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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
CHICAGO (WLS) — A beloved establishment from River North is expanding its footprint with a new venue set to launch in the vibrant Lincoln Park area of Chicago.
Chef Alex Quintero of Mercadito introduced a unique culinary creation, presenting a Mexican twist on the classic pizza during the Cooking up a Storm segment on Thursday.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
The eagerly anticipated Lincoln Park outpost is scheduled to welcome guests starting June 4, at its address on 2423 N. Lincoln Ave.
Among the innovative dishes showcased was the Quesabirria Pizza, crafted by Quintero.
Recipe
Ingredients:
Flour tortillas (2 per pizza) Ingredients baked into the pizza:
Grated cheese blend (Oaxaca, Chihuahua, and Gouda) Birria (ingredients: Beef Chuck Roll, onions, garlic, achiote, oregano, ancho pepper, guajillo pepper, cloves, tomato – slow cooked into a stew)
Ingredients for the topping:
Pickled red onions Cilantro Radishes Avocado Salsa de árbol (Ingredients: tomatillo, garlic, onions, dry árbol chili – chopped and combined into a salsa) Sour cream
Method
Heat a skillet over medium heat and drizzle in a small amount of birria fat.
Place the flour tortillas in the skillet and toast lightly on both sides until they begin to crisp.
Sprinkle the cheese blend (Oaxaca, Chihuahua, and Gouda) evenly over one tortilla; then top with the second tortilla to create a sandwich.
Cook until the cheese starts to melt.
Open the quesadilla and add the birria, ensuring it is well coated in its juices. Add additional cheese if desired, then close the quesadilla.
Transfer to the oven and bake until the cheese is fully melted and the tortillas are golden and crisp (5-8 minutes at 400 degrees).
Remove from the oven and top with pickled red onions, cilantro, radishes, avocado, salsa de árbol, and sour cream.
On Wednesday, the Democratic governor of Minnesota took the notable step of granting a pardon to an undocumented immigrant, Jai Vang, who was facing deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This decision came just in time to halt the deportation process.
Jai Vang, originally from Laos, found himself on the wrong side of the law in 1994, when he was just 18 years old. Convicted of aiding and abetting an armed robbery in Hennepin County, his actions led to a significant prison sentence. Upon completing his term, he was released back into the U.S., having served his time.
In January, Vang was apprehended during Operation Metro Surge, a targeted ICE operation in the Minneapolis area. This arrest put him at the forefront of deportation efforts, as outlined in a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report from earlier this year.
The clemency hearing, presided over by Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz and Chief Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson, took place on May 27, 2026. The governor’s decision to pardon Vang reflects a broader dialogue on immigration and justice, emphasizing rehabilitation and second chances.
He was arrested by ICE as part of Operation Metro Surge in the Minneapolis area in January, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) release from the time.
ILLEGAL ALIEN WITH 24 CONVICTIONS AMONG ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ ARRESTED IN MINNESOTA ICE OPERATION: DHS
When Gov. Tim Walz learned of Vang’s arrest by the federal government, and that Vang had requested clemency to avoid being deported in June, the governor called a special session of the state’s Board of Pardons’ Clemency Review Commission to ensure the case was reviewed before Vang’s deportation could be completed.
The Clemency Review Commission, which was joined by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and state supreme court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, voted unanimously to pardon Vang.
Jai Vang was arrested by federal immigration authorities in Minnesota in January 2026.(Department of Homeland Security)
The commission reasoned that Vang hadn’t committed further crimes since he was released from prison, had started a family and owns a local painting business.
DHS BLASTS MINNESOTA BOARD FOR UNANIMOUSLY PARDONING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CONVICTED OF 3 ASSAULTS
During the hearing, Walz inaccurately referred to Vang as a “citizen.”
He said Vang has become a “critical member of the community” since his release from prison.
“I can find no reason how Minnesota will be safer or better if Mr. Vang is deported to a country he has not been to since he was a child. I do not see how it would serve his family, nor the economic interest where we have a taxpaying citizen who is creating job growth and living a life free from any criminal activity,” Walz said.
