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Missing Photo Adds Intrigue to Montarna McDonald’s High-Society Split

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Preacher John Paul Miller Faces Humiliation Over Wife’s Death

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Beloved Homeless Bird Painter ID’d After Central Park Killing

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Lee Rogers, a beloved homeless artist known for painting Central Park’s birds, was the woman found brutally slain inside a gazebo near the park’s boathouse, The Post has learned.

Rogers, 63, spent years living rough in the wooded Manhattan park while selling detailed watercolor paintings of wildlife. Law-enforcement sources said she died Sunday after being beaten with a stick.

“She was like the Grandma Moses of Central Park,” said Robert DeCandido, a nature-walk guide, invoking the celebrated American folk artist of the 1950s.

Rogers was especially admired for her paintings of bird feeders, DeCandido said. Birdwatchers often purchased her work directly in the park, according to DeCandido, who is known as “Birding Bob.”

News that a body had been discovered in the gazebo near East Drive and 74th Street quickly spread among Central Park birdwatchers and homeless people who spend time in the area. Many immediately feared the victim was Rogers.

Police said the suspect, 36-year-old Jonathan Robles, surrendered to authorities late Sunday.

Investigators said Rogers and Robles were involved in an argument that turned violent, though the precise circumstances remained unclear.

Rogers identified herself as Francis Lee Rogers on her website and Facebook page. Sources said she was also known as Elise Bainbridge Hill, an alternate name that offers clues to her little-known past.

Hill, who was also known as Rogers, was featured in the 2007 documentary “Begging Naked,” which recounted how she ran away to New York City as a teenager.

According to the film, Rogers later became involved in prostitution and drug use and worked as a stripper while continuing to develop her artistic talent.

As she established herself as a familiar figure in Central Park, Rogers maintained an enigmatic presence, often appearing with a sketchbook and a distinctive crooked walking stick.

When The New York Times profiled Rogers in 2012 and likened her work to that of naturalist painter John James Audubon, she declined to reveal her age or discuss much of her personal history.

Birdwatchers and other park visitors came to know Rogers through the paintings she sold while staying at churches near Central Park.

“For many years I was homeless,” she wrote on her website. “I worked on my paintings at the Central Park boathouse.”
Robles was awaiting arraignment in Manhattan court Monday on charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

— Additional reporting by Kyle Schnitzer

Cornell Faces New Sexual Assault Investigation Days After ‘Gang Rape’ Lawsuit

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Cornell University is facing a new report of alleged rape on campus, days after a former student filed a civil lawsuit accusing seven fraternity members of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2024.

A third party reported the latest allegation to Cornell University Police on September 23. The incident allegedly occurred four days earlier inside Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall, a residence hall on the university’s North Campus.

A Cornell spokesperson told the Daily Mail that investigators interviewed the person accused in the report, who maintained that the encounter was consensual.

The university did not immediately respond to follow-up questions about whether the investigation is still ongoing.

Cornell’s online crime log lists the rape report as “pending.” No additional information was immediately available.

The Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office has been asked whether it was notified of the allegation and whether prosecutors are weighing possible criminal charges.

The report comes as the Ivy League university faces growing scrutiny over allegations that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity drugged and raped a female student in October 2024.

The former student, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit earlier this month describing the alleged assault at the fraternity chapter’s house.

Cornell University has been hit by another rape allegation just days after a civil lawsuit was filed by a former female student, claiming she was 'gang-raped' at a fraternity home in 2024

Cornell University is facing another rape allegation just days after a former female student filed a civil lawsuit claiming she was ‘gang-raped’ at a fraternity house in 2024

Doe alleged the attack took place at the Chi Phi house (above) late on October 19, 2024

Doe alleges the attack occurred late on October 19, 2024, at the Chi Phi house (above)

Doe was 20 at the time. In her complaint, she alleges that she was given alcohol, pressured to take ketamine and sexually assaulted repeatedly as she became progressively incapacitated.

According to the lawsuit, one fraternity member sent a message to Chi Phi’s active-members Snapchat group during the alleged attack, telling others there was “free p***y” upstairs in reference to Doe.

The complaint alleges that additional fraternity members entered the room. Doe says the assaults continued until about 5.45am, when she lost consciousness.

