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Michael Giordano Named Phoenix Police Chief After Search Restart
Phoenix, AZ – August 11, 2025 – Michael Giordano has been officially appointed as the new chief of the Phoenix Police Department, the city announced today. The decision comes after a revised search process following the initial selection process yielding no suitable candidate. Giordano, who had been serving as interim chief, will now lead the department full-time.
Giordano’s appointment follows a period of scrutiny and reform efforts within the department. The city initially planned to have a new chief in place earlier this year, but the search was relaunched after failing to identify a candidate who met the city’s requirements.
“It’s a privilege to lead the Phoenix Police Department at such a pivotal time,” said Giordano in a statement released by the city. “I am committed to building trust with our community, supporting our officers, and ensuring we deliver effective, accountable, and compassionate policing.”
Giordano acknowledged the meaningful challenges facing the department, including ongoing concerns about police conduct and community relations. He emphasized the dedication of the department’s approximately 1,388 sworn officers and 800 civilian staff, and pledged to work collaboratively to enhance public safety throughout the 518 square miles of Phoenix.
The appointment arrives in the wake of a critical U.S. Department of Justice report released in June 2024. The 126-page report detailed widespread issues within the Phoenix Police Department, citing patterns of excessive force, discriminatory practices against communities of color, and violations of the rights of protestors and individuals experiencing homelessness.The investigation, initiated in 2021, focused on allegations of civil rights violations. The Trump administration closed the investigation and rescinded its findings in May 2025.
During a community forum held on June 18, 2024, at the Burton Barr Central Library, Giordano and other finalists for the chief position outlined their plans to address the concerns raised by the federal probe. They highlighted recent changes implemented by the department, including enhanced de-escalation training, body-worn camera upgrades, and revised use-of-force policies. The city’s proposed police budget for fiscal years 2025-2026 totals $835 million.
Columbus Police Program Graduates 44 Youth After Intensive Violence Prevention course
Columbus, OH – August 7, 2025 – Forty-four young people aged 11 to 16 graduated today from the Beyond Enforcement program, a ten-week initiative designed to educate and empower Columbus youth about the impact of violence and the realities of the criminal justice system. The graduation ceremony, held at[LocationofGraduation-[LocationofGraduation-to be added], marked the culmination of an intensive curriculum featuring visits to critical city institutions and deeply personal testimonies.
The Beyond Enforcement program, spearheaded by Officer Myisha Fulton of the Columbus Division of Police, aims to break cycles of violence by fostering understanding and building bridges between youth and law enforcement. While many youth violence prevention programs focus on intervention after incidents, Beyond Enforcement proactively engages at-risk youth, offering a unique perspective on the consequences of violence and potential pathways to positive change.
Throughout the ten weeks, students participated in a series of impactful sessions. They toured the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, gaining a stark understanding of the finality of violent acts.They met with trauma surgeons at[NameofHospital-[NameofHospital-to be added], hearing firsthand accounts of the physical and emotional toll of injuries. A particularly poignant exercise involved attending a mock funeral, simulating the grief and loss experienced by families affected by violence. Students also engaged in direct dialog with incarcerated individuals, hearing their stories and reflecting on the choices that led to their imprisonment.
De’Nautica Johnson, a 12-year-old graduate, bravely shared her personal experiance during a visit to the trauma center. In 2018, at the age of five, De’Nautica was struck by a stray bullet while in Weinland Park. The incident, previously reported by WBNS 10TV, left a lasting impact on her life. “I was like basically answering some of the questions as I like telling my story of how I got shot because I feel like it’s a good thing, but not a good thing simultaneously occurring, like that bullet wasn’t for me,” she explained. Her willingness to share her story underscores the program’s success in creating a safe space for vulnerable youth.
Officer Fulton, who has dedicated multiple years to developing the program, expressed her pride in the graduates. “Watching them cross the stage was simply amazing,” she said. “I can see, at first, they were a little bit nervous. Today they were calm,they were confident,and they took along great things to share with their friends,their family.”
