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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.
The battle against the Spokane Complex Fires thrust courageous firefighters into a world of unprecedented conditions, demanding heart-wrenching decisions and moments that threatened their own safety.
SPOKANE, Wash. — Among the valiant team called to duty last Saturday was Lt. Marlin Thorman, responding to the sudden outbreak of the Old Trails Fire in northern Spokane. The blaze challenged even the most seasoned veterans with its ferocity, unleashing forces few could have anticipated.
Thorman recounted how the scene quickly transformed into a dense haze, with smoke so opaque it blotted out the sun. By the time he arrived, flames had already consumed homes, and fiery embers carried by the wind were sparking threats miles ahead of the advancing inferno.
“The sheer scale of the fire, its blistering speed, and the heartbreaking number of structures we lost—nothing in my 14-year career prepared me for this,” he shared with KREM, underscoring the unprecedented nature of the disaster.
With 14 years of experience, Thorman has faced many challenging fires, but this one left a lasting mark.
Also responding were Lt. Chris Rogers and firefighter Mike “Moose” Ramos, who has 35 years on the job and fought during Spokane’s historic Firestorm in 1991.
“I remember looking over at him, and he looked at me and said, ‘This is worse than firestorm,'” Rogers said.
Although they had water, Rogers said there simply weren’t enough resources for the amount of fire coming toward them.
“You just go back to your training: Keep your head, keep your wits about you, have your lookouts, have your escape routes,” Ramos explained.
Even so, the danger followed them.
Rogers said a pressurized hose burst while he was attacking the fire, striking him in the head and knocking him unconscious. He said the close call was a freak accident—just one of many scary moments in the field.
“Everyone that was on that fire has multiple moments that were probably some of the sketchier moments in their careers, no matter how long those careers were,” Rogers said.
Thorman’s crew faced their own impossible decisions.
At one point, five or six homes were burning in a row.
“We all, in our hearts, want to defend this community. We want to defend lives, and we want to defend structures,” Rogers said. “It’s in these moments where we realize how badly that is something that we want.”
After a week spent trying to protect their community, these firefighters say they’ll be here as it recovers.
In a heart-wrenching account, Brady Harmon, a father deep in mourning, shared the last exchanges he had with his former partner regarding their children, days before a tragic incident unfolded. Authorities now believe the children, and others, fell victim to a harrowing murder-suicide.
Sarah Myers sent a message on June 10, which Brady later posted on Facebook, explaining that the children were battling a “stomach bug” and had been “throwing up.” In light of their condition, she requested to postpone their planned video call to the following day.
Brady responded with empathy, saying, “Hopefully they feel better soon.” Yet, when he called as planned the next day, there was only silence on the other end, according to the shared text messages.
Tragically, almost two weeks later, on June 23, the lifeless bodies of Sarah, her 64-year-old mother Amy Steadman, and Sarah’s four children—13-year-old Harper Harmon, 11-year-old Hudson Harmon, and 10-year-old twins Gavin and Gracelynn Harmon—were discovered within Amy’s residence in Mechanicville. The grim discovery came after police conducted a welfare check, as described in a statement issued by the Mechanicville Police.
Police Say Sarah Myers and Amy Steadman Gave Children Medication Before Death
Mechanicville Police Chief Bill Rabbitt confirmed to xygen.com that the tragic situation is currently being investigated as a murder-suicide.
“The investigation has determined that Amy Steadman and Sarah Myers were both involved in the deaths of the children,” he told Oxygen. “Evidence indicates that the children were likely given multiple over-the-counter and prescription medications, although we are still awaiting final toxicology results.”
One of the children, Gavin, also suffered multiple sharp-force injuries, he said.
According to Rabbitt, while the deaths of all four children were ruled homicides both Amy and Sarah “died by suicide.”
In a Facebook message dated Aug. 4, Brady said he was gutted by the “horrific actions taken against my children.”