No criminal charges were filed at the time. Prosecutors said Doe’s sworn statement to Cornell University Police characterized the drug use and sexual activity as voluntary and consensual, leading them to determine that there was insufficient legal grounds to pursue charges.

Her lawsuit, filed nearly two years later, offers a starkly different account. It alleges that Doe was already too intoxicated to consent and became more incapacitated as the night progressed.

Cornell also conducted disciplinary proceedings involving the accused students, which the university says ended in suspensions and expulsions. Doe’s lawsuit alleges that the students were permitted to “mitigate their conduct by submitting essays.” In a statement , Cornell said no student received an essay assignment as the sole punishment.

The allegations have sparked widespread outrage and renewed questions about the way Cornell and local authorities handled the case.

According to the filing, one of the men allegedly posted in the fraternity’s active-members Snapchat group that there was ‘free p***y’ upstairs, referring to Doe

District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office had received numerous calls, emails and voicemails from members of the public urging him to reconsider the original decision.

Van Houten’s office announced Monday that it had reopened the criminal investigation. A sex-crimes prosecutor has been assigned to prepare the case for presentation to a grand jury.

‘Seeking justice sometimes requires us to reconsider or reopen cases when we are provided with additional evidence… getting to the truth is the goal in this case,’ Van Houten said. 

Van Houten said his office did not conduct a parallel independent investigation in 2024, but instead reviewed Doe’s statement at the request of Cornell University Police to determine whether her allegations constituted a crime.

He added that a screenshot of the ‘free p***y’ Snapchat message chain shared in Doe’s lawsuit was never provided to his office.

Doe’s attorney Thomas Giuffre told the Daily Mail that he considers the Snapchat messages a critical piece of evidence that he claims was provided to Cornell in 2024.

Giuffre has also questioned how thorough the initial investigation was, claiming investigators carried out little meaningful follow-up after she first reported the allegations to Cornell PD.

An investigation by the local DA's office led to no criminal charges being filed in the case at the time. The case was reopened over the weekend following mounting public pressure

An investigation by the local DA’s office led to no criminal charges being filed in the case at the time. The case was reopened over the weekend following mounting public pressure

In a statement shared Monday, Cornell said it supports the DA’s decision to revisit Doe’s allegations.

The university said it separately conducted a months-long Title IX investigation in which the complainant and accused students were able to testify and present evidence before a panel of faculty and staff.

‘Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false,’ a spokesperson for Cornell said.

‘A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault.’

The school added that Chi Phi’s Xi chapter has remained barred from campus since 2024.

Doe has said the fallout from the alleged attack continues to dominate her life.

In a sworn statement filed with her lawsuit, she described what happened as ‘devastating and humiliating’ and said she stopped attending Cornell because of the alleged assault.

Giuffre told the Daily Mail last week that she has since dropped out of college altogether and continues to struggle with the trauma.

Doe said in her sworn statement that she has suffered anxiety, depression and sleepless nights.

‘She is basically stalled, and her life is devoted to dealing with the trauma,’ Giuffre said. ‘It’s like a constant, constant reminder.’

In a statement shared Monday, Cornell said it supports the DA’s decision to revisit Doe’s allegations

In a statement shared Monday, Cornell said it supports the DA’s decision to revisit Doe’s allegations 

Giuffre described Doe as a young woman from a small town who had achieved something unusual for where she grew up by making it to an Ivy League university, only to see that life derailed after the alleged attack.

‘She’s not some rich kid who went to private schools and all that,’ he said. ‘She was somebody who came from part of the country where not a lot of people were going to Ivy League schools, and she made that accomplishment – and now she’s dropped out of Cornell.

‘Those boys will go on and live their lives just fine, whereas my client is not going to have that benefit.’

Chi Phi’s national office said over the weekend that the allegations were ‘deeply concerning’ and that anyone reporting sexual violence deserves to be treated with ‘compassion, dignity and respect.’

The fraternity said sexual violence was ‘fundamentally incompatible’ with its values and its ‘Building Better Men’ mission, adding that it could not address the specific allegations while litigation is pending but was taking the case seriously.

All seven defendants have now been served with the lawsuit, court records show. The Daily Mail has contacted each of them for comment.

