While factors like height, weight, speed, and production are the obvious benchmarks in player evaluation, the Giants recognize that these metrics can be interpreted differently across the league. Subjectivity plays a significant role in how NFL teams assess talent, and the Giants are no exception.

The Giants were particularly excited when they managed to secure two of their top five prospects during the first round of the NFL draft. This achievement was significant for the team, as it demonstrated their strategic planning and insight.

Linebacker Arvell Reese wasn’t expected to be available at the fifth overall pick, and the team had little hope that offensive lineman Sisi Mauigoa would still be around at the tenth. Their unexpected availability was a pleasant surprise for the Giants’ management, who were eager to add them to the roster.

The Giants’ draft board, a unique configuration of player rankings, reflected their singular approach to evaluation, often contrasting sharply with other teams. For instance, while the Titans viewed wide receiver Carnell Tate as a top-five prospect and selected him at No. 4, the Giants did not share this sentiment. This divergence in opinion allowed Reese to become available for the Giants, much to their delight.

President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the United States’ congressional districts yielded mixed outcomes Tuesday. In South Carolina, senators resisted his agenda, while Missouri’s highest court approved a redistricting map likely to bolster Republican chances of securing an extra seat in the upcoming November midterm elections.

The national redistricting conflict, which began 10 months ago, has only escalated. This intensification follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that diluted the federal Voting Rights Act, paving the way for states to attempt the removal of districts with significant minority populations.

In Louisiana, Republican legislators are deliberating the extent of their political assertiveness in redrawing House districts. This debate follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declared a majority-Black district an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

The impact of the Louisiana decision has already reshaped congressional districts in Tennessee and affected Alabama. There, Republican Governor Kay Ivey has scheduled a special primary on August 11 for four out of the state’s seven congressional districts. This follows the Supreme Court overturning a mandate for a map featuring two predominantly Black districts. Alabama plans to adopt a 2023 map with only one majority-Black district, potentially allowing Republicans to capture an additional seat.

Republicans anticipate gaining up to 14 seats from newly enacted House maps in states like Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, and Tennessee. On the other hand, Democrats hope to gain six seats through new district maps in California and Utah. Recently, the Virginia Supreme Court invalidated a redistricting initiative that might have secured four more potentially winnable seats for Democrats.

Missouri court upholds split of Kansas City

Missouri was the second Republican state, after Texas, to redraw its congressional districts at Trump’s urging last year.

Tuesday’s two unanimous state Supreme Court decisions, delivered just hours after arguments, “are a complete victory for Missouri and for the people’s elected representatives,” Republican Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said in a statement.

The rulings sided “against voters in every respect,” the ACLU and Campaign Legal Center, which represented suing voters, said in a joint statement. “This state — and our democracy — are worse off for this outcome.”

Attorneys challenging Missouri’s new map had focused on changes to a Kansas City-based district long represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who previously was the city’s first Black mayor.

The new map takes a compact urban district that covered 20 miles (32 kilometers) and two counties and stretches it 200 miles (322 kilometers) over 15 counties, distorting it “into a sprawling behemoth that cuts clear across the state to unite territories that share nothing in common,” said Abha Khanna, a partner in the Elias Law Group, a Democratic firm.

But the Supreme Court upheld a March decision by a lower court, which found the map as a whole satisfied the compactness requirement even though the Kansas City district looks less compact. No Missouri court has ever struck down a congressional map for not being compact, said attorney John Gore, who defended the districts on behalf of the Republican Party.

A second case heard by the high court centered on whether the new map took effect in December, as asserted by Hanaway and Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, or whether it should have been suspended when referendum signatures were submitted.

To suspend the map before validating the signatures would let activists temporarily undercut laws by submitting boxes of fraudulent signatures, Missouri Solicitor General Lou Capozzi argued.

But to not immediately suspend the map “would dilute the referendum right, if not destroy it altogether,” said attorney Jonathan Hawley, arguing for voters who sued.

The Supreme Court agreed with Republican officials, who contend the new districts can be suspended only after Hoskins determines the petition meets constitutional requirements and has enough valid signatures. Hoskins has until Aug. 4, the day of Missouri’s primary elections, to make that determination.

South Carolina senator sees risk in redistricting

Trump urged South Carolina to redraw its congressional districts ahead of the November elections in an attempt to help Republicans win another seat.

A House committee endorsed a map Tuesday that could eliminate the state’s only Democratic-held seat, and the chamber voted previously to let lawmakers return after their regular work ends Thursday to further consider redistricting.

But the Senate had to give permission too. The 29-17 vote failed, coming just two votes short of the two-thirds needed, as five Republicans joined all Democrats in opposition.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said he expects redistricting to come up again in some way before the June 9 primary.