Brady Harmon Reveals Final Text Messages With Ex Sarah Myers Before Murder-Suicide
In the days leading up to their deaths, Brady had been planning for a July 1 summer visit from his children. Text messages he shared in the post showed him sending Sarah the flight itinerary and asking what kinds of activities the children might like to do during their time with their dad.
“One of the things I’m working on is planning activities and experiences that fit each child’s interests, personality, and comfort level,” he wrote in a text dated June 8. “Since I have missed a significant amount of time with them, I want to make sure their summer is enjoyable, engaging and centered around things they genuinely like to do.”
Hours later, Sarah replied, “Ok I’ll talk to the kiddos about the stuff they would like to do over summer.”
Two days later, Brady and Sarah had their final text exchange in which she shared the children weren’t feeling well. That same day, she posted an image on Facebook of the family smiling for the camera.
“Nothing in these conversations warned me about what was allegedly being planned behind the scenes,” Brady wrote in the post accompanying the text messages. “On June 10, I was told my children were sick. I responded that I hoped they felt better. The following day, I attempted the rescheduled call and received no answer.”
He went on to add that he is still struggling to make sense of the tragedy.
“I cannot understand how anyone could claim that this was done to ‘save’ my children from harm,” he wrote. “The greatest possible harm was done to them. They were terrified, betrayed, and robbed of their lives by the very people who were supposed to protect them.”
“My children were not pawns to be sacrificed when control was slipping away. They were four beautiful human beings with personalities, dreams, fears, laughter, and an entire family waiting to love them,” he continued. “They were denied the opportunity to spend the summer with me, reconnect with their grandparents, sister, relatives, and everyone who had waited so long to hold them again.”
Now, Brady said he will keep his children’s memories alive by saying their names and sharing their story.
“Harper, Hudson, Gavin, and Gracelynn were loved,” he wrote. “They are still loved. They will always be loved.”
Rabbitt said police are still waiting for “final investigative information” before any more details of the crime are released.
A teenager now facing charges for the fatal shooting of a Citadel cadet and his close friend had a history of offenses reaching back to 2021. Authorities argue that the suspect, despite his troubled past, repeatedly evaded significant consequences until this alleged double homicide came to light.
According to the DeLand Police Department of Florida, the tragic incident occurred around 10:40 p.m. on July 29, claiming the lives of 19-year-old Dustin Rose and 18-year-old Samson Campbell. An arrest warrant was issued for a 17-year-old suspect, who was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service on Wednesday, as announced by officials earlier in the week.
At a news conference on Wednesday, police highlighted that the individuals involved were acquainted “in some capacity.” Authorities further revealed that the arrested teen boasts a considerable criminal record.
Close childhood friends Dustin Rose and Samson Campbell were tragically shot in a deserted lot in Florida. Authorities are actively pursuing the individual responsible for this double homicide.(DeLand Police Department)
While on a break from his studies at The Citadel Military College of South Carolina, Dustin Rose tragically lost his life. General Frank McKenzie, The Citadel’s President, expressed the profound loss in a message to the campus community shared with news outlets. He described Rose as a “team leader” who was both a cherished friend and classmate.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the 17-year-old, whom News Media is not naming because he has not yet been charged as an adult, has a lengthy criminal history that includes charges of assault with a deadly weapon, multiple counts of battery and drug possession.
“We’re talking about aggravated battery and assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, multiple counts of battery, criminal mischief, vehicle theft, trespassing, drug possession, another aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, resisting an officer, all dating back to 2021,” Chitwood said. “Charges that were either dropped, non-filed, dismissed, or at best, resolved with probation.”
Surveillance video shows Dustin Rose and Samson Campbell walking together on Tuesday evening, the day before they were found dead.(DeLand Police Department)
Chitwood alleged that the teen’s ability to face little punishment is due to a lack of prosecution by the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Monique Worrell. He said that before the alleged double murder, the teen was in a diversion program for drug possession and disturbing a school function.
