Home Blog Page 480

NYC Man Accused of Pushing Girlfriend and Baby Grins at Arrest

0

Angel Carrasco wore a chilling smile as he was led from a New York City police station in handcuffs Thursday, days after authorities accused him of throwing his girlfriend and their infant daughter from a 15-story Bronx balcony.

“Coward! Coward!” bystanders yelled as Carrasco showed little visible emotion while facing the crowd. One person shouted, “I hope they f—ing kill your ass in jail.”

Carrasco, 31, is charged in the death of 23-year-old Nathaly Ramirez, who fell from the balcony of 2550 Olinville Ave. at about 3:40 a.m. Tuesday while holding 8-month-old Angel Novalty Carrasco-Ramirez. The baby survived the plunge.

The infant remained in critical condition at Jacobi Hospital, where she was still fighting for her life.

US Marshals and NYPD officers arrested Carrasco late Wednesday night.

According to law enforcement sources, Carrasco went to Ramirez’s apartment carrying flowers in an attempt to reconcile. He had already been arrested twice in connection with domestic violence incidents involving her.

When Ramirez rejected the attempted reconciliation, Carrasco allegedly became enraged and threw her and their daughter from the balcony before fleeing, the sources said.

Neighbor Robin Mendzies told The Post that she heard a man shout, “Jump!” before a loud impact. “Then I heard a big thud and a woman wailing, ‘No, please, no!’” Mendzies said Wednesday. “It sounded like she was begging for an inevitable thing not to happen.”

Carrasco had been arrested twice following two domestic violence incidents involving Ramirez in January. In one case, he allegedly broke into her apartment three days after reportedly slapping her twice when she objected to him speaking with an ex-girlfriend.

He had also previously been arrested over allegations that he sent threatening text messages to another former girlfriend.

Ramirez was a graduate of Bronx Leadership Academy High School and attended Baruch College. She worked for Lishawn Consulting in Manhattan, where a company representative described her as “a rising star” and “very hardworking.”

Why Caleb Flynn’s Alleged Mistress Avoided Charges Over Murder Texts

0

The lawyer for Caleb Flynn’s former mistress is rejecting claims that she helped plan the killing of the former “American Idol” contestant’s wife. Dayton attorney Nick Gounaris told News Media that troubling texts in which his client appeared to discuss Ashley Flynn’s death do not prove Alleigha Botner played any role in the Tipp City, Ohio, murder.

Gounaris said investigators examined Botner’s conversations with Flynn, phone records and surveillance video while determining whether she had any connection to the crime.

Botner’s hidden relationship with Flynn became a major issue during his murder trial. Jurors were shown messages in which the pair discussed killing Ashley, including one exchange about possibly hiring someone to carry out the act. Flynn was convicted Sept. 29 of murdering his wife and was sentenced Monday to life in prison without parole.

“I think the reason that she wasn’t charged is just because you say something, you still have to show that that person was somehow involved,” Gounaris told News Media. “The evidence that was reviewed, the evidence that was developed, the evidence that they secured through all of these different avenues did not suggest anything that involved Alleigha Botner in the death of Ashley Flynn.”

Alleigha Botner sits on the witness stand while testifying in Caleb Flynn's Ohio murder trial.

Alleigha Botner testifies in the Ohio murder trial of former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn. Prosecutors say Botner had an affair with Flynn before his wife, Ashley Flynn, was killed. (CREDIT: WKEF)

Gounaris said he initially feared Botner might be treated as a suspect after she spoke with police without a lawyer and did not fully disclose her relationship with Flynn.

Authorities discovered the affair while investigating the Feb. 16 shooting at the couple’s home in Tipp City. Prosecutors said Flynn shot Ashley twice in the back of the head and then tried to make the killing look like a break-in.

Botner later admitted to the affair. Concerned that she could face legal consequences, her family reached out to Gounaris. The attorney then worked with investigators to clarify whether she was being viewed as a witness or a possible defendant.

A split image shows Caleb Flynn seated in court, left, and Alleigha Botner testifying on the witness stand, right, during Flynn's Ohio murder trial.

Former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn, left, sits in court as Alleigha Botner, right, testifies in his Ohio murder trial. Prosecutors say Flynn and Botner had an affair before his wife, Ashley Flynn, was killed. (CREDIT: WKEF)

“As a defense attorney, my first reaction is, wait a minute, we’ve got to be very careful … we’ve got to be concerned that she might be a target here,” Gounaris said. “So … let me bring her into the office. Let’s protect her. Let me now be her advocate. Let me speak with investigators and let me then determine, you know, where this is going.”

According to Gounaris, investigators gradually came to view Botner as a witness as additional evidence was collected. He said nothing in the investigation indicated that she took part in Ashley’s murder.

At trial, jurors learned that Flynn and Botner sent more than 107,000 messages during their affair. Some included repeated statements from Flynn about wanting to kill his wife. In one text, he wrote that he had spent the night thinking about ways to murder Ashley without being sent to prison.

Gounaris conceded that the messages were disturbing, but said discussions about Ashley’s death made up only a small portion of the couple’s communication and mostly occurred months before the murder.

The most alarming exchange came only hours before Ashley died. Flynn texted Botner, “It’s happening,” and she replied, “You’re about to be free.”

