Nova Newsletter
October 10, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,728 words for you today - 9 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Four Found Dead in San Francisco Home
San Francisco police found four people dead Wednesday in a Monterey Boulevard home. | Source:Jon Steinberg/The Standard
San Francisco police are investigating after four people, including two children, were found dead Wednesday inside a Westwood Highlands home on Monterey Boulevard.
Takeaways:
Officers and firefighters responded to a 1:25 p.m. call for medical aid.
All four victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say it appears to be an isolated incident with no threat to the public.
The SFPD Homicide Detail is leading the investigation.
Neighbors identified the family as Thomas “T.R.” Ocheltree, Paula Truong, and their two daughters. The couple once owned a local deli and Oakland coffee shops before losing the home to foreclosure in 2024.
Police have not yet confirmed the cause of death or declared the case a homicide. Read More
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2. ICE Sued after Pastor Shot with ‘Chemical Pellets’ at Protest
The ACLU of Illinois filed a lawsuit accusing ICE agents of using violent force on peaceful protesters outside a Broadview, Illinois facility.
Takeaways:
Rev. David Black, a Chicago pastor, says he was shot seven times with chemical pellets.
Videos show agents pepper-spraying and striking protesters without warning.
The ACLU alleges ICE escalated violence and suppressed free speech.
The incident occurred during a demonstration last month.
Black, who posted footage online, said agents “slammed peaceful protesters into fences” and assaulted him as he stood incapacitated. The ACLU’s lawsuit cites “intentional and escalating violence” by federal officers deployed under the Trump administration.
The case could intensify scrutiny of federal tactics at immigration protests nationwide. Read More
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3. Texas Court Halts Execution in Shaken Baby Case
Death row inmate Robert Roberson is photographed through plexiglass at TDCJ Polunsky Unit in Livingston on Dec. 19, 2023. Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Innocence Project
Texas’ top criminal court has paused the Oct. 16 execution of death row inmate Robert Roberson, sending his 2003 capital murder case back to trial court for review.
Takeaways
Roberson was convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki, in a case tied to shaken baby syndrome.
The Court of Criminal Appeals granted a stay under Texas’ 2013 “junk science” law.
His attorneys say new medical evidence shows Nikki died of natural causes, not abuse.
The law has never before led to a new trial for a death row inmate.
Roberson’s lawyers argue the science behind shaken baby syndrome has been discredited, citing new expert findings that Nikki’s death stemmed from pneumonia and medication complications.
The ruling marks a rare application of the junk science statute, signaling a shift in how courts weigh outdated forensic evidence.
The case returns to Anderson County, where a judge will decide whether Roberson deserves a new trial. Read More
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Quick Headlines
A chicken salad, flatbread and an apple served at Bathgate Elementary School in Mission Viejo, Calif., in 2019.Philip Cheung / The Washington Post via Getty Images file
California became the first state to ban “ultraprocessed foods of concern” from public school meals under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The policy gives schools until 2035 to fully eliminate these foods, aiming to improve children’s health and nutrition. Read More
In his first major document, Pope Leo XIV denounced global economic injustice and urged Catholics to confront poverty and support migrants. The American pope called economic inequality a “dictatorship” and warned against indifference toward the poor. Read More
President Donald Trump said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson should be jailed for opposing his plan to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago. Both officials rejected Trump’s comments, calling them authoritarian and politically motivated, as they continue to fight his immigration and crime crackdown in court. Read More
President Donald Trump has been nominated again for the Nobel Peace Prize, but experts say his chances of winning remain slim. Analysts note that while Trump has promoted his diplomatic achievements, including the Abraham Accords and a proposed Gaza peace plan, the Nobel Committee typically favors long-term, multilateral efforts that promote global cooperation and stability. Read More
Joan Bennett Kennedy, the first wife of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and a longtime figure in the storied Kennedy family, has died at age 89. A classically trained pianist and mother of three, she faced public struggles with alcoholism and mental health while enduring decades of personal and family tragedy. Her son, former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, praised her as a loving mother and an inspiration for her honesty and resilience. Read More
Two Pennsylvania state troopers were critically injured after being shot while responding to a retail theft at a Dick’s Sporting Goods in Franklin County. Police said the male suspect opened fire after a chase and was fatally shot when troopers returned fire. Two female suspects were arrested, and Gov. Josh Shapiro urged prayers for the wounded officers, calling them heroes who “run toward danger every day.”. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Israel and Hamas Sign First Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Deal
Celebrations broke out in Tel Aviv and Khan Younis, Gaza, on Oct. 9 after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire deal. (Image: The Washington Post)
Israel and Hamas Sign First Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Deal
Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first stage of a ceasefire deal that pauses the war in Gaza, sets the stage for hostage and prisoner exchanges, and opens a narrow path toward broader peace talks.
