Former Missouri House Speaker John Diehl, a Republican, was sentenced to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty last year to misusing federal COVID-19 relief loans for personal expenses. Diehl, a St. Louis-area attorney, “committed $379,900 in pandemic fraud,” the Justice Department stated. He has already repaid the loan money. Ex-Missouri House Speaker John Diehl sentenced to federal prison for fraud https://t.co/EHN5gVBigd — St. Louis-area politics (@stlpolitics) March 9, 2026 More from the Missouri Independent: His attorneys asked the court last month for a non-custodial sentence, arguing in part that he repaid the money. Prosecutors pushed back on that argument, saying repayment should not be treated as an “extraordinary” basis for leniency because Diehl is a “man of great and substantial means.” Prosecutors say he used the funds for personal expenses including payments on a Tesla, Audi and Jeep, mortgage payments, pool maintenance, additional country club charges and cash withdrawals. The filing also says he used about $200,000 of the loan money to fund a defined benefit plan for his law firm in which he was the sole participant. Diehl also allegedly used some of the funds to pay off “a civil settlement related to his time as Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives.” Prosecutors did not specify the nature of that settlement or whether it is connected to the scandal that forced him from office in 2015, which involved sending sexually inappropriate text messages to a 19-year-old House intern. Diehl will be allowed to report to prison at a later date. “Although he legitimately obtained pandemic relief loans for his law practice, Diehl diverted those funds for personal use rather than the purposes Congress intended,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Relief programs like these were created to help small businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic—not to line someone’s pockets,” Crocker added. USA TODAY shared further: “This defendant’s law practice didn’t suffer at all during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith said during court, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri. Goldsmith said Diehl did not use any of the loans for his law firm, adding that Diehl “saw a way to make some easy and cheap money.” According to prosecutors, Diehl applied for the federal loan in March 2020 and received $94,900. About two years later, he requested a loan modification and obtained $285,000 from the second loan. In those applications, prosecutors said Diehl signed an agreement form in which he falsely certified that his law firm “will use all the proceeds of this Loan solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by disaster occurring in the month of January 31, 2020, and continuing thereafter.”

A shooting occurred Tuesday morning at the U.S. consulate in Toronto, Canada. There are no reports of injuries or damage. “The shooting that took place at the U.S. consulate early this morning is an absolutely unacceptable act of violence and intimidation aimed at our American friends and neighbours. I’m glad to see that the Toronto Police are investigating and I expect that police at all levels will bring every resource to bear to find the people who did this,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. “Everyone at all levels of government and across Canada needs to make clear that there is zero tolerance for this sort of intimidating and dangerous behaviour, and that we will do whatever it takes to prosecute and punish the people responsible to the fullest extent of the law,” he added. The shooting that took place at the U.S. consulate early this morning is an absolutely unacceptable act of violence and intimidation aimed at our American friends and neighbours. I’m glad to see that the Toronto Police are investigating and I expect that police at all levels… — Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 10, 2026 CBS News shared further: Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said at a news conference on Tuesday that witnesses reported seeing a white Honda CRV stop in front of the U.S. Consulate early in the morning, and that “two individuals emerged from the vehicle, discharged what appears to be a handgun at the front of the building, and then got back into their vehicle and drove southbound.” He stressed that there was “no indication of an immediate threat to public safety at this time.” “There’s obviously formal communication going on with our U.S. counterparts, the FBI, the consulate itself here. We’ve had members at the consulate here this morning, along with Toronto police, meeting with staff here and their senior executive to discuss the incident,” Leather said. “I don’t have any information to provide at this time on any sleeper cells that may or may not exist in Canada. Suffice to say that our CSIS counterparts and the incidents across the country are actively investigating matters such as this, and we will continue to do so.” “It’s definitely a national security incident because we have the U.S. consulate, after all, struck by gunfire. Whether it’s a terrorist event or not, that will be subject to the investigation that will be undertaken in the coming days and weeks, and that will be based on the evidence that’s collected both here at the scene and subsequently through the work with our partners,” he said. Fox News shared a breaking alert: BREAKING NEWS – Canadian police are reporting that the US Consulate in Toronto has been hit by gunfire. Police are reporting two armed males emerged from a white Honda CRV. Anyone with any images, videos, or information is encouraged to contact the police. pic.twitter.com/nZSZIJzA5A — The Faulkner Focus (@FaulknerFocus) March 10, 2026 More from The Guardian: Leather also told reporters that security protocols are being enhanced at US and Israeli diplomatic buildings in Toronto and in the Canadian capital Ottawa. “I think it’s fairly obvious based on the incidents in Toronto and elsewhere that these consulates deserve a heightened amount of vigilance and security at this time,” Leather said. There were protests outside the consulate last weekend to denounce the war in the Middle East triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Three Toronto-area synagogues have also been hit by gunfire in recent days, but no injuries have been reported. Asked about a possible link between the synagogue shootings and gunfire at the US consulate, Barredo said it was “too early” to establish a link. But, he added, “we do not look at (the incidents) in isolation. We look at them collectively.”