Gounaris said those messages referred to Flynn’s stated intention to divorce Ashley. He explained that Botner had ended the relationship in January after Flynn repeatedly failed to leave his wife, leading the two to stop communicating for about a month.

Ashley Flynn

Ashley Flynn, a Tipp City Schools substitute teacher and volleyball coach, was found dead in her Ohio home. Her husband was convicted of murder. (Tipp City Schools)

Flynn reached out again shortly before the shooting, telling Botner that he was finally planning to file for divorce and reveal the affair to church leaders, according to Gounaris.

Their renewed contact produced about 250 messages focused on divorce, child custody, work and the consequences of Flynn ending his marriage. Botner also used ChatGPT to research divorce questions and sent Flynn screenshots of what she found.

“All of the communications that are contemporaneous with the time that he kills his wife all the way up to 12:45 in that morning – about an hour and 45 minutes … before he calls 911 – are all about divorce,” Gounaris said.

Alleigha Botner wipes away tears while testifying about messages exchanged with Caleb Flynn during his murder trial in Ohio. (CREDIT: WKEF)

He maintained that Botner believed Flynn was preparing to leave his wife, not kill her, an explanation she also gave during her testimony.

But questions about Botner’s conduct extended beyond the messages themselves.

During the trial, jurors heard about efforts to conceal the affair, including discussions about deleting communications and replacing phones. Gounaris argued those conversations were motivated by concerns that the relationship could jeopardize Flynn’s chances of gaining custody of his daughters during a divorce.

“What are they covering up?” Gounaris asked. “They’re covering up what the relationship was. So she was explaining to him, ‘You need to go get a new phone, you need to delete this app. We … have not had these conversations.'”

The attorney also offered his own theory about why Flynn killed Ashley, suggesting the former church music leader may have realized that ending his marriage would cost him the comfortable life he had built.

Caleb Flynn cries as a letter from one of his daughters is read in court before his sentencing in the death of his wife, Ashley Flynn, on Oct. 5, 2026.

Caleb Flynn cries as a letter from one of his daughters is read in court before his sentencing in the death of his wife, Ashley Flynn, on Oct. 5, 2026. (CREDIT: WKEF)

Flynn worked for his father-in-law’s company, had two daughters and held a prominent role at his church. Gounaris believes the prospect of losing those things may have pushed him toward a fatal decision.

“He had a girlfriend. He liked having a girlfriend. He had a wife. He liked having his wife, he liked his children, he liked his job, he liked his income, he liked his … he liked it all,” Gounaris said. “On the early morning of Feb. 16, something in his mind said, ‘Wait a minute, this is not going to work out for me. I’m not going to have my job. I’m going to be thrown out of the church,’ and something happened that caused him to end the life of his wife.”

Unlike prosecutors, who argued Flynn had planned the murder, Gounaris suggested the killing may have resulted from a decision made that night.

“I think it was something that occurred right at that moment at night,” he said. “I think that he did things. I think he was sloppy with how he did things.”

That assessment remains the attorney’s theory. Jurors convicted Flynn of aggravated murder and eight other counts after roughly 2½ hours in the deliberation room. Flynn continued to maintain his innocence at sentencing, telling the court he did not kill his wife.

Flynn’s attorneys filed a notice of appeal Wednesday in Miami County court, two days after he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

New prison mugshot of convicted wife killer Caleb Flynn wearing a blue prison uniform over a white shirt against a yellow background.

Caleb Flynn, a former “American Idol” contestant convicted of murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, is pictured in a new Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction mugshot following his transfer to the state prison system. (Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction)

Flynn was admitted to the state prison system Wednesday and is being held at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient, Ohio, according to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction records.

Gounaris said he believes Botner’s lack of involvement was established through the investigation and that she now faces the difficult task of rebuilding her life after the affair and her testimony became public.

He acknowledged that Botner bears responsibility for the relationship and the hateful things she said about Ashley, but rejected the suggestion that those actions made her responsible for the murder.

“Look, she’ll take full responsibility for her actions,” Gounaris said. “The truth is that she had an affair with a married man and she said terrible things about that man’s wife. That’s what she did.

“What the public has wrong is that she was somehow involved in the planning or execution of the murder that Caleb did on the 16th of February 2026. That’s what the public has wrong,” he continued. “She takes full responsibility for her actions, but not what he was convicted of.”

Republican Senate Candidate Faces Questions Over Husband’s ‘Shadow Lobbyist’ Ties

0

Iowa Republican Senate candidate and current Congresswoman Ashley Hinson rejected claims that her husband, Matt Arenholz, is a “shadow lobbyist” during a debate Wednesday.

In the debate’s most heated exchange, Democratic opponent Josh Turek, 47, accused Hinson of taking “$50,000 of taxpayer dollars” despite describing herself as a multimillionaire.

Turek alleged that Hinson used the money for a luxury apartment in Washington, DC, and claimed that her husband was working as a “shadow lobbyist.”

“This is the corruption that we have to address,” Turek said.

Hinson, 43, pushed back, saying: “My husband is not a lobbyist. He’s an insurance agent. He works in our basement. He’s still working at home tonight while he’s home with our kids, our teenage boys who are 15 and 13.”

