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'Largest seizure of explosive devices in FBI history' found in a Virginia home

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'Largest seizure of explosive devices in FBI history' found in a Virginia home


The FBI seized more than 150 homemade explosives from a Virginia man’s home, ABC News reported on Wednesday. 

Federal investigators made this discovery in December while searching the home of Norfolk, Virginia, resident Brad Spafford.

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According to court documents, it is believed to be “the largest seizure by number of finished explosive devices in FBI history,” ABC News reported.

The court documents added that most of the bombs, material for building explosives, and tools were found in a garage next to Spafford’s home. 

“Several additional apparent pipe bombs were found in a backpack in the home’s bedroom, completely unsecured,” said prosecutors.

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An FBI investigator (credit: REUTERS)

‘Never planned anything violent’

Spafford’s defense attorneys argued in a motion Tuesday that he never planned anything violent.

“There is not a shred of evidence in the record that Mr. Spafford ever threatened anyone, and the contention that someone might be in danger because of their political views and comments is nonsensical,” his lawyers said.

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The prosecution responded, “While he is not known to have engaged in any apparent violence, he has certainly expressed interest in the same, through his manufacture of pope bombs marked ‘lethal,’ his possession of riot gear and a vest loaded with pipe bombs, his support for political assassinations and use of the pictures of the President for target practice,” ABC News reported.

According to the court documents, “this investigation began in early 2023 when the defendant’s neighbor and friend reported that the defendant disfigured his hand in 2021 while working with a homemade explosive device and was stockpiling weapons and homemade ammunition.”





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Virginia Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 Night results for May 23, 2025

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Virginia Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 Night results for May 23, 2025


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The Virginia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at May 23, 2025, results for each game:

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Mega Millions

Mega Millions drawings take place every week on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.

07-18-40-55-68, Mega Ball: 18

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.

Night: 5-7-9, FB: 4

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Day: 6-7-8, FB: 7

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.

Night: 8-8-7-6, FB: 3

Day: 1-5-2-1, FB: 0

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Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 5

DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.

Night: 7-8-9-9-6, FB: 6

Day: 9-2-5-7-8, FB: 8

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Cash4Life

Drawing everyday at 9 p.m.

12-31-37-53-59, Cash Ball: 01

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Cash Pop

Drawing times: Coffee Break 9 a.m.; Lunch Break 12 p.m.; Rush Hour 5 p.m.; Prime Time 9 p.m.; After Hours 11:59 p.m.

Coffee Break: 13

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After Hours: 04

Prime Time: 10

Rush Hour: 12

Lunch Break: 04

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

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Cash 5

Drawing every day at 11 p.m.

07-15-24-36-41

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Center for Community Journalism (CCJ) editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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1.2 million Virginians expected to travel for Memorial Day despite economic concerns and rising gas prices

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1.2 million Virginians expected to travel for Memorial Day despite economic concerns and rising gas prices


RICHMOND, Va. — Nearly 1.23 million Virginians are expected to travel over the Memorial Day holiday weekend despite economic concerns, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

The number is slightly higher than last year but represents the lowest year-over-year growth rate for the holiday in nearly a decade.

“We know that economic uncertainty, cost of goods, things like that, is top of mind for a lot of people. So, that could be part of the reason why the growth this year isn’t as much as it’s been over the past couple of years,” AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Morgan Dean said.

More than one million Virginians will drive to their holiday destinations, AAA reported. Dean said that figure is very similar to the record number of travelers who hit the road for Memorial Day back in 2005.

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“It’s going to be busy no matter how you’re traveling, be it getting to the airport or if you’re hitting the roadway or perhaps hitting the railways or grabbing a bus,” he said. “There’s going to be a good amount of people out there, and that’s a big reminder.”

AAA shared that gas prices are on the rise, but they’re still about 40 cents cheaper than this time last year.

Meanwhile, Virginia State Police warned all available troopers and supervisors will be working over the holiday weekend.

VSP said their troopers investigated 13 fatalities on Virginia’s roads during the four-day holiday last year.

Troopers cited more than 3,500 drivers for speeding and 1,400 drivers for reckless driving during that time period last year. They arrested 92 people for driving under the influence and cited 303 drivers for violating the “hands-free” phone law.

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The state’s “Click it or Ticket” campaign is in full effect this weekend, too.

“This is a tremendously busy time of year, with graduations, vacations, parties and moves,” Superintendent of Virginia State Police Colonel Matthew Hanley said. “We need Virginians to slow down, to exercise patience, drive safely and arrive alive. We would rather you arrive late and alive than not at all.”

