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Mamdani Faces Pressure to Disavow Anti-American Stance of DSA Allies

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Mamdani Faces Pressure to Disavow Anti-American Stance of DSA Allies

The State Department deserves commendation for halting New York City International Affairs Commissioner Ana María Archila’s attempt to engage with Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran’s envoy to the United Nations, particularly during this tense period of conflict between the United States and Iran. This development, however, presents a significant challenge for Mayor Zohran Mamdani: Is he prepared to distance himself from the overtly anti-American elements within the Democratic Socialists of America?

In response to the situation, Mamdani has attempted to mitigate the backlash by claiming that Archila was not authorized to undertake such diplomatic efforts. However, his decision to neither dismiss her nor enforce any disciplinary measures indicates a reluctance to take decisive action.

Moreover, Mamdani has yet to plainly state just how profoundly wrong Archila’s actions were, which fuels further speculation.

This raises an important question: Does the mayor harbor a preference for the authoritarian regime in Tehran over the U.S. government?

It is possible to stand against US military interventions without aligning with a regime responsible for decades of hostility and bloodshed against Americans. Yet, certain members of the Democratic Socialists of America openly support the Islamic Republic, seemingly because of its mutual disdain for the United States.

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DSA factions make apologies not just for Hamas’ atrocities against innocent Israelis, but for last year’s murder of two Jews outside the Capital Jewish Museum in DC, for Russia’s war on Ukraine and for crimes against humanity committed by the Chinese Communist Party and the lunatics who rule North Korea.

As Jonah Goldberg notes in an excellent X essay, the “DSA has an expressly no-enemies-to-the-left approach”; other members are supposed to stay silent even when its affiliates call for the overthrow of the Constitution and US democracy itself.

Is the mayor just a pretty face covering for these radicals, or does he have principles that oppose this profound anti-Americanism?

If so, he needs to start saying so, and to purge the extremists he’s hired to help run New York City.

Archila, for one, has brazenly hijacked the Office of International Affairs, turning it into a puppet agency for the DSA’s internationalist agenda. 

This is confirmed by an internal OIA memo — uncovered by City Journal — mandating that diplomatic outreach be “focused . . . on deepening relations with foreign leaders who share Mamdani’s worldview” — one aligned with the DSA.

Traditionally, the office sought to cultivate global sister city relationships, exchange best practices, attract foreign business and support the city’s relations with the diplomatic community (including collecting the occasional parking fines from scofflaw diplomats).

Reaching out to Iran and to the Maduro regime that’s devastated Venezuela, as Archila also tried to do, is a clean different thing, and a vile one.

If the mayor didn’t authorize or endorse Archila’s plan to sit down with Iran’s UN rep, he should fire her.

More: He needs to sit down with his peeps and get every anti-American radical out of his administration.

Mamdani has quietly broken with the DSA on some points, most notably by keeping Jessica Tisch in charge of the NYPD, and largely letting her run policing as she deems fit.

Now that Archila’s put the question on the table, he’s obliged to go beyond pragmatism to principle . . . unless he hates America, too.

Your move, Mr. Mayor.

78-Year-Old Last Polio Survivor in Iron Lung Passes Away, Ending an Era

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78-Year-Old Last Polio Survivor in Iron Lung Passes Away, Ending an Era

The United States bids farewell to its last iron lung-dependent polio survivor, who passed away following the failure of the vintage machine that sustained her life. The device, a staple from the 1940s, had finally succumbed to the ravages of age, rendering repairs impossible.

Martha Ann Lillard, aged 78, died on June 26 after spending more than seven decades reliant on the apparatus that kept her breathing.

Her struggle with polio began on her fifth birthday in 1953, a day etched in her memory that she could recall vividly until her final days.

“I woke up, it was sunny outside, and as I attempted to sit up, I felt a searing pain in my neck,” Martha reminisced to KFOR last month. “I couldn’t lift my head off the pillow,” she shared from her home in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Within four days, Martha lost consciousness, her ability to breathe and move devastated by the virus. It was the iron lung that ultimately stabilized her and gave her a second chance at life.

‘They usually didn’t like to put children in because they fought it, but I didn’t,’ she said. Iron lungs are airtight metal tanks which generate negative pressure to force patient’s lungs to expand and contract if they are unable to do so naturally.

Lillard was able to live a relatively normal life up until recently, but everything changed when she contracted Covid twice, as well as shingles.

At the same time, Lillard’s lifesaving iron lung started to break down, with her family explaining that the pieces were too old and hard to find to repair before her death.

