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His attorney says Emerson reached plea agreements with prosecutors to take responsibility for his actions and in hopes of avoiding further time behind bars. PORTLAND, Ore. — A former Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to cut the engines of a passenger flight in 2023 while riding off-duty in the cockpit has reached plea agreements with state and federal prosecutors, his attorney said Thursday. Attorney Noah Horst declined to discuss details of the agreements ahead of change-of-plea hearings his client, Joseph Emerson, faces Friday in state and federal court in Oregon. He said that Emerson reached the plea agreements because he wants to take responsibility for his actions and hopes to avoid further time behind bars. Emerson was subdued by the flight crew after trying to cut the engines of a Horizon Air flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco on Oct. 22, 2023, while he was riding in an extra seat in the cockpit. The plane was diverted to Portland, where it landed safely with more than 80 people on board. RELATED: Alaska Airlines passengers describe 'whistling sound' coming from door plug in updated lawsuit against airline, Boeing Emerson told police he was despondent over a friend’s recent death, had taken psychedelic mushrooms about two days earlier, and hadn’t slept in over 40 hours. He has said he believed he was dreaming at the time and that he was trying to wake himself up by grabbing two red handles that would have activated the plane’s fire suppression system and cut off fuel to its engines. He was charged in federal court with interfering with a flight crew. A state indictment in Oregon separately charged him with 83 counts of endangering another person and one count of endangering an aircraft. He previously pleaded not guilty to all the charges, but on Friday was expected to plead guilty to the federal charge and no-contest to the state charge, which carries the same legal effect as a guilty plea. Emerson was released from custody in December 2023 pending trial, with requirements that he undergo mental health services, stay off drugs and alcohol, and keep away from aircraft. In the meantime, he has founded a nonprofit focused on pilot mental health. The averted disaster renewed attention on cockpit safety and the mental fitness of those allowed in them. [embedded content] Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

Councilor Candace Avalos defended the trip, saying that social housing, which is prevalent in Vienna, may be the solution to housing affordability in Portland. PORTLAND, Oregon — This week, about 20 people, including three city councilors and their chiefs of staff, are heading on a taxpayer-funded work trip abroad to see how social housing works in Vienna, Austria.  Social housing, or public housing, is housing owned and operated by government or nonprofits rather than developers and property managers and where rents are set at an affordable rate. Sixty percent of Vienna's population lives in social housing.  "We're not planning the trip; we are joining a bunch of other civic leaders who want to learn more about Vienna's social housing program," Councilor Candace Avalos said Tuesday. "They are known worldwide for their social housing. This is an opportunity for us to see it in person and to experience the things that are hard when you read it on paper; it's one thing when you can see it and talk to the leaders and talk to the people that the residents that are experiencing it to just better understand how they implement it as local government."  Councilors Jamie Dunphy and Mitch Green are joining Avalos, along with their chiefs of staff and three people from the Portland Housing Bureau. There are also non-city employees going on the trip. Avalos said she did not know off the top of her head how much in taxpayer dollars is going towards the trip, and a spokesperson for her office said they can't speak to questions about the cost.  But why go so far away to learn strategies to bring back home?  "I've actually talked to a lot of leaders about this: that sometimes we just get really stuck in our ways because we don't open our minds to other opportunities," Avalos said.  As to people who don't see the trip as a good use of money, Avalos disagrees.  "At the end of the day, we have budgets, and we have discretion over them, and I use my budget as a way to enhance my work. I see this as doing exactly that," she said. "I'm not going on vacation. I'm going on a study trip to learn about a policy area that I think is important to Portlanders. I understand how that might feel and look for people. I stand by my justification that this is an opportunity for us to expand what we know and make sure to apply good best practices in Portland and that costs money sometimes."  This trip comes after councilors Avalos, Green and Dunphy presented a resolution back in March to study bringing social housing to Portland. That resolution, which also directs the city administrator to deliver a report on social housing by next May, passed unanimously in April.  In Portland, most housing is dependent on private developers. Because of that and rising costs to build, the price of rent fluctuates with the market. Avalos said she believes social housing could keep housing in Portland more affordable.  "This is the No. 1 thing we talk about, is the lack of affordability and the fact that we are seeing that in our unsheltered homeless population, so it feels urgent," she said.  The councilors and other city staffers leave soon for Vienna and will be gone for about a week.  They won't be the first people in the city of Portland who can draw on experience studying Vienna's social housing. The director of the Portland Housing Bureau spent two years in Vienna for this exact reason while she was working in her previous job at a housing policy organization. When councilors return, they are going to a local housing conference, where they will talk about what they learned in Vienna, as well as create a report based on what they learn.  "It's like class," Avalos said. "We're going to be learning, hearing from a bunch of different presenters all day, going to visit some sites, but a lot of it is going to be them bringing leaders to us to teach us these different concepts."

