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Suspect Arrested in Virginia State Dorm Closet Shooting Case

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In a swift response, Virginia police apprehended a 19-year-old man suspected of being involved in a devastating mass shooting at Virginia State University over the weekend.

The suspect, identified as Camron Harris from Henrico, Virginia, has been revealed as a non-student according to law enforcement. The violent incident on Saturday resulted in five individuals sustaining injuries, with one victim reportedly in critical condition.

While authorities have yet to disclose the identities of those injured, they did confirm that only one of the victims is enrolled at the university.

An intense manhunt extended for hours after the shooting, culminating in the arrest of Harris. He was discovered concealing himself in a closet within a dormitory on the university campus.

This Nov. 12, 2023 file photo shows the campus of Virginia State University.

This image, dated November 12, 2023, captures the tranquil scenery at Virginia State University before tragedy struck. (Image courtesy of USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Police obtained felony warrants for four counts of malicious wounding and four counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Harris is being held without bail at Chesterfield County Jail, according to authorities. They say he may face more charges.

The shooting itself took place early Saturday morning, while Harris was arrested hours later.

Camron Harris' mugshot shown next to police activity at Virginia State University.

Chesterfield Police arrested 19-year-old Camron Harris in connection with a mass shooting at Virginia State University on Saturday, August 15. (WWBT via AP; Chesterfield County Police Department)

“Officers responded to the 3300 block of Boisseau Street at approximately 1:28 a.m. and discovered five individuals suffering from gunshot wounds outside VSU residence halls,” a university official told News Media.

“We recognize the concern this incident has caused among our students, parents, alumni, friends and the broader VSU community,” the university said in a statement Saturday afternoon. “VSU police will maintain an increased presence on campus as the investigation continues.

“Students should monitor their VSU email for additional safety measures currently in effect and information about available support resources,” the statement added.

A campus lockdown at VSU has since been lifted.

Mugshot of Camron Harris

Chesterfield Police arrested 19-year-old Camron Harris in connection with a mass shooting at Virginia State University on Saturday, August 15. (Chesterfield County Police Department)

VSU, a state-supported historically Black university, is located in Ettrick, Virginia, about 25 miles south of Richmond.

Tragic Indonesia Earthquake Claims 38 Lives: Communities in Mourning

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Tragedy struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday when a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake claimed the lives of at least 38 individuals. This devastating tremor was soon followed by a series of relentless aftershocks.

In a heartfelt announcement, Suharyanto, the chief of Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency, revealed during a press briefing that 38 people are confirmed dead. He added, “Two individuals have sustained severe injuries, 11 others suffered minor wounds, and around 2,000 residents have chosen to evacuate on their own.”

The early hours of Saturday saw chaos erupt as the earthquake shook the region near Flores Island, prompting thousands to flee in fear in response to a tsunami warning issued by authorities.

Although initial tsunami waves under one meter were detected in multiple regions of this Southeast Asian country, the alert was fortunately lifted soon afterward, providing some relief to the anxious population.

In Nagekeo regency, located closest to the quake’s epicenter on Flores, residents urgently sought higher ground as the ocean ominously retreated, leaving them with little time but to react swiftly.

Teams had yet to reach Nagekeo, and communications signals there had been ‌affected, Fathur Rahman, head of the city’s rescue agency, told Reuters.

Attempts to reach Nagekeo ⁠by car were blocked by landslides, while another team was attempting to go by ferry, he said.

INDONESIA-QUAKE

About 2,000 residents in Nagekeo evacuated, and damage was reported to a number of houses, warehouses and government facilities, national disaster mitigation agency BNPB said.

Authorities also reported traffic congestion and power outages affecting parts of the regency, it said.

The governor of East Nusa Tenggara Province, Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, told a media conference at least five people died from collapsing rubble as they slept.

The epicentre of the shallow quake was located off the north coast of the island, about 68 kilometres northwest of the coastal town of Ende, US and Indonesian authorities said.

