A 21-year-old University of South Carolina student was killed in a hit-and-run crash near campus involving an illegal immigrant, the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday.

Nathanial "Nate" G. Baker, a junior business major, died Wednesday after being struck on his motorcycle by a truck driven by Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz, 24, according to the Columbia Police Department. The crash occurred just after 2 p.m. at Blossom and Assembly streets when Fernandez-Cruz allegedly failed to yield while turning left, police said. He fled the scene but was later detained nearby.

Fernandez-Cruz faces charges of hit-and-run resulting in death, failure to render aid, failure to yield, and driving without a license. Police said he was wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the time of the incident. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin posted on X, saying Baker "should be alive today" and that the driver was "in our country illegally." She added, "@DHSgov prays for Nate’s family, friends, and loved ones and will work every day to protect innocent Americans like Nate,"

The university confirmed Baker was from Glen Allen, Virginia, and offered counseling services to the campus community. The FIJI fraternity mourned him as "a leader, a role model, and a true embodiment of what our fraternity stands for." Fernandez-Cruz is being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. ICE and DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

March’s job numbers soar as “Trump Effect” starts to kick in

U.S. employers added 228,000 jobs in March, far exceeding expectations and signaling resilience in the Trump economy despite tariff concerns, the Department of Labor reported Friday. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.2%, but the robust job growth underscored a labor market shrugging off predictions of a slowdown.

Economists had forecasted a modest 131,000 job gain, making the actual figures a sharp rebuke to critics who warned that President Donald Trump’s tariff policies would stifle growth. Private-sector hiring led the surge, with professional and business services adding 52,000 jobs, trade and transportation contributing 42,000, and manufacturing gaining 25,000. Government payrolls grew by just 8,000, the smallest increase since December 2022.

“The March topline number was a good one for the economy and employers of all sizes,” said Nela Richardson, ADP’s chief economist, noting the data countered “gloomy predictions” about tariffs. The report follows ADP’s Wednesday estimate of 155,000 private-sector jobs, reinforcing the trend.

Average hourly earnings rose 0.3% to $35.53, with annual wage growth at 4.1%, easing inflation fears. The labor force participation rate held steady at 62.6%.

Trump touted the numbers as proof his policies are working. “We’re bringing wealth back to America,” he said Sunday on Fox News. Still, some economists caution that tariff effects may lag, potentially testing this momentum. For now, the jobs boom stands as a win for the administration’s economic agenda.

Trump is FURIOUS over IMPRISONED right-wing French Presidential candidate

President Donald Trump demanded France release far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Friday, labeling her recent conviction a “witch hunt” by “European Leftists” aimed at silencing free speech. In a Truth Social post, Trump condemned the Paris court’s decision to bar Le Pen from office for five years over misappropriating $3.27 million in EU funds.

“A Paris court on Monday barred the National Rally leader from running for office for five years after she was convicted of misappropriating over $3.27 million in E.U. funds to pay party staff in France,” the court ruled, also sentencing her to four years in prison, with two years suspended, and a $100,000 fine. Le Pen is appealing the verdict.

Trump, who said he doesn’t know Le Pen personally, praised her resilience. “She kept on going,” he wrote, calling her ban “another example of European Leftists using lawfare.” He argued it mirrors tactics used against him, urging an end to such “witch hunts.”

The judge called Le Pen’s actions a “serious and lasting attack on democratic rules in Europe, especially France.” Le Pen’s National Rally has faced scrutiny for years, but she remains a prominent figure in French politics. Trump’s comments come amid his own battles with legal challenges, which he frequently brands as politically motivated.

Klaus Schwab to RETIRE from the World Economic Forum

Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, will begin transitioning from his role as chair of the board of trustees, the organization announced Thursday, marking the end of an era for the influential globalist group he led for over five decades.

Schwab, 87, informed WEF staff via email of his intent to step down, though he will remain in the position until a successor is named, a spokesperson confirmed. The move follows reports of internal strife, with Schwab telling the Financial Times that the forum must regain its “sense of mission” after recent turmoil. The WEF anticipates completing the transition by January 2027.

Since founding the WEF in 1971 with just $6,000, Schwab transformed it into a $390 million-a-year powerhouse, hosting world leaders and executives at its annual Davos meeting. His vision propelled initiatives like the “Great Reset” and stakeholder capitalism, though critics argue it pushed a globalist agenda over national sovereignty.

Speculation about Schwab’s exit has swirled for years, intensified by staff discontent over succession plans. The WEF cleared him of misconduct allegations last month after an external probe. No successor has been named, though former Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende, the current WEF president, is a rumored contender.