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Portage Tornado Tragedy: Fatal House Explosion Amid Warnings

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PORTAGE, Ind. (WLS) — A devastating event struck northwest Indiana on Tuesday as a house in Portage exploded during storms severe enough to trigger tornado alerts across the Chicago area, resulting in one fatality.

The tragic explosion occurred near the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Jefferson Street in Portage. The arrival of first responders faced delays as they navigated through extensive storm debris, hazardous conditions, and significant damage.

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Authorities continue to investigate the explosion’s origins, suspecting a weather-related cause. During a press conference later that day, police noted the presence of gas leaks within the city.

In Portage, Indiana, the mayor said one person had died after a home explosion, and some are being evacuated amid downed power lines.

In response to the destruction, Portage’s mayor declared a state of emergency, prompting evacuations due to numerous downed power lines. A recovery center was swiftly set up at City Hall, located at 6070 Central Ave.

SEE ALSO | Track power outages in your area with the ABC7 Chicago Power Outage Tracker

Local authorities in Portage have urged residents to stay off roads to allow emergency and utility crews to work unhindered and ensure the safety of the area.

The storm wreaked havoc on the landscape, flattening numerous trees across Portage. In Gary, residents observed a massive fallen tree ablaze at 29th Place and Gerry Street.

A large, downed tree could be seen burning in Gary at 29th Place near Gerry Street.

Due to the adverse weather, the Gary Community School Corporation will remain closed on Wednesday as they assess the conditions of school facilities.

Similarly, Duneland School Corporation canceled the scheduled first school day on Wednesday, citing substantial storm damage that rendered roads impassable and caused widespread power outages and flooding.

DSC cited “severe storm damage throughout the community, including impassable roads, power outages, and flooding.”

Notifications regarding ongoing developments will be available on the Town of Chesterton’s official Facebook page.

In the vicinity of Lowell, Indiana, an overturned semi-truck obstructed portions of Interstate 65, worsening the traffic situation.

I-65 is closed in both directions north of I-94 due to downed power lines.

Further compounding travel issues, Interstate 65 remains closed in both directions north of I-94 because of fallen power lines.

A semi rolled over on I-65, blocking traffic.

An ABC7 viewer, Maryanne Reid from Highland, captured footage of roof repair Styrofoam flying over vehicles, showing the chaos brought by the storms. Some cars stayed buried with shattered windows as Reid and her team sought shelter.

Some cars were still buried with their windows damaged on Tuesday afternoon. Reid said she and her coworkers ran for cover.

“That weather came in, it just it just ripped it all off,” she said. “This is probably the most intense storm I saw.”

In Lake Station, Indiana, a neighborhood faced significant damage, with residents expressing gratitude for their safety. “It’s a blessing my loved ones weren’t home,” shared Kelly Hounshell, describing how a tree devastated their house from back to front.

“I was glad that they weren’t here, because probably a death would have happened,” said Kelly Hounshell. “The whole house is destroyed. The tree went from the back all the way through the front, the kitchen, living room, and the bathroom, and that’s where they spend most of their time while they’re here is in the living room and in the kitchen. So, I’m just glad that they weren’t here.”

Amid the wreckage, multiple pets were rescued, including two puppies found unharmed, bringing moments of relief amidst the turmoil.

In Munster, local officials are evaluating storm damages, urging residents to exercise caution and report fallen power lines promptly to NIPSCO at 1-800-464-7726.

Munster officials asked residents to report downed power lines to NIPSCO at 1-800-464-7726.

Public Works teams in Munster are collaborating with the police to assess the damages, embarking on necessary repairs to restore normalcy.

The National Weather Service plans to deploy survey teams to evaluate the impact across southern Cook County in Illinois and Indiana’s Lake and Porter counties.

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Unveiling the Challenges in Containing Rapid Viral Outbreaks

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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is grappling with a devastating Ebola outbreak that has claimed over 2,000 lives, rapidly approaching the grim milestone of the country’s deadliest epidemic.

The ongoing outbreak, impacting the conflict-ridden eastern and northeastern regions of the DRC, was officially declared on May 15, though experts believe the virus had been circulating weeks earlier.

This marks the 17th occurrence of the dangerously infectious disease in the nation, already deemed the most extensive outbreak in its history. Sania Nishtar, CEO of the Gavi global vaccine alliance, warns it could evolve into the largest outbreak ever recorded.

According to the most recent data released by Congolese health officials on Tuesday, this outbreak has resulted in 2,011 fatalities and includes 4,381 confirmed Ebola cases.

The current death toll is nearing the record set during the DRC’s deadliest epidemic from 2018 to 2020, which saw nearly 2,300 fatalities out of 3,500 known cases.

The surge began in northeastern Ituri province and spread to several other provinces, notably North Kivu, regions where health infrastructure and a state presence are largely lacking.

The case fatality rate of the current outbreak is estimated by Congolese health authorities to be 45.9 per cent.

“We haven’t reached the peak yet,” Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said in an interview shared on X by his ministry on Tuesday.

“Within the next three months, we expect to have already brought the spread under control and to start seeing it decline,” he added.