The initial jolt was followed by strong aftershocks in the same area, including one with a magnitude of 6.1.

“Suddenly it started to shake and I panicked,” 31-year-old hospital customer service official and Maumere resident, Lukas Lotar, told AFP.

Maumere is the main town in Sikka regency, next to Nagekeo regency on Flores.

“Patients also fled the hospital, the jolt was big. I saw some walls were cracked,” he said.

A resident in Nagekeo, Yohanes Babo, 56, said he was at a market when the earth started shaking.

“The shaking was strong. Thankfully, we were already outside the house,” he told AFP.

“People were panicking, running here and there. We’re evacuating for the time being… and trying to get to the hills,” he said, adding: “My family is safe. No one was harmed.”

Rows of makeshift hospital beds.

Strong shaking was also felt across East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and parts of South Sulawesi, and residents in several areas reported shaking lasting about one minute, BNPB said in a statement.

“Most of the people felt the shock and scattered out of their homes,” it said.

A hospital in the district of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara Province was ‌moving patients outside, Kompas TV footage showed, and Kompas.com reported at least one landslide.

Indonesian geophysics agency BMKG recorded the first quake at 4.58am at a depth of 15km, followed by several aftershocks.

In 1992 the same area was hit by a magnitude-7.5 quake, causing extensive destruction at that time, the agency said.

Tsunami scare

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warned earlier on Saturday of the possibility of tsunami waves following the quake and urged people to get to higher ground.

An alert was issued for waves ranging from 0.5 metres to three metres (1.6 to 9.8 feet), but was later lifted.

Indonesia and neighbouring countries experience frequent earthquakes due to their location in the Pacific “Ring of Fire” — an arc of intense seismic activity stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

Among Indonesia’s history of deadly quakes is a devastating 9.1-magnitude tremor in 2004 that struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including about 170,000 in Indonesia.

The Boxing Day tragedy was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

In 2018, a powerful quake shook the island of Lombok and several more tremors followed over the next couple of weeks, killing more than 550 people on the holiday island and neighbouring Sumbawa.

Later that year, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island left more than 4,300 people dead or missing.

Australia’s tsunami warning centre said the undersea earthquake would have “no tsunami threat to the Australian mainland, islands or territories”.


John Harbaugh Poised to Transform Giants: 2026 NFL Coach of the Year Contender

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As the new NFL season dawns, all eyes are on John Harbaugh and the revamped coaching team of the Giants in East Rutherford. It’s little wonder why, given that FanDuel Sportsbook has pegged him as the frontrunner for the NFL Coach of the Year award, with odds placed at +650.

Harbaugh, who boasts a Super Bowl win in his career, faces the formidable challenge of turning around the Giants following a bleak season. The team limped to a 4-13 record, finding themselves at the bottom of the NFC East standings.

The mission is clear: Harbaugh aims to emulate the remarkable transformation achieved by last year’s recipient, Mike Vrabel. Vrabel led his team from last in their division to clinching 14 victories and securing a Super Bowl spot.

Yet, Harbaugh isn’t the only contender for the esteemed accolade. Jesse Minter, who steps into Harbaugh’s shoes in Baltimore, is also a formidable candidate with the second-best odds at +850.

Also in the mix are Kevin Stefanski and Kellen Moore, both carrying 14/1 odds. Moore’s prospects with New Orleans are garnering attention, as many believe that Tyler Shough and the Saints pose a serious challenge for the NFC South title.

2026 NFL Coach of the Year odds

Coach Odds
John Harbaugh +650
Jesse Minter +850
Kevin Stefanski 14/1
Kellen Moore 14/1
Joe Brady 15/1
Ben Johnson 15/1
Brian Schottenheimer 16/1
Robert Saleh 16/1
Klint Kubiak 17/1
Jim Harbaugh 19/1
Odds as of Aug. 16, via FanDuel.