Takeaways
The deal was signed Thursday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, after weeks of U.S.-brokered mediation.
Hamas will release all remaining hostages within 72 hours of Israel’s initial troop pullback.
Israel will free 250 Palestinians serving life terms and 1,700 detainees from Gaza.
The truce halts fighting but leaves disarmament and troop withdrawal unresolved.
Humanitarian aid is expected to surge into Gaza once the ceasefire begins.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that forces will initially pull back while retaining control of 53 percent of Gaza. The truce is set to begin within 24 hours of Israel’s cabinet approval.
Roughly 20 hostages are believed to remain alive in Gaza. Under the U.S.-devised framework, they are expected to be freed Monday, marking a pivotal test for both sides after a year of conflict.
Hamas has demanded U.S. assurances that Israel will not resume bombing once the hostages are released. It remains unclear whether the agreement includes any binding guarantees beyond verbal commitments.
The deal omits key final-status issues, including Hamas’s disarmament, Israeli troop withdrawal, and the potential deployment of international peacekeepers. Analysts warn those sticking points could reignite tensions if left unresolved.
For now, the ceasefire represents a fragile but historic pause in one of the region’s most entrenched conflicts. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Dolly Parton Reassures Fans after Health Scare Rumors
Dolly Parton at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 28 in Nashville. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Dolly Parton told fans she’s “not dead yet” after her sister Freida’s emotional Facebook post sparked online concern about her health. The 79-year-old country legend said she’s recovering and taking care of long-delayed medical issues.
Takeaways:
Freida Parton’s post about praying for Dolly led fans to fear the worst.
Dolly posted a video Wednesday, saying she’s “working hard” and “doing OK.”
She’s recovering from health procedures and canceled shows to rest.
The singer joked about fake AI videos claiming she’d died.
Parton said her recent health issues stemmed from neglecting her own care while mourning her husband’s death in March. She emphasized that she’s listening to doctors and “not done working yet.”
Her postponed Las Vegas shows are rescheduled for September 2026 as she focuses on recovery. Read More
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6. Disneyland Visitor Dies after Haunted Mansion Ride
A woman in her 60s suffered a fatal medical emergency Monday while riding Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion in Anaheim. She was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital that evening.
Takeaways:
Anaheim police said the woman was found unresponsive around 6:30 p.m.
Disneyland security performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
The ride resumed operations shortly after and showed no mechanical issues.
The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner is investigating the cause of death.
Officials described the incident as a “tragic medical episode.” Experts note such deaths are extremely rare at major theme parks, which undergo strict safety inspections.
Industry analyst Dennis Speigel said rides like Haunted Mansion are typically among the safest, calling the event “highly unusual.”
Theme park safety remains tightly regulated in California, with frequent state and internal inspections. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history
Chicago in Flames, lithograph by Currier & Ives.
On This Day – October 10
Great Chicago Fire Extinguished, 1871 – After three days of destruction, the Great Chicago Fire was finally put out, leaving about 300 dead, 100,000 homeless, and causing an estimated $222 million in damage.
Vice President Agnew Resigns, 1973 – U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew stepped down after pleading no contest to tax fraud charges, marking one of the most dramatic political resignations in American history.
Discovery Returns from Space, 1990 – NASA’s 67th manned space mission, STS-41 aboard the Discovery, safely returned to Earth after successfully deploying the Ulysses solar probe to study the sun’s polar regions.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
🥚🪴 Eggshell Water for Plants
Don’t toss those eggshells! Soak them in water overnight, then use the calcium-rich water to feed your houseplants. The nutrients help strengthen stems and promote healthy growth. It’s an easy, natural fertilizer your plants will love.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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