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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
Country music legend Dolly Parton has unexpectedly canceled a scheduled appearance at Dollywood, her beloved Tennessee theme park. Her decision follows medical advice to refrain from traveling, stemming from persistent “health issues.”
Parton, 80, delivered the disappointing news via a virtual appearance during the launch of Dollywood’s latest attraction, the NightFlight Expedition roller coaster. “I’m still in Nashville, and I’m sorry about that,” she conveyed over video, as reported by the Knoxville News Sentinel and the Tennessean.
“I was meant to be there in person, just as we had planned,” the “9 to 5” star explained further. “As I’ve shared with you all before, I’ve been facing some minor health challenges. Occasionally, I experience dizziness and dehydration.”
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Donning her signature fairy wings, Parton addressed her fans, saying, “And I’m dehydrated. So my Nashville doctor clipped my wings, announcing that travel was off the table for this week.”
She added humorously, “I suppose when your doctor says you’re grounded, you’re grounded.” In her characteristic open manner, Parton assured her supporters that she’d always keep them “in the loop” and promised ongoing updates on her situation.
In a somber announcement on Friday, the New York Mets shared the heartbreaking news of the passing of Butch Huskey, a cherished player and an unforgettable slugger in the team’s history. He was 54 years old.
The cause behind the Oklahoma native’s untimely death has not yet been disclosed, leaving fans and friends searching for answers.
“We are saddened to learn about the passing of former Met Butch Huskey,” expressed the Mets on their social media platforms, conveying the deep sense of loss felt within the baseball community.
Huskey holds a unique place in baseball history as one of the last men to sport the iconic No. 42 jersey following Major League Baseball’s decision in 1997 to honor Jackie Robinson by retiring the number across all teams. Given the special status of players like Huskey, who wore No. 42 at the time, he was granted a grandfather clause, allowing him to retain the number for several more beloved seasons.
Remarkably, Huskey was seen donning No. 42 on April 15, 1997, witnessing history firsthand alongside Jackie Robinson’s widow, as the monumental decision to retire the number was formally declared.
‘It was a great feeling [to get to continue] to wear that number,’ Huskey told MLB.com in 2022. ‘I also had [Robinson’s wife, Rachel] sign my jersey that I wore that day. I still have that jersey to this day. I’m ecstatic every year when I see everyone wearing No. 42. It puts a smile on my face. For the whole league to be wearing the jersey is amazing.’
Mo Vaughn, who also benefited from the grandfather clause, would later become the last player to wear the famed jersey for the Mets.
Huskey was among the last players to wear No. 42 after it was retired by MLB in 1997 to honor Jackie Robinson, who had integrated the game a half century earlier
A view from behind home plate displaying the art on the field in memory of Jackie Robinson during the Dodgers 5-2 win over the Mets in April of 1997. Huskey is at the plate wearing No 42
Jackie Robinson packs away his Dodger uniform, with the number 42 which he made famous, after the final game of the 1956 World Series
Huskey was a seventh-round pick out of Lawton, Oklahoma’s Eisenhower High School, where he was an All-State tight end on the football field. In fact, he was offered a scholarship to play for the home state Sooners, but instead went with the Mets’ offer and began his minor league career.
He wouldn’t reach the majors until 1993, and due in part to the 1994 MLB strike, he wouldn’t really get to enjoy life in the majors until 1995.
But things began to click for Huskey in 1996, when he finished with 15 home runs and a .278 average while platooning with the left-handed hitting Rico Brogna at first base.
He had his best offensive season in 1997, getting a career-high 505 plate appearances and finishing with 24 home runs and a .287 average. But Huskey was forced to play third that year, which did not go particularly well, and he was later shifted to right field and a reserve spot in favor of Edgardo Alfonzo.
Huskey would go from Seattle to Boston to Minnesota and Colorado over the next two years before leaving the game in 2001 as a member of the Rockies Triple-A affiliate.