‘Slow’ response

Insecurity due to the presence of armed groups and mistrust of the local population have hampered the response to the outbreak in the affected regions.

“We are only seeing 30 per cent [of infected people], where 70 per cent of people are dying at home. This is why this Ebola is different,” Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the World Health Organisation’s regional director for Africa, told reporters in Ituri’s provincial capital, Bunia, on Monday.

Congolese virologist Jean-Jacques Muyembe, who helped discover Ebola in 1976, said in an interview with Tuesday’s Le Monde newspaper that the response had been “slow and ineffective”.

“There is an internal problem at the level of the national coordination of the response,” he said.

“Everyone wanted to show they were doing something, even though nothing had actually been organised,” he added.

Clinical trials

On Friday, WHO vaccine experts recommended a full-scale human trial of the only existing approved Ebola vaccine to see if it offered cross-protection against the strain of Ebola currently spreading in the DRC against which no specific vaccine currently exists.

The Ervebo vaccine has proved safe and efficacious against the more common Zaire strain of Ebola virus and WHO experts said that early data, notably from animal trials, showed it may also give some protection against the rare Bundibugyo strain exploding in the DRC.

The Gavi global vaccine alliance — set up in 2000 to help developing countries acquire affordable vaccines — maintains a stockpile of 500,000 Ervebo doses.

It said doses from the stockpile were to be made available for the trials, with some already in the DRC.

Two potential Bundibugyo vaccines are in the early stages of clinical trials on humans, while a third is being worked on to bring it to that stage.

Ebola is spread by contact with bodily fluids and causes a haemorrhagic fever.

It has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa in the last 50 years


Revitalize Bones After 60: 5 Morning Exercises Beat Supplements

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Concerned about losing bone density after turning 60? Discover five morning exercises that might just be your answer to healthier bones.

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Weakening bones often result from inactivity rather than just the aging process. I’ve devoted nearly 40 years to personal training and co-founded TRAINFITNESS, the UK’s forefront personal training organization. Interestingly, I’ve observed that consistent engagement with five simple morning exercises can stimulate your bones to strengthen themselves, outperforming even the most reliable bone supplements.

Why Your Bones Weaken After 60

A gradual, often unnoticed thinning of bones is the typical pattern observed until serious tests like a DEXA scan or even an unexpected fracture occur. By the time they reach 60, women generally lose about 20% of their peak bone mass, with men closely trailing behind. Although the exterior of the bone remains unchanged, the core structure becomes increasingly porous, making falls riskier and turning minor mishaps into potential fractures.

The critical issue here is the lack of regular stress on the bones. Bone tissue requires the challenge of physical activity to stay robust. Unfortunately, today’s lifestyles demand very little from them. With so much time spent sitting, walking on forgiving surfaces, and seldom carrying anything heavy, our daily routines whittle away at bone strength, reducing them to mere maintenance levels, far below their former resilience.

Hormonal shifts add to the picture. Estrogen after menopause, and testosterone in men, both play a role in bone density. When they drop, your body loses one of its main signals to keep bones dense.

Underneath it all is calcium and vitamin D status, which is often on the low side in this age group, especially through the winter. Supplements can help, but they’re a small piece of the puzzle. Without loading, your body has no reason to lay the calcium down into bone in the first place.

5 Daily Exercises That Restore Arm Strength Faster Than Weight Training After 60

Why Mornings Beat Supplements

Supplements provide the building blocks. They don’t tell your body to build. Calcium in a bottle, without loading, is like delivering bricks to a house that isn’t being built. The materials sit there. Nothing happens.

Loading tells your body that your bones need to be stronger than they are now. When you land on a heel or push through a squat, the mechanical stress on the bone triggers cells called osteoblasts to lay down new bone in the loaded areas. This process is called Wolff’s law, and it’s been well established since the 1890s.

Morning specifically works well for two reasons. The first is habit. Something done first thing has a higher chance of being done tomorrow. The second is that the impact and load in the morning primes your body for a more active day, which stacks up more loading opportunities. A morning routine leads to a moving day.

Heel Drops

Sends a controlled impact wave up through the spine, hips and heels, which are the three areas most vulnerable to fracture in this age group. Research has shown that even 20 heel drops a day produce measurable bone density improvements in the hip.

How to Do It:

  • Stand tall next to a worktop or wall for balance
  • Rise up onto the balls of your feet as high as you can
  • Let yourself drop, landing firmly onto your heels
  • Feel the impact travel all the way up through your spine

Avoid These Mistakes:

  • Don’t cushion the landing with your calves. The drop should be a small, firm impact, not a soft lowering. If you can’t feel a slight jolt at the heel, you’re not loading the bone.

Sets and Reps: 10 to 20 drops.

5 Standing Exercises That Restore Leg Muscle Faster Than Gym Machines After 55

Bodyweight Squat

Loads the hips, femurs and spine with your own bodyweight through the range where fractures most commonly happen. Squats are one of the most efficient bone-loading exercises there is because they work the whole lower body at once.

How to Do It:

  • Stand with your feet hip-width apart, toes pointing slightly outward
  • Push your hips back and bend your knees
  • Lower until your thighs are roughly parallel to the floor, or as deep as feels comfortable
  • Push back up through your heels

Avoid These Mistakes:

  • Don’t rush the descent and use momentum to bounce back up. The value is in the slow load.