The Washington Sun previously reported that Hinson and Arenholz are “deeply connected to the insurance industry.” The outlet also said Arenholz “held a position at a top industry lobbying group” while Hinson was serving in Washington.

A spokesperson for Hinson has insisted that Arenholz is “not a lobbyist nor has he ever lobbied Ashley on anything.”

“They maintain the highest ethical standards,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson also said the $50,000 came through a congressional per diem housing reimbursement program “that all members can take advantage of.”

Hinson said she had received reimbursements only for “days in session” during her six years in Congress. The annual cap for each member of Congress is $34,000.

Iowa Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, with her husband Matt Arenholz, in a snap she shared to her campaign Facebook

Iowa Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson with her husband, Matt Arenholz, in a photo shared on her campaign Facebook page

Josh Turek, the Democrat running for Iowa's open Senate in Des Moines in June

Josh Turek, the Democrat running for Iowa’s open Senate seat, in Des Moines in June

Hinson responded by pointing to Turek’s own use of a state program, saying: “I think it’s important to note that my opponent, who did not show up to work, still took the full per diem here in Iowa, the same program that exists for lawmakers here.” She was referring to the $20,000 Turek received through the state program.

She also challenged Turek to “return the money.”

Later in the debate, Hinson added that her husband “built a successful business that he sold in 2021.”

Hinson is seeking a US Senate seat after serving three terms in the House of Representatives. She is running against Turek, a two-term member of the Iowa state legislature.

The contest between Hinson and Turek has tightened considerably and moved into the “toss-up” category, according to the Cook Political Report.

A CNN/SSRS poll conducted from September 29 through October 5 showed Hinson ahead of Turek, 45% to 43%. Hinson has also led in recent polls by The New York Times/Siena University and Quantus Insights. However, a Suffolk University poll found Turek ahead by four points, 48% to 44%.

Turek emerged from a bruising primary campaign after receiving support from prominent Democrats. One of his strongest backers has been former President Barack Obama, who appeared with Turek, a former Paralympic basketball player, in a basketball-themed campaign ad.

Both candidates appear to be making a strong push for Iowa’s independent voters, highlighting their records of working across party lines in Des Moines and Washington, DC.

Hinson and other Iowa elected officials joined President Trump in the Oval Office last month for the announcement of a Minnesota company's plan to build a $15 billion steel mill in Iowa

Hinson and other Iowa elected officials joined President Trump in the Oval Office last month for the announcement of a Minnesota company’s plan to build a $15 billion steel mill in Iowa

Hinson with her husband and children at a campaign event

Hinson with her husband and children at a campaign event

Hinson's opponent, Josh Turek, touted that he has voted over 700 times with Republicans while a state lawmaker, and added that he was proud of it in Wednesday's debate

Hinson’s opponent, Josh Turek, touted that he has voted over 700 times with Republicans while a state lawmaker, and added that he was proud of it in Wednesday’s debate

Turek boasted that he was ‘the third most bipartisan member of the Iowa Legislature,’ and had ‘over 700 times voted with Republicans,’ before adding that he was ‘very proud of that.’

Hinson shared that she was proud of being ‘in the top 20 percent of bipartisan lawmakers in Congress,’ and plans to continue doing so, ‘no matter who is governing and who has the gavel.’

‘Hopefully it’s not Chuck Schumer. But if it’s Chuck Schumer, I’ll work with him. I got things across the line with Nancy Pelosi as speaker. So I think that shows that I can work with anyone,’ Hinson boasted.

Hinson also appears to be urging Democrats to cross party lines and support her in her US Senate race, and featured a Democrat backer in a recent campaign advertisement.

In a press release announcing the ad, Hinson’s campaign also touted her bipartisan work, including on two bills that were signed into law by former Democratic President Joe Biden.

Incumbent Senator Joni Ernst chose not to seek re-election for another term in the Hawkeye state. Iowa leans Republican, but Hinson could be negatively impacted by Democrat Rob Sand performing well in the gubernatorial race. 

 

New documents reveal Christian Horner’s £67m Red Bull payout

0

Christian Horner received £67million in severance payments after Red Bull dismissed him following a texting scandal involving a colleague, newly uncovered documents reveal.

Documents filed at Companies House this week by Red Bull Racing show that Horner, 52, received £33.5million, as first reported by the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden.

A further £33.5million was paid to the husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell from the separate accounts of Red Bull Technology, bringing his total severance package to approximately £67million.

The accounts also record £9.029million in salary remuneration and £10,000 in company contributions to money purchase pension schemes for the highest-paid director. Including those sums, Horner’s overall package rises to around £76million.

Horner had been Formula One’s longest-serving team principal, guiding Red Bull for 20 years and overseeing eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles. He was dismissed in July 2025, a year after a scandal involving messages he allegedly sent to a female employee.

The payment appears in the small print of Red Bull Racing’s latest accounts and is described in the directors’ remuneration section as compensation for loss of office.

Horner has consistently denied the allegations and was cleared of wrongdoing twice in Red Bull’s internal investigations. The findings came despite the publication of a tranche of purportedly intimate messages in an explosive email sent to figures across F1 before the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Christian Horner - Geri Halliwell's husband - was paid £67million in severance by Red Bull

Christian Horner, husband of Geri Halliwell, received £67million in severance from Red Bull

The team principal was axed after a texting scandal, though two investigations cleared him of impropriety

The team principal was dismissed after a texting scandal, although two investigations cleared him of wrongdoing

Halliwell stood by her husband throughout the controversy. The couple live in a £9.2million mansion near the Oxfordshire border with Northamptonshire.