“It makes you wonder if our justice system held [the teen] accountable from the start, maybe things would have turned out different,” the sheriff said.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also criticized Worrell, saying her “neglect of duty and incompetence are a danger to the 9th Judicial Circuit.”
“Soft on crime policies do not work!” Uthmeier said.
Worrell said in a statement, “It is disappointing, but not surprising, that the appointed Attorney General continues to make politically motivated statements without knowing all the facts. Public safety deserves thoughtful leadership and not rhetoric designed to score political points.”
“The most recent case referenced by Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood that involves this juvenile did not occur within the Ninth Judicial Circuit, but rather his own Seventh Circuit and is therefore outside the jurisdiction of this office to speak to,” Worrell said.
The teen faces two counts of second-degree murder in relation to the shooting, but R.J. Larizza, state attorney of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, said during a news conference he would likely be charged as an adult. The teen suspect’s father was also arrested on charges of felony accessory after the fact.
Rose was also a member of the South Carolina National Guard, a spokeswoman confirmed with News Media.
Rachel Rose, Dustin’s mother, said he was “such a light in our family.”
Dustin Rose, 19, a Citadel cadet, was pursuing his childhood dream of serving in the military when he was killed.(GoFundMe)
“When they took him they took the very best part of me. We are devastated,” she told News Media.
One of the victims’ mothers may have been among the family members who found the two dead after they went unreachable by phone, police previously said.
Campbell, a DeLand native, had been staying with his aunt, Karen Chobin, in the Chicago area. Chobin said he was in town to grieve the recent death of the family’s 8-year-old dog and was staying with Rose’s grandparents.
Rose was in DeLand to help Campbell spread his dog’s ashes, Chobin said.
“It was a traumatic loss. It wasn’t a passing of old age. It was awful. And then for this to be what he’s welcomed with when he goes down there to mourn his loss is devastating,” Chobin said.
A man who once carried the title of inmate firefighter now faces charges for igniting the deadly Gann Fire in Northern California.
65-year-old Herbert Wayne Smith, who served his time over two decades ago while working at a California work camp, admitted to starting the blaze, according to reports from KCRA.
Smith’s journey in the Conservation Camp Program began in 1999 when he fought fires as an inmate firefighter in Soledad. He later continued this work at a Georgetown camp until his release on parole.
At the time of his incarceration, Smith was serving sentences for charges related to receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance, as noted by the news outlet.
The state’s correctional department explains that inmate firefighters are crucial in aiding state, local, and federal agencies during various emergencies, including fires and floods, as well as other natural and manmade catastrophes.
Inmates who work as firefighters typically are under “minimum custody” status, the lowest security level, and must have 8 years or less remaining on their sentence.
The revelation comes as Smith admitted to starting the Gann Fire, which has burned thousands of acres and killed an animal breeder.
The victim, identified as Hinterland German Shepherds owner Susan Solari, told friends she could not leave as the flames approached because she refused to abandon her dogs. She had operated the breeding business for decades.
Smith was booked for recklessly causing a fire, operating equipment capable of producing sparks in vegetation without adhering to fire prevention requirements, and allowing a fire to escape control.
Smith has said he was using a saw to cut metal scraps so that he could sell them to pay for his wife’s birthday celebration when the fire started. He expressed regret about his actions.
“This is going to destroy my life, one way or another,” Smith said in an interview with KCRA.
“I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened. That was never my intent. I was just out there trying to get some money together, and it turned into this.”
Authorities accused Smith of operating the tool without clearing flammable vegetation and failing to have firefighting tools on hand.
Eight years ago, Smith also ran into trouble when he allegedly started a fire on someone else’s property.
“The Calaveras County District Attorney’s Office is unwavering in its duty to base all charging decisions on the facts and the law, and is firmly committed to fairness in the pursuit of justice,” the county district attorney’s office said in a statement.