Sets and Reps: 12 to 15 reps

Form Tip: Take 2 seconds to lower and 1 second to stand, and your bones get much more of a training stimulus.

Reverse Lunge

Loads one leg at a time, which doubles the load per leg compared to two-legged exercises. This is where the biggest bone-density gains happen, because the hip and femur are being asked to hold your body up on one side.

How to Do It:

  • Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart
  • Step one foot back roughly two foot lengths
  • Lower your back knee toward the floor until your front thigh is parallel to the floor
  • Push through your front heel to return to standing
  • Alternate legs

Avoid These Mistakes:

  • Don’t step back too short. It forces your front knee out over your toes and takes the load off the hip.

Sets and Reps: 8 reps per side

Form Tip: Take a longer step to keep your shin more vertical. That puts the load exactly where you want it.

The 6-Minute Wall Routine That Firms Belly Pooch Faster Than Crunches After 60

Wall Press Up

Loads the wrists, forearms and shoulders, which are the second most common fracture site after the hip. Wrist fractures from falls are what change many older adults’ lives, and those bones strengthen with the same kind of loading as the legs.

How to Do It:

  • Stand facing a wall, two to three feet away, palms on the wall at shoulder height, shoulder-width apart
  • Keep your body straight from heels to head
  • Bend your elbows and lower your chest toward the wall over 2 seconds
  • Push back to the start position over 1 second

Avoid These Mistakes:

  • Don’t stand too close to the wall. It reduces the load on your wrists.

Sets and Reps: 12 to 15 reps

Form Tip: Walk your feet back until you feel your wrists working. Once that’s comfortable, progress to a lower surface like a kitchen counter.

Georgia Teacher’s Brave Sacrifice: Father Dies a Hero Saving Girl from Myrtle Beach Rip Current

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In a tragic yet heroic display of bravery, Derrick Moore, a cherished elementary school teacher from Georgia, lost his life after diving into the tumultuous waters of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. His selfless act was in an effort to rescue a young girl trapped in a dangerous rip current, as confirmed by local authorities and his grieving family.

At 47 years old, Moore, responding to the distressing situation, plunged into the ocean near 10th Avenue South when the girl fell victim to the rip current around 7:53 p.m. on Friday. This desperate rescue attempt was detailed by the Myrtle Beach Police Department.

Displaying immense courage, Moore successfully managed to guide the girl to safety. Tragically, he was subsequently overwhelmed by the relentless current, which dragged him under, and he vanished from sight, according to police reports. The harrowing event unfolded after the lifeguards had clocked off for the day, leaving the beach unmonitored.

Undated photo of Georgia elementary school teacher and father Derrick Moore

Derrick Moore, remembered fondly as a devoted teacher and father from Georgia, is being celebrated as a heroic figure after his ultimate sacrifice to save a young life in peril.

Efforts to locate Moore by Myrtle Beach police and firefighters extended into the early hours of Saturday. By the afternoon, the somber announcement came that his body had washed ashore and was duly recovered, marking the end of a devoted life given selflessly for another.

Moore’s daughter told WRAL that her father did not know the girl he risked his life to save.

“We loved him and are truly heartbroken that he’s gone,” his daughter said in a statement to the outlet. “He was a great father and we are all going to miss him.”

Moore leaves behind four children, according to a GoFundMe page.

As news of his death spread, tributes poured in from Moore’s friends, former teammates and family members, who remembered him as a devoted father, gifted athlete and selfless man whose final act reflected the way he lived his life.

Derrick Moore, Georgia teacher remembered as hero

Derrick Moore, the Georgia teacher who died after rescuing a young girl from a Myrtle Beach rip current, pictured in an undated family photo. (GoFundMe)

The DeKalb County School District confirmed Moore was a current teacher at Rockbridge Elementary School in Georgia, where his students affectionately referred to him as “Coach.” He previously taught at Jolly Elementary School.

“The DeKalb County School District is deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Derrick Moore, a beloved educator and valued member of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) family,” the district said in a statement.

The district said Moore “made a meaningful impact on the students, families, colleagues, and communities he served,” adding that his “presence, care, and dedication to education will be deeply missed.”

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also paid tribute to Moore.

“Marty and I were heartbroken to learn of the tragic loss of Derrick Moore, a father, teacher, and coach,” Kemp said. “Please join us in praying for this hero’s family and the DeKalb County community as they mourn his loss.”

Derrick Moore in an undated photo with a group

Derrick Moore pictured with family members before his death in a Myrtle Beach rip current rescue. (GoFundMe)

Moore was also remembered as a standout athlete whose ties to sports stretched back to his college years.

Samford University said Moore graduated in 2001 and competed in both football and track and field.

“The Samford community mourns the loss of alumnus Derrick Moore, who tragically passed after rescuing a girl struggling in a rip current in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,” the university said in a statement.

The university remembered Moore as a “beloved teacher” and “true hero” and asked the Samford community to keep his family in their prayers.

