Simply giving money to poor families at certain times reduced deaths among young children by nearly half, a new study found.

WASHINGTONExpanding its suite of discounted entry options to draw in more visitors, the National Park Service announced Tuesday the rollout of a new annual body-dumping pass for use on federal lands across the country.Officials confirmed the pass covers park admission and day-use fees for the disposal of dead bodies on Americas government-owned nature preserves, including all 63 national parks and other recreational cadaver dump sites managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior. This pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 scenic burial grounds across this great country, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said. Just $80 a year gives you and up to four victims unlimited access to our many desolate campgrounds, dense areas of brush filled with natural predators, and bodies of water with strong currents.Miles and miles of pristine earth for hiding evidence, Burgum added, right here in our own backyard.Interior Secretary Doug Burgum personally recommended park sites in his native North Dakota as great places to visit after committing murder.According to the NPS, while a 12-month pass might not make sense for Americans who only get rid of one or two bodies a year, serial visitors stand to save hundreds of dollars annually. Previously, single-day access could set guests back nearly $250 in bribes alone.Park officials expressed hope that the new rates would generate enough revenue to allow the facilities to offer amenities like community shovel rentals, while also helping to restore endangered scavenger populations behind the scenes.The Interior Department confirmed the body-dumping pass is part of a larger effort across the agency to court an untapped demographic of potential visitorswho in the past have historically avoided entering the parks through the front gates during daylight hours.Ill admit, its a great place to bring whats left of my family, said Gary Masterson, a first-time visitor of Zion National Park, placing stained clothing items into one of the many accessible fire pits at the remote Lava Point campground. Its nice to get away from the barrage of questioning back home.You really cant beat the austere, magnificent backdrop of these sandstone canyons for digging a hole or chopping up limbs, the former father of two added.With the NPS anticipating an influx of new visitors like Masterson in the coming season, body-dumping passholders are being issued a version of the Leave No Trace conservation principles that detail best practices for concealing ones crimes with minimal disruption to the natural surroundings. The guidelines include reminders to avoid leaving behind weapons or bloody trash bags when finished, and to properly return any brain-splattered bludgeoning rocks to their original location.A preliminary survey found that many longtime parkgoers were interested in switching to the body-dumping pass, with 56% saying they could save a lot of money by tossing Grandmas remains off El Capitan. In addition, 70% suggested they had recently backed over someone in their driveway and needed to make them disappear quickly in a way that looks like an accident, while 94% agreed they would like to see what happens to a bunch of corpses stuffed into a geyser.Several leading conservationists have praised the new campaign as a return to form, claiming the body-dumping pass falls more in line with Theodore Roosevelts original vision for the parks system, which under his stewardship doubled its number of sites even as the U.S. population mysteriously decreased.It was here that the violence of my life began, President Roosevelt once wrote of the 230 million acres of public lands he helped establish during his presidency. Whether its scouting new prey among the hikers at Crater Lake or disemboweling ones fellow man in the Petrified Forest, Americas majestic scenery offers something for everyone.Theres nothing better than looking out over the serene landscape of this beautiful country as you reckon with what youve done, Roosevelt added.The post National Park Service Begins Offering Annual Body-Dumping Pass appeared first on The Onion.

PITTSBURGHDetailing the harmful, long-term effects of early exposure to the ball clubs dismal on-field product, parents and child safety organizations denounced the Pittsburgh Pirates Monday for directly marketing the team to children. It is deeply irresponsible to lure kids into becoming Pirates fans before theyre emotionally equipped to handle the kind of disappointment and chronic underperformance this franchise will almost certainly inflict on them, said National Child Safety Council spokesperson Rebecca Amoroso, adding that targeted giveaways, cartoon mascots, and Pirates-branded youth merchandise effectively glamorized futility, setting up kids for a lifetime of frustration and terrible baseball. The team knows that no sane adult would willingly become a Pirates fan, so they have to go after minors. They hook children early because they know the cycle of hope and despair is addicting, and if young kids start watching games, theres a good chance theyll grow up to be season-ticket holders. They know that Pirates fandom is linked to depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideation, but they dont care. Their business model depends on turning innocent, impressionable kids into sullen, dead-eyed adults who pound IC Lights and scream at the TV night after night about the teams abysmal offense once again letting a strong pitching performance go to waste. Its unconscionable. Amoroso went on to urge parents to think twice before taking kids to a Pirates game, suggesting safer alternatives such as rooting for literally any other team in the National League Central.The post Pirates Under Fire For Directly Marketing Team To Children appeared first on The Onion.

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Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, left on podium, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, center on podium, attend a press conference during their visit to Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Mayar Mokhtar)2025-08-18T12:36:40Z RAFAH, Egypt (AP) Egyptian and Qatari mediators were holding talks with Hamas in their latest effort to broker a ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip, where health authorities said Monday that the Palestinian death toll from 22 months of war has passed 62,000.U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to cast doubt on such talks. We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be, he posted on his Truth Social site on Monday.Israel announced plans to reoccupy Gaza City and other heavy populated areas after the ceasefire talks appeared to have broken down last month, raising the possibility of a worsening of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which experts say is sliding into famine.Those plans, which may in part be aimed at pressuring Hamas, have sparked international outrage and infuriated many Israelis who fear for the remaining hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack that started the war. Hundreds of thousands took part in mass protests on Sunday calling for their return. Extensive efforts to revive talksEgyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said mediators are exerting extensive efforts to revive a U.S. proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, during which hostages would be released and the sides would negotiate a lasting ceasefire.He spoke during a visit to Egypts Rafah crossing with Gaza, which has not functioned since Israel seized the Palestinian side in May 2024. He was accompanied by Mohammad Mustafa, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, which has been largely sidelined since the war began.Abdelatty reiterated Egypts strong oppositon to any plans for the mass relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, as called for by Israeli leaders who portray it as voluntary emigration. The Palestinians and much of the international community say such plans would amount to forcible expulsion because Israels air and ground war has left much of Gaza uninhabitable. Abdelatty said Egypt wont take part, and wont allow any such plans, and called on other countries that have been in talks with Israel about resettling Palestinians not to be involved in this heinous crime. Egypt and others fear the mass relocation of Palestinians could spell the end of their decades-long quest for an independent state.Abdelatty said Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya joined the talks in Cairo along with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. He said they are open to other ideas, including for a comprehensive deal that would release all the hostages at once.An official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks, said that Israel currently does not have plans to send representatives to the negotiations in Cairo, but is waiting to see how they develop.Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200, mostly civilians, in the attack that ignited the war. Fifty hostages are still inside Gaza, around 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefires or other deals. Palestinian death toll surpasses 62,000The Gaza Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll from the war had climbed to 62,004, with another 156,230 people wounded. It does not say how many were civilians or combatants, but says women and children make up around half the dead.The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The U.N. and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties. Israel disputes its toll but has not provided its own. The ministry said 1,965 people have been killed while seeking humanitarian aid since May, either in the chaos around U.N. convoys or while heading to sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli-backed American contractor.Witnesses, health officials and the U.N. human rights office say Israeli forces have repeatedly fired toward crowds of people seeking aid. Israel says it has only fired warning shots at people who approached its forces. GHF says its armed contractors have only used pepper spray or fired into the air on rare occasions to prevent deadly crowding. More deaths linked to malnutritionExperts have warned that Israels ongoing offensive is pushing Gaza toward famine, even after it eased a complete 2 1/2-month blockade on the territory in May. The Gaza Health Ministry said Monday that five more people, including two children, died of malnutrition-related causes.It says at least 112 children have died of malnutrition-related causes since the war began, and 151 adults have died since the ministry started tracking adult malnutrition deaths in June.Amnesty International on Monday accused Israel of carrying out a deliberate campaign of starvation.Israel has rejected such allegations, saying it allows in enough food and accusing the U.N. of failing to promptly deliver it. U.N. agencies say they are hindered by Israeli restrictions and the breakdown of law and order in the territory, around three-quarters of which is now controlled by Israel. Israeli lawmaker denied visa to AustraliaIn a separate development, far-right Israeli lawmaker Simcha Rothman accused Australia of antisemitism after it denied him a visa for a speaking tour. Rothman is a member of the Religious Zionism party, which supports the continuation of the war, the mass relocation of Palestinians through what it describes as voluntary migration and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza.The Australian governments decision to deny me the opportunity to come and speak to my people, due to expressing simple and clear positions, is clear and blatant antisemitism that gives a boost to terrorism, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Rothman saying on Monday.Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended the move, saying: If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hate and division, we dont want you here.In response, Israel revoked the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority and told the Israeli Embassy in Australia to carefully examine any official visa applications from Australia to Israel, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X.Australia joined 27 other Western-allied nations in a joint statement last month calling for an end to the war and joined a smaller circle of countries in sanctioning two far-right Israeli government ministers accused of inciting violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. ___Magdy reported from Cairo and Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Rod McGuirk contributed from Canberra, Australia.___Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war SAMY MAGDY Magdy is a Middle East reporter for The Associated Press, based in Cairo. He focuses on conflict, migration and human rights abuses. twitter facebook mailto MELANIE LIDMAN Lidman is an Associated Press reporter based in Tel Aviv, Israel. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