Further down the board, the Bills’ newly promoted Joe Brady and Ben Johnson of the Bears are both listed at 15/1. Brian Schottenheimer and Titans coach Robert Saleh, formerly of the Jets, each carry 16/1 prices. 

Rounding out the top ten are Klint Kubiak at 17/1 and Jim Harbaugh at 19/1, before the market truly widens with remaining candidates listed at odds of 22/1 or higher. 

Let’s dive into two names to sprinkle a wager on ahead of Week 1:

2026 NFL Coach of the Year picks

Zac Taylor, 28/1, DraftKings 

Taylor and the Bengals’ 2021 run to the Super Bowl was magical, followed by an AFC Championship appearance the following season, when they lost to the Chiefs.

Since then, the Bengals’ output has been marked by disappointment, injuries, and mediocrity defensively. 

This is the moment for Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, as well as other offensive standouts Tee Higgins and Chase Brown, to make a major impact in the AFC North.

On defense, the additions of Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen boost their line. 

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor talking with quarterback Joe Burrow.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor talks with quarterback Joe Burrow during the first day of training camp at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in Cincinnati. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

With a favorable schedule that includes the Browns twice, as well as matchups against the Titans, Dolphins, and Falcons, Cincinnati is poised for a strong season.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Taylor’s name enter the fold as a potential COTY nominee if all things go according to plan.


Betting on the NFL?


Dave Canales, 40/1, BetMGM

The Panthers secured their first NFC South division title in over a decade and ended last season with an 8-9 record.

Canales has successfully breathed new life into the franchise as Carolina certainly gave Matthew Stafford and the Rams a run for their money in a Wild Card playoff thriller, ultimately falling by one possession.

Offensive Rookie of the Year winner Tetoria McMillan provides reliable hands that have significantly accelerated the growth of Bryce Young by providing him a true go-to target. 

While the loss of second-round draft pick Nic Scourton during training camp is a blow to the defensive unit, the front office made a splash earlier this offseason by signing former Eagle Jaelan Phillips to a lucrative four-year, $120 million contract. 

The NFC South remains a wide-open race, and even with a tougher schedule, placing a small wager on Canales to further reshape the Panthers’ identity in year three at the helm is a gamble I think worth taking.


Why Trust New York Post Betting

Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.

Luxury Estate of Ex-TV Mogul Charles Curran Hits the Market for $29 Million

A luxurious mansion in Sydney’s sought-after eastern suburbs, owned by esteemed businessman Charles Curran, has made a grand entry into the real estate market with a staggering price tag of $29 million.

Nestled in the elite suburb of Woollahra, this exquisite two-story residence features six spacious bedrooms and four elegant bathrooms, epitomizing classic style and sophisticated living.

Curran, now 85 and renowned for founding Screentime, the creators of the popular Underbelly TV series, acquired this expansive estate in 1981 for a mere $750,000.

Following the sad passing of his wife Eva in March, as reported by The Wentworth Courier, the media tycoon, who divested his television stations to Network Ten and Southern Cross in 1996, is opting for a more manageable residence.

Positioned on a serene street within the prestigious ‘consular belt’, a neighborhood hosting international diplomats, Curran’s opulent estate stands as a testament to classic elegance and bygone luxury.

An amazing Sydney eastern suburbs mansion owned by high-profile businessman Charles Curran has hit the market with the eye-watering price guide of $29million (pictured)

An amazing Sydney eastern suburbs mansion owned by high-profile businessman Charles Curran has hit the market with the eye-watering price guide of $29million (pictured)

Curran, 85, (pictured) who founded Screentime, producers of the Underbelly TV franchise, bought the sprawling property in 1981 for $750,000 reports The Wentworth Courier

Curran, 85, (pictured) who founded Screentime, producers of the Underbelly TV franchise, bought the sprawling property in 1981 for $750,000 reports The Wentworth Courier

Highlights include expansive gardens, a pool area, with stone deck, and an al fresco dining patio.