More hiking trails in the Umpqua National Forest are being closed as the Emigrant Fire surpasses 30,000 acres. OAKRIDGE, Ore. — Officials have closed more hiking trails and forest roads as the Emigrant Fire grows past 30,000 acres with no containment. The wildfire is burning about 20 miles southeast of Oakridge. The fire, sparked by lightning, was first reported Aug. 24 and has continued spreading through remote terrain about three miles southwest of Indigo Springs Campground. The Willamette National Forest announced multiple closures ahead of Labor Day weekend to protect public and firefighter safety. Although the fire has not reached the Umpqua National Forest, officials there ordered additional closures Thursday, citing similar safety concerns. Campgrounds around Lemolo Lake, Lower Lemolo Falls Trail #1468, Toketee Lake Campground, Toketee Falls Trail and NFSR 3401 or the road to Umpqua Hot Springs are to remain open. The Umpqua closures will remain in effect until Nov. 4 unless lifted earlier. Umpqua National Forest closures HIKING TRAILS: Upper Lemolo Falls Trail #1476 and TrailheadSkipper Lakes TrailheadCinder Prairie TrailheadBulldog Rock TrailheadLemolo #2 Forebay Forest Camp CampgroundLemolo Lake Dam Trailhead FOREST ROADS: National Forest Service Road (NFSR) 4775 (Medicine Creek)NFSR 3402 (Thorn Mountain Road)NFSR 2154 (Timpanogas Road)NFSR 2610 (Lemolo Lake/Birds Point Road) Willamette National Forest closures CAMPGROUNDS & RECREATION SITES:  Sacandaga CampgroundIndigo Springs CampgroundTimpanogos CampgroundTimpanogas Lake ShelterMiddle Fork TrailheadChuckle Springs TrailheadYoungs Rock TrailheadMiddle Fork Trail #3609Timpanogas LakeOpal Lake HIKING TRAIL:  A portion of the Middle Fork Trail #3609 FOREST ROADS:  Forest Service Road (FSR) 21 (Rigdon Road)FSR 2134 (Staley Ridge Road)FSR 2136 (Staley Creek)FSR 2137FSR 2143FSR 2144FSR 2153 (Big Swamp Road)FSR 2154 (Timpanogas Road)FSR 6000700 (Warm Springs Butte) and any associated spurs off these roads.

Governor cites new report projecting $2.2B in losses, steep grocery price hikes if tariffs fully implemented. OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington Governor Bob Ferguson issued a stark warning about the potential economic devastation President Trump's proposed tariffs could bring to the state, citing a new nonpartisan analysis that projects massive job losses and significant price increases for families across the region. The first statewide report on tariff impacts shows Washington could lose up to 31,900 jobs if Trump's full tariff package is implemented through 2029, with $2.2 billion in lost revenues projected for the state over the next four years. The steepest job losses would occur in crop production, food, beverage and tobacco manufacturing, and aircraft manufacturing sectors. RELATED: Trump administration asks Supreme Court to quickly take up tariffs case after appeals court loss “If the full tariffs are in effect through 2029, we expect up to a 16% increase for groceries over the next two years,” Ferguson said during a press conference. He added that clothing and shoe costs could rise 7% under the proposal. The governor referred to Trump’s package of import duties, unveiled in April and branded by the former president as “Liberation Day” tariffs. Ferguson said state officials will use the findings to shape policy decisions and prepare communities most vulnerable to trade disruptions. Local business owners say they are already experiencing the effects of trade uncertainties. Efrem Fesaha, owner of Boon Boona Coffee, described the constant tension tariffs create for his business. “Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world,” Fesaha said. “We’ve got invoices to show we’ve been paying the additional minimum 10% on our coffee. There is uncertainty around what percentage you’re going to be paying. How do you price your product so that you’re not losing such a huge amount?” RELATED: Imports plunge at Seattle, Tacoma ports as tariffs take toll Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh criticized the governor's announcement in a statement, calling it "a desperate attempt to distract attention away from his budget and policy failures." Ferguson dismissed the criticism, emphasizing the need for reality-based leadership. "It is easy to put out a press release and a statement I get that, that's what he does. But look, as a Governor and as leaders in our communities, we need to engage in reality, and reality is what these numbers say."