TikTok Shop is selling GPS trackers marketed with viral videos that have voiceovers explicitly encouraging secretly tracking a romantic partner. Some of the videos have millions of views, and TikTok Shops own metrics show that that more than a hundred thousand of the devices have been sold.One of the accounts 404 Media foundIf your girl says shes just out with friends every night, youd better slap one of these on her carno, it is not an AirTag, its a real GPS tracker, one clip, which has 5 million views, begins. The video shows someone putting a tracker in various hidden locations in a cara plastic bag in the trunk, magnetically attached underneath, or on the inside of the hood. And, unlike AirTags, this thing doesnt make a sound, doesnt send alerts, she will never know its there. Its tiny, black, magnetic, hide it under the seat, in the trunk, wherever. Its got its own SIM so you can track her anywhere in the world, no wifi, no bluetooth, just raw location data whenever you want it. 0:00 /0:40 1 The trackers are advertised as undetectable by Apples FindMy system. Many of the videos encourage people to secretly install the devices in their partners cars if they suspect them for things like being out with friends every night. TikTok deleted the video mentioned above after 404 Media asked the company for comment, but dozens of similar videos remain online, and the trackers are still for sale.This is absolutely being framed as a tool of abuse, said Eva Galperin, co-founder of the Coalition Against Stalkerware and Director of Cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Anything where the justification is catch your partner cheating or get peace of mind about your partner is enabling coercive control, she said.404 Medias reporters have previously written about the use of stalkerware that domestic abusers have used to spy on their partners, and on the use of AirTags to stalk people.404 Media found a handful of accounts promoting these types of trackers, and there are several different versions on the TikTok Shop. Once a user clicks from the videos into TikTok Shop, the algorithm began to show us many more listings. One of the clips we saw has 86,500 likes, and links to a tracker that had 32,500 sales. Another from the same vendor currently has 97,900 sales, and there are several accounts offering the same products with similar branding and scripts. In the comments of one of the videos, a user says I bought some and put it on cars of girls I find attractive at the gym. The original poster responds with Ok . The TikTok content policy says that the platform does not allow any violent threats, promotion of violence, incitement to violence, or promotion of criminal activities that may harm people, animals, or property. We asked TikTok for comment about the videos that had been posted by one of the accounts wed originally seen.A spokesperson for TikTok said "We don't allow content encouraging people to use devices for secret surveillance and have removed this content and banned the account that posted it. We further prohibit the sale of concealed video or audio recording devices on our platform." However, 404 Media was able to find many more almost identical videos on the platform the following day, raising questions over how proactively the platform is monitoring to prevent content like this.The videos skirt around the legality of what they are suggesting. One voiceover asks, over footage of the tracker being attached to a car, its illegal to track people using this thing? I dont know, Im not a lawyer, but Im pretty sure if you stalk someone using this GPS tracker, youre probably gonna get in trouble. The majority of the videos, though, frame the trackers as a way to spy on a partner: men with cheating wives, you might wanna get one of these, one video in Spanish begins. Not everyone who uses this is crazy, they just want answers. Guess what my girlfriend put in my car?, another says. Other videos start with Dont let what happened at the coldplay concert happen to you, She seriously didnt trust me, so you know what, I put one in hers too, or You got a cheating girlfriend?Eleven states explicitly prohibit digital location or GPS tracking in their stalking laws, and a further fifteen states prohibit tracking a vehicle without the consent of the owner. Showing people how to do something that might be illegal is not necessarily illegal, Galperin said. But TikTok is still allowing people to make money by marketing the tech specifically for the use of spying on a partner.Alongside the trackers, the same creators are advertising secret audio-recording devices with similar abusive framing. Your girl always stepping out to take calls? Want to know who shes really talking to? Just place this AI recorder in her carshell never notice, says one post, tagged #husband, #wife, and #coldplay. 0:00 /0:32 1 Video advertising a voice recorder as "the legal way" Another video for the audio devices with 136,000 views describes bugging a cheating girlfriends car: I heard everything she said with that guy. Several videos claim that secretly recording audio is legal (Think your girlfriends cheating? Want to know who the guy is? Then do it the right waylegally and Got a feeling somethings off? Then find out the truththe legal way and Why the hell did I find a used condom in my car?) However, recording a conversation without the awareness of the people involved can often be illegal.Galperin also said that the TikTok videos reflect an extremely common attitude. You would be amazed how many people think stalking, or recordings, or stalkerware is perfectly justified, as long as they think their partner is up to something like cheating, she told 404 Media.A 2021 Kaspersky survey found that 30 percent of 21,000+ respondents found no problem in secretly monitoring their partner under certain circumstances. The survey report also found that 29 percent of respondents who had been digitally stalked had their location tracked.These devices are advertised and sold as undetectable. However, all the examples I found had high numbers of one-star reviews, many of which complained that the trackers did not work as advertised, and defeated the point by alerting people to their presence via Apples FindMy system. The Apple support site for FindMy-enabled devices says that They should not be used to track people, and should not be used to track property that does not belong to you.Reviews for one of the trackers on TikTok ShopIn 2021, 404 Medias Sam Cole reported on Apple AirTags being used to stalk women; in many cases, by attaching them to or hiding them in their cars. For that story, she reviewed 150 police reports of people who had said they were being tracked by current or former partners. After that story, Apple added safety features like phone notifications when an Airtag is nearby, but an ongoing class action lawsuit argues that the devices are still insufficiently stalker proof.Several of the videos were tagged #coldplayEarlier this month, WIRED reported that TikTok shop was selling stickers that could block the recording light on Metas Ray-Ban glasses. Again, many of the reviews found that the product didnt work as advertised, but the platform did allow the stickers to remain available for sale.

A trans college long-distance runner, Evie Parts, is suing the NCAA and Swarthmore College for forcing her off the womens track team due to her gender identity.Evie Parts removal occurred on the same day the NCAA announced its ban on all trans women from womens sports. The decision marked its advance compliance withthe presidents executive orderthreatening to persecute any colleges that allow trans female athletes on womens teams. Related Trans darts player vows not to let new anti-trans ban ruin her love of the sport The lawsuit reportedly claims that the ban is illegal since the NCAA is not a government organization and thus cannot supersede Pennsylvania state law (which does not currently include a trans athlete ban) or federal Title IX regulations.We stand by the allegations in the complaint, Parts attorney, Susie Cirilli, said in a statement reported by the Associated Press. As stated in the complaint, the NCAA is a private organization that issued a bigoted policy. Swarthmore College chose to follow that policy and disregard federal and state law. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The suit also says athletic director Brad Koch and athletics officials Christina Epps-Chiazor and Valerie Gomez caused Parts to enter such a depressive state that she engaged in self-harm and in one moment told a friend she wanted to take her own life. After the NCAA announced its ban, the officials reportedly told Parts she could either compete as an unattached athlete or as a member of the mens team. The lawsuit says she was not allowed to wear her Swarthmore uniform at meets or travel with the team and also had to cover her own costs associated with competing. She could not receive medical treatment unless she was part of the mens team. In April, she was reportedly allowed back on the womens team through the end of the year when she graduated. We recognize that this is an especially difficult and painful time for members of the transgender community, including student-athletes, said a statement from Swarthmore. We worked to support Evie Parts in a time of rapidly evolving guidance, while balancing the ability for other members of the womens track team to compete in NCAA events. Given the pending litigation, we will not comment any further.The board of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) reportedly didnt consult with its own medical consultants before voting to ban all transgender women from womens sports earlier this year. Its previous policy allowed trans athletes to compete based on the criteria used by the governing bodies of individual sports.After the decision, NCAA PresidentCharlie Baker (who is also the former Republican governor of Massachusetts) said the presidents order provides a clear, national standard [that] would best serve todays student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions. The NCAA covers 1,100 colleges and universities with over 530,000 student-athletes, Baker said, though he estimated that only 10 athletes in the entire association identify as trans, a number accounting for less than 0.002% of NCAA athletes nationwide.Earlier this month, another trans student-athlete who filed a similar lawsuit against a private California university and two college athletic associations after her volleyball scholarship was revoked, claiming that both her race and gender identity were turned against her. If this story affected you, just know you are not alone. TheTrans Lifeline Hotlineoffers support to trans/nonbinary people struggling with mental health from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. PST Monday-Friday. Call (877) 565-8860 to be connected to a trans/nonbinary peer operator and receive full anonymity and confidentiality. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth ages 24 and younger, can be reached at (866) 488-7386.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Auburn will retire its Heisman Trophy winning QB Cam Newton's No. 2 jersey on Oct. 11 in a ceremony during the Tigers' rivalry game against Georgia.

Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard is signing with the Colts, his agent announced Monday.

Will Bradley choose himself to play at ? Who are locks to make the team? We answer some of the biggest questions with six captain's picks left to fill out the team.

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A display shows a Newsmax logo on the day of their IPO on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, March 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)2025-08-18T15:46:04Z DENVER (AP) The conservative network Newsmax will pay $67 million to settle a lawsuit accusing it of defaming a voting equipment company by spreading lies about President Donald Trumps 2020 election loss, according to documents filed Monday.The settlement comes after Fox News Channel paid $787.5 million to settle a similar lawsuit in 2023 and Newsmax paid what court papers describe as $40 million to settle a libel lawsuit from a different voting machine manufacturer, Smartmatic, which also was a target of pro-Trump conspiracy theories on the network.Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis ruled earlier that Newsmax did indeed defame Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems by airing false information about the company and its equipment. But Davis left it to a jury to eventually decide whether that was done with malice, and, if so, how much Dominion deserved from Newsmax in damages. Newsmax and Dominion reached the settlement before the trial could take place. The settlement was disclosed by Newsmax on Monday in a new filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It said the deal was reached Friday. The disclosure came as Trump vowed in a social media post Monday to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines such as those supplied by Dominion and other companies. It was unclear how the Republican president could achieve that.Trump lost his 2020 reelection bid to Democrat Joe Biden. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

A new survey has found that 59% of LGBTQ+ American adults under the age of 50 who have never been married want to get married someday. The percentage is close to that found for non-LGBTQ+ people (63%). Only 12% of LGBTQ+ adults said they didnt want to get married one day, with another 28% saying they werent sure. Related More Americans than ever identify as LGBTQ+ The finding comes from the Pew Research Center, which surveyed 3,959 LGBTQ+ Americans this past January, as well as 4,716 non-LGBTQ+ Americans for comparison. Pew found that younger LGBTQ+ adults were more likely to want to get married one day. Sixty-seven percent of LGBTQ+ people ages 18 to 29 who were never married said they wanted to get married someday, while 48% of those ages 30 to 49 said the same. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today This is similar to what was found for non-LGBTQ+ adults; those ages 18 to 29 were 24 percentage points more likely to want to get married someday compared to those who were 30 to 49. This might be a result of the sample changing with age people who want to get married someday and who do get married will no longer be a part of the never been married group that Pew was surveying, while people who dont want to get married who dont will still be a part of that group.Pew also asked married adults under the age of 50 who never had children if they wanted kids someday. LGBTQ+ adults (33%) were far less likely to say that they did compared to non-LGBTQ+ adults (47%). And, just like with marriage, those who were ages 30 to 49 were less likely to say they wanted kids compared to those who were ages 18 to 30. The results come as part of a larger examination of LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. by the Pew Research Center this year. Results released in May from the same survey found that 36% of gay and lesbian adults said that they felt they were gay or lesbian before the age of 10, and 35% first felt they were gay or lesbian between ages 10 and 13. Only 29% had their first feelings about their sexuality after the age of 14.Approximately 33% of trans people felt they might be transgender before age 10, and 25% felt the same way between ages 10 to 13. Only 19% had their first feelings about being transgender after the age of 18.Bisexual people tended to know the latest, but even a majority of bisexual people said that they had their first thoughts about being queer before age 18. Half 50% had their first feelings of being bisexual before age 14.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

With the highly anticipated ending of Netflix's hit show Heartstopper, fans are curious to see how Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke) will wrap up their love story in the upcoming movie. Thankfully, an interesting piece of information about the upcoming Heartstopper film was shared in a VMan magazine cover story featuring Louis Partridge an actor who's also known for dating Olivia Rodrigo.Partridge, who was interviewed by Connor for VMan, got a glimpse of what fans can expect from his the Heartstopper character Nick in the highly anticipated film."I was doing rugby training today," Connor told Partridge. "[I'm always doing] some kind of throwing myself on the ground. We shot quite a steamy scene yesterday. So again, throwing myself on the ground in a different way." Kit Connor on Heartstopper.NetflixAudiences caught small glimpses of the two filming different scenes across London. However, Alice Oseman author of the Heartstopper graphic novels revealed that the fans will be getting a different ending than they may be expecting.At the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Sunday, Oseman was asked about the upcoming film and the sixth and final volume of the film's source material being published later this year. "Weve just finished shooting the movie; it is based on volume six," they explained. "Its also based on the Nick and Charlie novella." See on Instagram It seems that the last volume of the book will see the story's main protagonists figure out life together as a couple during their last year in high school, and as Nick is getting ready to leave for college.Oseman told the crowd at the festival, "Well, in the film, I have found a different way to approach this problem, and so there is a point in the movie where we slightly diverge from the events of volume six, and it takes a slightly different path to get to the ending." (@) "Which I find really fun and exciting. So, even once you read volume six, there will still be quite a few surprises in the movie waiting for you," Oseman added.

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02298-zPassionate about making smaller and more efficient semiconductors, physicist Sonia Guimares is a relentless voice for equity in Brazilian science.

The Toronto Raptors are appointing general manager Bobby Webster as the team's head of basketball operations and the sides have reached a new contract, sources told ESPN on Monday.

Patriots executive Eliot Wolf said Monday that the team is open for business if a significant trade opportunity presents itself and indicated he'd be willing to trade a first- or second-round draft pick.

Ohio State has named second-year player Julian Sayin as its starting quarterback for its season opener against No. 1 Texas at Ohio Stadium.

Dominion Voting Systems sued the right-wing cable channel for broadcasting false claims that the voting machine company had rigged votes in the 2020 presidential election.

Across the Iberian Peninsula, thousands are trying to quell deadly flames amid dangerously hot weather.

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Vials of the measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are displayed in Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)2025-08-18T16:20:56Z The Texas measles outbreak that sickened 762 people since late January is over, state health officials said Monday.Health officials have not confirmed a new case in the affected counties in more than 42 days, passing the threshold used to declare measles outbreaks over. The last outbreak-related case in Texas was on July 1, according to state data.Two young Texas children died of the virus earlier this year and 100 people were hospitalized throughout the outbreak. The cases were linked to outbreaks in Canada and Mexico and jumped to other states in the U.S. The U.S. is having its worst year for measles in more than three decades, with 1,356 cases as of Aug. 5. Nationwide, childhood vaccination rates against the virus are declining as more parents claim exemptions from school requirements.West Texas was the nations measles epicenter for months. The virus started spreading there in close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite communities in Gaines County. State officials say they will keep monitoring for new cases. Before the outbreak, most doctors in the state had never seen a measles case because of how uncommon it has become, said Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Jennifer Shuford. She credited testing, vaccination, monitoring and education with helping to end the outbreak.I want to highlight the tireless work of the public health professionals across the state who contributed to the containment of one of the most contagious viruses, Shuford said in a statement. Measles causes a rash and respiratory symptoms that can lead to severe complications or death. It is prevented by the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which is recommended for young kids before they start school.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. DEVI SHASTRI Shastri is a public health reporter for The Associated Press, based in Milwaukee. She covers housing access, the social safety net, medical misinformation and other topics that influence the health of communities broadly. twitter mailto

