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genie lyrics Drones spotted across New Jersey have left residents puzzled and unsettled, with no official explanations offered as the mystery continues. Former CIA Operations Officer Laura Ballman weighed in on the strange sightings suggesting they could be part of a classified government exercise. Ballman, during an appearance on Fox News Live, described the drone activity as "extremely unsettling" and noted that recent statements from National Security spokesman John Kirby — affirming the drones are not operating illegally — suggest a US-government-related operation could be at play. "Deducing the statements from [National Security spokesman] John Kirby that these drones are not operating illegally, coupled with several op-eds that have been out there in the last 24 hours about the need to look at our detection systems, makes me think perhaps this is actually a classified exercise to test either evasion technology or detection technology in urban areas," Ballman was quoted as saying by the news website. Although she emphasized that she would be "shocked" if the CIA were directly involved, she expressed concern over the lack of transparency from the US government. Ballman said it is "troubling" that the reasons for these mysterious drone sightings remain undisclosed, leaving the public in the dark. The drone activity continues to raise questions as officials struggle to provide concrete answers, and residents demand clarity on what might lie behind the skies of New Jersey. Kirby had previously said the aircraft could be lawfully operated planes or helicopters mistaken for drones. "While there is no known malicious activity occurring, the reported sightings there do, however, highlight a gap in authorities," he told reporters Thursday, calling for Congress to pass new legislation to "extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities." Mysterious drone sightings spark federal investigation Dozens of mysterious nighttime drone flights have been reported over New Jersey and the East Coast, raising concerns among residents and officials. The sightings began in mid-November and have since expanded to include Maryland, Massachusetts, and other states, with some drones spotted near key locations such as the Picatinny Arsenal — a US military research and manufacturing facility — and over former President Donald Trump ’s golf course in Bedminster. Federal response New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has taken action by writing to President Joe Biden to demand answers about the sightings. Additionally, New Jersey's newly elected Senator Andy Kim joined the investigation. The FBI is leading the investigation alongside other federal agencies and is calling on residents to share any videos, photos, or information that might shed light on the origins of these drones. Dozens of witnesses have reported sightings across the state, with initial reports concentrated along the Raritan River. Joe Biden administration's position Although reports of the drones have sparked fear and speculation, the outgoing Biden administration has sought to downplay the public's concerns. Officials have stressed that most sightings involve manned aircraft rather than potential threats and have found no conclusive evidence of a national security risk. However, frustration is mounting among Democrats, over the perceived lack of transparency and urgency from the federal government in addressing these concerns. Trump’s comments fuel speculation Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the sightings , calling for transparency and immediate action. In a social media post last week, Trump questioned the government’s role , stating: “Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge? I don’t think so. Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down.” As investigations continue and the drone sightings expand, questions remain about their origins and purpose — whether they represent a national security issue, government testing, or something far more mysterious.While there was high drama in Alexandra Palace on the first day back after the Christmas break, where Damon Heta threw a nine-dart finish, Humphries enjoyed a serene evening. He beat Nick Kenny 4-0 to set up a mouth-watering fourth-round meeting with two-time champion Peter Wright. THE WORLD NUMBER ONE KICKS ON! Luke Humphries comfortably books his spot in the Last 16 with a 4-0 whitewash victory over Nick Kenny, averaging 98.59! 📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/XAADalXD4Q — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024 Kenny was unable to produce the form that saw him beat Raymond van Barneveld in the previous round and Humphries did not need to be anywhere near his best. “It was one of those games I didn’t want to take for granted,” he said. “I expected a tough game and I wasn’t firing, I felt there is so much more to give, I felt there was more to come out of me. “I didn’t want to give anyone an inch because they can take a mile. “I’m not going to give up this world title without a fight, I wasn’t at my best but when someone pushes me I know I can come up with the goods.” Earlier in the day Heta set the tournament alight on its resumption with a stunning nine-dart finish before bowing out. The Australian, seeded ninth, achieved darting perfection in the second set of his match with Luke Woodhouse to earn a cool £60,000 payday. However, his joy was short-lived as Woodhouse won a thrilling battle 4-3, having trailed 3-1. HEROIC HETA HITS THE NINE! 🔥 UNBELIEVABLE SCENES! 