THE NEWS

A teenage girl whose body was found buried in a shallow grave beneath a California vineyard nearly half a century ago has finally been identified, reopening a murder mystery that had gone cold for 48 years.Michelle Louise Collier was just 15 years old when she disappeared from Fresno in February 1978.Four months later, a tractor operator cultivating a grape vineyard near Arvin uncovered her skeletal remains buried in a shallow grave, but investigators could not identify the teen, leaving her known only as “Arvin Jane Doe” for nearly five decades.Her older sister, Cynthia Dunbar, said the family spent nearly 50 years wondering what happened before finally learning Michelle had been the unidentified homicide victim all along.GIRL KNOWN AS ‘CHELSEA JANE DOE’ ID’D 26 YEARS AFTER MUTILATED BODY FOUND HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME STATE”She disappeared 48 years ago, and it was only recently that we knew where she was,” Dunbar said during an emotional news conference Wednesday. “At least with this information, my family has some closure.”Dunbar also delivered a searing message to the person responsible for her sister’s death.MICHIGAN ATHLETE LURED BY SNAPCHAT MESSAGE BEFORE BEING SHOT, DUMPED IN LAKE WHILE STILL ALIVE”The shock of finding out we lost our sister to a homicide is overwhelming to our entire family, especially our 85-year-old mother, Maria,” she said.”To the person who killed our sister, your cowardice act affected our entire family,” Dunbar continued. “But make no mistake, law enforcement will find you and hold you accountable. Whether you are already incarcerated or dead, you will be found. May God bless your soul because you’re going to hell if you’re not there already.”Authorities said Collier’s remains were discovered June 21, 1978, near South Wheeler Ridge Road after the tractor operator unearthed the shallow grave.DNA CRACKS 40-YEAR COLD CASE MYSTERY WITH ARREST IN LIBRARY WORKER’S SAVAGE SLAYING: POLICEAn autopsy at the time determined the manner of death was homicide, although the exact cause of death could not be determined. Investigators knew they were dealing with a homicide victim, but without an identity, the case stalled.”Without an identity for the victim, the case went cold,” Kern County homicide Detective Ashley Thompson said. “For 48 years, detectives knew her only as Jane Doe.”Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood said generations of investigators continued revisiting the mystery, including several people who were present at Wednesday’s announcement.”Several detectives have looked and worked on this case since 1978,” Youngblood said. “These cases are outstanding to us when we come to a resolution, especially for the family members.”The remains were buried at Arvin Cemetery in November 1978 after investigators were unable to identify them through fingerprints, dental X-rays or other forensic methods available at the time.The case was reopened multiple times over the following decades as forensic science advanced.TIPSTER CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER POLICE SAY ANONYMOUS CALL HELPED SOLVE 30-YEAR DISAPPEARANCEInvestigators got another chance in 2007 when the remains were removed from the cemetery so a DNA sample could finally be collected. The sample was submitted to the California Department of Justice, but without matching DNA from relatives, detectives were still unable to identify the teenage victim.A forensic anthropologist examined the remains in 2008 and concluded the victim was likely between 15 and 24 years old, with evidence pointing toward the younger end of that range.Detectives also partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which produced a facial reconstruction of the victim and circulated her image publicly. Investigators reviewed fingerprints, dental records and missing-person cases from California and Oregon, but no new leads emerged.The breakthrough finally came in 2025 when investigators turned to forensic investigative genetic genealogy, a technique that combines advanced DNA analysis with traditional genealogical research to identify unknown victims.Working with Texas-based forensic laboratory Othram, investigators developed a comprehensive DNA profile from Collier’s remains and identified potential relatives through genetic genealogy.Collier’s identification marks the 86th publicly announced California case in which investigators used Othram’s forensic genetic genealogy technology to identify previously unknown human remains.Detectives then contacted members of Collier’s family and obtained a DNA swab to compare with her mother.In October 2025, the comparison confirmed that the unidentified homicide victim was Maria Collier’s daughter, 15-year-old Michelle Louise Collier.Dunbar said DNA previously submitted to a genealogy database by Collier’s half-brother, sister-in-law and cousin helped investigators identify her.COVERT DNA SAMPLE FROM COLORADO MAN’S TRASH REVIVES 44-YEAR-OLD TEXAS MURDER CASE: REPORTAfter investigators confirmed her identity, Collier’s remains were removed from Arvin Cemetery in April 2026 and returned to her family, allowing them to finally bring the 15-year-old home and give her a proper burial.”You didn’t deserve to die this way, Shelley,” Dunbar said, using the family’s nickname for Michelle. “Barely 15 years old, still a child, with your whole life ahead of you.””I’m sorry that we didn’t protect you, but you’re with Daddy now in heaven, just as you always wanted,” she added. “We love you, Shelley.”While Collier’s identification marks the biggest break in the case since 1978, investigators stressed that the homicide investigation is entering a new chapter, not ending.”Identifying Michelle is an important step, but the circumstances surrounding her death remain unknown,” Thompson said.Authorities said no suspect information was available for public release, but Thompson said identifying the victim fundamentally changes the investigation.”Now we get to investigate it knowing who the victim is,” Thompson said.The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who knew Collier or has information about her life, disappearance or death to contact Detective Thompson at 661-861-3110 or the Secret Witness line at 661-322-4040.