President Trump delivered special remarks at the Republican Members’ Issues Conference in Florida on Monday afternoon. Trump, while addressing the crowd of Republican leaders, gave his thoughts on the current U.S. military operations in Iran. During his speech, Trump noted that the current military operations in Iran will be short-term: PRESIDENT TRUMP ON IRAN: “We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some evil. I think you'll see it's going to be a short-term excursion. Short term!” pic.twitter.com/IiMlaANEH8 — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) March 9, 2026 He later added that it will be finished pretty quickly: Trump on Iran: It’s going to be finished pretty quickly. pic.twitter.com/XPtaiSXIDZ — Clash Report (@clashreport) March 9, 2026 More remarks on Iran: Trump on Iran: Iran was supposed to be this big, powerful country. We wrapped the hell out of them. And you know, I don’t know when they cry “uncle,” but they should have cried it two days ago, right? But they don’t have anything left. pic.twitter.com/qGLecpb9Jw — Clash Report (@clashreport) March 9, 2026 Trump: The United States of America is the greatest and most exceptional nation in human history, and we will not be threatened by evil terrorists and lunatics any longer. pic.twitter.com/y4uc2Zbz6s — Clash Report (@clashreport) March 9, 2026 Fox News provided further details on Trump’s speech: The joint U.S. and Israeli military operation against Iran is crushing the regime in what President Donald Trump described Monday as an “overwhelming display of technical skill and military force.” Trump spoke on Day 11 of Operation Epic Fury which is aimed at neutralizing the Iranian regime’s security apparatus and military capabilities. “Together with our Israeli partners, we’re crushing the enemy,” Trump said before describing “an overwhelming display of technical skill and military force.” “Iran’s drone and missile capability is being utterly demolished. The Navy is gone. It’s all lying at the bottom of the ocean. 46 ships.” He added. Trump also warned that the campaign is decimating Iran’s leadership structure. “Their terrorist leaders are gone, or counting down the minutes until they will be gone… and now nobody has any idea who the people are that are going to be the head of the country and we will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated,” Trump said. Speaking at the Republican Members Issues Conference, Trump also pointed to recent military funding approved by lawmakers. “The representatives in this room provided the pivotal votes in securing a record $1 trillion for the United States military this year. And now the world is witnessing the importance of that investment with one of the most complex and stunning operations ever conducted. And it’s Operation Epic Fury,” the president stated. Watch Trump’s full speech here: How do you see it?