During a recent appearance in Canada, Meghan Markle was spotted donning Princess Diana’s iconic earrings adorned with diamonds and sapphires.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their way to Victoria, British Columbia, to lend their support to friend and music producer David Foster at the 40th Anniversary of his foundation, a celebratory event held last Friday.
In a charming pose, the couple was photographed with the esteemed 76-year-old record producer David Foster, and his wife, Katharine McPhee, who is both an actress and singer, aged 42.
Prince Harry, aged 41, opted for a classic look in a black tuxedo complemented by a bow tie, while Meghan dazzled in an elegant black one-shoulder gown crafted by Canadian designer Greta Constantine.
At 45, Meghan paid a touching tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, showcasing the striking sapphire earrings. Her updo hairstyle accentuated their beauty, offering a graceful nod to Diana’s memory.
The Duchess owns several pieces of jewellery from Princess Diana’s personal collection and has previously worn Diana’s earrings at public events.
Pieces from Diana’s collection that Meghan owns include her butterfly earrings and matching cuff bracelet, a diamond tennis bracelet, her Cartier Tank Louis, and Diana’s iconic aquamarine ring, widely dubbed her ‘divorce ring’.
Canadian-American David Foster has won 16 Grammy Awards and 45 nominations across a career spanning four decades.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared at their music mogul friend’s event on Friday night
The couples have long been friends, with McPhee attending the same school as Meghan
Meghan owns a number of pieces of jewellery from Princess Diana’s personal collection
Meghan posed with Katharine at the 40th Anniversary of the David Foster Foundation
Prince Harry and David Foster pictured together in Victoria, British Columbia on Friday night
Meghan (pictured, left) and McPhee (pictured, right) did theatre together growing up
Meghan and Harry have been long friends of the couple, having previously been pictured on a double date with the couple.
In 2019, Foster arranged for the Duke and Duchess to stay at a close friend’s mansion on Vancouver Island, telling the Daily Mail at the time: ‘I felt honoured that I was able to help Meghan there because I’m a Canadian, and we’re a Commonwealth country – we’re the Crown’s.’
The music producer hooked up the royal couple with accommodation in a secluded waterfront estate in North Saanich, owned by a close friend of the Canadian songwriter – but declined to identify the owner.
‘It’s important to us, so I grew up with that kind of sentiment. I was really happy to be able to help them to find a respite just to take a little time off.’
Foster arranged for Meghan and Harry’s Christmas getaway in a $14million mansion on Vancouver Island, Canada, by connecting them to its mystery multimillionaire owner.
Foster’s wife, Katharine McPhee, has known Meghan since childhood, having gone to the same school as her.
McPhee told Access Hollywood in 2020 of Foster and Harry’s relationship: ‘My husband has a really, really beautiful relationship with Harry.
‘They’re like, they’re so cute. They’re like father and son.’
‘We just stay in touch with them. But mostly, Meghan and I knew each other from childhood, but really Harry and my husband are friends. It’s really nice.’
CHICAGO (WLS) — Excitement is in the air as ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago breaks the news that it will air the 97th annual Bud Billiken Parade. This vibrant event, which heralds the Back-to-School Festival, is set to be broadcast live on Saturday, August 8, from 10 a.m. to noon. The spectacle, recognized as the largest African American parade in the United States, will stream not only on ABC7 but also on abc7chicago.com and across all ABC7’s digital and streaming platforms.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
The broadcast booth will be bustling with energy as ABC7 Eyewitness News icons Cheryl Burton, Hosea Sanders, and Val Warner take the helm. Meanwhile, Terrell Brown and Karen Jordan will immerse viewers in the ground-level excitement, capturing the parade’s lively spirit. Samantha Chatman and other dedicated ABC7 staff will engage with the crowd from atop the ABC7 Chicago float, adding to the festive atmosphere.
ABC7’s Terrell Brown checked out what’s happening along the 2026 Bud Billiken Parade route.