🤯 Damon Heta lands the second nine-darter of the tournament to raise the roof at Alexandra Palace! #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/DW6rhvFqez — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024 Heta was millimetres away from throwing a nine-darter in the previous round when he missed the double 12, but he made no mistake this time in the first match after the Christmas break. Heta’s feat was the second time a nine-darter has been thrown in the 2025 tournament and the 16th of all time at the World Championship, following Christian Kist’s effort before Christmas. As well as landing the Australian a hefty payday, it also saw a lucky fan in Ally Pally win a £60,000, with £60,000 also being donated to Prostate Cancer UK. There were several other titanic battles, none better than Gerwyn Price’s sudden-death leg victory over Joe Cullen. Price looked like he was going to have an easy night when he coasted into a 3-0 lead, but Cullen hit back to send it to a decider, which went all the way. Cullen landed a ‘Big Fish’ 170 checkout to send the tie to a sudden-death leg on his throw but Price hit some big numbers to steal victory. “That was tough, I just wanted to get over the winning line,” he said during his on-stage interview. PRICE WINS A THRILLER! That might just be the game of the tournament so far! 💥 Gerwyn Price manages to break the Rockstars throw in the final leg of the game, and beats Joe Cullen 4-3 and books his place in the Last 16! 📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/VnjnJxP0T0 — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024 “He kept coming back, the crowd were way behind him. “I thought I was going to lose, but I kept in there right to the end and got the win. “He played some good darts at the right times. I put myself in that position, I got myself out of it and I’m still in.” Seventh seed Jonny Clayton also battled to victory after squandering a 3-0 lead against Daryl Gurney. Gurney then had six darts to send the decider to a tiebreaker but lost his nerve and Clayton stole a 4-3 win. Stephen Bunting and Peter Wright, who was suffering from a chest infection, enjoyed much more safe passages with routine wins over Madars Razma and Jermaine Wattimena respectively.Agriculture & Natural Solutions Acquisition Corporation Receives FIRB Approval In Connection with Previously Announced Business Combination

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The Baltimore Children and Youth Fund paid for several individuals, including an assistant deputy mayor and a Baltimore City Public Schools employee, to go on a trip to Missouri in November, documents obtained by Spotlight on Maryland show. The fund, which is entirely supported by taxpayer dollars, was approved by voters in 2016. Baltimore City is required to give millions of dollars to BCYF every year with no sunset date. Unlike city agencies, the city auditor is not required to conduct biennial performance audits of the fund. BCYF operates as a nonprofit outside city government. Spotlight on Maryland previously reported the fund paid for 100 local activists to go on a trip to Alabama in February 2024 for its “Opening Plenary,” which CEO Alysia Lee called a “city-wide learning series to explore racial justice and liberatory practice in youth-centered organizations.” But new documents show BCYF continued dishing out money for travel in 2024, including for a November trip to St. Louis for the fund’s racial equity committee to attend the annual “Facing Race” conference. Members of the racial equity committee also sit on the BCYF board of directors, which is deeply tied to Baltimore City Hall. The fund’s website says two voting seats on its board must be occupied by a representative from the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success and a designee chosen by the City Council president. Noell Lugay, who serves as Mayor Brandon Scott’s interim assistant deputy mayor for equity, health and human services, is one of the city hall representatives who sits on the BCYF board. She earns a $137,917 annual salary in her role on Scott’s staff. BCYF paid her way to the St. Louis conference, prompting her to send an email to BCYF leaders expressing her excitement. “PACK ME UP NOW!” Lugay wrote to the BCYF board in September, an email obtained by Spotlight on Maryland through a public records request shows. A spokesperson for Scott did not return a request for comment from Spotlight on Maryland about Lugay’s trip to St. Louis on BCYF’s dime. Lugay declined to comment on the trip when reached by Spotlight on Maryland. She previously worked in the Office of School Supports at Baltimore City Public Schools. BCYF also paid for a current Baltimore City Public Schools employee, Chan’nel Williams, to go on the St. Louis trip. Williams makes $116,089 per year working for the city school system as a fine arts coordinator. Like Lugay, Williams sits on the BCYF board as well as the fund’s racial equity committee. The fund also allowed individuals who do not sit on the racial equity committee to go on the St. Louis trip, including Lee and her executive assistant. Jerel Wilson, who runs a local nonprofit, indicated in an email obtained by Spotlight on Maryland that he registered to have the fund pay for his travel to the conference. Wilson’s nonprofit, For My Kidz Inc., is a BCYF grantee. BCYF paid for travelers to stay at the Marriott St. Louis Grand and covered the cost of their airfare, meals, conference registration and $75 worth of ground transportation, according to an email from Lee reviewed by Spotlight on Maryland. A spokesperson for BCYF did not return a request for comment from Spotlight on Maryland about the trip and whether it was an appropriate use of taxpayer money. The purpose of BCYF is to provide grants to community-based organizations supporting Baltimore City youth. The architect of the fund, former Baltimore Mayor Jack Young, called on BCYF earlier this month to realign itself with his original vision instead of paying for adults to take trips. “Right now, [BCYF] is not anything that I envisioned,” Young told Spotlight on Maryland in a phone interview. “That fund was created so that community-based organizations could get funding for the programs they had for the youth. Not a junket for grownups.” The financial management of BCYF has also caught the attention of Baltimore Inspector General Isabel Cumming and Baltimore Comptroller Bill Henry, whose office says it is working to build “a stronger relationship with BCYF to understand their strategies and be a resource for fiscal prudence.” Three former BCYF employees told Spotlight on Maryland that the fund’s former vice president of finance warned BCYF leadership that the fund’s spending could “get [them] in trouble.” The former employees say the fund’s in-house finance team was dissolved shortly thereafter. Spotlight on Maryland is keeping the identities of the former employees confidential due to fear of retaliation in their current lines of work. BCYF did not address the matter when reached for comment. Spotlight on Maryland is a joint venture by FOX45 News and The Baltimore Sun. Got a story idea or news tip? Reach out to Julian Baron on X or via email at jtbaron@sbgtv.com .VVS among winners at Downtown Classic in Utica

