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Officials have confirmed that six people traveling on a medical flight Friday night, including the pilots and passengers, have died after the plane crashed in Northeast Philadelphia. According to PhillyBurbs.com, six Mexican nationals were aboard the Learjet 55 when it crashed near a Philadelphia mall, causing an explosion. One person on the ground also died, and 19 were injured as the crash ignited nearby homes, NPR reports.

Flight Details and Devastation

The flight was transporting a medical crew, a child patient, and her mother. Officials said the explosion set five homes ablaze, while several cars also caught fire.

“The area of impact — that area is roughly four to six blocks, and we also have debris in remote areas where something happened with the aircraft,” Philadelphia Managing Director Adam Thiel said, according to PhillyBurbs.

Casualties and Ongoing Investigation

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed that one person sitting in a car was killed in the explosion. However, the number of additional injuries remains unclear.

“It will likely be days or more until we are able to definitively answer the question about the number of folks who perished in this tragedy and the outcome for those who are injured right now,” Thiel said. “I would certainly echo, please pray for all those affected otherwise.”

Air Traffic Control Audio Reveals Moment of Distress

Audio from air traffic control captured the moment the crew realized something was wrong.

“Medevac med service zero-five-six, Northeast Tower, are you on frequency?” a controller asked the pilots about four minutes after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport.

Another voice was heard about five minutes later, asking, “What’s going on down there?”

The operator then confirmed the plane was lost.

“We’re not exactly sure what happened, so we’re trying to figure it out,” the operator said. “For now, the field is going to be closed, so no inbounds or outbounds probably.”

Hospital Confirms Child Patient Was Returning to Mexico

Jet Rescue spokesman Shai Gold confirmed that the company was transporting the child patient from Philadelphia to Tijuana when the tragedy occurred. The child and her mother were returning to Mexico after receiving treatment at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia.

“Shriners Children is heartbroken to confirm that one of our pediatric patients and the child’s mother were aboard the Jet Rescue Air Ambulance that crashed in Philadelphia this evening,” the hospital said in a statement, per PhillyBurbs. “The patient had received care from Shriners Children’s Philadelphia and was being transported back to her home country in Mexico on a contracted air ambulance when the crash happened. Because of patient privacy concerns, we cannot say any more about the patient and her family at this time.”

As Blavity reported, Snoop Dogg has been facing immense criticism about accepting an invitation to perform at the pre-inauguration Crypto Ball, which resulted in him losing over 500,000 social media followers. Earlier this week, Hughley called out the rapper for […]

A 5-year-old boy in Michigan has died after being trapped in a hyperbaric chamber that exploded while he was receiving treatment at a clinic.

Police said they rushed to The Oxford Medical Center in Troy, Michigan, on Friday morning after receiving reports of an explosion and found the child dead inside the chamber. The boy’s mother sustained injuries to her arms as she was near the chamber, but no one else was hurt, CBS News reported.

How Do Hyperbaric Chambers Work?

Hyperbaric chambers serve various medical purposes, including treatments for limbs and tissues. The enclosed space provides pure oxygen to the body under high air pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“A hyperbaric chamber contains 100% oxygen, which is up to five times the amount of oxygen in a normal room,” Troy Fire Department Lt. Keith Young said, per CBS News. “The presence of such a high amount of oxygen in a pressurized environment can make it extremely combustible.”

Investigation Into the Explosion

It is not yet clear what the 5-year-old was being treated for before he died, and the cause of the explosion remains undetermined.

“We do not know why or how this happened and will participate in all of the investigations that now need to take place,” The Oxford Center said in a statement.

The medical center also expressed its condolences, saying it has been “an exceptionally difficult day for all of us.”

“As law enforcement officials have shared, at our location in Troy, Michigan, this morning, a fire started inside of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. The child being treated in that chamber did not survive, and the child’s mother was injured,” the center stated. “The safety and well-being of the children we serve is our highest priority. Nothing like this has happened in our more than 15 years of providing this type of therapy.”

Rapper YFN Lucci, who was sentenced to 20 years in 2024 after pleading guilty to one count of violating the Street Gang and Terrorism Prevention Act, has been released from prison. He was first arrested in 2021 and sentenced to the 20 years (10 in prison and 10 credited for time served).

The rapper, whose real name is Rayshawn Bennett, has been ordered to serve parole through January 2031 following his release, according to WSB-TV. As part of his parole conditions, YFN Lucci is banned from owning firearms and cannot leave the state without permission from his parole officer.

YFN Lucci’s Statement on His Release

“Today marks a pivotal moment in the life and career of hip-hop artist YFN Lucci, as the chart-topping musician is officially released from prison and placed on parole,” a press release from his team reads. “His return to freedom is a testament to his resilience, personal growth, and unwavering commitment to rebuilding his life while giving back to the community that has always supported him.”

YFN Lucci embraced his loved ones after being released from the Burruss Correctional Training Facility. According to the press release, the rapper is eager to return to the spotlight and continue his music career while also standing out as “a responsible, caring individual deeply passionate about his family and community.”

