Salem News Channel

A quarter of federal student loan borrowers are now behind on their payments, with one in five borrowers in default. New data from the Department of Education shows about 400,000 more borrowers fell into default this year, bringing the total to 9.3 million. A federal student loan is considered in default once the account is at least 360 days delinquent. The federal government is also preparing to resume aggressive collection efforts for the first time in years after those efforts were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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A 23-year-old woman is dead and a baby is in critical condition after they were reportedly thrown from the balcony of a Bronx apartment building early Tuesday morning. Police found the woman and child unresponsive outside the Allerville Arms apartment building around 3:30 a.m. Witnesses reportedly told police the two had been thrown from a balcony. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. No arrests have been made.

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Byron York, chief political correspondent for the Washington Examiner, discusses the current political climate and the upcoming midterm elections with Larry. They delve into the shifting perceptions about the Republican Party's chances, emphasizing the impact of recent polls and the role of redistricting. York highlights the President's low approval rating and the generic ballot favoring Democrats, suggesting a challenging landscape for Republicans in the House. However, he notes that new districts and strategic candidate nominations might offer some reprieve. York also analyzes potential Senate races, focusing on North Carolina and the possibility of other seats flipping, including discussions about the impact of state-specific polling and the role of independent candidates. The conversation touches on the influence of the war on gas prices and its effect on voter sentiment, as well as President Trump's recent rallies and their potential impact on key states.

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In this discussion, energy expert Daniel Turner delves into the complexities of rising diesel prices, attributing them to various geopolitical conflicts and policy decisions. Turner highlights the significant impacts of the wars in Iran and Ukraine on global oil prices. Additionally, he addresses the ramifications of U.S. policies, including the administration's engagement with Iran and Russia, and the impact of shutting down refineries for environmental reasons. Turner also criticizes Democratic policies aimed at transitioning to electric vehicles, suggesting they contribute to the current energy crisis. President Trump's recent executive order to lower diesel prices by allowing tax-free red dyed diesel for all users is also discussed. Turner emphasizes the necessity of long-term energy planning and the reluctance of certain states to remove diesel taxes despite the economic burden on citizens.

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Vickie Paladino discusses the potential for New York City to implement its own AI policies, questioning the rationale behind such a move and its feasibility. She highlights concerns about the city's ability to dictate policy on a global scale, emphasizing the need for federal oversight on matters of national security and safety. Vickie also touches on the backgrounds of New York City council members, suggesting that many lack practical experience and are overly ambitious. She questions the city's competence in regulating AI and expresses skepticism about local government overreach, particularly in light of the state's recent introduction of the Raise Act, which aims to establish responsible AI practices.

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We’re learning new details about the U.S. decision to remove B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom following a reported security threat. President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that the aircraft were moved as a precaution after officials became aware of a potential threat. Trump said the threat appeared to be linked to Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, said there was no direct link between the sudden removal of the bombers and the suspected Iranian plot, saying the Pentagon routinely reallocates military assets. The Pentagon confirmed that all U.S. bombers deployed to RAF Fairford have returned to their home stations in the United States. The aircraft had recently been used in U.S. strikes on Iran. The move came after several men were arrested near the British air base on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts. Iran has denied involvement in any alleged plot.

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The Pentagon says Nidal Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist sentenced to death for the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, will be executed by firing squad. The move would mark the first U.S. military execution in more than six decades. Hasan was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others in the attack.

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Worldwide life expectancy is nearly back to pre-COVID pandemic levels, according to a new report from the World Health Organization. The report shows global life expectancy reached 73.3 years in 2023, just below the 73.4-year average recorded in 2019 before the pandemic.

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President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at lowering diesel costs for American farmers and truckers. The order temporarily allows red-dyed diesel, normally reserved for off-road uses such as farming and construction, to be used on highways. It also defers the federal excise tax on the fuel through the end of the year. The move comes as diesel prices remain above $6 a gallon.

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SpaceX shares jumped 8% Monday, pushing CEO and founder Elon Musk’s net worth back above $1 trillion. The company has been benefiting from artificial intelligence infrastructure agreements, along with its Starship program and so-called “neocloud” government contracts.

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Larry Elder examines why many Democrats have embraced socialism, attributing it to a fear-driven mindset shaped by years of indoctrination. He highlights how young people with advanced degrees in humanities, who struggle to find well-paying jobs, become disillusioned and angry. Elder argues that this anger is fueled by a steady stream of information from tech giants and social media platforms that portray the U.S. as an exploitative and unjust system. The discussion further delves into the economic policies under the Biden administration, including inflation rates and their impact on the average American. Elder questions whether the public is aware of the economic conditions during the transition from Trump to Biden, pointing out the significant rise in inflation and other economic challenges.

