In a significant legal development, Harvard University has consented to a proposed $53 million settlement. This agreement aims to resolve allegations by families who accused the esteemed institution of mishandling its anatomical gift program. Controversy arose after accusations that a former morgue manager unlawfully trafficked body parts from cadavers donated for critical research and education purposes.

Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Debra A. Squires-Lee gave preliminary approval to the class action settlement on Tuesday. The proposal includes the creation of two distinct funds to collectively disburse $53 million, thereby resolving the claims against Harvard University.

A hearing to potentially give the final stamp of approval to this settlement is slated for December 9, 2026. During this session, the court will thoroughly evaluate whether the proposed agreement meets the necessary legal standards for conclusive approval.

SAN FRANCISCO ARCHDIOCESE REACHES $395M SETTLEMENT WITH 530 CLERGY ABUSE SURVIVORS

The litigation followed the 2023 arrest of Cedric Lodge, who managed Harvard Medical School’s morgue for nearly three decades and who prosecutors said stole and sold parts of cadavers donated to the school for medical research and education.

Lodge pleaded guilty to interstate transport of stolen human remains and was sentenced to eight years in prison. His wife, Denise Lodge, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison.

Lodge admitted that, from 2018 through at least March 2020, he participated in the sale and interstate transport of human remains stolen from the Harvard Medical School morgue, including organs, brains, skin, hands, faces, dissected heads and other parts from donated cadavers after they had been used for research and teaching purposes but before they were disposed of in accordance with anatomical gift donation agreements.

He transported the remains to his home in New Hampshire without the knowledge or permission of Harvard, the donors or their families, officials said.

Harvard condemned Lodge’s conduct in a message to the school’s community Monday.

“His violations … were despicable, abhorrent, and a flagrant betrayal of our values as a medical community,” George Daley, Harvard’s dean of the faculty of medicine, and Bernard Chang, dean for medical education at Harvard Medical School, wrote in the letter.

The university noted that the federal indictment said Lodge acted “without the knowledge or permission of HMS.”

Harvard said the proposed settlement also includes a pledge by HMS to provide a statement to claimant families reaffirming that Lodge’s criminal acts were “morally reprehensible and inconsistent with the standards that Harvard University and HMS expect for the treatment of anatomical donors and their loved ones.”

The university also said it will establish an annual financial aid scholarship for medical students beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year in appreciation and honor of its anatomical donors.

“We hope that this resolution ensures that this never happens to another family ever again,” John Morgan, whose law firm, Morgan & Morgan, represented families in the litigation, said in a statement.

DEAR ABBY: At 70 years old, I believe my mental faculties are still sound, although I’ve noticed a tendency to retell stories to my children, grandchildren, and friends. These repetitions often result in my kids responding with less patience than I’d like, sometimes even coming across as rude or sarcastic with comments like, “Yeah, we’ve heard that story before.”

We suspect this experience is common among people our age. To address it, I’ve started introducing my stories with, “Did I tell you about …” as a precaution. It would be nice if they responded a bit more thoughtfully, perhaps saying, “Yes, Dad, we remember that one. Is there anything new?” What advice does Dear Abby have on this matter? — RECOLLECTIONS ON REPEAT

DEAR RECOLLECTIONS: It’s true that your family and friends might consider being more courteous when they mention they’ve already heard your stories. If these interruptions are becoming frequent, it might be wise to discuss the issue with your doctor.

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DEAR ABBY: Last Christmas, my thoughtful team gifted me a Fitbit. Although it was a generous gesture, I haven’t found myself using it and doubt that I will. How can I express my gratitude for their thoughtfulness while also communicating that I simply don’t intend to use or wear it? They’ve already pointed out they haven’t seen it on my wrist. — WON’T USE IT IN FLORIDA

DEAR WON’T USE IT: Your staff must be devoted and wish you a long and healthy life. I find the fact that they gave you a Fitbit to be quite impressive. In fairness, I must warn you. If you put it on, I know from experience that you may find yourself immediately addicted. The way to handle this might actually be to give it a try and tell your employees that you are using it at home. It may prod you off your behind and into a healthier lifestyle.

** ** **

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I were together for 10 years, married for nine. He recently passed away at the age of 42. His death was unexpected, and I was the one who found him. He’d had an epileptic seizure while home alone. I have serious anxiety driving home every day now. 

