Lolo Jones, a renowned athlete who has showcased her talents in both the Summer and Winter Olympics, has launched a scathing critique against USA Bobsled and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Her allegations center on claims of negligence after being allegedly deprived of necessary medical intervention following a serious spinal injury from a bobsled crash.

The 43-year-old, once celebrated for her prowess on the track, now asserts that the USOPC’s disregard for adequate medical treatment might have risked her facing paralysis.

According to a report from Zielhaus, which specializes in bobsled and skeleton news, Jones’s injury occurred during trials of a novel sled and racing position as she prepared for the 2025 World Championships in Lake Placid, New York. In the aftermath, she has grappled with debilitating lower back pain, numbness, unstable legs, foot drop, and even lost control over her bladder, as recounted in a post she shared on X.

“Why I’ve been off social for so long…For months, I couldn’t talk about this,” Jones revealed on X earlier this week, while pointing readers to an article from the Zielhaus Substack page. “Please someone help stop what they are doing at USA Bobsled.”

Despite such troubling symptoms, Jones claims she was denied various forms of care, including diagnostic tests and even simple massages. As reported by Zielhaus, she was granted just one massage session per week and had already availed of her allotment earlier in the week.

‘I was never even given an X-ray or an MRI,’ she wrote on X. ‘I wasn’t even allowed to use the ice bath to numb the pain.

‘The worst part? USA Bobsled and the USOPC put me back in a bobsled without ever ordering an MRI or properly evaluating my injury, risking permanent paralysis.’

Jones would go on to compete in the 2025 World Championships, where she and pilot Meyers Taylor finished sixth. It was only after that event that she learned the extent of her injuries, and she now believes she risked serious health issues by competing in Lake Placid.

‘I did not even know my spine was seriously injured,’ she continued. ‘I just knew I was in pain That’s why I got back in a Bobsled.

‘Had my pilot hit a wall,’ she concluded, ‘I would be paralyzed today.’

And the pushback didn’t stop there.

The USOPC banned her from the Olympic Training Committee after a reported argument with an official, thereby denying her access to training and medical resources. According to Julie Marra, director of the USOPC Training Center in Lake Placid, Jones violated the OPTC Code of Conduct, although she stopped short of giving specifics.

Since then, according to Zielhaus, Jones has spent $100,000 of her own money on training and treatment, including the MRI that revealed a herniated disc, tears in three vertebrae, and leaking spinal fluid, not to mention her subsequent surgery.

The USOPC has admitted wrongfully denying Jones medical carer, Zielhaus reported. The Daily Mail has sought further comment from USOPC spokespeople.

Jones’ ban has continued, although the Southern California News Group has reported that a partial reinstatement was offered on July 3.

These days, Jones is training by pushing a Honda because she no longer has access to bobsled training facilities.

A member of the Team USA bobsled squad at the 2014 Winter Olympics, she previously ran track at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Games.

She remains one of just 11 athletes to compete for Team USA in multiple sports.

Tragedy struck in California when a grandmother mysteriously disappeared, failing to collect her grandchild. Days of relentless searching led to the heartbreaking discovery of her body inside her vehicle at a church parking lot, followed by shocking murder charges against her own son.

Emmanuel Wesley, 23, from Santa Ana, faces charges for the murder of his 61-year-old mother, Theresa Jones.

Prosecutors claim Wesley shot Jones twice in the back while she was in her car outside the Fullerton Police Department on July Fourth. He allegedly moved her to the passenger seat and drove off with her body.

The alarm bells first rang on July 7 when Jones was reported missing after she neither collected her grandchild nor responded to repeated phone calls from family, prosecutors stated.

Four days later, on July 11, officers found Jones’ body inside her vehicle, which had been abandoned in the parking lot of a church in Fullerton. Prosecutors allege she had been shot twice in the back.

Investigators say surveillance cameras captured the moments surrounding the killing.

Video allegedly shows Jones pulling up outside the Fullerton Police Department around 2:46 p.m. on July 4 with Wesley riding in the back seat.

Authorities say Jones suddenly slumped over in the driver’s seat before Wesley climbed out of the back seat, pushed her body into the passenger seat, got behind the wheel and drove away.

“The death of any human being is a tragedy,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. “For someone to kill their own mother is another level of depravity. We will do everything we can to pursue justice for Ms. Jones and everyone who loved her.”

Jones’ family remembered the 61-year-old as a devoted Christian whose faith shaped every part of her life.