Jeremy Saland, an attorney for one of the accused, denied Doe’s allegations in their entirety and said he welcomed the DA’s decision to reinvestigate the claims.

‘We are confident an honest examination will exonerate him once again,’ Saland said.

Iran Faces Scrutiny After Plot Foiled Near UK Base Used by US Military Forces

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The arrests came only days after British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, a prominent figure on the left, met Iran’s foreign minister at the United Nations. British authorities detained five men suspected of having ties to Tehran after they allegedly planned an attack on RAF Fairford, a Gloucestershire military facility used by American forces.

Armed police stopped the suspects as they traveled in three vans said to contain materials believed to be linked to explosives. The five British nationals were taken into custody roughly 350 yards from the base, which has been used by the U.S. military for air operations against targets in Iran.

Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, told News Media in London on Monday that an Iranian-directed operation appeared highly likely. He also criticized the decision to grant bail, calling it “entirely insane,” and said the men appeared to be Islamist suspects based on an image of them.

Police at RAF Fairford

Police block a road near the village of Whelford in Gloucestershire, near RAF Fairford, which is used by the U.S. Air Force, on Sept. 27, 2026. (Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images)

Gardiner accused the U.K. government of pursuing a policy of appeasement toward Iran. He pointed to Miliband’s meeting with Iran’s foreign minister during the U.N. General Assembly and argued that Britain was trying to avoid becoming directly involved in the U.S.-led conflict with Tehran.

He described the government as a “socialist appeasement-minded British administration” that, in his view, has shown serious weakness on defense and national security.

RAF Fairford

RAF Fairford is in the spotlight after five men were arrested near the key U.S. bomber base in the U.K. on Sunday. (Reuters)

Washington and Jerusalem began a joint military operation on Feb. 28 aimed at destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities and missile infrastructure.

A person familiar with the investigation had earlier told Reuters that investigators considered an Iranian connection the leading explanation. However, authorities were also examining whether the incident could involve Russian sabotage or an Islamist extremist plot.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps

Mourners participate in the funeral for the late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his family in Tehran, Iran, on July 6, 2026. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Asked Monday whether the alleged bombing plan was connected to Iran’s government, President Donald Trump said it was possible. He questioned why the suspects had been granted bail and linked the issue to his opposition to cashless bail, which he blamed for contributing to broader crime problems in the United States.

Trump said he was surprised the men had been released, adding that British officials had cooperated closely with U.S. authorities. He said American officials knew the suspects well and would not have allowed them to leave custody.

Trump said Sunday that the suspects had been preparing to cause “big damage.” He added that authorities had monitored them for an extended period before making the arrests.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government would not comment further while the case remained active. The spokesperson referred reporters to remarks made by the defense secretary during morning broadcasts and said it would not be appropriate to discuss Trump’s claims in detail.

Andy Burnham

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham (Getty)

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is designated as a terrorist organization by both the United States and the United Kingdom, warned in July that British military sites used in attacks on Iran could be considered legitimate targets for retaliation.

Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, an organization that monitors Iranian espionage and terrorist activity in Britain, said Tehran would have a possible motive. He cited the July arrest in Cyprus of a man accused of spying for Iran near RAF Akrotiri. Iranian officials and state-linked media have also singled out RAF Fairford, describing it as relevant to Iran’s self-defense during Operation Epic Fury.

A police officer stands next to a sign that reads "Royal Air Force AKROTIRI" near a gated road.

Police officers stand guard outside RAF Akrotiri base on Jan. 14, 2024, near Limassol, Cyprus. An Iranian-made drone hit the base on March 3, 2026, causing minimal damage and no injuries amid heightened tensions in the Iran conflict. (Iakovos Hatzistavrou/AFP via Getty Images)

Brodsky said Iran has repeatedly been accused of orchestrating terrorist operations in Britain through its Intelligence Ministry and the IRGC. He noted that Tehran has also relied on criminal networks as intermediaries, suggesting British investigators may be exploring whether such channels were involved in the Fairford case.

The U.K.’s Counterterrorism Policing Office said the five men were arrested on suspicion of offenses under the Explosives Act and of preparing to carry out a terrorist act under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act.