Mets fans were crushed by the news and dealt with their grief by sharing some stories about Huskey.
Butch Huskey is seen with his former Seattle Mariners teammate, Ken Griffey Jr. in 2022
‘[In] 2000 my family and I (11 at the time) went to spring training,’ read a post from the popular Art But Make It Sports social media account. ‘[As] we were watching the players come through, Butch Huskey walked up to me and said “kid, hold this bat.”
‘I stood there while he went to talk to someone, and he came back two minutes later and said “what are you still doing here, that bat was for you to take,”‘ the post continued. ‘[Before] I could even process, he said “follow me” and proceeded to take me around Twins spring training to have every player sign the bat. core memory, rest in peace legend.’
Another Mets fan added: ‘One of those players you looked forward to getting his chance, enjoyed while he was doing his best for your team, and now and then looked back on fondly when his name crossed your mind. Thanks for the Met times, Butch.’
Paulette Thompson stood face to face with Luigi Mangione on Friday as he admitted guilt in the federal case linked to the murder of her husband, former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Emerging from the courthouse following Mangione’s plea, Paulette Thompson witnessed the man responsible for her husband’s death acknowledge his crime. Mangione confessed to federal stalking charges connected to the assassination of Brian Thompson, in a dramatic moment that unfolded in a Manhattan courtroom.
In a significant turn of events, Mangione conceded to the grave charges of federal stalking related to the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, before a judicial audience in New York City.
During the hearing, Judge Margaret Garnett questioned Mangione on whether he was aware of the life sentence potential accompanying his plea. His answer was a resolute affirmation: “Yes.”
After Mangione’s guilty plea in the federal courtroom, Paulette Thompson was captured on camera leaving the Manhattan Criminal Court, a scene depicting her silent resilience. (Photo: Rashid Umar Abbasi for News Media)
When given the opportunity to address the court, Mangione told a judge he called UnitedHealthcare and posed as an investor in order to get more information about the scheduled conference.
“After years if enduring severe pain from a broken back…I learned UnitedHealthcare will hold an investor’s conference,” Mangione said.
Paulette Thompson, wife of late UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, walks outside Manhattan Criminal Court following a hearing in the federal murder trial of Luigi Mangione, who is charged in the killing of Brian Thompson, in New York City, U.S., August 14, 2026. Luigi Mangione admitted in court on Friday to killing Brian Thompson and pleaded guilty to federal charges of stalking the executive with the intent to kill him.(David Dee Delgado/Reuters)
“Before traveling to New York,I used a 3-D printer to make a gun,” he added. “On the morning of Dec 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan…I knew what I was doing .”
Federal prosecutors said they intended to show several pieces of evidence at trial, including security footage apparently showing Mangione arriving in New York on a bus and then following Thompson around the Hilton shortly before he was killed.
A hooded man aiming a handgun in this still image taken from surveillance video on the morning of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder in New York City on Dec. 4, 2024. The video shows the assassin approach from behind and open fire with a handgun, killing Thompson outside a Manhattan Hilton hotel.(NYPD)
Garnett scheduled Mangione’s sentencing hearing for Dec. 18.
After the hearing, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch sent a sharp message to people who support Mangione.
Luigi Mangioni is escorted from an NYPD helicopter in New York City, NY, Thursday, December, 19, 2024. Mangione is the prime suspect in the murder of United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.(Rashid Umar Abbasi for News Media)
“To those who idolize Luigi Mangione. I say this violence is not a cause. Murder is not a message. And a killer is certainly not a hero,” Tisch said. “From the moment that Mr. Thompson was assassinated on the morning of December 4th. The NYPD mobilized an enormous investigative effort. Our detectives combed through thousands of hours of surveillance video, followed up on hundreds of tips, and worked through an extraordinary volume of forensic and digital evidence.”
