Paige Felder mug

The regular season inched another step closer for Mizzou volleyball as it earned an exhibition win over Drake in Columbia on Saturday. The Tigers defeated the Bulldogs in all four sets 25-21, 25-15, 25-17, 25-23. Stats were kept for the first three sets of the match.

Mizzou was in control for the majority of the match, as the first three sets only featured seven ties and five lead changes. The Tigers offense was humming with a hitting percentage over .400 in the second and third sets.

Sophomore outside hitter Paige Felder led the Tigers with 12 kills on 27 total attacks through three sets. She finished with no attacking errors for a .444 attacking percentage. Redshirt senior rightside/outside hitter Kimani Johnson played the second and third sets, recording eight kills on 12 total attacks.

Junior setter Nina Mandovic stuffed the stat sheet with 33 assists, 10 digs, six kills, four blocks and three aces. As a whole the team finished with 18 blocks, led by six from freshman middle blocker Eva Smith.

Evansville transfer Ainoah Cruz was designated as the libero for the first two sets and led the team with 14 digs. Sophomore Zoey Matias-Lopez took over the designation for the third set, ending the match with seven digs of her own.

This was the first of two exhibition matches for the Tigers, with the second on neutral turf against Tulsa on Thursday in Springfield at Betty & Bobby Allison Sports Town.

Mizzou opens the regular season with three matches at the Mizzou Invitational, with the first of the three being against Western Illinois on Aug. 28 at the Hearnes Center.

After Missouri held a scrimmage Saturday to conclude the second week of fall camp, head coach Eli Drinkwitz addressed the media to provide updates on preseason competitions, practice performances and more.

Drinkwitz’s primary update Saturday came on the offensive line. The picture of Missouri’s ‘best five’ on the offensive front is becoming clearer.

The biggest question entering fall camp was the competition at right tackle after presumed starter Josh Atkins suffered a leg injury in the spring and a setback in June. After entering fall camp with a competition at the spot between Luke Work and Logan Reichert, Drinkwitz said Saturday he feels pretty good Work will be the starter.

Drinkwitz also implied that Tristan Wilson will have a spot as the team’s starting left guard.

“Tristan has developed himself into a starter in the SEC and really one of our most versatile players,” Drinkwitz said. 

Wilson, now in his fifth year with the Tigers, competed with Curtis Peagler for the starting right guard spot entering 2025. The Lebanon product also rotated with Peagler early into the 2025 season, playing on 168 total offensive snaps on the year.

What Missouri is still looking for along the offensive line is a swing tackle, the top depth option to be able to fill in at either left or right tackle. The Tigers were able to get some extra evaluation time of the young competitors there by holding starting left tackle Cayden Green out of practice Friday.

That allowed sophomore Jack Lange to go with the first lineup during parts of practice open to the media. Drinkwitz also mentioned junior Whit Hafer and senior player Logan Reichert as top competitors there. The second lineup in Friday’s practice featured Hafer at the left tackle spot and Reichert on the right.

“For us right now, it's really about finding who's our third tackle, and the only way you can get the reps you need to see is if you pull somebody,” Drinkwitz said of holding Green out of Friday’s practice.

Drinkwitz provides minor update on Ahmad Hardy

At the start of fall camp, Drinkwitz circled this date on the calendar as one where he would possibly have an update on the status of running back Ahmad Hardy, who sustained a gunshot wound in May.

Drinkwitz added clarity to the timeline Saturday, saying he misspoke on the original timing expectations.

“He's still continuing to do rehab, nothing really to note,” Drinkwitz said of Hardy.

Drinkwitz said the important check-in date he expects is next Saturday, which will mark the fifth week of Hardy’s return-to-play protocol.

“We'll sit down with the doctors and evaluate where he's at,” Drinkwitz said of the upcoming meeting. “So right now, he was out there this afternoon cheering on his teammates. … He's progressing in the weight room and in his speed training.”

Drinkwitz provides updates in the secondary

So far during fall camp, the cornerback position has been one that’s frequently tweaked in certain drills. Ole Miss transfer Chris Graves Jr. seems to be the guy at the top of the position group, which doesn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone. The players filling in behind him are raising more questions.