 “Rayshawn Bennett, widely known as YFN Lucci, was granted early release on parole and walked out of prison this morning to dozens of waiting friends and family,” his attorneys Drew Findling, Marissa Goldberg, Gabe Banks, and Pat Dixon said. “He is overjoyed to reunite with his children, his family, and his music. He will waste no time releasing new music and getting back on stage to perform for his fans.”

Lucci Reflects on His Time in Prison

At a celebratory event held at Atlanta’s The Vault inside The Bank Event Center with family and friends after his release, the rapper reflected on the lessons he learned during his time away.

“I’m incredibly grateful for my family and friends—who have stood by me the whole time,” Lucci said in a statement. “Now, it’s my turn to give back. I want to use my voice, my platform, and my music to inspire those who look up to me. I want to show people it’s never too late to make a change. For me, this time is about growth, redemption, and purpose. I’m excited—there’s so much more to come.”

What’s Next for YFN Lucci?

In addition to resuming his music career, Lucci plans to pursue acting as he begins the next chapter of his life.

“His story is a powerful reminder of the ability to overcome adversity and the importance of staying connected to one’s roots, no matter the challenges,” his representatives stated.

Girvan “Fly” Henry, CEO of Think It’s A Game Records, said: “We are beyond thrilled to welcome YFN Lucci back home. His release marks not only a personal victory but also a moment of triumph for his family, his fans, and the entire Think It’s A Game Records family. Throughout his time away, Lucci’s resilience and unwavering dedication to his craft have only grown stronger. We’ve always believed in him, and we continue to stand by him as he moves forward on his journey. Lucci’s return signifies the beginning of a new chapter—both in his career and in his life. We are excited to watch him continue to inspire, elevate, and create meaningful change through his music and his actions. The best is yet to come.”

President Donald Trump is facing widespread criticism for his response to Wednesday’s fatal crash at Reagan National Airport. During his White House briefing on Thursday, Trump blamed diversity hiring for the crash and took shots at the helicopter’s pilot. While authorities are still investigating the collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army helicopter, Trump also blamed President Joe Biden and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

What Did Trump Say About the Plane Crash?

As The Associated Press reported, Trump did not provide proof to support his claim, but he said Biden’s administration decided that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was “too white.”

“You have to go by psychological quality, and psychological quality is a very important element of it,” Trump said. “These are very powerful tests that we put to use, and they were terminated by Biden. And Biden went by a standard that seeks the exact opposite.”

As he continued to criticize diversity hiring, Trump said he “wants the brightest, the smartest, the sharpest” people working as air traffic controllers.

“We want somebody that’s psychologically superior,” he said. “And that’s what we’re going to have.”

Trump Doubles Down on Blaming DEI

When asked to explain why he blames DEI for the crash, Trump responded, “It’s common sense.”

“We want brilliant people doing this. This is a major chess game at the highest level,” he said. “When you have 60 planes coming in during a short period of time, and they’re all coming in different directions, and you’re dealing with very high-level computers, computer work, and very complex computers.”

Tax season is approaching, and many taxpayers are eager to track their funds. The IRS began accepting tax returns on Jan. 27, with many turning to the “Where’s My Refund?” tool through the IRS2Go mobile app for real-time updates about when they will receive their checks.

On the Jan. 30 episode of Dwyane Wade‘s podcast, The Why With Dwyane Wade, the NBA icon opened up about a cancer diagnosis that reframed his life and led to him losing 40% of his right kidney.

According to Today.com, Wade shared that he hadn’t maintained regular medical checkups since retiring from the NBA in 2019. When his father underwent surgery, he decided to check in on his own health. At the time, the former NBA point guard was experiencing stomach discomfort and a weaker urine stream — issues he assumed were minor.

Wade remembered asking the doctors, “Why is my p**s coming out slow? Why is my stream ain’t powerful? Why is it a little weak?”

Wade decided to schedule a full-body scan, which led to doctor’s discovering a tumor on his kidney.

“I didn’t go in for my kidneys,” he said. “But because I did the full-body scan, they saw something.”

Doctors could not biopsy the tumor, so Wade would have to go under the knife to determine the nature of the mass. Doctors performed that surgery on Dec. 18, 2023, during which 40% of Wade’s kidney was removed.

“Thank God that I did do the surgery, right?” Wade said of the life-saving procedure. “Because the tumor was cancerous.”

Wade also opened up about the recovery process, which he said was more physically and emotionally difficult than expected.

“I think it was the first time my family, my dad, my kids, they saw me weak,” the father of five said. “That moment was probably the weakest I’ve ever felt in my life.”

He continued, “One thing you never want to do as a man? You never want your family to see you weak.”

According to People, additional details about Wade’s current health have not been shared.

Duggins was an attorney for Civil Rights Corps. and a former Miss Kansas contestant, KWCH reported. She grew up in Wichita, KS, and represented the Miss Kansas Organization as Miss Butler County. Duggins was visiting family and was aboard the […]