The program’s impact extended beyond emotional processing. Brian Johnson, 13, shared how the program shifted his perspective on law enforcement. Growing up surrounded by street violence, he initially approached the program with skepticism. however, he now reports a newfound relationship with an officer who understands his background and community. “He knows where I’m coming from, he understands me,” Brian said, highlighting the program’s success in building trust and fostering positive relationships.
Looking ahead:
The Beyond Enforcement program represents a proactive approach to violence prevention in Columbus. The Columbus Division of Police is currently seeking funding to expand the program’s reach,with plans to increase the number of participants and potentially offer specialized tracks addressing specific types of violence,such as gun violence and domestic abuse.[Contactdataforprogramfunding/inquiries-[Contactdataforprogramfunding/inquiries-to be added]. The program’s success hinges on continued community support and collaboration between law enforcement,educators,and local organizations.
Key Details to add (for a more comprehensive article):
Location of Graduation Ceremony: Crucial for local news.
Name of Hospital: Where the trauma surgeon visit took place. Specific Funding Needs: Details about expansion plans and how the public can contribute.
Statistics on Youth Violence in Columbus: Provide context and demonstrate the program’s relevance.
quotes from Program Partners: Include perspectives from educators or community organizations involved.
Details on the Curriculum: A more detailed breakdown of the sessions and activities.
* Long-term Follow-up Plans: How will the program track the graduates’ progress and provide ongoing support?
Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker, has been transferred from a federal correctional institution in Florida to a federal prison in Bryan, Texas. The reason for the transfer and who requested it remains undisclosed, according to her attorney, David Oscar Markus.
Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in recruiting underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse, was previously housed at the low-security Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, Florida. while there,she reportedly taught yoga and etiquette classes and worked in the prison library. The Bureau of Prisons indicated that the texas facility may offer her more free time and less structured supervision.
The Federal Correctional Institution in Bryan, Texas, is a lower-security facility that houses approximately 600 women. It offers various vocational programs, including horticulture, plumbing, and cosmetology, the latter of which may include massage training.The prison also operates a call center for inmates and partners with Canine Companions for Independence, allowing inmates to train service dogs. Inmates reside in dormitory-style housing with cubicles for four to eight individuals, and visiting hours are scheduled on weekends from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.Maxwell’s transfer comes as elizabeth Holmes,the former CEO of Theranos,is also incarcerated at the Bryan,Texas facility. Holmes, who is serving an 11-year sentence for fraud and conspiracy, reportedly earns 31 cents per hour assisting soon-to-be-released women with resume writing and government benefit applications. Holmes has maintained a mostly vegan diet in prison, a dietary preference shared by Maxwell. People for the Ethical Treatment of animals (PETA) had previously advocated for Maxwell to receive vegan meals during her incarceration.
Holmes has described her prison experience as “hell and torture,” expressing distress over being separated from her two young children. The Bryan facility is situated on 37 acres between Austin and Houston.
Maxwell’s release date is projected to be in 2037.Her conviction stems from her involvement in a scheme where she recruited underage girls to provide massages to Jeffrey Epstein, who afterward sexually abused them.
Georgia Football Recruit Faces Domestic Violence Charges in kansas
A highly-touted junior college defensive lineman, Seven Dantravious Cloud, who has committed to play for Georgia football as part of the 2026 recruiting class, is currently facing domestic violence charges in two separate cases in Kansas.
Cloud, a defensive lineman at Butler Community College, has been charged with misdemeanor domestic battery for an incident that allegedly occurred on April 20 in Butler county. Online records indicate the charge stems from an incident where Cloud is alleged to have “knowingly cause physical contact with another person, in a rude, angry or insulting manner,” with an individual he had a dating relationship or family/household member connection with.
In addition to the domestic battery charge, Cloud is also facing charges in a separate case filed on Thursday, July 17, in the District Court of Butler County, involving the same female victim. The Butler Community College of Public Safety has charged him with disorderly conduct (brawling or fighting) and criminal damage to property, related to an incident on March 27. In this case, cloud is alleged to have damaged or destroyed the victim’s cell phone. Both misdemeanor charges are classified in court records as a “domestic violence designated crime.”