ESPN sports betting analyst Erin Dolan shared a memorable moment with her boyfriend, Phillies’ third baseman Alec Bohm, after Philadelphia secured a 7-1 victory against the Minnesota Twins during Thursday night’s Field of Dreams game.
Following a spectacular fireworks display that celebrated the Phillies’ win in Dyersville, Iowa, the couple took to the field to capture some photos together.
“The Field of Dreams game was one of the coolest sporting events I’ve ever attended (After [the] Eagles won the Super Bowl of course lol),” wrote Dolan, a dedicated Philadelphia sports enthusiast.
Dolan’s TikTok featured footage of Bohm and his fellow players emerging from the iconic cornfields, reminiscent of the classic 1989 film “Field of Dreams,” which starred Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, and Ray Liotta.
This Phillies-Twins showdown marked the third installment of MLB’s “Field of Dreams” series, making a return to the movie’s original site after a four-year hiatus due to the construction of a special ballpark.
Dolan and Bohm went public with their relationship last February, when they attended Super Bowl 2025 in New Orleans, as seen in photos on her Instagram.
The Delaware County native was at the Super Bowl working for ESPN, and she took Bohm with her to the big game — a 40-22 Eagles win over the Chiefs.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Post, Dolan opened up on her relationship with Bohm after keeping things fairly private for some time.
“I think the biggest thing is, it’s nice having somebody in the same space as you that understands you [and] gets it,” Dolan said of both of their careers being in the public eye. “He has a crazy schedule. I have a crazy schedule … I know that things are going to be different in terms of, he’ll have an off day on a Monday or a Thursday, and I’ll have an off day on a Wednesday. It’s just all over the place, but somehow it just works.
“When he’s in his busy season, I’m not — and when I’m in my busy season, he’s not. So, it’s just a balancing act. But he’s the best. It’s awesome to have somebody who’s in your corner, and again, gets the criticism and the daily pressure that you’re under. Because not many people can relate to that.”
MLB and Universal Pictures announced on Friday that the Kansas City Royals and the Boston Red Sox will play in the “Field of Dreams” Game next year Aug. 12, 2027.
RUSH COUNTY, Ind. — The Midwest is grappling with relentless storms as Friday marks the sixth consecutive day of heavy downpours, exacerbating an ongoing flood crisis. Hundreds have been displaced in recent days, with the situation worsening by the hour.
In response, Indiana’s Governor, Mike Braun, has appealed for a Presidential Emergency Declaration via FEMA, aiming to secure essential support for flood relief and recovery efforts.
Among the heroic rescues during this turbulent weather pattern, a local farmer’s quick action prevented tragedy when he rescued a toddler from a perilously flooded basement, according to the sheriff’s office.
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Earlier this week, parts of Indiana faced unprecedented weather, recording a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall on Wednesday. This prompted officials to execute emergency water rescues and mandate evacuations, as riverbanks overflowed and waters inundated homes and roads. In response, Gov. Mike Braun issued a statewide disaster emergency and activated the Indiana National Guard.
As additional rainfall looms, millions in the Midwest remain under flood watch, where even slight precipitation could compound the existing flood devastation.
Toddler hospitalized after falling into flooded basement in Indiana
The Rush County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana responded around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a 2-year-old drowning in the basement of a home.
When emergency personnel responded, they found a home surround by deep water and were helped by farmer with a tractor to get to the home. They got the child and other family members to safety.
The toddler was airlifted to a hospital in Indianapolis for treatment, but there was not update on their condition as of Friday afternoon.
“This is a tragic situation. Our thoughts are with the child and the family,” Detective Randy M. Meek said in a statement as the child recovers. “We also appreciate the quick response from emergency personnel and the local farmer who helped reach the residence during the flooding.”
Flooding pours into Indiana homes and businesses
Photos and videos out of Indiana show scenes of destruction as floodwater rushed into homes and businesses.
Timothy Hicks, a father of six, told the Associated Press it was “a panic to get out of here” when floodwater began pouring into their Cambridge City, Indiana, house on Wednesday.