“I think we've got quite a bit of depth," Drinkwitz said. "Obviously, Chris Graves has played a ton of football and probably got the best grasp of what we're trying to do on one side, and then the other side, you know, between Sione (Laulea), Jahlil Florence, Nick DeLoach; Jaxson Gates is a freshman who’s come a long way. Cam Keys, I think there's a lot of ability there."

Laulea and Florence seemed to stand out in Saturday’s scrimmage held right before reporters talked to Drinkwitz. Both made plays in that scrimmage that caught the attention of Drinkwitz.

“Sione and Jahlil have been exactly what we had hoped in getting those guys back,” Drinkwitz said. “I was proud of Sione today. He had a couple of the big tackles on duo play where he was the unblocked guy, and he did it pretty good. And then Jahlil had two big-time plays, one in the red zone, one backed up, forced an incompletion.”

The second cornerback spot, along with the others behind it, seems to be up for grabs as the start of the season approaches. Florence and Laulea, who spent multiple seasons with the Oregon Ducks, are letting their experience from the PAC-12 and Big Ten show.

With the need for someone to take those spots on the depth chart getting more and more important, Drinkwitz has a few traits and skills in mind that he’s looking for in order for someone to take claim of the depth chart spots.

“It's just about who's going to make plays on the ball, who can cause incompletions and then force takeaways,” Drinkwitz said. “So every day we're just continuing to try to get reps and stack fundamentals and see who's going to be that guy for us.

In the secondary, Auburn transfer Kensley Louidor-Faustin is a guy who has his eyes set on the starting STAR position once held by Daylen Carnell. Louidor-Faustin has experience at the position but is still competing for the spot.

“He's played STAR at Auburn, so (it) wasn't that difficult of a transition,” Drinkwitz said. “So he's done a nice job. I think he's kind of figuring out what our expectations and standards are, how we approach practice, and how we approach the building every day.”

Michigan transfer Elijah Dotson is another name who’s been seen getting reps at the position during fall camp. Drinkwitz also shouted out sophomore CJ Bass III as someone who stood out at the STAR position, primarily during Saturday’s scrimmage.

Insight into special teams

Drinkwitz also spoke about the special teams unit, which is overseen by coordinator John Papuchis.

“JP has done a really good job getting the schemes in, guys buying into what we’re doing,” Drinkwitz said. “It looks different, feels a little different than what we’ve done in the past, which is good.”

Two names that stick out within the unit are long snapper Brett Le Blanc and kicker Blake Craig. The former has generated some attention after receiving All-SEC Third Team preseason honors and being named to the Patrick Mannelly Award watchlist, while the latter is looking to have a productive season after tearing his ACL.

“You got to get consistency out of Blake,” Drinkwitz said. “Today was not his most consistent day kicking field goals, which is surprising because he had two really good days before.”

Another name Drinkwitz mentioned was kicker/punter Brunno Reus. He said Reus has been “good,” but “we won’t know until we put it all together.”

Chace Missouri earns scholarship

In other news, Drinkwitz surprised offensive lineman Chace Missouri with a scholarship with the university.

"He embraces his role, he puts the team first every single day, and I was on the field, and I said, 'You know what? I'm going to give that dude a scholarship,'" Drinkwitz said in a video posted on Mizzou football's Instagram account.

Missouri has been on the team since 2023 when he joined as a walk-on. He did not see game action in 2023, 2024 or 2025.

Before becoming a Tiger, Missouri lettered two years at Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, Georgia. He guided the Chargers to 14 wins and two state playoff appearances while earning Georgia Class 5-2A first-team honors during his senior year.

(The Center Square) - The Nov. 3 general election is just 80 days out and in Washington state, much of the attention is centered around three initiatives that will appear on the ballot.

One of those is Initiative 001, which would reinstate a parental bill of rights. The other two concern the protection of girls' in sports and a repeal of the new income tax. 

Championed by conservative group Let's Go Washington, I-001, if approved by voters, would once again require schools to provide prior notification to parents when a student seeks non-emergency medical services or mental health counseling on campus.

The Washington parental rights fight is getting some national attention too. 

Suzanne Gallagher, executive director of Parents Rights in Education attended an Aug. 7 campaign kickoff event for the initiative and the other two LGW measures that will be on the ballot.