Federal authorities uncovered more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine hidden beneath the floorboards of a commercial truck entering the U.S. from Mexico, marking one of the largest drug busts in Southern California this year.The Department of Justice said the half-ton of cocaine was discovered inside the floorboards of a commercial truck and flatbed trailer at the Calexico Port of Entry connecting California and Mexico. Authorities estimate the cocaine has a street value exceeding $20 million.The seizure marks the second-largest cocaine bust in the Southern District of California this year, according to federal prosecutors.FEDS SEIZE $6.4M WORTH OF COCAINE ABOARD OIL TANKER AT PORT OF LOS ANGELES, ARREST SUSPECTED CARTEL SMUGGLERJose Manuel Lopez, 44, a Mexican national and the truck’s sole occupant, was arrested and charged with importing cocaine into the United States.If convicted, Lopez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life.In court filings seeking to keep Lopez in custody, prosecutors described the seizure as “a tremendous amount of drugs, even by the standards of this district.”SINALOA CARTEL BOSS ‘EL MAYO’ SENTENCED TO LIFE, ORDERED TO PAY $15B IN DRUG TRAFFICKING PROFITSThe only larger cocaine seizure in the Southern District of California this year came in May, when authorities uncovered more than a ton of cocaine worth an estimated $45 million in connection with a cross-border drug tunnel.Officials said the trailer was carrying 269 bundles of rebar when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, working alongside Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, detected anomalies during an X-ray inspection.After a narcotics detection dog alerted to the trailer, officers unloaded the rebar and removed the wooden floorboards, where they discovered 366 packages of cocaine weighing more than 1,000 pounds, or approximately 454 kilograms, prosecutors said.Lopez pleaded not guilty during his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday. A detention hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday evening postponed a key vote to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination for Attorney General.
The Senate Judiciary Committee was set to vote on Blanche’s nomination on Thursday morning.
However, Chairman Chuck Grassley postponed the markup vote as RINO Senators Tillis and Cornyn make demands from the DOJ on its language related to restricting Trump’s IRS agreement.
Per Grassley’s spokesperson: “Chairman Grassley works to set President Trump’s nominees up for success in committee, not failure. Senators Cornyn and Tillis want written assurances from the Department of Justice regarding the Trump-IRS settlement. Tomorrow’s markup is postponed as work continues to secure sufficient support in committee to favorably report Attorney General-nominee Todd Blanche, who is highly qualified for the job.”

New — Senate Judiciary Committee delays vote for Todd Blanche tomorrow. Nomination in peril
Spox: “Chairman Grassley works to set President Trump’s nominees up for success in committee, not failure. Senators Cornyn and Tillis want written assurances from the Department of…
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) July 30, 2026

On Tuesday, after whining about the push to cancel August recess over the SAVE America Act, Cornyn went after President Trump’s nomination for Attorney General, Todd Blanche.
“There is no “deal” on Blanche nom. They know what they have to do,” Cornyn said in a post on X.

Fake news alert: there is no “deal” on Blanche nom. They know what they have to do.
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) July 28, 2026

CNN’s Manu Raju caught up with Cornyn later and asked him about the DOJ’s effort to resolve his concerns about the $1.8 billion weaponization fund.
Cornyn and Tillis are demanding that the DOJ submit in writing Todd Blanche’s commitment to scrap the weaponization fund.
The RINO Senators said that Blanche’s testimony was not enough.
WATCH:

New — Sen. Cornyn makes clear DOJ still has NOT resolved his concerns about $1.8B weaponization fund and audits of presidents. Still not ready to support Todd Blanche ahead of key committee vote tomorrow.
Feeling more independent from Trump after losing primary? “Have you… pic.twitter.com/4h7HMUFWux
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) July 29, 2026

On Wednesday evening Fox News reported that the DOJ transmitted a new response to Cornyn and Tillis that address their concerns.

The post JUST IN: Senate Judiciary Committee Postpones Key Vote to Advance Todd Blanche AG Nomination as Cornyn and Tillis Make Demands appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Russia launched ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine in the early hours Thursday, hours after warning of an attack.