Martha Ann Lillard, 78, the last US polio patient who used an iron lung to survive, has died

Martha Ann Lillard, 78, the last US polio patient who used an iron lung to survive, has died

Lillard lived with just 25 percent lung capacity, scoliosis and a paralyzed right arm. She insisted that she preferred the iron lung over more modern respirators

Lillard lived with just 25 percent lung capacity, scoliosis and a paralyzed right arm. She insisted that she preferred the iron lung over more modern respirators

Lillard had to relearn to walk and breathe on her own after learning she had polio. She was only able to go to school for one hour per day

Lillard had to relearn to walk and breathe on her own after learning she had polio. She was only able to go to school for one hour per day

‘Some of the parts are from the chevs of the forties, and they’re hard to locate,’ her sister, Cindy McVey, said. ‘We have a spare motor, but we don’t have anyone to put it back in if we needed it.’

After being diagnosed with polio, Lillard spent six months in the hospital learning to breathe on her own.

She was required to live in the iron lung for 23 hours of the day, with the remaining tiny sliver of spare time used to rehab her paralyzed limbs.

But perhaps surprisingly, Lillard explained that she enjoyed the feeling of going into the iron lung because of her exhaustion.

‘When I got in it, I was tired,’ she said. ‘Always getting in there felt wonderful.’

Still, polio ravaged Lillard’s early childhood, as she had to learn how to walk again and the disease severely disrupted her early life.

For instance, Lillard never attended prom and she was only able to go to school for one hour per day.

She was forced to take high school classes over the phone, but could not graduate since everything she needed for a diploma was not being offered by the district.

Lillard learned she had polio on her fifth birthday in 1953. She had to learn how to breathe on her own and extensively rehabilitate her paralyzed limbs

Lillard learned she had polio on her fifth birthday in 1953. She had to learn how to breathe on her own and extensively rehabilitate her paralyzed limbs

At one point she spent up to 23 hours inside the device but said entering into the machine was always a relief for her body

At one point she spent up to 23 hours inside the device but said entering into the machine was always a relief for her body

Lillard learned she had polio two years before a vaccine was widely available in America in 1955.

Until then, polio killed or severely paralyzed millions around the world, and thousands in the US.

Though Lillard tried other, more modern respirators, she ultimately stayed loyal to her trustworthy iron lung.

‘None of them could get up to 21 pounds [per square inch], which is what I needed to breathe,’ she told the outlet. ‘So they just weren’t effective.’

When she was at her healthiest, Lillard only used the iron lung for about nine hours at night to sleep.

A GoFundMe fundraiser to honor Lillard’s legacy after her death said she ‘spent her life as normally as possible’ despite living with just 25 percent lung capacity, scoliosis and a paralyzed right arm.

‘She was incredibly creative, painting, writing poems, and composing music for the left hand piano,’ the fundraiser read.

‘Even as post-polio syndrome continued to affect her, she maintained a wonderful fighting attitude, making the most of what she had left and enjoying life as much as she could,’ it continued.

In the months before her death, Lillard was forced to be inside the iron lung for the entire day (Picture of an iron lung)

In the months before her death, Lillard was forced to be inside the iron lung for the entire day (Picture of an iron lung)

Lillard would typically use a portable ventilator when not inside the iron lung. However, her quality of life changed when the pandemic rolled around.

‘She didn’t really require a caretaker until Covid-19,’ McVey, her sister, said. ‘She fixed her own meals and, and took care of everything herself.’

A public obituary for Lillard noted that she died of long-haul Covid.

Shortly before her death, Lillard was unable to breathe on her own when lying on her back and unable to sit up by herself.

She had been living inside the iron lung for 24 hours a day in the months leading up to her death.

However, the aging equipment had also begun faltering, which included an instance last year when a tornado knocked out Lillard’s power.

Her husband, Baha Seleh, was forced to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Lillard until she received further aid.

Vicki Gunvalson Criticizes Heather and Tamra’s Friendship, Discusses Carmella Dispute and RHOC Impact

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Vicki Gunvalson Criticizes Heather and Tamra’s Friendship, Discusses Carmella Dispute and RHOC Impact

RHOC's Vicki Gunvalson Says Heather Only Befriends Tamra "Cuz It's Easier," Hints at Carmella Feud, Plus Claims She's "Underpaid" as Andy Cohen Reacts

Credit: Instagram

Vicki Gunvalson made waves on Thursday’s airing of Watch What Happens Live by calling out the authenticity of Heather Dubrow‘s friendship with Tamra Judge.