Designed with a combination of chic modern features and beautifully preserved Italianate stylings, the lavish home features a sauna, a private library and a formal dining room.

There’s also a grand marble entrance hall, sitting room and private lounge, media room and a sun room that doubles as a home office.

The master bedroom, meanwhile, features a lavish en suite. 

Located in Woolahra, one of the city's most exclusive post codes, the classic two storey home boasts six bedrooms and four bathrooms. Pictured: One of several living areas

Located in Woolahra, one of the city’s most exclusive post codes, the classic two storey home boasts six bedrooms and four bathrooms. Pictured: One of several living areas

Designed with a combination of chic modern features and beautifully preserved Italianate stylings, the lavish home features a sauna, a private library and a formal dining room

Designed with a combination of chic modern features and beautifully preserved Italianate stylings, the lavish home features a sauna, a private library and a formal dining room

Other highlights include large ceilings, French windows, plantation shutters, and underfloor heating.

Meanwhile the large kitchen boasts a pantry, stone top benches and top of the range fixtures.

A former chairman of Perpetual, Curran is a rich lister who is reputedly worth an estimated $300million. 

In 2018, the media tycoon sold off his horse stud, known as Springdale in Canowindra, NSW for $3.7million reports the Australian Financial Review.

Last year Curran bought up a gorgeous sub-penthouse from fashion guru Maria Finlay, spending 8.3million on the two-bedroom pad in Double Bay, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.  

Highlights include large ceilings, French windows, plantation shutters, and underfloor heating

Highlights include large ceilings, French windows, plantation shutters, and underfloor heating

Ukrainian Strike Sparks Massive Blaze in ‘Russian Amazon’ Hub

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Dramatic new footage has emerged, capturing the fiery devastation as a massive blaze consumed a warehouse often dubbed the ‘Russian Amazon,’ located just outside Moscow. This destruction followed a drone assault attributed to Ukraine.

In the pre-dawn hours, the Wildberries online shopping hub in Koledino—merely 25 miles from central Moscow—became an inferno. This scene unfolded suddenly, setting the sprawling complex ablaze.

Wildberries, Russia’s top e-commerce giant, allegedly stores military equipment for President Putin, according to Ukrainian claims. The incident has drawn significant international attention, given the site’s prominence.

According to Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, the city was targeted by an onslaught of over 600 drones that night. Concurrently, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that its forces had downed 822 Ukrainian drones during this intense period of conflict.

Tragically, the attacks have claimed at least six lives. Among the deceased is an 83-year-old man who perished when a drone struck his private residence within the Moscow area, highlighting the personal toll of this escalating conflict.

Five people were also killed in Russia’s southwestern Rostov region, where three towns came under attack. 

It came as British drones were used to strike targets on Russian mainland for the first time, reports said last night. 

Drones made by two UK companies were supplied to Ukraine, whose forces deployed the weapons as part of its deep-strike campaign.

Ukraine also came under Russian attack, with drone strikes destroying homes and torching Kyiv’s landmark book market. 

A Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s Kryvyi Rih killed two people and wounded 14 others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today – adding that one more person was killed in the city of Sumy.

Fire engulfs a 'Russian Amazon' warehouse near Moscow after a Ukrainian drone attack

Fire engulfs a ‘Russian Amazon’ warehouse near Moscow after a Ukrainian drone attack

Smoke billows from the burning Wildberries warehouses following a Ukrainian drone attack

Smoke billows from the burning Wildberries warehouses following a Ukrainian drone attack

The Wildberries logistics hub, 25 miles south of the Kremlin, after a Ukrainian drone attack

The Wildberries logistics hub, 25 miles south of the Kremlin, after a Ukrainian drone attack

A firefighting helicopter flies above the burning Wildberries facility this morning

A firefighting helicopter flies above the burning Wildberries facility this morning 

Separately, NATO scrambled a fighter jet and shot down a drone that flew into Romania in the early hours of this morning. Two Spanish F-18 planes were deployed after the unmanned aircraft was detected entering the national airspace around 14 miles north of Galați. 

