NJ high school football star fatally stabbed on pre-Thanksgiving NYC night out ‘biggest warrior and protector’ says devastated dad

The New Jersey high school football player fatally stabbed by a shoeless stranger in a late-night Manhattan street assault was remembered Saturday as a fun-loving teen destined for far bigger things.

Victim Rocco Rodden, 17, was “the light in the darkest room, the eye of the tiger, the life of the party, the biggest warrior and protector there was,” his devastated dad Douglas Rodden, 53, told the Daily News.

“It’s a tragedy. The family is broken because, you know, he died in his brother’s arms.”

The father last spoke with his slain son only a few hours before the stabbing, reminding him to be careful on his night out in the city.

“Yesterday I had to plan a funeral and pick a coffin and a mausoleum for my son. I would not wish that upon anybody,” Rodden said.

“I just hope that justice is served,” Rodden said of the suspect arrested in the case. “You know, we live in a free country, and people should really learn to love and respect one another. There’s no reason for people to stab people. … But no justice is going to bring back the life of a child of Rocco’s character.”

https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/11/25/mourners-honor-teen-nj-football-star-stabbed-to-death-in-lower-manhattan-after-pre-thankgiving-night-out-turned-lethal/

17 hostages and 39 Palestinian prisoners released in second exchange

Israel and Hamas moved forward with an exchange of captives Saturday after a dispute over the amount of aid moving into Gaza was ironed out by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, ending a period of uncertainty over whether the truce between the two sides would hold past midnight. The second day of hostage transfers and prisoner releases began late Saturday night, according to Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces. Thirteen Israelis and four Thai nationals were released to Israeli Special Operations forces, according to the Israeli Prime Minister’s office. In exchange, Israel released dozens of Palestinians held in its prisons.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/25/israel-hamas-war-hostage-news-gaza-palestine/

Dean Phillips announces he will not seek reelection to Congress in 2024

“[After] three terms it is time to pass the torch,” Phillips said in a statement, echoing the argument for generational change he has called for in his primary bid against Biden.

Phillips formally launched his campaign for the Democratic presidential nod last month in New Hampshire. He told CNN he was compelled to challenge the president – whom he called “terrific” – over his concerns that Biden would lose a general election rematch against former President Donald Trump due to the incumbent’s age and low approval ratings.

“Congressman Phillips has voted for nearly 100% of President Biden’s policies, and the President will miss his support for the Biden-Harris legislative agenda,” spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement Friday.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/24/politics/dean-phillips-reelection-congress-president-2024/index.html