Last month, it emerged that the woman who accused Horner of coercive behaviour had been unexpectedly released from her latest job in motor racing.

A source told Daily Mail Sport that she was informed her services were no longer required moments before she was due to board a flight to Budapest, where McLaren’s British world champion Lando Norris went on to win the race.

Her former employers, who cannot be identified, said: ‘We do not comment on personnel matters.’

It is understood that she lost the position after her new boss, with whom she worked closely, lost confidence in her because of what was described as ‘a lack of discretion’.

The controversy surrounding the allegations of coercive behaviour against Horner became one of the biggest scandals to affect F1 in recent years.

Seventy-nine screenshots of WhatsApp exchanges between Horner and the female colleague were circulated in an explosive email sent to F1 figures before the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix.

The file, which allegedly contained messages and images, was sent to almost 200 people involved in the sport, including Liberty Media owners, team principals and members of the media.

Horner oversaw eight drivers' titles at Red Bull, including four in a row with Max Verstappen

Horner oversaw eight drivers’ titles at Red Bull, including four consecutive championships with Max Verstappen

The poignant moment former Red Bull team principal Horner broke the news of his sacking to his Spice Girl wife

The emotional moment former Red Bull team principal Horner told his Spice Girl wife that he had been sacked

Horner had led Red Bull since the team’s creation in 2005, guiding it to championship success in two dominant eras with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

There have been growing rumours of the 52-year-old potentially returning to the grid.

He recently told The Times that Ferrari are his ‘dream’ team to join and the only one he would consider signing up for without an equity stake. 

‘Would I consider Ferrari? I mean, Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula 1. It’s the dream. And arguably it’s the sleeping giant of Formula 1,’ he said.

‘I’ve been a hired hand. I did 21 years sitting on the pit wall. I don’t need to go back to that.

‘At this stage in my life, there’s only one team for which I would accept non-participation in ownership [Ferrari].’

A week ago Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, backed his beleaguered team principal Fred Vasseur as the ‘right guy’ to lead Ferrari amid speculation that Horner might take over.

Hamilton did not elaborate on what changes he wanted to see but his comments were hardly an overwhelming vote of confidence in the organisation he joined last season in search of his eighth world title.

Lewis Hamilton appeared to make a cryptic demand that Ferrari change the team’s hierarchy

Lewis Hamilton appeared to make a cryptic demand that Ferrari change the team’s hierarchy

But Horner’s hopes of a return took a blow when Ferrari publicly backed current team principal Fred Vasseur.

Ferrari’s chief communications officer Maria Conti led the conversation, saying to a group of some 15 reporters: ‘Ferrari want to end speculation over the leadership of the team.

‘I am officially saying that Ferrari has made its choices and has full confidence in Fred Vasseur and his team. Nothing has changed. So that’s it.’

It remains the case that Vasseur has failed to deliver the results chairman John Elkann would have wished for, never getting close to a world championship despite paying Lewis Hamilton £80million-a-year to race for them.

Vasseur is also widely condemned within the organisation for failing to learn more than a few words of Italian, instead speaking in English, or his native French, since taking over as Scuderia boss in 2023.

As Daily Mail Sport revealed in September, the 58-year-old is also believed to have health problems – relating to his heart and the stress of the job. Furthermore, his elevation to such a senior status in the sport remains scarcely believable given his limp years as Alfa Romeo boss, where he won exactly nothing. They were at the back of the field year after year.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard Pushes Back on Gossip About Ex-Fiancé Ken Urker’s Death: ‘Be Kind’

Gypsy Rose Blanchard has addressed the “gossip” surrounding the death of her former fiancé, Ken Urker.

“Your gossip could be the darkest time in someone’s life,” she wrote in an Instagram message Thursday.

“Be kind,” she added.

In the following slide, Blanchard posted a photo of a bouquet of roses alongside an envelope addressed to Urker.

The 35-year-old captioned the post “#kenanslaw,” referencing the online harassment petition she launched after Urker’s death.

Urker was “found dead upon arrival” at his Louisiana home last Thursday, his 34th birthday, according to the Lafourche Parish Public Information Officer, who spoke with Page Six.

Authorities said they had “found no evidence of foul play,” but added that the death investigation was ongoing.

A police report obtained by Page Six stated that drug paraphernalia and a gun were found at the scene.

Soon after news of his death emerged, Blanchard wrote on social media that Urker was believed to have died from an overdose.

Blanchard launched the petition last weekend, alleging that Urker had faced an “overwhelming amount of online scrutiny,” along with “targeted harassment and cyberbullying,” before his death.

She emphasized that the proposed law would focus on “changing the way social-media platforms handle repeated reports of harassment,” rather than “silencing criticism or taking away anyone’s freedom of speech.”

Blanchard also said Urker’s death had “made me determined to turn pain into purpose.”

“I cannot change what happened, but I can advocate for a better system for the next person who feels like no one is listening,” she wrote.