Romanian defence minister, Radu Miruță, said: ‘At 5.01am, the drone was intercepted and destroyed between the localities of Băleni and Cudalbi, in Galați county, in an unpopulated area.

‘Romania defends its airspace, and our allies are with us.’ 

This appears to be the latest of a succession of incursions by Russian drones into NATO states, and came amid a concerted attack on the Odesa region, close to the border with Romania.

But there are suspicions that Putin is deliberately testing NATO responses, using attacks on southern Ukraine as cover.

The swarm of Ukrainian drones in the Moscow region led to flight chaos, with journeys suspended at the capital’s Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports.

The huge flames and thick black smoke at the Wildberries hub – covering 2.7 million square feet – represents a major psychological blow to Putin. 

The Wildberries online shopping giant – the largest in Russia – is partly owned by senior officials in Putin’s Kremlin power structure, yet Moscow’s air defences have failed to protect it, according to reports. 

After dozens of recent attacks on Wildberries, which supplies Putin’s military machine, the impact is being felt in the Russian economy – with the latest catastrophic blaze set to impact the city’s supply chain.

A second warehouse complex, North Domodedovo, was engulfed in flames this morning, close to one of Moscow’s main international airports.

British-made drones used by Ukraine for strikes on Russian territory include the Nyan - a jet-powered, carbon-fibre attack drone (pictured)

British-made drones used by Ukraine for strikes on Russian territory include the Nyan – a jet-powered, carbon-fibre attack drone (pictured)

Ukrainian rescuers use a water hose as they work to extinguish a fire at the site of a Russian strike in Kyiv this morning

Ukrainian rescuers use a water hose as they work to extinguish a fire at the site of a Russian strike in Kyiv this morning 

A Ukrainian rescuer works at the site of a Russian strike in Kyiv in the early hours of this morning

A Ukrainian rescuer works at the site of a Russian strike in Kyiv in the early hours of this morning 

A thick plume of smoke rises into the air after Wildberries was hit in a Ukrainian attack

A thick plume of smoke rises into the air after Wildberries was hit in a Ukrainian attack 

Emergency service personnel work at the site of a Russian missile strike that heavily damaged the Pochaina market in Kyiv, Ukraine

Emergency service personnel work at the site of a Russian missile strike that heavily damaged the Pochaina market in Kyiv, Ukraine 

Governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, said the onslaught ends ‘one of the most massive drone attacks in recent times’.

Meanwhile, Russia used North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles to attack Ukraine overnight.

Kyiv was hit, as was Zelensky’s home city, Kryvyi Rih, in major Russian strikes.

In Kyiv, a fire was reported at a market in the Obolonskyi district, with fires in several districts in the city.

Putin’s forces claimed to have hit the largest mining and metallurgical enterprise in Ukraine, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, as well as the Kryvyi Rih Cement plant along with storage facilities.

The Kremenchuk oil refinery, the largest in Ukraine, was attacked.

British-made drones used by Ukraine for strikes on Russian territory include the Nyan – a jet-powered, carbon-fibre attack drone developed by Wiltshire-based Callen-Lenz, a subsidiary of BAE Systems, The Sunday Times first reported. 

The aircraft has a wingspan of more than 9ft and a reported range of more than 150 miles.

It was reportedly used against Belgorod last year and has since formed part of Ukraine’s expanding deep-strike campaign.

Ukraine has deployed a second unidentified British-made drone, launched by catapult and capable of travelling more than 600 miles.

British systems have reportedly participated in operations targeting Russian oil refineries and other infrastructure during the past six months.

The disclosure over the use of British drones follows Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow missiles in the war, but stocks of these are limited and costs high compared with unmanned planes.

There is no evidence British drones were used in today’s Ukrainian onslaught on Russia.  

Ukraine also launched a ‘massive’ attack on Russia on Friday night and into Saturday morning, targeting a key rocket and space plant that are used in the development of Putin’s Starlink-style satellite internet network.