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Universities today seem to have strayed from their primary mission of education, instead becoming environments where students waste time and money engaging in questionable behaviors. In a recent episode, a disturbing incident at Cornell University involving a false accusation of gang rape has sparked widespread controversy. The narrative presented by some suggests a 20-year-old woman was drugged and assaulted, but subsequent details reveal that she had voluntarily consumed the drugs and had even expressed a desire to repeat the encounter with some of the men involved. This incident highlights a concerning trend where universities are seen as places for students to misbehave and waste resources rather than focusing on academic and moral development. The discussion raises critical questions about the values we instill in our youth and the consequences of a culture that seems to prioritize entertainment over education.

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Discount gym giant Planet Fitness has an "inclusive" locker room policy that allows gym members to use whichever locker room matches their gender identity. That policy was in place at a gym where an arrest was made in Massachusetts last week. Laquan Holland was arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted two women in the locker room of a Planet Fitness in Cambridge. Holland faces two counts of assault to rape, two counts of indecent assault, and battery on a person over 14, as well as one count of kidnapping and one count of witness intimidation. Read more on this story on Townhall: https://townhall.com/news/amy-curtis/2026/10/05/planet-fitness-assaults-masschusetts-n2684107

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(Siberia) -- The U.S. is monitoring the situation after a lab worker died due to possible exposure to the plague in Russia. Russian officials said at first a woman who was an employee at an anti-plague research institute in Irkutsk died from an unspecified form of the disease. Now, the country's consumer watchdog said that woman had been "diagnosed with pneumonia" of unknown origin. Some reports said nearly 200 people had been quarantined due to possible exposure. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says officials are monitoring the situation closely.

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YUMA, Arizona, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The US Army is testing counter-drone technology in the US-Mexico border area, seeking to sharpen its defenses against the growing threat of drone use by cartels and emulate the rapid battlefield innovation happening in Ukraine's war with Russia. At Falcon Peak, a US Northern Command exercise held in September in Arizona, soldiers watched as defense firms demonstrated radars, interceptor drones, autonomous gun systems and other technologies designed to detect, track and destroy small unmanned aircraft. Army officials said drones crossing the southern border are typically systems sold commercially and used by criminals for surveillance linked to their smuggling and human trafficking operations. Brigadier General Brian Filler, deputy commander for operations at Joint Task Force Southern Border, told reporters the military detected 378 drone incursions in the previous 30 days and that the trend was increasing. "We are seeing largely commercial off-the-shelf available drones," Filler said, adding that most carry surveillance cameras and are often observed alongside cross-border movements. The US military said earlier this month it had downed 11 cartel drones using ?lasers since deploying the technology along the southern ?border in August. LEARNING FROM UKRAINE Military planners are racing to keep pace with lessons from Ukraine, where drones have transformed the battlefield and driven rapid innovation in both offensive and defensive systems. Military officials caution that cartel-operated drones are not comparable to the sophisticated battlefield ones seen in Ukraine or the Middle East. But they say the border offers a valuable operational environment to test equipment, train soldiers and evaluate how systems perform outside controlled laboratory conditions. The exercise highlighted the Pentagon's growing embrace of venture-backed defense technology firms. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, investors have poured billions of dollars into companies such as Anduril, Shield AI, Saronic and a wave of smaller drone and counter-drone startups seeking military contracts. Anduril's Ghost drone was featured in the demonstrations, as well as the radar-and-camera detection system produced by Teledyne FLIR, the "Bullfrog" counter-drone automated machine gun produced by Allen Control Systems and an interceptor drone sold by Powerus, which ?went public on Thursday, merging with a company backed by sons of US President Donald Trump. Officials said part of their goal is replicating the rapid iteration cycle seen in Ukraine. "We tend to look at Ukraine and we say, 'I am so impressed with how quickly they can adapt on a daily or weekly basis,'" Brigadier General Matt Ross told reporters. "What we should really do is replicate that process."

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(Nantucket, MA) -- The Coast Guard has suspended the dayslong search for six people aboard a medical plane that vanished in the waters off New England. The Boston-bound plane disappeared Saturday morning while flying from Bermuda, and crews later found debris about 20 miles off Nantucket. The Coast Guard covered about 45-hundred square miles in its search. Latitude Air Ambulance says all six people unaccounted for are presumed to have died.

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(Tel Aviv) -- Several reports say the FlyDubai co-pilot accused of stabbing his captain was planning to crash the passenger jet at Tel Aviv's main airport. The co-pilot reportedly told investigators that after he subdued the pilot, he intended to obtain landing clearances then hit Ben Gurion Airport. Reports also indicate the accused man acted alone. UAE authorities, who are leading the investigation, said Saturday the co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash ax in an attempted terrorist attack aboard the Israel-bound plane.

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(New York, NY) -- Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is joining Fox News. The network announced on Monday that Leavitt will be joining as a contributor. She follows in the footsteps of other former press secretaries like Kayleigh McEnany and Jen Psaki who moved on to cable news following their time in the position. Leavitt stepped down from the role in August, not long after returning from maternity leave. She will begin her new role with Fox News on November 1st.

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