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A Comprehensive Ranking of Every Main Character’s Conclusion




After an impressive 14-season journey, “Blue Bloods” concluded its run, tying up its central plots with a heartwarming finale. The episode, titled “End of Tour,” ensured that each main character found their happy conclusion, save for the somber departure of Officer Luis Badillo (Ian Quinlan), the long-time partner of Eddie Janko-Reagan (Vanessa Ray). The Reagan family rallied together to dismantle two gangs and avenge Luis’s death. Despite this perilous detour, the show fittingly wrapped up with the Reagans in a positive place, true to its core theme of family unity.

In evaluating the endings for each family member, the question arises: who had the most satisfying conclusion? This ranking offers an opinion-driven assessment, from the least engaging to the most compelling story arcs.

At the bottom of this ranking lies Jack Reagan (Tony Terraciano). His conclusion isn’t disappointing, just somewhat uneventful. Still in college and undecided about his major, Jack seems content with his life’s current trajectory. He bonds with his cousin, Joe Hill (Will Hochman), at the final Reagan family dinner and appears satisfied with this family expansion. Heeding his father Danny’s (Donnie Wahlberg) advice, Jack avoids impulsive decisions regarding his future.

Part of this involves not enlisting in the military, a tradition many Reagans have embraced. Although Jack once contemplated the rigorous path that bolstered his family’s legacy, Danny encouraged him to take his time before making such a significant commitment. Perhaps Jack’s story might continue in a potential spin-off like “Boston Blue,” where his future could be explored further.

10. Jack Reagan

Meanwhile, his brother Sean (Andrew Terraciano) has a slightly more intriguing path ahead. Pursuing a college degree with an artistic focus, Sean is carving out his own identity, considering a career as a firefighter. While his journey remains as open-ended as Jack’s, Sean’s storyline leaves room for intentional development, setting the stage for future possibilities.

That includes avoiding joining the military to be like the rest of his Reagan brethren. While Jack seemed certain that he was ready to take part in the demanding military work that so boosted the fortune of his family in the past, Danny suggested to instead give it some space and thought. Perhaps someday he’ll surface in “Boston Blue” and we’ll find out 

9. Sean Reagan

Jack’s brother, Sean (Andrew Terraciano), meanwhile, has a slightly more exciting future waiting for him. His college career kerned toward the arts, and he had been setting himself apart from the family legacy by considering life as a fireman. His ending is left as open and Jack’s, but in Sean’s case this was done for a very purposeful reason. 

Sean (recast with Mika Amonsen) has become the focus of “Boston Blue,” the sequel series which has shifted his interest toward police work. There, he’s just another rookie beat cop trying to survive the Reagan reputation and make a life for himself — which becomes much more difficult when Danny ends up in Boston, too. It’s a completely different ending than the one offered up for him by “Blue Bloods” — but arguably it’s way more interesting. If this had been Sean’s career path when the show ended, he might have ranked higher, but his conclusion as-is within “Blue Bloods” falls near the bottom of the pile.

8. Nicky Reagan-Boyle

Nicky’s (Sami Gayle) ending didn’t add anything new that fans didn’t already know about her, but it’s still a more interesting ending than the one given to her cousins. She’s still working for a nonprofit in California and remains single. In an effort to make her new San Francisco home feel more like New York City and spread family tradition, she initiates a weekly potluck meal.

There’s one reason why she comes in higher on this list than the show’s other youthful characters. She’s not a cop, not a lawyer — not even a fireman. Her civilian job marks her out as a Reagan — who else would give themselves over to working for charity full-time — but she’s refrained from joining the justice system in a typical way, which is quite fitting for her character. Though she expressed interest in being an officer and even wanted to take an entrance exam to the police academy, Nicky wasn’t meant for a nine-to-five job — and the show does a great job respecting that in her final scenes.

7. Henry Reagan

Henry Reagan (Len Cariou), too, has a positive but unexceptional ending. After helping the rest of the Reagans take out the gang that has been haunting New York City, he continues to happily advise his grandkids and great-grandkids. He is particularly helpful to Danny in the last episode, whom he finally nudges into asking out his longterm crush and partner on the force, Maria Baez (Marisa Ramirez) out on a date. 

But while Henry does get to do some things in the final episode, he doesn’t have a very interesting ending. That’s likely a relief to his family members, who have only ever wanted their patriarch to be safe and alive. But it’s a poor substitution for character development, or learning something new about him. It’s not the absolutely worst ending Henry could have been handed — but it’s certainly not the best option the writers could have gone for.

6. Frank Reagan

Frank (Tom Selleck) steps up to the plate in “End of Tour” — even more so than usual. Two gangs join forces and are pressing the fuzz into releasing their leaders from custody and ensuring clemency for their members awaiting trial or who are incarcerated. The violence they unleash on the city is impossible to fathom, and hard to control after Mayor Peter Chase (Dylan Walsh) is shot. 