The strike deployed by Kyiv targeted the Progress Rocket Space Centre in Samara, south-western Russia, President Zelensky said.

A motive behind the attack may have been to disrupt launches of Rassvet satellites – Russia’s answer to Elon Musk’s Starlink system, which allows Ukraine a secure satellite connection to communicate and operate drones. 

With Russian forces banned from using Starlink, Putin is fast-tracking the development of Rassvet satellites to provide rapid and secure internet connections to control long-range drones and transmit targeting information during attacks on Ukraine.

Beware: Scammers Targeting Grandparents as Back-to-School Season Heats Up

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Press release from Operation Senior Shield

In Tallahassee, Fla., as families reunite and gear up for another school year, there’s an unfortunate rise in scam activities targeting older adults. Often, these con artists capitalize on the goodwill of grandparents who are eager to assist their loved ones, manipulating their emotions by creating a false sense of urgency and fear.

Fraudsters may disguise themselves as grandchildren, relatives, or even friends, reaching out with fabricated stories. Common tactics include messages from supposed grandchildren claiming to have a “new phone number” or requests for financial support to cover school-related costs, emergencies, or unforeseen expenses.

The essence of these scams is to elicit a rapid response, preventing potential victims from taking the time necessary to verify the authenticity of the request.

These criminals often resort to several deceitful methods, such as:

  • Claim to be a grandchild or family member in trouble
  • Send texts from an unfamiliar number saying, “I got a new phone”
  • Ask for gift cards, payment apps, or money transfers
  • Request help paying for books, tuition, or school supplies
  • Ask you to keep the request secret from other family members

The goal is often to exploit trust and emotions before victims recognize the warning signs.

Red Flags

  • Unexpected texts or calls claiming to be a loved one
  • Requests for money that create urgency
  • Messages asking you not to tell anyone
  • Requests for gift cards, wire transfers, or payment apps
  • Excuses for why they cannot speak on the phone

Tips to Protect Yourself

  • Pause before sending money or gift cards
  • Call your loved one directly using a trusted phone number
  • Verify requests with another family member if possible
  • Be cautious of messages from unfamiliar numbers
  • Never let urgency prevent you from asking questions

How to Report Concerns or Get Help

Reporting suspicious activity may help protect other older adults from financial exploitation and fraud.

  • Federal Trade Commission Fraud Reporting: ReportFraud.gov
  • FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov
  • Identity Theft Resource Center: 888-400-5530 or idtheftcenter.org
  • Contact your local law enforcement agency if you believe money has already been sent or a loved one may be involved in an emergency scam

Stay Informed

Operation Senior Shield (OSS) provides fraud alerts, scam prevention tips, and consumer protection information to help older adults across Florida recognize warning signs and avoid financial exploitation. Please continue sharing trusted fraud prevention information with friends, family members, caregivers, and loved ones.

Family connections are important, and taking a moment to verify unexpected requests can help protect the people and relationships that matter most. Staying informed through Operation Senior Shield can help you recognize warning signs, avoid scams, and help protect older adults across Florida. Your willingness to share trusted information and talk openly about scams can help safeguard loved ones and strengthen communities throughout our state.

CEO Vishal Garg Seeks Return After Notorious Zoom Layoffs

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Vishal Garg expresses a sense of betrayal.

“He’s deceived me,” said Garg, the recently ousted CEO of Better Home & Finance, referring to Daniel Lewis, who succeeded him. “He expressed support for the company’s direction, praised us publicly, and leveraged that to secure a position on our board and gain our trust.”

Vishal Garg feels duped.

Garg, infamous for dismissing 900 employees via a Zoom call right before the 2021 holidays, claims he was terminated on August 3, just as he was steering the company toward renewed success.

Under Garg’s leadership, Better experienced turbulent times. During the pandemic, when mortgage rates were below 3%, the company boasted an $8 billion valuation. Now, with the refinancing sector shrinking and interest rates approaching 7%, the AI-driven mortgage firm’s market valuation has plummeted to $300 million.