TIM WALZ COMPARES MINNESOTA ICE ACTIONS TO HOLOCAUST AND ANNE FRANK: ‘HIDING IN THEIR HOUSES’
Ellison, who joined by phone, noted that he reviewed Vang’s file and agreed with board members’ comments supporting Vang’s petition for clemency.
Federal immigration agents toss tear gas during a house raid in Minneapolis, Minn., on Jan. 13, 2026, amid a crackdown on undocumented immigrants under Operation Metro Surge.(Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Walz bitterly fought the federal government during Operation Metro Surge, echoing far-left rhetoric that compared ICE agents to Nazis. He referred to agents as President Donald Trump’s “modern-day Gestapo,” which drew a sharp rebuke from then-Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons.
Lyons implored Walz to tone down the rhetoric, saying, “if the governor doesn’t like the laws, he’s free to advocate that Congress change them, but he should refrain from putting ICE officers in danger by likening them to one of the most appalling groups in history.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Walz’s office.
Peter D’Abrosca is a reporter at Fox News Digital covering crime and campus extremism in higher education.
Follow Peter on X at @pmd_reports. Send story tips to peter.dabrosca@fox.com.
AIKEN, S.C. — In a significant development, authorities in Aiken County have made an arrest in connection with a recent murder investigation.
The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that 32-year-old Dashawn Trevalla Hankinson is facing charges for the fatal shooting of Reginald Young III.
This tragic event unfolded on May 20th along Dallas Circle in the Shiloh Heights neighborhood.
According to law enforcement, the 21-year-old victim suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.
Hankinson was taken into custody on May 27th and has been charged with murder, along with possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. The arrest was a collaborative effort, with support from the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force.
Hankinson was arrested May 27th and charged with Murder and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime. The ACSO was assisted in this case by the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force.
The suspect remains in the Aiken County Detention Center.
In 2025, Hankinson was one of 5 arrested in a drug bust the 200 block of Pipe Line Rd.
Authorities seized Crack, Cocaine, Fentanyl pills, and money.
At that time Hankinson was was charged with Trafficking Fentanyl, Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Operating a Stash House, and Giving False Information.
The first season of 9-1-1: Nashville has officially wrapped up, marking an exciting addition to the beloved 9-1-1 franchise.
This new spin-off has brought audiences into the heart of Nashville, featuring a fresh firehouse, a bustling call center, and a dynamic ensemble cast. Leading the charge are Chris O’Donnell, Jessica Capshaw, and LeAnn Rimes. Throughout the season, viewers have been treated to a rollercoaster of thrilling emergencies, both personal and professional dramas, guest appearances, and even an exhilarating crossover with the original 9-1-1 series.
The season finale, titled “Intrusive Thoughts,” left fans on edge with a dramatic cliffhanger involving a confrontation between Blythe (Jessica Capshaw) and Dixie (LeAnn Rimes). As viewers eagerly await the resolution, questions linger: Is this the end for 9-1-1: Nashville, or are there more stories on the horizon for this spin-off?
If you’re wondering whether 9-1-1: Nashville is airing tonight, May 28, or how many episodes were in its inaugural season, you’re not alone. Many are curious about the show’s future, including whether ABC has renewed it for a second season and when new episodes might return. We have all the information you need.
Here’s everything you need to know about what lies ahead for 9-1-1: Nashville, including details on the potential second season premiere, streaming options, and more.
Is 9-1-1: Nashville On Tonight (5/28/26)?
Technically, yes! 9-1-1: Nashville is on tonight, Thursday, May 28, 2026. But there’s no new episode premiering. Instead, ABC will be re-airing two back-to-back installments, Episode 17 “Saboteurs,” from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Episode 18 “Intrusive Thoughts” (aka Season 1’s finale) from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. ET.
How Many Episodes Are In 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1?
9-1-1: NashvilleSeason 1 consisted of 18 episodes, which means Season 1, Episode 18, “Intrusive Thoughts,” which aired on Thursday, May 7, was the finale. So the question now is…
Will There Be A 9-1-1: Nashville Season 2 On ABC?
Curious if 9-1-1: Nashville Season 2 is on the horizon?On March 5, ABC renewed both 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Nashville. According to Nielsen’s competitive cross-platform broadcast ratings, 9-1-1 ranked ninth on the charts and 9-1-1: Nashville ranked 14th. So it’s clear why the network would want more! So when is 9-1-1: Nashville‘sreturn date?