On the heels of the premiere of the 20th season of The Real Housewives of Orange County, Vicki, 64, shared her thoughts on her relationships with fellow cast members like Carmella Garcia, 44, Gina Kirschenheiter, 42, and Emily Simpson, 50. She reminisced about how the show has transformed over the years and how her boyfriend Michael Smith reacted to her return. Alongside that, she hinted at the excitement of the upcoming Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip, reflected on whether she regrets renewing her vows with Donn Gunvalson, and disclosed her feelings of being underpaid.

During the July 9 episode of WWHL, Vicki speculated, “I just think Heather wants to be friends with Tamra because it’s easier.”

Also of Tamra, 58, Vicki admitted she was “really proud” of how calm she remained amid their cast’s drama on the premiere.

“It’s that CBD stuff in the drinks and I just think it calms her. It’s like, ‘Keep taking it,’” she declared.

Moving on to Carmella, as she noted that she liked Shannon Beador, 62, and Lizzy Rovsek, 46, when they were new, Vicki said viewers would have to “wait and see” where their drama stemmed from before hinting that it was based on the newbie‘s lack of “authenticity.”

According to Vicki, RHOC was much realer when it began.

“The very beginning was incredibly incredible cuz we didn’t know it was gonna be a show. We were just like, filming on a handycam for four weeks. What has changed is now people know what they ‘have’ to do to stay on. And that I don’t like, [Andy Cohen]. I just want authenticity,” she explained.

After being asked back to the show in November during a surprise moment with Andy, 58, at BravoCon, Vicki said Michael, who was in the audience, exclaimed, “‘Oh sh*t.’” Meanwhile, as noted by Michael, he was okay with Vicki’s return because he “knew it would make her very happy.”

Looking back on her vow renewal with Donn, Vicki got emotional, saying, “I don’t regret that.”

“That’s actually very sad. You’re gonna make me cry cuz that was our last-ditch effort to make the marriage work,” she admitted.

While Vicki is the OG of O.C., she gave a nod to Kyle Richards, 57, saying that the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star was the most iconic OG from another city.

“I love Kyle,” she stated. “Her and I bonded so much when we were on the Girls Trip.”

Following filming on RHUGT, rumors began swirling in regard to a spat between Tamra and Shannon at the Quiet Woman. And, Vicki admitted on WWHL that what went down was “not great.”

She then mentioned that she was “underpaid,” which Andy quickly refuted.

“I filmed the Ultimate Girls Trip before I started filming RHOC. So I had two shows at once. So if I seem a little crabby sometimes it was only because I was overworked and underpaid,” she began before Andy interjected.

“I don’t think you were underpaid on any level. As a matter of fact, I’ll go to the mat on that one,” he declared. 

Later, after shading Luann de Lesseps‘ singing, stating that she can “sing-ish,” Vicki appeared on the WWHL: After Show, where she explained her friendships with Gina and Emily. 

“[They] respect me. That’s the best thing. I want to be respected more than anything,” she shared.

As for whether she agreed with Tamra that Gina and Travis Mullen, 40, would wed before Jennifer Pedranti, 49, and Ryan Boyajian, Vicki confirmed she did.

“I love all those couples. I mean, they’re just good people, but I do think Gina will because of the six kids … So I think they have to show, really to the children, the commitment and the marriage. I love all that,” she gushed.

Also on the After Show, Vicki teased the upcoming season of RHUGT.

“That’s gonna be a great, great series. And the ending, I have to say, was so emotional again, and the fact that all of them really thanked me for starting the wave of the housewife franchise, and again, I cried then too because you think about where would we have been 20 years ago, 21 years ago … what the hell happened to my life? It went fast,” she admitted.

The Real Housewives of Orange County season 20 airs Thursdays at 8/7c on Bravo.

Exploring the Life and Tragic Passing of Bodybuilder Connor Murphy: Cause of Death and Personal Insights

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Exploring the Life and Tragic Passing of Bodybuilder Connor Murphy: Cause of Death and Personal Insights

Connor Murphy Biography – Connor Murphy Wiki

Connor Murphy was a prominent American bodybuilder who made waves as a content producer and influential figure in the fitness community. His reputation was built on his engaging “looksmaxxing” and workout videos, which captivated over 2.7 million followers across his YouTube and Instagram platforms, where he regularly showcased his bodybuilding and fitness journey.