Friends and former teammates also remembered Moore as someone who showed up for others, with one writing that the fact he gave his life trying to save someone else “tells you everything you need to know about the kind of man he was.”

Family members echoed that sentiment, sharing memories of Moore as a devoted father, son and brother who made a point of being present for the people he loved.

One family member described Moore’s decision to enter the water to save a child he did not know as a fitting final example of his selflessness.

“You died a HERO. You died saving the life of a child, a stranger. What a Legacy,” the family member wrote.

Trump Lauds Alito’s Enduring Dedication to Supreme Court: ‘An All-Time Great

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In a late-night revelation on social media, former President Donald Trump expressed joy over Justice Samuel Alito’s decision to stay on the Supreme Court for an additional term.

Trump’s exuberant response to the 76-year-old conservative’s choice to delay retirement underscores the heightened political tension as the midterm elections loom, with the control of the Senate—and the power to confirm future nominees—hanging in the balance.

“Fantastic news for our Nation! Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will remain for another Term,” Trump announced Monday evening via Truth Social.

“He is one of the Greatest of All Time. We are all fortunate!”

Last week, Alito affirmed he will continue serving on the highest court in the country, dispelling rumors of his potential retirement during Trump’s presidency while Republicans hold Senate control.

“Obviously, I’m here for another term,” Alito said in an interview published by The Wall Street Journal.

The Supreme Court’s next term begins in October and typically concludes with its final opinions in late June or early July.

The justices are currently on their summer recess.

Alito and fellow conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, 78, have faced some calls from conservatives to step down, which would give Trump one potential last chance to appoint a fourth Supreme Court justice to the lifetime post.

Trump appointed three others during his first term in office – Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett – giving the court a 6-3 conservative majority that has issued a series of major rulings since 2020.

“It’s not pleasant, in the sense that it’s a reminder of mortality,” Alito told the Journal about the calls to retire.

“It’s like, what are those vultures doing up there? They are flying around. But it goes with life tenure.”

The window to replace one of the court’s oldest conservative justices with a younger jurist who could potentially remain on the bench for decades might narrow considerably after November.

Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate advantage, counting the two independents who caucus with Democrats on the Democratic side.

Because Supreme Court nominees require Senate confirmation, a Democratic takeover in the 2026 midterms could effectively prevent Trump from replacing Alito — or any other justice — with a nominee opposed by a unified Democratic majority.

Democrats would need a net gain of four seats to reach 51 and take outright control, with Republican Vice President JD Vance otherwise positioned to break a 50-50 tie.

That reality places unusual weight on Alito’s decision to remain.

Alito was born April 1, 1950, making him 76, and has served on the Supreme Court since January 2006 after being nominated by President George W. Bush.

He is one of the court’s most consistently conservative members.

The court has disclosed relatively little about Alito’s health over the years, signaling he remains in good health.

Alito did have a minor incident while attending a Federalist Society event in Philadelphia on March 20, being treated for dehydration after his security detail urged him to see a doctor rather than make the roughly three-hour drive home.

He was released that night, was subsequently examined by his physician and returned to work the following Monday.

Questions about Alito’s longevity on the bench and decision to stay introduces another potential inflection point: the 2028 presidential election.

If the White House changes parties in 2028, Alito remaining beyond Trump’s term carries the risk for conservatives that a future Democratic president could nominate his successor the following January.

That outcome is far from predetermined, and subject to whatever party controls the Senate, but the modern political era has repeatedly seen the White House swing between parties.

In six of the seven elections since 1988 that produced a new president, control of the presidency also changed parties — the lone exception being Republican George H.W. Bush’s victory after Ronald Reagan in 1988.

That run includes the succession from Bush to Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Trump, Joe Biden and back to Trump.

For Trump, the stakes surrounding an aging Supreme Court justice are hardly theoretical.

He confronted perhaps the most consequential Supreme Court vacancy of his first presidency on Sept. 18, 2020, when reporters informed him on an airport tarmac after a campaign rally in Bemidji, Minnesota, that liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died.

“She just died? Wow. I didn’t know that,” Trump said before praising Ginsburg as an “amazing woman” who had led an “amazing life.”

The timing immediately transformed the final weeks of the 2020 presidential campaign.

Trump moved quickly to select then-Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace Ginsburg – just eight days after her death – and the Republican-controlled Senate confirmed Barrett on Oct. 26, 2020, by a 52-48 vote, just 27 days after her nomination, eight days before Election Day.

Landing three new justices during a single four-year presidential term was a historically rare achievement. Not since Richard Nixon’s first term had a president placed at least three new members on the Supreme Court in one term. Nixon ultimately placed four — Warren Burger, Harry Blackmun, Lewis Powell and William Rehnquist — on the court before beginning his second term.

Trump’s three appointments have continued to shape some of the most consequential rulings of his second administration, making the future of Alito’s seat particularly significant for both parties.

For now, Alito has made his choice to stay active, with Trump is cheering him on.

AOC Ends Engagement Before Embracing Empowering Egg Freezing Decision

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Rumors have it that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez parted ways with her longtime partner, Riley Roberts, well before she made the decision to undergo egg freezing, a choice reflecting her personal evolution.