Funds generated from summonses issued by Virginia State Police go directly to court fees and the state’s Literary Fund, which benefits public school construction, technology funding and teacher retirement.

This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.

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This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.





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Senator Warner warns House Republican tax bill will harm Virginia families, hospitals | ALXnow

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Senator Warner warns House Republican tax bill will harm Virginia families, hospitals | ALXnow


U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) issued a stark warning about the impacts of the recently passed House Republican tax bill, saying it will devastate Virginia families and healthcare systems while primarily benefiting the ultra-wealthy.

During a media availability from the Capitol, Warner criticized the legislation that passed “in the dead of night,” saying it will cause approximately 248,000 Virginians to lose healthcare coverage.

“This bill is just devastating to Virginia,” Warner said. “About 248,000 Virginians will lose health care, whether they are on Medicaid… or if they buy their health insurance through the marketplace.”

Warner warned of dramatic premium increases for those purchasing insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchanges.

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“This is going to drive up those of you who buy on the exchange your rates 200, 300%,” he said. “If we don’t get some of this fixed in the Senate and those rates go up fivefold or tenfold, remember where that came from… It came from this big awful bill that Donald Trump has put forward.”

The senator expressed particular concern about the impact on rural healthcare facilities, suggesting many could be forced to close.

“Rural hospitals will shut down. And even if your hospital doesn’t shut down, already in wide swaths of Virginia, it’s hard to find a hospital that will provide OBGYN delivery services,” Warner said. “Do we really want it in Virginia, where you’ve got to drive a couple hundred miles to deliver a baby?”

Senator Mark Warner during a Virginia media availability on May 22 (screenshot)

Warner characterized the tax changes as fundamentally unfair, citing estimates that minimum wage workers would see tax increases while the wealthy receive substantial breaks.

“If you’re on minimum wage anywhere in America, and if you’re on minimum wage, chances are you may have to even be working two jobs to make ends meet. You’re going to see your taxes go up estimated 53%,” he said. “If you’re at the high end of earners that top tenth of 1%, you’re going to get a tax break about a minimum of $188,000.”

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The senator also addressed his concerns about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative led by Elon Musk, warning about potential misuse of Americans’ personal data.

“I’ve been hugely concerned since the whole Elon Musk Doge Bros effort to come into our federal agencies,” Warner said. “I’ve been concerned about their ability to kind of punch a thumb drive into our massive databases and suck that information out, whether it’s your Social Security information, your tax information, your personal information.”

In response, Warner discussed his proposed DOGE BROS Act, which would increase penalties for unauthorized access to government information.

“Our Doge Bros Bill dramatically increases the fines if this private information is somehow taken from the federal government and misused,” he explained. “That may not affect Mr. Musk. He’s the wealthiest man in the world. But I hope for some of these 22-year-old doge Bros, they will think twice before stealing that information.”

Warner also addressed the freezing of rural broadband funding, expressing concern that the Commerce Department may try to reclaim allocated funds against congressional wishes.

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“We had $42 billion that were put in for rural deployment,” Warner said. “Virginia had actually gotten an award about a billion and a half dollars. We were sitting pretty. But the fact that it didn’t get out, and now this new administration, which tries to erase everything that the previous administration did that was good, has put a freeze on this funding.”

The senator speculated this could benefit Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service.

“I worry that this may be one other example where government policy is being bent to provide benefit to an Elon Musk company,” Warner said. “I’ve got nothing against satellite-based or wireless-based deployment, but even as a wireless guy, I know fibre is a better long-term solution.”

When asked about a potential merger affecting the Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) in Hampton Roads, Warner expressed concern but noted he hasn’t been fully briefed.

“There are extraordinary values of having TRADOC operation in Hampton Roads because it works closely with the other commands that are there,” he says. “If this is simply a political move to try to move a military command away from the kind of synergy they have with other commands that are in Hampton Roads, I’ll fight it tooth and nail.”

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Warner also criticized new FBI Director Kash Patel’s decision to disband a group monitoring potential abuses of Section 702 surveillance authorities, calling it “outrageous” and hypocritical given Patel’s previous concerns about government overreach.

The senator also addressed the recent killings of two young Israeli delegates in Washington, D.C. He condemned the “politically motivated” attack and called for unity against antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Warner paid tribute to the late Rep. Gerry Connolly, describing him as a staunch advocate for federal workers. “If you wanted to be in a political battle, Gerry Connolly was the guy you wanted next to you in that foxhole,” he said.

The senator concluded by expressing frustration at the current administration’s inefficient and “mean-spirited” actions.

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