In a Thursday interview, Gallagher told The Center Square the issues being debated in Washington are happening in states all across the nation.

“Other people are talking to your child, and they literally are not only coaching them in the transition possibility, but they're letting them know that this is happening at school. We can keep it secret from your parents until you're ready to make the announcement,” said Gallagher.

“And when you go home, you just act like normal. Your parents will never know.”

CURRENT LAW

Under current law, students aged 13 and older can consent to certain treatments without parental knowledge. In some cases, they can leave campus for care without notifications being sent home to a parent or guardian.

The battle goes back to 2024, when LGW sent an initiative, I-2081, to the legislature, signed by hundreds of thousands of Washington voters. Lawmakers adopted the measure but then came back one year later and amended parental rights under House Bill 1296.

Upon final passage of HB 1296, Rep. Shaun Scott, D-Seattle urged fellow lawmakers to support the measure.

“For families from marginalized backgrounds, black, indigenous, immigrant, undocumented folks, a recent initiative raised very serious concerns because of vague language…this is a bill that aims to create very clear understanding. It protects parental and legal guardian involvement in student education. It's a bill that aligns with civil rights laws. It honors the diversity of families,” said Scott on April 24, 2025.

The bill fundamentally altered Washington State’s parental notification laws by restricting parental access to student medical records, and prioritizing student privacy at school, prompting LGW to once again gather signatures for another attempt to restore parental rights.

I-001 was certified and sent to Washington lawmakers for consideration in the 2026 legislative session, but majority Democrats refused to hold a public hearing on the initiative. 

That sent the initiative to the Nov 3, 2026, ballot.

Supporters of HB 1296 argued the law protects student privacy, safety, and inclusive learning environments, namely LGBTQ and trans youth.

They framed it as a balance between parental involvement and student safety.

But Gallagher said schools have no right to keep secrets from parents.

“At school, you'll be one person, and your parents will have no idea. In fact, school staff are cautioned if this child is transitioning at school, and parents don't know, that they are to use the child's name, their 'old' name, and their 'old' pronouns when they're speaking to the parent,” she said.

HB 1296 also created a new process through which the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction can investigate and take action against school districts found to be intentionally violating state law.

Several Washington districts that have pushed back on OSPI, or passed local resolutions stating they will comply with federal law, rather than state law when it comes to parental notification, have received threatening letters from OSPI, notifying the districts their state funding could be cut.

"It's very cult like,” said Gallagher. Where we're keeping everything from the parent. Because the federal law, and Supreme Court rulings support parental rights, and their right to know, their right to be notified, their right to have access to records.”

“What these people are doing is unconstitutional.”

(The Center Square) – The partisan makeup of the U.S. Senate could be determined by a seat up for election in Alaska.

Voters in Alaska will head to the polls on Tuesday to select candidates in Alaska’s nonpartisan primary race for U.S. Senate. Currently, the partisan makeup of the U.S. Senate is 53-45 with Republicans in the majority. There are two independent senators in the congressional body who caucus with Democrats.

Democrats are looking to take back the upper chamber of Congress by investing resources into key races across the country. Alaska is one of the key Senate races Democrats are targeting. 

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan is seeking reelection in what is expected to be one of the most fiercely contested races in the country. He faces a slew of competitors – 16 candidates are on the ballot – from both parties in the nonpartisan primary, including prominent Democrat Mary Peltola.

Sullivan has focused his legislative efforts on bills that would expand research and environmental protection opportunities throughout Alaska. He introduced the Bycatch Reduction Act, legislation that would regulate the kind of gear that can be used in fisheries throughout the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska.

Unlike a few Republicans in the Senate, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Sullivan has remained a vocal supporter of the SAVE America Act. The legislation would require identification to verify proof of citizenship before individuals can vote in federal elections.

“I don’t think we have a big voter challenge in terms of cheating in Alaska, but for the country, there’s a place in the country where this is an important issue,” Sullivan said. “This is not focused on disenfranchising Alaska voters.”

Sullivan has drawn Republican competitors from many backgrounds to challenge him in the crucial race, including one candidate with his same name, Dan J. Sullivan.

Dan S. Sullivan alleged that Dan J. Sullivan, a former teacher, mounted his campaign in order to confuse voters at the ballot box on Tuesday. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled that Dan J. Sullivan was allowed to stay on the ballots but state and federal investigators have continued to examine the controversy.