“She loved her family fiercely, always putting the needs of her children and grandchildren above her own,” the family wrote in a GoFundMe created to help cover funeral expenses. “To know Theresa was to love her.”

Loved ones described Jones as smart, funny and full of life, saying her vibrant personality earned her the nickname “Cardi B.”

The fundraiser recalls the family’s agonizing search after Jones unexpectedly failed to pick up her beloved grandchild, ending with the heartbreaking discovery of her body a week later.

“We want to honor the beautiful life Theresa lived and the immense love she poured into the world,” the family wrote. “The shock of her loss has left a profound, empty space in the hearts of everyone who loved her.”

Wesley has pleaded not guilty and remains held without bail in the Orange County Jail.

If convicted of murder and the firearm enhancement, prosecutors say he faces up to 50 years to life in prison.

This week, the FBI initiated a comprehensive investigation into alleged corruption in Southern California, conducting raids on properties linked to three local political figures and a prominent executive in the Chinese-language media sector. This federal inquiry is delving into concerns about potential foreign influence in regional politics.

Search warrants have been executed by agents targeting San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman, Ontario Councilmember Alan Wapner, and attorney Frank Lizarraga, who are the central figures under scrutiny in this investigation.

In addition, the probe identifies James Su, CEO of EDI Media, a Chinese-American media enterprise, as another figure of interest.

Federal authorities carried out searches of homes and offices throughout Southern California, including those associated with Hagman, Wapner, Lizarraga, and Su.

The investigation also led agents to EDI Media’s West Covina headquarters, a lavish estate in Beverly Hills, and records pertaining to the operations of Ontario International Airport.

A source close to the investigation characterized it as a public corruption probe with a possible foreign influence component.

The FBI confirmed the addresses where warrants were carried out but the agency has not disclosed the nature of the allegations being investigated.

The search warrant affidavits remain sealed, and federal officials declined to comment on the case.

No arrests have been made.

The raids come as US authorities continue investigating concerns that the Chinese government has sought to cultivate influence among American officials and institutions.

Hagman and Wapner both serve on the Ontario International Airport Authority, with Wapner serving as president.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller confirmed that a related search warrant was served at the airport, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Investigators also subpoenaed records from Ontario City Hall.

Lizarraga is a prominent civil litigator, a University of La Verne trustee and a former Ontario planning commissioner.

He previously worked for the Southern California Association of Governments, a regional planning organization representing six counties.

The FBI operation follows the guilty plea of former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang, who admitted to accusations that she was directed by the Chinese government to promote propaganda in the United States.

Prosecutors alleged Wang helped operate US News Center, a website that portrayed itself as a news source for Chinese Americans while carrying out directives from the Chinese government.

Su’s EDI Media donated $500 to Wang’s campaign on Oct. 10, 2022.

Andrew Cowan, an attorney for Su, said his client is an American citizen who has donated to political campaigns across the political spectrum and does not know why the FBI searched properties connected to him.

Cowan said Su is only familiar with Hagman among the individuals connected to the searches.

EDI Media, which describes itself as the largest Chinese American multimedia company in the United States, registered as a foreign agent in May 2022 after it previously printed the US version of a newspaper considered a “foreign mission” of the Chinese government.

The company operates bilingual digital platforms, radio networks and television channels, and produces a Chinese American film festival.

EDI Media says it produces more than 2,000 hours of programming annually and reaches more than 35 million people worldwide.

Agents also searched a 21,000-square-foot Beverly Hills mansion at 613 N. Canon Drive, FOX 11 reported.

Public records show the property was sold in 2023 for $24.6 million by Kurdish general Mansour Banzani to a Chinese mainland family through two companies, including one registered in Delaware.

The latest FBI activity follows another federal investigation in Lancaster, where agents searched City Hall and the homes of two council members.

Authorities have not revealed details of that investigation.

However, a source who reviewed a warrant said investigators sought communications between city officials and Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, which operates a major bus manufacturing facility in Lancaster.

No arrests have been made.

The investigations have raised concerns among intelligence officials that Beijing has attempted to expand its influence in the United States by building relationships with local elected leaders.

US Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona) said she was “deeply troubled by the reports the FBI has executed warrants against elected officials in San Bernardino County. I am awaiting further information, but our community has zero tolerance for any corruption at any level of our government.”

The FBI investigation remains active as federal agents continue examining the allegations behind the sealed warrants.

Held Without Help

In a decisive move, President Trump has fulfilled his pledge to take action against Iran, signaling his intent to “go big” merely a day after American soldiers were targeted at a Jordanian base.