“I just started grabbing them, running them out to the car without even getting shoes, clothes or anything like that,” he said. Video of the home shows ruined bedrooms, a damaged bike and flooded yard. “It just crushes me. My kids’ house is gone,” Hicks added.
Security camera photos show the devastation caused by flooding in Metamora, Indiana, where numerous businesses were damaged Wednesday.
Bill Smith, owner of Village Smith and Village Smith Coffee Bar, told CNN many residents are facing significant losses.
“We won’t know until we see how much more flooding may occur with the incoming rain,” Smith said. “There’s not much we can say about the degree of loss until we can access our buildings.”
Disaster emergencies declared
Yorktown, in Indiana’s Delaware County, declared a local disaster emergency Thursday afternoon, with first responders working around the clock to assist with evacuations. Drone footage shared by the city showed houses, vehicles and roads submerged in muddy floodwater.
In the town of Muncie, water is deep enough in the streets that rescuers are using motorized boats and essential infrastructure is failing. “I’ve been with the department for 29 years, and I’ve never seen flooding like this,” the city’s Fire Chief Dan Burford told CNN Thursday.
Authorities in Delaware County are also continuing to search for 18-year-old Matthew Morey, who went missing after he and three others reportedly jumped from a bridge into the Mississinewa River Wednesday night, according to the sheriff’s office.
Crews had to pause search efforts Thursday afternoon due to rising water levels. They were still checking river banks and using thermal drones Friday morning, Sheriff Tony Skinner told CNN, but operations in the water remain suspended due to the dangerous conditions. “We will do everything we can short of putting others at risk until the river goes down several more feet,” Skinner said.
In nearby Anderson in Madison County, Indiana, the mayor declared a local disaster emergency and issued evacuation orders Thursday along the swollen White River and other waterways.
Fire departments in Anderson’s Madison County “have been busy all day” with evacuations and “some water rescues,” and more than 300 animals are being evacuated from a flooded animal shelter, Sheriff John Beeman told CNN Thursday night.
Renewed flood danger Friday
Iowa and northwestern Illinois face the greatest risk of flooding rain Friday – a Level 3 of 4 – but more storms are targeting communities in Indiana and Ohio already soaked this week.
Storms stretched from the Plains to Indiana late Friday morning and were slowly sinking south and starting to ease up. Another round of storms will likely move through the same area Friday night through early Saturday.
Exactly where the heaviest rain lands remains uncertain, but forecast models suggests more than 5 inches could fall in the hardest-hit areas, with isolated totals topping 8 inches through Saturday.
A broader Level 2 of 4 risk of flooding rain is in place through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. Rainfall totals may be lower there, but intense downpours could quickly renew flooding in waterlogged communities.
The flood threat should ease somewhat Saturday but won’t disappear.
The main corridor for heavy rain will shift north and east. A Level 2 of 4 risk of flooding rain is in place, but another risk level upgrade is possible depending on which areas are hardest hit Friday.
Report from CNN’s Dalia Faheid, Sarah Dewberry, Meteorologists Briana Waxman, Mary Gilbert.
ABC7 Chicago and ABC News contributed to this report.
Strength recovery after the age of 60 can be crucial for maintaining independence in later years. In this article, we explore four simple exercises you can do weekly to help regain muscle strength without resorting to jumping or floor exercises.
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As women age, preserving strength becomes increasingly vital for sustaining independence and living an active life into their 80s. However, many underestimate the importance of focusing on muscular strength as they age. With over 40 years of experience in personal training and serving as the co-founder of TRAINFITNESS, I have seen that just four targeted movements each week can significantly restore lost strength, even past the age of 60.
The Real Strength Problem
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A common issue for aging women is losing muscle in the legs and glutes. This decline begins in their 40s, quickens around menopause, and by age 60, most women experience a muscle loss of 15 to 20 percent compared to their 40s. This makes daily activities like rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and standing up increasingly challenging.