According to TMZ, Blanchard and her 1-year-old daughter, Aurora, attended a private memorial service for Urker in Louisiana on Saturday.

Urker’s sister, Autumn, who has accused Blanchard of misrepresenting details about his death, was reportedly not at the service.

Page Six previously reported exclusively that Blanchard and Urker officially ended their relationship one month before his death.

Sources told the outlet that the breakup was linked to Urker’s struggle with his mental health.

“She missed him. She wanted him back, obviously, and he just wasn’t in the right frame of mind,” a source said. “His mentality of mental health wasn’t good for the past few months.”

The couple’s final text messages reportedly concerned their daughter, Aurora, who will turn 2 in December.

Urker and Blanchard met in 2017 while she was serving a prison sentence for her role in the murder of her mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard.

They got engaged a year later, but broke up in 2019.

Blanchard went on to marry another pen pal, Louisiana teacher Ryan Scott Anderson, in June 2022. She filed for divorce from Anderson in 2024 after she was released from prison, and subsequently rekindled her romance with Urker.

Hurricane Isaias Warning: Life-Threatening Conditions Expected Ahead of US Landfall

0

Millions of Americans along Hurricane Isaias’ projected path have been placed under a threat-to-life warning as the storm advances toward the U.S. Gulf Coast.

In an alert issued Thursday, the National Weather Service (NWS) urged residents to prepare for potentially deadly winds equivalent to Category 1 or Category 2 hurricane strength.

“Remaining efforts to protect life and property should be urgently completed,” the NWS said.

Hurricane warnings are in effect along portions of the Mississippi coast, southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, including Pascagoula, Mobile, Gulf Shores, Pensacola, Destin and Panama City.

The warning zone extends inland to communities such as Citronelle, Bay Minette and Brewton in Alabama, along with Milton and Crestview in Florida.

The weather service is calling on residents in affected areas to complete preparations immediately and reach secure shelter before conditions deteriorate.

Isaias, currently a Category 1 hurricane, is expected to intensify into a Category 2 storm before reaching land just east of Mobile Bay, Alabama, late Friday night. It is the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season.

AccuWeather hurricane specialists warned that Isaias could strengthen into a major hurricane before landfall, potentially producing a deadly storm surge, destructive winds, torrential rain, tornadoes and widespread power outages.

Isaias rapidly intensified in the Gulf on Wednesday night. Forecasters expect the hurricane to reach the U.S. coast late Friday evening or early Saturday morning

Forecast models track Isaias approaching the US coast on Friday, with landfall expected sometime that evening into early Saturday, striking between Biloxi, Mississippi and Panama City, Florida

Forecast models show Isaias approaching the U.S. coast Friday, with landfall expected from Friday evening into early Saturday between Biloxi, Mississippi, and Panama City, Florida

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in parts of Florida as newly formed Hurricane Isaias threatens the Gulf Coast with life-threatening flooding and powerful winds.

The storm formed in the Gulf on Wednesday night, setting a record as the latest first hurricane of an Atlantic season since satellite monitoring began.

AccuWeather meteorologists currently expect Isaias to be a Category 2 hurricane when it reaches the U.S. Gulf Coast late Friday or in the early hours of Saturday.

A hurricane warning extends from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, along the Alabama coastline to the Florida Bay/Gulf county line. Storm surge could inundate some coastal locations with five to seven feet of water.

The threat has prompted evacuations in Florida’s Okaloosa and Gulf counties, while the remainder of the Panhandle is under a state of emergency. Alabama has declared a state of emergency in counties along its Gulf Coast.

The National Weather Service issued an urgent appeal to millions of people in Isaias’ projected path, warning: “Evacuation efforts should soon be brought to completion before driving conditions become unsafe.”

“Leave immediately if evacuation orders are given for your area to avoid being cut off from emergency services or needlessly risk lives.”

AccuWeather’s forecast places Isaias moving northeast across the Gulf on Thursday before turning north toward the U.S. coastline on Friday.

Locals have been told to prepare now as the hurricane moves closer to the US coast. Above are the owners of the Islander Ice Cream restaurant in Gulf Breeze, Florida

Residents have been urged to prepare immediately as the hurricane draws closer to the U.S. coast. Above, the owners of the Islander Ice Cream restaurant in Gulf Breeze, Florida

Hurricane warnings cover parts of the Mississippi coast, southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, including Pascagoula, Mobile, Gulf Shores, Pensacola, Destin and Panama City. Above are locals making prepartions for life-threatening floods

Hurricane warnings cover parts of the Mississippi coast, southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, including Pascagoula, Mobile, Gulf Shores, Pensacola, Destin and Panama City. Above, residents prepare for potentially life-threatening flooding

The storm is projected to reach Category 1 hurricane strength by 8pm ET Thursday, then strengthen to Category 2 before making landfall near the Mississippi-Alabama border around 11pm ET Friday.

Based on Isaias making landfall as a Category 2, wind gusts of 100 to 120mph are forecast near and just east of the center. 

AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter warned: ‘However, because of the swift forward speed and broadening wind field of Isaias as the storm moves inland, damaging winds and power outages are likely to extend well inland.’

The NWS told communities from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, to Gulf County, Florida, to prepare for the possibility of ‘long-duration power outages.’ 

