Featured Stories
Final Report Regarding the August 12, 2025, Officer-Involved Shooting Incident in Keene, New Hampshire
CONCORD, New Hampshire, Oct. 17 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release:
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October 15, 2026
Final Report Regarding the August 12, 2025, Officer-Involved Shooting Incident in Keene, New Hampshire
Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella announces the completion of the investigation into the officer-involved shooting that occurred on August 12, 2025, in Keene, New Hampshire, which resulted in the death of 57-year-old David Ward.
The final investigation report concludes that, based on the totality of the circumstances and all available evidence,
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CONCORD, New Hampshire, Oct. 17 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release:
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October 15, 2026
Final Report Regarding the August 12, 2025, Officer-Involved Shooting Incident in Keene, New Hampshire
Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella announces the completion of the investigation into the officer-involved shooting that occurred on August 12, 2025, in Keene, New Hampshire, which resulted in the death of 57-year-old David Ward.
The final investigation report concludes that, based on the totality of the circumstances and all available evidence,including witness interviews, physical evidence, and video recordings, the use of deadly force by New Hampshire State Police Sergeant Noah Sanctuary, Sergeant Nicholas Levesque, Sergeant Aramus Caraballo, Trooper Matthew Dushame, and Trooper Jacob Hunt was objectively reasonable and legally justified under New Hampshire law.
The report concludes after comprehensively reviewing all the available evidence, that the troopers reasonably believed Mr. Ward presented an imminent threat of deadly force when he rapidly exited his vehicle while armed with a handgun following a prolonged standoff.
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KEENE OIS REPORT - RELEASED ON 10-15-26: https://www.doj.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt721/files/media/media_document/keene-ois-report-released-on-10-15-26.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.doj.nh.gov/news-and-media/final-report-regarding-august-12-2025-officer-involved-shooting-incident-keene-new
Drummond Dismisses Court Action After Ben Gamla Charter Application Fails
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Oct. 17 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release:
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Drummond dismisses court action after Ben Gamla charter application fails
OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 15, 2026) - Attorney General Gentner Drummond today dismissed his court action against the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board after Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School's revised application fell short of the votes needed for approval.
"From day one, this case was about making a state agency tell the whole truth about why it rejected a deeply flawed application," said Drummond. "My
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Oct. 17 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release:
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Drummond dismisses court action after Ben Gamla charter application fails
OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 15, 2026) - Attorney General Gentner Drummond today dismissed his court action against the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board after Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School's revised application fell short of the votes needed for approval.
"From day one, this case was about making a state agency tell the whole truth about why it rejected a deeply flawed application," said Drummond. "Myoffice warned this Board in March that the school had no community support and no realistic path to the enrollment it promised. The founder's own words have now proved that right, so the court no longer needs to step in."
Ben Gamla's numbers have shifted dramatically. Its letter of intent proposed a high school of 40 students. Its application then inconsistently described a K-12 school of 335 to 400 students. Last month, the founder told Oklahoma Jewish leaders the school would open as an online high school with a first-year goal of 10 students. According to today's filing, the school's budget and financial plans were built on several hundred students, and an applicant expecting just 10 has not shown the community need or financial viability state law requires.
On Monday, four Board members voted to approve the application and three voted against it. Approval requires five votes, so the revised application was rejected.
Any new application from Ben Gamla would have to start over and could only apply to a later school year. The dismissal is without prejudice, leaving the door open for further legal action.
Read the Notice of Dismissal
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Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2026/october/drummond-dismisses-court-action-after-ben-gamla-charter-application-fails.html
Carr Secures Major Victory in Defense of Georgia's Social Media Law
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 17 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release:
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October 15, 2026
Carr Secures Major Victory in Defense of Georgia's Social Media Law
ATLANTA, GA -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has secured a major victory in defense of SB 351, Georgia's law that requires parental consent before social media platforms can enter into account agreements with kids aged 15 and younger. The law was previously challenged by NetChoice, the social media industry's trade association, and the district court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the law's
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ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 17 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release:
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October 15, 2026
Carr Secures Major Victory in Defense of Georgia's Social Media Law
ATLANTA, GA -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has secured a major victory in defense of SB 351, Georgia's law that requires parental consent before social media platforms can enter into account agreements with kids aged 15 and younger. The law was previously challenged by NetChoice, the social media industry's trade association, and the district court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the law'senforcement.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued its opinion in Carr's favor on Thursday, Oct. 15 following oral arguments earlier this year. With this ruling, the Eleventh Circuit vacated the prior preliminary injunction sought by NetChoice, paving the way for SB 351 to take full effect.
"This is a major win for Georgia families and a huge blow to those who would stand in the way of commonsense solutions to protect our kids," said Carr. "We have said before -- it shouldn't take lawsuits, investigations or legislation to do the right thing. This is about keeping our children safe from online predators and mental health harms. Nothing is more important."