Frank is handed the keys to the city and tries working out a solution while dodging the anger of the public advocate acting on Chase’s behalf while he’s in the hospital. Frank, as always, comes up with a measured and intelligent solution while making sure evil doesn’t win out. In one of Frank Reagan’s best “Blue Bloods” moments, he has a one-on-one talk with Lorenzo Batista (Edward James Olmos), the father of the mayor’s shooter, and convinces him to reveal where his son will be.

They get their men thanks to a combined group effort. It’s not anything Frank hasn’t done before, so it’s not outstanding enough for the top five. But, fittingly, the last words of the show belong to Frank: “You know, we’ve got a lot to be thankful for. And looking around this table, I gotta say, I couldn’t be more proud or grateful.”

5. Danny Reagan

Danny is his father’s right-hand man throughout their episode, working the beat to find a quick solution to the gang crisis. He, Maria, and Eddie end up working one chunk of the case together. They’re tasked with finding the gang leader Carlos Ramirez (Manny Perez), a man who murdered a judge earlier in Season 14 and has ties to the groups making waves for the city. As always, Danny brings his man in, this time without using any force. Appealing to Ramirez as a father first allows the trio to get their way — and it helps that Eddie has a bond with Ramirez’ young daughter.

His personal life is also on quite the upswing. After years of will-they-or-won’t-they, Danny finally asks out Maria for a slice of pizza, allowing himself space to move on after the death of his wife, Linda (Amy Carlson). While “Boston Blue” has gone on to muddy the waters between the old partners, “Blue Bloods” itself definitely provides a happy ending for Danny. 

4. Maria Baez

Maria Baez has a successful final episode as well. While she might have been absent from the final Reagan family dinner, she proves a loyal soldier to Danny and the NYPD to the end. They bring in Ramirez and all is well between them. And they even get a second chance at finding romance together. Yes, Maria says she’ll go out with Danny for pizza. A whole relationship would bloom, but fans would have to wait for the spin-off to see that occur. 

Maria’s ending is slightly more interesting than Danny’s, if only because it mostly hasn’t been undone by “Boston Blue.” Even in that show, she’s still raising her adopted daughter; she’s still coping with her mother’s declining health, just as she is at the end of “Blue Bloods.” But her and Danny get a chance to be far more than buddies with this episode, and that scoots her up to fourth place.

3. Erin Reagan

Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) has qui te the happy ending in the last episode of “Blue Bloods.” Working her section of the gang crisis, she teams up with her ex-husband, Jack Boyle (Peter Hermann). The two had been getting cozier and cozier over the course of Season 14, and before “End of Tour” concludes, they get remarried in a whirlwind city hall ceremony with no family present.

Following this, she plans on telling the family that they’re back together for real this time. However, when the time comes, Jamie (Will Estes) and Eddie pull even bigger news out of their hats, and she chooses to stay mum. At least Erin has a successful day at the office, with the intel Jack gives her helping the team identify Lorenzo Batista, which helps break the case wide open. Nevertheless, Erin’s exit from “Blue Bloods” at least points toward a bright and interesting future for her.

2. Jamie Reagan

Jamie, meanwhile, finds himself partnered up with Joe Hill. The two of them comb the city to find who killed Luis Badillo, and their evidence leads them to an inmate who’s already inside for his own illegal activities. Jamie and Joe end up leaning on Frank — who in turn leans on Batista with the information he’s been an informant — until Lorenzo tells them his son just had a baby of his own and will likely pop up at the hospital during visiting hours. Jamie and Joe get their guy.

The youngest Reagan also gets the best personal news out of all of his family members — he’s going to be a first-time father, as she and Eddie are about to become parents. Fans who follow “Boston Blue” know that they have a healthy boy who they named after Joe Reagan — Jamie’s much-lamented and long-dead brother as well as Joe Hill’s father. But “Blue Bloods” leaves Jamie in an excellent place — and one that leaves you wishing the spin-off had followed him instead of Danny.

1. Eddie Reagan

Eddie’s ending is on top of the pile not because she figures out she’s going to be a mother at the end of “Blue Bloods” — but because she has the most complex emotional journey of the whole episode, and indeed the whole season.

Luis’ death hurts her deeply, and she’s filled with rage that she can’t do anything about it. Pinned to her hospital bed and stuck there until she heals, she helps out Danny and Maria as best she can. She ends up being a part of the arrest of Ramirez, and without her previous connection to his daughter she would have never been able to coax him into coming in peacefully. 

In a single episode she goes from stern and angry to soft and joyful — showing the widest range of emotions possible. Everything goes well for her in the end, and she and Jamie end with something to look forward to, making her conclusion the very best “Blue Bloods” has to offer.



Italian Husband Seeks Answers After Wife’s Tragic Diving Incident in the Maldives

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An Italian scientist, reeling from the loss of his wife and daughter in a tragic diving accident in the Maldives, asserted on Friday that an unforeseen event must have occurred, as his wife was too skilled a diver to take unnecessary risks.

Carlo Sommacal voiced his suspicions following the deaths of his wife, Monica Montefalcone, 52, and their 20-year-old daughter, Giorgia Sommacal. They were among five individuals who did not surface from a scuba diving expedition in a cave on Thursday morning.