Monster storm surges of up to seven feet near and east of Isaias’ center are also expected for the Northern Gulf Coast, with towns and cities in Mississippi and Florida’s Panhandle hit the hardest.

However, AccuWeather meteorologists warned that the ‘most substantial impact from the brewing storm will be from heavy rainfall.’

Isaias is forecast to dump three to seven inches of rain across the central Gulf Coast from Friday through the weekend, with isolated totals of up to 10 inches and flash flooding possible. 

Panic buying hit states in Isaias' path, with locals stocking up on everything from toilet paper to water and bread, leaving shelves empty

Panic buying hit states in Isaias’ path, with locals stocking up on everything from toilet paper to water and bread, leaving shelves empty

Gast stations were packed with cars ahead of the storm

Gast stations were packed with cars ahead of the storm

Fears of a devastating storm have left shelves empty in towns and cities along the US Gulf Coast, as locals stock up on everything from toilet paper to water and canned food.

Images on social media show long lines at gas stations and depleted supermarket shelves.

Florida local Stephen Page posted on Facebook: ‘Stores are already run over, and shelves are empty at many places.

‘Lines at gas stations are long, and people are in full prep mode. So again, I say, if you haven’t started, now is the time!’

Another Floridian, Stephanie Michelle, said she experienced panic buying at the grocery store.

Based on Isaias making landfall as a Category 2, wind gusts of 100 to 120mph are forecast near and just east of the center

Based on Isaias making landfall as a Category 2, wind gusts of 100 to 120mph are forecast near and just east of the center

‘The store was full, the parking lot was full, shelves were empty, and the carts were all full! People were everywhere, and traffic was a nightmare,’ she added.

The Atlantic has yet to produce a hurricane in 2026, putting the season within reach of a record set in 1905 for the latest first hurricane.

If forecast models are correct and Isaias develops into a hurricane, it would be deemed a record-breaking storm.

Meteorologist Matt Devitt said on X: ‘Isaias will likely be one of the most significant storms of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season with a landfall in the US.’

Pittsburgh Gay Bar Faces Backlash Over Blackface Drag Tribute to Tim Curry

0

The owners of a Pittsburgh gay bar began receiving death threats after a drag performer appeared in blackface during an ill-fated tribute to late actor Tim Curry.

Blue Moon Bar, which bills itself as “the Friendliest Gay Bar in Pittsburgh,” canceled several performances after photos from a Sept. 23 event circulated online, showing a drag artist wearing makeup widely condemned as racist blackface.

According to reports, the performer was attempting to portray Hexxus, the villain from the 1992 animated film “FernGully: The Last Rainforest.” Curry provided the character’s voice.

The act triggered an immediate backlash after images spread across social media. Critics said the performer’s dark makeup closely resembled blackface—an offensive practice the bar should have prevented.

Fellow drag performer Pinapple Honeydew criticized the appearance in an Instagram post, writing, “How this person was even allowed to step on stage wearing this is beyond me.”

“This is actual disgusting, racist behavior being given a stage to perform and no one thinking twice about it,” Honeydew added.

Honeydew also called the performance an inappropriate way to honor Curry, an LGBTQ+ icon who died in August.

“What happened to just wearing a black outfit,” the performer wrote. “Out of all of Tim Curry’s iconic characters, you HAD to do this one??”

“And you HAD to do blackface in order to portray a character no one was going to recognize anyway???” the drag artist continued. “F–king insane.”

Nearly a week after the event, Blue Moon Bar issued an apology on Facebook. “We were just made aware yesterday that this happened last week,” management wrote on Sept. 29.

Bar officials said they were not present during the performance and that two guest hosts, who do not typically oversee the venue’s open stage, had run the event. Management said it was “horrified” and “blindsided” by what occurred.

The statement said the guest hosts “somehow didn’t realize at the time what was happening,” while emphasizing that the bar was not excusing their conduct.

“Whatever the intent, blackface is racist and harmful and it is never acceptable. We are sorry that it happened in our bar,” management said.

The bar also apologized to anyone offended or triggered by photos of the performance, as well as to those who witnessed it in person.

Blue Moon later canceled its open stage on Sept. 30, saying it and that evening’s host had received too many death threats to safely proceed. “We do not feel comfortable putting on the show this evening,” the bar said in a Facebook post.

Management also posted a warning outside the performer’s dressing room: “Absolutely NO Preformances Based on Race, Ethicity, or Nationality (that is not your own) Will Be TOLERATED!!!”

The unidentified performer told QBurgh that an attempt to accurately recreate the character’s appearance “caused an egregious error that resulted in harm to a community I love and care for.”

The drag artist said they “want to be held accountable” and intended to make amends, apologizing “for the harm caused to the community, the hosts, and the patrons.”

“Intent does not matter when it comes to the effects of what’s been done,” the performer told the publication.

Blue Moon Bar management did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

It comes just weeks after an LGBT venue was at the center of another storm in a teacup, when Last Ditch, a lesbian bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, briefly became the most notorious bar in America.

The struggling bar’s owners scrapped their longstanding COVID mask requirements for just one night in a week in an attempt to boost business, the Boston Globe reported.

But the move brought out extreme reactions among some members of the local LGBT community, with critics dramatically calling it a “mass disabling event” or even a “eugenicist” attack.