This year’s Bud Billiken Parade is a proud celebration of 97 years of tradition and excellence. As a back-to-school highlight, it will showcase impressive talents from across Chicago. Parade-goers can expect thrilling performances by local favorites such as the Jesse White Tumblers, South Shore Drill Team, Golden Knights Drill Team, alongside the dynamic Chi-Town Cheerleaders, Next Level Dance Team, MBM Dance Team, and the inspiring Little Ladies of Virtue.
ABC7’s Samantha Chatman jumped into the Double Dutch fun at the VIP breakfast ahead of Saturday’s Bud Billiken Parade.
This year’s parade will be led by none other than beloved Chicago native, LisaRaye McCoy, who will serve as the Grand Marshal. Known for her iconic roles in “The Players Club” and “Single Ladies,” as well as her stint as the first lady of the Turks and Caicos, McCoy adds star power and charisma to this cherished event.
The Bud Billiken Parade is not just an event; it’s a cherished tradition attracting over a million spectators. As the oldest and grandest African American parade nationwide, it embodies a spirit of community and celebration. Each August, it draws families together, marking the joyous start of a new school year in Chicago.
The parade will step off from 39th Street and Martin Luther King Drive around 10 a.m. Saturday.
“We are proud to be a part of this 97-year tradition, which has brought joy, inspiration and summer fun to generations of Chicagoans,” said John Idler, general manager, ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago. “Our long-standing partnership with Chicago Defender Charities also allows us to spotlight the importance of education and student empowerment, which is central to the organization’s mission.”
The parade will kick off at 10 a.m. on 39th Street and Martin Luther King Drive, with grand marshal McCoy leading the procession south onto King Drive, through Washington Park and concluding at Garfield Boulevard.
The Bringing Out Talent dance company is ready for the 2026 Bud Billiken Parade.
About ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago
ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago is the No. 1 local news source and most-watched television station in Chicago. With top-rated daily newscasts spanning decades and the largest social media presence in the market with more than 3.5 million Facebook followers, ABC7 Eyewitness News provides breaking news, investigative reporting, weather, politics, traffic and sports in the multiplatform space toChicago, the suburbs and northwest Indiana. NamedBest News Operationby the Associated Press, ABC 7 Eyewitness News produces “Chicago Proud,” a series of features that spotlights everyday heroes in and around Chicago.The station also produces the highest-rated New Year’s Eve special in Chicago,the nationally syndicated holiday kickoff special, “The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival,” and the award-winning series “Our Chicago,” which showcases the city’s diversityand highlights contributions in the Black, Hispanic, Asian,LGBTQ+ communities, among others.Every Friday, Windy City Weekend entertains while giving Chicagoans everything they need to know about what’s happening in the city. ABC 7 is the only Chicago station producing and broadcasting parades representing Chicago’s rich cultural history. The station has a long and proud tradition of broadcasting political candidate debates to keep Chicago’selectorate informed and town halls where residents can share their concerns.ABC7’s outreach efforts include an annual partnership with local food banks, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars. ABC7 also partners with the Red Cross for the Great Chicago Blood Drive, one of the largest, one-day blood drives in the country.
Follow ABC7/WLS-TV Chicagoon Instagram, X and Facebook. Instagram: instagram.com/abc7Chicago X: https://x.com/abc7chicago Facebook: facebook.com/abc7Chicago
BOULDER CITY, Nev. – In a troubling marker for the Colorado River system, Lake Mead has sunk to an unprecedented low. This vital reservoir, which stands as the largest in the United States, has not been at such a depleted level since its filling nearly 90 years back.
Federal data reveals that on Friday, Lake Mead’s water level dipped to 1,040.4 feet (317.1 meters) above sea level. This places it just a hair under the previous record of 1,040.58 feet (317.27 meters), which had been set on July 28, 2022. Nestled on the border of Arizona and Nevada, just outside of Las Vegas, the reservoir is raising concerns among scientists and policymakers alike.