The city of Delray Beach, Florida, has voted to maintain its Pride-themed intersection in defiance of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) administration, after the citys vice mayor gave an impassioned speech about how Symbols matter.Cit Manager Terrence Moore ordered the Pride symbols to be eliminated in the wake of a coordinated campaign by DeSantis and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to remove rainbow intersections across the state. But efforts led by Delray Beach Vice Mayor Rob Long resulted in a majority of city commissioners voting to keep the intersection in place for the time being. Related Pete Buttigiegs replacement begs governors to remove rainbow crosswalks, claiming they kill people The intersection holds special significance, as it was dedicated to the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting when it was unveiled in 2021. The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC), not the taxpayers, paid for the project.Just a month ago, the citys Pride-themed intersection was defaced for the third time when a driver in a black pickup truck intentionally left tire marks across the crosswalks. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today When do we stand our ground, and when do we surrender without even a conversation? Long said during an impassioned speech at a recent board meeting. Long pointed out that the FDOT never issued a formal enforcement letter, nor did Delray officials make any plans to install a Pride symbol elsewhere after plans to destroy the intersection were announced.Beyond its symbolic weight to the LGBTQ+ community, the Pride intersection has a practical benefit, Long said, citing a study across 17 states that found crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists drop 50% at painted intersections. The study also found that injuries resulting from crashes drop 37% and found a notable increase in drivers yielding to pedestrians, Long said. This data comes from the Bloomberg Philanthropies 2022 Asphalt Art Safety Study, which found a 25% decrease in conflicts between drivers and pedestrians, a 27% increase in drivers immediately yielding to pedestrians, and a 38% decrease in pedestrians crossing when the walk signal was not lit at intersections involving public art. The data negates unproven claims from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that Pride-themed crosswalks are not safe because they distract drivers.Lets be honest. We all know this is not about traffic safety. This is political, Long said. Its part of the same culture war climate where symbols of inclusion are targeted precisely because they represent acceptance. Its about erasing the visibility of our LGBTQ+ people at the same time when their rights are again under direct threat. He emphasized that the city has a long history of celebrating marginalized communities. Thats not just branding; its part of our civic identity. Symbols matter, he said. They tell our residents, visitors, and especially our youth that they are seen, valued, and safe here. Removing our pride intersection without commission consensus and without a plan to preserve that symbol elsewhere sends the wrong message at the wrong time.He urged commissioners to comply with the FDOT only if a formal mandate is given and only if they find a new location for a Pride symbol in the city. Thats the minimum respect that our community deserves. @equalityfl Well done, City of Delray Beach Vice Mayor, Rob Long for standing up against DeSantis fear tactics and fighting for whats right! Watch #delraybeach #florida #ShowYourRainbow original sound Equality FL Florida municipalities are not the only ones facing pressure to eliminate rainbow intersections. On July 1, Duffy, a formerRoad Rulesreality star, issued a social media edict to all U.S. governors to remove the crosswalk art.Taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks, Duffy declared. Political banners have no place on public roads. Im reminding recipients of @USDOT roadway funding that its limited to features advancing safety, and nothing else. Its that simple.In the order and subsequent interviews, Duffy implies the Pride crosswalks are causing chaos on the roads and have led to traffic fatalities.Far too many Americans die each year to traffic fatalities to take our eye off the ball, Duffy told the far-rightDaily Signal.Roads are for safety, he said, not political messages or artwork.Duffy didnt specify what percentage of the 39,345 traffic deaths in the U.S. in 2024 were caused by rainbow crosswalks.Florida Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue enthusiastically endorsed the federal mandate the day after it was issued.Floridas proactive efforts to ensure we keep our transportation facilities free & clear of political ideologies were cemented into law by @GovRonDeSantis, Perdueposted to socials. Great to now have our federal partners also aligned behind this same common-sense policy.In July, the city of Boynton Beach complied with the orders and painted over a once-colorful intersection at East Ocean Avenue and Southeast First Street. Its now painted black.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

They may be rare, but they're out there...Within the gay community, power bottoms seem to be a dime a dozen. They're fun, they're charming, and they love a good top.That said, the tops out there seem to be dwindling, especially as men discover the joys of bottoming. When talking about the various sexual positions, the term "power bottom" gets heard relatively often, but one that doesn't get the same amount of shine is its polar opposite: The power top.For some insight, PRIDE sat down with Dr. Michael Grey, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Board Certified Sexologist, the CEO of Grey Insight, and a graduate professor. "There is a running joke in the gay community that there is a top shortage," he says. "How true that is remains to be seen with 'scientific data', if you know what I mean. In certain spaces, there may be this perception of power tops being rare, which can be more about dynamics in the sex pool versus actual scarcity."Read on for what this elusive "power top" actually is, as well as some myths and facts about their role in the bedroom. What is a power top?A power top is generally known to be a little more dominant and aggressive in the bedroom and likes to take control. They usually exude the "top energy" more than others, which basically means everyone knows their preferred role whenever they're out in the wild."Power tops control the pace, positions, and also project a dominant sexual energy," says Dr. Grey. "It emerged in the 90s and likely evolved in response to its power bottom counterpart, carrying a connotation of dominance, stamina, and skill."Can power tops ever be on the bottom?They could, yes, and it's definitely possible that a power top could also be versatile, whether completely so or a top-leaning vers. Some people may think power tops who bottom aren't tops at all, but that's not a completely accurate portrayal."There are no rules dictating that someone needs to be only a top or only a bottom," says Dr. Grey. "It is a matter of preference, not physical or emotional limitation."Let's talk about some other myths and facts revolving around what it means to be a power top.Myth: Power tops have no emotional connection to sexThis isn't exactly exclusive to just power tops, but a lot of gay men have no trouble separating sex and emotional connection. This heavily revolves around the hookup culture we all live in, and there's no judgment here about that. It isn't exactly untrue that power tops don't have any emotions when it comes to sex, but more so that they're far from the only ones who experience that. "Emotional attachment is dependent on the individual, not the role," Dr. Grey explains. "Some power tops may prioritize emotional attunement, aftercare, and communication, while others may engage in more casual, detached encounters. However, someone's communication skills, personal values, and relational status are strong predictors of emotional engagement, regardless of the sexual role itself."Fact: Power tops know how to take care of their menWhat's more important than the emotions is the fact that power tops tend to know how to take care of their men, whether with or without the emotional connection. They get pleasure out of watching their bottom moan, taking life's aggressions out on each other, and exploring each other's boundaries in a safe and consensual way. They know how to get down to business and they know exactly what they're doing once they're there."Technical skill and confidence are part of the equation, and also awareness of your partners responses, consent, and comfort are equally critical to the role," says Dr. Grey. "Youre more likely to have a better experience if the power top pays attention to the verbal and non-verbal indicators and adjusts their techniques. Check-ins are crucial and also more likely to be precise, skilled, and desirable."Myth: Power tops can never be submissiveIn the bedroom, this is probably unlikely, but when it comes to life, however, maybe not so much. This is more likely when you're actually in a relationship with someone, but power tops are simply selective about if and when they submit to anything. In general, they like to maintain control and lead the experience, but every so often it feels just as good to let the bottom take the reins and give the power top a break."Flexibility in dynamics is always a possibility," Dr. Grey admits. "Dominance in a sexual role doesnt preclude someone from enjoying a submissive experience. Some power tops may adopt the submissive position with certain people, in certain situations, or within kink play. In BDSM the 'top' or 'dominant' are not synonymous, one can be a top from a submissive headspace or a bottom from a dominant one, and there are some people who undergo training on how to be an effective, supportive, and ethical top. Sometimes that means being the submissive to learn from their dom."Fact: Power tops enjoy exploring the power dynamicWhen done respectfully, power dynamics are a fun thing to explore, and power tops are all about it. When it comes to sex, they're really about the experience. That said, they're often on the hunt for someone who wants to totally submit. What's even more exciting is people who don't normally submit to anyone, but give up the control just for him (aka, power tops topping other power tops). Even though the power top is mostly about playing games, he still provides the necessary experience when the time is right."There is also a mutual benefit when prioritizing partner care," says Dr. Grey. "Which can increase satisfaction, deepen trust, and make sexual experiences more rewarding."Myth: Power tops like it quick and easyUnless you're pressed for time, who actually likes it quick and easy? Yes, your power top is likely horny all the time, and that can be hard to keep up with. But, as we mentioned above, he's also all about the experience, and if you're only going to be together once, he's likely to want to make the most of it and enjoy it for himself. If your power top finishes quickly, it's likely because your hole is either too good to handle or he's not actually into you and doesn't know how else to say it. "Several factors can influence the experience," Dr. Grey explains. "There isnt a universal rule or preference. Some tops enjoy prolonged sessions with a slow buildup, while others prefer shorter, high-intensity encounters. Fact: Power tops are known for lasting longerIt's really one of the things power tops are known for, honestly. They're like machines. They're always ready, they're always hard, they're always down. You can be in the subway, at the movie theater, waking up, or any variation in between. He can have a quickie in any of these places if he needs to, but he'd prefer arranging something where you two can spend some time together and he can really show you what he's made of. Even though it's a common practice, it's an equally good practice not to set this as an expectation."While some power tops have the stamina due to physical conditioning, or sexual experience, endurance is not guaranteed, especially if you've got that gorilla grip," says Dr. Grey. "Lasting longer depends on many different factors, such as arousal levels, physical fitness, stress, emotional state, and compatibility with the partner, not solely on being a power top alone."Myth: Only tall men can be power topsThis is kind of a struggle myth for tall men in general. Most people think tall men are automatically tops, whether in power form or normal. They think of power tops as big, muscly, rugged, and rough. Those kinds of power tops certainly exist -- but those same types of big, muscly, rugged, and rough guys can also equally enjoy being a power bottom. Shorter men are also known to pack some heat in the groin area, so if size matters, someone a little smaller might actually be better in the long run."The association of being tall and being a top is rooted in cultural stereotypes about masculinity, dominance, and physical size," says Dr. Grey. "You may be taller than someone, but that doesnt make you dominant. Being a skilled, confident, and communicative sexual partner is far more relevant than your body dimensions and size."Fact: Anyone can channel their power top energyIn the end, anyone out there can channel their inner power top energy, both in and out of the bedroom. Power tops know how to command the room, attract attention, and stay in control of every situation. They're smart and they know how to get what they want. "No" is not often a word they hear, and it's usually because of their confidence and not just refusing to hear it. if you're looking to demand some respect, just tap into your inner power top."You are not born with a gene that determines you are a power top," says Dr. Grey. "If you like to take control, have at it. It is also not restricted to any gender, sexual orientation, or body type; what matters is the approach and the engagement between partners, and the role of a top in practice."