Russia Charges Telegram Founder Pavel Durov With Aiding Terrorism, Issues Arrest Warrant

Authored by Guy Birchall via The Epoch Times,

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on July 29 that it had charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with facilitating terrorist activities and issued an international warrant for his arrest.
Pavel Durov in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Aug. 1, 2017. Tatan Syuflana/AP Photo

The FSB Public Relations Center said in a statement that “Telegram’s head of administration, P. Durov, has been charged as part of an ongoing criminal investigation on suspicion of an offense under Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, concerning assistance in terrorist activities. He is being placed on an international wanted list.”

The FSB added that the charges related to Telegram’s failure “in violation of Russian law,” to remove “numerous channels, chats, and bots of this messenger, which are actively used by Ukrainian special services, terrorist, and extremist organizations to prepare and coordinate acts of sabotage and terrorism, mass murder, and cyber-fraud in the Russian Federation, the consequences of which have resulted in numerous human casualties, including women and children, as well as material losses amounting to billions.”

Specifically, the FSB said that it had “identified and documented numerous instances of Ukrainian intelligence agencies using the popular youth chatbot ‘Dayvinchik/Leo – Dating, Chat, and New Friends’ on the Telegram messenger to lure Russian citizens into sabotage and terrorist activities through deception and psychological manipulation.”

The intelligence service said that as a result of joint operations with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Investigative Committee of Russia, it had identified and detained “46 Russian citizens aged 12 to 22 years” who had been using the chatbot and, subsequently, “committed armed attacks on law enforcement officers, arson attacks on transportation, energy, communications, and credit and financial system facilities,” on the orders of the Ukrainian special services.

The detainees had also “acted as couriers delivering funds from defrauded citizens to crypto exchange points for crediting to enemy-controlled accounts,” the FSB added, saying Ukrainian intelligence officers used the Telegram “Dayvinchik” dating bot, posing as women, to contact young Russian men, persuading them to share geolocations of meeting places (often shopping centers or key facilities) and pay for tickets or gifts via phishing links.

Later, individuals posing as Russian law-enforcement or Rosfinmonitoring (Russian Federal Financial Monitoring Service) officers contacted the victims through other apps, claiming the money had funded Ukrainian forces and the coordinates had been used for missile or drone strikes, according to the FSB, then used threats of prosecution and psychological pressure to coerce them into committing armed attacks or arson under the guise of anti-terrorism checks or fake operational tasks.

The Epoch Times contacted Durov and Telegram for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Telegram’s official X account posted an image of Durov making an obscene gesture shortly after the arrest warrant was announced on July 29.

The move by the FSB comes after Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor began limiting voice and video calls for Telegram users in Russia in August 2025 and, in February, announced it “will continue to impose successive restrictions in order to ensure compliance with Russian legislation and ensure the protection of citizens,” on Telegram and other messaging apps not observing Russian law.

At the time, Durov said his app remains committed to freedom of speech and user privacy “no matter the pressure.”

Telegram, an encrypted messenger app, says it has more than 1 billion users, and is widely used on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war, including by the Kremlin.

Third-party compiled data estimates there are around 35 million Telegram users in Russia – one of the largest national user bases globally.

While trying to restrict Telegram’s use in recent years, Russia has promoted its own state-backed MAX messenger service. Critics have said MAX is a surveillance tool, a claim Russian authorities deny. The app integrates various government services, and the Kremlin says it is designed to simplify and improve citizens’ lives.

Critics have said MAX is a surveillance tool, a claim Russian authorities deny. The app integrates various government services, and the Kremlin says it is designed to simplify and improve citizens’ lives.

Durov, who was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, but now holds Emirati and French passports, founded Russia’s Facebook equivalent, VKontakte, before selling his remaining stake in 2014 amid pressure from Russian authorities. He founded Telegram in 2013.

French authorities are also investigating Durov over allegations that Telegram failed to adequately prevent criminal activity on the platform and did not sufficiently cooperate with law enforcement requests. Durov denies any wrongdoing.
A general view of the headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia’s main security agency, in Moscow on March 23, 2021. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images
Tyler Durden
Wed, 07/29/2026 – 21:00