Adding to the turmoil was Garg’s temporary leave after the notorious Zoom layoffs, a whistleblower lawsuit that was eventually dropped, an unfruitful SEC investigation, and a disastrous SPAC merger in 2023 that slashed the company’s stock by 93%. These challenges, combined with continuous losses, make it surprising that Garg remained CEO for as long as he did.

But Garg says he was just about to deliver on the company’s unlikely turnaround.

After its core refinancing business went belly up, Better’s annual sales plummeted from $1.5 billion in 2021 to $70 million in 2023. This year, the company is on pace to deliver $200 million in sales, he said.

It bounced back by training AI models to quickly process mortgages — a task that would normally take dozens of people several days to accomplish. It partnered with Neo Home Loans, which doubled productivity and reduced loan origination costs by 50%, Garg claims. Impressed with the results, Intuit, Coinbase and OpenAI partnered with Better this year to power their mortgage services. The company also developed a strong home equity line of credit business.

“We’re winning. We’ve tripled loan volume. We’re close to profitability,” Garg said. “We were at the 5-yard line after taking the ball all the way down the field from the other side.”

Garg acknowledges he’s “hard-nosed” and the famous Zoom layoffs severely damaged the company’s reputation — a mistake he knows will continue to haunt him. But as criticized as Garg has been for placing near-impossible demands on the company and its employees, he said Lewis convinced the board he didn’t push hard enough.

Better and Lewis did not respond to a request for comment. On August 4, Lewis posted on X, “There was never a $BETR without @vishal_better. That demands respect.”

‘It’s not about me’

Lewis, a hedge fund manager with a mixed track record of success, approached Garg six months ago with thoughts about cost savings and good ideas about delivering profitability, Garg says.

“(Lewis’) thoughts about cost savings were good. His ideas about innovation were not,” Garg argued. “It’s so much easier when we’re this close for someone to come in and say that they could have done better.”

Lewis was brought on to the board on July 27. A week later, he had convinced the other directors to oust Garg as CEO and name himself as Garg’s replacement.

“It’s not about me,” Garg said. “I care about delivering savings to people and helping them live the American Dream. So when shareholders said, ‘You need to take a back seat,’ I complied.”

But Garg says he believes Lewis hadn’t been forthcoming about his intentions over the past several months, as he advised Garg and convinced him to give him a board seat.

“I suspect he always wanted to become CEO,” said Garg. “The board made a mistake.”

Investors appear to agree with Garg. The stock has fallen 45% since Lewis took over as CEO. (The stock had been down more than 16% this year before Garg’s departure was announced.)

In the week since Garg stepped aside (but remained on the board) he says a number of horrified investors reached out to plead with him to take his CEO job back. Armed with Class B shares with special voting powers — his own and from a group of committed early investors — Garg says he has the votes to win.

He has retained high-powered lawyer Alex Spiro, partner at Quinn Emanuel, to represent him, and he sent a letter to the board on Monday demanding it return him as CEO. He says he’ll work for $1 a year until he returns the company to profitability, and he’ll transition out of the CEO role afterward.

“It’s an acknowledgment that I’ve been doing this for 10 years, but execution hasn’t been perfect,” Garg said. “I hope it gets resolved. I think the future still remains very bright for Better.”

The-CNN-Wire

Artist’s Giant Sculpture Sparks Intense Hamptons Showdown

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In a clash that has stirred emotions in a typically serene enclave, a Hamptons town finds itself at odds with a local entrepreneur over a provocative work of art. The bone of contention is an eye-catching sculpture made from shipping containers that has split the opinions of this upscale community.

The controversy took root in June when Matt Johnson erected his sculpture, Mediating Figure, on a property in Montauk known as The Ranch, owned by Max Levai.