Another said they hoped the bar got “firebombed” for the crime of trying to keep the lights on.

Waffle House Index: How FEMA and Southerners Gauge Storms

Golden hash browns, gravy-covered biscuits and crisp waffles drenched in syrup are staples of Southern comfort food. Yet when hurricanes sweep across the Southeast, Waffle House offers a different kind of reassurance: a hot meal, bright yellow signs and the sense that normal life has not completely disappeared.

When a Waffle House remains open, even with limited service, residents often take it as a sign that the storm’s impact may be manageable. When one closes, however, the development can signal something far more serious. That informal measure is widely known as the Waffle House Index.

The idea may sound unconventional, but it has become a surprisingly useful gauge for Southerners and federal emergency officials trying to assess storm damage and determine which communities may need urgent assistance.

What is the Waffle House Index?

The Waffle House Index is an unofficial measure of how severely a storm has affected, or is expected to affect, a community. The 24-hour restaurant chain has effectively become an unlikely authority on disaster conditions.

With more than 1,900 restaurants concentrated across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic, the chain’s footprint gives residents in storm-prone states a quick way to judge the likely extent of power outages, flooding and other dangerous conditions. For some people, a closed restaurant can even reinforce the need to evacuate.

Waffle House is famous for serving breakfast around the clock, every day of the year. It is also known for its extensive disaster planning. For decades, residents have watched the chain remain open during storms—or reopen soon afterward—when nearly every other business was dark.

That reputation has transformed Waffle House into an informal but useful marker of recovery. During a crisis, its restaurants can provide warmth, device charging and a hot meal. The company also maintains its own storm center to monitor conditions and coordinate its response.

How does the index work?

Waffle House uses social media to publish color-coded maps showing restaurants in areas facing storm threats or recovering from damage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also provides some real-time tracking information.

Green indicates that a restaurant is serving its full menu, suggesting little damage nearby. In other words, the power is on and the syrup is still flowing.

Yellow means the restaurant is operating with a limited menu. It may be relying on a generator and working with a reduced food supply. Customers might be without electricity or running water at home, but the restaurant has enough fuel to cook essentials such as bacon.

Red signals a closure. That typically points to unsafe conditions, significant damage to the restaurant or severe destruction in the surrounding community.

How did the index start?

Craig Fugate, a former FEMA administrator, has said he developed the concept while overseeing emergency management in Florida in 2004. While surveying damage from Hurricane Charley, Fugate searched for food and found only one Waffle House operating—and it was serving a limited menu.

Fugate’s team soon noticed that other Waffle House restaurants were open in neighborhoods that lacked power and running water. Those locations became important points on a color-coded map, helping residents and officials identify areas suffering the most extensive storm damage.

Fugate continued using the system after joining FEMA under President Barack Obama. In 2011, while he was leading the agency, a deadly tornado struck Joplin, Missouri. Reports indicated that both Waffle House restaurants in the town remained open.

The company’s disaster preparedness was shaped by hard experience. Hurricane Katrina destroyed seven Waffle House restaurants and forced another 100 to close in 2005. Executives also saw that locations able to reopen quickly experienced a sharp increase in business.

That lesson led Waffle House to adopt a strategy focused on keeping restaurants operating during and after disasters, according to the company’s website. The chain has invested in portable generators, purchased a mobile command center and trained employees on which foods they can continue serving during power failures.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Fox News Newsletter: Pro-Hamas Protests Mark Oct. 7 Anniversary

0

– Anti-Israel groups rally across the U.S. on the Oct. 7 anniversary, chanting “long live the intifada”
– Former Hamas hostage Maya Regev challenges Hasan Piker’s UT Austin event with her account of survival
– Zohran Mamdani’s $30 million antisemitism plan includes expanded funding for an anti-Israel group

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators held rallies across the country to mark the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. Chanting “long live the intifada,” activists marched through communities from New York to California, with some confrontations involving police and counter-protesters. The nationwide demonstrations prompted heightened security around college campuses, government buildings and other prominent civic sites as tensions escalated.

Protestors gathers waving Palestinian flags outside NYC City Hall

Hundreds of anti-Israel demonstrators gathered outside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s City Hall office on the anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. (Preston Mizell for News Media)

Rabbi Steve Leder, a consultant on season one of “Nobody Wants This,” told News Media that actor Adam Brody presented his views on Gaza as fact rather than opinion.

Former Hamas hostage Maya Regev confronted Hasan Piker’s controversial rhetoric during a tense appearance connected to his event at UT Austin. Regev challenged Piker’s claims about the Oct. 7 attacks with a harrowing firsthand account of her captivity in Gaza. Her emotional testimony offered a stark contrast to the streamer’s political framing and left the audience visibly shaken.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism over a proposed $30 million initiative to combat antisemitism. Critics reacted angrily after details indicated that the plan would increase funding for Partners Against Hate, directing millions of dollars to the Arab American Association of New York, which they describe as a vocal anti-Israel advocacy group.

Zohran Mamdani

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a plan to combat antisemitism, but critics argue that some of the funding is being directed to a group whose advocacy runs counter to that goal. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Bishop Robert Stearns, founder and executive director of Eagles’ Wings, is urging Christians to maintain their support for Israel following the Oct. 7 attacks. Stearns says standing with the Jewish state is both a moral and biblical obligation, warning that growing international indifference and rising antisemitism endanger Israel’s survival as well as core Judeo-Christian values.