“The only certainty I have is that my wife is one of the most skilled divers in the world. She has always been diligent and would never have put our daughter’s life or anyone else’s at risk,” Sommacal told La Repubblica on Friday.

“Something happened down there,” the retired scientist said with conviction.

“Perhaps someone encountered difficulty, or there was an issue with the oxygen tanks; I truly don’t know. But I am absolutely certain about Monica’s conduct,” the bereaved husband emphasized.

Monica and Giorgia were in the Maldives on an expedition with a group from the University of Genoa, where the mom was an associate professor of ecology, and her daughter a student. Two of the other three who died were part of the same uni group.

The grieving widower never suspected anything could happen, and his last message to his wife was a WhatsApp “to tell her that the cats were fine,” he told the Italian paper.

Now, he anxiously awaits news of the recovery mission, which had to be called off Friday due to “very bad” weather in the area. Officials say only the body of one diver — Gianluca Benedetti — has been found, correcting earlier reports it was Sommacal’s wife.

“Yesterday they said they had found the bodies, but it is not true,” Sommacal said. “And I don’t know what to think, because I would at least have them back here for the last goodbye, but I don’t know if I could bear it.”

He unexpectedly has to “be strong” for his son, Matthew, who is still in high school.

Sommacal said he met his wife, a renowned marine biologist, in Milan, and they only moved to Genoa because Monica told him, “I love the sea.”

Around 20 people, all Italians, were on board the “Duke of York,” the ship involved in the deadly dive, at the time.

Trump and Xi Conclude Summit with Promising Steps Toward US-China Relations Stabilization

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Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have concluded significant discussions, announcing notable progress in efforts to stabilize relations between the United States and China. Despite this advancement, substantial disagreements remain on critical issues such as Iran and Taiwan, underscoring ongoing complexities between the world’s two largest economies.

On Friday, Xi hosted Trump at his official residence, Zhongnanhai, marking the final session of their summit before Trump’s return to Washington. The leaders took a leisurely walk through the residence’s picturesque grounds, featuring historic trees and vibrant Chinese roses, and meandered through a covered walkway adorned with green columns and traditional Chinese artwork depicting birds and mountain landscapes.

The two presidents, accompanied by key aides and translators, engaged in nearly three hours of discussions over tea and lunch. This meeting capped Trump’s three-day visit to China, which has been closely watched by international observers.

US President Donald Trump is greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing. (Evan Vucci/Pool Reuters via AP)

Trump expressed his satisfaction with the summit, telling reporters, “It’s been really a great couple of days.”

Xi described the visit as a “milestone,” emphasizing the establishment of a fresh bilateral relationship. “We have developed a constructive, strategic, and stable relationship,” he stated.

But the optimistic outlook collides with some difficult truths about the thorniest issues between the two superpowers.

Beijing has shown little public interest in US entreaties to get more involved in solving the conflict in Iran, even though Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Xi had in their conversations offered to help. In recent weeks, the US State Department has accused Chinese firms of providing satellite imagery to the Iranian government and the Treasury Department has moved to target Chinese oil refineries accused of buying oil from Tehran, as well as shippers of the oil.

And the White House believes China can still do more to stem the flow of Chinese-made precursor chemicals into Mexico used to make illicit fentanyl that has wreaked havoc on many US communities.

Trump appeared impressed by the bucolic grounds, remarking the roses were the most beautiful he had ever seen. Xi promised to send him some rose seeds. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Pool via AP)

Xi, meanwhile, warned Trump during private talks that their differences on the self-ruled island of Taiwan, if handled poorly, could hurtle the world’s dominant powers towards “clashes and even conflicts”, according to Chinese government officials.

Trump appeared impressed by the bucolic grounds, remarking the roses were the most beautiful he had ever seen. Xi promised to send him some rose seeds.

The compound is wrapped around two artificial lakes that had been built for the pleasure of emperors. Zhongnanhai is often compared to the White House, the Kremlin or South Korea’s Blue House. But unlike the other presidential residences, Zhongnanhai does not serve as the main venue for diplomatic visits. The invitation appeared to be an attempt by Xi to extend a personal touch to a US leader who appreciates big gestures.

“I think he’s a warm person, actually. But he’s all business,” Trump said of Xi in the Fox News interview. “There’s no games.”

The Chinese government also bid farewell to Trump with great pomp.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi saw a smiling Trump off at the airport. And schoolchildren dressed in Air Force One’s light blue and white colors waved American and Chinese flags in a coordinated movement as the US president arrived to board the plane.

Xi welcomed Trump at his official residence, Zhongnanhai, on Friday for their final engagement of the summit before the US leader’s return to Washington. (Evan Vucci/Pool Reuters via AP)

Taiwan remains the most important issue for China

Xi’s sharp language on Taiwan loomed large over the visit, with Chinese government officials amplifying that differences on the self-ruled island pose the biggest risk to US-Chinese relations.

But Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC News that US policy toward Taiwan was “unchanged” and cautioned that it would be “a terrible mistake” for China to try to take Taiwan by force. He also framed Xi’s comments as standard practice.

