Local News
Non Credible Bomb Threats to Polling Locations Originate From Russian Email Domains
Georgia state officials reported that five polling stations in the state received bomb threats, leading to temporary evacuations at two locations.
The threats, traced back to Russia, prompted evacuations at Etris Community Center and Gullatt Elementary School in Union City, Fulton County, with closures lasting about 30 minutes each.
Three other targeted sites remained open despite the threats.
The Fulton County Police Department issued a statement confirming that no active threats were discovered and assured voters of their continued safety measures.
“Voters will see officers at all 177 polling places today,” the statement read, emphasizing that safety is the highest priority.
To ensure fair access, the Fulton County Department of Registration & Elections is seeking a court order to extend voting hours at the evacuated locations for the same amount of time they were closed.
At a press conference, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger confirmed the threats’ origins as Russian, which he said underscores foreign efforts to disrupt U.S. elections.
“They don’t want us to have a smooth, fair, and accurate election,” Raffensperger remarked. He expressed that these interference tactics aim to sow division within the U.S., and he highlighted the importance of national resilience against such threats.
Russia has denied involvement in U.S. election interference, though other nations, including Georgia and Moldova, have similarly accused Russia of attempting to influence their own democratic processes.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coroner’s Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguez’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.