On Wednesday, following President Trump’s intense warning to “beat the f****** s*** out” of Iran, the U.S. military launched a powerful wave of strikes across the Islamic Republic.

Through a statement on social media, U.S. Central Command announced that it targeted “dozens” of locations controlled by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps in an operation that spanned two hours.

The offensive focused on strategic objectives including military command centers, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance and defense sites.

This recent surge of U.S. strikes could be the preliminary phase of a significant military campaign under consideration at The White House.

The head of Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, has reportedly presented Trump with an option of intense strikes to totally wipe out Iran’s missile stock.  

Cooper believes the US must embrace a ‘go big’ approach to end the constant back and forth strikes between the two countries, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The intensified US strikes were reported to potentially last up to two weeks. 

Other military leaders, like General Dan ‘Raisin’ Caine, were worried about the US supply of defensive weapons after constant attacks from Iran. 

A Pentagon spokesperson said that the military was united on how to execute the months-long conflict in the Middle East. 

‘Secretary Hegseth, CENTCOM Commander Admiral Cooper, and Chairman Caine stand completely aligned and are united in mission, strategy, and resolve regarding overseas operations involving Iran,’ Spokesman Sean Parnell told WSJ. 

It’s unclear if this is the path Trump has chosen but his rhetoric has indicated a taste for ratcheting things up. 

The announcement from CENTCOM came hours after President Trump threatened to ‘beat the f****** s*** out of’ Iran after US troops in Jordan were attacked.

‘[They’re] going to get a beating,’ Trump told Fox News.

Trump followed it up later Wednesday by threatening to slap tariffs on Iran in addition to sanctions and saying their time to be attacked was at hand.

‘We’re gonna be hitting them very hard because it’s our turn to hit them. They know it’s coming. They’re asking us not to do it. It’s our turn,’ Trump said. 

Trump’s threat of escalation on Wednesday comes the day after Iran launched ballistic missiles at US forces in Jordan in what US Central Command described as an ‘attempted surprise attack.’

The US successfully intercepted all of the Iranian missiles, according to CENTCOM.

The US, in conjunction with Saudi Arabia, struck Iranian-backed militias in Iraq last night, CENTCOM said, saying this action was retaliation for a series of drone strikes and not the missile attack in Jordan.

Trump said that the US-Saudi strikes were coordinated with the Iraqi government.

Before Iran’s missile attack, both the regime and the US had observed a multi-day lull in the fighting, the first pause in nearly two weeks.

Relative quiet on Saturday and Sunday broke a string of 13 consecutive days of fighting after the breakdown of a June memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran.

The monthslong conflict with Iran has seen frequent pauses as the US tries to maneuver Tehran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz. 

Trump has frequently threatened major escalation against Tehran, including last Thursday when he said he was considering a ‘bigger than ever before’ attack on the regime. 

Reporting has raised questions about whether escalation in Iran could stretch too far the US’s diminishing supply of some types of air defense munitions, such as Patriot missile interceptors.

Earlier this week, Trump revisited the idea of striking a possible Iranian nuclear facility known as Pickaxe Mountain while rebuking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for bringing up the site in public.

Elsewhere, drone strikes ignited fires on two natural gas vessels at the Egyptian port of Damietta, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey. 

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the strikes on a US-owned floating storage facility and a Greek-owned tanker. No injuries were reported. 

The flare-ups on multiple fronts after several days of relative calm raised the risk of a return to all-out war. It also underscored the difficulty of winding down a five-month conflict that has jolted the world economy and is unpopular among Americans. 

The fighting was also likely to add to concerns that the US is further drawing down already diminished stockpiles of sophisticated munitions needed to defend its bases and allies.

Egypt, a close US ally and regional mediator, is one of the only countries in the Middle East to have been spared direct military action during the war. A strike by Iran or its allies, if confirmed, would mark a significant widening of the conflict.

The Strait of Hormuz has been a major flashpoint in the conflict. Iran’s deputy foreign minister said his country had rejected a proposal from Oman, which lies on the other side of the strait, to jointly manage ship traffic.

In an interview with Iran’s state-run television, Kazem Gharibabadi said Oman’s proposal included dividing the strait into two routes.

Iran offered a counterproposal with a temporary plan for the transit of vessels through its territorial waters, he said, adding that Tehran’s policy is for the strait ‘never to return to its prewar situation,’ when ships moved freely.

This is a developing story. 