In 2024, the General Assembly passed a law requiring covered social media platforms to verify users' ages and, if under the age of 16, to secure parental consent before providing the child with an account. NetChoice sued, alleging that SB 351 is unconstitutional and moving to block its enforcement. The district court issued a preliminary injunction on June 26, 2025, and Carr filed a notice of appeal immediately thereafter. On Oct. 15, 2026, the Eleventh Circuit vacated the preliminary injunction and sent the case back to district court for further proceedings.
The Court held that NetChoice's facial First Amendment challenge failed because the trade association offered no evidence backing up its allegation that SB 351's enforcement against most of the platforms it covers would be unconstitutional. The Court also reversed the district court's holdings that aspects of SB 351 were void for vagueness and preempted by Section 230.
As stated in Carr's opening brief, "Thanks to social media, minors have increased rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and body-image problems. Youth suicide rates have increased... The dangers aren't restricted to mental illness. Bullying, intimidation, harassment, and sexual predation thrive on social media platforms."
However, as further noted in the brief, "Social media companies know about all those problems. But not only have they persisted in trying to keep kids addicted, they've actively tried to hide from the public the dangers and negative effects."
Read a copy of Carr's opening brief. Read a copy of the
Court's opinion.
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Original text here: https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-10-15/carr-secures-major-victory-defense-georgias-social-media-law
Attorney General Mayes Asks Court to Compel Roblox to Comply With Child Safety Investigation
PHOENIX, Arizona, Oct. 17 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Mayes Asks Court to Compel Roblox to Comply with Child Safety Investigation
October 16, 2026
PHOENIX - Attorney General Kris Mayes announced today that her office has filed a Petition for Enforcement of Civil Investigative Demands in connection with an ongoing investigation of Roblox Corporation for suspected violations of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. The Attorney General seeks an order compelling Roblox to immediately produce critical data and documents addressing the
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PHOENIX, Arizona, Oct. 17 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Mayes Asks Court to Compel Roblox to Comply with Child Safety Investigation
October 16, 2026
PHOENIX - Attorney General Kris Mayes announced today that her office has filed a Petition for Enforcement of Civil Investigative Demands in connection with an ongoing investigation of Roblox Corporation for suspected violations of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. The Attorney General seeks an order compelling Roblox to immediately produce critical data and documents addressing thesafety of Arizona children currently using the Roblox Platform as well as an order holding Roblox in contempt until full compliance is achieved.
The State issued two Civil Investigative Demands to Roblox in May and August 2026 seeking information necessary to evaluate whether the company has violated the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act by failing to take basic precautions to protect Arizona children from sexual exploitation, violent content, and other age inappropriate material on the Roblox Platform and by misrepresenting these serious safety issues platform to Arizona parents and consumers. Despite repeated extensions and months of communication, Roblox has failed to provide complete responses to even the State's most limited priority requests.
"Roblox has built one of the world's largest online platforms for children in the world, and Roblox has continually assured parents that the platform is safe," said Attorney General Mayes. "But the evidence already available to our office indicates a disturbing litany of dangers to Arizona children--ranging from predatory contact to exposure to graphic violent and sexual content. Companies interacting with children must be transparent about the risks associated with their products. The Attorney General's Office will not allow companies to stonewall our efforts to protect Arizona children."
According to the Petition, Roblox's user base includes hundreds of thousands of Arizona minors. Yet the company has repeatedly failed to provide core information that would allow the State to understand how many Arizona children use the platform, what safety systems Roblox employs, how it moderates harmful content, and whether its public safety promises match its internal practices.
The Petition describes substantial public evidence that Roblox has long known that the Roblox platform is used by sexual predators to target children and that the Roblox Platform contains widespread explicit content of both a violent and sexual nature that is easily accessible by minors. The Petition details Roblox's prolonged history of nevertheless assuring parents, investors, and the public at large, however, that the Roblox Platform is safe for children--even as internal practices and external investigations raise significant concerns to the contrary.
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-asks-court-compel-roblox-comply-child-safety-investigation"
Acting Alaska Attorney General Cori Mills Urges Legislature to Act After Court Decision on Firearms
JUNEAU, Alaska, Oct. 17 -- The Alaska Department of Law issued the following news release:
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Acting Alaska Attorney General Cori Mills Urges Legislature to Act After Court Decision on Firearms
October 15, 2026
(Juneau, AK) - Acting Alaska Attorney General Cori Mills is asking the next Legislature to address inconsistences between state and federal firearms laws following a federal court decision concerning the registration requirements for suppressors, Short-Barreled Rifles (SBRs) and Short-Barreled Shotguns (SBSs).