Cloud made his first appearance in the domestic battery case on Monday,july 14,where Judge Chad Crum ordered him not to have contact with the victim. The appearance was conducted via Zoom, and Judge Crum found probable cause, according to the Butler County Times-Gazette, which initially reported on Cloud’s charges.
Cloud has a court date scheduled for September 22 for the domestic battery charge.
Cloud is recognized as the nation’s No. 1 junior college defensive line prospect by the 247Sports Composite. He initially committed to Georgia out of McEachern High School in Powder Springs in 2023 and then recommitted to the Bulldogs last December after transferring to junior college.
Georgia athletics has stated that they are unable to comment on recruits until they have officially signed.Cloud has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Teh provided text details allegations against morgan Stapp, an Indiana mother accused of child sex trafficking involving her infant daughter. HereS a breakdown of the key points:
Allegations: Stapp is accused of offering her 7-month-old daughter for sexual exploitation on Snapchat.
Evidence: Court documents and an affidavit reportedly show messages from a Snapchat account under the username “morgan-stapp” offering the infant for $400, with the mother stating she lived alone and the father was not involved.
Stapp’s Initial Response: When questioned by the FBI, Stapp claimed her Snapchat account had been hacked and she had lost access. She also mentioned receiving an email about her account being banned for “online commercial sex transactions.”
confession: Later, during an interview with the Indiana Department of Child Services, Stapp admitted to lying to the FBI about the hacking, stating she onyl wanted them to leave.
Further inquiry: A search warrant for Stapp’s Snapchat account revealed selfies saved after she claimed to have been hacked. The account also sent over 7,000 messages in three days, including inquiries about selling nudes for baby diapers.
Location: IP address records indicated that the Snapchat messages were sent from an area near Stapp’s home in Indianapolis.* Legal Proceedings: Stapp’s next court hearing is scheduled for September 15th. She is being represented by the Indiana Public Defender’s office after filing for indigent status.
Here’s a rewritten version of the article, preserving all verifiable facts and aiming for 100% uniqueness:
Nonprofit Association Targeted by ticket Reseller Accused of Deceptive Practices
A local nonprofit organization, UMS, has found itself at the center of a controversy involving a ticket resale platform, ticket Squeeze, which is accused of misleading consumers and engaging in fraudulent ticket sales. The situation has led to office staff being confronted by concertgoers who were upset about exorbitant fees for what they perceived as subpar seats.
Adding to the confusion, the customer service phone number listed on resale websites for these events actually belonged to UMS, despite the nonprofit having no affiliation with the resellers.
“Patrons were saying these tickets are so expensive, and ‘why are you charging so much in fees?’ Our ticket office was saying it’s not us, we’re not doing that,” stated Billmann.
Court filings reveal that Ticket Squeeze allegedly sold seats that UMS had not yet released to the public. For instance, during the Marcel, Rami, and Sary Khalife: legacy tour stop at Hill Auditorium in April, Ticket Squeeze offered balcony seats for $252 each. according to the filing,UMS had not yet made balcony seats available for this particular show. In contrast, UMS was selling lower gallery tickets for the same event at $60 each.Billmann indicated that Ticket Squeeze did not appear to be purchasing tickets from UMS and then reselling them. Instead, the practice seemed to involve charging patrons frist and then acquiring tickets from UMS, sometimes resulting in customers receiving seats of significantly lower quality than expected.
“It wasn’t that they were buying the tickets and flipping them, they were posting the tickets they didn’t even have and scrubbing our website to see what seats were available,” she explained.
Selling resale tickets that are not in the vendor’s possession is a violation of Michigan’s Consumer Protection Act.
UMS is reportedly assisting customers who are attempting to dispute charges with their credit card companies. The Michigan Attorney General’s office advises consumers purchasing tickets from resale platforms to use credit cards, as this provides a stronger avenue for disputing illegitimate charges.
“Misleading customers into thinking they are purchasing tickets from a trusted source, while charging them excessively high prices is unlawful,” Attorney General Nessel commented in a statement.Contact Arpan Lobo at alobo@freepress.com.