The federal investigation is looking into whether a conspiracy was hatched to deprive voters of a free and fair election process.

Dan J. Sullivan said his campaign is focused on expanding access to affordable housing, improving healthcare costs and dismantling the Trump administration’s tariff policies. He also criticized the Department of Government Efficiency, after cuts were made to National Parks Service programs in Alaska.

“We lost a lot of people. We lost a lot of programs. We lost a lot of money,” Sullivan said. "We lost a lot of scientific data that's important to our fisheries programs.”

Peltola, a former Democratic congresswoman from Alaska, is mounting a significant challenge to Dan S. Sullivan for the competitive Senate seat. She has focused her campaign on bringing down rising grocery and gas prices.

Peltola proposed bringing more oil refineries to the state in order to lower gas prices, restoring federal tax credits for solar, wind and hydroelectric projects and to eliminate federal income taxes for working and middle-class Alaskan residents earning less than $92,000 per year.

“Alaskans know life is harder here – but there’s only so many times you can sacrifice groceries or skip a doctor’s visit before you start to loathe the DC politicians who keep making things worse,” Peltola said. “It shouldn’t be this hard to get by in Alaska, and when I’m in the U.S. Senate, I’m going to fight to make life affordable for hardworking Alaska families.”

Dan S. Sullivan leads in fundraising with more than $7.2 million in cash on hand, followed by Peltola with more than $4.6 million, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Dan S. Sullivan has received nearly $200,000 from the Pacific National Bank toward his campaign. He has also received more than $767,000 from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee PAC and $10,000 from General Motors PAC. 

Peltola has received $115,000 from a victory fund with other Democratic candidates for Senate including James Talarico, Chris Pappas and Sherrod Brown. She also earned $5,000 from the Synergy PAC and $10,000 from Getting Results by Engaging Grassroots PAC. 

Dan J. Sullivan follows behind both with only $8,400 in cash on hand. 

In the nonpartisan primary, the top for vote getters move on to the November election. The winner of November's midterm election is determined by ranked choice voting.

Polls in Alaska are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. For more information, visit the Alaska Division of Elections at elections.alaska.gov. 

(The Center Square) – Strengthening privacy, accountability and security. That’s the new focus license-plate-reading camera giant Flock said it plans after facing widespread criticism across the U.S.

The company has faced mounting scrutiny for blanketing public rights-of-way – and even private property – with advanced automatic license plate reading cameras, or ALPRs, and for how local law enforcement has used and, in some cases, abused that data. 

There’s also growing alarm over the security of Flock’s massive license-plate database itself. On Wednesday’s The States, West Virginia State Delegate Tristan Leavitt voiced those exact concerns about the risk of a breach. He said a Flock representative spoke to the legislature and took questions about stories of the network being hacked. 

“He was asked by my colleague, a delegate from an area that has just adopted Flock cameras in their municipality, about videos on YouTube purporting to contain hacked video. And he said, ‘no, that is absolutely false, that we have not ever been hacked,’” Tristan recalled. “There are obviously concerns about these cameras from really across the political spectrum. And so as lawmakers trying to decide what level of involvement the state legislature should have, it's very difficult if you are not getting straight information directly from Flock themselves.”

Several attempts by The Center Square to set up an interview with someone from Flock were met with no response.

Through a public-relations firm, Flock announced Thursday it is taking concrete steps to answer the rising chorus of criticism over mass surveillance and the potential for abuse.

“Last month alone, we helped detect over a thousand missing people, you know, over 20,000 stolen cars,” Flock CEO Garrett Langley said in a produced video. “We've realized our responsibility and our opportunity to set a new standard for safety and privacy has grown with it. And so for us, this is an evolution."

One change: retention. Previously Flock recommended keeping license-plate data for 30 days. That window is now being cut to seven days. 

For the cases that legitimately need more time, the company is introducing “evidence mode.” Detectives can lock specific ALPR hits in as evidence in an active investigation – consistent with existing laws and policies.

But Langley stressed that Flock has always believed in local control. 