“They always raise it on their side. We always make clear our position, and we move on to the other topics,” said Rubio, who was among senior aides to join Trump for the talks.

China in recent weeks has sought to put more focus on its view that Taiwan sits at the “core” of its interests and is key to ensuring a stable relationship with the US. Trump at moments has shown ambivalence toward Taiwan, raising speculation that he could be open to loosening ties with Taipei.

Trump has demanded Taiwan increase defense spending, and in December, the White House announced an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan, the largest ever to the island democracy.

But the US has yet to begin fulfilling the arms sales, and Trump had said he expected to discuss the matter with Xi in Beijing. He’s also groused that Taiwan “stole” America’s semiconductor business and called on Taiwan to pay the US for protection.

President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

China wants the Strait of Hormuz opened

The leaders agreed that the Strait of Hormuz — effectively closed since the start of the Iran conflict — needs to be reopened to support global energy demands About 20 per cent of the world’s oil flowed through the strait before the war started on February 28.

“We feel very similar about (how) we want it to end,” the president said with Xi at his side. “We don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon.”

White House officials say Xi was also opposed to any implementation of tolls on vessels crossing the strait and expressed interest in China potentially purchasing US oil to reduce Chinese dependence on Gulf oil in the future.

Trump earlier this week had downplayed the importance of talks with Xi on the 11-week-old Iran war that has led to surging energy prices and threatens to plunge the global economy into recession if the conflict does not conclude soon.

But before Air Force One could land in Beijing, Rubio said administration officials would make the case to the Chinese officials about why they should be invested in prodding Iran to come to terms to end the war.

The compound is wrapped around two artificial lakes that had been built for the pleasure of emperors. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Pool via AP)

Indeed, the Chinese, who have been critical of the US and Israeli bombardment of Iran, hold unique leverage as Iran’s biggest trading partner. The Chinese government has managed to weather the economic damage caused by the war with the help of its strategic oil reserves, but that backstop is not limitless. Economists say the Iran conflict could still have a big impact on China’s export-driven economy.

Will Trump announce any major business deals?

The White House, ahead of the visit, insisted that Trump wouldn’t be making the trip without an eye toward securing results before he leaves, suggesting there could be announcements coming on trade.

Trump says some “fantastic trade deals” had been struck during the visit, but did not offer further details

The US side had been hoping to nail down Chinese commitments to buy US soybeans and beef. Trump told Fox News that Xi had indicated a commitment for China to buy 200 Boeing jets from the US.

The leaders on Thursday discussed increasing US agricultural purchases by the Chinese and opportunities for both sides to expand investment into each other’s markets, according to the White House. Trump administration officials also want to work toward establishing a Board of Trade with China to address commercial differences between the countries.

Trump, whose delegation for the trip included the CEOs of Mastercard and Visa, said he also raised with Xi expanding access to the China market for the US-based credit card companies.

Tragic Accident Near Upscale Neighborhood: Child and Caregiver Hit by Truck

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A private chef and her husband, an investment banker, are urgently calling for safety improvements at a perilous intersection in San Francisco following a harrowing accident involving their young son and his nanny. The two-year-old and his caretaker were hit by a pickup truck while walking to a nearby park, highlighting the need for immediate action.

The couple recounted the terrifying incident, which occurred on April 16 at the junction of Chestnut and Laguna streets in the affluent Marina District. Fortunately, their toddler narrowly escaped severe harm when the impact sent his stroller airborne, flipping it upside down. This crash site is just a short distance from their $2.6 million townhouse.

In the wake of the accident, Lindsay Kinder, the mother and a private chef, took to GoFundMe to share their ordeal. She described how the stroller was rendered completely unusable, with its back wheels blown off due to the collision’s force.

Tragically, Mily, the family’s nanny, was thrown nearly a car length by the impact. While the toddler was fortunate to sustain only minor injuries, thanks to being securely fastened in his stroller, Mily continues to grapple with physical pain, numerous medical appointments, and recurring nightmares.

The boy escaped with relatively minor injuries because he was securely strapped in, but Mily continues to suffer from pain, medical appointments and nightmares.

‘We truly believe her quick instincts helped protect him that morning,’ Kinder wrote in the fundraiser.

Kinder said the family believes the nanny’s split-second reaction saved their son’s life.

Now the shaken parents are channeling their fear into a campaign to transform the intersection, which sits steps from Moscone Park and is surrounded by parks, preschools, strollers and families.

Lindsay Kinder said she believes the nanny's 'vigilance' protected her son from catastrophic injuries when the stroller flipped upside down in the crosswalk

Lindsay Kinder said she believes the nanny’s ‘vigilance’ protected her son from catastrophic injuries when the stroller flipped upside down in the crosswalk

The crash happened as Mily, the family's nanny, and the toddler were walking to Moscone Park in San Francisco's Marina District

The crash happened as Mily, the family’s nanny, and the toddler were walking to Moscone Park in San Francisco’s Marina District

The family said they are working with city officials to make the intersection safer for children and families traveling to the park, library and preschool (Pictured: Kinder and her two-year-old son)

The family said they are working with city officials to make the intersection safer for children and families traveling to the park, library and preschool (Pictured: Kinder and her two-year-old son)

The online fundraiser is raising money to help Mily cover medical expenses and lost income while concerns over insurance and liability are addressed.