Crafted from an array of retired shipping containers, these elements were intricately welded to resemble a figure deep in meditation. The installation finds its perch on Levai’s land, a site formerly marked as protected farmland.

Local residents were quick to express their discontent with the Los Angeles artist’s bold creation, with a sizable segment advocating for its removal and destruction.

East Hampton, under whose jurisdiction Montauk falls, has now taken legal action against Levai and The Ranch. The lawsuit alleges the ‘unlawful construction and maintenance of an unpermitted structure on real property,’ intensifying the showdown between artistic expression and regulatory compliance.

Despite the land being privately owned, the town argued that an August 1983 agreement stated that the land could only be developed as agricultural production. 

This isn’t the first time Levai has shown artwork on The Ranch, which he has owned since 2021. However, it is the first time the town has brought a lawsuit against him for it. 

The town said Levai failed to apply for a permit with the town to allow the structure to be on the land. 

In June, Matt Johnson's sculpture, Mediating Figure, was constructed on a ranch in Montauk. Residents were quick to have mixed feelings about it

In June, Matt Johnson’s sculpture, Mediating Figure, was constructed on a ranch in Montauk. Residents were quick to have mixed feelings about it 

Johnson picked Montauk as it used to be an artist's colony and it was the furthest point on Long Island. Now the Town of East Hampton, which includes Montauk, is demanding it be demolished

Johnson picked Montauk as it used to be an artist’s colony and it was the furthest point on Long Island. Now the Town of East Hampton, which includes Montauk, is demanding it be demolished 

East Hampton is now demanding the structure be ‘dismantled or demolished immediately.’ 

Johnson told Vanity Fair that it made sense for him to install the artwork in Montauk, as the tiny town was once known as an artist’s colony. It is also the furthest point of Long Island. 

‘I think a lot of times, artists – and I certainly feel this way about living where I live – it’s nice to sort of just get yourself a distance away from all the stuff that’s going on,’ he told the magazine. 

Levai has been displaying a vast collection of artwork on his property for the past five years, garnering many positive reactions from local museums and art collectors, he told the outlet.

‘Whether it’s these great local museums that are all really supportive, or other people doing similar things to what I am in a non-traditional way – and obviously an incredible amount of affluent collectors are out here, looking to see art in a different context,’ he said. 

Levai likes that Mediating Figure is pushing boundaries and allowing people to think, he said. 

‘And that sculpture, certainly, I think kind of defines that, right?’ he added.

Residents do not need a permit to install artwork on their property, but the town argues the sculpture is, by definition, a structure – meaning it requires one.

The town argued the welded together artwork is a structure, and therefore, needs a building permit to be allowed. They also said the land can only be used for agricultural development

The town argued the welded together artwork is a structure, and therefore, needs a building permit to be allowed. They also said the land can only be used for agricultural development 

‘Any and all structures in New York State require a building permit,’ Patrick Derenze, the town’s public information officer, told the Daily Mail. 

‘If an art sculpture qualifies as a structure under New York State building code, then it will need to go through the applicable building permit application process to ensure that it meets any and all building codes.’

‘They’re welding big pieces of metal together,’ Town Attorney, Jake Turner, told the Vanity Fair. ‘It needs to go through the building department for applicable safety standard checks.’ 

Derenze also told the Daily Mail: ‘The Town can confirm that four charges have been brought against The Ranch: violation of a conservation easement, failure to obtain a building permit, failure to obtain Architectural Review Board approval and failure to obtain a certificate of occupancy.

‘We secured a stay prohibiting them from undertaking any further construction or demolition on the property. We will return at a later date as the case proceeds.’ 

The uproar over the artwork caused it to come up in the East Hampton Town Board Work Session on July 7, where they voted 4-1 to explore legal action against Levai and The Ranch. 

Weeks later, it filed a complaint in Suffolk County Supreme Court against Levai, his business, and Johnson. The artist has since been dropped as a defendant last week. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Johnson and the attorneys for the town, The Ranch, and Levai for comment.