In Silencer Shop Foundation v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
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JUNEAU, Alaska, Oct. 17 -- The Alaska Department of Law issued the following news release:
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Acting Alaska Attorney General Cori Mills Urges Legislature to Act After Court Decision on Firearms
October 15, 2026
(Juneau, AK) - Acting Alaska Attorney General Cori Mills is asking the next Legislature to address inconsistences between state and federal firearms laws following a federal court decision concerning the registration requirements for suppressors, Short-Barreled Rifles (SBRs) and Short-Barreled Shotguns (SBSs).
In Silencer Shop Foundation v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms andExplosives, a federal court ruled that certain federal registration requirements for these firearms and accessories was unconstitutional and could not be enforced against the plaintiffs, including the State of Alaska. The decision was welcomed by supporters of Second Amendment rights. However, it created uncertainty in Alaska because state law links certain criminal-code defenses to federal registration requirements. Legislative clarification is needed. Until then, the Department has asked law enforcement agencies to consult with state prosecutors before filing charges under the affected statute.
"The Second Amendment, and the right to bear arms, must be protected," said Acting Alaska Attorney General Cori Mills. "The court made the right decision, and we appreciate the court recognizing federal overreach into our Second Amendment rights. While a win for the Second Amendment, the court case and the ATF's guidance adds a level of confusion for many Alaskans who want access to these firearms but don't see the legal way forward in ownership under existing law. The proper place for this to be resolved is in the State Legislature and I'm asking the next legislature to look at this issue, and the Department of Law stands ready to assist. In the meantime, our department is asking law enforcement to work closely with state prosecutors before filing any charges as the state of the law is in flux."
On Aug. 5, a United States District Court ruled that certain registration and regulatory requirements of the National Firearms Act (NFA), could not be enforced against the plaintiffs in that case. The NFA, enacted in 1934, established federal requirements for certain firearms, like SBSs and SBRs, as well as certain accessories, like suppressors. Historically, individuals seeking to purchase or transfer these items were required to pay a $200 federal tax stamp, submit an application for ownership to ATF, and register the item in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Congress subsequently eliminated the $200 making and transfer taxes for these items through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective January 1, 2026, while leaving the associated registration and approval requirements in place. Alaska joined 14 other states, six businesses and associations, a non-profit, and one individual gun owner, to sue the federal government, challenging those remaining requirements, arguing that Congress no longer had the authority to enforce the regulatory requirements when it eliminated the tax.
The district court agreed with the plaintiffs, and the United States Department of Justice chose not to appeal the decision. Although the court's ruling applied only to the plaintiffs, ATF subsequently announced that it would no longer enforce the affected approval and registration requirements nationwide. ATF also clarified that it would continue accepting voluntary registrations, recognizing that several states, including Alaska, have laws that reference federal registration requirements.
Under existing state law, possession of certain prohibited weapons remains a criminal offense. However, the statute provides an affirmative defense for individuals who have complied with applicable federal registration requirements. The Federal government's decision to discontinue enforcement of those requirements, while continuing to accept voluntary registrations, creates uncertainty about how Alaska's criminal statute should operate going forward. Although voluntary federal registration remains available, it does not resolve the broader inconsistency between the state prohibition and the changed federal regulatory framework.
The Department believes legislative clarification is necessary to provide Alaskans, law enforcement, and prosecutors with clear guidance regarding the lawful possession of these items. Until the Legislature acts, the Department will carefully evaluate any potential prosecutions under the affected statute, taking into account the federal court decision, ATF's guidance, and applicable constitutional considerations.
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Original text here: https://law.alaska.gov/press/releases/2026/101526-Firearms.html
AG Jennings Seeks Consumer Protections in Character.AI Bankruptcy
DOVER, Delaware, Oct. 17 -- Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings issued the following news release:
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AG Jennings seeks consumer protections in Character.AI bankruptcy
October 15, 2026
Attorney General Kathy Jennings today announced that Delaware has joined a coalition of state attorneys general in filing a notice in the bankruptcy proceedings of Character Technologies, Inc., the company behind the popular chatbot company Character.AI. The court filing identifies serious concerns about the company's safety and privacy practices and calls for protections for children and consumers in
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DOVER, Delaware, Oct. 17 -- Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings issued the following news release:
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AG Jennings seeks consumer protections in Character.AI bankruptcy
October 15, 2026
Attorney General Kathy Jennings today announced that Delaware has joined a coalition of state attorneys general in filing a notice in the bankruptcy proceedings of Character Technologies, Inc., the company behind the popular chatbot company Character.AI. The court filing identifies serious concerns about the company's safety and privacy practices and calls for protections for children and consumers inany sale of the company's business or assets.
"For years, Character.AI's chatbots exposed countless users - many of them children - to wildly inappropriate and dangerous content, all the while gathering up their sensitive personal data," said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. "As the company files for bankruptcy, we're going to work to ensure that this reckless conduct is reigned in and that Delawareans' private data is protected. We cannot afford to let the development of new technology come at the expense of our humanity."