Middle-earth is calling Sir Ian McKellen back. The legendary actor confirmed he will reprise his role as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, sending fans into a frenzy over the wizards long-awaited return.McKellen revealed the news during a Lord of the Rings panel at the For the Love of Fantasy convention in London, where he appeared alongside Frodo himself, Elijah Wood. Not only will Gandalf appear, but McKellen also confirmed Woods Frodo is back.Well, I hear theres going to be another movie set in Middle-earth, McKellen told the crowd. And its going to start to filming in May. Its going to be directed by Gollum, and its all about Gollum.The actor then teased the casting lineup further. And Ill tell you two secrets about casting, he said. Theres a character in the movie called Frodo. And theres another character called Gandalf. And apart from that my lips are sealed.Ian McKellen (L) as Gandalf with Elijah Wood as Frodo. (Photo by New Line/WireImage)Gandalf and Frodo ReturnThe news is a major surprise for fans, especially Frodos return. The Hunt for Gollum is expected to take place between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies, which leaves questions about how Frodos storyline will be integrated. Some fans speculate the character may serve as a framing device, writing Bilbos book as in previous films. Others believe the story could catch up to Frodos eventual encounter with Gollum.While Frodos presence may puzzle fans, Gandalfs role is less shocking. The wizard is known to have searched for Gollum in the years before The Fellowship of the Ring, hoping to uncover more about the One Ring.Andy Serkis DirectsAdding to the anticipation, Andy Serkis, the actor who brought Gollum to life, will also direct the movie. Serkis previously worked behind the camera as a second unit director for Peter Jacksons Hobbit trilogy. His return as both star and director promises to deliver a uniquely intimate look at one of Tolkiens most tragic figures.Related | Ian McKellen Spotted at Londons Hottest Gay Club at 85The Hunt for Gollum will explore Gollums journey after he loses the Ring to Bilbo Baggins, leading into his fateful meeting with Frodo. Along the way, characters such as Aragorn and even Saurons forces will hunt for the tortured creature, who knows more about the Ring than anyone else alive.Fan Theories and Future of Middle-earthHow Frodo will appear, especially given Elijah Wood is now older than when he last played the role, remains a mystery. Some speculate digital effects could be used to de-age him. Orlando Bloom, who played Legolas, previously hinted he would be open to returning if AI would have to come into play.Regardless of how it unfolds, McKellens return as Gandalf is set to be the centerpiece. For fans, its a chance to once again hear the booming voice of Middle-earths most beloved wizard utter words of wisdom and possibly unleash fireworks.Watch Ian McKellen Announce His Return as GandalfVideo courtesy evelienh.The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum Release DateThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled to premiere in theaters on December 27, 2027.Source

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is suited up and practicing Monday with the team for the first time in training camp.

Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons is among three Longhorns on The Associated Press All-America team. No. 2 Penn State also had three players, giving the Nittany Lions and Longhorns the most on the team.

Joe Flacco will open the season as the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback, the team announced Monday.

Rip currents are the third leading cause of deaths from hurricanes, and they can happen on a sunny day hundreds of miles from the storm.

Giving up on mRNA is a dangerous decision.

The Sunday morning shootout at Taste of the City Lounge in Crown Heights happened after a gang-related dispute, the police said.

Streaked shearwaters keep a very regular rhythm throughout their daily foraging flights, shedding about 5 percent of their body mass every hour.

The White House has announced they will be reviewing all exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution in order to assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals. Here is a selection of the changes President Trump is demanding be implemented immediately.New wing about the Cola warsPlaques updated to confirm that wooly mammoths were whiteArtifacts will be returned to the people who originally stole themAir and Space Museum must loan all planes, shuttles, and gliders to IsraelPortraits and sculptures of nude women relocated to mens bathroomOvernight dismantling of anything even resembling disability accommodationMelania added as newest of the 274 lifelike specimens in the Hall of MammalsBlindfolds handed out at the entrance to the National Museum of African American HistoryThe Wright brothers will be referred to as the Flight brothers because it just makes more senseAt least one exhibit about how magic tricks workLast sentence of all plaques changed to and they lived happily ever afterThe post All The Demands Trump Is Making Of The Smithsonian appeared first on The Onion.

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U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Services wait on a tow truck to take away a food truck on the National Mall, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Washington. The owner says his employees were asked for immigration status by ICE and then he was told that the truck's tires were bad and it would have to be towed, though he insists it recently passed DC inspection. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)2025-08-18T17:57:30Z WASHINGTON (AP) Joining forces from three other Republican-led states, the Mississippi National Guard will deploy 200 troops to Washington as part of the Trump administrations ongoing federal policing and immigration overhaul in the nations capital. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement Monday that he has approved the deployment of approximately 200 Mississippi National Guard Soldiers to Washington, D.C.Crime is out of control there, and its clear something must be done to combat it, Reeves said.Mississippi joins three other states that have pledged to deploy hundreds of National Guard members to the nations capital to bolster the Republican administrations operation to overhaul policing in the Democratic-led city through a federal crackdown on crime and homelessness.West Virginia said it was deploying 300 to 400 troops, South Carolina pledged 200 and Ohio said it will send 150 in the coming days, deployments that built on top of President Donald Trumps initial order that 800 National Guard troops deploy as part of the federal intervention. Trumps executive order that launched the federal operation declared a crime emergency in the District of Columbia and initiated a takeover Washingtons police department. The administration has ordered local police to cooperate with federal agents on immigration enforcement, orders that would contradict local laws prohibiting such collaboration. D.C. has been under siege from thugs and killers, but now, D.C. is back under Federal Control where it belongs, Trump wrote on his social media website a day after issuing his order. The White House is in charge. The Military and our Great Police will liberate this City, scrape away the filth, and make it safe, clean, habitable and beautiful once more! National Guard members in the District of Columbia have been assisting law enforcement with tasks including crowd control and patrolling landmarks such as the National Mall and Union Station. Their role has been limited thus far, and it remains unclear why additional troops would be needed.Over the weekend in Washington, protesters pushed back on federal law enforcement and National Guard troops fanning out in the city. Scores of protesters gathered in the citys Dupont Circle on Saturday and marched to the White House. MATT BROWN Brown covers national politics, federal policy and democracy issues for The Associated Press. twitter instagram mailto MIKE PESOLI Pesoli is an Associated Press video journalist based in Washington, D.C. twitter mailto