Trump had said on social media that he was closely watching the redistricting vote, urging South Carolina senators to “be bold and courageous” and to delay the congressional primaries so new districts can be drawn.

Although Republicans have a supermajority in the chamber, some GOP senators weren’t sure the proposed map would guarantee the party could unseat longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn. They also said it could push enough Democrats into other districts to backfire, resulting in a 5-2 or even a 4-3 Republican split.

Massey acknowledged the pressure from Trump but said he doesn’t like being asked to bend to someone’s will instead of doing what’s best for his state.

“I got too much Southern in my blood,” Massey said. “I’ve got too much resistance in my heritage.”

Louisiana teen recounts family’s fight

A state Senate committee was considering how to reshape congressional districts — currently represented by four Republicans and two Democrats — in response to the Supreme Court ruling.

Republican-backed options aimed to eliminate either one or both of those Democratic seats.

But Democrats backed a map that still would allow for two majority-Black districts centered on Baton Rouge and New Orleans. They argued that would comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling while retaining fairness.

As a hearing stretched late into Tuesday night, Josiah Hardy, a high school sophomore, told lawmakers that his great-grandfather fought for civil rights and equal representation in Louisiana when Black voters were disenfranchised.

“Why are we still fighting the same fight decades later,” Hardy said. “My great-grandfather believed democracy is stronger when more people are included, not excluded. Further generations should not have to keep fighting the same battles for fairness and voting rights that leaders before us have already fought.”

___

Brook reported from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Chandler from Montgomery, Alabama, Collins from Columbia, South Carolina, and Lieb from Jefferson City, Missouri.

A former model who played a key role in establishing a multi-billion-dollar cosmetics empire is now on the verge of taking vows as a priest, with the ordination ceremony just a week away.

Scott-Vincent Borba, now 53, partnered with Joseph Shamah in 2004 to create e.l.f Cosmetics. The brand quickly rose to prominence for offering clean, entirely vegan, and affordable products with a strong emphasis on sustainability.

Today, the company boasts a market valuation exceeding $3 billion.

During the brand’s meteoric rise, Borba embraced the Hollywood lifestyle.

“We mingled with celebrities like Paris Hilton and partied with the Kardashians, living the quintessential Hollywood dream,” he shared in an interview with ABC 7.

‘I was a poster boy for luxury living,’ said Borba, who also previously worked as a model, designer, singer and actor. ‘I was not in any way humble. I was very prideful.’

But when he reached his 40s, Borba said he experienced a sudden loss of joy that prompted him to change his ways. 

‘I asked our Lord to help me be the man that he created me to be,’ the future priest said. ‘And upon that instance, I had this massive flood of love and mercy that came into my life. 

‘It was a very mystical experience.’

Scott-Vincent Borba, 53, who co-founded e.l.f Cosmetics with Joseph Shamah in 2004, has reinvented himself as a priest. He is pictured in 2011 in Los Angeles at the launch for his book ‘Skintervention’

Borba said he has ‘never been happier’ despite his now frugal lifestyle

For seven years, Borba took classes a St Patrick’s Seminary & University in Menlo Park, where he studied and underwent a process called ‘formation’

By 2019, he gave up his multi-million dollar fortune to charitable causes, and soon he enrolled as a seminarian for the Diocese of Fresno.

Over the next roughly seven years, Borba took classes at St Patrick’s Seminary & University in Menlo Park, where he studied and underwent a process called ‘formation,’ which Diocese of Fresno Director of Public Affairs and Innovation Chandler Marquez described to KTVU as ‘a mixture of practical experience in parish life and studying in a seminary.’

Borba’s life now looks very different than what it did in his younger years.

He said he is now living ‘in a little tiny room with… nothing in it.

‘I have a few bits of clothes and a few pairs of shoes. And my life has been culled down to the bare minimum,’ the former multi-millionaire said.

Despite the frugal lifestyle, Borba said he has ‘never been happier in my life.’

‘Once I started to reorient myself, recalibrate myself with God’s help to focus to Him, the joy started coming,’ he explained. 

The Diocese of Fresno – which serves one of the largest and most diverse Catholic populations in North America – now hopes Borba will bring that same joy to others when he is ordained as a priest on May 23. 

elf Cosmetics became a leading beauty brand known for its clean, 100 percent vegan , budget-friendly and sustainable products

‘God calls upon all types to serve,’ Marquez said.

‘Being around Scott, you can see the genuine happiness and fulfillment he now carries and gives to others.’ 

Church officials also note that Borba – who is now known as ‘Deacon Scott’ – brings faith and leadership that have been shaped by real life experiences and challenges.

