestinians facing widespread hunger.
Fox News Digital’s Peter Aitken and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania man arrested for allegedly feeding pet parakeet marijuana and beer
A Pennsylvania man was arrested on animal cruelty charges for allegedly feeding marijuana and beer to his pet parakeet after bringing the injured feathered friend to a bar, according to reports.
Timothy Grace, 40, was busted on Feb. 21 after carrying his wounded pet budgie named “Blue Skies” in his pocket to Callaghan’s Bar in Greensburg, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
“The caller’s a bartender. She says there is a white male at the bar with a parakeet,” a dispatcher reported on the police radio transmissions obtained by the outlet.
“The patron was bragging to other people that were inside the bar that he feeds the parakeet marijuana and has it drink beer on a daily basis,” Detective Sergeant Justin Scalzo told the outlet.
Grace “appeared extremely intoxicated” when police showed up to the bar and found the pet bird in distress, according to court documents obtained by the outlet.
“Its leg appeared to be broken,” Scalzo said, according to WTAE. “Its foot was actually facing the wrong direction.”
Grave was initially arrested for public intoxication and now faces charges including aggravated cruelty to animals and transporting animals in a cruel manner, the outlet said.
The pet bird was brought to PEARL Parrot Rescue in the Pittsburgh area, which rushed him to an emergency care facility.
Blue Skies spent four days in the hospital and was later taken in to be fostered by Teri Grendzinski, the president of PEARL. The injured parakeet is still breathing hard, remains on antibiotics, and has to wear a splint on his right leg, CBS reported.
“They realized his leg was broken. He also had some respiratory issues going on,” Grendzinski told the outlet. “He was also very, very skinny.”
“The leg was broken badly enough there is a chance they’re going to have to amputate the leg if it doesn’t heal correctly,” she added.
If Blue Skies is eventually put up for adoption, he will require specialized care, the outlet said.
“When we got that call, it was horrifying. Why would you do that to a bird?” Grendzinski said.
Rhode Island
RI Lottery Numbers Midday, Numbers Evening winning numbers for March 5, 2026
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 5, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Numbers numbers from March 5 drawing
Midday: 8-6-6-2
Evening: 8-1-9-8
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from March 5 drawing
03-08-09-14-30, Extra: 31
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 5 drawing
17-20-23-30-33, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
- Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
- Winners of the Millionaire for Life top prize of $1,000,000 a year for life and second prize of $100,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Vermont
Friends, family rally behind Vermont veteran charged with domestic terrorism
NEWPORT, Vt. (WCAX) – Friends and family of a Vermont veteran charged with domestic terrorism rallied in Newport Thursday, saying the charges stem from a mental health crisis and are unwarranted.
Vermont State Police say Joseph “J.J.” Millett, 38, of Newport, called a veterans crisis line in February, making suicidal statements and threatening a mass-casualty event.
Court records say Millett had guns and wrote what investigators call a manifesto. He turned himself in, and state police say they disarmed him at the barracks. He pleaded not guilty and was never formally arrested or placed in jail. He is currently in a treatment facility.
Supporters say the threats were the result of new medication and a mental health crisis. “But all the way to domestic terrorism for a man that fought overseas — he wasn’t a terrorist. He’s been fighting terrorists half his life,” said Chad Abbott, a friend who served with Millett overseas.
Abbott said he believes the charges could have unintended consequences for veterans seeking help. “These hotlines that they put out for us is to kind of get us the help we need. And now, none of us are going to want to call that,” he said.
Millett’s sister, Courtney Morin, said her brother served in the Vermont Guard for nearly 10 years and has struggled with mental health since returning home. “He suffers from depression, anxiety — he has PTSD. So, he’s actually been seeking help for his mental health for probably as long as he’s been home,” Morin said.
Orleans County State’s Attorney Farzana Leyva said the charge is warranted and that Millett was not calling for help when he contacted the crisis line. “He called the crisis helpline to make the threats. I think we have to be very clear about that. Those were threats. He did not call the crisis helpline for help. He called anonymously,” Leyva said.
She said the evidence — including repeated threats — Millett’s access to guns, and a manifesto justifies the charge and protects the public. “My priority is public safety, which is the highest priority that I have right now,” Leyva said.
Morin said she believes her brother was trying to get help. “I think he was seeking help. I mean, it’s all a trail of him seeking help, being on different meds. You know, we’re not in his head. We don’t know what he’s dealing with. And especially if you’re dealing with it alone,” Morin said.
Millett continues to receive treatment and is due back in court later this month.
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