The outspoken lawmaker from New York is said to have ended her engagement with Roberts nearly two years prior to their public acknowledgment.

Their story began during their college days at Boston University, where Ocasio-Cortez and Roberts first crossed paths.

The couple made their last notable public appearance together at the Met Gala in 2021, with Ocasio-Cortez sharing news of their engagement the subsequent year.

But about 18 months ago, the engagement was suddenly called off, according to Leigh Ann Caldwell, the chief Washington correspondent for Puck News.

While the reasons behind their breakup remain undisclosed, sources note that Ocasio-Cortez had ceased donning her engagement ring months before they halted plans to marry.

The news comes as Ocasio-Cortez announced that she is in the process of freezing her eggs and documenting the process.

Eagle-eyed viewers of her videos have since noted that Roberts is notably absent from the conversation. 

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has reportedly broken up with her longtime fiance Riley Roberts. They are pictured together at the 2021 Met Gala

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has reportedly broken up with her longtime fiance Riley Roberts. They are pictured together at the 2021 Met Gala

Sources had claimed the 36-year-old congresswoman stopped wearing her engagement ring nearly two years ago

Sources had claimed the 36-year-old congresswoman stopped wearing her engagement ring nearly two years ago

Ocasio-Cortez was previously reprimanded in a July 2025 report for listing Roberts as her ‘spouse’ on federal documents she filed to attend the 2021 Met Gala, when she famously wore a ‘Tax the Rich’ dress, but did not list him as a spouse in her financial filings.

‘The Committee notes that at the same time Representative Ocasio-Cortez was seeking to take advantage of exceptions to the Gift Rule only applicable to spouses and/or certain relatives, she was not disclosing Mr. Roberts’s financial interests as is required of Members who are legally married,’ the House Ethics committee wrote in its report.

Within the filings, AOC’s attorney David Mitrani argued that the Democrat’s partner is not subject to ‘financial disclosure guidance [because] Mr. Roberts is not considered a spouse.’

Despite not being subject to spousal financial disclosures, the committee noted that Roberts reaped the benefits of being an official congressional spouse. 

One of the perks Roberts enjoyed was receiving an official spouse’s congressional pin, which allows the partners of lawmakers to access typically restricted parts of the Capitol complex. 

Ocasio-Cortez first met Roberts when they were both undergraduates at Boston University

Ocasio-Cortez first met Roberts when they were both undergraduates at Boston University

Ocasio-Cortez was reprimanded in a July 2025 report for listing Roberts as her 'spouse' on federal documents. The two are pictured here in 2020

Ocasio-Cortez was reprimanded in a July 2025 report for listing Roberts as her ‘spouse’ on federal documents. The two are pictured here in 2020

The shocking update about their break up comes just days after the 36-year-old congresswoman filmed herself injecting fertility drugs, in preparation for freezing her eggs. 

‘This is just not something that men deal with,’ the Democrat bemoaned in the video posted to her Instagram Stories on Saturday. 

‘Men run for office, or frankly, they interview for jobs and people don’t think in the back of their mind, “OK this guy’s running for office, how old is he? Oh, well is he gonna wanna start a family?”

‘This is a choice I am making to feel more in control of my life,’ the Representative, who has been in DC since being sworn into Congress at the age of 29, remarked.

‘I want you all to see that,’ she continued. 

‘And because women can do anything, and I think it’s badass that I’m going to be giving myself shots in the green room [as I] get my glam on.’ 

As AOC now puts her plans to start a family on pause, speculation is mounting that she may run for higher office.

In a recent appearance on ABC’s This Week with Jonathan Karl, she insisted she is ‘focused on winning the midterms. I’m running for Congress right now.’ 

AOC shared her incredibly candid journey of freezing her eggs in a Saturday Instagram post

AOC shared her incredibly candid journey of freezing her eggs in a Saturday Instagram post

But, she added: ‘I haven’t ruled out the possibility, and I’m very humbled to the tremendous amount of support out there,’ when prodded about a run for President.

She also noted that ‘anything is possible,’ when asked if she would challenge fellow New Yorker Chuck Schumer, the current Minority Leader in the US Senate, for his seat in 2028.

In an interview with POLITICO last month, she responded: ‘I mean, I can’t say that I’ve ruled it out,’ when asked about a presidential campaign.

Back in May, while speaking at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics on Friday, Ocasio-Cortez was asked by legendary Obama strategist David Axelrod whether she planned to run for higher office in 2028.

‘They assume that my ambition is positional,’ Ocasio-Cortez replied, adding ”They assume that my ambition is a title or seat, and my ambition is way bigger than that. My ambition is to change this country.’

She then outlined a wish list of socialist policies she would like to see implemented across the United States.

‘Presidents come and go. Senate [and] House seats, elected officials come and go, but single-payer healthcare is forever,’ she noted, while attendees cheered,

‘A living wage is forever. Workers’ rights are forever. Women’s rights. All of that.’

‘When you aren’t attached. When you haven’t been like fantasizing about being this or that since the time you were seven years old, it is tremendously liberating,’ the New York Democrat continued, adding, ‘Because I get to wake up every day and say, ‘How am I going to meet the moment?’

The Daily Mail has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s office for comment. 