Vicki Evans, counterterrorism policing senior national coordinator, deputy assistant commissioner, said, “This is a hugely complex and large-scale operation, involving local and national policing, the MOD, and local agencies, who are working together to progress the investigation and support for the community.”

Pro Iran regime rally in London

A protester waves an Iranian flag during a demonstration in Millbank. Thousands of people marched to the U.S. Embassy in protest against the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran. (Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Evans added, “I am very aware of the levels of speculation about the motivation behind this incident, and the geopolitical questions that are being raised.”

According to an X post by the Iranian regime’s embassy in London, “The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran to arrest of five suspects in the vicinity of RAF Fairford base.”

The Iranian Embassy added “The Circulation of such fabricated speculations, particularly in the aftermath of the criminal acts of aggression committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Iranian people, will serve no purpose other than to fuel Iranophobia propaganda in the UK. The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to take appropriate legal measures, as necessary, to safeguard the rights and interests of the country and its people in response to misleading and damaging media narratives.”

Barak Seener, senior fellow at the London-based Henry Jackson Society, told News Media, “The British government has no sense of how to prioritize its national security interests. While British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at the U.N. that the United Kingdom will not tolerate intimidation, threats, or hostile activity on British soil, he was sure to take a friendly picture with him, while purposely avoiding meeting any Israeli representative.”

He added, “Similarly, at the Labor Party conference, Ed Miliband spent 15 seconds on Iran, and close to four minutes on Israel. This has led to an environment in which a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford could take place.”

Police stand guard on a road leading to RAF Fairford in Fairford, England.

Police guard a road leading to RAF Fairford in Fairford, England, on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

A spokesperson for the British government told News Media, “The police have issued a statement this afternoon from the head of CTP. We don’t have any further comment at this early stage.”

With respect to the News Media press query about Miliband’s meeting with Araghchi at the U.N., the British government spokesperson sent News Media a readout of the meeting, “The Foreign Secretary told Araghchi that Iran should choose de-escalation and diplomacy instead of prolonging the war. He underlined the importance of restoring freedom of navigation and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the impact continued disruption has on global security and economic stability.

“The Foreign Secretary reiterated the UK’s unwavering resolve to combat threats from Iranian-linked groups in UK soil, including attacks on the British Jewish community. The Foreign Secretary made clear that Britain will not tolerate intimidation, threats or hostile activity on UK soil and set out the measures the Government has taken in response. He also raised the ongoing detention of Craig and Lindsay Foreman, repeating the UK’s call for their immediate release and stressing that their welfare remains a priority for the Government.”

Why Monaco’s Princess Charlene Wore White to Meet the Pope

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Princess Charlene of Monaco invoked her “privilège du blanc” as she and Prince Albert II were welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron at a significant event in France.

The French presidential couple warmly greeted the Monaco royals on their arrival for the “At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity” meeting in Metz, near the German border.

Pope Leo XIV addressed the gathering on the final day of his four-day trip to France, speaking of a “new stage” in the story of “contemporary Europe”.

Welcomed with a standing ovation, the Pope urged younger Europeans not to “give in to the mentality of violence and oppression”. He also encouraged them “not to be afraid to work tirelessly for the good of your communities, including through political engagement”.

The Metz meeting, held in the birthplace of Robert Schuman, one of the European Union’s founding figures, brought together Princess Charlene, 48, Prince Albert, 68, and the French president in an effort to reinforce cooperation across Europe.

All European Union heads of state, along with leaders of European institutions, were invited to the conference. Macron, 48, is also due to attend Mass with Pope Leo in Metz later in the day.

Charlene made a striking entrance in a white trouser suit, styling the look with a dramatic statement collar and a coordinating handbag finished with gold details.

The royal’s head-to-toe white outfit reflected the “privilège du blanc”, a historic exception that allows queens and princesses from Catholic nations to wear white in the presence of the Pope.