This development comes after an exceptionally dry winter, which yielded the smallest amount of snowpack ever recorded in the Colorado River Basin. This snowpack is crucial, as its meltwaters provide sustenance for the Colorado River—an essential water source for agriculture, industry, wildlife, power generation, and over 40 million residents spread across seven U.S. states, tribal nations, and Mexico.
Just a week ago, federal authorities proposed a short-term plan in an attempt to avert a looming catastrophe on this vital waterway. The intervention follows an impasse among river-reliant states—California, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah—over long-term water allocation strategies. The federal proposal suggests that California, Nevada, and Arizona should equally bear the brunt of necessary water reductions.
For decades, unchecked water use coupled with a harsh climate and rising temperatures have steadily siphoned water out of Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the nation’s second-largest reservoir. Currently, both reservoirs, central to the Colorado River system, register at their lowest levels since nearly 70 years ago.
To protect the strained system’s ability to produce hydropower, federal officials said Thursday that they will not release cool Lake Powell water from Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona to protect a threatened native fish whose habitat is between the reservoirs.
Severe drought in 2022 on Lake Mead, which is held back by the Hoover Dam, exposed human remains and forced water officials in Las Vegas to pump water from deeper within the reservoir to continue to supply water to millions of people.
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Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Forget the crunches: Discover four chair-based exercises perfect for tackling belly sag, especially if you’re 55 and over.
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Crunches might be the first thing that comes to mind when aiming to firm up the midsection. While they help strengthen your abdominal muscles and are a staple in many core routines, significant change often requires a more holistic approach to your workouts.
This is where chair exercises come in handy, particularly for those over 55. By incorporating a chair, you gain stability, streamline your setup, and can focus on core strengthening without the hassle of repeatedly transitioning from the floor. These exercises seamlessly integrate leg work, hip movements, and targeted abdominal training, making them surprisingly accessible.
The beauty of this workout style lies in its simplicity and ease of commencement. It isn’t about enduring a marathon exercise session or complicating core training. Instead, it offers targeted midsection workouts complemented by leg involvement to ramp up overall exertion.
Incorporate these four chair exercises into your routine three to five times weekly. Focus on controlled movements and maintaining a steady pace. Enhance results by coupling the regimen with daily walks and straightforward nutritional practices.
Chair Box Squat
The chair box squat helps trim belly sag by bringing more muscle into the workout. Your legs do the main work, while your core helps keep your torso steady through each rep. That makes it more useful for overall body-composition goals than a routine built only around small ab movements. It also builds strength for one of the most common daily patterns: sitting down and standing back up.
Stand in front of a sturdy chair with your feet about shoulder-width apart.
Brace your core and keep your chest lifted.
Push your hips back toward the chair.
Lower until your hips lightly touch the seat.
Press through your feet to stand tall.
Repeat with smooth control.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.
Best Variations: Higher-chair box squats, slow-tempo chair squats, chair squats with a pause.
Form Tip: Touch the chair lightly without dropping your full weight into the seat.
4 Daily Exercises That Restore Back Muscle Faster Than Gym Machines After 50
Seated Knee Tucks
Seated knee tucks give your abs direct work while keeping the chair as your base. They’re a good fit for trimming belly sag because they train the front of your core without needing crunches on the floor. This move also makes the routine feel more active, since your legs move while your midsection stays engaged. It’s simple, but it can build a strong burn quickly when you keep the reps controlled.
Muscles Trained: Abs, hip flexors, deep core.
How to Do It
Sit near the front edge of a sturdy chair.
Hold the sides of the chair lightly.
Lean back slightly while keeping your chest lifted.
Lift both knees toward your torso.
Lower your feet back toward the floor.
Repeat without rushing.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.
Form Tip: Keep your torso tall enough that your abs do the work without your lower back taking over.
