The sentence came after the 32-year-old from Providence pleaded guilty to theft of mail by a postal employee and conspiracy to steal mail, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island said in a Feb. 27 news release.

During a search of the man’s home, authorities found notebooks with writings about his plans to “hunt” down non-white church congregants, according to the release.

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 but has since made a comeback which experts attribute to international travel and the rise of anti-vaccine sentiment. It remains to be seen whether the ongoing outbreaks will die out or continue to spread.

It was a busy year for state legislatures seeking to protect their residents’ privacy. In 2024, seven states passed comprehensive consumer