I’ve been looking for grief counseling, support groups, etc., but there seems to be a recurring theme: Young widows and widowers (under 50) are underserved. I don’t mean to diminish anyone else’s grief, but at the same time, I do not want to hear “We had a great long life together” from a much older woman when my experience has been nothing like hers. Members of the younger generation need different support, and it just isn’t there. –– YOUNG AND GRIEVING

DEAR YOUNG AND GRIEVING: Please allow me to offer my deepest sympathy. Losing your husband at such an early age must have been a terrible shock. It’s not surprising that you have trouble relating to people whose loss happened much later in life. 

For a support group geared toward younger people, you might have better luck online. Search for “young widow support group,” and you will find chat forums and video meetups as well as resources to help you rebuild your life. It’s not the same as meeting face-to-face, but it may help.

In a tragic turn of events, Brazilian influencer Marta Kelly passed away at the young age of 33, mere days after undergoing extensive cosmetic surgery.

Kelly had captured the hearts of half a million followers on social media, spreading joy and inspiration through her TikTok and Instagram posts, which regularly highlighted her keen sense of fashion and her vibrant life as a devoted mother of three.

The heartbreaking announcement of Kelly’s passing was made by her husband, Marcus Vinicius, in a heartfelt Instagram post shared on Tuesday, leaving many in shock and mourning across the digital world.

With profound emotion, Vinicius expressed that Kelly had “fought until the last moment with all the strength she had,” only to ultimately succumb, describing it as a battle bravely fought but sadly lost.

“Yes, my friends… WE HAVE LOST THE BATTLE,” he articulated in Portuguese, conveying the profound sense of loss felt by all who knew and loved her.

‘Still very hard to write these words. I don’t think any sentence could explain the amount of pain I’m feeling right now.

‘Marta was the love of my life. My best friend, my partner, the best wife I could ever ask for and a great mother to our kids.

‘She fought until the last moment. She fought with all the strength she had.’

Vinicius did not share details surrounding the circumstances of Kelly’s passing and her cause of death has not been revealed.

According to reports, she had a ‘three-in-one’ procedure on August 12, which included liposuction, breast implants and a tummy tuck.

She was reportedly discharged one day after the surgery but returned to the hospital on August 14 when she started feeling sick; she passed away on Monday.

Her last post was shared on August 6 and featured her documenting herself attending a consultation for a breast augmentation.

Vinicius went on to praise Kelly’s ‘pure heart’ and her ability to ‘love and care for those around her,’ particularly, her three sons Theo, Ravi and Filippo, in his post.

‘As a wife, she has been my partner in absolutely everything,’ he continued. 

‘As a mother, [she was full of] love, care, protection and provision. Theo, Ravi and Filippo had the privilege of having a mother who loved them in a way that words will never be able to explain.’

He said that ‘moving on’ was going to be the ‘hardest mission of his life.’

‘Marta was, is and always will be my only great love,’ he said. ‘I still don’t know what it’s like to wake up and realize you’re not here. 

‘I don’t know what it’s going to be like looking at our kids and not having you by my side. I don’t know how I’m going to learn to live with this longing.’

He vowed to raise their sons ‘the way she would have wanted’ and said he would ‘do everything to ensure they grew up knowing exactly who their mother was and how much she loved them.’

He went on to reflect on the 15 years they had spent together, admitting: ‘We’ve had good times, bad times, difficulties, achievements, dreams, children, plans… we had a true story.

‘Just know that I will honor you every day of my life,’ he concluded. ‘I’m gonna take care of our boys. 

‘I’m gonna talk about you I’m gonna tell our stories gonna show our pictures I will make them never forget how much you love them.

‘And I will try to continue for us. I will always love you [Marta] ’till the day we meet again.

‘I just pray that I don’t lose faith in love… Let peace come and even when pain seems greater than anything else, let the faith remain in me that one day we shall meet again.

‘Till then, take your rest my love. I watch our boys for both of us.’

On Wednesday evening, a tragic midair mishap unfolded when a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter collided with a smaller aircraft, leading to the plane pilot’s death and inflicting injuries on two state troopers, authorities report.

The Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the incident, which happened near Carlisle Airport, involved a Bell 407 helicopter and a Cessna 150 aircraft. The collision occurred at approximately 7:50 p.m. in central Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner, Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens, shared that during a routine training mission near Carlisle Airport, the police helicopter became entangled in the fatal collision, located roughly 120 miles west of Philadelphia.