President Trump gave several updates on the current military operations in Iran during a press conference on Monday evening. As the press conference concluded, Trump opened up the floor for questions and was asked by one reporter if Iran has activated any sleeper cells inside the United States. Trump responded by sharing that his administration is already on top of it. Watch Trump here: .@POTUS on the potential for Iranian sleeper cells: "We've been very much on top of it. One of the things we have to do is get the Democrats to stop the Democrat shutdown because, as you know, the apparatus that looks into that (@DHSgov), Schumer the Democrats have shut it down." pic.twitter.com/n8Z5T5ZoNM — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 9, 2026 Backup here if needed: BNO reported more on Trump’s response: After being asked whether Iran had activated sleeper cells inside the United States, President Trump said U.S. officials know “a lot” about them but blamed the DHS shutdown for limiting the response. Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump was asked whether Iran had activated any sleeper cells inside the United States. He responded by saying Iran had “been trying for a long time” and that the U.S. was “very much on top of it.” “We know a lot about them, but the shutdown doesn’t allow us to do what we have to do,” Trump added, after blaming Democrats for the DHS shutdown. Trump was asked the question after a report by ABC News reported that the U.S. intercepted an encrypted message from Iran that reportedly discussed sleeper cells being activated. NEW: The U.S. has intercepted encrypted communications believed to have originated in Iran that may serve as "an operational trigger" for "sleeper assets" outside the country, according to a federal government alert sent to law enforcement agencies. https://t.co/3LK66mTlJG — ABC News (@ABC) March 9, 2026 ABC News reported more on the intercepted encrypted messages: The U.S. has intercepted encrypted communications believed to have originated in Iran that may serve as “an operational trigger” for “sleeper assets” outside the country, according to a federal government alert sent to law enforcement agencies. The alert, reviewed by ABC News, cites “preliminary signals analysis” of a transmission “likely of Iranian origin” that was relayed across multiple countries shortly after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, was killed in a U.S.-Israeli attack on Feb. 28. The intercepted transmission was encoded and appeared to be destined for “clandestine recipients” who possess the encryption key, the kind of message intended to impart instructions to “covert operatives or sleeper assets” without the use of the internet or cellular networks. It’s possible the transmissions could “be intended to activate or provide instructions to prepositioned sleeper assets operating outside the originating country,” the alert said. “While the exact contents of these transmissions cannot currently be determined, the sudden appearance of a new station with international rebroadcast characteristics warrants heightened situational awareness,” the alert said. While the alert is careful to say there is “no operational threat tied to a specific location,” it does instruct law enforcement agencies to increase their monitoring of suspicious radio-frequency activity. What’s your assessment?

Earlier today, the Pentagon released the identity of the seventh U.S. soldier killed during Operation Epic Fury. His name is Sgt. Benjamin Pennington from Kentucky. Full scoop here: JUST IN: Seventh U.S. Soldier Killed in Operation Epic Fury Identified Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth were able to attend the dignified transfer of Sgt. Pennington at Dover Air Force Base. Watch here: BREAKING: VP JD Vance and Sec. Pete Hegseth salute the dignified transfer of Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Kentucky, at Dover Air Force Base following the Iran conflict.pic.twitter.com/7PbIm0vMkW — Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) March 10, 2026 VP Vance and Secretary Hegseth also prayed over the fallen hero at the base. See here: JUST IN: VP JD Vance and SecWar Pete Hegseth pray over fallen Sgt. Benjamin Pennington of Kentucky at the dignified transfer from Iran God bless this hero, these troops are the bravest among us pic.twitter.com/Mk2f563Qrp — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 10, 2026 Sgt. Pennington is the seventh soldier to have been killed in Iranian strikes. He was injured on March 1st but sadly passed away from his injuries on Sunday. CNN has more: Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, from Glendale, Kentucky, died Sunday after sustaining injuries the week prior in an attack by Iran on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Pennington was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, a unit within the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command. Vice President JD Vance joined top military officials, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, in observing the solemn event. They saluted as the transfer case was taken across the tarmac. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called Pennington a “hero who sacrificed everything serving our country” in a Facebook post on Monday. Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commander of Army Space and Missile Defense Command, said in a news release that Pennington “gave the ultimate sacrifice for the country that he loved.” “That makes him nothing less than a hero,” Gainey said, “and he will always be remembered that way.” Pennington enlisted in the Army in 2017 as a unit supply specialist. The Army said Monday he would be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant. A message from the Hardin County school district, where Pennington graduated the same year he enlisted, said he “represented the very best of our community, state, and nation.” “We are profoundly grateful for his service and his devotion to our country,” the message said. “His dedication was exemplary and he has proven that by rendering the ultimate sacrifice.” Flags were flown at half-staff in Hardin County in Pennington’s honor. County Judge-Executive Keith Taul said he’d known Pennington’s father for decades and that his family is “hurting pretty bad right now.” Rest in peace, warrior. Please keep all of the families of these fallen soldiers in your prayers, along with all of our troops. Do you agree?