An airplane lifts off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as the sun rises Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)2025-04-23T13:20:37Z NEW YORK (AP) Adelynn Campbells last plane trip ended with a panic attack that she got through largely with the help of a kind flight attendant. That was last year before 67 people died in January when an American Airlines jet collided with a helicopter over Washington, D.C., in the deadliest U.S. air disaster in almost a quarter century. Now, Campbell is even more hesitant to book a flight.Its definitely spiked my concern about getting on a plane and its making the whole situation a little more stressful than it used to be, said Campbell, 30, who manages a coffee shop in San Diego.Being at least a little nervous about flying is understandable. As Mel Brooks once said: If God wanted us to fly, He would have given us tickets. But for some people it causes deep anxiety that could require professional help. Heres a look at air travel anxiety and ways to cope with it. More people seem to be nervous about flyingThe evidence is anecdotal, but psychologists and flight attendants say theyve seen and heard increased worries and not only in people who already had anxieties about flying.Even people who didnt have a fear of flying are talking about it, given recent events, said Jennifer Dragonette, a California-based psychologist who treats people with air travel anxieties. U.S. air travel was down in March and early April compared with last year, according to TSA statistics. Airlines have attributed the decline to economic uncertainty, a decline in government and corporate travel and yes concern about recent aviation incidents. This article is part of APs Be Well coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health. Read more Be Well. FAA officials recently acknowledged they werent doing enough to ensure air safety. Recent polling by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that fewer Americans report feeling safe about flying this year. Flight attendants who work planes out of the Washington, D.C., airport were particularly rattled by the January collision, said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants union. Some asked for time off to process their emotions, and at least one flight attendant left the job, she said.What is fear of flying?Fear of flying sometimes called aerophobia goes beyond just being nervous about a flight. It is an intense form of anxiety that centers on certain aspects of air travel. Many aerophobes get most rattled during take-off and landing, or when they think about being locked in a plane.Some research has suggested it affects about 25 million U.S. adults. Psychologists say it often surfaces in adulthood, developing in people who didnt mind flying as kids but grew more rattled as they aged.In many cases, it starts when people are in their 20s or 30s, at a time they are experiencing big life changes and new responsibilities like getting married or becoming a parent and they start to think that everything counts, said David Carbonell, a Chicago-based psychologist who authored a workbook to help people cope with flying fears.A bad flight with heavy turbulence or some other problem may trigger an anxiety that persists, he said. Campbell, who has other forms of anxiety, developed a fear of flying a few years ago. She is transgender, and said travel can be stressful because of concerns about how shell be treated by airport security or in other interactions.Aerophobia can be complicated, Carbonell said. For many people, its not so much a fear of crashing as it is claustrophobic feelings of being in an enclosed cabin and not having control.Campbell said thats what she experiences: feeling trapped and unable to breathe.Nelson said flight attendants regularly deal with suffering passengers: Weve had people have panic attacks, and weve had to give them oxygen. It can be quite intense.How to cope with flying anxietyStatistics have long shown that airliners are probably the safest way to travel. According to the National Safety Council, the odds of dying in an airplane crash are too low to be calculated, based on 2023 statistics making them far, far lower than of being killed in a motor vehicle crash or, for that matter, walking on a sidewalk or crossing a street. But experts say you cant really reason your way out of an anxiety disorder.Carbonell spends little time on statistics, telling patients: I know you already looked at them all, and theyre not helping you. For people with milder levels of aerophobia, deep breathing often works. Longer exhales help the body relax, said Dragonette, who counseled Campbell for aerophobia and other anxiety disorders at a Newport Healthcare residential facility in Temecula, California.People suffering more extreme cases can be helped with exposure therapy. It can start by simply getting patients to become comfortable looking at photos of planes, watching videos of planes flying safely, or putting on a virtual reality headset that shows recordings of being inside a plane, Dragonette said.Its a matter of getting patients to learn to live with their feelings and better handle them.Carbonell recommends patients take practice flights that do not involve work trips or any other responsibilities. When they have symptoms, he recommends they keep a written inventory.Theyre keeping a simple count, he said. Were using counting as a proxy for acceptance.Its OK to ask for helpNelson, who was a longtime United Airlines flight attendant, says: Ive had situations where Id sort of sit in the aisle and hold someones hand.On a Frontier Airlines flight last year from Detroit to San Diego, Campbell tried breathing and other coping skills, but they didnt halt her panic attack. The passenger next to her noticed she was increasingly anxious, and summoned a flight attendant. The flight attendant took deep breaths with Campbell and helped her get through it, and also took down Campbells phone number and checked on her a day later. I was really impressed, she said.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Harvey Weinstein appears in state court in Manhattan as jury selection continues in his retrial on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 in New York. (Steven Hirsch /New York Post via AP, Pool)2025-04-23T09:56:58Z NEW YORK (AP) Five years after Harvey Weinstein s original #MeToo trial delivered a searing reckoning for one of Hollywoods most powerful figures, the ex-studio boss is on trial again after an appeals court threw out the landmark rape conviction.Opening statements are set for Wednesday in a trial that could take six weeks. Its happening at the same Manhattan courthouse as his first trial, and two accusers who testified then are expected to return. But Weinsteins retrial is playing out at a different cultural moment than the first, which happened during the height of the #MeToo movement. And along with the charges being retried, he faces an additional allegation from a woman who wasnt involved in the first case.The jury counts seven women and five men unlike the seven-man, five-woman panel that convicted him in 2020 and theres a different judge. The #MeToo movement, which exploded in 2017 with allegations against Weinstein, has also evolved and ebbed. At the start of Weinsteins first trial, chants of rapist could be heard from protesters outside.TV trucks lined the street, and reporters queued for hours to get a seat in the packed courtroom. His lawyers decried the carnival-like atmosphere and fought unsuccessfully to get the trial moved from Manhattan. This time though, over five days of jury selection, there was none of that. Those realities, coupled with the New York Court of Appeals ruling last year vacating his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence because the judge allowed testimony about allegations Weinstein was not charged with are shaping everything from retrial legal strategy to the atmosphere in court. Weinstein, 73, is being retried on a criminal sex act charge for allegedly forcibly performing oral sex on a movie and TV production assistant, Miriam Haley, in 2006 and a third-degree rape charge for allegedly assaulting an aspiring actor, Jessica Mann, in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013. Weinstein also faces a criminal sex act charge for allegedly forcing oral sex on a different woman at a Manhattan hotel in 2006. Prosecutors said that the woman, who hasnt been named publicly, came forward days before his first trial but wasnt part of that case. They said they revisited her allegations when his conviction was thrown out.The Associated Press does not generally identify people alleging sexual assault unless they consent to be named, as Haley and Mann have done.Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies raping or sexually assaulting anyone. His acquittals on the two most serious charges at his 2020 trial predatory sexual assault and first-degree rape still stand.Lindsay Goldbrum, a lawyer for the unnamed accuser, said Weinsteins retrial marks a pivotal moment in the fight for accountability in sex abuse cases and a signal to other survivors that the system is catching up and that its worth speaking out even when the odds seem insurmountable.This time around, the Manhattan district attorneys office is prosecuting Weinstein through its Special Victims Division, which specializes in such cases, after homicide veterans helmed the 2020 version. At the same time, Weinstein has added several lawyers to his defense team including Jennifer Bonjean, who is involved in appealing his 2022 rape conviction in Los Angeles. She helped Bill Cosby get his conviction overturned and defended R. Kelly in his sex crimes case. This trial is not going to be all about #MeToo. Its going to be about the facts of what took place, Weinsteins lead attorney, Arthur Aidala, said recently. And thats a big deal. And thats the way its supposed to be.But there has been some talk of #MeToo already. A prosecutor asked prospective jurors whether theyd heard of the movement. Most said that they had but that it wouldnt affect them either way. Others went further. A woman opined that not enough has been done as a result of #MeToo. A man explained that he had negative feelings about it because his high school classmates had been falsely accused of sexual assault.Another man said he viewed #MeToo like other social movements: Its a pendulum. It swings way one way, then way the other way, and then it settles.None of them are on the jury. MICHAEL R. SISAK Sisak is an Associated Press reporter covering law enforcement and courts in New York City, including former President Donald Trumps criminal and civil cases and problems plaguing the federal prison system. twitter mailto

Nature, Published online: 23 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01153-5Cancer blood tests and AI-powered scans look promising for quicker and more accurate detection of disease.

Nature, Published online: 23 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01155-3These scientists are coming at cancer from all angles.

What really went down in Nico Iamaleava's split with Tennessee and move to UCLA? We go inside the drama months in the making.

Rutgers freshman Ace Bailey, the projected No. 3 pick in this year's NBA draft, is going pro, saying he is "nowhere close to reaching my potential" and "can take a good team to a better level."

