President Trump declared Wednesday night that Israel and Hamas have signed the first phase of a peace agreement ending the two-year Gaza conflict. Trump posted on Truth Social that “ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a great day for Israel.” (Story URL)

Federal prosecutors say 29-year-old Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht has been charged with arson for starting the Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and burned more than 23,000 acres in January. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Rinderknecht, a Palisades resident who later moved to Florida, used ChatGPT to help plan the fire and was arrested Tuesday in Orlando. (Story URL)

The last inmate who escaped from a New Orleans jail in May is back in custody. Police said 28-year-old Derrick Groves was arrested Wednesday in Atlanta after a brief standoff. Tips to Crimestoppers led them to a southwest Atlanta home, where Groves was found hiding in a crawl space. Atlanta Police used gas canisters and a canine team to locate him. No one was seriously hurt. (Story URL)

Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty Wednesday in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. The case, advanced by President Trump, includes one count of making a false statement and one count of obstruction tied to Comey’s 2020 Senate testimony. U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff set the trial for January 5th. (Story URL)

A Brown County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team found two missing 11-year-old children deep in the Hoosier National Forest on Sunday. Deputies said the children became separated from their mother near Sundance Lake around 5:48 p.m. Officials did not say how long the children were missing but credited teamwork for the successful outcome. (Story URL)