The Utah judge in the murder case over Charlie Kirk‘s killing says he will rule Monday whether prosecutors could face sanctions for comments to the media about a bullet fragment recovered from the conservative activist’s body.

Lawyers for defendant Tyler Robinson have asked Judge Tony Graf to block the death penalty in the case, claiming the prosecutors’ comments could sway potential jurors regarding his guilt.

But criminal law expert Paul Cassell said it would be extraordinary for Graf to grant the defense request. Their concerns could be addressed in other ways, such as more closely questioning jurors to ensure they aren’t biased, the University of Utah law professor said.

“A standard defense attorney maneuver is to avoid talking about the guilt or innocence of your client. The theory is that as long as you’re talking about anything other than whether the defendant is guilty, you’re winning as a defense attorney,” Cassell said. “This seems to be an extreme example of that.”

Representatives of the Utah County Attorney’s Office said they were compelled to speak publicly about the case following speculation in some media outlets.

The speculation began after the defense team publicly disclosed that initial tests were inconclusive to determine whether the bullet was fired from the suspected murder weapon.

Conjecture over the evidence in Kirk’s killing has fueled unsubstantiated conspiracy theories that there might have been a second shooter, or that his death was staged. The case has attracted enormous media attention and concerns from both sides about misinformation tainting the potential jury pool.

Robinson has not yet entered a plea. Prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted.

The 23-year-old from southwestern Utah is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 killing of Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump who was shot in the neck while addressing a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University.

Judge Graf held a hearing last week over whether prosecutors should be held in contempt for their comments about the bullet.

Robinson’s attorneys accused prosecutors including Deputy Utah County Attorney Christopher Ballard of trying to influence potential jurors by going on a “media tour” to talk about ballistics evidence in the case.

Ballard argued at the June 12 hearing that he didn’t speak to the media about case specifics, and he only remarked generally about how ballistics testing can be inconclusive.

The defense team also pointed to another Utah criminal case in which prosecutors were accused of contempt and suggested that one potential remedy would be to bar the state from seeking the death penalty.

While the judge in that earlier case disagreed that an order barring the death penalty was merited, Robinson’s attorneys noted that “the court did not conclude that such a remedy was beyond its authority where the facts support it.”

A key hearing in Robinson’s case is scheduled for July 6-10, when prosecutors must show they have enough evidence to warrant a trial.

___

Brown reported from Denver and Boone from Boise, Idaho. Associated Press reporter Hannah Schoenbaum contributed from Salt Lake City.

The applicant said there could be a ‘degree of visual harm’ with the development

Nearly 50 new homes could be built in a town where there is an “overriding need” for houses. Mr and Mrs Meneeley and Radcliffes Land have proposed to build 49 new homes on land west of Buckworth Road in Alconbury Weston.

If approved, the homes would be built on a piece of agricultural land that joins the countryside village of Alconbury Weston. The applicant added that homes on this site would produce “genuine opportunities for journeys on food, by cycle and by public transport, in addition to private car use”.

The development would also meet the “overriding need” for housing as part of planning policies. The plans added: “The proposed development would introduce a moderate amount of built development onto undeveloped, open land, which would be visible from a number of public vantage points.”

The applicant acknowledged that there would be a “degree of visual harm to the landscape”, but they added it would “continue the existing residential development to ‘round off’ this part of the settlement”.

The plans have already gained some objections from nearby residents. One resident in Wheatsheaf Road said the development would “significantly harm” the village as it is “already struggling with the current traffic levels”.

They added: “It will introduce more vehicles and further strain. Buckworth Road is already hit on a regular basis by diverted traffic from the A14 causing significant noise and disruption to the village. Major construction would exacerbate this issue.”

Another person in West Close is also concerned about traffic. They said: “Alconbury Weston Buckworth Road is already struggling with current traffic levels and is hit regularly by diverted traffic from the A14 causing major noise and disruption which will only be exacerbated by major construction.

“Buckworth Road is not suitable for heavy construction traffic as the road is in poor condition and the current speed control humps have no effect on speeding vehicles.”

The same resident had additional concerns about noise and pollution. They added: “The eastern boundary to West Close will impact our privacy, light and also concern regarding pollution and noise from the construction activities. Noise pollution will also increase with the potential 49 buildings.”

Salah may have been a superstar at Liverpool. He is on an even higher plane in Egypt.

With every touch comes loud cheers from his country’s fans with huge pressure on his shoulders on every appearance.

Sunday’s goal was his 68th for his country in 118 appearances, leaving him just one shy of manager Hassan’s all-time goal scoring record, and some will say it’s his most important yet as Egypt finally ended a 92-year wait for a World Cup win.

Former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, told ITV: “If there was any doubt about Mo’s impact on this team, you can still see it.

“It will give them enormous belief. They had to deal with adversity and their big player stood up and that will give them big confidence. You need your big players to perform to progress.”

Former Jamaica winger Jobi McAnuff added: “Just when he was needed, Mo Salah stood up for his country.”