In the landmark antitrust case, tech executives have harked back to a Silicon Valley age when social apps like Facebook, Path, Orkut and Google Plus boomed.

Plus, YouTube turns 20.

WASHINGTONClaiming that preservation efforts had impeded U.S. seafood production for far too long, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he had opened up the nations aquariums to commercial fishing. Starting today, fishermen will finally be allowed to sail into Americas protected aquariums, drop a net in any marine exhibit they please, and begin trawling, Trump said at a press conference, adding that commercial fishing would now be permitted in all glass-enclosed fish tanks,coastal mammal habitats, and interactive tide pools at the more than 150 aquariums across the United States, regardless of whether spectators were currently enjoying them or not. How can Democrats stand by and watch hardworking fishermen suffer when the Monterey Bay Aquarium has an entire kelp forest filled with sharks, jellyfish, and an absolutely enormous sunfish just sitting there, going to waste. Thats why Ive decided to waive the entrance fees nationwide and open every exhibit to fishing, even the ones with penguins, dolphins, and otters. At press time, Trump announced an additional executive order allowing commercial seafood vessels to fish in exotic pet stores, home aquariums, and private backyard koi ponds.The post Trump Opens Up Nations Aquariums To Commercial Fishing appeared first on The Onion.

WASHINGTONDeclaring that there was no better time for the U.S. populace to go cold turkey, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly attempted to flush the nations antidepressants this week. Listen, I found these in your medicine cabinet, said Kennedy, the 71-year-old Cabinet member stunning Americans in all 50 states as he stood over the toilet flushing millions of prescriptions for fluoxetine, escitalopram, sertraline, and paroxetine down the bowl. You dont need thesethey were only holding you back. Nuh-uh-uh, Vermont, no buts about it. Just push through the next few days, and youll see exactly what Im talking about. If you still feel bad after that, try some fish oil. Trust me. Your life is about to be so much better. At press time, reports confirmed Kennedy was frantically plunging the overflowing toilet.The post RFK Jr. Flushes Nations Antidepressants appeared first on The Onion.

It looks great but I want to get rid of it.READ MORE...

People gather outdoors following an earthquake shock with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2, in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)2025-04-23T10:06:20Z ISTANBUL (AP) An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 shook Istanbul and other areas Wednesday, prompting widespread panic and scores of injuries in the Turkish city of 16 million people, though there were no immediate reports of serious damage.More than 150 people were hospitalized with injuries sustained while trying to jump from buildings, said the governors office in Istanbul, where residents are on tenterhooks because the city is considered at high risk for a major quake. The earthquake had a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (about 6 miles), according to the United States Geological Survey, with its epicenter about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Istanbul, in the Sea of Marmara. It was felt in the neighboring provinces of Tekirdag, Yalova, Bursa and Balikesir and in the city of Izmir, some 550 kilometers (340 miles) south of Istanbul. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the earthquake lasted 13 seconds and was followed by more than 50 aftershocks - the strongest measuring 5.9.The quake started at 12:49 p.m. during a public holiday when many children were out of school and celebrating in the streets of Istanbul. Panicked residents rushed from their homes and buildings into the streets. The disaster and emergency management agency urged people to stay away from buildings. More than 150 injuredDue to panic, 151 of our citizens were injured from jumping from heights, the Istanbul governors office said in a statement. Their treatments are ongoing in hospitals, and they are not in life-threatening condition.Many residents flocked to parks, school yards and other open areas to avoid being near buildings in case of collapse or subsequent earthquakes. Some people pitched tents in parks.Thank God, there does not seem to be any problems for now, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at an event marking the National Sovereignty and Childrens Day holiday. May God protect our country and our people from all kinds of calamities, disasters, accidents and troubles. Leyla Ucar, a personal trainer, said she was exercising with her student on the 20th floor of a building when they felt intense shaking.We shook incredibly. It threw us around, we couldnt understand what was happening, we didnt think of an earthquake at first because of the shock of the event, she said. It was very scary.Senol Sari, 51, told The Associated Press he was with his children in the living room of their third floor apartment when he heard a loud noise and the building started shaking. They fled to a nearby park. We immediately protected ourselves from the earthquake and waited for it to pass, Sari said. Of course, we were scared. They later were able to return home calmly, Sari said, but they remain worried that a bigger quake will some day strike the city. Its an expected earthquake, our concerns continue, he said. My children were a little scaredCihan Boztepe, 40, was one of many who hurriedly fled to the streets with his family in order to avoid a potential collapse. Boztepe, standing next to his sobbing child, told AP that in 2023 he was living in Batman province, an area close to the southern part of Turkey where major quakes struck at the time, and that Wednesdays tremor felt weaker and that he wasnt as scared.At first we were shaken, then it stopped, then we were shaken again. My children were a little scared, but I wasnt. We quickly gathered our things and went down to a safe place. If it were up to me, we would have already returned home.Turkeys Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said authorities had not received reports of collapsed buildings. He told HaberTurk television that there had been reports of damage to buildings.The NTV broadcaster reported that a derelict and abandoned former residential building had collapsed in the historic Fatih district, which houses the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. Education Minister Yusuf Tekin announced that schools would be closed on Thursday and Friday in Istanbul. In line with the need for a safe space, our school gardens are open to the use of all our citizens, Tekin said. Urban reconstruction projectsTurkey is crossed by two major fault lines, and earthquakes are frequent.A magnitude 7.8 earthquake on Feb. 6, 2023, and a second powerful tremor hours later, destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings in 11 southern and southeastern provinces, leaving more than 53,000 people dead. Another 6,000 people were killed in the northern parts of neighboring Syria.Istanbul was not impacted by that earthquake, but the devastation heightened fears of a similar quake, with experts citing the citys proximity to fault lines.In a bid to prevent damage from any future quake, the national government and local administrations started urban reconstruction projects to fortify buildings at risk and launched campaigns to demolish buildings at risk of collapse. On Wednesday, long queues formed at gas stations as residents, planning to leave Istanbul, rushed to fill up their vehicles. Among them was Emre Senkay who said he might leave in the event of a more severe earthquake later in the day.My plan is to leave Istanbul if there is a more serious earthquake, he said.___Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey. Robert Badendieck contributed from Canakkale, Turkey.

People pass by a Tesla sign at the Manila International Auto Show in Pasay city, Philippines Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)2025-04-23T13:57:55Z NEW YORK (AP) Uncertainty over tariffs and an unpredictable trade war is weighing heavily on companies as they report their latest financial results and try to give investors financial forecasts.Some tariffs remain in place against key U.S. trading partners, but others have been postponed to give nations time to negotiate. The tariff and trade picture has been shifting for months, sometimes changing drastically on a daily basis. Those shifts make it difficult for companies and investors to make a reliable assessment of any impact to costs and sales. On Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he expects a de-escalation in the trade war between the U.S. and China, but cautioned that talks between the two sides had yet to formally start.Heres how several big companies are dealing with the tariff confusion: TeslaTesla is in a better position than most car companies to deal with tariffs because it makes most of its U.S. cars domestically. But it still sources materials from other nations and will face import taxes.The bigger impact will be seen in the companys energy business. The company said the impact will be outsized because it sources LFP battery cells from China. The broader trade war could also hurt the company as China, the worlds largest electric vehicle market, retaliates against the U.S. Tesla was forced earlier this month to stop taking orders from mainland customers for two models, its Model S and Model X. It makes the Model Y and Model 3 for the Chinese market at its factory in Shanghai.CEO Elon Musk, a member of Trumps administration, on Tuesday reiterated that he believes lower tariffs are generally a good idea for prosperity. But he added that ultimately the president decides on what tariffs to impose. Akzo NobelThe Amsterdam-based maker of paints and coatings for industrial and commercial use said the big risk from tariffs could come in the form of lower demand for its products.The company said almost all sales of finished goods in the U.S. were locally produced, with the majority of raw materials locally sourced.Over the years, we deliberately localized both our procurement and production in the U.S., said CEO Gregoire Poux-Guillaume, in a conference call with analysts. We also largely run China for China and use the rest of Asia instead as an export base.The companys products range from paints and coatings for the automotive industry to the do-it-yourself homeowner. Broader tariffs could squeeze consumers and businesses and hurt sales.