Emmanuel Macron (L) and his wife Brigitte (R) have welcomed Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco to a historic meeting in Metz, France

Emmanuel Macron (L) and his wife Brigitte (R) have welcomed Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco to a historic meeting in Metz, France

The French president and his wife were captured warmly greeting the royal couple as they arrived for the meeting 'At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity' in the north-east city located close to the German border

The French president and his wife were captured warmly greeting the royal couple as they arrived for the meeting “At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity” in the north-east city located close to the German border

For the occasion, Charlene exercised her 'privilège du blanc' as she stepped out in a striking white suit ensemble for the occasion, paired with a statement collar and matching handbag with gold detailing

For the occasion, Charlene exercised her “privilège du blanc” as she stepped out in a striking white suit ensemble for the occasion, paired with a statement collar and matching handbag with gold detailing

Charlene is among fewer than 10 women worldwide who are allowed to wear white when meeting the Pope.

Known as le privilège du blanc in French and il privilegio del bianco in Italian, the tradition is reserved for select Catholic queens and princesses. It may be observed during major occasions including private audiences, canonisations, beatifications and special Masses.

Under the usual dress code for papal audiences, women are expected to wear a long black dress with a high neckline and full-length sleeves, together with a black mantilla.

Brigitte Macron, 73, followed the customary palette in an elegant black dress accented by a gold brooch. Smiling broadly, she welcomed the Monaco royals to the landmark gathering.

In his speech, Pope Leo called on Europe to reconnect with its Christian heritage as it confronts the “desire for domination” behind modern conflicts. He also urged leaders to be prepared to “give up some positions for the greater good of peace”.

The pontiff further appealed for European solidarity in confronting “lies and deceit”.

The conference followed the registration of more than 600,000 Catholics for an afternoon Mass at Paris’s Place de la Concorde on September 26, expected to be the largest event of Pope Leo’s French visit.

Crowds began gathering on the Champs-Élysées before dawn in the hope of securing a clear view of the Pope as he travelled along the boulevard in an open-top popemobile.

The event in Metz, hometown of Robert Schuman, a founding father of the European Union, saw Princess Charlene and Prince Albert join the French leader in a bid to bring European nations together

The event in Metz, hometown of Robert Schuman, a founding father of the European Union, saw Princess Charlene and Prince Albert join the French leader in a bid to bring European nations together

All EU heads of state and the heads of European institutions were invited to attend the conference, while the French president is also set to join Pope Leo for Mass in the city of Metz later today

All EU heads of state and the heads of European institutions were invited to attend the conference, while the French president is also set to join Pope Leo for Mass in the city of Metz later today

Pope Leo XIV delivered an address at the high-profile conference on the final day of his four-day French visit, where he spoke of a 'new stage' in the history of 'contemporary Europe'

Pope Leo XIV delivered an address at the high-profile conference on the final day of his four-day French visit, where he spoke of a ‘new stage’ in the history of ‘contemporary Europe’

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene arrive at the event held on the last day of the Pope's visit to France

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene arrive at the event held on the last day of the Pope’s visit to France 

Charlene and Albert’s meeting with Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron comes after the Monaco royals welcomed the French president and his wife for the first state dinner with a French leader in more than 40 years last June. 

Meanwhile, in March, Princess Charlene and her lookalike daughter, Gabriella, exercised their ‘privilège du blanc’ during Pope Leo XIV’s historic visit to Monaco.

The royal mother-daughter duo were joined by Prince Albert alongside young Prince Jacques for the occasion, which saw Pope Leo make his first visit to the European country since his election in May.

For the outing, Charlene also donned a small brooch with the flags of Monaco and the Vatican, alongside a midi dress that contained lace detailing and a short veil, which she placed over her head in line with the necessary protocol.

While her mother opted for white heels, 11-year-old Gabriella wore white ballet flats, alongside a long coat and the same brooch as her mother.

Arriving by helicopter from Rome, the Pope was greeted by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene at Monte Carlo’s heliport under radiant sunshine.

Just after he arrived at the tiny principality on the French Riviera, Leo condemned what he termed the widening ‘chasms between the poor and the rich’.

In an address in French from the balcony of the Prince’s Palace, the American Pope denounced ‘unjust configurations of power, structures of sin that dig chasms between poor and rich, between the privileged and the rejected, between friends and enemy’.

He added wealth should serve ‘law and justice, especially at a historical moment when displays of force and the logic of omnipotence wound the world and jeopardise peace’, in a clear reference to the growing number of conflicts across the globe.