The blaze destroyed the church and injured one firefighter. Investigators later tied O’Dell to credit card purchases of gasoline and lighters. SEATTLE — A Texas woman who set fire to a Snohomish County church in 2023, causing more than $3.2 million in damage, was sentenced Thursday in federal court to six years in prison. U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead handed down the sentence to Natasha Marie O’Dell, 38, of Temple, Texas, who pleaded guilty in April to arson, damage to religious property and obstructing persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs. “This offense was devastating and dangerous,” Whitehead said at sentencing. “You burned down the spiritual home of a congregation. The wounds you have inflicted deepen for each day they are away from their home.” Prosecutors said O’Dell traveled to western Washington in August 2023 to visit relatives in Woodinville and deliberately set fire to the Seattle Laestadian Lutheran Church in Maltby. Video surveillance captured her pouring gasoline on the building’s exterior and using a lighter to spark the flames. The blaze destroyed the church and injured one firefighter. Investigators later tied O’Dell to credit card purchases of gasoline and lighters, as well as an Uber ride to the church. “Ms. O’Dell acted with extreme disregard for community safety,” Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller said. “This conduct put anyone inside the church, the neighbors around the church, and the firefighters who responded in extreme danger.” The fire forced the congregation to rent space at a nearby middle school for services. The judge will determine restitution at a later hearing. The case was investigated by the Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg.

A Thurston County commissioner says federal agents put politics over public safety. THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — The immigration arrests of two firefighters working a wildfire in Mason County have prompted a Thurston County commissioner to propose an ordinance limiting the authority of federal agents during emergency responses. “We don’t—we don’t like cops coming onto our fires,” said Commissioner Wayne Fournier, an Aberdeen firefighter. “You’ve got to let us do our job. That’s it.” Last week, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested two firefighters on the Bear Gulch Fire, burning near Lake Cushman. The fire began in early July and is 10% contained, according to fire information officers. Fournier called the arrests unacceptable, adding, “Emergency scenes are already hazardous. Jurisdictional overreach only adds confusion, causes delays, and increases risk to life and property.” Under his proposal, federal agents would be required to “refrain from disrupting emergency operations or interfering with personnel unless there is an immediate and articulable threat to public safety.” The proposed law would also require federal authorities to obtain warrants and coordinate any enforcement actions with incident commanders, preferably after emergencies are resolved. “This is not a partisan issue,” Fournier said. “Emergencies should not, you know, they should not be part of any partisan discussion. People’s lives, people’s property, need to be put first.” One of the detained firefighters, Jose Cruz Estrada, was previously deported following a 2013 drug charge but had stayed out of trouble since returning to the United States in 2019, according to his family. Fournier emphasized the importance of allowing emergency responders to focus on their duties without interference. The commissioner encouraged other counties to consider similar protective measures for emergency operations.

Biden received Mohs surgery, a procedure used to cut away skin until no evidence of cancer remains. WASHINGTON — Joe Biden recently underwent surgery to remove skin cancer lesions, a spokesperson said Thursday, the latest health challenge for the former president. His spokesperson Kelly Scully confirmed the surgery after Inside Edition published video of Biden leaving church in Delaware with a fresh scar on his forehead. She said Biden received Mohs surgery, a procedure used to cut away skin until no evidence of cancer remains. Two years ago, while Biden was in office, he had a lesion removed from his chest. The lesion was basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. In March, Biden’s office announced that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. “Cancer touches us all,” Biden wrote on social media at the time. “Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places.” The Biden family has faced cancer repeatedly over the years. Biden’s son Beau died of a brain tumor, and his wife, Jill, had two cancerous lesions removed. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