Another area of concern is upper body strength. Many women have been discouraged from lifting heavy items throughout their lives. Consequently, by 60, their shoulders, chest, and back muscles are often unconditioned, affecting their ability to perform tasks such as carrying groceries, opening jars, or holding a grandchild. As a result, these activities can become surprisingly strenuous.
Grip strength is the third, and it’s one of the strongest predictors of overall health at this age. Weak grip correlates with a shorter life expectancy, more falls, and less independence. Most women over 60 have grip strength that’s dropped 30 percent or more from their 30s, and hardly any of them have done anything to slow it.
The final layer is bone density, which isn’t strength directly but is caused by the same issue. Muscles that don’t pull hard on bones don’t tell the bones to stay dense. Weak muscles and weak bones travel together, and the fix is the same: load the body, regularly, with meaningful resistance.
4 Morning Exercises That Reverse Muscle Loss Faster Than Heavy Lifting After 60
Why Skip Jumps and Floor Work
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Jumping and impact work do produce great strength gains, but they come with a joint cost that many women over 60 can’t afford. Knees, hips, and ankles that haven’t been jumped on in decades don’t want to start now, and the injury risk from doing so is higher than most articles acknowledge.
Floor work has its own problem, which is that getting down and getting back up is often the hardest part of the workout. If half your energy goes into transitioning between positions, the exercises themselves suffer. And plenty of women over 60 avoid floor work entirely because of knees, hips or a hard-to-shake worry about getting back up.
Standing, seated and wall-based strength work sidesteps both problems. The exercises can be done in ordinary clothes, in a corner of the kitchen, without a mat or a change of position. They’re gentle on the joints, easy to progress, and they can be done at 68 or 78 with the same results as they’d produce at 58.
There’s also the psychological angle. Standing strength work looks like normal life. It doesn’t require a gym outfit or a particular time slot. That makes it much easier to stick with, and consistency beats intensity every time in this age group.
Chair Squat With Pause
This trains the biggest muscles in the body, the legs and glutes, in the exact pattern of standing up. Adding a pause at the bottom makes it much harder than an ordinary sit-to-stand, which is what turns it into a strength move rather than just a functional one.
How to Do It:
Stand in front of a sturdy chair, feet hip-width apart
Push the hips back and lower yourself towards the chair
Just before you touch the seat, pause and hold for 2 seconds
Then either sit down and stand back up, or if you can, push straight back to standing without sitting
Do 10 to 12 reps
Avoid These Mistakes:
Don’t bounce at the bottom rather than holding the pause. The pause is where the strength gets built, because it forces the muscles to hold the load without any elastic bounce to help. If you’re bouncing, slow the whole movement down.
Sets and Reps: 10 to 12 reps.
5 Wall Exercises That Firm Upper Body Faster Than Push-Ups After 55
Wall Push-Up With Slow Lower
This builds strength in the chest, shoulders, arms, and the deep trunk muscles that hold the body straight. Slowing the lowering phase adds a lot of work without adding any weight, which is the safest way to progress upper body strength at this age.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
How to Do It:
Stand facing a wall, two to three feet away, palms on the wall at shoulder height
Keep the body in a straight line from heels to head
Bend the elbows and lower the chest towards the wall over 4 seconds
Push back to the start position in 1 second
Do 10 to 12 reps
Avoid These Mistakes:
Don’t rush through the lowering phase. The 4-second lower is the whole point. If you can’t do 4 seconds, do 3. Rushing removes most of the strength stimulus and leaves you with a much easier exercise.
Sets and Reps: 10 to 12 reps
Form Tip: If you can’t do a full 4-second lower, do 3 seconds rather than rushing it.
Doorway Row
This trains the muscles between the shoulder blades, which counter the forward slump most women over 60 have developed, and builds pulling strength that’s needed for opening heavy doors and lifting shopping. The doorway gives a stable anchor that doesn’t need any equipment.