Murphy identified with the looksmaxxing community, a niche group on the internet where men often pursue extreme measures to enhance their physical attractiveness. This pursuit can involve rigorous training, pharmaceuticals, and even cosmetic surgeries. Murphy rose to prominence on YouTube during the 2010s, where his channel amassed nearly 2.4 million subscribers.

Connor Murphy Age

Born in 1994, YouTube sensation Connor Murphy passed away on July 7, 2026, in Thailand, at the age of 32.

Connor Murphy Death

Murphy tragically lost his life in what appears to be a drowning incident in Thailand on July 7, 2026, at the age of 32. Reports from local media outlets like the Bangkok Post and Thairath indicate that around 3 p.m. local time in Samut Prakan province, authorities responded to a report of a man behaving erratically at a high-end rental location. Upon arrival, officers witnessed Murphy dive into a nearby lake, where he swam for a while before succumbing to exhaustion and drowning.

Rescue divers later arrived on the scene and discovered Murphy’s body approximately 20 meters from the shoreline, according to police statements. The body showed no immediate signs of foul play, and an autopsy has been ordered as part of the investigation. Additionally, investigators reported finding two unused syringes and several white pills inside a bag in Murphy’s vehicle.

According to the Bangkok Post, Murphy and his unnamed 22-year-old girlfriend had booked the luxury rental property for three months. Police reportedly discovered that much of the property had been vandalized with black and yellow paint, which Connor Murphy’s girlfriend told authorities happened overnight while she was asleep.

Murphy’s girlfriend reportedly said to police that his erratic behavior was unusual and had never happened before. She said they had been dating for three years but only began living together a few months prior the incident.

Final YouTube Upload

Murphy’s final upload on his YouTube channel was uploaded on July 1, 2026, less than a week before he died. It appeared to be on the topic of death. In the minute-long video, he can be seen dancing, bouncing a basketball and pretending to play a mini violin as rock music played in the background.

At the end, he said people “have an unhealthy relationship with death.” The caption read, “Obituary Pending. This is purely a satirical acting performance. This dramatization does not depict any true events. Nothing in this video should be replicated and everything performed abides by all laws and regulations.”

Some of his followers have described his final YouTube upload as “basically a suicide note.”

Tribute

Fitness coach Patrick Lyons paid tribute to Murphy in a lengthy Instagram post. Lyons wrote that Murphy “fundamentally changed the course of my life due to the impact he had on my content and my following.” He further alleged Murphy “experimented with an illicit, extremely powerful drug in 2020 that unveiled a previously-unknown underlying mental illness” and led to “a psychotic break that turned Connor into someone far different from the person I once knew.”

Lyons then speculated on Connor Murphy’s cause of death, saying, “He was in a state of mania or psychosis, likely due to PEDs + mind-altering drugs.”

Connor Murphy Height

Bodybuilder Connor Murphy stood at a height of 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m).

Unveiling the Untold Stories of the Overlooked Migrants

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Tulips have served as a vibrant connection for David Van Berkel’s family to their Dutch heritage for many years.

In Victoria, these flowers still thrive on the family farm. However, Van Berkel is concerned that another vital piece of his heritage is slowly vanishing — the rich language, captivating stories, and the shared history that has woven the fabric of Dutch Australian generations.

Van Berkel cherishes some of his earliest memories of his father’s flower farm, a legacy infused with a deep-rooted Dutch tradition. His family has cultivated tulips for as long as he can remember, both on Australian soil and back in their ancestral home, the Netherlands.

“When my opa [grandfather] first immigrated in 1950, he brought with him not only a love for flower bulbs but also went on to become one of Australia’s foremost tulip and hyacinth growers of his era,” he shared with SBS News.

Fields of colourful tulips growing in rows on a sunny hillside.

Remarkably, this legacy of floriculture blooms as brilliantly today as it did decades ago.

“Tulips are having a major resurgence and they’re very popular in our Dutch migrant community,” he said.

Van Berkel is the third generation to run the family’s farm at Monbulk, a town in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges, and said gardening “runs in his blood”.

But while the flowers have endured, Van Berkel worries other parts of his Dutch identity have not.

A language lost

Like many in Australia’s Dutch diaspora, Van Berkel said aspects of his heritage are “slipping away”, particularly language.

I wish I learned to speak Dutch growing up. The Dutch language is slowly disappearing from our family and also from the district.

Van Berkel’s experience reflects a broader trend. Research by linguist Michael Clyne found Dutch Australians experienced one of the highest rates of language shift to English of any major migrant community in Australia, a change linked to post-World War Two assimilation, intermarriage, and rapid integration.