Kinder described Mily as a devoted caregiver who ‘has cared for our son with incredible love, attentiveness, and dedication.’ 

At the same time, neighbors and staff at Hungry Caterpillars Preschool have started a Change.org petition calling on city leaders to install raised crosswalks, flashing pedestrian beacons and other traffic-calming measures.

The petition argues that the intersection has become a hazard for the many families who pass through it on their way to the park, school and the library.

Witnesses estimated the pickup truck was traveling between 20 and 25 mph when it struck Mily and the stroller in the marked crosswalk.

The collision unfolded in front of preschool teachers walking a rope tow of children in neon safety vests.

Bystander Gladys Sandoval, who recorded the aftermath, said in a Facebook post that she was preparing to make a left turn when preschool teachers began escorting a group of children across the street.

‘Suddenly you hear the sound and screams,’ she wrote. 

Mily, the family's longtime nanny, was thrown roughly a car length and continues to suffer from pain, medical appointments and nightmares, according to the GoFundMe page

Mily, the family’s longtime nanny, was thrown roughly a car length and continues to suffer from pain, medical appointments and nightmares, according to the GoFundMe page

Bystander Gladys Sandoval witnessed the drive-by first hand and posted it on her Facebook

Bystander Gladys Sandoval witnessed the drive-by first hand and posted it on her Facebook

The family's stroller was left destroyed, with the back wheels blown off after a pickup truck struck the nanny and two-year-old boy

The family’s stroller was left destroyed, with the back wheels blown off after a pickup truck struck the nanny and two-year-old boy

‘It was very shocking to see how that truck lifted the poor woman into the air.’

Sandoval said she thanked God that the toddler riding in the stroller escaped serious injury and said she believed she narrowly avoided being hit herself.

The corner is part of San Francisco’s High Injury Network, a designation reserved for streets that account for a disproportionate share of severe and fatal crashes.

District Supervisor Stephen Sherrill told KTVU that two serious crashes have occurred there since 2021 and warned that traffic enforcement has dropped sharply.

‘Traffic tickets are down 90 percent from their high,’ Sherrill told the outlet. ‘Drivers know that if they run a stop sign, they won’t get ticketed, and that’s wrong.’

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has pledged to add playground warning signs and improve visibility by removing parking spaces near the corner, a process known as daylighting, according to a statement obtained by KTVU.

But Kinder said signs alone are not enough and wants physical infrastructure that forces drivers to slow down.

‘Red lights and stop signs unfortunately do not always force cars to stop,’ Kinder wrote in the fundraiser.

Kinder described Mily as a devoted caregiver who has cared for the couple's son with 'incredible love, attentiveness, and dedication'

Kinder described Mily as a devoted caregiver who has cared for the couple’s son with ‘incredible love, attentiveness, and dedication’

The GoFundMe was created to help Mily cover medical expenses and lost income while insurance and liability issues are resolved

The GoFundMe was created to help Mily cover medical expenses and lost income while insurance and liability issues are resolved

The San Francisco Police Department told the Daily Mail that they are still investigating the crash and have not announced whether the driver will receive any citations.

They also confirmed the driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the police. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Kinder and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency for comment.

Gold Spectrum CBD Announces Job Cuts: 121 Positions to be Relocated to North Carolina


TRI-CITIES, Tenn. (WJHL) — Greenbean Ventures, LLC, the company behind Gold Spectrum CBD, has announced plans to lay off 121 employees across various locations in the Tri-Cities and Smoky Mountains region this summer. This information comes from a WARN Notice submitted to the State of Tennessee.

The layoffs are scheduled to become permanent on July 13, coinciding closely with the implementation of new restrictions on THCA products in Tennessee. These legislative changes, approved by the General Assembly last year, transfer regulatory oversight from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). The TABC will begin enforcing these regulations from June 30 to July 1, effectively banning products containing THCA and other intoxicating hemp-derived substances.

Public Charter 526 in Tennessee has redefined what is legally considered “hemp,” effectively outlawing not only Delta 9 THC but also other psychoactive cannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA) products. Gold Spectrum has highlighted that THCA, which has surged in popularity recently, accounts for an estimated 75 percent of total hemp sales in Tennessee.

Zack Green, CEO of Gold Spectrum, expressed his concerns in a statement, saying, “We had hoped Tennessee leaders would find a way to slow this down and address the obvious enforcement gap first. However, that does not seem to be the current trajectory. We are confronting a harsh reality: Tennessee businesses are being marginalized while out-of-state sellers continue to ship the same products into our market with little indication of effective enforcement.”

“We had hoped Tennessee leaders would find a way to slow this down and deal with the obvious enforcement gap first,” Zack Green, Gold Spectrum CEO, said in a news release. “That does not appear to be where things stand. We are left with a hard reality: Tennessee businesses are being boxed out, while out-of-state sellers keep shipping the same products here with little sign of meaningful enforcement.”