Texas linebacker Anthony Hill, Jr. runs through the back of the end zone after making an interception for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA football game against Louisiana-Monroe, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas, File)2025-08-18T16:00:28Z Texas and Penn State, the top two teams in The Associated Press preseason Top 25, each had three players selected for the preseason AP All-America team announced Monday.No. 1 Texas had one player from each level of its defense on the first team: edge rusher Colin Simmons, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and safety Michael Taaffe. No. 2 Penn States picks were running back Nicholas Singleton, offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane and defensive lineman Zane Durant.No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Clemson, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 8 Alabama and Pittsburgh each had two players on the first team. The Southeastern Conference had 12 players on the 27-man first team determined by media members on the AP Top 25 voting panel. The Big Ten had seven players, the ACC four and the Big 12 two. The AP Top 25 college football poll is back!Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox every week with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. Clemsons Cade Klubnik was the overwhelming preseason choice for first-team quarterback after throwing for 3,639 yards with 39 touchdowns and just six interceptions.Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Florida center Jake Slaughter are returning first-team AP All-Americans. Downs, whose late interception against Texas helped wrap up a College Football Playoff semifinal win for defending champion Ohio State, starred as a freshman at Alabama two years ago and established himself as the nations top safety in his first season with the Buckeyes. Hes a projected top-three pick in the 2026 NFL draft.Downs was joined on the preseason-All-America first team by Buckeyes receiver Jeremiah Smith.Slaughter, a leading candidate for the Rimington Trophy as the nations top center, played 800 snaps in his breakout season for the Gators. He allowed just one sack and was among the highest-rated run and pass blockers in the country, according to Pro Football Focus.The AP All-America team for this season will be released in December. It will mark the 100th anniversary of the first team published in 1925.First team Florida center Jake Slaughter (66). (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File) Florida center Jake Slaughter (66). (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More offenseQuarterback Cade Klubnik, fourth year, Clemson.Running backs Jeremiyah Love, third year, Notre Dame; Nicholas Singleton, fourth year, Penn State.Tackles Spencer Fano, fourth year, Utah; Kadyn Proctor, third year, Alabama.Guards Olaivavega Ioane, fourth year, Penn State; Armaj Reed-Adams, sixth year, Texas A&M.Center Jake Slaughter, fifth year, Florida.Tight end Eli Stowers, fifth year, Vanderbilt.Wide receivers Jeremiah Smith, second year, Ohio State; Ryan Williams, second year, Alabama; Jordyn Tyson, fourth year, Arizona State. All-purpose player Desmond Reid, fourth year, Pittsburgh.Kicker Dominic Zvada, fourth year, Michigan.First team defenseEdge Dylan Stewart, second year, South Carolina; Colin Simmons, second year, Texas.Tackles Peter Woods, third year, Clemson; Zane Durant, fourth year, Penn State.Linebackers Anthony Hill Jr., third year, Texas; Whit Weeks, fifth year, LSU; Kyle Louis, fourth year, Pittsburgh.Cornerbacks Leonard Moore, second year, Notre Dame; Jermod McCoy, third year, Tennessee.Safeties Caleb Downs, third year, Ohio State; Dillon Thieneman, third year, Oregon. Defensive back Michael Taaffe, fifth year, Texas.Punter Brett Thorson, fourth year, Georgia.Second team offenseQuarterback Garrett Nussmeier, fifth year, LSU.Running backs Makhi Hughes, fourth year, Oregon; Isaac Brown, second year, Louisville.Tackles Francis Mauigoa, third year, Miami; Blake Miller, fourth year, Clemson.Guards Cayden Green, third year, Missouri; Keylan Rutledge, fourth year, Georgia Tech.Center Parker Brailsford, fourth year, Alabama.Tight end Max Klare, fourth year, Ohio State. Wide receivers Antonio Williams, fourth year, Clemson; Elijah Sarratt, fourth year, Indiana; Cam Coleman, second year, Auburn.All-purpose player Kaytron Allen, fourth year, Penn State.Kicker Peyton Woodring, third year, Georgia.Second team defenseEdge T.J. Parker, third year, Clemson; Matayo Uiagalelei, third year, Oregon.Tackles Tim Keenan III, fifth year, Alabama; Christen Miller, fourth year, Georgia.Linebackers Taurean York, third year, Texas A&M; Harold Perkins Jr., fourth year, LSU; Aiden Fisher, fourth year, Indiana.Cornerbacks Chandler Rivers, fourth year, Duke; DAngelo Ponds, third year, Indiana.Safeties Koi Perich, second year, Minnesota; KJ Bolden, second year, Georgia. Defensive back Jalon Kilgore, third year, South Carolina.Punter Ryan Eckley, fourth year, Michigan State.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football___This story has been updated to correct LSU LB Weeks first name to Whit. ERIC OLSON Olson is an Associated Press sports writer based in Omaha, Nebraska. He covers Nebraska, Creighton, the Big Ten and national college sports issues. twitter mailto

Dana Piccoli tried everything to lose weight.She frequented the gym, went on and off diets and hired a personal trainer. When Piccoli decided to get on a GLP-1, it wasnt a short cut to drop weight it was a way for her to live her life comfortably.When I told someone I was on it, they were like, Im going to the gym because I want to do it the right way, said Piccoli, managing director of queer media collaborative News is Out. Obviously that kind of stung because for me, this is the right way.GLP-1 drugs have caused quite a stir since becoming more integrated into mainstream medicine. The newness of some brands, like Ozempic, have led to stigmas and mistrust surrounding them. These stigmas disproportionately affect the LGBTQ+ community since queer people aremore subject to body dissatisfactionand have more trouble finding accessible healthcare.Through all the noise, however, experts say taking GLP-1s are safe with the right counseling, and LGBTQ+ people could largely benefit from them.So, whats all the ruckus about? Are GLP-1s an easy way out to lose weight? And how do they really impact the LGBTQ+ community?How GLP-1s workGLP-1s, or glucagon-like peptide-1, mimic the actions of a GLP-1 that is released by the gut after eating. It can help people with Type-2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar through the release of insulin, and can help those with obesity by slowing down digestion and, in turn, reducing ones appetite.Like any medication, there are some side effects to consider. Sangeeta Kashyap,assistant chief of clinical affairs at Weill Cornell Medicine, said symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting can occur. However, Kashyap said these side effects are less severe than past GLP-1 brands a reason that contributes to their newfound popularity and can be better managed with proper guidance.Since the drug causes a loss of both fat and muscle loss, she said doctors should inform patients to do strength training to maintain any deteriorating muscle, and to eat high-protein diets, since fatty foods increase the risk of vomiting or nausea.Getting on a GLP-1 isnt just about shedding a few pounds. Kashyap said its a commitment to your health and body, which is why talking with a doctor and understanding the risks are crucial.We give patients appropriate guidelines, Kashyap said. We do blood tests, we monitor things, and give a lot of counseling to these patients. I dont think you could just give the medicine out like candy.Piccoli, who started her GLP-1 journey with her wife, said the medication helped turn off food noise.Your motivation for things, your reward system with food is kind of disabled, Piccoli said. That really helped me understand my relationship with food.Turning down food noiseLosing weight isnt as easy as getting on a GLP-1 and eating less. Piccoli said turning off the food noise in her brain led to a complete lifestyle shift.I had to completely change everything about the way I eat, everything about the way I approach food, she said about her experience taking Mounjaro. This has been one of the hardest things Ive ever done.Kashyap said the lifestyle change that comes with taking a GLP-1 is why its important to consult a doctor first to understand how it could affect you not just physically, but also emotionally.Kashyap said she sees higher rates of mental health disorders in transgender women, a community that already faces more barriers in finding accessible healthcare.This could lead to someone getting on the drug for the wrong reasons, Kashyap said. She noted that those with eating disorders or body dysmorphia could face more severe side effects. Body dysmorphia and body image concerns are already an issue for the LGBTQ+ community, Kashyap said, so prescribing GLP-1s needs to be handled with care.One way to ethically prescribe a GLP-1 to a patient would be to conduct a mental health screening, according to Kashyap. Mental health screenings arent required to get on a GLP-1, but Kashyap said they would be beneficial to patients who may be prone to negative effects by taking the drug.Although some people may see more severe side effects, Caroline Apovian,co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Womens Hospital,said GLP-1s are a completely safe and rigorously tested drug.If a person faces negative side effects from taking a GLP-1, its more about how their body or brain is reacting to it than the drug itself being unsafe.Any kind of weight loss is going to affect your mood, either positively or negatively, Apovian said.Financial barriersWith the queer community already facing increased barriers to healthcare, theres another issue to consider: GLP-1s arent cheap.Depending on where you get it from and whether or not insurance covers it, you could pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a limited supply.Piccoli said she paid out of pocket and had to make sacrifices for her and her wife to both get on a GLP-1.I didnt renew my car lease, Piccoli said. We decided to go down to one car so that we had some extra income monthly to be able to pay for it.On the other hand, Matt, who requested to be identified only by his first name due to the sensitivity of the topic, said he was shocked at how easy it was to get the cost of his GLP-1 covered by insurance. He had been warned by his doctor about the difficulty of getting it covered, and expected an uphill battle.[My doctor] wrote out the prescription for me, and on my way home, I got a text message from the drugstore saying it was ready to go, said Matt, whos lost 48 pounds on Ozempic since June 2024.Matt said experiences like his, although not the standard, are why its important to talk with your doctor about getting on a GLP-1 and see for yourself rather than taking advice from social media stigmas.Kashyap said the drug is also becoming more accessible through websites like Lilly, which provide vials for about $300-500. While that isnt pocket change, its significantly cheaper than retail pharmacies.You may have to make sacrifices like Piccoli did, but getting access to modern GLP-1s for weight loss isnt only for the Hollywood elites like it seemed to be a few years ago.Relief for the LGBTQ+ communityThrough all the social stigmas and uncertainty, Kashyap and Apovian agreed that GLP-1s are a major benefit for the queer community.Trans women have increased rates of obesity, Type-2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, according to Kashyap. Estrogen treatments increase fat mass and insulin resistance, leading to higher obesity rates in trans women. Kashyap said GLP-1s could be helpful in mitigating those effects.GLP-1s also reduce alcohol cravings, so Kashyap noted that anyone struggling with alcoholism may see improvements with that condition upon getting on the drug.The bottom lineGetting on a GLP-1 isnt the walk in the park some may make you believe it is its a lifestyle change and health commitment.But its also a change that can provide good and healthy results if you seek the appropriate guidance from a professional.While social stigmas in the queer community may lead to misinformation on who should use it and what it should be used for, GLP-1s are safe and can be a much-needed relief for a community facing significant healthcare obstacles.The post GLP-1s can help address LGBTQ+ healthcare barriers: experts appeared first on News Is Out.