Philly Officer’s Car Theft Suspect Tied to Penn State Death

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The manhunt in Philadelphia continues, with a suspect wanted in a recent car theft involving an off-duty police officer’s vehicle. This individual is now considered a key person of interest in the fatal shooting of a Penn State student last June.

On the early morning of June 6, Billy Schmidt, 22, fell victim to a violent robbery. The assault occurred around 1:30 a.m., leaving him with a gunshot wound to the chest. Despite efforts to save him, Schmidt was declared dead shortly after being transported to a nearby hospital at 1:47 a.m.

Authorities have named 19-year-old Khadfi Fleming as a suspect in a case involving the theft of an off-duty officer’s car, further connecting him to the larger investigation.

Khadfi Fleming in a license picture

Moreover, police are scrutinizing Khadfi Fleming’s potential involvement in Billy Schmidt’s murder, underlining his pivotal role in the case. (U.S. Marshals Service)

According to officials, officers in the area of 70th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard observed a red Lexus traveling without headlights, with a dark SUV following behind it. Two males were then seen running toward the Lexus before shots were fired.

Police said the suspects stole a green Dodge Charger belonging to an off-duty police officer, who pursued them and confronted them before gunfire was heard.

Officials said Fleming is also a person of interest in the murder of Schmidt.

Billy Schmidt in a picture

Billy Schmidt was shot and killed in Philadelphia. (Bill Schmidt)

Investigators said Schmidt was on his way home after he watched the NBA Finals with his friends when he was robbed at about 1:30 a.m.

Surveillance video appears to show Schmidt saying, “Give me my phone” as he chased the suspects. A phone could be seen thrown on the ground, then seconds later a gunshot could be heard.

Philadelphia Police Department

Police released video of the two suspects in the killing and murder of Billy Schmidt. (Philadelphia Police Department)

Fleming’s 16-year-old brother was taken into custody in Colorado in June, as was a second teenager who turned himself in to police.

Schmidt was a student at Penn State World Campus studying journalism, and was set to graduate in December.

Mark Zuckerberg Urges Easier Access to US Open-Source AI: Why He’s Right

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Mark Zuckerberg makes a compelling case for easing the limitations on U.S. open-source AI models, emphasizing that these restrictions risk ceding the American market to their Chinese counterparts.

The Meta CEO’s broader assertions, unveiled in his manifesto this past Monday, resonate with the idea that humanity benefits more from a balanced power distribution in AI governance than relying on a singular, overarching authority to ensure AI’s benevolence.

As he succinctly puts it, history demonstrates that relying on a single power to benevolently dictate terms for humanity’s benefit rarely yields safe or positive results.

Furthermore, the proposal by Senator Bernie Sanders to “pause AI development” in the U.S. is nothing short of irrational, starkly opposing the interests of global society.

More From Post Editorial Board

Sanders should recognize that while the U.S. might hit the brakes, China has no plans to follow suit, and its AI models will undoubtedly be crafted to bolster the Chinese Communist Party’s authoritarian regime and its global dominance objectives.

This is all the more reason for the feds to heed Zuckerberg’s call to loosen the regulations that now hold US labs back: The West absolutely must “lead the open source AI ecosystem that will make up a large percent of global AI use.”

As it stands, a lot of American companies are now using Chinese open-source models, because they’re cheap and freely accessible: It’s just insane to let Beijing beat us on our own turf.

This is not to ratify every iota of Zuckerberg’s agenda: We still believe, for example, that AI developers should pay to train their models on other people’s intellectual property — though AI companies can certainly agree to allow “distilling” of each others’ models.

Above all, his central vision is compelling: “A philosophy based on individual empowerment as the source of prosperity” is the exact opposite of the CCP’s approach to everything, and the essence of the American way.

Andrew Tate’s Passport Scam: Explosive James Bond Connection

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In a twist reminiscent of a spy thriller, the Tate brothers are reported to possess an array of passports and undercover aliases that could potentially facilitate their escape from the clutches of justice, prosecutors claim. Among these identities is one that might seem lifted directly from a James Bond story.

British authorities have unearthed intriguing evidence: a Mexican passport bearing Tristan Tate’s photo and birthdate, albeit under the name Vladimir Scorpius, as detailed in federal court filings.

Vladimir Scorpius is no ordinary alias. It originates from the 1988 novel “Scorpius” by John Gardner, featuring a fictional arms dealer and antagonist. Gardner penned several James Bond continuation novels following the passing of original 007 creator Ian Fleming.

In a separate set of revelations, Andrew Tate is alleged to have been even more audacious. Federal agents report that he has candidly discussed his “escape plan” while boasting about his myriad of identities: “I got 8 lives. 8 licenses and passports,” he is purported to have said.

Andrew Tate’s impressive collection of documents reportedly includes credentials from diverse nations such as the UK, US, Estonia, Nigeria, Poland, and Vanuatu—a small island nation with a population of 340,000, situated in the South Pacific about 1,000 miles east of Australia.

The extraordinary details emerged in a newly-filed US government document opposing the brothers’ bid to be released on bond while they fight extradition to Britain.