Photo: Disney
When Does 9-1-1: Nashville Return With New Episodes On ABC?9-1-1: Nashville Season 2 Premiere Date:
9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Nashville are currently on hiatus ahead of Season 10 and Season 2 production, but during their recent Upfronts presentations, ABC confirmed that both 9-1–1 and 9-1-1: Nashville will return in fall 2026 and keep their Thursday slots at 8:00 p.m. ET and 9:00 p.m. ET on ABC.
Last year, the series’ premiered in early October. So that could be the case again depending on the network’s upcoming schedule. We’ll keep you posted when an official premiere date is announced! Until then, here’s what else you need to know.
9-1-1: Nashville Season 2 Cast: Ryan Phillipe Crashes Music City
One BIG change 9-1-1: Nashville fans can expect in the sophomore season? Ryan Phillippe is joining the cast! As Deadline reported on April 20, Phillippe is joining the first responder drama as a series regular and is said to have a multi-year deal.
Here’s how Deadline describes his role: “…A brilliant, iconoclastic detective who moves to Nashville from New York. A seductive bad boy with a past, he’ll stir up all kinds of juicy drama with our first responders while leading an investigation into a mysterious criminal tormenting Nashville on a biblical scale.” What a hook!
Phillippe brings even more star power to the 9-1-1 spinoff, and his induction into the 9-1-1 universe opens a door for a potential I Know What You Did Last Summer reunion with OG series star Jennifer Love Hewitt. The 51-year-old actor amassed nearly 80 film and TV credits since kicking off his on-screen career in 1993 and is well-known for Cruel Intentions, Shooter, Crash, and more major titles. (Also never forget he had a perfect role selling Ryan Phillippe Steaks in I Love That for You. RIP!)
How To Watch 9-1-1: Nashville Live On ABC:
Want to rewatch 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 reruns on ABC? If you have a cable subscription that includes ABC, you can watch 9-1-1: Nashville live by setting your TV to the proper channel at 9:00 p.m. ET. You can also use your cable username and password to watch live ABC episodes live on ABC.com or with the ABC app. And if your cable package includes a DVR, you can always record live episodes for later viewing.
No cable? No worries! There are several other live viewing options, such as live TV skinny bundles, which give you access to networks without cable. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and fuboTV, all come with ABC. And if you don’t have cable or a live TV skinny bundle, you can always stream episodes of 9-1-1: Nashville on Hulu.
How To Watch 9-1-1: Nashville On Hulu: 9-1-1: Nashville Streaming Info
Want to have your own 9-1-1: Nashville rewatch on Hulu? Here’s how to stream:
If you’re new to Hulu, you can get started with a 30-day free trial on the streamer’s basic (with ads) plan. After the trial period, you’ll pay $10.99/month. If you want to upgrade to Hulu ad-free, it costs $18.99/month.
If you want to stream even more and save a few bucks a month while you’re at it, we recommend subscribing to one of the Disney+ Bundles, all of which include Hulu. These bundles start at $12.99/month for ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu and goes up to $32.99/month for Disney+, Hulu, and Max, all ad-free.
9-1-1: Nashville Seasons 1 is now streaming on Hulu.
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The current mayor of Decatur, Julie Moore Wolfe, has announced her intention to seek a fourth term in 2027, aiming to continue her leadership of the city.
Julie Moore Wolfe, who has held the mayoral position three times and been a member of the Decatur City Council since 2009, emphasized her dedication to fostering strong partnerships to enhance both economic growth and workforce development in Decatur.
In response to a surge in crime, concerned residents in a Seattle neighborhood have erected barricades as a defensive measure outside their homes. This initiative comes amid growing unease in the Aurora Avenue area, where frequent shootings and gang-related turf battles have left locals feeling vulnerable and frustrated.
Residents have taken these steps due to what they perceive as insufficient action from Seattle’s leadership, including Mayor Katie Wilson, and local law enforcement to address the escalating crime. Ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, these homeowners have fortified their streets with concrete and metal barriers, hoping to deter further criminal activity.