Bivens explained in a news briefing that the Cessna, unexpectedly and for reasons not yet clear, veered right at the last moment, impacting the helicopter’s rear. The force damaged both the tail and main rotors, leading to a catastrophic crash.

The circumstances leading to the collision remain under investigation, and federal investigators have not determined a probable cause.

The one-person inside the plane died in the incident, Bivens said.

“The one known occupant of the Cessna did not survive the crash. We believe only the pilot was in the Cessna,” he said.

Both state troopers inside the helicopter were initially trapped before being able to get out. They were injured and transported to a hospital but are expected to recover, according to Gov. Josh Shapiro.

“I’m pleased to say that after an aviation accident, two Pennsylvania State Troopers, while injured, are going to be okay,” he said at the news briefing.

“Lori and I are praying hard and we ask all of our fellow Pennsylvanians to join us,” the governor wrote earlier on social media.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, with the FAA assisting.

A tragic incident in Tennessee has left two young college athletes dead and seven others injured after a driver plowed into a cycling team during its training session on Wednesday morning.

The victims, Milligan University sophomores Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, were participating in an 11-person cycling practice when 69-year-old John Benfield reportedly hit them on Highway 19E in Hampton, Tennessee, just before 9:00 a.m., according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

“We are profoundly shocked and saddened to share that members of our cycling team were involved in a tragic vehicle accident this morning,” Milligan University expressed in a heartfelt statement. “There are no words to adequately describe this level of loss. Our prayers are with all those impacted by this tragedy.”

Engdahl and Rogers were declared dead at the scene, which is situated about 11 miles from the university campus. The seven other cyclists were promptly taken to Johnson City Medical Center for treatment.

At the medical center, four of the injured remain in critical condition in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, while two are reportedly in stable condition, according to JMCU Trauma Director Dr. Bracken Burns.

The seventh cyclist was evaluated and later released.

Officials did not publicly identify the injured athletes.

“Today has been an extraordinarily difficult day for a lot of people in upper East Tennessee,” the Tennessee Highway Patrol said in a statement. “Families have lost loved ones. Others are waiting for news about people who were hurt. Teammates, coaches and an entire university community are trying to process something no one expected when this day began.

“We know there are people hurting right now, and before we talk about the investigation, we want them to know that our hearts also break and we are praying for them,” the THP said.

Benfield, a resident of Newland, NC, was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide by recklessness and five counts of aggravated assault by vehicle by recklessness, Tennessee First Judicial District Attorney General Steven Finney said.

Finney didn’t provide details about the crash, including whether the suspected driver was under the influence.

Additional charges may be filed against Benfield following the investigation, Finney said.

Benfield is being held in Carter County jail.

Finney didn’t fault the cyclists for the crash, saying they were an experienced group who were out for a typical training session.

“This is an elite cycling team. It’s not a bunch of club guys getting together to ride. They know what they’re doing,” he said.

Engdahl, a native of Winthrop Harbor, Ill., and Rogers, from Huntsville, Ala., were mourned by the cycling community as “two student-athletes whose lives were taken far too soon.”

“We are deeply saddened to learn of this morning’s tragic crash involving the Milligan University Cycling team. Our hearts go out to the two student-athletes whose lives were taken far too soon, Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, as well as to the riders who were injured,” USA Cycling said in a statement.

Engdahl had recently recovered from a broken femur that he suffered after crashing during training in March, according to his Instagram.

The teen, who attended Christian Life School in Kenosha, Wisc. was remembered for his warm character.

“A beautiful person, infectious smile, magnetic personality, loved life,” Jeff Bogaczyk, head of school at Christian Life School, told ABC7 Chicago.

Wednesday’s fatal crash comes more than four years after another Milligan University athlete was killed in a similar crash.

Sophomore runner Eli Cramer was out on a pre-track meet run with two teammates when they were struck by a drunk driver in Lightfoot, Va., on March 31, 2022.

Jose Efrain Hernandez Mancia pleaded guilty to DUI involuntary manslaughter for the deadly hit-and-run crash, WAVY reported.

He was sentenced to 12 years in prison in April 2023.

Preparations are in full swing for the NTT IndyCar Series as it sets the stage for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, a standout event occurring in Washington. Crews are hard at work, piecing together a circuit unlike any other in the series.

This dynamic 1.7-mile track will carve a path through some of the most recognizable landmarks in the capital, offering breathtaking views of the National Mall, the Washington Monument, and the US Capitol Building. It’s set to be an unforgettable showcase of high-speed racing amidst iconic scenery.