Last month, Roy Lee was suspended from Columbia after he was accused of using AI to cheat on technical job interviews for Amazon, Meta, and TikTok. On Sunday, he announced that he raised $5.3 million to start Cluely, a new startup that aims to allow users to similarly cheat on everything.Cluely went viral when it launched earlier this week thanks to a commercial Lee posted on X. In the video, Lee bumbles his way through a date. A large UI sits between him and his date, feeding him information about the womans interests and coaching him on how to talk to her.In an interview, however, Lee told me that his AI tool is not really cheating.Initially it will feel like cheating, but if we win, nobody will think this is cheating, Lee told me.Cheating or not, after testing Cluely myself, Im not sure it will help anyone land a job.Everytime you ask me something I just hit command+enter and you cant really see that Im using it and you also cant really see that Im reading any responses, but Cluely is kind of just sitting here, helping along, Lee said when I spoke to him on Zoom on Tuesday.Lee wants people to use Cluely on Sales calls. Meetings. Negotiations, the manifesto on the softwares website says. If theres a faster way to winwell take it. We built Cluely so you never have to think alone again. It sees your screen. Hears your audio. Feeds you answers in real time. While others guessyoure already right.Cluely is out. cheat on everything. pic.twitter.com/EsRXQaCfUI Roy (@im_roy_lee) April 20, 2025Cluelys viral video racked up more than 10 million views on X. A lot of the reactions were negative.I guess I just didn't fully grasp how many losers there are in the world. Like I knew there were a lot of losers out there, but the amount of losers that would have to exist to, one, make this product feasible and, two, to make this ad's existence possible is hard to process. https://t.co/RxM8X8wgAW Ryan Broderick (@broderick) April 21, 2025I dont understand why a guy would commission an expensive commercial about his AI app in which he goes on a date, lies to a girl about his age, pays for her fancy dinner, and then despite all this couldnt get laid. He willingly chose this script. Can someone please explain? https://t.co/by5PE2Ghcb Eli Schiff (@eli_schiff) April 21, 2025Lee said he expected the critiques that hed created a dystopian piece of software that would destroy the human connection and the essence of humanity.Im pretty comfortable taking that negative PR, he told me.Cluely is the latest attempt to bring large language models into the real world after products like the Humane Pin and Rabbit R1 were widely hyped but were widely disappointing. Its also reminiscent of a project that Joseph wrote about out of Harvard, where students put facial recognition software into a pair of Meta smart glasses.The second realm of negative feedback is that cheating is inherently unethical and immoral. This is where were trying to do a lot of reframing around what exactly defines cheating, what cheating really is, and what cheating will look like in a future that is AI native, he said.Lee also went viral earlier this year when he used an AI program of his own designed to pass the brutal technical interviews of Amazon, Meta, and TikTok. He claimed he landed gigs at several of the companies but didnt take any of them. Instead he uploaded a video of himself using the tool to YouTube and used the buzz to launch Interview Coder, a commercial version of the software.At the time, Lee was a student at Columbia, and someone sent a letter to the university claiming to be a concerned Amazon executive. The letter accused Lee of cheating in the interview. Columbia took disciplinary action. Lee dropped out of the University and struck out on his own with another former student Neel Shanmugam.Interview Coder worked by watching your screen, pinging ChatGPT, and then giving you an answer to the coding problem it saw in an overlay. Cluely is the same thing but the use case is expanded beyond code.I tried out a test version of Cluely in a mock interview with Emanuel Maiberg. We pretended Emanuel was interviewing me for a position at 404 Media and I used Cluely to shape my answers. Emanuel would hit me with a basic interview question: What are your strengths? What do you need to work on? And Id hit command+enter after he spoke.Then Cluely would answer the question it had just heard Emanuel ask me and put its answers in an overlay at the top of my screen. It would come in two pieces: a bright white script I could read verbatim and a darker piece of text below that explained the AIs reasoning. Because of the way Cluely is programmed, it doesnt show up in recordings or even screenshots.It also wasnt that impressive. A few questions into the conversation and Emanuel and I realized it was just feeding me ChatGTP answers to the questions as if Id typed them in a browser. It also took 20 seconds each time to generate, with Emanuel and I staring at each other while we waited. Not the kind of thing that would work in a real world situation.Lee said that the companys top priority was removing latency from the system and that it moves much faster if the user turns off screen recording and just has Cluely listen. I asked if his software was just pinging ChatGPT on the backend. We have a bit of fine tuning that happens and theres a couple of other models going on, but essentially yes, he said.Cluelys major innovation is user experience. Most of the systems it's using already exist. The only thing the product really showcased [in the commercial] was ChatGPT in your glasses, Lee said. The only reason it was sort of crazy was because it was just a different experience layer. I think it would be foolish to think that there is a future where ChatGPT doesnt come in your glasses.Lee described himself as an AI maximalist. As I transcribed this part of our conversion, I remembered that Lee had Cluely overlaid on his screen, helping him craft his answers as we spoke, meaning some portion of his answers were crafted by AI. I think the pessimistic case is to think, Okay, now all of humanity is just gone and theres nothing I can do. Im just going to be a walking flesh machine for AI to regurgitate AIs thoughts, he said. I dont think thats what makes us human at all. In fact, I think the true essence of what makes us human is our taste and our preferences and our sparks of inspiration and thoughts. Thats just supercharged by AI.What we have seen from AI so far, though, is that it gives a sheen of sameness to everything. There are some creative people who have found uses for generative AI, but they have often incorporated it into their ideation process and then use their own creativity or taste to create a finished product; Cluely is being developed for time-sensitive, real-world uses where there is unlikely to be much time for refinement.Both Lee and the marketing copy for Cluely hammer home that technical innovations are often thought of as cheating. Math teachers worried about the advent of calculators. I would really question whether you think what were doing and enabling here is cheating, he said. I think, fundamentally, the product is not different from a better version of ChatGPT voice mode.I pointed out that his own marketing for Cluely says that the software allows users to cheat on everything.Its a viral hook and its super tied into my origin story with Interview Coder, right? Lee said. We want to make everybody use AI. We are true AI maximalists.I asked him to tell me his vision of the future.I will never have to remember when the American Revolution was, Lee said. I will never have to remember what the capital of Wisconsin is. Every single thing that is rote memorization, that relies on facts that you dont need in the moment, that are not intrinsically necessary for a human to learn, you wont need that anymore.Entire school systems will be gone. The entire K-12 education. Everybody sits in a room eight hours a day, takes multiple choice exams. In my future, everything we understand education to be, will be completely gone. He said that people will explore whatever topics they want from the earliest ages in the most efficient way possible.History will be on the side of the maximalists, he said.According to Lee, 80,000 people have signed up for a free Cluely account. An additional 700 are paying for it.

Nature, Published online: 23 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01152-6Emerging companies and an evolving market are changing the dynamics of cancer trials.

Nature, Published online: 23 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01154-4China takes pole position in cancer-related research in the Nature Index, with a massive jump in output.

The twins, who were drafted No. 4 and No. 5 in 2023, have been a major part of the Rockets' and Pistons' playoff berths.

Every ace wants to add something filthy to their arsenal. Sometimes it just doesn't work out.

by Mark Olalde ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for Dispatches, a newsletter that spotlights wrongdoing around the country, to receive our stories in your inbox every week. A top official in the Department of Labor this week informed all staff members that they could face criminal charges if they speak to journalists, former employees or others about agency business.A memo sent Monday by Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemers chief of staff, Jihun Han, and obtained by ProPublica, states that individuals who disclose confidential information or engage in unauthorized communications with the media may face serious legal consequences.Among the ramifications, the memo states, are potential criminal penalties, depending on the nature of the information and the applicable laws, and immediate disciplinary actions, up to and including termination.The guidance document went on to say that any unauthorized communication with the media, regardless of what information is shared or how it is shared, will be treated as a serious offense. The memo listed laws, regulations and a departmental guide to explain its legal position. Among them was a regulation concerning civil servants ethical obligations and a law, the Freedom of Information Act, guaranteeing the public the right to inspect certain public records.This message will serve as your only warning, the memo stated.The warning comes as current and former Labor Department employees have spoken to the news media about harms they see resulting from the dismantling of portions of their agency, which enforces laws guaranteeing rights to a safe workplace, fair pay and protections against discrimination.Its very chilling, a Labor Department employee who requested anonymity for fear of retribution told ProPublica. Its never a good look when youre telling people to never talk about what youre doing.Labor Department spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment.These types of missives can chill the free flow of information to the press and the public, said Gabe Rottman, vice president of policy at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Thats a concern.Civil servants do not sacrifice their First Amendment rights by accepting a job with the federal government, but there do exist higher restrictions on what information they can disclose publicly. Government agencies that handle classified information have on rare occasions launched criminal investigations against leakers, but those are typically invoked only when leaks involve classified national security intelligence or protected financial information, Rottman said.But normally, disclosures to the press or others would be a matter of employee discipline as opposed to carrying criminal sanctions, he said.While the memo raising the possibility of criminal penalties was sent to Labor Department employees, it reflects a common approach by the administration of President Donald Trump to guard against federal government employees speaking to reporters.Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, for example, has publicly announced an aggressive pursuit of leakers. Elon Musk, who launched the Department of Government Efficiency, which is at the heart of the shake-up of the federal government, has bragged about his tactics in rooting out leaks at his companies. And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has blamed alleged leaks by former Pentagon staffers for reigniting controversy over his use of the Signal messaging app to discuss military operations.Federal employees at various agencies told ProPublica that an air of suspicion has descended on their workplace during Trumps second term, with rumors flying of surveillance of rank-and-file government workers. In the Department of Agriculture, for example, a banner temporarily appeared on government computers when employees logged in, telling them that unauthorized or improper use of this system may result in disciplinary action, as well as civil and criminal penalties.Agriculture Department spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The Labor Department employee told ProPublica that Mondays memo felt like the latest attack on a workforce already weathering layoffs, spending freezes and reorganizations.Its been horrible. Its been a deeply exhausting roller coaster, the employee said. Its very difficult to work when youre in a constant state of being terrorized by your employer.