Census data also shows that while almost 382,000 Australians claim Dutch ancestry, only a minority of Netherlands-born Australians now speak Dutch at home.

A man wearing a navy sweater stands next to an older man wearing a peaked cap.

Nonja Peters, a historian and anthropologist at Curtin University, said under Australia’s assimilation policies, post-war migrants were encouraged to speak only English.

“Once children entered the school yard, they were Australian. No ESL (English as a second language), no help with anything, they just had to deal with it. It was a sink-or-swim education policy,” she told SBS News.

“At the time, the children were told that if they didn’t cope, it was their fault.”

They learned not to talk about their backgrounds. It was like they had no past basically.

For many migrant families, speaking English became a priority as they sought to fit into Australian society, often at the expense of maintaining their native language.

The hidden scars of war

For Peters, that history is more than academic. It is also deeply personal.

She arrived in Australia in 1949 as a young child with her parents. During World War Two, her father was taken by Nazi forces and sent to work in a steel factory in Strasbourg in Nazi-annexed French regions. Peters’ mother followed him.

“For 12 hours a day, they forcibly laboured in that steel factory under Nazi SS [Schutzstaffel] guns, to bolster the Nazi war machine,” she said.

A man wearing a hat stands next to a woman in jacket and a child holding a doll.

In 1948, Australia began accepting migrants under the Empire and Allied ex-Servicemen’s Scheme that offered assisted migration for former soldiers who had fought with Allied forces during the war. Peters’ parents were among them.

However, like many post-war migrants, she said they arrived “carrying the consequences of war, occupation, loss, abduction, forced labour, famine, incarceration and enforced family separation”.

“Yet they entered an Australia whose assimilation policies expected them to begin again as if those histories did not matter,” Peters said.

Most psychological suffering was either silenced, misdiagnosed, or blamed on the migrant themselves.

Despite these experiences, many Dutch arrivals became known as “invisible migrants” because they were widely seen as having integrated quickly into Australian society, according to Jill A’Vard from the Monbulk Historical Society.

For many, Australia also offered the opportunity to rebuild their lives and create a new future after the war.

Recovering hidden stories

Those stories are now the focus of an exhibition in Monbulk — From the Lowlands to the Ranges — a project spearheaded by the local historical society, where community members are working to preserve the experiences of Dutch migrants for future generations.

Jill A’Vard is also compiling the stories into a book to be released in August.

“Many early Dutch migrants here survived unimaginable hardships, living with no electricity or running water,” said Maria McCarthy from the Monbulk Historical Society.

“But compared with what they had left behind, Australia was still seen as an opportunity to take their families forward.”

A woman weaing a striped jumper stands next to a photo board with another woman in a back vest.

The van Horick family is among those featured in the exhibition. Gerry van Horick was just eight years old when his parents set sail for Australia in 1963.

Upon arrival, they were sent to the Bonegilla Migrant Camp in north-east Victoria.

Between 1947 and 1971, Bonegilla became Australia’s largest migrant reception centre, with more than 300,000 migrants passing through its gates.

A man wearing glasses and a blue checked shirt sits in front of a story board in a library.

For many migrants, including the Dutch, Australia offered opportunity but few comforts in those early years, van Horick said.

“The accommodation was very sparse, just enough for a bed. We had a communal kitchen where we used to eat, communal shower blocks,” he said.

Life changed for his family when the Van Berkels offered his father a job and a place to live.

“Dad joined the garden business at Monbulk, and for almost 14 years we lived in a house on their property,” van Horick said.

“It was a very big part of our early experience and migration journey.”

A black and white photo of two women sitting in chairs outside a building, with two children sitting on steps.

Stories like these are common among post-war Dutch migrants, Peters said.

“At the start, [Dutch business owners] hire from their own community, because they understand and trust each other. And trust is key to running a family business,” she said.

Carrying a legacy forward

Preserving Dutch heritage for future generations is also a focus for Van Berkel.

“We’re proud of our history and where we come from, and the impact of such a small country on the world.

It is really important that our children understand how we got to live in this lucky country, through the hard work of others.

This story was produced in collaboration with SBS Dutch.

Taylor Swift Sparks Speculation with Eye-Catching Ring at Friend’s Wedding

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Taylor Swift Sparks Speculation with Eye-Catching Ring at Friend’s Wedding

Taylor Swift debuted her stunning new wedding ring while attending a wedding ceremony with her husband, Travis Kelce, showcasing their newlywed glow.