Some have dubbed Leo the ‘Quiet Pope’ due to his low-key pastoral approach, often prioritising unity, listening and traditional diplomacy.

The pontiff was pictured with Prince Albert at the royal palace, with one image showing a portrait of the ruler’s mother, movie star Grace Kelly.

Bells pealed across the principality to mark Leo’s arrival in the micro-state nestled on the Mediterranean between France and Italy.

Locals gathered outside the palace, many brandishing flags in the red and white of Monaco and the yellow and white of the Vatican.

13 People Fall Ill, 8 Hospitalized After Eating Raw Cheese

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Health authorities are investigating a multistate E. coli outbreak potentially connected to raw-milk cheese.

Thirteen people have become ill and eight have required hospitalization after reportedly eating products linked to E. coli O26:H11. The strain produces Shiga toxins that can damage the intestinal lining, causing intense stomach cramps, watery or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting, according to the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Three patients have also developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a serious complication that can cause potentially fatal kidney failure.

Investigators are examining Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese as the possible source of the outbreak.

After being notified about the illnesses, Sierra Nevada Cheese Company agreed to voluntarily recall its medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack and jalapeño Jack cheeses.

Officials have not determined which individual products may have been contaminated. The FDA said its inquiry remains underway as authorities work to identify the source and determine whether other products are involved.

Cases have been identified in nine states: California, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and Utah.

The recalled cheeses were produced using raw, or unpasteurized, milk.

Raw cheese products have been recalled due to the potential presence of E. coli bacteria

Raw cheese products have been recalled over concerns they may contain E. coli bacteria

Pasteurization relies on heat to destroy dangerous germs, including E. coli. Products made without that process can therefore carry a greater risk of harmful bacteria.

The FDA advised consumers who bought the recalled cheese to return it to the retailer for a refund.

The products were sold at unspecified retail locations in 8-ounce and 16-ounce packages. They were also distributed to food-service businesses and wholesalers in 5-pound loaves, described as large rectangular blocks of cheese.

Public health officials are speaking with patients to learn which foods they consumed during the week before symptoms began.

All nine people interviewed by the CDC said they had eaten Sierra Nevada Graziers grass-fed raw milk cheese.

The reported illnesses occurred between July 7 and August 26.

The CDC cautioned that the outbreak may be larger than current figures suggest, since many people recover without seeking medical care or undergoing testing for E. coli.

More recent cases may also not have been counted yet because it can take three to four weeks to establish whether an illness is connected to an outbreak.

Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia have each recorded one case. California and Nevada have reported three cases apiece.

CDC data shows that patients range in age from 1 to 58, with a median age of five. More than half of those sickened are children aged five or younger.

E. coli infections are commonly associated with undercooked meat, unpasteurized dairy products and raw foods such as apples, cucumbers and sprouts.

Roughly 75,000 to 90,000 Americans are exposed to the bacteria each year and about 100 die annually. However, cases are vastly undercounted because most people recover without complications and do not get tested.

Sierra Nevada Cheese Company recalled these products after learning of the E. coli outbreak

Sierra Nevada Cheese Company recalled these products after learning of the E. coli outbreak

The CDC's map showing the number of E. coli cases linked to the outbreak per state

The CDC’s map showing the number of E. coli cases linked to the outbreak per state

E. coli bacteria stop growing at temperatures below 45.5F (7.5C) but can survive being frozen and are able to withstand temperatures below -112F (-80C).

Once back in a warm environment, the bacteria are reactivated and start to grow – potentially causing an infection.

E. coli typically sickens people between two and eight days after exposure.

Most patients develop bloody diarrhea and vomiting, as well as stomach cramps, but recover within a week. In more severe cases, some develop HUS, a type of kidney failure most common in children under five, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.

Symptoms include easy bruising, decreased urine and a pale appearance. A kidney transplant may be necessary in severe or life-threatening instances.

The CDC warned individuals who believe they have been sickened to seek medical care immediately if they experience diarrhea with a fever higher than 102F (39C), diarrhea that does not improve for more than two days, bloody diarrhea, vomiting to the point of being unable to keep down liquids or signs of dehydration such as not urinating often, dry mouth and throat and dizziness. 

