Newswatch

6 Killed in Lower Manhattan Helicopter Crash

All six people aboard a tourist helicopter, including three children, were killed when it crashed into the Hudson River near Lower Manhattan late Thursday afternoon.

The helicopter, a Bell 206 operated by New York Helicopter Tours, was found upside down in the river. The cause is still under investigation, but aviation experts say a catastrophic rotor failure may have caused it to break apart mid-air.

The victims were a tourist family from Spain who had been in the air for about 15 minutes before the helicopter went down. Witnesses reported seeing parts of the aircraft fall off before it plunged into the water.

NationalFlyover

House Passes Citizenship Proof Bill for Voting

The House passed the Republican-led SAVE Act in a 220-208 vote, requiring people to present proof of U.S. citizenship—such as a passport or birth certificate—to register to vote in federal elections.

Four Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the bill, which also mandates that states remove Illegal immigrants from voter rolls and allows citizens to sue officials who don’t enforce the requirements.

Supporters argue it protects election integrity, while critics say it could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain path forward.

Social Security Scraps In-Person ID Mandate

The Social Security Administration has reversed a planned policy that would have forced some elderly and disabled recipients to verify their identities in person starting April 14.

The change follows significant public backlash, with critics warning the policy would burden millions—especially those with mobility issues or who live far from SSA offices.

Instead, beneficiaries will now be allowed to verify their identities over the phone, thanks in part to new anti-fraud software that can flag suspicious claims.

The agency receives roughly 4.5 million phone claims annually, with about 70,000 flagged for potential fraud.

A federal judge has allowed the Trump administration to enforce a rule requiring all illegal immigrants in the U.S. to register with the government or face penalties. (More)

➤ Ksenia Karelina, a U.S.-Russian dual citizen and ballet dancer, was released from a Russian prison in a surprise overnight prisoner exchange, the White House confirmed Thursday. (See Details)