“It is like turning September 11 into a day of mourning for al-Qaeda terrorists. We will not let this happen. We will remember those who were murdered, and we will never forget who was behind this massacre,” Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said of anti-Israel protests held to mark the Oct. 7 anniversary.

Looking for more on this topic? Find additional antisemitism coverage from Fox News here.

Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe to additional newsletters from Fox News here.

Want live updates? Get the Fox News app here.

Vermont Democrat Left Speechless by Question About Migrants

0

Vermont lieutenant governor candidate Molly Gray was put on the spot during a debate over allegations concerning migrant workers’ housing at her family’s farm.

Gray, a Democrat and former lieutenant governor, faced Republican incumbent John Rodgers in a tense debate hosted by Vermont Public on Tuesday.

Unlike many states, Vermont elects its governor and lieutenant governor separately, meaning the candidates run independent campaigns.

Rodgers challenged Gray over her family’s connection to the farm, which was investigated after concerns were raised about living conditions for H-2A migrant workers. Gray served as lieutenant governor from 2021 until 2023.

“Your family farm was at the center of serious labor violations involving the treatment of H-2A migrant workers,” Rodgers said.

“Why did you not speak out against the mistreatment of migrant workers on your family farm, and did you use your influence to direct the investigation?”

Gray, who highlights her upbringing on the farm on her campaign website, appeared caught off guard by the question. “Wow, you know, John, this seems like kind of a new low here,” she replied.

“I’m on the ballot. My experience, my background and my policies are on the ballot. My family is not on the ballot. So I’m going to give you an opportunity to ask a different question.”

Vermont Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Molly Gray froze up when she was confronted about allegations of migrant abuse on her family farm

Vermont Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Molly Gray appeared taken aback when questioned about allegations involving migrant workers at her family farm

Incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor John Rodgers posed the question during a heated debate

Republican Lieutenant Governor John Rodgers raised the issue during a heated debate

Rodgers' campaign provided the Daily Mail with documents from the investigation into Four Corners Farm in Newbury, which Gray said she grew up on and his now run by her brothers

Rodgers’ campaign gave the Daily Mail investigation records concerning Four Corners Farm in Newbury, where Gray says she grew up and which is now operated by her brothers

Rodgers pressed the issue, pointing to Gray’s repeated references to the property during her campaign and on her website.

“I’m a little bit caught off guard here,” Gray said. “I’m disappointed. I think there are all sorts of questions you could ask me today about policy decisions. But going after my family, that’s just a new low. And we deserve better.”

The Rodgers campaign supplied the Daily Mail with documents from an investigation into Four Corners Farm in Newbury. Gray has said she grew up there, while the property is now run by her brothers.

According to the records, migrant workers reported concerns about their housing in August 2024, leading state officials to investigate.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture cited several issues, including livestock housed directly beneath a kitchen, insufficient insulation, heating problems, damaged screens and flooring, and concerns involving a basement shower used by workers.

The federal Wage and Hour Division later became involved and inspected the farm in October 2024, the documents state.

A January 2025 inspection by the Vermont Division of Fire Safety found additional deficiencies related to fire separation, plumbing, heating and bathroom standards.

State officials said the problems needed to be corrected before the housing could be approved for occupancy. The case was closed later that year, although it remains unclear whether Gray had any direct role in the farm’s operations or the investigation.

Gray told the Vermont Daily Chronicle that her brothers run the farm and accused Rodgers of attacking them

Gray told the Vermont Daily Chronicle that her brothers operate the farm and accused Rodgers of targeting her family

Rodgers said the people of Vermont have the right to know what Gray's involvement with the investigation was

Rodgers said the people of Vermont have the right to know what Gray’s involvement with the investigation was

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Rodgers said: ‘My opponent has made dignity and humane treatment of migrants, as well as her upbringing on her family farm, the centerpiece of her campaign. This was a fair question that Vermonters deserve an answer to. 

‘The records show how migrant workers were mistreated, and the photos and accounts of workers are outright disturbing. That’s why state and federal agencies sustained the violations. Vermonters deserve to know when she learned about these conditions and what, if anything, she did about them, and that’s why they will reject this type of behavior on November 3rd.’

Gray told the Vermont Daily Chronicle that her brothers run the farm and accused Rodgers of attacking them. 

‘My brothers and family are like thousands of Vermonters who work the land, sell produce, ship milk and try to provide food for our communities. Our family farms are what make Vermont special and for John Rodgers to attack them shows more about him than anyone else,’ she said.

‘Like many Vermont farmers, my family has worked to adapt to strict federal and state regulation when it comes to farm worker housing. With state cooperation and guidance, they were able to successfully bring worker housing on an over 200-year-old farm into compliance with new Vermont rental code standards. They care deeply about the rights, safety and well-being of their employees, whom they rely on to keep the farm going.

‘I’m going to continue to run a positive, issue-focused campaign focused on the needs of Vermonters. I encourage John Rodgers to do the same in the final days of his campaign.’

The Daily Mail contacted Gray’s campaign for comment.