The Pentagon was found not liable in a soldier's cancer-related death.
Why this matters
Reform advocates argue for judicial review in military malpractice cases, which could impact military healthcare accountability.
A military appeals board determined the Pentagon bears no responsibility for the death of Spc. Maria Martinez, who passed away from breast cancer in 2021 after a Stage 4 diagnosis in 2019. Martinez’s family, led by her father, Army Lt. Col. Ed Larumbe, filed a medical malpractice claim, asserting her earlier symptoms were neglected. The board, however, ruled in March that military healthcare providers did not have sufficient evidence to warrant a diagnostic MRI before May 2019. According to the appeals board, delays from May to October 2019 did not legally cause harm, concluding an earlier diagnosis would not have altered her treatment or prognosis.
Pennington, a retired oncologist, provided an opposing expert opinion to the family, stating that earlier diagnostics could have detected cancer sooner. The family may now seek legislative changes for judicial review of such cases, similar to the Federal Tort Claims Act. This case highlights the limitations within current military malpractice claims processes, which have evolved since 2020’s legal expansions on service members’ rights to file claims.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, following a judge’s order. According to North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, FEMA announced its decision on March 20.
Jackson had won a case in December 2025, arguing that FEMA’s cancellation of the BRIC program violated the law, affecting $200 million designated for disaster prevention across North Carolina. More than 60 infrastructure projects were halted as a result of the cancellation.
In a status report to the court, FEMA stated it would distribute the remaining BRIC program funds to states soon and begin accepting new funding applications, amounting to $1 billion for the upcoming year, starting March 27.
Timeline of AG Jackson’s lawsuit:
– July 2025: Jackson sued FEMA for canceling the $200 million storm relief program.
– December 2025: A federal court ordered the program’s reinstatement, ruling the cancellation unlawful.
– February 2026: Jackson reported FEMA’s non-compliance and requested court intervention.
– March 6, 2026: A judge mandated FEMA to accept new grant applications within 21 days and to outline a funding timeline.
– March 20, 2026: FEMA agreed to allocate the remaining funds.
– March 27, 2026: New funding applications begin.
A 26-year-old woman from Hilton Head Island was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence (DUI) with two infants in her vehicle. On Saturday night, police charged her with DUI and child endangerment, according to inmate records. South Carolina law increases DUI penalties when a child under 16 is present during such offenses.
Police stopped her Toyota SUV around 11 p.m. on Fording Island Road for driving at 39 mph in a 55 mph zone and nearly hitting other vehicles. Officers reported a strong alcohol odor and noted she appeared unsteady. She refused field sobriety tests, leading to her arrest.
While being placed in a patrol car, the woman allegedly became combative, attempting to harm officers. Inside the vehicle, she slipped a hand from the cuffs, using them to hit the plexiglass barrier, the incident report states. Officers later removed her, but she allegedly used the cuff and kicked them, striking one officer in the throat and another in the chest.
The report indicates that officers eventually restrained her using two sets of handcuffs. At the Beaufort County Detention Center, she refused a breath test.
The woman’s mother took custody of the infants. Jail records show she remained in custody as of Wednesday, with bonds set at about $1,500.
Certification of federal primary election results in North Carolina is delayed due to complications involving the state’s ‘registration repair’ project. Republican Michael Whatley and Democrat Roy Cooper both won their U.S. Senate primaries. However, some ballots require additional processing because of missing government ID numbers. According to the state Board of Elections, 16 ballots distributed over 10 counties should be partially tallied in federal races but excluded from state and local counts. Elections Director Sam Hayes announced the delay affects certification for six congressional districts.
In Rockingham County, Sheriff Sam Page’s win over Senate leader Phil Berger has been certified. The state board commended Rockingham and Guilford County election officials for their professional conduct in recounts and handling election protests. Berger conceded. Primary turnout reached approximately 19.7%, with early voting increasing by 25% compared to the previous midterms.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced talks between Cuba and the United States, with former President Raul Castro’s involvement, as tensions between the countries grow. Diaz-Canel, in a video interview released by state media, confirmed the early stages of these discussions amid ongoing nationwide blackouts, which he attributes to an oil blockade by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Raul Castro, 94, who is viewed as influential in Cuban politics despite stepping down as president in 2018, previously led discussions with former U.S. President Barack Obama, resulting in restored diplomatic relations in 2014.
In January, Trump threatened tariffs on countries providing oil to Cuba, seeking political changes on the island. Although these threats were later softened, the embargo remains, leading to fuel shortages and repeated nationwide blackouts affecting Cuba’s power grid. U.N. Resident Coordinator Francisco Pichon warned of a looming humanitarian crisis if the situation persists, estimating $94 million is needed to address the energy crisis and last year’s hurricane damage. The World Health Organization raised concerns about the impact on health services.
The U.S. military reported a strike on a boat in the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. This operation is part of the Trump administration’s extended campaign against drug traffickers in Latin America.
The U.S. Southern Command stated it targeted alleged drug traffickers along established smuggling routes. A video shared online showed the boat moving before it was enveloped in an explosion.
President Donald Trump has labeled the situation as an ‘armed conflict’ with Latin American cartels, advocating that these measures are crucial to reducing the influx of drugs into the U.S. and addressing overdose fatalities.
Critics have challenged the legal standing and efficacy of these boat strikes. Some argue that fentanyl, a major cause of overdose deaths, is mainly trafficked overland from Mexico, with chemicals sourced from China and India.