Salah has played for the senior national team for 14 years and his importance to Egypt is such that high-ranking government officials have been known to get involved when he has been injured.

“I even had calls from Egypt’s Minister of Health,” recalls Dr Mohamed Aboud, the national team’s medic, about the time Salah sustained a serious shoulder injury in Liverpool’s defeat by Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final, leading to speculation he could miss the World Cup in Russia a few weeks later.

But, despite helping Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2019-20 and 2024-25, the player has yet to lift a trophy for his country.

The generation before Salah won three Africa Cup of Nations titles in a row between 2006 and 2010. Since then, there have been two defeats in finals, against Cameroon in 2017 and Senegal in the 2021 edition, which took place in early 2022.

This World Cup win at least banishes one of Egypt’s ghosts.

Written off by pundits going into their match against Uruguay – Williams and Benni McCarthy on BBC One both predicted they would lose – Cape Verde refused to follow the script.

A gift led to the second goal which drew the scores level, but Helio Varela did well regardless to produce a deft touch to take the ball past the stranded Muslera before stroking it into the back of the net.

After that, Cape Verde showed the defensive strength that made the difference against Spain to be able to hold on to a point.

They made sure to combine it with their attacking threat, though, and continued to hunt for a way to snatch three points.

It was a performance which led former South Africa striker McCarthy to say he has a “new lease of respect” for Cape Verde, and ex-Wales defender Williams to claim it was the “most entertaining” game he has covered at the World Cup so far.

“They really came out to play,” said McCarthy. “They were sensational. I thought they were brave.

“The only thing that’s needed is working on their final-third entry, that composure, working on those decisions in the final moment of the game. I think they’ve won a lot of people’s hearts after this performance.”

One Cape Verde fan told BBC Sport at a fan park in the US that “everybody doubted us, everybody thought we weren’t going to make it. We’re here now”.

Such a reaction captures the feeling currently surrounding Cape Verde, who are fast becoming one of the best stories of this year’s World Cup.

CHICAGO (AP) — A spate of shootings in Chicago has led to at least seven deaths and 38 injuries since Friday evening, police say, prompting President Donald Trump to renew his call for a military intervention in the nation’s third-largest city.

“Why isn’t Governor Pritzker calling me for help. I could make Chicago a safe City in ONE MONTH, in ONE YEAR, it would be one of the safest!!!” Trump said in a Sunday morning Truth Social post.

The office of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender who has repeatedly rebuffed Trump’s calls for a military intervention, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Under Trump, National Guard troops have been deployed on crime-fighting missions in Democrat-led cities including New Orleans, Washington, D.C. and Memphis, Tennessee.

While Chicago Police Department data shows a slight uptick in shooting incidents compared to the first half of last year, violent crime rates have generally dropped in the city over the past few years, in parallel with national trends.

Preliminary information shared by Chicago police indicate there have been at least two dozen shooting incidents since 5 p.m. on Friday. Those killed by gunfire include a 21-year-old shot in the chest Sunday, an 18-year-old shot in the armpit Saturday evening and a 50-year-old shot in the chest Friday.

At least 12 people in a crowd on a Chicago street suffered gunshot wounds Friday evening after an SUV pulled up and two people inside started shooting, police said.

The eight men and four women in the group ranged in age from 17 to 47. They were being treated at four hospitals. Police said another man suffered unknown injuries and refused medical treatment.

That shooting happened on Juneteenth, a holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S. Earlier Friday, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama welcomed the first visitors to his presidential center on the South Side.

“What should have been a night of celebration and community reflection for Juneteenth was shattered by a horrific act of violence,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in an X post Saturday. “My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones.”

Other major U.S. cities experienced gun-related violence over the weekend. In Philadelphia, two people were killed and two others wounded following a shooting early Sunday morning, according to Fox-29. In Cincinnati, a shooting killed three people Saturday evening, WLWT reported. And police in Kansas City, Missouri say they are investigating a shooting Friday evening that left one dead and five wounded.

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Associated Press writer Jack Brook contributed from New Orleans.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

Oh, Maria Connor. The Coronation Street stalwart has been perennially unlucky in love, hasn’t she?

In her twenty six years on the cobbles, she’s had a run of terrible relationships, including three – if we’re counting the sham one – marriages. Her longest running love story, though, is with her current husband, bad boy with a big heart, Gary Windass (Mikey North).

Gary supported Maria and her son, Liam Connor (Charlie Wrenshall), as he suffered a brutal bullying ordeal, which almost pushed him to harming himself, as the family struggled to secure the necessary support to but an end to Liam’s torment.

While he’s got quite the chequered past – and he did kill a guy that time – Gary has proven time and time again to be a solid presence in Maria’s life, an unwavering pillar of support, loyal and trustworthy…

…although now, Maria’s convinced that she couldn’t trust him as far as she could throw him, and she believes he’s conducting an illicit affair with Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien).

‘She’s known for a few weeks that something is definitely not right between her and Gary,’ Samia Longchambon mused.