The Tates were arrested last month in Miami after the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service announced fresh rape and sexual exploitation charges, bringing the case against them to 59 charges involving seven alleged victims.

Tristan, 38, and Andrew, 39 – a huge Donald Trump supporter who claims to be friendly with the President’s youngest son Barron, 20 – deny all the charges they face worldwide.

Andrew and Tristan Tate maintained multiple passports and aliases to help them evade justice, according to federal prosecutors in new filings 

Andrew and Tristan Tate are seen clad in orange jumpsuits appearing with their attorneys before judge Lauren Louis in Miami federal court in a court sketch on July 20

Andrew and Tristan Tate are seen clad in orange jumpsuits appearing with their attorneys before judge Lauren Louis in Miami federal court in a court sketch on July 20

Lawyers for the siblings have dismissed suggestions they are a flight risk and say it would be impossible for them to hide because of their global fame.

But the government’s reply claims the Tates have so many aliases that their British counterparts have been ‘largely unsuccessful’ in tracking their global travel.

The filing includes posts and statements from Andrew Tate which, according to Feds, demonstrate his ‘intent to flee’ law enforcement.

On December 21, 2019, he allegedly posted on social media: ‘I have 5 passports. I also changed my name legally in 3 of the countries so that my passports all have completely different names.

‘I have had warrants out for my arrest and travelled freely. I am smarter than you… I am above the law.’

In August 2020, Andrew is said to have posted about being on the run from German and French police, describing how he escaped the ‘hot zone’ by taking a train to Eastern Europe.

The following April, he told followers they needed an ‘escape plan.’

Having access to an alias, an overseas penthouse, and $300,000 in cash made him ‘untouchable,’ Andrew is alleged to have written.

The Tates were arrested last month in Miami after the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service announced fresh rape and sexual exploitation charges

The latest filing opposes the Tate brothers' request for bond, arguing they present both a flight risk and a danger to the public

The latest filing opposes the Tate brothers’ request for bond, arguing they present both a flight risk and a danger to the public 

That same year he claimed to have accumulated more passports and driving licenses, according to Feds, corresponding to ‘8 different Andrews.’

‘You can’t take my money. It’s EVERY WHERE,’ the ex-kickboxer allegedly posted.

‘It takes INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION to slow me down. And that’s rare.’

The filing says British authorities spotted an online post containing a photo of a Mexican passport bearing Tristan Tate’s photograph but issued under the name Vladimir Scorpius.

The fictional Scorpius is described as one of the ‘most fanatical and terrifying adversaries’ that James Bond ever encountered on the official Ian Fleming website.

‘Importantly, the UK also uncovered evidence corroborating T. Tate’s connection to that name, including an online video in which T. Tate declares while standing on a ship, ‘I’m Captain Vladimir Scorpius’ and his registration as a director of a UK company called ‘Scorpius Ltd,’ the filing says.

‘Mexican officials communicated to US law enforcement that they are unable to find a record of ever having issued a passport in the name Vladimir Scorpius.’

The UK has until mid-September to provide the State Department its full dossier on the brothers who are currently locked up in the Miami Federal Detention Center ahead of a full extradition hearing.

Court filings claim Tate once boasted online that he had '8 lives' through multiple passports, driver's licenses, and legal identities

Court filings claim Tate once boasted online that he had ‘8 lives’ through multiple passports, driver’s licenses, and legal identities

Records included in the filings show the Tates have bought various snacks and treats behind bars including all-seasoned chips, chili ramen soup, Doritos and Snickers bars

Records included in the filings show the Tates have bought various snacks and treats behind bars including all-seasoned chips, chili ramen soup, Doritos and Snickers bars

INSIDE TATE BROTHERS’ LIFE BEHIND BARS 

The Tate brothers have complained they are being locked up in inhumane conditions and treated like Jeffrey Epstein while fighting extradition to the UK.

But Federal prosecutors claim the influencer siblings are enjoying special perks including Colombian coffee, spicy ramen bowls and extra recreation time inside the Federal Detention Center (FDC) Miami. 

‘While FDC Miami is not a Marriott, the Tates’ conditions of confinement are reasonable, constitutional, and within BOP’s (Federal Bureau of Prisons) discretion,’ the government scoffs in its latest filing. Andrew and Tristan Tate are being kept in the jail’s Special Housing Unit (SHU) – widely considered a form of solitary confinement – but Feds insist the arrangement is for their own safety. 

Unlike other SHU inmates, they are ‘consistently allowed out of their cells for hours’ for recreation and twice-daily meetings with their attorneys, the government argues. 

The brothers have adequate food and water, access to phone calls and can order commissary items like any other regular inmate, according to the filing. 

Attached records show the Tates have bought various snacks and treats including all-seasoned chips, chili ramen soup, Doritos and Snickers bars.

The brothers have also purchased sandwiches, deodorant, shampoo, ‘Columbian coffee’ – presumably a typo – and thermal mugs to sip from.

‘There is also no evidence that continued solitary confinement has resulted, or would result in the Tates’ mental decline,’ the filing insists. 

Prosecutors claim the pair have boasted of having access to private jets, a $50 million superyacht and ‘unrestricted’ amounts of cash, cryptocurrency and bitcoin.