Character.AI is an artificial intelligence chatbot platform that allows users to interact with AI-powered chatbot "characters" designed to mimic human conversation and relationships. These chatbot characters include fictional and celebrity personas, children's cartoon characters, and others that present themselves as psychologists, therapists, and doctors. Through chats with these characters, the company has collected sensitive consumer data, including private conversations about users' mental health, relationships, and emotional struggles.
Several states, including Delaware, began investigating Character.AI following a 2024 wrongful death lawsuit alleging that its chatbots fostered an emotionally and sexually exploitative relationship with a child, reinforced his suicidal thoughts, and contributed to his death by suicide. The states' investigation identified potential consumer protection and privacy violations.
The states' filing highlights the significant volume of sensitive consumer information held by Character.AI, including private chatbot conversations involving children and adults, and identifies privacy and safety protections that should be addressed in any sale or transfer of the company's business or assets.
Although Character.AI has recently voluntarily restricted minors' access to certain chatbot features, the states have raised concerns that these measures are not compulsory, are incomplete, and could be circumvented or reversed by a future purchaser.
Delaware and the other states intend to remain actively engaged in the bankruptcy proceedings to protect consumers and address outstanding regulatory concerns. The states have reserved their rights to challenge any proposed sale or bankruptcy plan and to seek additional protections for consumers' personal information.
Joining Attorney General Jennings on the court filing are the attorneys general of Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
A copy of the states' filing is available hereOpen this document with ReadSpeaker docReader.
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Original text here: https://news.delaware.gov/2026/10/15/ag-jennings-seeks-consumer-protections-in-character-ai-bankruptcy/
AG Fitch Urges Court to Protect Children Online in Character.AI Bankruptcy Filing
JACKSON, Mississippi, Oct. 17 -- Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
AG Fitch Urges Court to Protect Children Online in Character.AI Bankruptcy Filing
(Jackson, Mississippi) Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced that Mississippi is joining a coalition of state attorneys general in filing a notice in the bankruptcy proceedings of Character Technologies, Inc. -- the company behind the popular chatbot company Character.AI.
The filing puts potential purchasers of Character.AI's technology and data on notice of the states' consumer
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JACKSON, Mississippi, Oct. 17 -- Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
AG Fitch Urges Court to Protect Children Online in Character.AI Bankruptcy Filing
(Jackson, Mississippi) Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced that Mississippi is joining a coalition of state attorneys general in filing a notice in the bankruptcy proceedings of Character Technologies, Inc. -- the company behind the popular chatbot company Character.AI.
The filing puts potential purchasers of Character.AI's technology and data on notice of the states' consumerprotection and privacy law concerns and asks the court "to ensure that any sale of any product, technology, or personal information includes terms of protection, particularly for children, and notifications to consumers of the protections they can expect." "We have seen Big Tech time and time again prioritize profits over the safety of our children," said Attorney General Lynn Fitch.
"Our investigation has uncovered ample evidence of the physical, mental, and emotional harm that these chatbots can cause. It has also demonstrated how much personal data is collected through individual interactions with chatbots. The companies that develop and market them cannot avoid accountability through bankruptcy. I am proud to stand with my colleagues to ensure that children have a voice in these proceedings."
Character.AI is an artificial intelligence chatbot platform that allows users to interact with AI-powered chatbot "characters" designed to mimic human conversation and relationships. These chatbot characters include fictional and celebrity personas, children's cartoon characters, and others that present themselves as psychologists, therapists, and doctors. Through chats with these characters, the company has collected sensitive consumer data, including private conversations about users' mental health, relationships, and emotional struggles.
Mississippi, along with other states, began investigating Character.AI following a 2024 wrongful death lawsuit alleging that its chatbots fostered an emotionally and sexually exploitative relationship with a child, reinforced his suicidal thoughts, and contributed to his death by suicide. As the attorneys general shared in their filing: "ParentsTogether Action and Heat Initiative logged 669 harmful interactions in 50 hours of chats from Character.AI accounts registered to children aged 12 to 15, about one every five minutes.
The largest category, with 296 instances, was grooming and sexual exploitation. Chatbots portraying adults flirted with, undressed, and simulated sex with child accounts. Some also told the children to hide the "relationship" from their parents. Other Charater.AI chatbots suggested armed robbery, offered marijuana to a 15-year-old, and told a 13-year-old to stop taking her antidepressant and hide it from her parents."
Joining Attorney General Fitch on the court filing are the attorneys general of Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
A copy of the states' filing is available HERE.
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Original text here: https://attorneygenerallynnfitch.com/2026/10/16/ag-fitch-urges-court-to-protect-children-online-in-character-ai-bankruptcy-filing-october-16-2023/