The couple was among the guests at the nuptials of ex-Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and Laura Kruk, which took place at the picturesque Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Orange County, California on Friday.

Their attendance came just a week after they celebrated their own $50 million wedding extravaganza at the renowned Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The 36-year-old music icon and the NFL star, also 36, appeared publicly for the first time as a married couple, and cameras caught the enchanting sparkle of Swift’s wedding ring during the outdoor celebration.

One striking photograph captured Swift placing her hand over her heart as the couple shared their vows, her impressive ring gleaming. In additional shots, the large gemstone caught the sunlight as she embraced guests and enjoyed a glass of champagne.

The pop star complemented her new rock with a strapless pink brocade Markarian gown retailing for $4,115, finished with her signature red lip. Meanwhile, Kelce cut a sharp figure in a gray suit.

The pair walked into the ceremony hand in hand, still basking in marital bliss.

The wedding ring was an addition to the old mine brilliant cut diamond engagement ring which Kelce used to pop the question and which is valued between $550,000 and $1 million.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce made their first public appearance as husband and wife, where cameras captured the first glimpse of the bride's wedding ring

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce made their first public appearance as husband and wife, where cameras captured the first glimpse of the bride’s wedding ring

One photo showed Swift holding her hand over her heart, with her massive ring just visible

One photo showed Swift holding her hand over her heart, with her massive ring just visible

The pair were among the guests who attended former Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and Laura Kruk’s wedding at the Ritz-Carlton in California on Friday

The pair were among the guests who attended former Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and Laura Kruk’s wedding at the Ritz-Carlton in California on Friday

Their trip came just one week after the pair celebrated their own love at their $50 million extravaganza at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City

Their trip came just one week after the pair celebrated their own love at their $50 million extravaganza at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City

Swift complemented her new rock with a strapless pink brocade Markarian gown retailing for $4,115. Kelce cut a sharp figure in a gray suit

Swift complemented her new rock with a strapless pink brocade Markarian gown retailing for $4,115. Kelce cut a sharp figure in a gray suit

But it appears the Miss Americana star is still a bit shy about showing off her new bling so soon after her own celebrity-studded wedding.

Swift and Kelce jetted off from the Big Apple to the ultra-exclusive Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana, where they enjoyed ‘complete privacy’ over the July Fourth weekend and the following days.

They were spotted arriving in California on Thursday after Swift’s private jet flew from Montana to Hollywood Burbank Airport. Daily Mail footage captured dozens of umbrellas opening to shield the couple as they disembarked the plane. 

The pair then entered a convoy of vehicles that appeared to whisk Swift and her new husband to her Beverly Hills mansion, located 15 miles away. 

Smith-Schuster’s wedding is expected to be just a brief interruption in Swift and Kelce’s romantic honeymoon adventures. 

After celebrating the former football player’s nuptials, the couple is reportedly set to continue their honeymoon tour, with Greece and a wider European island-hopping getaway rumored to be on the itinerary. 

Speculation has continued to swirl over the details of their lavish wedding celebration at the legendary Manhattan stadium, including what exactly the couple exchanged at the altar. 

Last week, Sophie Lomax, Head of Design at Austen & Blake, shared her predictions with the Daily Mail.  

One photo shows the ring visible as Swift sipped champagne from a flute

One photo shows the ring visible as Swift sipped champagne from a flute

In other images, the ring shimmered in the sun as Swift hugged guests

In other images, the ring shimmered in the sun as Swift hugged guests

The pair walked into Friday's ceremony still basking in marital bliss, with matching wedding bands

The pair walked into Friday’s ceremony still basking in marital bliss, with matching wedding bands

Smith-Schuster’s wedding is expected to be just a brief interruption in Swift and Kelce’s romantic honeymoon

Smith-Schuster’s wedding is expected to be just a brief interruption in Swift and Kelce’s romantic honeymoon

‘We predict Taylor will likely choose a yellow gold wedding band to match her engagement ring. This warm, traditional metal is an enduring symbol of love and commitment,’ Lomax said.

‘Her engagement ring will likely determine her chosen karat, as it’s recommended that the two rings match,’ she added.

Lomax explained that the band may be vintage inspired to match her engagement ring.

‘Taylor’s engagement ring features beautiful detailing on the yellow gold band. It adds a romantic, almost whimsical touch to the design,’ the design head said.

‘A vintage-inspired wedding ring usually echoes these features with intricate designs and classic details that capture the romance of bygone eras,’ she added.