Media spokesperson for Gold Spectrum Brandon Gee provided the following statement to News Channel 11:

Tennessee legalized, taxed and regulated roughly a quarter-billion-dollar hemp industry. Businesses followed the rules, created jobs, signed leases, hired employees and paid taxes. Now, Tennessee is moving to wipe out compliant local businesses, eliminate hundreds of jobs and gift that economic activity and tax revenue to neighboring states.

In other words, Tennessee’s Republican supermajority is actively opposing President Trump’s call to protect access to hemp products. Worse, while shutting down regulated Tennessee operators, they are doing little to stop out-of-state sellers from shipping untested intoxicating products directly to consumers — including minors.

That’s not conservative policy. That’s bad policy.

Brandon Gee, Gold Spectrum CBD

According to the notice, the Northeast and the East Workforce Development Area rapid response teams, employed by First Tennessee Development District and East Tennessee HRA, have been notified to coordinate services with the employer and affected employees.

Green said in the release that Gold Spectrum is preparing to move operations and roughly $750,000 in payroll across the state line into North Carolina to preserve business activity that Tennessee is “effectively driving away.”

“This is not where we wanted to end up,” Green said in the release. “We built this business in Tennessee. We employ Tennesseans. We would much rather keep growing here. But if Tennessee is going to let out-of-state companies keep serving this market while Tennessee companies are forced to walk away from it, that leaves us very few options.”

“Licensed, responsible, and law-abiding Tennessee hemp retailers already are competing at a disadvantage,” Green continued in the release. “Our research confirms out-of-state retailers simply ignore state-level laws and regulations to sell THCA online with wild abandon and no safeguards to protect Tennessee kids. Come June 30, they won’t have to compete against us at all.”

Explosive Threat Neutralized: Unprecedented Danger to Alabama Reservoir Infrastructure Thwarted

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An improvised explosive device, resembling a grenade, was found and subsequently detonated in an Alabama reservoir, which supplies drinking water to approximately 350,000 residents, officials announced on Thursday.

During a routine maintenance check at the Converse Reservoir Dam, divers discovered the explosive device. The Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS) identified it as a “grenade-type IED” and promptly contacted the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), as stated by the authorities.

A coordinated team successfully secured and detonated the device. This team comprised specialists from the FBI Bomb Squad, Mobile Police Department Explosive Ordnance Detail, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Bomb Squad, MCSO, and the Daphne Search and Rescue Team, according to MAWSS.

Bud McCrory, the director of MAWSS, described the discovery of the IED as “an unprecedented threat” to the area’s water supply. He expressed relief, noting, “We are fortunate that this device was found before it could inflict serious damage on our water supply or cause harm to individuals.”

An IED is fished out of the Converse Reservoir in Mobile, Alabama.

An image captured members of the Gulf Coast Regional Maritime Response and Render-Safe Team as they retrieved the IED from the Converse Reservoir in Mobile, Alabama. The photo was provided by the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS).

The Converse Reservoir is the sole source of drinking water for the Mobile area’s 350,000 residents, according to MAWSS.

“We are grateful for the professionalism and competency of our law enforcement partners – as well as the quick thinking of our contractors and divers – in identifying this device and safely destroying it,” McCrory said.

Members of the Gulf Coast Regional Maritime Response and Render-Safe Team fish an IED out of the Converse Reservoir in Mobile, Alabama.

Members of the Gulf Coast Regional Maritime Response and Render-Safe Team fish an IED out of the Converse Reservoir in Mobile, Alabama. (Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS))

MAWSS said it is working with law enforcement agencies to investigate how the bomb got in the reservoir and how long it had been there. The agency will also work with law enforcement to increase security around the dam.

An inter-agency team in Alabama assesses an IED at the Converse Reservoir Dam in Mobile, Alabama.

An inter-agency team in Alabama assesses an IED at the Converse Reservoir Dam in Mobile, Alabama. (Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS))

The Converse Reservoir and its dam are federally designated critical infrastructure. The dam is classified as a high hazard potential, according to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials.

The high hazard designation means a structural failure would “probably cause loss of human life,” according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Fox News Digital contacted MAWSS, MCSO and the FBI for additional comment.

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Family Claims Gunman Shared Photo of Teen Victim on Social Media After Tragic Shooting


PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — In a heart-wrenching revelation, Lewis Smith shared that those responsible for his great-nephew’s tragic death at a Virginia gas station had the audacity to post an image of the crime scene on Instagram, captioning it with the taunting words: “Come get your man.”

Tavion Smith, just 17 years old, was fatally shot outside a Wawa store and gas station in the early hours of Mother’s Day. Lewis Smith recounted that he learned of his great-nephew’s passing through this unsettling social media post.

The heart-breaking image was brought to Lewis Smith’s attention when it was forwarded to his son by a friend who had stumbled upon it online.

