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Feds probing protest funding as officials drop hammer on violent LA rioters

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Feds probing protest funding as officials drop hammer on violent LA rioters

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Los Angeles officials have announced sweeping charges filed against numerous individuals accused of sparking violence as riots against immigration efforts continue to plague the sanctuary city. 

In a news conference Tuesday, LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli and California Highway Patrol Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris announced additional federal and state charges filed against numerous alleged rioters. 

“This group wanted to commit crimes,” Hochman said. “They looked at the protest as a cover, an opportunity to go ahead and ply their illegal trade and commit a whole variety of crimes that, in many ways, has done a huge disservice to the legitimate protesters out there.” 

CALIFORNIA SHERIFF SAYS NEARLY A DOZEN DEPUTIES INJURED IN ANTI-ICE RIOTS

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Police detain a man during a protest in Paramount, Calif., June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Several arrests have stemmed from peaceful protesters reporting acts of violence, and over 45 law enforcement agencies aided in the efforts to maintain order throughout the city, Hochman said. 

One of the suspects, William Rubio, has been charged with two felony counts of assault on a police officer and two felony counts of using a destructive device to injure or destroy after allegedly hurling fireworks toward law enforcement during the riots, according to Hochman. 

Essayli revealed additional instances of individuals charged with federal crimes for their alleged roles in the violent riots. 

PHOTOS: SEE THE ANTI-TRUMP VIOLENCE THAT HAS UNFOLDED ON LA’S STREETS ACROSS THE LAST WEEK

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Los Angeles Police Department officers move in on demonstrators in front of LA City Hall during a protest against federal immigration sweeps in downtown Los Angeles June 8, 2025.    (Reuters/Barbara Davidson)

One of the protesters, Alejandro Orellana, was charged with conspiracy to commit civil disorder, along with aiding and abetting civil disorder, Essayli said. Prosecutors allege Orellana passed out face shields to people behaving violently. 

“These face shields are designed to protect from chemical splashes and flying debris,” Essayli said, “which helps protect violent agitators from less than lethal weapons deployed by law enforcement.” 

After the FBI executed a search warrant at Orellana’s home, authorities say they discovered a wrist rocket-style slingshot, ammunition, plastic goggles and a notebook with abbreviations for “All Cops are B——” and “murder” that allegedly belonged to Orellana. 

Each charge filed against Orellana carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison. 

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FBI WILL INVESTIGATE ‘ANY EVIDENCE OF A CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY’ IN LA RIOTS

Firefighters respond to a car burning during a protest in Compton, Calif., June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Essayli also pointed to the arrest of Adam Charles Palermo for his alleged role in attacking CHP officers. Palermo was charged with attempted arson of a vehicle used in interstate or foreign commerce after he was allegedly caught on camera participating in the violence. 

“[Palermo’s] social media account contained a collage of photographs and videos depicting a man holding flying debris, a CHP patrol car on fire, and various other damage to CHP patrol cars,” Essayli said. “He wrote, ‘All of the protests I’ve been involved in, which is well over 100 now. I’m most proud of what I did today.’”  

If convicted, Palermo could face to 20 years in prison. 

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“He will not be doing any protests for the next foreseeable future,” Essayli said. 

DOZENS OF ANTI-ICE RIOTERS ARRESTED IN LA AS TRUMP SENDS IN NATIONAL GUARD TO QUELL VIOLENCE

A law enforcement officer fires a projectile during a protest Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Noah Berger/AP Photo)

In addition to the numerous new charges, the IRS is looking into dozens of organizations and nonprofits’ funding of the protests as part of a long-term investigation. 

“The IRS [specializes] in tracing the money and finding out where it’s coming from [and] where it’s going,” Essayli said.  

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Since the first weekend of protests, the Los Angeles Police Department has arrested 575 people, according to a media release. 

“These crimes don’t advance any cause or further any message at all,” LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said. “What they do is endanger the lives of our officers [and] harm our communities, small businesses who are desperately trying to recover in a very challenging atmosphere and our civic institutions.” 