“Cities should have a choice,” Langley said. “But what I've also realized is that cities rely on us as the expert for what we think is best. As we looked at the data, what we saw is about 90% of investigative searches happened within seven days. So will it solve less crime? It will.”

Cities will now be able to decide exactly which categories of offenses other agencies can search against their cameras, the company said. For example, City A could permit City B to query its network only for stolen vehicles, missing persons, or violent crime – while blocking any searches tied to immigration enforcement. Flock said this gives communities tighter control over data sharing without hindering legitimate collaboration.

Accountability is getting an upgrade too. Langley said the company is strengthening its audit assistance program to produce better, more usable audit logs.

“We are finding bad cops and holding them accountable,” Langley said. “And about a third of our customers actually adopted it over the last four months. We think now is the right time to say, 'look, this should be required.' And I would challenge, you know, state regulators to make this a law for all police technology to have this level of accountability so we can curb police abuse.”

Every law enforcement customer will be required to adopt the improved audit tools by the end of this year, the news release said. On top of that, Flock is adding proactive lockouts: when a user’s activity trips defined thresholds for abnormal behavior, the system will automatically suspend access until an administrator reviews it. The company said the goal is to stop misuse before it becomes habitual or widespread.

"These changes, like I said, are the next chapter of a long book I hope to write on how we build a better version of America that's both safer, protects our privacy, and holds those who have power accountable,” Langley said. 

On the security front, Flock said it is committed to running the strongest program in the industry. This year it brought in independent security firm Bishop Fox for a full review of its products and capabilities. A summary of the findings and the company’s remediations is expected to be published next month.

Whether these moves will quiet the criticism over Flock’s nationwide network is unclear.

“There are others like Motorola and other providers,” Leavitt said. “But in terms of dealing with the technology overall, we want to make sure that people are safe and protected. We want to make sure their civil liberties are protected.”

Leavitt said state legislators should also ensure they get accurate information from the companies and provide accountability. 

(The Center Square) — President Donald Trump touted his record on crime and public safety during a visit to New York on Friday, which was also aimed at boosting Republican candidates in tightly contested races ahead of the midterms.

Trump toured the Nassau County Police Academy in Long Island, where he highlighted new FBI crime statistics showing a drop in violent crime last year. In remarks, the president highlighted a drop in violent crime, immigration crackdowns and support for police during his second term in the White House, praising New York law enforcement officials packed into the auditorium for "making America safe again." 

"In the past four years before I took office, the country was overrun by violent criminals," Trump said in his remarks. "You remember just a couple of years ago how bad it was, right? Foreign gangs, savage thugs. Sleepy Joe. That was four years of hell. We lived in hell." 

The FBI's preliminary 2025 crime data shows violent crime fell an estimated 9.3% nationwide compared with 2024, including an 18.1% decrease in murder and non-negligent manslaughter. The agency says that's the single largest yearly decrease in those categories since 1937. 

But the president's visit was also aimed at boosting Republicans in closely contested races across his former home state, including two Long Island congressional seats held by Democrats that Republicans are hoping to flip in the fall elections. 

Trump also stumped for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican challenging Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, pointing out that his county has one of the best public safety ratings in the nation. 

"Think of that  — the number one safest county in the United States of America," Trump said from the podium, turning to Blakeman on the nearby stage. "How do you top that? Keep up the good work." 

Trump highlighted Blakeman's previous election wins and suggested he was within striking distance of defeating Hochul in the upcoming election.

"He's going to win. I mean it," Trump said. "This guy is a winner." 

Trump won Nassau County in 2024, marking the first time Republicans had won the county in more than two decades. He endorsed Blakeman early in the race, and this is the second time he has appeared at a rally with the gubernatorial hopeful. 

A Siena poll released earlier this week shows Hochul leading Blakeman by 10 points, 49% to 39% — a 10 point drop from a June voter survey in a sign that the governor's race is tightening. 

Hochul, who is seeking another four-year term in November, criticized Friday's visit and said Trump "is rewarding his MAGA puppet by doubling down on his support." 

"From day one, Bruce Blakeman has supported Trump as he jacks up costs and enables ICE’s cruel overreach," she posted on X. "He’s only loyal to Trump. My loyalty is to New Yorkers — that’s the difference." 