Vice President JD Vance said the cease-fire plan would freeze territory along the current front lines of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and that the U.S. would walk away if Ukraine did not agree.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argued in a speech that the multilateral economic institutions have veered away from their missions.

NEW YORKClaiming it was the only way to protect ones assets against economic volatility, a group of financial experts recommended this week that Americans diversify their portfolios with multiple harebrained schemes. Rather than rely on a single half-baked investment, we strongly encourage people to have several cockamamie business plans to fall back on, said J.P. Morgan financial advisor Jonathan Rattler, adding that it was important to mitigate risk through a combination of foolhardy ventures like breeding koi fish, stealing copper wire from a scrapyard, and buying a machine on Alibaba that makes lab-grown diamonds. We suggest investing in a variety of dubious sectors, including miraclehair-growth supplements, alpaca rentals, and using outlets at public libraries torun your own bitcoin farm. Also, we know a guy who makes $2 million a year installing vending machines in local prisons. If you want, we can put you in touch. Rattler added that Americans planning to retire by age 60 should really consider giving their brother-in-law the $10,000 he requested, because his idea to import exotic ferns was a surefire thing.The post Financial Experts Recommend Diversifying Portfolio With Multiple Harebrained Schemes appeared first on The Onion.

Good Little Garden has fresh bouquets starting at $6.READ MORE...

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is seen at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)2025-04-23T15:24:37Z SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said Wednesday that he will not seek reelection in 2026, ending his more than four-decade career representing Illinois and piling more pressure on the party as it already faced a difficult path to reclaiming a majority in the Senate.The decision by Durbin, who is in his fifth Senate term and is the chambers No. 2 Democrat, will set off a flurry of activity among a scrum of would-be successors, both Democratic and Republican. But in a state that has grown more solidly Democratic, the GOP has captured a Senate seat just twice for six-year terms since 1984.The decision of whether to run has not been easy, Durbin said in a video posted to X. I truly love the job of being a United States senator. But in my heart I know its time to pass the torch. Durbin, whos 80, was first elected to the U.S. House in 1982 and served seven terms before succeeding his mentor, Paul Simon, in the Senate in 1996. From that post, he helped shape the career of an up-and-comer, Barack Obama, who was only four years into his first term in the Senate when he was elected president. Durbin is the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and sits on the Appropriations and Agriculture committees. His caucus colleagues have chosen him as Democratic whip, the partys No. 2 position, biennially since 2005. He has been consistently liberal in Congress. Govtracks 2024 report card on Congress lists him as the Senates 14th most liberal member right behind Illinois junior senator, Tammy Duckworth. Among Durbins more significant legislative achievements, he is largely credited with putting in motion the movement to ban indoor smoking. Having watched his 53-year-old father die of lung cancer when he was 14, Durbin won approval of legislation he sponsored in 1987 prohibiting smoking on short commercial flights and expanded it to nearly all domestic flights two years later. People started asking, If secondhand smoke wasnt safe on airplanes why is it safe in public buildings, schools, hospitals or restaurants? The answer is simple: Its not, Durbin said on the 25th anniversary of the law.In the early 2000s, he introduced the DREAM Act, which would give immigrants in the U.S. illegally who grew up in the country a pathway toward U.S. citizenship.Its never become law, but in 2010, Durbin and Sen. Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican, wrote Obama asking him to stop deporting so-called Dreamers. Obama responded with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which has covered about 830,000 immigrants, according to Durbins office.Durbin was instrumental in reversing a War on Drugs-era law that penalized crack cocaine in a 100-to-1 ratio to powder cocaine, a law that disproportionately hit Black defendants with long prison terms. The new law was made retroactive, reducing the sentences for those serving time for crack.And with Republican and Democratic co-sponsors, Durbin pushed the First Step Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in 2018. The criminal justice system revamp aimed to make sentencing laws fairer and provide programs to help people who are incarcerated transition in returning to society. Richard Durbin was born in 1944 in East St. Louis. In 1966, after graduating from Georgetown University, he interned for Sen. Paul Douglas, whose seat he now holds. It was Douglas, who lost election to a fourth term in 1966, who once mistakenly called him Dick, a nickname Durbin adopted. Durbin earned a law degree from Georgetown and worked as legal counsel for Simon, who was lieutenant governor in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and then for the Legislature through the 1970s. In 1978, Durbin made an unsuccessful run for lieutenant governor, after which he maintained a private legal practice and co-owned a Springfield tavern. A redrawn district, an economic recession and funding from pro-Israel forces were factors when in 1982 Durbin ousted 11-term Republican incumbent congressman Paul Findley, best known for his criticism of American policy toward Israel and support of Palestinians. In 2000, Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore considered Durbin for the vice presidency, before Gore ultimately chose Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut. But a few years later, Durbin influenced another presidential candidate when he served as a sounding board for and adviser to Obama.___Jalonick reported from Washington.___Follow the APs coverage of Sen. Dick Durbin at https://apnews.com/hub/richard-durbin.

Fruit Camp, atattoo and art studio in the Remington neighborhood of Baltimore, opened with a bang in February of 2020. We had a big opening party. It was really fun. Everybody came, says Geo Mccandlish, one of the co-founders. It was the last rager I went to, they said.The pandemic shut down their shopalongside the worldfor months, but the shop survived. We just put our stimulus checks into keeping the rent paid, says Emi Lynn Holler, the other co-founder.They had built the space without loans, on a low-budget, do-it-yourself ethos with hands-on help from their community. The deeply punk shoestring budget background worked really to our advantage, says Mccandlish.While it wasnt ideal, it was fitting. Mccandlish and Hollers artistic partnership has almost always lived at the crossroads of community, DIY, and extraordinary circumstances. A decade ago they met as residents of theBell Foundry, an arts co-op and co-living space, where sharing knowledge, making community, and living cheaply were key to getting by.It was there that Holler gifted Mccandlish their first tattooing machine and taught them how to use it. And it was where the two of themwho also do printmaking, fiber arts, and other creative activitiesstarted imagining co-founding a space of their own. That dream felt more urgent in 2016 when Baltimore condemned the Bell Foundry and evicted the residents, including Mccandlish, during a nationwide crackdown on artist co-ops after the Ghost Ship fire in Oakland.Holler had by then moved to Massachusetts to pursue formal tattoo education and certifications.Living inside that level of precarity, Mccandlish explains, made us want to figure out a hybrid, between the unique, collaborative Bell Foundry and a licensed, commercial space. We wanted to find a way to create more safety, says Holler.But they didnt just want to create safety for the two of them. When looking at spaces, they opted to lease a bigger studioa two-story, double-row house with room for tattooing on the first floor and small studios on the second. Mccandlish said the prospect of a larger project felt tantalizing and precious because they felt if you have access to something, you try to make sure that every resource that is a part of it is also shared.Today, in addition to tattoos, Fruit Camp holds studios for musicians, fiber artists, an herbalist, a massage therapist, and a doula. Were able to incubate and hold nontraditional pathways to different kinds of creative practices, says Mccandlish.A tattoo artist prepares to work at Fruit Camp. Photo: Emi Lynn Holler/courtesy Fruit Camp StudioYou can considerFruit Camp a queer business by several definitions. For one, every member of the studio identifies as queer, in some way. It also looks queer. Its campy and its pink, and we have a lot of gay art hanging around, explains Mccandlish.Holler says sometimes they get asked about losing potential patrons by being openly queer, but that isnt a worry. I think it only strengthens us, they say. It brings people to us who also want to find each other in that world. They pause, I feel like it boils down to we keep us safe and we take care of ourselves.Mccandlish emphasizes that queer is the political meaning and the orientation to which they do their work as a community space and business. Their shop practices are explicitly queer and trans-friendlyin addition to being anti-racist, anti-sexist, liberation-oriented, and accessible. For example, the shop requires masking and has consent-forward and trauma-informed practices in place. They also use cost-sharing instead of a traditional profit model with those who work in their space. The point is not to make as much money as everybody can, the point is to work enough with a low enough cost overhead that everyone can survive without overworking.That is a continued goal, not a static place, they explain. Some of our goals, we havent reached yet, like turning into a true worker co-op.But they are already making big strides in the community. For example, some patrons tell them that they are the only tattoo studio they feel safe using, due to the universal masking policies. To their knowledge, they are the only shop in Baltimore that has the policy.Fruit Camp also has a big community name. One day Mccandlish logged onto a community Facebook group and saw an anonymous post asking about queer-friendly tattooers or tattooers who would tattoo someone who has HIV. The post said, Ive been turned away from five different shops.Immediately Mccandlish went to the comments to write that Fruit Camp would be happy to tattoo them, but instead, they found the comment section full of that recommendation already. It warmed their heart. That feels like a very minor way that [our work] is so important.This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab through News is Out. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.The post How queer Baltimore tattoo artists are building strong community spaces appeared first on News Is Out.

