News briefs

Tribune News Service on Oct 21, 2026

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GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick calls for investigation into Elon Musk’s reported actions in Ukraine

PHILADELPHIA — Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick said he would be willing to put Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, under federal oath to investigate potential violations of law related to national security in Ukraine.

“We got to call the witnesses, to to bring them in, put them under oath, and get to the bottom of it because this is a very, very serious matter. It cannot be glossed over,” Fitzpatrick told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Tuesday night.

The comments from Fitzpatrick, who was stationed in Ukraine as an FBI agent in 2015, came after The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk directed the slowdown of a national security tool being used by Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink, connects with Ukrainian hardware to power drones that can intercept attacks. But the tech billionaire reportedly capped the speeds connecting the hardware to the satellite-based network, rendering the drones “virtually useless,” according to The Journal.

—The Philadelphia Inquirer

NYC expands red light cameras to 600 intersections, meeting goal

NEW YORK — The city has deployed red light cameras to 600 intersections citywide, the maximum number allowed under state law, the Mamdani administration is expected to announce Wednesday.

“Safer streets aren’t a guessing game — we know the tools proven to keep New Yorkers safe,” the mayor said in a statement. “Red light cameras help us get home safely by holding dangerous drivers accountable and preventing crashes before they happen. With all 600 intersections up and running, we are stopping dangerous behavior before tragedy can strike and making our streets safer for everyone who walks, bikes, drives or takes the bus.”

As previously reported by the Daily News, Albany lawmakers set the maximum number of automated red light enforcement cameras the city can operate at any given time. The cameras automatically issue a $50 ticket to the registered owner of any vehicle caught running a red light.

In 2024, state lawmakers authorized the city to put red light cameras at 600 intersections — up from the prior cap of 150. There are roughly 13,700 intersections with traffic signals citywide.

—New York Daily News

Transgender mailers confuse, stun Texans ahead of Election Day

DALLAS — A pamphlet marketed to transgender children landed in Texas mailboxes this week, igniting a firestorm as early voting opened.

The mailers purport to help transgender children and include information from the Transgender Education Network of Texas, a state advocacy organization. But the group said it did not print or distribute the mailers and knows nothing about them.

Two weeks before Election Day, the mailers unleashed a torrent of confusion and speculation on social media as voters decide several competitive statewide races, including the contest for U.S. Senate between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico.

Transgender rights have long mobilized Texas Republicans, and the party has sought to make the issue central throughout this election.

—The Dallas Morning News

Israelis abroad fly home to vote, posing threat to Netanyahu

In 15 years abroad, Lital Lee Doron has returned to Israel to vote only once. This week, she’s flying home in the hope of ousting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The October 2023 Hamas attack and the attempts by Netanyahu’s government to overhaul the judiciary have both served as a wake-up call, according to the 35-year-old tech sales professional, who plans to vote for the opposition.

“People think election results only affect those living in Israel, but they impact Israelis abroad just as much,” Doron said by phone from Barcelona Airport, on her way to Tel Aviv. “We went from an admired nation to an ostracized state.”

Doron is among thousands of Israelis expected to return for the Oct. 27 election, widely considered the country’s most consequential in decades. Many of the returnees are, like her, planning to support the opposition — led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. That includes professionals who left amid disillusionment with government policies and others who have experienced hostility toward Israel in other countries.

—Bloomberg News