A federal judge in Florida has struck down major parts of the states book ban law, ruling that it violates the First Amendment by sweeping protected literature off school library shelves.In 2023, Florida enacted H.B. 1069, expanding the states so-called Dont Say Gay law to prohibit classroom discussions of LGBTQ+ identities through the end of high school. The measure also required schools to remove books flagged for sexual content, a vague standard most often applied to works addressing race, gender, and sexuality. Related Six big-name publishers sue Ron DeSantis Florida over unconstitutional book-banning law Six big-name publishers sue Ron DeSantis Florida over unconstitutional book-banning law Six major book publishers, the Authors Guild, and parents from Escambia County sued after dozens of books were removed. They argued that H.B. 1069 gave parents and residents unchecked power to demand removals of any book considered pornographic or describes sexual conduct, without clear legal definitions. Under this sweeping standard, students lost access to award-winning books including The Color Purple, Cloud Atlas, The Freedom Writers Diary, Looking for Alaska, Slaughterhouse-Five, Shout, The Handmaids Tale, Beloved, and The Bluest Eye.In a broad order, federal Judge Carlos Mendoza of the U.S. Middle District Court of Florida found the states book ban unconstitutionally overbroad, calling it an I know it when I see it test that chilled free speech. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today None of these books are obscene, Mendoza wrote in his order. The restrictions placed on these books are thus unreasonable.Florida already bans materials that meet the strict Supreme Court definition of obscenity and are legally harmful to minors. However, H.B. 1069 went far beyond that, and schools used it to censor works ranging from Shakespeare to the dictionary.Rejecting the states claim that removals were simply government curation, Judge Mendoza held that delegating an unchecked license to object to materials under an I know it when I see it approach to parents, regardless of the holistic value of the book individually or as part of a larger collection, amounted to outright censorship. The decision is especially significant for LGBTQ+ communities, since many of the books pulled under Floridas law (and similar policies nationwide) feature LGBTQ+ characters or explore gender identity. In fact, according to PEN America, 25% of the books banned in the 202324 school year featured LGBTQ+ characters or themes.This victory affirms what weve always known that literature has the power to expand worlds, foster empathy, and help young people understand themselves and their experiences, said Mary Rasenberger, CEO of the Authors Guild, which is a party to the lawsuit. Book bans dont just censor words on a page; they silence authors lived experiences and deny students access to the stories that help them navigate an increasingly complex world.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

RuPauls Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne is being remembered in a new documentary, Dear Viv, which traces the beloved performers life from a rising star of British drag to an international fan favoriteand the sudden tragedy that took them far too soon.The Vivienne, whose real name was James Lee Williams, died in January 2025 at age 32 of cardiac arrest due to ketamine complications. A trailblazer in and out of drag, they were the first winner of Drag Race UK, a contestant on All Stars 7, and the first drag queen to ever compete on Dancing on Ice.When The Hollywood Reporter revealed the release date for Dear Viv on August 7, the team behind the doc said they made it because the outpouring of love after The Viviennes death made it clear her story needed to be told. Viv died just shortly before DragCon UK, and it was devastating, said World of Wonder co-founder Fenton Bailey. We called [her memorial booth] Dear Viv, and the outpouring, what people wrote on the wall and in the book, was just so moving and powerful It was like, weve got to document this.'Dear Viv' trailerOn the heels of the release date announcement, Entertainment Weekly has released an exclusive first look at the upcoming filmand the result is already tugging heartstrings. The preview clip features emotional interviews with The Viviennes fellow queens and friends, including All Stars 7 castmate Raja and Drag Race UK season 1 sisters Cheryl Hole and Baga Chipz. The Vivienne was British drag with this modern polish, says Tia Kofi, while Baga adds: If youre gorge and youre talented, youve got nothing to prove.Theres also never-before-seen childhood footage and a glimpse at The Viviennes original audition tape, including a rough cut of the Donald Trump impersonation that helped them win Snatch Game. In the docs final moments, The Vivienne says, Its really nice to show people that you are a real person under all that glamor.'Dear Viv' exclusive clipAlongside the docs announcement, The Viviennes family has launched a weekly support group in their honor. House of the Vivienne is a new drug and alcohol addiction center in Colwyn Bay led by their sister Chanel Williams. James would want you to know you matter, your life matters and there is help. There is always hope, she said to the BBC.Dear Viv premieres August 28 on BBC Three and iPlayer in the U.K. and will stream globally on WOW Presents Plus.

