This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as more information becomes available.
West
Judge hits 'treasonous' ex-NSA worker with 21-year sentence for trying to sell secrets to Russia: 'A betrayal'
A federal judge laced into an ex-National Security Agency worker who admitted to attempting to sell classified secrets to Russia, sentencing the “treasonous” former U.S. intelligence employee to 21 years in prison.
U.S. District Judge Raymond Moore said he could have put Jareh Sebastian Dalke, 32, behind bars for even longer, calling the 262-month sentence “mercy” for what he saw as a calculated action to take the job at the NSA in order to be able to sell national security secrets. The nearly 22-year sentence was the same as what prosecutors sought.
“This was blatant. It was brazen and, in my mind, it was deliberate. It was a betrayal, and it was as close to treasonous as you can get,” Moore said, according to The Associated Press.
According to court documents, Dalke, who worked at the NSA for about a month from June 6 to July 1, 2022, as an Information Systems Security Designer, admitted that between August and September 2022, in order to demonstrate both his “legitimate access and willingness to share,” he used an encrypted email account to transmit excerpts of three classified documents to an individual he believed to be a Russian agent.
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That person was an FBI online covert employee. All three documents from which the excerpts were taken contain NDI, are classified as Top Secret//Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and were obtained by Dalke during his employment with the NSA, federal prosecutors said.
Dalke was said to have told the undercover FBI agent that he wanted to “cause change” after questioning the United States’ role in causing damage to the world, but he also said he was $237,000 in debt, according to court documents. He allegedly said he had decided to work with Russia because his heritage “ties back to your country.”
U.S. Attorney for Colorado Cole Finegan speaks outside Denver federal court after the sentencing of Jared Sebastian Dalke on Monday, April 29, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Colleen Slevin)
Dalke was initially paid $16,499 in cryptocurrency for excerpts of some documents that he passed on to the agent to show what he had, and then he offered to sell the rest of the information he had for $85,000, according to the plea deal. Prosecutors say $85,000 is about what he would have earned at the NSA in a year.
The agent directed him to go to Denver’s downtown train station and send the documents using a secure digital connection during a four-hour window. Dalke arrived with his laptop and first used the connection to send a thank you letter that opened and closed in Russian and in which he said he looked “forward to our friendship and shared benefit,” according to the plea deal.
Moments after he used his laptop to transfer all the files, FBI agents arrested him.
A National Security Agency (NSA) logo is displayed on a smartphone. (Omar Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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According to his indictment, the information Dalke sought to give to Russia included a threat assessment of the military offensive capabilities of a third, unnamed country. It also includes a description of sensitive U.S. defense capabilities, some of which relates to that same foreign country.
Speaking outside court after the hearing, FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek said he could not provide details about what the documents contained, but he said Dalke knew the risk they posed.
Dalke’s attorneys had asked for the Army veteran, who pleaded guilty to espionage charges last fall in a deal with prosecutors, to be sentenced to 14 years in prison, in part because the information he sold in 2022 did not end up in enemy hands and cause damage.
Assistant federal public defender David Kraut also argued for a lighter sentence because he said Dalke had suffered a traumatic brain injury, had attempted suicide four times, and had experienced trauma as a child, including witnessing domestic violence and substance abuse. Research has shown that kind of childhood trauma increases the risk of people later engaging in dangerous behavior, he said.
Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters building in Washington D.C. (Celal GüneÅ/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Later, Dalke, who said he was “remorseful and ashamed”, told Moore he had also suffered PTSD, bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
He denied being motivated by ideology or earning money by agreeing to sell the secrets. Dalke also suggested he had an idea that he was actually communicating with law enforcement but was attracted to the thrill of what he was doing.
Moore said he was skeptical of Dalke’s claims about his conditions since the defense did not provide any expert opinions or hospital records.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
Utah
Large police presence responds to the area of Crestwood Drive in South Ogden
SOUTH OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — There is a heavy police presence in the area of Harrison Blvd in South Ogden. ABC4 is working to learn more.
While police have not confirmed any information, ABC4 has acquired footage from a bystander that shows law enforcement detaining one individual. The individual can be seen handcuffed and without a shirt.