Today Paramount+ has finally ru-vealed the cast of the upcoming Drag Race All Stars season and the cast is so stacked, we are gagging to see them fight it out on the main stage.The tenth season of All Stars is breaking records with 18 fan favorite queens the largest number in franchise herstory returning to compete for the ultimate crown. And this time RuPaul is trying out a brand new format called the Tournament of All Stars, where the queens will be divided into groups who will compete in brackets and culminate in an epic Lip Sync Smackdown for a spot in the coveted Drag Race Hall of Fame.Now that we know which queens are coming back for another shot at victory, its time to spill the tea about who were dying to see again and which ones we cant wait to see compete head to head against each other. So PRIDEs very own Drag Race experts and superfans Rachel Shatto and Ricky Cornish are joining forces to give you their hot takes on this newest crop of returning queens!RuPauls Drag Race All Stars returns with two brand new episodes on Friday, May 9 at 9 pm PT/12 am ET on Paramount+.All cast bios courtesy of Paramount+.Acid Betty"Let the acid trip begin! Season 8s unapologetic iconoclast Acid Betty returns to the competition to kick ass and take names. Shes a gifted visual artist whose punk rock vibes and unfiltered attitude stood out in the workroom and on the Mainstage, making her a hardcore contender for the crown."But what do we think?Rachel: Im excited to see Acid Betty coming back. I feel like Drag Race itself has changed so much since season 8, and now there is a lot more room for her aesthetic. I hope she is just as acidic as she was in her season. I love the sisterhood, but also love it when it's a season-long reading challenge, too! Ricky: Absolutely. People have been wanting to see her on their screens for a long time and the competition is stacked. Will she rise to the challenge?Follow Acid Betty on Instagram and X.Aja"Ayo, sisAja is in the building! Part Harajuku, part hood, all attitude. This Brooklyn-bred banjee queen from Season 9 and All Stars 3 is back with a fast tongue, sickening vogue moves, and some unfinished business. Shes here to cement her legacyand snatch that crown."But what do we think?Rachel: Has been on a whole journey since the last time she was on our screens. I always really appreciate how she represents the ballroom roots of drag. She's hella feisty, always gives great soundbites, and I wanna see what she's gonna jump off of next. I also feel like after seeing her Give It To Me Straight and reuniting Kandy Muse and Dahlia Sin, she seems like she's in a happier place ... I can't wait to see her evolution.Ricky: Aja has too many iconic moments to count. Sickening lip syncs, shady reads, and legendary performances. As she said on All Stars 3, she has some unfinished business, and I know shell have plenty of stunts up her sleeve.Follow Aja on Instagram, X, and TikTok.Alyssa Hunter"Its officially hunting season, because the trade of Season 15, Alyssa Hunter is here! Fellow contestants better watch out you might end up as prey for this polished pageant queen, because this Puerto Rican knockout has her sights set on All Stars glory!"But what do we think?Ricky: Drag Race fans everywhere remember Alyssas short run on season 14. She was undeniably the trade of the season, but a money gun resulted in her sashaying away prematurely in the competition. Could the Puerto Rican queen make it to the end this time around?Rachel: Yeah, I agree. There was so much untapped potential there. Crystal Envy reminded me a bit of her in season 17. Totally gorgeous, and polished with a run that was cut way too short. Super glad to see her back and excited to see how shes grown, especially since her drag was already at such a high caliber on her season.Follow Alyssa Hunter on Instagram, X, and TikTok.Bosco"Seattles demon queen is backwith a monster appetite for the crown! Bosco was saved from elimination by a golden chocolate bar in Season 14 and clawed her way to the Finale. Now this burlesque beauty is armed with cutting-edge fashion and razor-sharp wit and shes ready to slice through the competition!"But what do we think?Rachel: The eyebrows of my dreams are back! But seriously, I love Bosco. I really hope this season we get to see more of her spooky side and her sisterhood with Irene!Ricky: Bosco has grown so much as an artist and as a person since her time on season 14. Its been so amazing seeing her embrace her trans identity and elevate her drag over the past few years. Im sure shell be stiff competition, just like the first time.Follow Bosco on Instagram and X.Cynthia Lee Fontaine"Its time to get Cucu! The beloved queen of Seasons 8 and 9 is back! This Puerto Rican singer, cancer survivor, and activist from Texas has the heart of a champion and a zany charm thatll tickle your funny bone. Preprate para enamorarte de nuevo!"But what do we think?Ricky: Her CuCu is back! Cynthia Lee Fontaine is just a total sweetheart. As season 8s Miss Congeniality, Im excited to bring overall good vibes back to the werkroom.Rachel: Yes, I am Cucu for this casting! What a lovable queen, I am so ready to see her and her legendary booty back in the Werk Room.Follow Cynthia Lee Fontaine on Instagram and TikTok.Daya Betty"The statuesque punk rock powerhouse of Season 14 is back! After an early elimination, Daya Betty battled her way to the Grand Finale, proving shes the ultimate comeback kid. Bold, outspoken, and relentlessshes hungry for the crown and willing to go all the way."But what do we think?Ricky: Daya Betty really redeemed herself on season 14. From being the queen first out, to make it all the way to the finale, I really think she has a lot to prove this time around. The fans were really hard on her during season 14, so Im very curious to see how her personality will read on All Stars. I personally love her and think shes so talented and kind, so Im really excited to see whats to come from her.Rachel: Totally agree, I feel like that season everyone was clutching pearls over her speaking her mind. In this house we stan an outspoken queen especially one as talented as Daya. I am still Daya-ing over her Betty Page fetish-inspired Catwalk look.Follow Daya Betty on Instagram, X, and TikTok.Deja Skye"Season 14s pastel princess is back, bringing that beautiful mug, a bright sense of humor, and a personality as big as her talent. She single-handedly saved her seasons Snatch GameYay-yuh! Now, the skys the limit for DeJa in this competition, okayyyy!But what do we think?Rachel: Is this the year we finally get our Winner/Miss Congeniality double crowning? Can I just say how much I love Deja, she is so warm and funny, and single-handedly saved that Snatch Game. Am I happy shes back? Yay-yuh! Ricky: Deja is so underrated in my opinion. She served up amazing lip-syncs during season 14 and brought an overall sweet energy that just radiated on screen. I definitely have a soft spot for Ms. Skye! Deja Skye on Instagram, X, and TikTok.Denali"Drags gold medal bitch has entered the tournament! Denali is an ice-skating athlete turned lip-sync assassin, and shes trained hard for the Olympics of Drag. Queens bewareshe just might triple lutz and leave the other queens skating on thin ice!"But what do we think?Ricky: Im so happy Denali has finally made it to All Stars. Her elimination has to be one of the most controversial of all time, and she had what it took to make it to the finale on season 13. She has certainly won over the fans since her first time around, so hopefully her run on All Stars really showcases all of her incredible talents.Rachel: There are a handful of lip-sync performances I regularly go back and watch, and Denali facing off against Kahmora Lee Hall to Crystal Waters 100% Pure Love is one I will never get enough of. Denali brings it on all fronts, but one thing we can be sure of is that were in for some phenomenal lip-syncs.Follow Denali on Instagram, X, and TikTok.Ginger Minj"Ribbit-Ribbit. The glamour toad and southern-fried queen of sass, Ginger Minj, is back to get this competition cooking! This campy powerhouse from Season 7, All Stars 2 and 6 has been wowing fans for years on tours, in Vegas, in films and TV projects and shes a cookbook author! Shes now ready for the next chapter in her story becoming a winner, Baby!!"But what do we think?Rachel: Third All Stars is the charm? Honestly, Ginger is one of those queens that I am always so happy to have back on my screen like a Jujubee. Shes one of those queens who is just all-around excellence, so its great to have her back. Shes going to crush the acting and comedy challenges, I can't wait to see it.Ricky: To be completely honest, Im so gagged Ginger Minj is back. At this point, I would have assumed shed compete on a Vs. The World franchise, so for this to be her fourth time in the werkroom Ms. Minj has a lot to prove, and Im sure shell rise to the occasion.Follow Ginger Minj on Instagram, X, and TikTok.Irene the Alien"Greetings, earthlings! Irene the Alien has landed from Seattle, ready to disrupt the competition. Her time on Season 15 was short, but she made a lasting impact. This go around, her far-out looks and flair for the otherwordly, will show the judges shes no one-episode wonder!"But what do we think?Rachel: Ok, I am PUMPED for this one. For me Irene was one of the most shocking first-outs, in Drag Race herstory. You could really tell she was going to be a player from minute one and had SO much to show. Plus, I just loved her chaotic villain energy right out of the gate. I felt robbed of a season of her and Mistress Isabelle Brooks cutting up in the Werk Room, I am so excited we are getting a second round. Is it wrong that I hope she makes a glass of ice again as her talent? Ricky: We were SO robbed of Irene the first time around. Her and Mistress together on season 15 would have been the chaotic duo we didnt know we needed. For her to be on this season with her drag sister Bosco AND Mistress? This will be entertainment at its finest.Follow Irene the Alien on Instagram, X, and TikTok.Jorgeous"Its getting muggy in here! Hello-tis, its your girl Jorgeous! Fresh off All Stars 9, this pint-sized diva from Season 14 is back to gag the judges with her electrifying performances and remind the world that she was born to do drag. Spicy, stunning, and ready to slayshes living proof that dynamite comes in small packages!"But what do we think?Ricky: Jorgeous is definitely one of the most surprising names on the list since she just competed on All Stars 9 last year. This firecracker of a queen is one of the best dancers to ever be on the show and her extremely likable personality could help her finally snatch a crown!Rachel: I was literally going to say: Firecracker! Her growth between season 14 and All Stars 9 was incredible, so I cant wait to see Jorgeous 3.0. Also, if I recall, didnt Daya Betty send her home during their season? Oooh gurl, I sense a rematch!Follow Jorgerous on Instagram, X, and TikTok.Kerri Colby"A beautiful baddie straight from the doll factory, Kerri Colby is serving face, body, and hair for the ages. Repping the legendary House of Colby, the confessional queen of Season 14 has business to attend tostarting with getting her puss-perfect portrait in the Drag Race Hall of Fame."But what do we think?Ricky: Who doesnt love a Colby? Kerri Colby literally made me feel safe as a queer person watching her on-screen and the same can be said for the season 14 cast! So many queens came out as trans either on the show or after filming wrapped and many of them said Kerri Colbys confidence helped them come to terms with their identity. A true MOTHER in every way!Rachel: Seriously! How do we get her an appointment in the Oval Office? She could heal this country with the sheer power of her trans fierceness. Speaking of which, shes another queen whose evolution I can't wait to see. She already is stunning and can work the runway, and I'm excited to see how she tackles the comedy and acting challenges this season. Follow Kerri Colby on Instagram and TikTok.Lydia B. Kollins"Fresh off Season 17, spooky kooky Lydia B. Kollins is making a U-turn back into the werkroom to show shes been an All Star all along! Her irreverent drag and stamped mug took her far last season, but now this butthole is ready to go all the wayand shes itching for the crown. No ointment for that!"But what do we think?Ricky: This is CRAZY! How did Lydia film season 17 and then turn around and go right back to All Stars?! Did the queens even know who she was? Were they feeling punked? Does Lydia essentially have to reintroduce herself to all of these Drag Race legends? I need Lydia to spill all of the tea. She already has a diehard fan base and her talent speaks for itself, so these other queens better watch out! Imagine how gaggy it would be if she WON All Stars! What did Kori do while Lydia was back on set, LOL?Rachel: The butthole is back! I am still not over that scissors-related incident on the mainstage, but nature is healing and so is my heart with the news that already we are going to have Miss Lydia back. The turn-around is admittedly very quick, it only happened once before when Chad Michaels went from season 4 directly into All Stars 1, which she won. Just sayin'Follow Lydia B. Kollins on Instagram and TikTok.Mistress Isabelle Brooks"The heavyweight champ of Season 15 is back in the ring, ready to knock out the competition! This larger-than-life Houston diva pulls no punches when it comes to drag pageantryand she lives to stir the pot. With Mistress, there are no safe words, no mercy, and zero tolerance for drag delusion Get ready to submit."But what do we think?Rachel: I am in my obsessed era with this cast. MIB is one of those queens who was really great on her season and then super popped afterward. She has so much charisma and polish, I think she is a major contender this season. Also, I can't wait for all the Werk Room shade and those confessionals are going to be legendarily shady!Ricky: I will be honest, I was surprised Mistress returned to All Stars so soon. Her career has blossomed so much since she competed in season 15, so I thought shed wait a little longer to compete again. Regardless though, I am THRILLED shell be back on my screen. She really brought back a good Drag Race villain and she wasnt afraid of the consequences.Follow on Instagram, X, and TikTok.Nicole Paige Brooks"Hey yall, its Nicole Paige Brooks From ATLANTA, GEORGIA! Fifteen years after her Season 2 debut, this veteran is back to show the children how its done. And, yes, her pronouns are 'legend' and 'icon'!"But what do we think?Rachel: We had so much fun getting the tea with this queen at DragCon she truly is one of a kind. One of the things I love so much about All Stars is getting the chance to catch up with queens from the earlier season. Also, I hope they bring back the pole dancing challenge. Remember when they used to set the queens loose on the streets of Los Angeles? I miss the chaos!Ricky: This is what All Stars should be! Bring back the OGs! Yes, I love all of the queens who have competed recently, but All Stars should also serve as a reminder that Drag Race wouldnt be the pop culture phenomenon it is today without the OG queens who competed on Logo TV. Nicole gets a proper reintroduction to all of the new fans and Im so ready for it.Follow Nicole Paige Brooks on Instagram, X, and TikTok.Olivia Lux"The delightful diva with the megawatt smile is back for the crown! Olivia Lux lit up Season 13, and now she shines even brighter. A trained musician and proud member of the Miyake-Mugler ballroom house, shes bringing even more star power to the Main Stage. And this time? Shes not playing nice."But what do we think?Ricky: Olivia Lux was underestimated by her competitors on season 13, so will the queens on All Stars 10 be intimidated by her? Im very intrigued to see how Olivia has grown in her drag since her first time around. She was still considered a baby queen when she competed in season 13, but she had a polish and incredible skill set that made her stand out.Rachel: Olivia is one of the most beautiful queens in the shows history. I look forward to seeing how a few years of performing around the world have impacted her drag. I suspect she is going to be lethal. Also, curious to see where she and her season 13 sister Tina Burner stand today. If I recall, there was a little tension between the two. Friendship? Frenemies? I can't wait to see how this turns out.Follow Olivia Lux on Instagram, X, and TikTok.Phoenix"Phoenix rises from the ashes of Season 3bigger, bolder, and ready to burn up her fellow queens. This boss bitch from the Atlanta drag scene has a fierce competitive streak, and wants to show the judges that after all these years, her charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent is still on fire!"But what do we think?Rachel: Prison, honey! Phoenix is absolutely iconic and I am so excited she will be back. She represents DRAG, drag and I live for it. She's another queen who has had so much growth from her season and I am excited for newer fans of the show to see what she's bringing. [Editor's note: This is my PSA to anyone who hasn't watched the first few seasons of Drag Race, get into it! You dont know what you're missing!]Ricky: Similar to Nicole Paige Brooks, Im so excited to see another OG on All Stars 10. The early-season queens are seasoned, literally! They have grit, wit, and years of experience thatll help them put these younger contestants in their place.Follow Pheonix on Instagram and TikTok.Tina Burner"Hell yeah! New Yorks premier camp comedy queen, Tina Burner is back to turn it and burn it! After blazing through Season 13, this veteran diva is taking a pit stop from her tours and residencies to set the competition aflame. And yes, shes still on fire!"But what do we think?Rachel: Are you thinking what Im thinking? .... Makeover challenge. LOL! That Ros reveal still makes me cackle! Tina coming back is so exciting, she struck me as a queen who didn't quite ever let herself fully be herself in her season, and I hope we get to see her really let loose because it's really clear she's an incredible queen. I also hope she has more fun with the color palette of her package.Ricky: Tina will definitely be interesting to watch. I feel like she really relied on her aesthetic and reputation in New York to help her throughout the competition, but All Stars 10 is a completely different ballgame. Will she set the competition on fire or get put out too quickly?Follow Tina Burner on Instagram, X, and TikTok.