“My great-nephew had an Instagram account, and they circulated a picture of him lying on the ground at Wawa,” Lewis Smith said, his voice choked with emotion, “and that’s the way my son learned about it, which is how it reached me.”

A clock in Lewis Smith’s home, inscribed with the words “Time spent with family is worth every second,” serves as a poignant reminder of the precious moments he wishes he could have shared with his great-nephew.

“‘Why are you so loud?’ Lewis Smith said to his great-nephew. “He was playing a game in the room. [He] woke me up screaming and hollering [about the game]. That was the last I said to him.”

Lewis Smith said Tavion left his Chesapeake home, perhaps in a rideshare vehicle, and ended up nine miles away at the Wawa — a place he said Tavion did not frequent — before he was shot and killed. Police later released surveillance photos of two young men they want to question in the case.

WAVY’s Karina Garcia, a customer, was steps away from the line of fire. One round from the gunfire hit her car near the gas tank. She was unharmed and later provided coverage from the scene.

Tavion spent his last two years living in the Smith family home and was not enrolled in school, which may have contributed to problems in the teen’s life, Lewis Smith said. He described Tavion as a high-energy young man who was full of laughs.

Lewis Smith told Nexstar’s WAVY that Tavion was not a member of a gang, but he was a gang target. The search continues for two young men who were caught on camera.

Lewis Smith has a message for the people who know who killed his great-nephew.

“Leave it alone. They shouldn’t retaliate — they should just celebrate [Tavion’s] life because it’s going to be more death. It’s going to be more death,” Lewis Smith said.

The Smith family was also in the news in 2019 due to a tragedy: Tavion’s mother was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Virginia Beach.

Now, Lewis Smith said, mother and son are together again.

Eurovision Controversy: Audience Members Removed Amidst Chaos During Israel’s Performance

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In brief

  • A protester could be heard shouting “Stop, stop the genocide”, and “Free, free Palestine” as Israel’s contestant took the stage.
  • The contest, usually a ‌good-natured celebration of pop music and European diversity, has been plunged into ‌crisis over Gaza.

Four individuals were ejected from the initial semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest following attempts to disrupt Israel’s performance.

The incident occurred as 28-year-old Israeli singer Noam Bettan took to the stage with his song “Michelle” during Tuesday’s live broadcast. A protester interrupted by shouting phrases like “Stop, stop the genocide” and “Free, free Palestine.”

Controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 has already led to five countries withdrawing from the globally renowned live music competition.

In response to the incident, Austrian host broadcaster ORF and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) issued a joint statement. They noted, “An audience of 10,000 fans at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle warmly welcomed every artist at the first semi-final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest.”

The statement further explained, “ORF is providing a clean audio feed live from audience microphones before and during each performance.”

“One audience member, close to a microphone, loudly expressed their views as the Israeli artist began his performance, and during the song, which was heard on the live broadcast. They were later removed by security for continuing to disturb the audience.

“Three other people were also removed from the arena by security for disruptive behaviour.”

Bettan told BBC television on Wednesday he was “aware” of what was happening in the audience.

“I heard there was booing and everything, and there was a moment of, like, a wow effect, you know? A little bit of shock,” he said.

Five countries boycotting Eurovision

Five EBU broadcasters — from Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain — have boycotted this year’s song contest over Israel’s military action in Gaza.

Israel launched an offensive in Gaza after an assault led by Hamas — the political and military group that rules the Palestinian territory — in the south of the country on 7 October 2023 that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 72,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, according to local health authorities.

Dean Vuletic, an academic and expert on Eurovision history, told SBS Croatian that while boycotts are not new to the competition, this year’s anti-Israel protests demonstrate the need for better regulation of political influences on the event.

“The first boycott happened in 1969, when Austria boycotted Eurovision because the contest was being held in Spain while dictator Francisco Franco was ruling the country. Eurovision has a history when it comes to boycotts, but this is still the largest political boycott, and that is why the situation is concerning,” he said.

“I think the politicisation of Eurovision needs to be controlled in some way.”

SBS — an associate member of the EBU and Australia’s official Eurovision broadcaster — says it will continue its participation in and coverage of the contest this year, arguing that withdrawing would compromise its editorial independence and impartiality.

“SBS recognises and respects the deeply held views and concerns about the war in the Middle East and its impact, both locally among our audiences and internationally as reflected by other broadcasters,” an SBS spokesperson previously said. “Our responsibility is to provide comprehensive, trusted and impartial coverage for Australians across our network, and we will continue to do so.”

Some 95,000 tickets have been sold for this year’s song contest — now in its 70th year — with fans travelling from 75 countries and territories, according to the EBU, which expects the event to attract its largest live audience in several years.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem is representing Australia with her song Eclipse in Eurovision 2026.

Some of the five boycotting broadcasters also raised concerns that the televoting system was being manipulated to boost Israel last year.

Israel comfortably topped the public voting in Basel, Switzerland, at Eurovision 2025, and in the semi-finals scored maximum points in 13 out of 19 country votes.

In September, Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS said there was “evidence of interference by the Israeli government during the most recent edition”.