Trump also used Friday's remarks to claim his administration is bringing the prices "way down” despite the latest data suggesting overall inflation is up 3.4%, compared to a year ago.

He also repeated his claim that Iran is "very badly defeated" and said he will "soon" be declaring that the strait of Hormuz is United States territory. He also defended the decision to attack Iran, saying despite the pain at the pumps for many Americans "we don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon." 

"Remember that when you have to pay a little bit more, you're at $4," Trump said. "I'll never apologize. I did the right thing."

(The Center Square) – Florida voters will head to the polls Tuesday to pick party nominees in a special primary election for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by former Sen. Marco Rubio’s appointment as secretary of state.

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., was appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill Rubio’s seat until voters could elect a replacement during the midterm elections later this year. Moody is now seeking the Republican nomination in Tuesday’s primary for the chance to remain in the seat for the rest of Rubio’s term.

She will face three Republican challengers in her party’s primary on Tuesday. Two candidates are going head-to-head in the Democratic primary happening the same day.

The winner of each party’s primary will advance to Nov. 3’s general election. Senate Republicans are defending a tight 53-45 majority against Democrats, and the race for Florida’s Senate seat will play a role in determining which party takes control of the chamber after the midterms.

Republican primary

Moody served two terms as Florida’s attorney general before her appointment to the Senate in January 2025. She enters the race with the advantages of incumbency and statewide name recognition from her previous office.

Since being tapped to join the Senate, Moody has consistently voted in line with Republicans’ fiscal priorities, including supporting the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and has introduced bills addressing health care and federal student aid fraud.

She is facing primary challenges from Army veteran Chris Gleason, minister Ernie Rivera and physician Neelam Taneja Perry.

Moody leads the Republican pack in fundraising, with $11.3 million in funds reported in her latest filings to the Federal Election Commission. The next closest fundraiser is Gleason with $22,000 in funds.

Florida’s Senate seat is rated “Solid Republican” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which means Democrats face an uphill battle challenging the Republican nominee in November’s general election.

Democratic primary

Two Democratic candidates are fighting for their party’s nomination on Tuesday. A native of Jacksonville, Angie Nixon has been a member of the Florida House of Representatives since 2020. She will square off against Alex Vindman in the Democratic primary, a retired U.S. Army combat veteran of 21 years.

Vindman has significantly outraised Nixon, reporting $16.3 million in his latest FEC filings compared to Nixon’s $975,000.

Nixon has built her campaign for Senate around economic populism, calling for higher taxes on billionaires, raising the federal minimum wage and redirecting taxpayer dollars spent on the conflict in Iran.

Vindman’s campaign has focused on government accountability and anticorruption, drawing on his experience as a witness during the House of Representatives’ 2019 impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, while Vindman was on the National Security Council.

The last time a Florida Democrat was elected to the Senate was in 2012.

What to know on Tuesday

Polls in Florida will stay open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time on Election Day. Any voter in line by 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast their ballot.

While Tuesday’s primary is open only to voters registered with a political party, all voters in Florida will have a chance to go to the polls for the general election on Nov. 3.

The outcome of Florida’s special election in November will help determine which party controls Congress’ upper chamber over the next two years.

(The Center Square) – As Americans prepare to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is honoring those murdered by two terrorist attacks committed in lower Manhattan, as well as at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.

“A quarter century after the September 11, 2001, attacks, 100 million Americans are too young to remember the day that changed our city and nation forever,” the 9/11 Memorial & Museum states. “It is our shared promise – made 25 years ago – to never forget so those born after 9/11 learn its significance and enduring legacy. As we commemorate this anniversary, a new generation will learn about the unimaginable loss we experienced and the inspiring stories of bravery, compassion, unity, and service that we witnessed, and have rippled through the decades.”

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum was built to honor the nearly 3,000 killed on Sept. 11, 2001, and the six killed on Feb. 26, 1993. Those killed on 9/11 were between the ages of 2.5 and 85, from 90 countries and from varying ethnic, socioeconomic and faith backgrounds. 

Two Islamic terrorist attacks occurred at the North Tower of the World Trade Center, both on a Tuesday eight years apart. The first was on Feb. 26, 1993, caused by a van full of explosives. The second was on Sept. 11, 2001, caused by a hijacked plane. 