The improvised barriers, crafted from materials like soil, gravel, and logs, now block access to several streets in the community. This drastic move reflects the neighborhood’s exasperation with ongoing safety threats.
Peter Orr, a local father, shared that the tipping point was an alarming gang incident earlier this month. During the event, more than 40 bullets were fired, damaging windows and endangering families inside their homes, prompting residents to take such protective measures.
Local father Peter Orr said the final straw came after a gang incident earlier this month where at least 40 bullets were sprayed in the streets, shattering windows and peppering homes with families inside.
‘It’s either this, or bullets in my neighbor’s houses,’ Orr told KTVB7 of the barriers.
Critics say Seattle’s crime issues spiraled in 2020 when the city council voted to defund its police force, a move that Wilson supported at the time. But with Seattle ranking among the most dangerous cities in America today, residents are demanding a tougher approach to bring sky-high crime rates down.
‘It is insane,’ resident Rudy Pantoja told Fox News. ‘The mayor needs to step up to the plate.’
The barriers are reminiscent of the 1979 movie Mad Max starring Mel Gibson, set in a dystopian world where society has collapsed.
Terrified residents in the Seattle neighborhood of Aurora Avenue erected barricades outside their homes to combat a recent crimewave in the Blue city
Amid allegations that socialist Mayor Katie Wilson and Seattle law enforcement have done little to curb the crime spree, homeowners in her city have begun to take matters into their own hands
Resident Rudy Pantoja said he blames Seattle authorities for not doing enough to curb the crime spree
Locals in the Aurora Avenue neighborhood say they believe a string of recent shootings are tied to prostitution and gang warfare in the area.
In the past month alone, residents say there have been at least eight shootings within around a 10 block radius around their homes.
One incident saw bullets sprayed into an innocent family’s home, with one bullet stopping just inches from a six-week-old baby’s bassinet.
The baby’s father Jake, who gave only his first name, told King5 that gunfire has become a repeat issue in the neighborhood, and said he blames authorities for failing to hold criminals accountable.
‘It’s not enough,’ he said.
‘Our neighborhood feels like collateral damage. And it’s only a matter of time until somebody gets seriously hurt.’
Another resident Kate, who also gave only her first name over fears of being targeted for speaking out, said the gunfire has become such a plague that it is a normal part of life.
‘We celebrate when there’s not a shooting,’ she told KTVB.
The barriers are reminiscent of the 1979 movie Mad Max starring Mel Gibson, set in a dystopian world where society has collapsed
In the past month alone, residents say there have been at least eight shootings within around a 10 block radius around their homes in Aurora Avenue. Pictured: Surveillance images of a gang shooting earlier this month
The makeshift barriers were filled with soil, gravel and logs to block off access to at least three streets, where residents say they have had enough of being targeted by criminals
Locals say shootings and random gunfire has become a regular issue
Kate and Orr said they joined efforts to build the barricades over the Memorial Day weekend over frustrations about a lack of action from authorities.
It comes amid scrutiny on Wilson’s approach to policing in Seattle, with the socialist mayor having previously supported defunding the city’s police force in 2020.
She penned an opinion piece at the time arguing that there has ‘never been a better time to try’ defunding the police, saying she believed ‘there’s a strong argument for simply disbanding police departments and starting over.’
‘Leaving aside debates on the left about whether police abolition is possible under capitalism, or at all, let’s stick with the current movement demand of cutting the SPD [Seattle Police Department] budget by half,’ she wrote at the time.
‘That’s a lot of officers. It may sound alarming, until you realize that U.S. police perform numerous functions for which armed personnel, trained for violent conflict, are unnecessary or unsuited – and often, unsurprisingly, cause harm.’
Although Wilson supported slashing the police budget in half, she has not moved to do so as mayor – although she did support a city council move in 2020 that cut several million from the police budget while she was serving as leader of the Transit Riders Union.
Seattle’s iconic Space Needle and Museum of Pop Culture were blighted by tent encampments when the Daily Mail visited earlier this year
Since Wilson took office in January, some parts of Seattle have seen a slight improvement in crime statistics, including a 14% drop in violent crime in the downtown area compared to 2024.
Seattle remains one of America’s most dangerous cities, however, with crime tracker Neighborhood Scout declaring it safer than just 1 percent of US cities.