Alongside episodes, Sesame Workshop will lead seminars teaching YouTube creators how to make entertaining, research-based educational content. WASHINGTON — “Sesame Street” is about to have its biggest digital home yet.  YouTube announced Thursday that it has signed an expanded partnership with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the iconic children’s show, to host the largest digital library of “Sesame Street” episodes beginning in January 2026.  Hundreds of classic episodes will be available on the platform, alongside new content created specifically for YouTube.  “In the past year, Sesame Street’s YouTube channels garnered more than 5B views, a 130% increase year over year,” YouTube said. More than half of watch time already comes from connected TVs. Sesame Workshop said in a statement that the move will help “children everywhere grow smarter, stronger and kinder, one episode at a time.” The partnership also includes a unique educational component. Sesame Workshop will lead seminars with YouTube creators, sharing best practices for making content that is entertaining while also promoting learning, drawing on its 50-plus years of research-driven children’s media. The expansion comes after a difficult year for “Sesame Street’s” distribution. The show lost its HBO output deal last December, with Netflix stepping in to acquire rights to new episodes and PBS continuing to air them. Netflix also has access to around 90 hours of episodes for its library. Season 56 is set to debut on both platforms in November.  “This partnership is another example of how we’re bringing everything families want to watch together in one place,” YouTube added, citing other children’s creators and programming on the platform like Ms. Rachel, Doggyland and Gabby’s Dollhouse.

The fast-fashion retailer confirmed the image was provided by a third-party vendor and was removed immediately upon discovery. Fast-fashion retailer Shein has removed a product listing and launched an investigation after an image resembling Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appeared on the company's website modeling a men's shirt. The image showed a figure bearing a striking resemblance to Mangione wearing a short-sleeved floral print button-down shirt. The BBC reported that facial recognition technology showed a 99.9% match between the listing image and known photos of Mangione. The product, described as a "Men's New Spring/Summer Short Sleeve Blue Ditsy Floral White Shirt," was priced at $11.69 and had reportedly sold out in multiple sizes before being removed, according to archived screenshots. Shein confirmed the image was provided by a third-party vendor and was removed immediately upon discovery. "We have stringent standards for all listings on our platform. We are conducting a thorough investigation, strengthening our monitoring processes, and will take appropriate action against the vendor in line with our policies," a Shein spokesperson said. The listing appears to have surfaced this week and was widely noticed by online users before its removal. Shein’s website appears to use Luigi Mangione’s face to model a spring/summer shirt. pic.twitter.com/UPXW8fEPPq— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 3, 2025 Mangione, 26, is accused of fatally shooting Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel in December. He is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and faces murder charges in New York, along with federal charges. The incident highlights growing concerns about the use of AI-generated content in e-commerce. It's unclear how long the listing had been active on Shein's platform before being discovered. Shein operates on a marketplace model where third-party vendors can list products through the platform. The company has not disclosed details about which vendor was responsible for the listing or what specific actions will be taken.

Tallahassee police released bodycam footage showing a man in a Chuck E. Cheese costume being arrested mid-shift on credit card fraud charges. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Newly released police body camera footage captures the surreal moment officers arrested a man wearing a full Chuck E. Cheese mascot costume — complete with oversized gloves and red cartoon shoes — inside a busy Florida restaurant. The video, recorded July 23 and released by the Tallahassee Police Department, shows officers walking up to the mascot as he posed for photos with customers. Children can be heard in the background as police confront the costumed suspect, later identified as 41-year-old Jermel Jones, and place him in handcuffs. “Don’t resist,” an officer says. “Let your hands go.” The footage shows police removing the character’s giant mouse head and setting it on top of a patrol car before leading Jones away. He was still wearing the Chuck E. gloves when he was cuffed. Police say Jones, an employee at the Sharer Road Chuck E. Cheese location, was wanted on multiple felony charges, including credit card theft and fraudulent use of personal identification. Investigators say a customer traced unauthorized charges to Jones after attending a birthday party in June and provided video evidence and receipts to police. Officers recovered the stolen card and a matching receipt from Jones’ pocket during the arrest. The viral video sparked questions online, with some users criticizing the optics of the arrest happening in front of children. Others noted the arrest was handled professionally, despite the unusual visual of an iconic children's character being led away in handcuffs. The arrest and charges stem from an affidavit filed by the Tallahassee Police Department. Jones remains in custody and is facing prosecution.