How to Do It:
Stand facing a sturdy door frame, feet on either side of the threshold
Hold the frame at chest height with both hands
Lean back, keeping the body straight, until your arms are extended
Pull your chest towards the frame, leading with the elbows back and down
Squeeze the shoulder blades together at the top
Lower under control
Do 10 to 12 reps
Avoid These Mistakes:
Don’t shrug your shoulders up towards your ears as you pull. Keep the shoulders pulled down and back throughout. If they hike up, the exercise stops working the mid-back and starts working the wrong muscles.
Sets and Reps: 10 to 12 reps
Form Tip: Keep your shoulders pulled down and back throughout the movement.
The 10-Minute Chair Routine That Restores Leg Strength Faster Than Squats After 65
Standing Overhead Press With Water Bottles
This trains the shoulders and upper back, which are usually the weakest parts of the whole body in women over 60. Overhead strength is also what stops the shoulder rounding and forward-head posture that comes with age.
How to Do It:
Stand tall, feet hip-width apart, holding a 500ml water bottle in each hand
Start with the bottles at shoulder height, palms facing forward
Slowly press both bottles overhead until the arms are almost fully extended
Lower back to shoulder height under control
Do 10 to 12 reps
Progress to 750ml or 1 liter bottles as you get stronger
Avoid These Mistakes:
Don’t arch your lower back to help push the bottles up. Squeeze your glutes as you press to keep the pelvis stable and the lower back protected. If the back arches, the weight is too heavy or the shoulders aren’t strong enough yet. Reduce the weight and rebuild.
Sets and Reps: 10 to 12 reps
Form Tip: Squeeze your glutes as you press to keep your pelvis stable and protect your lower back.
How Often to Do This
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Twice a week is a realistic starting point. Three times a week once you’ve been doing them for a month or two. Two full days between sessions gives the muscles time to recover and rebuild, which is when the strength actually gets built.
Do all four moves in one session, 2 sets of 10 to 12 reps for each, with 45 to 60 seconds rest between sets. The whole workout takes 15 to 20 minutes.
After the first month, add a third set. After two months, either add weight to the water bottles, hold longer at the bottom of the squat, or slow the wall push-up further. Strength keeps building only if the challenge keeps rising.
Add walks on the other days for the aerobic base. Two strength sessions and four walks a week is a superb pattern for women over 60, and it takes about 3 hours of exercise time total.
4 Daily Exercises That Firm Side Fat Faster Than Gym Classes After 60
What to Expect
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Within the first two weeks, most women notice they feel steadier standing up and sitting down. That’s the neural side of strength waking up, where the brain relearns how to recruit the muscles it hasn’t been using properly.
By 4 to 6 weeks, everyday tasks feel meaningfully easier. Shopping bags don’t dig in as much. Stairs feel less like a challenge. Getting out of a soft chair or a low car seat stops being awkward.
By 8 to 12 weeks, the strength change is measurable. Most women can do 30 to 50 percent more reps on the same exercises than when they started. The upper body catches up more slowly than the legs, but the change is visible in the arms and shoulders within 3 months.
At the six-month mark, women who’ve stuck with the program are, in strength terms, effectively 10 years younger than they were. That translates directly into more energy, less fatigue, and years of easier independent living ahead.
Tragedy struck the U.S. Army’s Fort Hood during a training exercise on Wednesday, as two esteemed pilots lost their lives in an AH-64E Apache helicopter crash near Salado, Texas.
The honored soldiers were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead by officials at Fort Hood.
Expressing deep sorrow, Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, commanding general of the III Armored Corps and Fort Hood, shared, “Our hearts and deepest condolences are with the families of the Soldiers we lost Wednesday,” in a statement released by the Army on Friday.
Admiral further emphasized, “The Army is a family, and a tragedy like this resonates throughout our formations and touches our entire community.”