The city’s rates of murder, rape, robbery and assault are all far higher than the national average, with the odds of becoming a victim of violent crime just one in 132 people, per the tracker.
In a surprising turn of events, former 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi found herself blindsided by her abrupt dismissal from CBS News. Sources have revealed that neither Alfonsi nor her team anticipated the network’s decision to terminate her contract.
Reports from Status indicate that the deadline for her contract renewal quietly passed without any communication from the network, leaving the journalist unaware of her impending departure.
Her dismissal was officially communicated on Thursday morning, just hours after The New York Times disclosed the details surrounding her exit.
Alfonsi’s departure was not the only shake-up at 60 Minutes. The same day also saw the exits of executive editor Draggan Mihailovich and correspondent Cecilia Vega, according to a report from Variety. This series of high-profile departures marks a significant shift within the renowned news program.
Also caught up in the day’s exits were 60 Minutes’ executive editor, Draggan Mihailovich, and correspondent Cecilia Vega, Variety reported.
CBS also announced a new executive producer for the program, former New York Times tech columnist Nick Bilton.
He replaces longtime producer Tanya Simon, who is out at CBS News and 60 Minutes.
Correspondents Lesley Stahl, Anderson Cooper, Vega, and Alfonsi were all part of a group who demanded that CBS name the show’s next executive producer immediately after longtime lead Bill Owens’s exit in April of last year.
Outgoing 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi was ‘left in the dark’ ahead of her unceremonious CBS News firing on Thursday morning, according to sources
Former 60 Minutes executive producer Tanya Simon with then-correspondents Lesley Stahl, Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega. Simon and Vega were booted off the program on Thursday as well
Simon temporarily received the top job after some heavy backing from the journalists.
She addressed her exit in an internal memo to staff: ‘While leadership has decided it is time for a new chapter – I want to be unequivocally clear about one thing: it has been an immense privilege to lead this broadcast.’
Simon is the daughter of legendary 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon and worked for the program for 26 years.
Vega – a former ABC News chief White House correspondent – joined in 2023.
Alfonsi joined CBS in 2011 made her TV debut on 60 Minutes in 2015.
She told the Times on Wednesday that she believed the call not to renew was the result of a clash she had with CBS brass after their decision to pull one of her segments in December.
The story was set to speak on conditions at Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), a prison in El Salvador where the US has deported suspected illegal immigrants.
CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss argued that Alfonsi did not get enough administration officials on the record for the ‘important piece.’
Alfonsi immediately tore into the decision in an internal email at the time, accusing her bosses of political censorship.
CBS brass like editor Bari Weiss saw internal emails sent out by Alfonsi to the 60 Minutes team in December as ‘insubordinate’. Weiss is currently administering an overhaul at the network, after her appointment in October
Alfonsi previously slammed Weiss’s decision to spike a story about Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) in El Salvador in December as ‘political’. The prison contained several inmates from the US deported as suspected illegal immigrants
Aflonsi reiterated those claims to the Times Wednesday, as the paper broke the news on her 60 Minutes exit.
Alfonsi said her agent’s inquiries to the network about her 60 Minutes future had been ‘met with absolute silence.’
She added in a subsequent statement: ‘The message could not be clearer: my time at 60 Minutes is apparently over.’
‘In the coming days, network leadership may attempt to hide behind corporate euphemisms like “modernization” and “restructuring” to explain away my departure. Don’t be misled,’ she wrote.
‘This was not a routine corporate transition; it was a deliberate choice.’
Alfonsi also praised ‘fearless, independent reporting’ seen from 60 Minutes in the past.
‘Today, CBS management is abandoning that mission, choosing access journalism over accountability and protecting power rather than scrutinizing it,’ she wrote, just hours before Weiss’s shakeup.
‘Journalists willing to challenge authority are being pushed aside in favor of those who will not.’
Fellow 60 Minutes long-timer Anderson Cooper recently left the program after 20 years as a correspondent due to reported frustrations with Weiss, who was appointed by Paramount in October
And veteran broadcaster Lesley Stahl is also reportedly reassessing her future at CBS News altogether, after being passed over for the show’s recent sit-down with Benjamin Netanyahu – a sit-down arranged by Weiss personally
The Daily Mail approached CBS and Paramount for comment.