‘She’s been clocking these little sneaky conversations he’s been having with Sarah, and she’s put two and two together. She’s just convinced that they must be sleeping together.’

It’s true, Gary and Sarah have been acting particular strangely in the aftermath of Theo Silverton’s (James Cartwright) murder, with the two having some of the first to discover the beastly builders abuse of Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce).

With the Kit Green’s (Jacob Roberts) dinner party from Hell just around the corner and with Sarah and Gary on the guest list alongside Todd and Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby), Maria decides to go for the full public execution and, under the guise of making a toast, lays her accusations on the table.

How does Maria feel once she’s pulled the pin out of the grenade? ‘She’s relieved to finally just get it off her chest because it’s been building up for so long.

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‘She’s also incredibly angry at them both because she thinks they’ve been pulling the wool over her and Kit’s eyes.

‘But towards the end of the dinner party, you see that she’s just really hurt. Beneath it all, she’s actually a heartbroken woman who thinks she’s lost her man.’

From there, chaos ensues and the dinner party ends with broken glass everywhere and blood splattered across the dinner table.

‘She’s kind of lit the fuse… so she’s not shocked,’ Samia admitted.

‘This is exactly what she wanted. The moment Kit invited her to the dinner party, she thought ‘Right, brilliant. This is where I’m going to do it. This is where I’m going to confront both of them and let it all out.’

Is this the end of Garia? Mary? …we’ll stick with Gary and Maria!

‘I mean, it could be,’ Samia said, admitting that ‘It’s a lot to get through.’

‘If they can get through this, I feel like they can weather any storm. They’ve been through a lot of trials in their relationship already, but this is definitely the most challenging thing they’ve ever had to navigate.’

Behind the scenes, Samia enthused about the filming of the episode: ‘Oh, it was brilliant!

‘It was so good because Dom Stephenson, our director, let us have an organised read-through first. Then we blocked it out on set in our own clothes, not our character costumes. It almost felt like we were doing a play, like a little spinoff drama for that period of time.

‘It was a real luxury because we don’t usually get that much time to spend on scenes together before we actually film them.’

MORE: Kit stalks Sarah as he plots vindictive revenge in Coronation Street

MORE: Maria exposes Gary and Sarah ‘affair’ with colossal Coronation Street consequences

MORE: Todd seeks answers in Coronation Street as Theo’s murder is pinned on Gary

Extreme heat and dry, windy conditions fueled several wildfires in the West on Sunday, including an uncontained blaze in Utah that forced the evacuation of a small town southwest of Salt Lake City.

The Iron Fire in Utah’s Juab County was first detected Saturday and had blackened 34 square miles (87 square kilometers), authorities said. The fire about 70 miles (113 kilometers) southwest of Salt Lake City forced the evacuation of Eureka, population 1,000, and people at a nearby ranch.

No homes had been lost, and UTAH Fire Info, a multiagency operation, said in a post on X that firefighters conducted a successful backburn operation to protect the town.

Kelly Wickens, a fire prevention specialist with the Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands, warned that the fire was continuing to grow amid drought conditions. Wickens said the fire was human-caused and remains under investigation.

Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox visited the town Sunday.

“We knew that there was going to be extreme fire danger, and sure enough we had multiple fires,” Cox said.

The Iron Fire was one of six fires burning in Utah at varying levels of containment.

A wildfire prompted evacuations over the weekend near Sedona, Arizona, burning about 300 acres (120 hectares) of steep and rugged terrain near Oak Creek Canyon. As of Sunday afternoon, about 300 fire personnel were fighting the blaze, which remained uncontained. Residents evacuated earlier were still not being allowed to return home.

Much of the Western U.S. from the Rockies to the Pacific coast saw above-average temperatures this weekend with even hotter weather anticipated for early this week. Officials warned that the prolonged dry, hot weather and relatively low humidity increased the risk of fire danger.

Much of Utah is experiencing severe to extreme drought, while parts of Arizona and Colorado are experiencing severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. In Colorado, the southwest corner of the state was under a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service until Monday, due to gusty winds and low relative humidity.

Extreme heat claimed the lives of three hikers in two separate incidents last week in the Grand Canyon. Temperatures were expected to climb in the Southwest on Sunday, with a forecast of up to 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42.2 C) in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Meanwhile, the Florida Forest Service said fire crews from across the state had nearly contained several brush fires in western Miami-Dade County in Florida,

Callum Wilson, 29, of Duchy Road, Salford, was charged after an incident on Eastgrove Avenue, Bolton, on June 10.

Emergency services attended the scene on the day of the incident, and no one was injured.

Wilson is due in Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning, Monday, June 22.

A spokesperson for Bolton Police, via social media, said: “Callum Wilson, of Duchy Road, Salford, has been charged with arson following an incident at Eastgrove Avenue, Bolton, on June 10.

“He will appear at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning (22/6/26).

“Emergency services attended the scene, and thankfully, no one was injured.”

Speaking at the time of the incident, Detective Chief Inspector Mike Sharples added: “Thankfully, no one was injured; however, the consequences of this could have been very different.”