Articles by Rounak Bagchi

Technology

Has Philadelphia Police Found Kada Scott? Cops Recover Body Amid Murder Investigation

Philadelphia police say they have discovered what they believe may be the body of 23-year-old Kada Scott, two weeks after the Miss USA hopeful went missing. The discovery was reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Scott, who worked night shifts at a local nursing home, was last seen by her mother on October 4 before leaving for work. She did not complete her shift, and her disappearance was reported the following day. Authorities said she had been receiving harassment from an unknown person over the phone prior to her disappearance. Police took one man, Keon King, into custody on October 15. King had reportedly been the last person in contact with Scott before her phone and social media accounts went silent. He previously faced charges related to the alleged kidnapping and strangulation of another woman, but those charges were dropped. Prosecutors reportedly intend to charge King with murder in relation to Scott's case. The body was reportedly found on the grounds of the closed Ada H. H. Lewis Middle School in East Germantown. Jennifer Lee, of Fox29 Philly, cited police sources on X, writing: "Human remains of a female discovered behind abandoned middle school near Awbury Arboretum. Lt on scene says remains have been here no longer than a week." She added that "many who were part of Kada Scott search efforts have shown up" at the scene. At this time, authorities have not officially confirmed that the remains are those of Scott. Following her disappearance, Scott's family had set up a GoFundMe page, writing: "We just want her home safe." Her father, Kevin Scott, told CBS News: "Each day gets harder and harder, more and more difficult emotionally. I want Kada home as soon as possible. Things are not good, but we still are positive Kada is alive and well somewhere, and we're going to get her home as soon as possible." King faces multiple charges, including kidnapping and recklessly endangering another person. He is next scheduled to appear in court on 3 November. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.

Technology

Who is Graham Platner, an Oyster Farmer Running for Senate in Maine?

Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Maine, has apologised for a series of past social media posts in which he referred to himself as a "communist," criticised police, and made disparaging comments about rural, white Americans. In a video posted on X on Friday, Platner said: "For those of you who have read these things and been offended, have read these things and seen someone that you don't recognise, I am deeply sorry." Platner, an Army and Marine veteran, told CNN that the posts, some dating back to his time in Iraq and Afghanistan, reflected a period of "disillusionment" after returning from military service. "When I got back from Afghanistan in 2011, I stayed in the Army for another year. I got out in 2012. Some of the worst comments I made, the things that I think are least defensible, that I wouldn't even try to defend, come from that time," he said. He added: "I made comments that I'm not happy about, that I do not agree with, but they came from a time and place in my life… As I read through the comments that were released, I can see myself changing. My language gets less crude, my thoughts and my feelings get a lot less kind of rough around the edges." Platner acknowledged that some Reddit posts described himself as a "communist" or "a vegetable-growing, psychedelics-taking, socialist." He wrote: "After the war, I've pretty much stopped believing in any of the patriotic nonsense that got me there in the first place, and am a firm believer that the best thing a person can do is help their neighbours and live a loving life." In interviews, Platner stressed that these posts no longer reflect his views. "I'm not a communist. I'm not a socialist. I own a small business. I'm a Marine Corps veteran," he told CNN. He also addressed posts criticising law enforcement, including one in which he wrote in 2021: "Bastards. Cops are bastards. All of them, in fact," and another in 2020 commenting on rural white Americans: "Living in white rural America, I'm afraid to tell you they actually are [racist]." Platner said his views have evolved as he became less isolated and built a community in Maine. "I was in different places that I'm not in now, I had different feelings that I don't have now, I had different thoughts and opinions that I certainly don't have now, but I am very proud of the person I am today," he said. "While I won't defend things I said in the past, I will just say that if it wasn't for that entire journey, I would not be who I am today, and I'm incredibly proud of who I am today." Who is Graham Platner? Graham Platner is a Marine and US Army veteran, oyster farmer, and chair of the Sullivan Planning Board. He is running in the Democratic primary for the US Senate in Maine, seeking to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins. After graduating high school in 2003, Platner enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served multiple tours in Iraq before joining the Maryland Army National Guard and deploying to Afghanistan. Following his military service, he struggled with undiagnosed PTSD and physical injuries, eventually returning to Maine and focusing on serving his local community. Platner began working on a small oyster farm in Sullivan in 2018, later taking ownership and expanding the business. He also operates a diving and mooring service and serves as Sullivan's Harbormaster and Planning Board Chair. Platner met Amy Gertner in 2023 and married soon after. The couple lives in Sullivan with two dogs, Gryffin and Zevon, and a cat, Neptune. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.