Several residents have also reported seeing over a dozen police vehicles heading to the area and reported hearing gunshots on social media.
Courtesy: Kade Garner // KTVX
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene, including Davis County SWAT, Weber County Sheriff’s Department, and Morgan County Sheriff’s Department. Officers from Riverton Police Department, Roy Police Department, Clinton Police Department, and Layton police Department all responded to the scene.
Law enforcement also used several drones and several armored vehicles responded to the scene. Additionally, it appears at least one person was transported from the scene by ambulance
Courtesy: Randy Ferrin
At this time, law enforcement has not confirmed any details regarding this incident. However, they appeared to have cleared from the scene.
Washington
Andre Washington’s 20 points help Eastern Illinois take down Tennessee Tech 71-61
CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) — Andre Washington had 20 points in Eastern Illinois’ 71-61 victory over Tennessee Tech on Thursday.
Washington shot 8 for 13, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc for the Panthers (5-10, 2-3 Ohio Valley Conference). Meechie White added 13 points and four steals. Kooper Jacobi finished with 11 points and added seven rebounds.
The Golden Eagles (6-10, 1-4) were led in scoring by Jah’Kim Payne, who finished with 11 points. Tennessee Tech also got 10 points from Mekhi Turner.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Wyoming
Wyoming battles tougher flu in 2025–26 season, health experts report
CASPER, Wyo. — While the fall and winter are often highlighted by snowfall and holiday gatherings, the season is also marked by the coughing, running noses and chills that come with the flu. This year, health experts warn of an especially virulent flu in Wyoming and beyond.
Data from the Wyoming Department of Health show that Wyoming saw 426 new influenza cases reported in just the final week of 2025, with well over 1,000 cases in total through flu season thus far in Wyoming. The report also states that, through Dec. 27, there had been 19 deaths in Wyoming caused by the flu this season. Nationally, the CDC reports more than 7.5 million cases of the flu and more than 3,100 deaths.
The uptick in flu cases is seen locally, too, the Natrona County Health Department told Oil City News on Thursday.
“While we don’t have exact numbers locally and only have the statewide data that’s reported, I can definitely say anecdotally that locally we’re seeing the same trends that we’re seeing statewide and nationally,” health department PIO Hailey Bloom said. “There is a surge in the rate across our community, the state and the country.”
Bloom said the surge in cases can partially be attributed to this year’s particular strain. The current flu is a mutated strain known as subclade K, originating from the common flu-causing virus influenza A and its variant H3N2. The strain is one of the more aggressive influenza variants, Bloom said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, subclade K is also more adept at resisting immune systems that have already built up protections against other strains of the virus. Bloom also said this season’s vaccine may not be ideally suited for combating the current strain.
“We use the flu season in the southern hemisphere as a predictor [when crafting the vaccine], and we did see that there were some strains not as effectively combated by this year’s flu shot,” she said. “Some years we get a really, really good match on the flu shot and all of the circulating strains are perfect matches to that shot, and some years it’s not as perfect.”
However, Bloom also said some of the increased cases can be attributed to a lower number of people getting vaccinated, which remains the best way to avoid the virus.
Bloom said 989 Natrona County residents have gotten a flu shot through the health department so far this season. That’s down from the 1,227 distributed in the 2024–25 flu season and the 1,478 the year before that.
The decline in vaccinations similarly mirrors a nationwide trend. In mid-December, the CDC reported that roughly 32.5 million flu shots had been given thus far, which is down about 1.9 million from the same point the prior flu season.
People still in need of a vaccine can get one at the Natrona County Health Department by calling ahead and setting up an appointment or by walking in, Bloom said. Vaccinations can also be administered at other locations like various local pharmacies.
Other than getting vaccinated, tips for avoiding the flu include regularly washing hands, avoiding people you know to be sick, exercising caution if feeling under the weather and dressing appropriately for the weather, Bloom said.
“This year’s flu is more aggressive, more intense and not as well covered by the vaccine, so it’s definitely nasty,” Bloom said. “All that said, the flu shot is still going to give significantly more protection than not getting one.”
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