The majority of the 9/11 hijackers, 14, were citizens of Saudi Arabia. Three were citizens of the United Arab Emirates. One was Egyptian; one was Lebanese. They were all men between ages 20 and 33 who’d been living in several states just months before the attacks. 

They were all members of the Islamic terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, led by Saudi national Osama Bin Ladin, according to authorities. The 1993 WTC terrorist attack was committed by several Islamic terrorists, all men, led by a Pakistani national. 

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001

The 9/11 terrorist attacks were carried out by 19 Muslim men who hijacked four commercial planes. One plane was flown into each of the Twin Towers; one crashed into the Pentagon. The fourth crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers fought the hijackers and diverted the plane from its intended target of either the White House or U.S. Capitol.

American Airlines Flight 11 – North Tower, WTC 

Flight 11 departed Boston for Los Angeles at 7:45 a.m. eastern, was hijacked and flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:45 am. 

Three hijackers were Saudis; one was Egyptian; one was from the UAE. 

They killed 1,470 people in the North Tower and 87 people on Flight 11.

United Airlines Flight 175: 9:05 a.m. – South Tower, WTC

Flight 175 departed Boston for Los Angeles at 7:58 am, was hijacked and flew into the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:05 am. 

Three hijackers were Saudis; two were from the UAE. 

They killed 695 people in the South Tower and 60 people on Flight 175. 

The terrorists also killed 441 first responders who rushed into the towers.

American Airlines Flight 77: 9:39 am – Pentagon 

Flight 77 departed Washington Dulles for Los Angeles at 8:10 am, was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon at 9:39 a.m. 

The hijackers, all Saudis, killed 125 people at the Pentagon and 59 people on Flight 77.

United Flight 93: 10:10 am – Pennsylvania 

Flight 93 departed Newark, New Jersey, for San Francisco at 8:01 am, was hijacked and crashed in a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, at 10:10 am. Three hijackers were Saudis; one was Lebanese. 

They killed 40 people on Flight 93. 

After holding hearings and conducting an investigation, the 9/11 Commission published a report detailing extensive and systemic failures within the U.S. intelligence community as well as problems with other federal agencies. It also recommended security changes be made, many of which critics argue still haven’t been implemented 25 years later.

1993 WTC bombing

On Tuesday, Feb. 26, 1993, shortly after noon, a van packed with 1,200 pounds of explosives in a parking garage under the North Tower blew up roughly the size of half a football field. Six people were killed; hundreds were wounded. The attack was attributed to multiple Islamic men, led by Pakistani Ramzi Yousef. Four of them, sentenced to 240 years in prison, received reduced sentences in 2021. Everyone convicted is still serving life in prison. Authorities later connected the attack to an Al Qaeda plan to blow up the towers.

9/11 Memorial & Museum Commemoration

The memorial/museum is offering multiple ways for Americans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11. For those who can’t visit in person, it’s published online educational programs and a downloadable 25th anniversary toolkit.

The memorial consists of grounds that cover the World Trade Center complex, including two memorial pools constructed in the footprint of where each tower once stood. The names of those who were killed are inscribed into bronze parapets that surround the pools.

The North Pool memorializes 1,470 people killed in the North Tower and 87 killed on Flight 11 on 9/11. It also includes the names of six people killed on Feb. 26, 1993. 

The South Pool memorializes 695 people killed in the South Tower, 60 killed on Flight 175, 441 First Responders, 59 killed on Flight 77, 40 killed on Flight 93 and 125 killed at the Pentagon on 9/11.

A memorial guide includes the names, photos and biographical information of each person killed in 1993 and 2001, including where to find their inscribed names.

The museum includes artifacts about the 1993 North Tower bombing, a multi-part exhibit about 9/11 and a memorial exhibit. The 9/11 Memorial Glade honors those who are still sick or died from exposure to toxins at the World Trade Center site in the aftermath of 9/11 as well as the “Survivor Tree.”

(The Center Square) - Voters in Florida will head to the polls on Tuesday to determine who will face off to replace Gov. Ron Desantis in November.

Candidates from both parties have flocked to earn partisan nominations and secure a seat in Florida’s governor's mansion since DeSantis is term-limited. 

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., is leading the polls among Republicans seeking to replace DeSantis. Donalds received an endorsement from President Donald Trump to fill the governor’s mansion. 