CBS executives told the Times on Wednesday that they saw the drafting of an internal memo by Alfonsi in December as ‘insubordinate’, several C-suiters at the Eye Network told the Times.
The email complained about Weiss’s call to hold the story, with Aflonsi telling the team: ‘If the standard for airing a story becomes “the government must agree to be interviewed,” then the government effectively gains control over the 60 Minutes broadcast.’
‘If this continues, the result will be a broadcast that looks like 60 Minutes but lacks the courage and character to produce journalism that matters,’ Alfonsi also warned.
She urged her colleagues to ‘hold the line.’
In the weeks before her exit Thursday, fellow 60 Minutes long-timer Cooper left the program as well. His exit after 20 years of correspondent duties was also because of Weiss, Status reported.
Veteran 60 Minutes journalist Stahl is also mulling an exit after being passed over for a recent sit-down with Benjamin Netanyahu last month, per Status. The meeting was arranged by Weiss – an outspoken Israel supporter.
The network has since been subject to an overhaul from Weiss, who was appointed by Paramount CEO David Ellison in October.
Trainer reveals five essential exercises that maintain strength and leanness post-50 by focusing on effective movement patterns.
Maintaining a lean and strong physique after hitting 50 largely hinges on two key elements within your control: preserving muscle mass and engaging in frequent movement to uphold a healthy body composition. Achieving this doesn’t necessitate hours of exercise or intricate routines. Instead, it involves selecting activities that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously, challenge your core, and seamlessly integrate into your weekly schedule without turning fitness into a cumbersome task.
The goal of daily strength exercises is practicality. You need activities that enhance your ability to step, press, pull, brace, carry, and rise from the floor with assurance. Dumbbells are a perfect choice here due to their simplicity, adjustability, and ease of use whether you’re at home or in a gym setting. They allow for heavier lifting on strong days and lighter loads when your joints require a gentler approach, all while ensuring effective workouts.
This training method is especially beneficial for individuals over 50 as it combines strength-building with regularity. Step-ups target your legs and glutes while simultaneously boosting your heart rate. Upper body strength is developed through presses and rows. Floor presses provide a gentle push for your chest and triceps. Meanwhile, plank pull-throughs engage your core, with your shoulders and hips working hard to maintain stability.
I like this training style for men and women over 50 because it blends strength and consistency. Step-ups train your legs and glutes while raising your heart rate. Presses and rows build the upper body. Floor presses give your chest and triceps a joint-friendly push. Plank pull-throughs bring your core into the mix while your shoulders and hips fight to stay steady.
The five exercises below cover the major areas that help you stay lean and strong: legs, glutes, chest, shoulders, back, arms, and core. Run them as a short circuit, add them into your regular workouts, or use a few as a quick strength snack during the day.
Dumbbell Step-Ups
Dumbbell step-ups train your quads, glutes, hamstrings, calves, and core while building the single-leg strength you need for stairs, curbs, hikes, and daily movement. Holding dumbbells provides enough load to challenge your muscles, and each step forces your lead leg to control the lift rather than letting momentum take over. This makes step-ups a strong choice for staying lean because they engage large lower-body muscles and can quickly raise your heart rate. Keep the box height manageable and make your lead leg do the lifting.
Stand facing a sturdy box, step, or bench with a dumbbell in each hand.
Place your whole foot on the step.
Brace your core and keep your chest lifted.
Press through your lead foot to stand tall.
Step back down with control.
Complete all reps, then switch legs.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps per leg. Rest for 60 seconds between each set.
Best Variations: Bodyweight step-ups, alternating step-ups, slow step-downs
Form Tip: Drive through your whole foot and avoid pushing off hard from the floor leg.
Standing Shoulder Press
Standing shoulder presses train your shoulders, triceps, upper back, and core while teaching your body to press overhead from a strong base. The standing position makes your abs and glutes brace, so your ribs don’t flare, and your lower back doesn’t arch. That full-body tension gives the exercise more value than a seated machine press. Stronger shoulders support reaching, lifting, and carrying, and help keep your upper body powerful after 50.
Press the dumbbells overhead until your arms are straight.