The Army has confirmed the identity of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey as one of the victims of the unfortunate helicopter crash.(U.S. Army Fort Hood Media Center)
Huey entered the Army as a motor transport operator in 2014 and was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division in February 2022. The 34-year-old was from Killeen, Texas.
Olmstead entered the Army in January 2023 as a warrant officer candidate, and was assigned to the unit in October 2025. The 25-year-old was a native of Belton, Texas.
Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead died in the helicopter crash.(U.S. Army Fort Hood Media Center)
“In the difficult days ahead, our priority is to ensure these families and our Soldiers have the care and support they need,” Admiral said. “We are making all appropriate resources available to those affected by this loss.”
The soldiers died when their helicopter crashed into a field near Salado, roughly 30 minutes from Fort Hood. The crash sparked a wildfire in the area which necessitated a large emergency response.
The Army is investigating the crash.
A firefighting helicopter responds to a wildfire sparked by a deadly military helicopter crash near Salado, Texas.(KDTX)
“A safety investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived Aug. 13 and will lead the safety investigation of the mishap,” Fort Hood added in the statement.
News Media contacted the U.S. Army for further comment.
While most baby products come with a detailed list of ingredients, diaper manufacturers enjoy a peculiar exemption from this requirement, leaving parents in the dark about what goes into making those essential items.
Taking a stand against this lack of transparency is a California lawmaker determined to shine a light on diaper contents and ensure companies are held responsible.
“Parents shouldn’t have to play detective when it comes to products that touch their babies’ skin every moment of their early lives,” asserted Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park).
Berman has introduced AB 1901, a bill designed to boost consumer safety and transparency by mandating that diaper companies reveal all intentionally added ingredients on packaging and online.
AB 1901, which reflects Berman’s commitment to informed parenting, passed overwhelmingly in the state Assembly with a 68-1 vote in May and is now under review in the state Senate.
The legislation grew out of Berman’s own experience. After the birth of his son, he began researching what baby products were and were not safe and was aghast to discover that diapers were not held to the same standard as other products.
“I went and looked at the box in our garage, and there wasn’t anything on there,” Berman said.
On Tuesday, A-list actor Hillary Swank joined Berman and other advocates in advance of a key Senate committee vote.
Swank, a mother of 3-year-old twins and chief innovation officer for HealthyBaby, a non-toxic diaper brand, echoed Berman’s experience.
“As diaper changing became one of the biggest parts of our daily lives, I started to wonder, what are these diapers actually made of?” she said.
Consumer Reports, which co-sponsored the latest legislation, said it recently analyzed the ingredient list for 31 brands of disposable diapers.
Of these, only two disclosed every or nearly every material, while seven additional manufacturers provided minimal information about product materials.
“Parents deserve to know which chemicals companies are putting in diapers, so they can make informed choices about what’s best for their baby. A baby’s skin is very delicate and absorbent, and diapers are in almost constant contact with their most sensitive areas, making ingredient transparency so important,” said Gabe Knight, Senior Safety Policy Analyst for Consumer Reports.
CR notes that diaper companies employ umbrella terms like “fragrance” and “parfum” to mask formulations that contain hundreds of undisclosed ingredients. Likewise, the materials used in adhesives and wetness indicators are very rarely disclosed on packaging.
Supporters of the bill point to research linking suspected ingredients to serious health concerns.
Last year, a study published in Toxicsfound that babies who used diapers made with phthalates (synthetic chemicals used as plasticizers) actually had traces of them in their urine. The concerns down the line, researchers wrote, are that such chemicals could cause DNA damage that predisposes a baby to chronic diseases.
“Diapers can contain thousands — not just a few, but thousands — of different materials and chemicals, including those that can alter a baby’s hormones, harm their nervous system, or make them more susceptible to cancer, reproductive problems, asthma, or severe rashes,” said Swank.