‘The serious pending UK charges involving human trafficking and violent rapes and assaults against multiple victims, together with recent Romanian charges alleging that the Tates interfered with and attempted to intimidate witnesses, present a clear public safety concern,’ the filing says.

‘That the Tates also claim to maintain multiple passports and identities, have access to excessive wealth and influence in numerous countries, and are stridently unwilling to voluntarily return to face prosecution in the United Kingdom, collectively demonstrate a heightened risk of flight that no amount of bond could overcome.’

The Tates, who have amassed a global following of fans, particularly young men and boys captivated by their baller lifestyle and unabashed chauvinism, face proceedings in both the UK and Romania, where they have a home.

The dual US and UK nationals were first arrested in Romania in December 2022 after prosecutors accused them of running a criminal enterprise that lured women to the Eastern European country for sexual exploitation.

British prosecutors filed their own charges against the brothers in May 2025, including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking.

The Tates flew from Romania to Florida in February 2025 after authorities lifted their travel ban, a reversal that followed reported pressure from Trump administration figures.

Trump told reporters, however, that he knew ‘nothing about it.’

Solar Eclipse 2024: Experts Reveal April 8 Celestial Wonders

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Monday’s solar event, dubbed the Great American Eclipse, promises more than a typical celestial show by passing directly over numerous populated areas across the United States. While solar eclipses occur roughly every 18 months, most pass unnoticed over vast oceans. This time, however, 32 million individuals across 15 states will experience a rare moment of total darkness as the moon casts its shadow.

Where is the best place to view the eclipse?

map-of-totality-nasa-getty.jpg

The map of totality for the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse. 

NASA/Getty Images

What exactly is a total eclipse?

According to Ed Ting, an astronomy author and educator, a solar eclipse happens when the moon aligns perfectly between the Earth and the sun, casting its narrow shadow across our planet. This shadow measures about 100 miles wide, necessitating one to be in the right location to witness the eclipse in its totality.

This extraordinary occurrence is a result of a cosmic coincidence where the sun and moon appear to be the same size from our vantage point. “The sun is 400 times larger than the moon,” Ting explains. “Yet, it is 400 times further away, creating this perfect optical illusion where they seem the same size.”

Total Solar Eclipse, 2017, Grand Tetons National Park , Teton County, Wyoming

The total solar eclipse of 2017, as viewed at Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming. 

VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

What can happen during a total solar eclipse?

The excitement of an eclipse extends beyond the celestial alignment, encompassing the eerie transformations occurring around you as daylight fades. Ting notes, “The wind may intensify, animals become disoriented, and streetlights may unexpectedly illuminate.”

The atmosphere during an eclipse is unique, distinct from typical nightfall. Ting describes how the sky adopts a shimmering, fish-scale appearance that may unsettle viewers. “This strange phenomenon explains why ancient cultures imbued eclipses with spiritual or religious meanings. Many witnessing it for the first time find the experience so moving that tears are inevitable,” he remarks.

What preparations are being made?

If you live in the path of the eclipse, you may notice one more effect: A lot more traffic.

Cari White is the chairman of the Eclipse Oversight Committee for Jonesboro, Arkansas, where the moment of totalitycomplete blockage of the sun – will last 2 minutes and 17 seconds. And for that experience of totally, White said the town will briefly grow to twice its size: “One-hundred-sixty-thousand people might be in town for the eclipse, and we’re very excited about it,” she said. “Our police department, our fire department, city water and light, they’ve all been working for over a year to design a plan.”

And Jonesboro is not alone: “Everywhere, all over the country, [people] are doing exactly what I’ve been doing. It’s a big, big deal.”

How to safely view the eclipse

Looking directly at the sun can permanently damage your vision, which is why you need eye protection. Cari White’s committee in Jonesboro ordered 75,000 pairs of special glasses. “We have been working for weeks to pass them out to all the schools, we’ve passed them out at all of the major businesses, the library, the city hall,” she said. “If you don’t have a pair of glasses and you live in Jonesboro, I don’t know how to help ya’.”

But here’s something about the glasses you might not know: According to Ting, “Once totality hits, you can take the glasses off. Because there’s not much light coming from the sun. Once the sun starts to come out again, you do need to remember to put your glasses back on!”

Cameras need protective filters, too. But Ting offers a classic piece of advice for would-be photographers: “See your first eclipse, photograph your second. I have seen this personally where there is an eclipse, and the person is not looking up; they’re fiddling with their camera. And then, before you know it, the eclipse is gone, you never saw it – and you didn’t get the picture.”

What about the weather?

Of course, all the precautions in the world won’t help you if the conditions aren’t right. Asked what she’ll do if the weather is bad on Monday, White said, “I guess I’ll cry. Don’t talk to me about the bad stuff.”

Fortunately, it’s mostly good stuff.

“When you consider that this truly is the Great American Eclipse, because it goes through the center of the United States, it just puts you in awe,” White said. “I just know that it’s gonna be wonderful. And I’m gonna take it all in, every second of my two minutes, I’m gonna take it in and enjoy.”

         
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Story produced by Annie Iezzi. Editor: George Pozderec.