On Sunday, the U.S. Army announced an innovative step forward in modern warfare technology, unveiling a revolutionary system that can discreetly interfere with navigation signals. This cutting-edge technology is designed to thwart enemy long-range precision weapons, making it increasingly challenging for adversaries to pinpoint and attack targets without being detected.

Known as the “Hammer of the Gods,” this electronic warfare marvel was put to the test for the first time at sea off the U.S. West Coast in mid-July. This event was part of the ambitious Project Convergence Capstone 6 (PC-C6) experiment, marking a significant milestone in military technological advancements.

While the Army has already showcased land-based versions of this system over the past couple of years, this exercise celebrated the official introduction of its maritime variant. The deployment at sea signifies a crucial expansion in the system’s versatility and operational capabilities.

This highly portable signal disruptor reportedly has the capability to effectively blind the enemy’s precision-guided weaponry. This includes long-range artillery, guided missiles, and cruise missiles, enhancing defensive measures against potential threats from across distances.

The radio signals specifically jam positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) signals, including GPS data, that precision weapons rely on to navigate accurately.

Without reliable PNT data, weapon accuracy drops sharply, increasing the likelihood of delayed missions and missed targets.

The system also creates a resilient communications network that allows friendly forces to stay connected despite heavy electronic jamming.

It links military devices together, so troops can continue to “shoot, move and communicate” even while operating in degraded environments.

Army officials said the experiment demonstrated the counter-PNT system could be successfully launched, operated and recovered in real-world maritime environments.

The testing brought together the U.S. Army, Navy and Space Force, alongside U.S. Space Forces Pacific, Naval Base San Diego and the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, to integrate space, cyber and conventional capabilities during the exercise.

1. Defund the Colleges: An In-Depth Analysis

by Mike Solana, Editor-in-Chief

Recent insights from analyst Nate Silver reveal a phenomenon that many have intuited: the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a group advocating for radical changes such as the dismantling of government branches and centralizing industry, finds its strongest supporters among highly-educated individuals. But this isn’t just any group of scholars.

The data highlights that individuals with bachelor’s degrees earning less than $60,000 annually are the most enamored with the ideologies reminiscent of Mao Zedong.

This raises a compelling question: are our institutions of higher learning molding these descending elites into communists? Or is there something inherent in the individuals themselves—those expecting a societal escalator to wealth that never arrives—that drives them to dismantle a system that has left them with a PhD in queer theory but without a home in the Hamptons like their predecessors?

Who knows. Who cares! Just defund the colleges already.

2. Democracy dies in laughter

by Riley Nork, writer

At last week’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, President Trump slipped into a rare Bodhisattva-like comedic flow state, waxing poetically about Chris Christie fighting for cheesecake at the next UFC event, a hostile regime now being run by a gay dictator (CBS News and Bari Weiss, respectively), and CNN’s Kaitlan Collins bearing an uncanny resemblance to trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

It was all in good fun, but the press had a decidedly different reaction: To them, Trump’s riffs were cause for ending the WHCD altogether.

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Per the Washington Post, critics are now citing the president’s “broadsides” against the media to call for permanently ending the dinner, since it was supposed to be a serious event honoring the serious work of serious mainstream journalism.

Funny… I don’t remember these calls when Obama and Colbert were the ones making the jokes! But hey, nothing says “winning back trust in media” like “don’t roast us or we’ll pack up and cry.”

3. Exciting new birth control method called ‘socialism‘

by Max Weiner, head of operations

The socialist city may promise to care for every child — but increasingly, it just doesn’t contain any.

A new Wall Street Journal analysis finds that, over the past decade, American cities lost children six times faster than the country overall.

Some cities that grew still lost kids, replacing families with trust-fund singles, yuppies, and people too poor to leave. Meanwhile, the five fastest-growing American cities in 2025?

Well, they were all exurbs in Texas. To state the obvious revealed preference: Middle-class moms and dads do not want to raise their kids amongst dangerous fentanyl addicts while spending 70% of their income on housing, all while sending little Johnny to chaotic public schools (with the fent addicts’ dealers’ kids), so they leave.

In that void, the DSA happily agitates for class warfare, because the actual solution (building housing) requires motivated capitalists — whom DSA leaders hate more than their dads.

Nicole Kidman dazzled at the Lioness premiere in New York City on Wednesday night, casting a radiant spell at the glitzy event.

The acclaimed 59-year-old actress, who has been fueling romance rumors with a wealthy businessman lately, chose a bold outfit for the star-studded red carpet gathering, where she mingled with other luminaries like Zoe Saldana.