While the legislation would not ban any particular ingredients or materials. it would require companies that manufacture and/or sell diapers in California to provide a list of intentionally added ingredients both online and eventually on the diaper’s outer packaging.
In response to mounting fears about chemical additives, many parents have opted for cloth diapers, with wool being the fabric of choice as of late.
A central reason so many parents have quietly opted for wool diapers is economic. Wool diapers by the piece aren’t cheap — a single diaper cover can cost $40 to $100 — but you don’t need many of them.
For example, Lunapaca, which Bouwman calls the Holy Grail of the wool diapering vendors, sells a birth-to-potty training set of alpaca diapers for $750 all-in.
Some estimates find that parents spend about $900 per year on disposable diapers, and nearly half of American families can’t afford the expense.
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This week, a controversial new law in Massachusetts sparked dissent, even among Democrats. Nine lawmakers from the party could not bring themselves to support a legislation described as “barbaric” that permits the termination of a pregnancy just before birth.
Passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives with a vote of 119-33 on July 22, the Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act was signed into law by Democratic Governor Maura Healey. The law notably removes any gestational limitations on abortions within the state.
According to a report by Fox News Digital on Friday, the newly enacted legislation empowers doctors to conduct procedures later in a pregnancy based on their expert medical judgment. Additionally, it offers increased protection against potential legal repercussions.
Joining forces with their Republican colleagues, nine Democratic legislators stood in opposition to the measure.
Citing “ethical and legal concerns,” several Democrats who opposed the bill expressed that the legislation was not aligned with the sentiments of their constituents, as reported by the news outlet this week.
“This new law represents an extremist and dangerous position,” Democratic State Rep. Jeffrey Turco of Winthrop told Fox News Digital. “To be clear, it allows abortion any time, unrestricted, and in many cases, publicly funded until the moment of birth.”
Turco said the bill was “rushed through the legislative process in two weeks without an opportunity for the public to weigh in,” and was “out of step with the views of the average person in Massachusetts.”
“The new law is barbaric,” he added.
Other Democrats were equally vocal in their opposition.
State Rep. Chris Markey of Dartmouth told Fox Digital the bill creates a troubling precedent, saying:
I am deeply disappointed in the passage of this bill. This bill creates a very slippery slope. I believe this law puts doctors in a very difficult ethical dilemma, as well as conflicts with long-standing criminal case law. This law, I believe, is not consistent with the beliefs of the vast majority of my constituents. While many are pro-choice, you can still be pro-choice and see this law as going beyond the norms of acceptability.
State Rep. Dennis Gallagher, a Democrat representing the 8th Plymouth District, told the cable outlet that changes to the existing law were not necessary. He said prior state law already permitted abortions after 24 weeks to preserve the health of the mother or in cases of “severe fetal anomalies.”
He contended that greater emphasis was needed on alternatives such as adoption.
“At that point in a pregnancy, if the health of the mother is fine and the baby’s health is fine, I just think alternatives should be encouraged for that baby,” he told Fox News Digital. “So that’s what I struggled with. But it should always be between a woman and their doctor.”
State Rep. Alan Silvia, a pro-life Democrat from Bristol, vehemently opposed expanding abortion in the state.
“My position has been consistent: I believe in protecting human life, including the life of the unborn,” he said. “We go to extraordinary lengths as a society to protect vulnerable life, saving whales and saving strays, yet when it comes to an unborn child, that same sense of protection too often seems to disappear.”
Governor Healey defended signing the legislation into law this week, citing “unprecedented attacks across the country” on abortion following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 2022 overturning Roe v. Wade.
She said in a statement early in the week that this law will guarantee families won’t have to “travel hundreds of miles” to get abortions out of state and “patients can continue to receive compassionate, medically appropriate care in Massachusetts during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.”
– contributor Lowell Cauffiel is the author of the New York Times true crime best seller House of Secrets and nine other crime novels and nonfiction titles. See lowellcauffiel.com for more.