The agency advised against consuming raw dairy and suggested washing and sanitizing items and surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled products.  

Workers Rescue Kittens From Industrial Shredder Before They Could Be “Obliterated”

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These kittens had a remarkably lucky escape.

Three newborn kittens were rescued from inside an industrial shredder at a Long Island maintenance yard after workers heard them crying, according to heartwarming rescue footage.

The maintenance employees heard what sounded like “screams” coming from the machinery Thursday. After removing the shredder’s screws, they discovered three tiny black kittens trapped inside, animal rescuer John Debacker told The Post.

Realizing the kittens needed immediate help, one worker gently wrapped them in a towel and contacted Debacker, a Long Island cat rescuer known for handling difficult animal emergencies.

Debacker, 33, who lives in Bellmore, rushed to the Oyster Bay maintenance yard to assist.

Video shared on Facebook shows the newborn kittens purring inside the machine as an employee carefully takes it apart. Moments later, the kittens’ tiny heads appear.

Debacker then reaches in and brings all three kittens to safety.

“Workers at a maintenance yard heard screams coming from inside a shredder that would have completely obliterated them if the machine was turned on, but thankfully their quick thinking saved them,” Debacker wrote on Facebook.

The kittens are now being cared for by a bottle feeder and will eventually be made available for adoption, Debacker said.

“They’re doing good right now,” he added.

Yemen-Born Vape Shop Owner Near Ole Miss Fled the Country After Synthetic Drug Indictment, Docs Say

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OXFORD, Miss. – Court records obtained by News Media show that the owner of a vape shop near the University of Mississippi campus had previously been indicted on allegations that he trafficked hundreds of doses of an illegal synthetic cannabinoid.

News Media previously reported that Amer Alowdi, 40, was indicted in 2022 and left the country before he could face formal prosecution, according to court documents. Alowdi owns Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store in Oxford.

Authorities raided the store last week as part of an investigation into the deaths of two Ole Miss students. Investigators found packaged kratom, a substance that is illegal in Lafayette County, Mississippi.

Robert Strang in an Ole Miss pullover poses for ap ortrait in front of a green wall

Robert Strang pictured in an undated family photo. The 20-year-old University of Mississippi junior died under suspicious circumstances. (Strang family)

Aidan Hamilton, an 18-year-old University of Mississippi freshman, appears in these images that his mother posted to Facebook. He is one of two Ole Miss students who died under suspicious circumstances this week.

Aidan Hamilton, an 18-year-old University of Mississippi freshman, appears in these images that his mother posted to Facebook. He is one of two Ole Miss students who died under suspicious circumstances last week. (Facebook/ Kathie Mac Donald Hamilton)

Police said the search uncovered 500 units of the drug. Two men, Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18, were arrested in connection with the bust.

Ole Miss Kratom deaths vape store

General view of Puffs Vape store, September 25, 2026, in Oxford, Mississippi. (Rashid Umar Abassi for News Media)

A Department of Homeland Security source told News Media that all three men facing charges were born in Yemen and later became naturalized U.S. citizens.

“Yahya Mohammed Ali Mosleh entered the U.S. in 1992, Alowdi entered in 2014 and Islam Yahya Mohamed Mosleh entered in February 2024,” the source said.

image shows vape shop

Interior view of Puffs Vape store, Sept. 25, 2026, in Oxford, Mississippi. (Rashid Umar Abassi for News Media)

The recent arrests were not Alowdi’s first encounter with narcotics investigators.

According to an incident report, agents went to a gas station in March 2020 and conducted two controlled purchases of cartridges they suspected contained an illegal synthetic cannabinoid.

The location was a Texaco station and attached convenience store on Lamar Boulevard in Oxford.

Kratom pills on a surface.

Kratom is a plant-based substance often marketed as a natural option for pain relief or opioid withdrawal, but experts warn that it can cause dependence, dangerous interactions and other serious health complications. (Getty Images)

Court documents identify the station as another business “owned and operated” by Alowdi.