‘They’re ideal for those who appreciate historical beauty and rare styles. These rings offer a distinctive and enduring symbol of love.’ 

Swift and Kelce partied late into the night for their ‘rehearsal dinner’ with 100 of their closest friends, including Hadid, her partner Cooper, Selena Gomez and Jack Antonoff.

The following day, they exchanged 20-minute vows in front of a star-studded guest list that included nearly all of Kelce’s Chiefs teammates last week, though Page Six had previously reported that the couple had already married. 

Swift and Kelce touched down in California on Thursday after a mini honeymoon in Montana

Swift and Kelce touched down in California on Thursday after a mini honeymoon in Montana

After celebrating the former football player's nuptials, they are reportedly set to go to Greece along with island-hopping across Europe

After celebrating the former football player’s nuptials, they are reportedly set to go to Greece along with island-hopping across Europe

The pair exchanged 20-minute vows in front of a star-studded guest list that included nearly all of Kelce’s Chiefs teammates last week

The pair exchanged 20-minute vows in front of a star-studded guest list that included nearly all of Kelce’s Chiefs teammates last week

Page Six had previously reported that the couple had already married

Page Six had previously reported that the couple had already married

In an interview with UK's Heart radio station last year, Swift explained that she had shown Kelce a video of the designer for her engagement ring back in 2024

In an interview with UK’s Heart radio station last year, Swift explained that she had shown Kelce a video of the designer for her engagement ring back in 2024

Their 1,000-guest ceremony came almost one year after they announced their engagement on Instagram last August, with the caption reading: ‘Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.’

Kelce proposed in an intimate garden setting at his home in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. They kept the engagement private for about two weeks before the public reveal. 

Unlike her new wedding ring, Swift proudly showed off her engagement ring, a vintage-inspired old mine brilliant-cut diamond designed by Kelce alongside Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry in New York City. 

Experts previously estimated the ring’s value to be anywhere between $1.3 million and $5 million. 

According to Lubeck’s bio, the Neptune Beach, Florida-born jewelry designer is ‘a goldsmith, hand engraver, and vintage jewelry collector’ who now creates one-of-a-kind pieces in Manhattan.

In an interview with UK’s Heart radio station last year, Swift gushed about her ‘hardware upgrade’ and explained that she had shown Kelce a video of the designer back in 2024.

‘I had shown him a video [that] I just thought was so cool. I had shown him a video a year and a half ago, and he was just paying attention to everything, it turns out,’ the Opalite singer explained.

Swift revealed that she was left ‘gasping’ the moment she first saw the sparkler.

Kelce proposed in an intimate garden setting at his home in Lee's Summit, Missouri, last year

Kelce proposed in an intimate garden setting at his home in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, last year

Swift's engagement ring is a vintage-inspired old mine brilliant-cut diamond designed by Kelce alongside Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry in New York City

Swift’s engagement ring is a vintage-inspired old mine brilliant-cut diamond designed by Kelce alongside Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry in New York City

Experts previously estimated the ring’s value to be anywhere between $1.3 million and $5 million

Experts previously estimated the ring’s value to be anywhere between $1.3 million and $5 million

The pair's romance has captivated fans, with Kelce traveling alongside Swift during her widly successful Eras Tour

The pair’s romance has captivated fans, with Kelce traveling alongside Swift during her widly successful Eras Tour

‘When I saw the ring, I was just, like, [gasping],’ she shared during the show. ‘I was like, “I know who made that! I know who made that! And also, you listen to me.” He did amazing, it was, like, “You really know me.”‘ 

‘I didn’t know what I would want, but he did somehow, and that’s kind of a flex,’ she added. 

Since then, their romance has captivated fans around the world, with Swift supporting Kelce through two Super Bowl runs while the NFL star has traveled alongside her during her wildly successful Eras Tour. 

Texas DoorDash driver completes delivery despite being struck by fleeing suspect’s vehicle

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Texas DoorDash driver completes delivery despite being struck by fleeing suspect’s vehicle

Doing whatever it took.

In a dramatic twist to an already tense situation, a persistent DoorDash driver in Texas managed to complete her food delivery just after an encounter with a robbery suspect engaged in a high-speed police chase through local neighborhoods.

The delivery person, who remains unnamed, had parked near her customer’s residence in Houston’s Greater Greenspoint area on a Wednesday afternoon, with police sirens echoing nearby, as shown in footage provided to KRTK.

She exited her car with the customer’s order clutched in one hand, only to witness a silver sedan barreling down the street toward her, forcing her to quickly retreat to the side of her vehicle.

