UFC Terror Plot, ALS Brain Implant, & a Ghost Dog

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Adam Rogers
June 17, 2026

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The FBI released court documents detailing an alleged plot to attack Sunday's UFC event at the White House, charging 19-year-old Tycen Proper with attempted murder and firearms offenses. Authorities say multiple people discussed the plan, and the alleged attack was disrupted before it could be carried out.
According to the affidavit, the group allegedly planned to stage a demonstration near the White House before using explosive-laden drones to force crowds to flee into waiting gunmen. Investigators say the attack was intended to "jumpstart" a revolution in the United States.
The investigation began after Proper's mother contacted local police over her son's alarming behavior and online associations. Authorities say the family's warning led to the seizure of weapons and ammunition and ultimately helped federal agents uncover the broader alleged plot.

A Boeing B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff during a routine test mission at Edwards Air Force Base on Monday, killing all eight people aboard. The victims included military personnel, government contractors, and two Boeing employees.
Officials have not determined what caused the crash, which occurred while the aircraft was supporting a radar modernization program. The Air Force said the investigation could take up to six months, while aviation experts suggested a malfunction in flight control, engine, or test equipment as a possible cause.
The B-52 has served as a cornerstone of the US bomber fleet since 1955 and is undergoing major upgrades intended to keep it operational for decades to come.

Researchers reported that a man with severe ALS used a brain-computer interface at home for nearly two years without researcher assistance. The implant translates brain activity into text and cursor movements, allowing users to communicate and operate a computer using their thoughts.
Trial participant Casey Harrell used the system for more than 3,800 hours, communicating nearly 2 million words and more than 183,000 sentences. The device achieved more than 99% word accuracy in testing and allowed him to send emails, browse the internet, maintain employment, and interact with family and friends.
Beyond restoring communication, the technology preserved something deeply personal: Harrell can once again speak in a digital voice modeled after his own before ALS. Researchers say the advance brings brain-computer interfaces closer to everyday use for people living with ALS and other severe neurological conditions.

Trump-backed Mike Collins won Georgia's Republican Senate runoff, advancing to a closely watched showdown with Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. (More)

A Florida teen accused of killing and sexually assaulting his stepsister aboard a Carnival cruise surrendered after a judge revoked his release and ordered him jailed until trial. (More)

The Trump administration moved special education oversight to HHS and civil rights enforcement to the Justice Department as part of its push to scale back the Education Department. (More)

Russian opposition artist Semyon Skrepetsky was killed in a shooting in Poland. Investigators have detained two Belarusians for questioning but have not established a political link. (More)

A Russian warship fired warning shots at a British-registered yacht in the English Channel Tuesday, about 20 miles south of the Isle of Wight. No injuries were reported. (More)

Iran's foreign minister said any peace deal requires Israel to leave Lebanon, but Israel has already refused and says it will stay "as long as necessary," threatening to collapse the agreement. (More)

US stock markets closed mixed on Tuesday (S&P -0.57%, Nasdaq -1.15%, Dow +0.64%), with the Dow closing at a record high. (More)

SpaceX is buying Cursor, the AI coding tool, for $60 billion in stock, sending SpaceX shares up 14% Tuesday and pushing its market cap past $2.9 trillion. (More)

Yum Brands is selling Pizza Hut to private equity firm LongRange Capital for $1.5 billion, ending years of struggles as Domino's and delivery apps ate into the chain's sales. (More)

Kylian Mbappé netted twice in France's 3-1 victory over Senegal, becoming France's top World Cup scorer and passing Lionel Messi on the career scoring list. (More)

Noah Lyles broke the 150-meter world record with a 14.67-second run at the Golden Spike meet, while Gout Gout finished third in 14.96. (More)

The Grammy Awards added five new categories for 2027, including best Asian pop music performance covering K-pop, J-pop and C-pop, plus best Latin song, best traditional pop vocal, best R&B duo and best traditional folk album. (More)

Researchers discovered a new walking shark species off Papua New Guinea that uses its fins to traverse reefs. (More)

Astronomers detected one of the most powerful winds ever recorded from a distant black hole, traveling at up to 30% the speed of light and ejecting roughly 45 solar masses of material per year. (More)

Scientists found that Venus flytraps snap shut by rapidly softening outer cell walls, causing them to expand and bend until the trap slams closed in 0.2 seconds. (More)

Rome tops the list of the world’s most walkable cities.

World Cup tourists are loving Taco Bell & Waffle House.

Amazonian ghost dog caught on camera.

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