AP News Summary at 4:49 p.m. EST

The results of the Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024 are set to be declared on Saturday, with Bagodar in Giridih district emerging as a key battleground. Known for its dynamic political contests, the constituency witnessed a voter turnout of 65.4% during polling on Wednesday, spread across 454 booths. The 2024 race in Bagodar features a mix of experienced contenders and new challengers. CPI(ML)'s Vinod Kumar Singh, the sitting MLA, is defending his seat against BJP’s Nagendra Mahto, who seeks to reclaim the constituency. Other candidates, including Md Salim of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha and Santosh Kumar of the Bahujan Samaj Party, add depth to the electoral fray. The campaign has been marked by sharp rhetoric, with BJP President Jagat Prasad Nadda accusing the JMM-led government of corruption, including allegations of a ₹5,000-crore mining scam and a ₹4,000-crore Jal Jeevan Mission scam. Nadda also criticised tribal land mismanagement, linking it to the exploitation of tribal communities. Advocating for a “double-engine government,” Nadda credited the BJP-led central government with enhancing development and raising millions out of poverty. Bagodar has a history of fierce electoral contests. In 2019, Vinod Kumar Singh of CPI(ML) secured a decisive victory over BJP’s Nagendra Mahto by 14,545 votes, garnering 98,201 votes to Mahto’s 83,656. However, the BJP had claimed the seat in 2014, with Mahto edging out Singh by 4,339 votes. The 2019 elections saw a voter turnout of 67.1%, with over 2.08 lakh votes cast from 3.11 lakh registered voters. Exit polls have added to the anticipation, with mixed predictions on the outcome. Some polls favour the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which includes allies like AJSU, JD(U), and LJP(RV), while others suggest a continuation of the JMM-led coalition's rule. The latter alliance, comprising JMM, Congress, RJD, and CPI(ML), is tipped to put up a strong fight.A top US official sought to quell growing concern Sunday over reported drone sightings in the country's northeast, reiterating there was no known security threat as authorities monitor the situation. President Joe Biden's administration has faced mounting criticism for not clearly identifying origins of the objects seen hovering over parts of New York and New Jersey. The criticism has come even from Biden's own party, with top Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer calling Sunday for action to make it easier for federal, state and local authorities to work together to detect and if need be "bring down" any drone seen to pose a threat. Video footage of mysterious airborne phenomena recently has clogged social media, with spottings also reported in Maryland and Virginia. "Some of those drone sightings are, in fact, drones. Some are manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" program. "But there's no question that drones are being sighted," he said, noting there are more than one million registered across the United States. "I want to assure the American public that we are on it," he said. "If we identify any foreign involvement or criminal activity, we will communicate with the American public accordingly. Right now, we are not aware of any." Even as Mayorkas sought to reassure the public, Boston police announced Sunday that two Massachusetts men had been arrested the previous night for allegedly conducting a "hazardous drone operation" near the city's Logan International Airport. State police were conducting a search for a third suspect, who authorities said fled the scene. Schumer, in a letter to Mayorkas Sunday, urged the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy special drone-detection technology across New York and New Jersey, since traditional radar struggles to detect such small objects. He also called for passage of legislation to explicitly authorize state and local law enforcement to work with federal agencies to detect and "bring down drones that threaten critical facilities or mass gatherings." Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, meanwhile expressed frustration at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over its communications around the issue. "The answer 'we don't know' is not a good enough answer," he told "Fox News Sunday." "When people are anxious... people will fill a vacuum with, you know, their fears and anxieties and conspiracy theories," he said, calling for the FAA to hold public briefings. White House national security spokesman John Kirby had previously said the aircraft could be lawfully operated planes or helicopters mistaken for drones. "While there is no known malicious activity occurring, the reported sightings there do, however, highlight a gap in authorities," he said Thursday, calling for Congress to pass new legislation to "extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities." New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Sunday that authorities had agreed to send a drone detection system to her state. "I am grateful for the support, but we need more. Congress must pass a law that will give us the power to deal directly with the drones," she said on X. On Friday, President-elect Donald Trump urged federal authorities to clearly identify the drones' origins. "Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!" he posted on social media. As the price of drones has fallen -- small quadcopter models with Wi-Fi camera capability can be purchased for as little as $40 -- their numbers and popularity have soared, making their presence in American skies a greater concern. acb/des/bbk/mlm