Kidman is set to reprise her role as Kaitlyn Meade in the Paramount+ series, Lioness, crafted by creator Taylor Sheridan. Fans can anticipate the third season of this gripping spy thriller to premiere on the streaming service come August 2.

Commanding attention, the star donned a pair of flowing white trousers paired with a sheer silver top, adorned with intricate lace and stunning embellishments that glittered under the lights.

Completing her ensemble, Kidman wore stylish tan open-toed heels and added a gold hand chain and a striking watch as her accessories of choice.

Kidman’s long blonde locks were parted in the middle and cascaded down past her shoulders in light waves. 

The Babygirl actress opted for a classic makeup look which comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes and a shimmering shadow around her eyes. 

A warm blush was added to her cheekbones while a satin pink tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch. 

Kidman flaunted her fashionable ensemble as she paused for a brief photo session upon arriving at the event. 

Other cast members in the upcoming third season of Lioness include Saldana, Jill Wagner, Laysla De Oliveira, Ian Bohen and Morgan Freeman. 

Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Kidman for comment, but has yet to hear back. 

Kidman’s latest red carpet outing comes shortly after she was seen getting cozy with private equity businessman Michael Reinstein in exclusive photographs obtained by the Daily Mail. 

The Hollywood actress was seen sipping on an Aperol Spritz while sitting poolside with the silver fox in the Italian Riviera. 

The pair shared lighthearted conversations and at one point, Reinstein was seen playfully lifting up her hat which protected her from the bright sunshine. 

A source close to Kidman told the Daily Mail, ‘After everything she went through with Keith, she deserves to find happiness.’ 

The insider added, ‘She never thought her marriage wouldn’t work out and she tried as best as she could to keep her family intact.

‘Her daughters are her best friends, and she seems really content in her life. She’s so easy to get along with and kind. She keeps her personal life extremely private.’

Last month in June, reports surfaced that Kidman was romantically linked to a ‘high-profile businessman.’ 

According to online gossip site DeuxMoi, the pair have been taking things slow. 

A source told DeuxMoi at the time that ‘the relationship has been quietly developing for the past few months and the pair have been keeping things extremely low-key and largely out of the public eye.’

The Moulin Rouge! actress had also been joined by daughters Sunday Rose, 18, and Faith, 15, during the Italian getaway. 

Kidman shares the teenagers with ex-husband Keith Urban.

Last year in September, the Oscar winner and Urban’s separation came to light following 19 years of marriage, with the divorce being officially finalized in January.

It came after the pair had hit a rocky path in summer 2025, with the separation being reportedly a long-term development, according to Daily Mail sources.

Not long after ringing in the new year, the former couple reached a settlement agreement to finalize the divorce.

During an interview with Variety in March, Kidman opened up about the split and how she is now ‘moving forward.’

‘What I’m grateful for is my family, and keeping them as is, and moving forward. That’s that.’

The Big Little Lies star added, ‘I’m staying in a place of, “We are a family,” and that’s what we’ll continue to be. My beautiful girls, my darlings, who are suddenly women.’

When questioned if she was ‘doing all right’ after the split, the actress replied, ‘I am, because I’m always going to be moving toward what’s good.’

Other stars were also in attendance at the Lioness premiere in NYC this week, including Zoe Saldana. 

The actress put on a stylish display wearing a long-sleeved, black dress with a plunging neckline on the front. 

Saldana slipped into a pair of sheer black tights as well as closed-toed black heels. 

She accessorized the look with a chunky necklace and a few silver rings on each of her hands. 

The star’s darker locks were parted in the middle and effortlessly flowed down in elegant waves. 

Laysla De Oliveira wowed wearing a dark yellow dress that clung to her figure and contained hooded material over her head.

She opted for minimal accessories to allow the outfit to be the main focal point, and added a pair of small silver earrings as well as a dainty bracelet. 

Jill Wagner was fashionable wearing a black dress with a corset-styled bodice and puffy sleeves with black and white hues. 

Her hair was swept up into a chic updo, allowing loose wavy strands to border the sides of her face. 

For a finishing touch, the actress also donned a pair of open-toed, black pumps to complete the red carpet ensemble. 

Elizaveta Neretin was glamorous in a strapless black dress that contained sheer material on the skirt and a fitted bodice. 

Her locks were parted in the middle and pulled back into a sleek updo. For a final touch, the star also opted for black pumps.  

Kidman was seen crossing paths with De Oliveira and the pair shared a friendly embrace. 

The duo also paused for a snap with Saldana and Wagner during the starry premiere in the Big Apple.