In November, the EBU changed the voting system, with Eurovision director Martin Green saying: “We’ve listened and we’ve acted.”

Under the new rules aimed at assuaging broadcasters’ concerns, the maximum number of votes per payment method was halved from 20 to 10.

The EBU announced an expansion of the contest’s security systems, which “detect and prevent fraudulent or coordinated voting activity, and strengthen monitoring of suspicious patterns”.

The new rules discourage “disproportionate promotion campaigns”, particularly those done or backed by third parties, including governments and state agencies.

“Participating broadcasters and artists are not permitted to actively engage in, facilitate or contribute to promotional campaigns by third parties that could influence the voting outcome,” the EBU said at the time.

On Saturday, Green said a formal warning had been issued to Israeli public broadcaster KAN on Friday after Bettan released videos “with an on-screen instruction to ‘vote 10 times for Israel’.”

This was “not in line with our rules nor the spirit of the competition”, Green said, adding that the videos were swiftly removed.

Fifteen countries were competing in the first semi, with Israel among the 10 who progressed to Saturday’s final.

How to watch Eurovision in Australia

The second semi-final will be broadcast in Australia at 5am AEST on Friday 15 May.

SBS will also broadcast the grand final live at 5am AEST on Sunday 17 May, with the SBS News online team covering all the action in a live blog.

For those who want a sleep-in — or to relive the excitement — SBS will air prime-time ‘access all areas’ broadcasts from 15–17 May at 7.30pm AEST.

You can watch the broadcasts live on SBS and SBS On Demand.


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Urbana Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Attempted Murder of Wife


An Urbana resident has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after admitting to a violent altercation involving his wife. The incident took place last year and has culminated in a guilty plea.

On April 22, Rafael Magdaleno-Mendoza appeared in court, where he confessed to attempted murder. He received a 15-year sentence from the Illinois Department of Corrections, with 353 days of time already served being credited towards his sentence.

As part of the plea agreement, several other charges against Magdaleno-Mendoza were dropped:

  • Aggravated criminal sexual assault with a threat toward life
  • Aggravated criminal sexual assault with a weapon
  • Aggravated domestic battery

Exclusive: Arizona School District Allegedly Permits Students to Skip Class for Anti-ICE Protest

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WASHINGTON — Academic schedules took an unexpected turn in Arizona.

The Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) is facing criticism for permitting hundreds of students to leave school in order to participate in a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allegedly without informing or seeking consent from their parents for this politically charged outing.

America First Legal, a conservative nonprofit organization, has accused the district of infringing upon parental rights and has formally requested access to all records related to the planning and execution of the student walkout.

In late January, educational activities were paused at four middle and high schools within the district, allowing roughly 800 students to convene near the city hall in Flagstaff, Arizona, to express opposition to ICE. The students were reportedly accompanied by school staff during the protest.

Following the event, some parents voiced concerns, claiming they were neither informed nor granted the opportunity to approve their children’s absence from school for the protest.

“Following the protest, FUSD stated that ‘[a]ttendance was taken during each class period [during the anti-ICE protest], and standard attendance procedures were applied if a student was not present in class,’” a complaint from America First Legal, a right-leaning advocacy group, claimed.

“FUSD provided no information regarding when it first learned of the protest, how it formulated its response plan, or what consequences students faced for leaving class and school grounds without permission.”

A spokesperson for FUSD told The Post that its “schools remained open and operational during the student-initiated walkout, and standard attendance and student supervision procedures were followed throughout the school day.”

“FUSD continues to encourage students to express their perspectives in thoughtful and safe ways that do not disrupt learning or compromise student safety,” the spokesperson added.

America First Legal, which is representing an upset parent in the school district, submitted records requests on Feb. 27 to learn about how the protest came about and school procedures for taking students off school grounds.

On Thursday, it slapped a complaint against FUSD in the Arizona Superior Court, demanding that the school district be compelled to fork over those documents, claiming it received none of them thus far.

The document request was comprehensive and demanded all materials and communications related to the anti-ICE protest.

“When a school district goes completely dark after a public records request by a parent seeking information related to how a school is trying to use children as political pawns, it raises serious questions about what it may be hiding,” James Rogers, Senior Counsel at America First Legal, said in a statement.

“If FUSD won’t follow the law voluntarily, AFL will enforce compliance in court and bring the truth into the light.”

Notably, America First Legal was founded by White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, a staunch immigration hardliner.

When asked why the district hasn’t been responsive to the records requests sought by America First Legal, an FUSD spokesperson told The Post that it is “currently managing a high volume of public records requests.”

“This request will be fulfilled once the requests submitted ahead of it have been completed,” the spokesperson said.

At the time of the FUSD walk-out, the country was grappling with a firestorm over the tragic deaths of Renee Good, who accelerated her SUV in the direction of an immigration enforcement officer before getting shot, and Alex Pretti, who was shoved to the ground and shot after standing between an officer and a woman.

Both were protesting the Operation Metro Surge immigration crackdown in Minnesota, which the Trump administration ordered due to controversy over a gobsmacking welfare fraud scandal. That operation has since wound down.