ICE RAMPS UP ARRESTS OF CONVICTED CRIMINALS AS RIOTS RAGE IN BLUE CITY: ‘YOU WILL NOT STOP US’

On Saturday, 38 people were detained on various charges, including curfew violations, failure to disperse and resisting arrest as protests coincided with the “No Kings” demonstrations sweeping the nation. The protests were aimed at countering the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary military parade, which took place on President Donald Trump’s birthday. 

The total comes as authorities look to regain control after riots kicked off in response to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids throughout the sanctuary city. 

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For several nights, police clashed with protesters in the streets of downtown LA, deploying tear gas and other crowd control measures to maintain order. 

A protester places debris in a fire as Border Patrol personnel in riot gear and gas masks stand guard outside an industrial park in Paramount, Calif., June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

“During the crowd control situation, numerous less-lethal munitions were used,” the LAPD said. 

Authorities have battled protesters hurling projectiles, setting fire to cars and launching fireworks at police officers in response to the ICE raids, and 10 members of law enforcement reported injuries as of Monday, according to the LAPD. 

Of the most violent offenses, an illegal immigrant from Mexico was charged with attempted murder last week after authorities say he threw a Molotov cocktail during a demonstration, according to the Department of Homeland Security. 

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ILLEGAL ALIEN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR THROWING MOLOTOV COCKTAIL AT OFFICERS IN LA RIOTS: DHS

Hundreds of protesters, demanding that ICE raids on workplaces stop immediately, clash with police June 8, 2025, as the Trump administration continues its immigration raids in Los Angeles. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“Emiliano Garduno-Galvez is a criminal illegal alien from Mexico who threatened the lives of federal law enforcement officers by attacking them with a Molotov cocktail during the violent riots in Los Angeles,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin previously said in a statement. “ICE arrested Garduno-Galvez, and he is now being charged with attempted murder. These are the types of criminal illegal aliens that rioters are fighting to protect.” 

The LA District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

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Fox News Digital’s Audrey Conklin contributed to this report. 
 

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Montana

Trump Approves Oil Pipeline Through Montana

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Trump Approves Oil Pipeline Through Montana


Oil pipelines, it turns out, are one of the few things that can still get Montanans riled up. And now, here we go again.

Donald Trump has finalized the approval of one of the largest cross-state pipelines in U.S. history, a nearly three-foot wide pipeline that will carry oil from Canada through Montana to Wyoming when built out. It means if this thing goes ahead, you are looking at around 550,000 barrels a day moving through the region. That is no small enterprise either, and it has already placed Montana squarely in the middle of a well-worn debate.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A Debate Montana Knows All Too Well

If all of this is ringing any bells for you, you are not wrong. Montana has been here before when it comes to pipeline debates, and just like last time, people are already divided. On one side, you have folks looking at this and thinking jobs, energy independence, and perhaps, bringing some much-needed relief to the gas pump. Because in all honesty, fuel has been rough lately. Every single fill-up makes you feel like you are buying concert tickets, not gas. For a lot of people, it sounds like progress.

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Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images

Shawn Thew-Pool/Getty Images

Not Everyone Is Celebrating

Then there is the other camp, and they are hardly celebrating. Once again, environmental concerns are front and center. Spills, land impact, long-term risk. Everything that tends to get brushed aside until something actually breaks. Montana is not exactly short on people who care about the land. That part is not political. That is just reality out here. So when a pipeline cuts across the state, it quickly feels like poking a hornet’s nest.

Joe Raedle/Newsmakers

Joe Raedle/Newsmakers

So Where Does This Go From Here

So where does that leave things? That is the question right now. Is this a move toward cheaper energy and greater stability, or is it another gamble with long-term consequences? The truth is, it is probably both. That said, construction crews are not rolling in tomorrow. The project still has hurdles to clear and could run into legal challenges. But the conversation is already here, and it is not going anywhere. And if history is any guide, Montana is going to have plenty to say about it.