Lower the dumbbells back to shoulder height with control.
Repeat without leaning back.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps. Rest for 60 seconds between each set.
Best Variations: Single-arm shoulder press, neutral-grip press, alternating shoulder press
Form Tip: Keep your ribs down and press straight overhead.
Dumbbell Floor Press
Dumbbell floor presses train your chest, triceps, shoulders, and core while keeping your body stable on the floor. The floor slightly limits the range, which can make the movement more shoulder-friendly while still giving your upper body plenty of work. This exercise helps build pressing strength for push-ups, getting up from the floor, pushing doors open, and handling daily tasks that require upper-body strength. Move the dumbbells with control and pause lightly when your upper arms touch the floor.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Muscles Trained: Chest, triceps, shoulders, core
How to Do It:
Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.
Hold a dumbbell in each hand near your chest.
Brace your core and keep your upper arms on the floor.
Press the dumbbells upward until your arms are straight.
Lower the dumbbells until your upper arms touch the floor.
Repeat with steady control.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps. Rest for 60 seconds between each set.
Form Tip: Keep your wrists stacked over your elbows and avoid bouncing off the floor.
Dumbbell Bent-Over Row
Dumbbell bent-over rows train your upper back, lats, rear delts, biceps, and core while reinforcing a strong hinge position. Your back and arms pull the weights, while your hamstrings and midsection help keep your torso steady. Rows are essential for staying strong after 50 because they support posture, shoulder health, grip strength, and pulling power. Stronger pulling strength balances out pressing and helps your upper body look and feel more athletic.
Stand with your feet hip-width apart and hold a dumbbell in each hand.
Soften your knees and hinge forward at your hips.
Brace your core and keep your back flat.
Pull the dumbbells toward your ribs.
Squeeze your shoulder blades briefly.
Lower the dumbbells with control.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps. Rest for 60 seconds between each set.
Best Variations: Single-arm dumbbell row, supported row, paused row
Form Tip: Pull through your elbows and keep your shoulders away from your ears.
Plank Pull-Throughs
Plank pull-throughs train your abs, shoulders, chest, glutes, and obliques while your body resists rotation. Dragging a dumbbell from one side to the other forces your core to keep your hips steady instead of twisting with the weight. This builds the bracing strength you need to carry, reach, lift, and move with control. Keep the dumbbell light enough to move smoothly and focus on staying quiet through your hips.
Start in a high plank with a dumbbell placed outside one hand.
Set your feet slightly wider than hip-width.
Brace your core and squeeze your glutes.
Reach under your body with the opposite hand.
Drag the dumbbell across to the other side.
Alternate sides while keeping your hips steady.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 3 sets of 6 to 8 reps per side. Rest for 45 seconds between each set.
Best Variations: Incline plank pull-throughs, lighter dumbbell pull-throughs, shoulder taps
Form Tip: Keep your hips square to the floor as the weight moves.
How to Stay Lean and Strong After 50
Shutterstock
The best daily exercises give you strength work, muscle-building tension, and enough total-body effort to support a leaner build. You don’t need to smash yourself every session. Train the main patterns consistently, use weights that make the last few reps feel challenging, and keep your movement clean enough to repeat often.
Prioritize bigger movements: Step-ups, presses, rows, and floor presses involve multiple muscle groups. Those exercises give you more return than small isolation work when time is tight.
Use weights that challenge your final reps: The load should feel manageable at the start and tough near the end. If you can fly through the set without effort, grab heavier dumbbells or slow the tempo.
Keep your core active: Standing presses, rows, step-ups, and plank pull-throughs all require bracing. Set your midsection before each rep to keep your body strong and organized.
Pair strength with daily movement: Walking, stairs, yard work, and short movement breaks help burn calories. Strength builds the muscle, while regular movement helps maintain a leaner body.
Repeat the basics often: A few focused sessions each week beat random workouts that never build momentum. Add reps, weight, or cleaner control when the exercises start to feel easier.
A lean, strong body after 50 comes from repeatable work that hits the major patterns. Press, pull, step, brace, and move often, and you’ll build strength that helps both your workouts and your day-to-day life.