This city street race, a fresh addition to the IndyCar lineup announced back in January, came to fruition following an executive order by Donald Trump. The directive called on federal agencies to collaborate with DC authorities, aiming to honor America’s 250th anniversary through this thrilling event.

As reported by the New York Post, President Trump will make a ceremonial appearance, joining a lap of honor in his presidential motorcade prior to the main racing event scheduled for August 23.

In conversation with OutKick, a White House spokesperson affirmed, “Trump is making sure that America celebrates its 250th birthday with the grandeur it deserves, setting the stage for a spectacular celebration.”

‘The President will leave his imprint on this historic race in a way that only he can.’

The administration previously hosted a showcase event outside the White House in July to promote the race, which featured drivers Alex Palou, Felix Rosenqvist and David Malukas, alongside a live pit stop demonstration in front of the West Wing.

Organizers recently extended the race length to a full 250 miles, with practice and qualifying scheduled for Saturday before the main race airs live on FOX on Sunday.

The event comes just two months after Trump hosted another sporting event to celebrate the semiquincentennial, hosting a UFC event at the White House. 

The UFC took over the South Lawn on June 14 for an astonishing event that saw Trump perform his own walkout from the Oval Office before taking his seat cageside.

Meanwhile, back in January, Trump held an event in the Oval Office alongside Roger Penske, a racing great who chairs the Penske Corporation, and signed an executive order to get the race in place.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who was in the Oval alongside his Fox News host wife Rachel Campos-Duffy, said the president had tasked him to ‘think outside the box’ and do something ‘historic and cool.’ 

Duffy didn’t realize that Penske’s company was already trying to get Washington, DC to host a race, which is now being dubbed the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. 

‘But to think, 190 miles per hour down Pennsylvania Avenue, this is going to be wild,’ Duffy said. 

The Transportation Secretary noted how the last race hosted in the streets of Washington was in 1801, when President Thomas Jefferson hosted a horse race.

‘And they’re going to put up something that’s really amazing,’ Trump gushed. ‘It’s really having to do with our great 250th birthday. We’re having so many wonderful things.’ 

Shortly after the announcement, the White House put out an AI-generated video of what the race could look like.

It included eagles flying alongside Marine One as Trump arrived at the racetrack – set up outside the US Capitol Building – with the president then waving the green flag. 

The video showed several military flyovers, including of a B-2 bomber.  

The AI-generated Duffy was waving the checkered flag to end the grand prix. 

In a developing story, the Drug Enforcement Administration has stepped in to assist with the probe surrounding the untimely death of acclaimed actress Hayden Panettiere. This involvement has been confirmed by individuals familiar with the ongoing investigation.

Leading the investigation is the Greenville City Police Department in South Carolina. However, the DEA’s participation underscores the case’s complexity and potential implications.

ABC News has proactively reached out to Hayden Panettiere’s representatives, seeking their perspective and comments as the investigation unfolds.

Panettiere, cherished for her dynamic performances in “Ice Princess,” “Heroes,” and the beloved series “Nashville,” tragically passed away on Sunday at 36, leaving fans and the entertainment industry in shock.

The involvement of the DEA in this sensitive case was announced just a day after Greenville police made public a detailed report shedding light on the circumstances at the private residence where the actress was tragically found.

According to the report, an officer arrived at the residence on Easley Bridge Road in Greenville, responding to an EMS assist for an unresponsive individual.

The officer said that Panettiere was with her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zack Hickerson, when she died.

According to the police report, it is unknown if Panettiere was using drugs or alcohol at the time of her death, although the officer added in the report that Brian Hickerson had shown them the bag of medication that Panettiere was taking.

Officials arrived on scene to assist in the investigation, and the coroner was also on scene to conduct their investigation.

Panettiere’s official cause and manner of death “remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies,” the coroner’s office said in a press release on Monday.

Prior to her death, Panettiere had been candid about her struggles from child stardom through adulthood.

She released a memoir this May titled “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in which she shared “a rare and intimate glimpse into her life behind closed doors, opening up about postpartum depression, addiction and recovery, trauma, domestic abuse, and loss,” according to a synopsis for her book.

Everywhere across Hollywood, many have been mourning the actress’ death. Along with “Ice Princess,” “Heroes” and “Nashville,” she also starred in “Remember the Titans,” “Raising Helen,” several “Scream” films and more.

Panettiere is survived by her daughter Kaya, whom she shared with her ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.