Scissoring is forever on our minds and is frequently debated by lesbians everywhere. Whether you believe that the legendary sex act is actually a thing or not, you cant deny the power it holds over everyones imagination.Regardless of whether youre a huge fan of the much-talked-about sex position or think its something that only belongs in lesbian porn aimed at straight men, it seems like it will forever remain in the zeitgeist. From explicitly queer TV shows like Orange is the New Black to Katy Perry scissoring on stage at the VMAs, there have been key moments that have kept scissoring front and center in our collective memories.So lets take a walk down memory lane and celebrate the most memorable pop culture moments in scissoring history!1. 'Blue is the Warmest Color'In Blue is the Warmest Color main character Adle scissors the blue-haired Emma, in a scene that has become controversial because of the many lesbians who argue that scissoring is the domain of straight porn and not something real lesbians actually do. But y'all saw it tho, right? 2. Katy Perry scissoring on stage (@) At this year's VMAs, Katy Perry performed Im His Hes Mine with queer rapper Doechii that got so steamy the two scissored each other as part of the performance.3. BoundThe sex scenes in the erotic thriller Bound are sexy, super horny, and full of undeniable chemistry between Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon. The accuracy of the lesbian sex scenes which include scissoring and Tilly giving Gershons character a hand job is thanks to the contribution of consultant Susie Bright.4. Santana and Brittany on 'Glee'While making out with Brittany on an episode of Glee, Santana casually mentions that its a nice break from all that scissoring.5. Cardi B and Megan Thee StallionLast year, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion collabed on the song Bongos, and the sexy music video features the two singers scissoring while wearing revealing red swimsuits its hot!6. 'Real Housewives' gives a scissoring demoDuring a conversation about whether the women on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills would ever date a woman, Kyle Richards who was making headlines at the time because of a rumored relationship with a female country singer Morgan Wade demonstrated how to scissor with co-star Dorit Kemsley."When I was in Cabo with my friends a question came up about scissoring," Kyle said to the group who looked confused about what the term meant, "Here Dorit, should we show them?"7. Renee Rap performs in front of giant scissors@pressedpapershopneed her on coachella main stage with a full pair of scissors stat @rene @coachella #reneerapp #coachella #talktoomuchreneerappIn case you missed Coachella this year, Rene Rapp quite possibly had the dyk-iest set ever when she was introduced by creator of The L Word star Ilene Chaiken and stars Leisha Hailey, Kate Moennig, and Jennifer Beals before dancing with girlfriend Towa Bird in front a giant pair of interlocking scissors. Could it get any more Sapphic than that?8. 'The Handmaiden'The Handmaiden, an adaptation of Sarah Waters novel Fingersmith, has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing through the entire runtime, but its the sex scene between the two main female characters which includes frantic, bell-ringing scissoring that will likely stick in your mind until the end of time.9. Unsimulated scissoring on 'The Real L Word'While every moment in pop culture history so far has featured simulated scissoring or people talking about it, but The Real L Word went all the way. In one episode of the reality TV show, Kelsey and Romi scissor on camera in an unstimulated sex scene that stirred up some controversy. I think it got a lot of attention because it had never been shown before, Kelsey told Autostraddle back in 2011. Its something that is very natural. In my opinion its not raunchy at all. It something that you know, its making love. And people will always criticize stuff that isnt familiar to them or something thats not fully accepted. And thats why Im glad that I did it because its out there and it needs to be accepted.10. Gay pop group the Scissor SistersPop group the Scissor Sisters, who started their career in the gay nightlife scene in New York, named their grammy-nominated band after the much-talked about lesbian sex act.11. 'Book Smart'In the Olivia Wilde-directed raunchy teen comedy Book Smart, Molly and Amy beat the merits of scissoring, much like every lesbian friend group ever. "Do you know how many girls are gonna be swimming in your vagina next year?" Molly asks Amy. "Every time I come to visit you, you're going to be scissoring a different girl."Amy responds, "Dude, scissoring is not a thing.""Don't knock it until you try it," Molly says. That seems like a good life lesson.12. Anthony Bowens scissors a granny (@) Out wrestler Anthony Bowens signature catchphrase Scissor me Daddy Ass went from dirty to adorable when he stops to say hi to a granny from the crowd and proceeds to scissor her... fingers that is!13. Did a Nickelodeon show reference scissoring?On the Nickelodeon show Victorious, Jade talked about how her favorite film is a horror movie called The Scissoring. Scissors featured in the movie, but we know what they were trying to do. I mean, cmon!14. 'Orange is the New Black'During an especially graphic sex scene on Netflix's iconic show, Orange is the New Black, Poussey has to give up on a sex act that just isn't working out, telling her girlfriend, "I told you scissoring wasn't a thing."15. The time Elliot Page talked about scissoring on 'SNL'Elliot Page starred in a Saturday Night Live skit back in 2008 where Pages character excitedly recounts an experience at a Melissa Etheridge concert and says the iconic line, Why cant I just hug a woman with my legs in friendship?16. Gabby Windey andRene Rapp love scissoringRene Rapp was a guest on Long Winded with Gabby Windey, where the two women got candid about their love of the taboo lesbian sex act.Love scissoring, Rapp said. Because some people are like noooo, no, no, no, and like are we dense? Of course!Windey also admitted that while her wife, Robby Hoffman, isnt into it, shes always begging to scissor.Our trip through pop culture history didn't settle the debate about scissoring, but it is incredible that in a culture that demonizes queerness of any kind, a sex act synonymous with lesbianism is so frequently referenced, talked about, and portrayed on screen.

For all the (slow) progress pop culture has made in embracing queer sex, it's been particularly slow to embrace one aspect in particular the strap-on.In 2023, The Daily Beast questioned whether strap-ons are "the last taboo of sex on TV," noting how few and far between scenes that have featured them have been over the years. When they are featured, it's often as a joke, and more likely to revolve around role reversals in heterosexual sex rather than anything queer.But some movies and TV shows (and pop icons) have done their best to celebrate strap-ons all the same, creating some unforgettable sapphic moments that we're more than happy to revisit.1. 'Sense8' Nomi and AmanitaViewers already knew that Sense8 was going to include a lot of top notch sex scenes, thanks to the first few minutes of the series already including Nomi (Jamie Clayton) and Amanita (Freema Agyeman) getting it on with the help of a trusty strap.2. Christina Aguilera's LA Pride performanceChristina Aguilera made serious headlines when she donned a glittery green strap for her duet with Kim Petras during LA Pride in 2022. Truly iconique.3. 'Tipping the Velvet' (@) This 2002 adaptation of Sarah Waters' queer classic Tipping the Velvet may have been made for TV, but that didn't stop them from pushing some serious boundaries for the aughts. This includes Nan (Rachael Stirling) being sent to fetch something from the trunk of one of her lovers, only to be stunned by the discovery of a harness and strap she was expected to put on. Whew!4. 'The L Word' Alice and DanaDespite its many, many, many sex scenes, The L Word wasn't exactly known for its use of sex toys throughout the series. Actually, the most memorable scene involving toys has got to be when Alice (Leisha Hailey) brings Dana (Erin Daniels) on a shopping trip to a local sex store.Sales Clerk: "If you use it with a harness, you can detach the dld, leave the btt plg inside while you do other things."Dana: "What, like, the dishes?"5. 'The Real L Word'And then, of course, was The Real L Word, an oft-forgotten reality series that followed real queer women in Los Angeles (and later New York) and tried to be just as dramatic and raunchy as its fictional counterpart. This ultimately included an extremely controversial scene that showed two of the show's participants having sex using a strap-on.6. 'Orange is the New Black'The only strap-on sex scene in seven seasons of Orange is the New Black featured none other than Big Boo (Lea DeLaria), and was praised for actually showing a "fat, butch, middle-aged lesbian" having sex with the same explicitness as the show's other scenes.7. Lady Gaga for 'Q' (@) "We all know that one of the biggest talking points of the year was that I have a dick, so why not give them what they want?" Lady Gaga told Q when she posed for their 2010 magazine cover. "I want to wear a dick strapped to my vagina."That's some queen shit right there.8. 'Pariah'Pariah centers around the ideas of identity and expectations, so it's actually quite fitting that its strap-on scene involves Alike (Adepero Oduye) deciding that the strap-on purchased for her by her best friend is not actually for her after all.9. 'And Just Like That...'The relationship Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) has with Che (Sara Ramirez) may have been the most controversial aspect of Sex and the City revival series And Just Like That... But their strap-on scene was arguably a step up from that time the original series had Samantha (Kim Cattrall) briefly get a girlfriend and throw out her back during their off-screen strap play.10. Chappell Roan on 'Saturday Night Live' (@) Technically, no strap-on was present when Chappell Roan performed a brand new song, "The Giver," during her appearance on Saturday Night Live. But with lyrics like "Good luck finding a man who has the means / To rhinestone cowgirl all night long," we all knew exactly what she was going on about.11. Robby Hoffman on Gabby Windey's podcastWhen giving advice to a caller on her wifes podcast Long Winded with Gabby Windey about top surgery and dealing with dysphoria while strapping, genderqueer comedian Robby Hoffman joked, I like to top and to strap, but I dont have a rhythmic sensibility about me, I know people have seen me dance or my version of dance."12.Parvati Shallowshares an eye-popping description of getting down with Mae MartinSurvivor alum Parvati Shallow was anything but shy when sharing her memories of getting it on with comedian Mae Martin in her memoir, Nice Girls Dont Win.I climbed on top of Mae and I pressed my dick into them, watching it go in and out, she wrote. I gripped their short blond hair and pulled their head back toward the pillow, leaning down to kiss their mouth. I was actively, passionately present, wildly turned on inside this entirely new experience.Hey, if youre gonna reminisce about sexy strap-on times, why not commit it to writing?13. Gabby Windey andRene Rapp get graphic on her podcastYes, Gabby Windeys podcast is making a second appearance on this list because the reality TV star cant stop talking about strap-ons.This time, Rene Rapp admitted she has a love of brightly colored dildos when strapping. Yes, its a necessity, dick me down, Rapp said.Like its silicone and its purple and pink. Like this shit is fun. This is games. We need to be sucking strap in the club more.Windey admitted she and wife Robby Hoffman prefer a more realistic flesh colored style, We get very realistic kinds. Its so expensive. Yeah, weve invested so much money, but its because she calls me Goldicocks.Iconic.