Counties with the highest cancer rates in Montana

Stacker ranked the counties with the highest cancer rates in Montana using data from the CDC.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

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Nevada

5.2 magnitude earthquake in Nevada reportedly felt as far as Sacramento

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5.2 magnitude earthquake in Nevada reportedly felt as far as Sacramento



An early morning earthquake in Nevada on Friday was felt as far west as the Sacramento Valley.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake struck around 1:17 a.m. about 50 miles east of Carson City. Shaking was reported across the Reno, Carson City and South Lake Tahoe areas.

People also reported feeling shaking along the Sierra Nevada foothills and into the valley, including in Roseville and Sacramento.

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No damage has been reported.

Map of Friday morning’s earthquake in Nevada.

USGS


The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.2. A magnitude 4.3 foreshock appears to have struck about two minutes before the main quake. Several aftershocks have followed, none larger than magnitude 2.7.

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Nevada also saw a magnitude 5.7 earthquake centered in the same general area on April 13. Like Friday’s quake, that earthquake was felt in the Sacramento area.



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New Mexico

Meta threatens to pull Facebook and Instagram from New Mexico over child safety trial requirements

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Meta threatens to pull Facebook and Instagram from New Mexico over child safety trial requirements


Tech giant Meta is threatening to cut off access to its social media platforms in New Mexico as a response to the state’s legal effort to compel changes to child safety protocols on the platform.

Meta and the state of New Mexico are expected to proceed to the second stage of their trial next week after a jury recently issued a $375 million award to the state after finding that the company misled consumers about the safety of its platforms and protections for children against sexual predators.

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The next phase of the trial will concern what actions the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp must take to address those issues.

Among the remedies New Mexico is seeking is to impose a requirement that Meta meet a 99% accuracy threshold in verifying that children on its platform are at least 13 years old. Meta has pushed back on that requirement, arguing in a court filing that it’s unfeasible and would require it to “comply with impossible obligations.”

META VOWS APPEAL OF ‘LANDMARK’ SOCIAL MEDIA VERDICTS, WARNS OF FREE SPEECH EROSION

Meta is warning that it may be forced to pull its apps from New Mexico if the state prevails in requiring the social media giant to implement certain safeguards. (Arda Kucukkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Meta’s legal team said in a filing that New Mexico’s “requests for relief are so broad and so burdensome, that if implemented it might force Meta to withdraw its apps entirely from the State of New Mexico as an alternative way of complying with the injunction.”

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“It does not make economic or engineering sense for Meta to build separate apps just for New Mexico residents,” Meta’s lawyers added. “Nor could Meta guarantee the perfection the State demands, making it impractical for Meta to operate in New Mexico.”

EXPERT WARNS OF MASSIVE RECKONING FOR SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES: ‘GIANT CASE OF KARMA’

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META META PLATFORMS INC. 611.91 -57.21 -8.55%

The company has argued that it’s being unfairly singled out in comparison to other social media platforms that are popular with young people. It also previously signaled it will appeal the $375 million civil judgment against it.

New Mexico pushed back on Meta’s assertion that it would be impractical to comply with the safeguards it’s seeking for social media apps.

META ORDERED TO PAY $375M AFTER JURY FINDS PLATFORM ENABLED CHILD PREDATORS IN LANDMARK NEW MEXICO CASE

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Meta is the parent company of apps including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)

“Meta is showing the world how little it cares about child safety,” said New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “Meta’s refusal to follow the laws that protect our kids tells you everything you need to know about this company and the character of its leaders.” 

“We know Meta has the ability to make these changes. For years the company has rewritten its own rules, redesigned its products, and even bent to the demands of dictators to preserve market access. This is not about technological capability. Meta simply refuses to place the safety of children ahead of engagement, advertising revenue, and profit,” Torrez added.

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New Mexico is also seeking that Meta implement safer recommendation algorithms that don’t prioritize engagement over child well-being, restrictions on end-to-end encryption for minors, prominent warning labels about the platform’s risks, permanent bans for adults engaging in or facilitating the exploitation of children, and an independent oversight regime through a court-appointed child safety monitor.

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