From Earth Day to assassination attempts, here’s some notable news of the past week.
April 20: Singer d4vd is charged for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.
D4vd, legally known as 21-year-old David Burke, was officially charged with first-degree murder, sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Along with special circumstances, allegations of murder of a witness and murder for financial gain, according to an article by KTLA5. Burke pleads not guilty to these charges. Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s body was found in the trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke on Sept. 25, 2025, but Burke killed her on April 23, 2025. Almost a year later, in a hearing to set a preliminary date for another hearing on May 1, prosecutors said that, in their 40 terabytes of evidence during this investigation, they found a “significant amount of child pornography” on a phone belonging to Burke.
April 22: UCLA celebrated Earth Day.
On campus, the Undergraduate Students Association Council, or USAC, Facilities Commission, in collaboration with UCLA Sustainability, hosted Earth Day Extravaganza in Wilson Plaza. This event featured popular food trucks, Kalamaki Greek Street Food and Salpicon, therapy dogs, yoga sessions, donation bins and even upcycling stations. The Bruins learned about sustainable living while interacting with our local community. UCLA Dining on the Hill celebrated Earth Day with specials at many of their dining locations, such as lobster rolls at The Study, Mario burgers at Rendezvous and a honey bee-themed dinner at B Plate.
April 24: Trump calls off US envoys’ trip to Pakistan.
Following the departure of Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi from Pakistan, President Trump announced that US advisors, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, would no longer be visiting Pakistan for talks about the Iran war, according to an article by the BBC. Furthermore, Trump posted on Truth Social, “We have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!” However, after speaking with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian later that day, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also posted on X, “Pakistan remains committed to serve as an honest and sincere facilitator — working tirelessly to advance durable peace and lasting stability in the region.” Read more for live updates on the Iran War.
April 24: The Department of Justice announces plans to expand execution methods for federal crimes.
The Trump administration plans to incorporate firing squads, electrocution and gas asphyxiation as ways of delivering the death penalty to those convicted of severe federal crimes, according to an article by NBC. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche released a report saying Trump will “resume capital punishment at the federal level” from his first term, which was interrupted by the Biden administration. The report added that these additional methods of execution “will help ensure the department is prepared to carry out lawful executions even if a specific drug is unavailable,” referencing drugs used for lethal injections.
April 24: Governor Newsom proclaims April 24 to be the “Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.”
The Newsom administration released a proclamation, in which April 24 is officially proclaimed to be the “Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.” The proclamation acknowledged the history and effects of the Armenian Genocide, which began in 1915, stating, “California is taking action to confront racial, ethnic and religious hate.” According to an article by ABC7, Los Angeles is home to the largest Armenian population outside of Armenia.
April 25: Authorities arrest Cole Tomas Allen as a suspect for the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, CA, was taken into custody after exchanging shots with Secret Service agents at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, April 25. Found armed with knives, a shotgun and a handgun, Allen is set to appear in court on Monday, April 27, according to a New York Times article. Shortly before the shooting, Allen had sent a manifesto to his relatives denouncing the actions of an unnamed individual, hypothesized to be Trump. A full reading of the manifesto can be found in a New York Post article, and live updates can be found here.
April 25: Student-run festival promotes renewable energy.
The annual Coastalong festival was held this Saturday at the Drake Stadium. Headlined by independent artist KELS, the festival also featured several local bands, including The 529s, Sunset Wrecks, Fine Print, Hejday and The Situations. Coastalong’s other attractions, centered around promoting sustainability and renewable energy, consisted of a bike-powered stage, thrifting and upcycling booths and other tables showcasing the many environmentally-focused clubs on campus.
April 26: Israeli strikes kill 14 in Lebanon.
According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health, Israeli strikes on Hezbollah “military structures” have killed 14 and injured 37, a BBC article reported. Among the 14 killed were two children and two women, one of whom was Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil. An Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, spokesperson had issued evacuation warnings for several villages in southern Lebanon before the strikes. The IDF also said that Hezbollah had launched three drone attacks towards Israel, which were all intercepted before they crossed the border. The two countries remain in a semi-permanent ceasefire, which was issued on April 16 and extended by three weeks on April 23.
