Joshua Goodman, Author at The Rapid City Post

FILE - Ibrahim Almadi holds a photo of his father Saad Almadi graduating from college in 1984, in Washington, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/John McDonnell, File)

Ruling bans Florida retiree from leaving Saudi Arabia until 2026 over critical social media posts

September 23, 2025

A Florida retiree has been convicted of cyber crimes and blocked from leaving Saudi Arabia until next year over social media posts critical of the kingdom’s crown prince. That’s according to the man’s son. A Sept. 14 ruling says Saad Almadi was found guilty of distributing online content that undermines public order. The conviction spares him additional prison time after he spent more than a year behind bars following his arrest in 2021. Instead, it blocks Almadi from leaving until March. The Saudi government didn’t respond to a request for comment. It doesn’t recognize dual citizenship and regularly rejects criticism of its actions, saying they’re part of a multiyear crackdown on corruption, terrorism and other security threats.

FILE - The U.S flag flies outside the U.S. embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)

Watchdog questions millions spent each year on shuttered US Embassy in Venezuela

September 12, 2025

The U.S. government employs a sizable staff of 150 Venezuelans and spends upward of $6.7 million annually for upkeep of the shuttered American embassy and other diplomatic properties in Caracas, despite having broken relations with President Nicolás Maduro’s government in 2019. That’s according to a new report published Friday by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General. It criticizes U.S. officials for never conducting a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether U.S. taxpayers should continue footing the bill for operations inside the South American country. The first Trump administration broke ties with Maduro in a failed attempt to force the socialist leader from power. The State Department in March 2019 suspended operations at its embassy.

The Freedom Tower is seen in downtown Miami on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Daniel Kozin)

Cuban exiles honored at Miami’s ‘Ellis Island of the South’ as Trump ramps up immigrant arrests

August 15, 2025

Miami’s Freedom Tower stood as a beacon of hope for Cubans fleeing communist rule at the height of the Cold War. The U.S. State Department provided free medical services, English classes, and job opportunities to hundreds of thousands of Cuban refugees between 1962 and 1974. What was once Miami’s tallest building is getting a $65 million facelift after decades of neglect. It will reopen next month as a museum honoring the history of Cuban exiles with immersive state-of-the-art exhibits that explore the meaning of migration, freedom and homeland.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro addresses supporters during an event marking the anniversary of his disputed re-election and the birthday of late President Hugo Chavez, in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Trump doubles reward to $50 million for arrest of Venezuela’s president to face US drug charges

August 7, 2025

The Trump administration is doubling to $50 million a reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and accusing him of working with cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine. The announcement was made Thursday by Attorney General Pam Bondi. Maduro was indicted in Manhattan federal court in 2020 on federal charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. Maduro remains entrenched after defying the U.S. and several Latin American governments who condemned his 2024 reelection as a sham and recognized his opponent as Venezuela’s duly elected president.

FILE - A jar of krill sits on a lab counter at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point, Va., on May 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, file)

Krill fishery in Antarctica shut down after record catch triggers unprecedented early closure

August 5, 2025

Officials have shut down the krill fishery near Antarctica early after exceeding the seasonal catch limit for the first time. This decision follows a report detailing a surge in krill catches after a conservation framework lapsed without a new plan. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources confirmed the early closure of the 2024-25 season. The U.S., Russia, China, and other governments failed to approve a new management plan. Krill is crucial for marine ecosystems and climate change mitigation. Researchers highlight its role in removing 20 million tons of carbon annually from the atmosphere.

Krill catch in Antarctica soars to record following collapse of conservation deal

July 28, 2025

Fishing for krill near Antarctica has surged to a record high, nearing a seasonal catch limit that could close the fishery early. This boom follows last year’s failure by several governments to approve a new management plan. In the first seven months of the 2024-25 season, krill fishing reached 518,568 tons, about 84% of the 620,000-ton limit. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources reported a nearly 60% increase in one area. Krill are crucial for marine ecosystems and climate regulation, but increased demand and fishing pressure threaten their stocks.

FILE - Former Venezuelan military spy chief, retired Maj. Gen. Hugo Carvajal, walks out of prison in Estremera on the outskirts of Madrid, on Sept. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)

Former Venezuela spymaster pleads guilty to narcoterrorism charge ahead of trial

June 25, 2025

A former Venezuelan spymaster who was close to the country’s late President Hugo Chávez has pleaded guilty to narco-terrorist charges. Retired Maj. Gen. Hugo Carvajal’s plea Wednesday comes a week before his trial was set to begin in a Manhattan federal court. Carvajal was extradited from Spain in 2023 after more than a decade on the run from U.S. law enforcement. Carvajal pleaded guilty to all four criminal counts in an indictment accusing him of leading a cartel made up of senior Venezuelan military officers that attempted to “flood” the U.S. with cocaine. The most serious count, for narco-terrorist conspiracy, carries a mandatory minimum 20-year sentence.

Joshua Goodman.