Podcaster Joe Rogan warned liberals on Tuesday that moving to Texas and turning the state blue would ruin the delicate balance for everybody, including liberal Texans.”The liberals that want to turn Texas blue, like, don’t. You’re going to ruin it,” he said.Rogan, a former Californian himself, has spoken out numerous times about his choice to leave California over its far-left policies, particularly those from the COVID-19 pandemic years.Rogan lamented that many “coastal elites” and “coastal snobs” often “have this idea of it being filled with rednecks and ignorant people and foolish people. It’s not that way at all. Especially Austin. Austin is like one of the most, like, liberal, easygoing, progressive cities, but even the progressives here, they’re like, more reasonable.”He specified that liberal Texans, while they shifted somewhat leftward in recent years, are nowhere near the same far-left positions as those of Los Angeles or New York.COASTAL WORKERS FLEEING BLUE STRONGHOLDS COULD CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DETROIT”There’s this saying about Austin: ‘Keep Austin Weird… and surrounded,’” Rogan said.”And surrounded? What is the ‘and surrounded?’” guest Forrest Galante asked.”Surrounded by red people. Like it’s all red states around you, and it’s this pocket of blue that’s in the center of this red state,” Rogan said. “I think that’s good for everybody. I think that’s good. It’s a balance.”Rogan warned against liberals fleeing blue states only to vote for the same left-wing policies. He compared the state’s delicate political balance to that of an ecosystem.”You’re going to ruin it,” he warned. “You’re going to ruin it for you too. You don’t get it. Balance is important… You can’t kill all the predators because then the deer get overrun, and you’re hitting them with cars. And you can’t kill all the deer, because then there’s no food. That’s what they did when they were market hunting. Balance. And you need balance with humans, too.””The Austin balance is a great balance,” Rogan continued. “It’s a liberal city surrounded by, like, hardcore Republicans with guns and tigers.”JOE ROGAN MOCKS GAVIN NEWSOM FOR DISMISSING GROWING STATE PROBLEMS AS LA FILM PRODUCTION CRATERSIn 2023, Rogan noted that he himself got the idea to leave amid the riots in 2020 after the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd: “I was like, ‘This ain’t going in a good direction and I f—ing smell chaos.”More recently, in 2026, he blasted California Gov. Gavin Newsom for his defense of California, warning instead that Los Angeles may go the way of Detroit as the film industry implodes and companies flee the state.The latest Internal Revenue Service (IRS) migration data show Texas is seeing billions of dollars in taxpayer wealth flowing into the state, while Census figures show the state’s largest metropolitan areas continue to outpace much of the country in population growth.Dallas-Fort Worth added more residents than any metropolitan area in the country over the past year, while Houston, Austin and San Antonio also ranked among the nation’s fastest-growing metros.Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report.

Not even one full week into NFL training camp, one team is already dealing with quarterback injury woes.The Atlanta Falcons saw Tua Tagovailoa, who they acquired this offseason to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting role, have a “flare-up” of an undisclosed injury, new head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters.Stefanski didn’t divulge what exactly Tagovailoa is dealing with, but he had to be sidelined. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Tagovailoa is dealing with a tight back.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMStefanski did note that he believes Tagovailoa will return to practice “sooner rather than later.”With Penix Jr. still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season — he may miss the first four weeks of training camp — the Falcons signed veteran backup Cooper Rush to bolster the quarterback depth chart.DRAKE LONDON SIGNS $141M DEAL WITH FALCONS, BECOMING THIRD HIGHEST-PAID RECEIVER IN NFL: REPORTSThe Falcons released Trevor Siemian earlier on Wednesday, and after Tagovailoa’s injury, undrafted rookie free agent Jack Strand was the only healthy quarterback on the depth chart.Penix was spotted doing individual drills, as well as 7-on-7 work with teammates, but he hasn’t seen any time in full team activities just yet.”I have a long injury history,” Penix, who had four season-ending injuries during his time at Indiana before he transferred to Washington during his college days, said, via ESPN. “The last thing I want to do is rush back just to get back on the field.”This is the third ACL. We’re not taking it lightly.”Stefanski knows well that injuries can occur when you least expect them, even at the start of training camp before full pads are strapped on. It’s unfortunate, though, to begin his first camp in Atlanta with this much uncertainty hovering over the most important position on his roster.The Falcons will be an interesting team to watch this season, not just because of the quarterback dilemma, but also what this new regime, which includes legendary quarterback Matt Ryan as team president of football, can do to get the team back into the playoffs.The Falcons have not had a playoff berth since 2017, when Ryan was still the franchise signal-caller. They also have not had a record at or above .500 since that year as well.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Rather than tell the truth (which would not have put him in any legal jeopardy), Fauci chose to put himself in legal jeopardy with a contempt charge by refusing to talk.
The post Nolte: Fauci and the Fifth Just Threw the ‘Cult-of-Fauci’ Under the Bus appeared first on Breitbart.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, said there will be a panel vote to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt after the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) refused to answer any question during his testimony on Wednesday, instead repeatedly invoking the Fifth Amendment.
The post Sen. Rand Paul: Congress Will Vote on Holding Fauci in Contempt After He Invoked Fifth Amendment Over 100 Times appeared first on Breitbart.

Former Rep. Mike Rogers, the presumptive Republican nominee for Senate in Michigan, is holding a double-digit lead over progressive Abdul El-Sayed and is tied with Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), according to polling released just days before Michigan’s Senate primary.
The post Poll: Republican Mike Rogers Holds Double-Digit Lead over Progressive Abdul El-Sayed, Tied with Democrat Haley Stevens appeared first on Breitbart.