Even though she tried her best to avoid the speeding car, the suspect’s vehicle collided with her own before knocking her onto its hood.

The suspect, identified as Torrance Whitaker, raced out of his car towards the other side of the street, leaving the woman to gather herself alone.

The woman picked up the order that had been tossed onto the road and ran to the sidewalk as several police cruisers chased Whitaker.

As chaos rang through the neighborhood, the delivery driver nonchalantly walked to the front door of her customer’s home and dropped off the order.

“It’s amazing how the girl just delivered the food. I asked her if she was okay, and she said she was okay,” neighbor Lily Portillo told the outlet. “She needs a big tip. I really hope somebody finds her and hope she’s okay.”

Police launched a manhunt through the neighborhood looking for Whitaker, as one officer returned to the scene to check in on the woman.

“Yeah, I’m good,” she told the concerned officer.

The woman didn’t break any bones but was left in a lot of pain after the crash, the outlet reported.

She was looking into filing a claim against Whitaker’s car insurance for the damage to her vehicle.

She also filed a complaint against Whitaker with the Houston Police Department, alleging Torrance “unlawfully, intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly caused bodily injury” to her, according to court records viewed by The Post.

Whitaker, who was wanted for burglary, jumped over fences and through several homes’ yards before he was eventually stopped by a Houston Police K-9 unit.

Whitaker was charged with felony evading arrest and aggravated assault on the DoorDash driver, according to court documents viewed by The Post.

The Post has reached out to DoorDash.

U.S. Extends Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians Amidst Ongoing Community Challenges and Protests in Chicago

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U.S. Extends Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians Amidst Ongoing Community Challenges and Protests in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) — The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on Friday the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians by two weeks, while Syrians were granted a brief one-week extension.

TPS provides individuals escaping natural disasters, conflict, or persecution the ability to live and work legally in the United States.

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The Obama administration first designated Haiti for TPS back in 2010 following a catastrophic earthquake. Syria was added to the list two years later as the country grappled with the onset of its civil war, which concluded in 2024.

The TPS for both Haitians and Syrians was originally scheduled to expire this past Friday. The impending expiration set off nationwide protests, including significant demonstrations in Chicago, home to large Haitian and Syrian populations affected by the looming loss of their legal status.

The new expiration dates for TPS are now set for July 24 for Haitians and July 17 for Syrians.

Affected individuals are at risk of deportation and may have already lost authorization to work and other privileges, including the ability to hold a driver’s license. Many of the hundreds of Syrian immigrants who call the Chicago area home are living in fear after losing their TPS protections.

ABC7 spoke with community leaders earlier Friday, before the extension was granted.

With TPS ending, affected individuals are at risk of deportation and may have already lost authorization to work and other privileges, including the ability to hold a driver’s lice

“There is a high level of frustrations, fear and uncertainty,” said Ali Tarokh, development, and communications director for the Syrian Community Network.

Tarokh said families are unsure what comes next.

“People are in limbo and they don’t know what’s going on to happen to them. So, the level of stress is high within our communities,” he said.

Nationwide, more than 6,100 Syrians and 350,000 Haitians could be impacted. In Illinois, about 260 Haitian families are affected following a federal ruling last month by the Supreme Court’s conservative majority, which sided with the Trump administration’s efforts to end TPS for immigrants from several countries.

SEE ALSO | Community groups, officials report renewed immigration enforcement activity across Chicago area

Darryl Auguste, a member of the Coalition of Haitian American Organizations in the Chicago Land Area, said the impact extends far beyond those directly holding TPS.

“And also, when we say effect, it’s not just core effect, the actual Haitians with TPS, but the ripple effects regarding these mothers who have children, who are citizens, they are affected by that. Those children. So, it’s more than what we say in terms of numbers of just 350,000 across the nation. It’s much larger than that,” Auguste said.

According to the U.S. State Department, both Haiti and Syria remain under a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory. Advocacy groups say there has already been an uptick in immigration enforcement activity, prompting warnings for those who have lost TPS to prepare for possible encounters with authorities.

“We definitely advise folks to put together a family preparedness plans, make sure that they have, you know, their paperwork, all of their documentation in order,” said Fred Tsao, senior policy counsel with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrants and Refugee Rights.

Despite the uncertainty, advocacy groups say there is still hope. They are urging lawmakers to act on Senate Bill 4814, introduced last month, which would require the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to designate Haiti for TPS through January 2029. A similar companion bill has already passed the House with bipartisan support.

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