‘Real yearning, real calling and even suffering – those experiences will aid him in relating to Catholics,’ Marquez said, noting Borba ‘is already making an impact on the Church through his leadership and innovative mindset.’

The Diocese will now assign him to a parish to serve as an associate pastor while being mentored by a pastor.

As part of that process, Borba is set to return to the San Joaquin Valley where he grew up, and where he said he was first called to religious life at the age of 10.

‘Scott developed and cultivated his innovative mindset here in the Central Valley, and he is now bringing that experience home in service to the Church and the people of this community,’ Marquez said. 

In the border town of Rmeish, nestled between Lebanon and Israel, the sound of church bells continues to resonate.

While much of southern Lebanon has borne the brunt of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, this predominantly Christian village has largely been spared. Its churches stand unscathed, and homes remain undamaged. Locals attribute their relative safety to their firm stance against allowing Hezbollah militants to use their town as a base for launching attacks.

“They attempted multiple times to set up rocket launch sites at the village’s outskirts,” a resident shared with Jusoor News. “But the young men of Rmeish stood their ground and blocked their entry.”

“This resistance helped shield Rmeish from Israeli attacks,” the resident explained. “The Israelis are strategic in their targeting, focusing specifically on launch sites.”

In Rmeish, churches remain intact as villagers took a stand against Hezbollah’s efforts to use their community for launching rockets. (Jusoor News)

The account offers a rare public glimpse into open resistance to Hezbollah inside southern Lebanon, where criticism of the Iranian-backed terrorist group is often met with accusations of treason or collaboration with Israel.

Tarek, a Christian social activist from Rmeish who spoke by phone with Fox News Digital, said residents of the town have long-faced pressure because they refused to align with Hezbollah.

“After 2000, when Israel left, we were always labeled as collaborators of Israel,” Tarek said. “We suffered a lot from this stigma.”

He said Hezbollah supporters accused the town of cooperating with Israel simply because it escaped the destruction seen in neighboring villages.

The interviews come as the Trump administration brokers talks between Israel and Lebanon aimed at stabilizing the border and addressing Hezbollah’s military presence in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem recently rejected any discussion about disarming the group, while U.S. officials continue pushing to strengthen the Lebanese state over the armed terror group.

Hezbollah worked to build facilities below private residential buildings and houses in southern Lebanon. (Benoît Durand / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images)

Tarek argued Hezbollah’s grip on Lebanon cannot be separated from Iran.

“The Lebanese government has been ruled by Hezbollah for almost 36 years,” he told Fox News Digital. “They are deeply entrenched in all arms of the government, security, army and institutions.”

“If the president or prime minister says they want peace, Hezbollah will resist that,” he added.

Tarek said weakening Iran is the key to weakening Hezbollah.

Residents of the Christian border town of Rmeish in southern Lebanon say the village remained largely untouched during the war after locals prevented Hezbollah fighters from operating inside the town. (Jusoor News)

“It’s about cutting the head of the octopus, which is the Iranian regime,” he said. “Once you cut the head, Hezbollah will no longer function.”

Another resident said many in the town increasingly believe “Hezbollah’s project is an Iranian project, not a Lebanese one.”

Another woman from the village described living surrounded by war while trying to keep the town outside the fighting.

A landscape view of Rmeish, a predominantly Christian town near the Israel-Lebanon border whose residents say they worked to keep Hezbollah fighters out of the village during the war. (Jusoor News)

“We are in the middle, and the war surrounds us from all sides,” she said. “This makes us live in a state of fear, anxiety, insecurity and instability.”

A man from the village said residents had endured decades of wars that they have nothing to do with.

“We decided to remain steadfast,” he said. “Where would we go?”

An older resident said his family has suffered from violence along the border since the 1970s.

“We are tired of wars,” he said. “We want nothing but peace.”

Despite accusations from Hezbollah supporters, residents insisted they do not regret standing up to the terrorist group.

“All accusations of treason are rejected,” one resident said. “The people of Rmeish want to live safely on their land.”

Another resident added: “Just because I don’t believe in your project doesn’t mean I’m a traitor.”

A view of the southern Lebanese border town of Rmeish near Israel. (Jusoor News)

Ahed Al Hendi, a senior fellow at the Center for Peace Communications, told Fox News Digital that, “The defiance shown by Christians in southern Lebanon reflects a major shift in the country’s internal dynamics. For more than two decades, many Christians living near the border suffered under Hezbollah’s dominance, yet were stigmatized and often afraid to speak openly against it.” 

“Today,” Al Hendi added, “with the changing balance of power, they are increasingly confronting Hezbollah publicly and speaking out against what they see as its tyranny.”