“As Governor, Byron will have a BIG Voice, and work closely with me to advance our America First Agenda,” Trump wrote. “Byron Donalds will be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida.” 

Trump said Donalds would support his immigration agenda, cut taxes and expand American energy production.

Donalds has focused his campaign on expanding government audits, publishing government spending records into a single state-wide database and publishing state and local government salary records. 

“By making audits routine, publishing spending information in one place, and giving taxpayers direct access to government financial data, Florida can become the most transparent and accountable government in America,” Donalds’ website reads. 

While Donalds is seen as the frontrunner, he has prominent challenges from Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins and investor James Fishback. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declined to endorse in the Republican party primary for governor. 

Collins has relied on his previous experience as lieutenant governor under DeSantis as part of his campaign strategy. He also touted his military experience as part of his campaign for the Republican nomination. 

“He led Americans into combat, lost his leg, and re-qualified as a Green Beret. Now Jay Collins is running for Governor to protect the DeSantis legacy and keep Florida free, safe, and prosperous,” Collins’ website reads. 

James Fishback, founder of the investment firm Azoria, is also seeking the party’s nomination. He has focused his campaign on abolishing property taxes, pushing back against data centers in Florida, supporting farmland and cutting government spending. 

“Local governments statewide are collecting $20 billion more in property taxes than they were just five years ago,” Fishback’s website reads. “Fishback will work with local governments to get their spending back to 2021 levels, freeing up that $20 billion. Eliminating property taxes for Florida residents on homesteaded properties costs $18 billion in lost revenue, which is more than covered by the $20 billion in savings.”

Fishback drew significant attention when he claimed Donalds engaged in activities alongside U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., who has been accused of federal sex trafficking. The U.S. Department of Justice flatly denied Fishback’s claim. 

“Falsely accusing someone of being under investigation is a dangerous form of weaponization,” the department wrote on social media. “This claim is not true. Congressman Byron Donalds is not under investigation.”

On the other side of the aisle, former United States Congressman David Jolly is seeking the Democratic party's nomination for governor in Florida. Jolly, a former Republican, has focused his campaign on increasing funding for public schools and offering state-backed home loan programs for owners in Florida. 

"Allowing condominium associations and owners access to a no-interest state-backed loan program would likewise address the crushing financial burden of generational condominium repairs," Jolly's website reads. 

Jolly is at a severe disadvantage in fundraising compared to his Republican counterparts. Byron Donalds has more than $99 million in campaign contributions.

Jolly trails with $5.5 million in contributions, followed by Collins with more than $1.4 million and Fishback with more than $575,000. 

Donalds received $4 million from the Seminole Tribe of Florida and $1.5 million from the GoPAC Election Fund. Collins received $3,000 from A & J Entertainment Group and another $3,000 from Comfort Design, a mechanical engineering company. 

Jolly received $3,000 from All Site Construction and another $3,000 from Silver Beach Road Partners. Fishback received $3,000 from America First Strategy Group and $3,000 from Superior Oilfield Services. 

Polls are open in Florida from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. For more information, visit the Florida Department of State, at dos.fl.gov. For early results on Election Day, visit thecentersquare.com/florida. 

GREAT FALLS, Mont. - Shannon Newth with Visit Great Falls and Bradley Warren talked three community events coming up in the Electric City, including a downtown mural festival, a River’s Edge Trail walk and a new exhibit at The History Museum.

Great Walls begins Sunday, August 16 and continues through August 23 in downtown Great Falls. Visit Great Falls also shares that the latest episode of its We’re No Dam Experts podcast focuses on the mural festival. More information on Great Walls is available here.

The festival also includes the Great Walls Block Party on Thursday, August 20 from 5-8 p.m. It is planned behind the Times Square Building at 525 Central Ave.

Another event on the schedule is the Luminaria Walk on Friday, August 21 starting at 7 p.m. Organizers say the event celebrates River’s Edge Trail with 1,500 bags filled with sand and lights. More information on the walk is available here.

The History Museum also plans an exhibit opening on Friday, August 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. The exhibit is titled Voices of our Ancestors: The Records of St. Peter’s Mission.

More information about the exhibit is available through The History Museum.