Reconciliation Australia is celebrating a milestone, marking 25 years since it was founded. Chief Executive Karen Mundine reflects on the organization’s creation, highlighting that it was born from a wave of public support for reconciliation that surged in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Established in 2001, Reconciliation Australia emerged after the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation concluded its work. This council had spent a decade fostering national discussions about reconciliation. Notably, it organized the 2000 Sydney Harbour Bridge walk, which saw participation from hundreds of thousands.
Karen Mundine, who hails from the Bundjalung community in New South Wales’ Northern Rivers, emphasized that the organization’s mission has been to transform public goodwill into tangible actions.
“Over the past 25 years, we’ve developed various initiatives,” Mundine noted. “These include the Indigenous Governance Program and Awards, Reconciliation Action Plans, the Reconciliation Barometer, and our latest effort in community truth-telling.”
She pointed out that the 1997 Australian Reconciliation Convention was a pivotal event, taking place soon after the significant Bringing Them Home report was presented in parliament, furthering the national dialogue on reconciliation.
“It opened up a bigger conversation about truth-telling, how we own our history and our past, and how important that was for the healing journey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but also for the broader Australian community,” Ms Mundine said.
She said many Australians at the time “didn’t know our history, didn’t know about the Stolen Generations”, which made broader debates around native title and reconciliation more difficult.
Ms Mundine said one of Reconciliation Australia’s most significant initiatives had been the Reconciliation Action Plan program, launched about 20 years ago with eight organisations. She said more than 3300 organisations now participate.
According to Ms Mundine, participating organisations spent $5.6 billion with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses in the past 12 months and employ about 63,000 Indigenous staff.
She said the organisation’s work had also expanded into schools and early learning centres through the Narragunnawali program, which now involves about 2700 education services.
Asked about changes over the past two decades, Ms Mundine said conversations around reconciliation had shifted from support and advocacy towards partnership and Indigenous leadership.
“It’s no longer about how other people are supporting or helping us,” she said. “It’s about how they work with us.”
A high-speed passenger train collided with a minibus carrying children in Belgium on Tuesday, resulting in a devastating crash that claimed four lives, including those of two children, and left five other young passengers critically injured.
The tragic incident occurred during the morning commute near Buggenhout, a town situated roughly 20 miles northwest of Brussels. Officials have described it as one of Belgium’s most severe rail accidents in recent memory.
According to authorities, the minibus seemingly drove through a closed railway crossing barrier just seconds before being struck by the train, which was traveling at approximately 75 mph. Surveillance footage captured the moment the bus was hit as it attempted to cross the tracks.
The bus was carrying nine individuals at the time of the collision. The East Flanders public prosecutor’s office reported that the deceased included the bus driver, an escort, and two children aged 12 and 15. The five other children on board were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.
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Rescue workers respond to a crash between a train and a vehicle in Buggenhout, Belgium, on May 26, 2026.(Koen Baten/AP)
“What we do know is that the barrier was closed and the red light was on,” spokesperson Lisa De Wilde told reporters, adding that investigators are still working to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Emergency personnel work at a level crossing to move a van onto a flatbed truck after it collided with a train in Buggenhout, Belgium, on May 26, 2026.(Marius Burgelman/AP)
The driver appeared to have plowed through the crossing barrier, Federal Police spokesperson An Berger said. Belgian rail operator Infrabel said the crossing system was functioning properly at the time of the crash.
“The impact was extremely violent,” Infrabel spokesperson Frédéric Sacré told Belgian broadcaster RTBF, adding that the train operator had “no time to brake” before the collision.
A woman on a bike stands next to police tape and debris at a level crossing in Buggenhout, Belgium, one day after a train collided with a school van on May 27, 2026.(Virginia Mayo/AP)
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An Associated Press journalist at the scene reported that the minibus was overturned with its front end completely crushed, while the train itself suffered relatively minor damage.
Flower condolences are left at a level crossing in Buggenhout, Belgium, one day after a train collided with a school van on May 27, 2026.(Virginia Mayo/AP)
Officials said roughly 100 passengers were aboard the train, though no injuries were reported among them. Rail traffic in the area was suspended as emergency crews responded.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said he was “deeply moved by the horrific accident in Buggenhout,” offering condolences to the victims’ families in a social media post.