If youve been in a slump since the last season of The Boulet Brothers Dragula ended, this is going to be your year because were getting three different shows in the Dragula franchise.The flagship show has been renewed for a seventh season full of filth, gore, and glamour, but there will also be a second season of The Boulet Brothers Dragula: Titans, and Shudder picked up a holiday special that is sure to make your horrifying heart soar. The Boulet Brothers Holiday of Horrors will be a chilling anthology of original holiday horror tales unveiled by co-host and Late Night with the Devil star David Dastmalchian.This years second season of Titans will see the top queens and kings from past seasons competing on the Dragula main stage, vying for the title of the worlds next Drag Supermonster, while on the seventh season of the main show hosts Dracmorda and Swanthula will be joined by celebrity co-host to judge the drag monsters competing in jaw-dropping challenges including costume design and creation, makeup and special effects, live performance, and craftsmanship.Were positively enthralled to extend our unholy alliance with Shudder and AMC+ through this multi-season pact, The Boulet Brothers said. It ensures the underworld stays wide open for many years to comewelcoming fresh souls, darker tales, and even more monstrous mayhem. Were especially excited to be writing and directing the Holiday of Horrors anthology special alongside some of our dearest friends and fresh new blood of the horror genre. Together, were summoning something truly diabolicaland this is only the beginning of the nightmares to come.