Several weeks after the alleged purchases, agents tracked Alowdi to a warehouse in Tupelo, Mississippi, according to the report. “On March 20, 2020 two agents from the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit followed Mr. Alowdi from his store to a warehouse in Tupelo, Mississippi where Mr. Alowdi picked up several boxes containing unknown items,” the report states.

At the Tupelo warehouse, investigators reportedly saw Alowdi and two other men load boxes into vehicles, including a “yellow Penske box truck.”

Agents then followed Alowdi as he drove from Tupelo toward Oxford. They pulled him over after alleging that he was speeding.

With Alowdi’s consent, investigators searched the vehicle and seized multiple vape products, cartridges believed to contain the illegal cannabinoid and boxes of Viagra, the report said.

Alowdi was not arrested that day because authorities were waiting for crime-lab results on the seized products. Investigators warned him that he could be “facing more charges once the crime results came back.”

Fraternity house on Ole Miss campus was the scene of a drug death

General view of Phi Delta Theta fraternity house on the Campus of  the University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, September 24, 2026. Black ribbons are tied to the columns of the porch in honor of the death of fraternity member, 20-year-old Robert Strang from Atlanta. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for News Media)

The report also says investigators suspected Alowdi had ties to other stores in Mississippi.

In 2024, Alowdi filed to have his charges dismissed, but the motion was denied.

If convicted, Alowdi could face 40 years behind bars and a $1 million fine.

Tasia Fortune Death: Third Suspect Arrested After Staged Hanging

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Police have arrested a third suspect in the death of Tasia Fortune, a mother whose body was discovered “in a hanging position” behind a tree near an abandoned home in Mississippi. Investigators later said both the scene and the hanging had been “staged.”

Eric Clark was charged with murder after turning himself in to police on Sept. 25, according to a press release obtained by People. He was expected to appear in Jackson Municipal Court on Sept. 28. It was not immediately clear whether Clark had entered a plea, and Oxygen was unable to identify an attorney representing him.

Fortune’s mother, Christy Spivey, said she last saw her daughter at a family reunion on July 26.

Spivey told WJTV that Fortune asked her the following day to send “all the pictures we had” so she could make a collage. Spivey said she repeatedly tried to contact her daughter, but each call went to voicemail.

On Aug. 3, the 29-year-old Fortune was found “in a hanging position behind a tree” near an abandoned house in Jackson, Mississippi. Her body was decomposing, Police Chief RaShall Brackney said during a Sept. 11 press conference.

“We understand that this case has received media attention from across the globe,” Brackney said. “We understand the questions and the desire for answers, given Mississippi’s history.”

Fortune and the suspects were Black. According to the New York Times, Fortune’s family had never believed race was connected to her death.

Jarques Ratliff was arrested in downtown Jackson on Sept. 11, Brackney said. He pleaded not guilty to murder at a Sept. 14 court hearing, and a judge denied him bond, according to NBC News.

Ratliff reportedly told the court that Fortune had been his friend.

“My client said he’s not involved,” Ratliff’s attorney, Toney Baldwin, said, according to NBC News. “And that’s absolutely what I believe.”

Baldwin said he wanted the “truth about what happened to come out.”

Earnest Lloyd Jr. was arrested on Sept. 22 and charged with murder, according to the Jackson Police Department, WLBT reported.

Lloyd pleaded not guilty and was denied bond during a Sept. 23 court hearing, a police spokesperson told the Clarion Ledger. Police said witnesses observed “Lloyd … chasing Fortune” before her death. Oxygen was unable to identify an attorney for Lloyd.

Fortune was killed at a location separate from where her body was found, Jackson Police Detective Samuel Dukes testified on Sept. 25, according to the New York Times. Investigators believe her body had been hanging for several days before it was discovered.

Dukes described the hanging as “staged.”

Fortune’s cause of death has not been released publicly, according to the Associated Press. The medical examiner determined that her death was a homicide. A spokesperson for the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Witnesses told police they believed Fortune had been “targeted” because she allegedly stole drugs, the NYT reported. Her family said she had a history of addiction.

Spivey said Fortune’s death has “devastated” their family.

“Tasia was strong-minded, she was full of laughs and love, she had faith in God,” Spivey told ABC News in August. “She had so little and gave so much.”

A Jackson Police Department spokesperson did not immediately respond to Oxygen’s request for comment.