Brett Hankison, a former Kentucky police officer, was sentenced on 2024-MM-DD to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights by using excessive force during a raid on her home that resulted in her death on 2020-MM-DD. A federal jury found him guilty in November 2024. This sentencing contrasts sharply with a one-day sentence requested by the Trump administration, a position the Biden administration did not support. Hankison is the only officer directly charged and convicted in connection with the raid. Another former officer, Kelly Goodlett, pleaded guilty to falsifying the affidavit used to obtain the search warrant and will be sentenced next year.

Breonna Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, expressed mixed feelings, praising the judge's decision but criticizing federal prosecutors for seeking a lesser sentence. Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, stated he was "grateful for the small piece of justice." The raid, which involved a "no-knock" warrant, led to the shooting of Taylor by officers who fired 32 bullets into her apartment after Walker fired a shot, believing them to be intruders. Hankison fired ten shots, none of which hit Taylor, but did enter a neighboring apartment.

The differing sentencing recommendations highlight the contrasting approaches of the Biden and Trump administrations to police accountability. The Trump administration's recommendation, signed by Trump's appointee Harmeet Dhillon, sparked outrage from Taylor's family and others. This case, along with the dismissals of lawsuits against police departments and changes in the Justice Department under Trump, indicate a shift in the federal government's approach to police misconduct investigations and accountability.

Impact Statement: The sentencing, and the contrasting positions of the Biden and Trump administrations, underscore ongoing debates about police brutality, racial justice, and accountability within law enforcement.

Officer Brett Hankison was sentenced on Monday, 2025-07-29, to 33 months in prison by US District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings in Louisville, Kentucky, for violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights during a 2020 raid. This sentence follows a November 2024 federal jury conviction for excessive force. The Justice Department, under political appointees Harmeet Dhillon and Robert Keenan, had recommended a one-day sentence, a decision that sparked outrage from Taylor's family and criticism due to its contrast with a pre-sentencing report recommending 135-168 months. The judge rejected the department's recommendation, stating that no prison time was inappropriate given the circumstances.

Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician, was fatally shot in her apartment during the raid on March 13, 2020, after police executed a no-knock warrant based on faulty evidence. Hankison fired 10 shots into her apartment, though he did not directly cause her death. The incident, alongside the death of George Floyd, fueled widespread racial justice protests across the US.

The sentencing represents a significant development in the ongoing legal battle surrounding Taylor's death and highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding police accountability and prosecutorial decisions within the context of political influence. Four individuals were arrested outside the courthouse following the sentencing for disruptive behavior.

Impact Statement: The sentence, while rejecting the DOJ's lenient recommendation, is likely to further fuel the debate surrounding police brutality, racial justice, and the influence of political appointees on judicial processes.

Two British men died at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel and music venue in separate incidents earlier this month and on Monday, July 24, 2023. Gary Kelly (19) died after a fall from a balcony; his death is being treated as accidental by Spanish authorities. Evan Thomson (26) died on July 7th, 2023, while on holiday. Following these incidents, Ibiza Rocks cancelled its scheduled events, stating that the safety and wellbeing of its guests is its highest priority. The venue is working with relevant authorities and will contact affected customers.

Ibiza Rocks, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is a well-known venue hosting various artists and events, including Craig David and upcoming performances by Dizzee Rascal and Rudimental. Tributes have been paid to both Mr. Kelly, a Dundee Stars ice hockey player, and Mr. Thomson.

Impact Statement: The cancellations will significantly impact Ibiza Rocks' 20th-anniversary celebrations and cause disruption for affected customers. The incidents raise concerns about safety protocols at the venue.

A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Dhaka's Uttara neighborhood on Monday, 2024-MM-DD, at 1:06 pm local time (0706 GMT). The crash resulted in at least 27 deaths, with 25 children and one pilot among the victims. More than 170 people sustained injuries, at least 100 requiring hospitalization. The Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff.

Interim leader Muhammad Yunus stated that confirmed bodies would be released to families, while unidentified remains would undergo DNA testing for identification. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. The incident is Bangladesh's deadliest aviation disaster in over 40 years, surpassing the 1984 Chattogram-Dhaka crash that killed 49.

Impact Statement: The crash has caused significant loss of life and widespread injury, prompting a government investigation and raising concerns about aviation safety in Bangladesh.