Netflix has offered a first glimpse into the highly anticipated second season of Wednesday, the hit series starring Jenna Ortega as the titular sardonic daughter of the Addams Family. The streaming giant released an initial teaser trailer and several new images, announcing that the season will be presented in two parts, premiering on August 6 and September 3. According to the official seriesSource

Nature, Published online: 23 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01133-9Immune cells boost stress-linked fear responses by communicating with brain cells. One way that psychedelics lessen such fear is by modulating this interaction.

Nature, Published online: 23 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08781-xBrief ciprofloxacin exposure in humans drives antibiotic resistance evolution in gut bacteria through selective sweeps, particularly involving DNA gyrase mutations, which persist long after exposure and demonstrate the human guts capacity to promote resistance evolution.

Marcus Rashford is open to returning to Manchester United he does not believe he has the chance of first-team football while Ruben Amorim remains, a source told ESPN.

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said didn't become a soccer fan until a visit to Anfield in 2019 for Liverpool-Manchester City, but since that moment has full admiration for just how much the overloaded soccer schedule compares to the MLB season.

The victims Tanya Denise Jackson and her daughter, Tatiana Marie Dykes were found on Long Island, near the area where a serial killer operated.

The Arab monarchy had already taken steps toward disbanding the Islamist group in a 2020 court decision, but said it would now move to completely ban its activities.

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Crime scene investigators use metal detectors to search a marsh for the remains of a victim, Dec. 12, 2011 in Oak Beach, N.Y. (James Carbone/Newsday via AP, Pool, File)2025-04-23T14:53:14Z MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) A woman and her child whose remains were discovered scattered along an oceanfront highway not far from Long Islands Gilgo Beach were identified by police Wednesday, nearly three decades after their deaths.Police in Nassau County said the mother, previously nicknamed Peaches by investigators after a tattoo on her body, had been identified as Tanya Denise Jackson, a U.S. army veteran who was 26 at the time of the killing.Her 2-year-old daughter was identified as Tatiana Marie Dykes, investigators said. Both were living in Brooklyn, where Jackson may have worked as a medical assistant, according to police.Police said they had no evidence at this time to suggest the unsolved killings were linked to Rex Heuermann, who has been charged in the deaths of seven women whose remains were discovered elsewhere on Long Island. Although Tanya and Tatiana have commonly been linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killings because the timing and locations of their recovered remains, we are not discounting the possibility that their cases are unrelated from that investigation, Homicide Det. Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick said a briefing Wednesday.Im not saying it is Rex Heuermann and Im not saying its not, he added. We are proceeding as if its not, keeping our eyes wide open.Some of the Jacksons remains were discovered on June 28, 1997, stuffed inside a plastic tub in a state park in West Hempstead on Long Island. More remains, and the skeletal remains of the female child, were found off Ocean Parkway in April 2011. At the briefing Wednesday, law enforcement officials said they had identified the victims through DNA evidence found at the scene and advanced genetic and genealogy research.The reality is our work has just begun, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. Knowing the identities of the mom and the little baby is just a first step to help us get to solving these murders. Officials said they had spoken with the childs father, who was cooperating with the investigation and not considered a suspect at this time. They said Jackson had been estranged from much of her family. She served in the U.S. Army from 1993 to 1995, living on three bases in Texas, Georgia and Missouri, officials said.It has long been unclear whether there is any connection between the mother and daughter and other women found slain elsewhere on Long Island. Since late 2010, police have been investigating the deaths of at least 10 people mostly female sex workers whose remains were discovered there.Heuermann, a Manhattan architect, has been charged in the deaths of seven women. He has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to all counts. His lawyer did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday.Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierneys office, which is prosecuting Heuermann, said in a statement he is not commenting on any topics even tangentially involved to the investigation while a pre-trial hearing plays out.The two female victims are among three sets of human remains long associated with the Gilgo Beach case that have not been identified, at least publicly, by authorities. In September, Long Island officials released more detailed renderings of a victim believed to be of Chinese descent whose remains were found off Ocean Parkway in 2011. The victim died in 2006 or earlier, was likely between ages 17 and 23 and about 5 feet 6 inches (170 centimeters) tall.Officials for years had identified the victim as male, but said they now believe the person may have presented outwardly as female as they were dressed in womens clothing.Heuermann has not been charged in the deaths of three unidentified victims.___Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo. PHILIP MARCELO Marcelo is a general assignment reporter in the NYC bureau. He previously wrote for AP Fact Check and before that was based in Boston, where he focused on race and immigration. twitter mailto

Dr. Jon Paul Higgins is daring to go thereand claiming the space they so rightfully deserve. In their memoir, published last month, they share their truth with vulnerability, humor, and an unwavering commitment to self-love. Its a story about what it means to fully exist in a world that often tries to shrink your brilliance. [...]The post Dr. Jon Paul Higgins on Black. Fat. Femme.: A Bold Testament to Identity, Joy, and Audacity first appeared on GLAAD.

Things between JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes on Celebrity Big Brother UK (CBBUK) continue to heat up after the two left fans very confused with their flirtation.To recap that, the two were seen cuddling in bed after Mickey Rourke attacked Siwas sexuality. The situation ultimately led to Rourkes removal from the house, prompting him to seek a lawsuit over the matter.Now, a few weeks later, the conversation around Siwas sexuality surfaced again ahead of Fridays finale. After being summoned into the Diary Room with Hughes, she publicly spoke out about her identity.In the episode, the two were summoned to speak with Big Brother because they broke a rule and communicated in code. During the interrogation about what the secret message was, Siwa said it wasnt something she was ready to talk about.Its something that Im not ready, necessarily, to be open about or upfront about, but it has to do with gender and how do I feel, she said. Lets put it this way Oh, my God, this is a lotAfter breaking down in tears, she continued, Essentially, you have female, you have male. Ive met a lot of females, love them, dont feel like them. Met a lot of males, love them, definitely not them. Met a lot of people in my life that are nonbinary, and these beautiful nonbinary people are who I feel the most like and I dont know, its not something I want to say about myself yet, but its something that is confusing and thats probably why we were talking about it last night.Since questioning your identity is a big deal in the queer world, she also said, Its important to be honest, and I think its important to also show that its okay not to know, she said.Later in the livestream, during a chat with RuPauls Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard, Siwa admitted that she wasnt actually a lesbian, but rather identified as queer. (@) I feel, like, so queer, do you know what I mean? she said. I think thats the thing, Ive always told myself Im a lesbian, and I think being here, Ive realized: Oh, Im not a lesbian, Im queer. And I think thats really cool.After sharing a hug, she shouted, Im switching letters! F**k the L, Im going to the Q!Considering Beard also identifies as queer, he quipped, And you know that British people love a queue!The news, as it often does, has divided fans, with some praising Siwa for her bravery and others blaming her for making "lesbians are secretly into men" allegations worse...especially during Lesbian Visibility Week.Tune in Friday to see if Siwa takes the CBBUK, and keep scrolling for some very mixed reactions to her discovery. (@) "Ever since JoJo Siwa told me she was queer I feel like such a better person. The flowers smell just a bit sweeter and the sky is a little more blue. Thank you JoJo for changing my life." (@) "I'm sorry. Jojo Siwa did WHAT" (@) "maturing is realizing that JoJo Siwa might just be happy in her own skin and we mightve been the miserable ones for the past couple of years." (@) "another day another instance of jojo siwa making it a pain to be a lesbian on the internet" (@) "i can alr smell the discourse jojo siwa coming out as queer is gonna bring oh lawd" (@) "Im not even watching Cbbuk but you know what Yes to jojo siwa and Chris" (@) "I don't think I'll EVER get over JoJo Siwa being in a flirtationship with THIS GUY!! The world is crazy man!!" (@) "Doesnt jojo siwa have a partner" (@) "becoming a jojo siwa defender" (@) "Mickey Rourke rn because JoJo Siwa is no longer lesbian" (@) "Jojo siwa came out as queer and no longer a lesbian on national tv and is now being lovey dovey and not setting boundaries with chris AND basically saying fuck lesbians..all while her gf is at home watching this.." (@) "Can they give jojo siwa a break" (@) "jojo siwa coming out as bi on big brother after the whole mickey rourke harassment is probably the most nightmare fueled outcome for lesbians. lesbians are never beating the "secretly into men" allegations are we?" (@) "I was right all along when I said jojo siwa wasnt a lesbian. Shes now come out as queer and said fuck the L Im going to the Q. So not only was she a fakebian, shes also saying fuck lesbians. I keep telling yall these so called lesbian celebs cant be trusted"

The world of K-pop recently welcomed Katseyes Lara Rajagopalan into the LGBTQ+ fam, and now we get to welcome JUST Bs Bain into the fold, too.The band, which debuted in 2021, consists of members Geonu, Bain, Lim Ji-min, Siwoo, DY, and Sangwoo, is known for their songs like Damage and Medusa and have been gaining popularity stateside over the last couple of years.Over the weekend, at a concert in Los Angeles for the bands JUST ODD tour, Bain, whose real name is Song Byeonghee, stepped forward to perform a cover of Lady Gagas Born This Way.However, before he started, Bain said, All right, before I sing this next song, tonight I wanna share something with you guys.After a dramatic pause and some cheers from the crowd, he said, Im f**king proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community. (@) The announcement sent shockwaves through the fandom, who met the news with grace and encouragement. Following his announcement, Bain proceeded to dance around the stage with a pride flag while he belted out Gagas iconic tune, often associated as a gay anthem. (@) Considering the conservative values typically displayed in the K-pop industry, fans viewed this as a bold move. Although K-pop artists have shown various support for the LGBTQ+ community in unique ways over the years, something as outright as Bains coming out is extremely rare.At the end of the concert, Bain also took some time to thank the audience for their support, saying the evening meant a lot to him.Im so happy that I can be myself, he said. I just wanna say until next time: Stay bold, stay fierce, and lastly, always, always be your true selves. (@) Bain joins Rajagopalan in the folds of the queer K-pop world alongside MRSHLL (Marshall Bang), who was the first K-pop star to come out in 2017.Outside of the audiences approval, the rest of JUST B also gathered around Bain to offer their support to his news.Keep scrolling for some other reactions to Bains announcement. (@) "bain. omg pls tune into just b, they make nothing but bangers and are SO talented" (@) "its literally all tears onstage tonight omg #justb #just_b #bain" (@) "JUST B member Bain has come out as a member of the LGBT community at the recent stop of the group's ongoing tour!" (@) "my bain we love you so much and were all so proud of you" (@) "feeling so emotional rn i stopped keeping up w just b some time ago but seeing bain come out on stage is so fuckin amazing i wanna cry so bad. i just want him to be happy forever" (@) "even if you dont stan just b, no one can deny the impact bain has made tonight in the kpop community. i hope he receives endless support for coming out & i hope it helps others feel comfortable enough to be their true selves publicly. being lgbtq+ is ALWAYS smth to be proud of!!" (@) "oh my bain,,, it takes so, so much courage to do what you did and i hope that you feel all the love and support from everyone around you. thank you for being your authentic self always and for trusting us so much to be on this journey with you. #WeLoveBain #ProudofBain" (@) "Now back to work where i have to pretend to be normal and not freaking out in excitement over bain and just b low key blowing up the internet" (@) "seeing just b and specifically bain and their growth from debut to now so proud" (@) "genuinely can't stop thinking about how happy i am to be a fan of just b like. the members showing their love and support to bain is so special and so meaningful for a lot of us. truly stanning the right group" (@) "just b released a new song, whatever youre going through, itll be okay. bain is definitely feeling the love from the audience i promise you" (@) "im bout to cry thinking about my snapshot with bain . i was thanking him for showing his true self and being so inspiring . he listened to sweetly and then fixed my hair for me and gave me the biggest hug . i love him sm"

Nature, Published online: 23 April 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01164-2The genetic bases of the seven pairs of contrasting traits in the garden pea that were described by the father of genetics, Gregor Mendel, have long puzzled scientists. The discovery of the genetic variants underlying these traits sheds light on the inherited factors that Mendel proposed and how they shape biological differences.

Nature, Published online: 23 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08913-3Levantine Phoenicians made little genetic contribution to Punic settlements in the central and western Mediterranean between the sixth and second centuries bce; instead, the Punic people derived most of their ancestry from a genetic profile similar to that of Sicily and the Aegean, with notable contributions from North Africa as well.

Wrexham have been described as a "circus" by Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones ahead of Saturday's showdown between the promotion-hunting League One sides.

Former Brazil coach Tite said he is taking an indefinite career break in order to take care of his mental and physical health.

Prosecutors began their opening statements Wednesday in the sex-crime case of the fallen mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The few domestic companies that still make protective gear for health care workers have clamored for federal intervention. But they worry President Trumps trade war with China wont help.

Before designer Eric Drozds condo remodel, it had 2006 vibes like maple floors, cherry cabinets, and tan bathrooms. I wanted my home to feel like a cool speakeasy to more reflect me and my lifestyle.READ MORE...

We all love a good take down of Republicans, but sometimes Democrats need a kick in the butt too and thats where podcast host Jennifer Welch comes in.On a recent episode of Welchs Ive Had It Podcast, she took down Democrat Rahm Emanuel after he tried to diagnose what went wrong for Democrats in the November elections by pinning it on trans people.Emanuel has been a fixture in Democratic politics for years. First, as the chief of staff for former President Barack Obama before becoming the mayor of Chicago and then most recently, the ambassador to Japan under former President Joe Biden. We were really south on kitchen table issues. We werent really good about the family room issues, Emanuel said.I disagree with you, Welch chimed in. I disagree with you 100%.Despite Emanuels history within the Democratic Party, he quickly threw trans Americans under the bus. The only room we were doing really well was the bathroom, and thats the smallest room in the house, he said in reference to trans bathroom bans and other anti-trans policy issues. But Welch wasnt having any of it.See on InstagramThat is such bullshit. That is total bullshit, she said. That is buying into the right-wing media narrative. And Im so sick of Democrats like you selling out and saying this. You know who talks about trans people more than anybody? MAGA. MAGA is the most genital-obsessed political party I have ever seen.Not to be deterred by Emanuel trying to get a word in, Welch succinctly explained that former Vice President Kamala Harris did focus on so-called kitchen table issues and that Democrats are losing because they are unwilling to throw out the rulebook like MAGA is doing. Kamala Harris talked about homeownership. She talked about kitchen table issues. Trumps over there, droning on about Hannibal Lecter. Are you kidding me? This is where the Democrats lose because were playing the game with the rulebook, she explained.Theyve ripped the rulebook up and are crammed it down everybodys throat. And Democrats are upset because Joe Biden pardoned his son. We gotta fucking fight, Welch said. Theyre the gender-obsessed weirdos, not us. Were the ones who fight for Social Security. We fight for Medicare, and yeah, were not gonna bully trans people. Were not gonna fucking do it. If you wanna do it, fine.See on InstagramEmanuel tried to interrupt her, but Welch was on a roll and didnt let his attempt at interjecting stop her from talking about whey anti-trans policies hurt everyone, including women.And we buy into their narrative, she said. Its why I think we lose. And I have to live in a state where women rape victims cant get an abortion because of this bullshit. And so Im gonna fight till the bitter end and Im not gonna let some MAGA moron define what progressive values are. And I think its a really dangerous precedent, Mr. Emanuel. Im sorry, but I just have to push back.After the clip from the podcast episode was posted on the Ive Had It Podcast Instagram account, fans quickly started commenting of the epic takedown of an establishment Democrat.Imaging him agreeing to come on this podcast thinking it would be some silly gossip show and just getting DRAGGED, one person wrote.My new kink is Jen dragging Rahm to hell, summoning him back to life, and dragging him back to hell again, someone else commented.I just deeply DEEPLY love seeing a man unable to interject an interrupting word on a woman. 5/5, wrote another person.This is the kind of energy we need in 2025!Watch the full episode below.

Happy Hump Day indeed!Walton Goggins decided to bless everyone's feeds this week by dropping a very steamy photoshoot with Cultured Magazine.The White Lotus star literally stripped down to just a tight Speedo and posed for quite a few alluring pics at the iconic Santa Monica Pier. Imagine being a bystander?In just a matter of minutes, Goggins' viral thirst traps immediately took over social media. Scroll below to see all of the steamy shots that have fans everywhere gagging. (@) (@) (@) (@)

Dancing With the Stars is already heating up ahead of its 34th season, and its all thanks to its first official cast reveal: Robert Irwin, Australian wildlife warrior and certified heartthrob, is headed to the ballroom. The 21-year-old son of the late Steve Irwin famously known as the Crocodile Hunter made quite the entrance at Hulus Get Real House event on Tuesday, April 22.Source