Seated Flutter Kicks
Seated flutter kicks add steady core tension to the routine. Your abs have to stay active while your legs move in a small, quick pattern, which gives the exercise a different feel from knee tucks. This is useful after 55 because it trains endurance through the midsection without needing a long plank or a full crunch sequence. It also keeps the workout moving, which helps the session feel more like a real routine.
Muscles Trained: Abs, hip flexors, deep core.
How to Do It
Sit near the front edge of a sturdy chair.
Hold the sides of the chair for support.
Lean back slightly and brace your core.
Extend your legs forward.
Lift one foot slightly as the other lowers.
Continue alternating small kicks.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 2 to 3 sets of 20 to 30 seconds.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Form Tip: Keep the kicks small so your abs can stay engaged the whole time.
4 Standing Exercises That Firm Outer Thighs Faster Than Leg Presses After 60
Chair Reverse Lunge
Chair reverse lunges bring a stronger lower-body challenge into the workout. That matters for belly-sag goals because larger muscles help increase the overall demand of the session. The chair gives you balance support while each leg works on its own, which can make the exercise more approachable after 55. It’s also a great way to build strength that supports walking, stairs, and standing with more confidence.
Stand beside a sturdy chair and hold it lightly with one hand.
Stand tall with your feet about hip-width apart.
Step one foot back.
Bend both knees into a comfortable lunge.
Press through your front foot to return to standing.
Alternate sides with control.
Recommended Sets and Reps: Perform 2 to 3 sets of 6 to 10 reps per side.
Best Variations: Small step-back lunges, supported split squats, reverse lunges with a pause.
Form Tip: Use the chair for balance while letting your front leg handle the work.
The 12-Minute Morning Routine That Fights Muscle Loss Better Than Protein Shakes After 50
How to Make These Chair Exercises Work After 55
Shutterstock
This routine works best when it becomes part of your week instead of something you only do when motivation spikes. Trimming belly sag after 55 usually takes a mix of core training, strength work, daily movement, and nutrition habits you can repeat. These chair exercises help because they’re simple enough to use often and active enough to feel worthwhile. Start with two rounds if you’re new to the routine, then add a third round once the workout feels more familiar. Keep the goal clear: steady effort, better control, and enough consistency for your body to respond.
Use the routine in the morning: A short session early in the day can make it easier to stay consistent.
Pair it with walking: Daily steps help support the body-composition changes behind trimming belly sag.
Keep the chair sturdy: A stable chair makes the whole workout feel safer and smoother.
Progress slowly: Add reps, seconds, or another round before making the exercises harder.
Support it with protein and hydration: Simple nutrition habits can make the work you’re doing show up more clearly over time.
Amanda Kloots, although she has retired from the glitzy world of ballroom dancing, remains a guiding light for fresh faces stepping onto the stage of Dancing With the Stars. Her experience and infectious enthusiasm make her a favorite confidante for newcomers.
“I know a few people who are jumping into season 35, mainly because it seems like folks reach out when they’re mulling over the decision: ‘Should I do this show?'” Kloots, 44, exclusively shared with Us during the promotion of her podcast, “Good Grief with Amanda Kloots.” She says, “I always tell them, ‘Absolutely, go for it. It will be the most challenging yet rewarding thing you ever undertake. Trust me, you won’t look back with any regrets.'”
Kloots kept a playful secret about who reached out to her for advice, although the show has already confirmed the participation of four contestants: the vibrant Love Island alum Maura Higgins, spirited Summer House star Ciara Miller, the energetic Savannah Bananas’ Jackson Olson, and Guillermo Rodriguez, the beloved sidekick from Jimmy Kimmel. As anticipation grows, ABC remains tight-lipped about additional celebrities or professional dancers slated for the series, set to kick off on September 15.
“Each year since my own stint on the show, at least one person reaches out to ask, ‘Did you genuinely enjoy it? Was it really worth it?’ My answer is always the same: ‘If you don’t sign up for this experience, you’re definitely missing out,’” she passionately explained.
The stage is eagerly being set for the 35th season of Dancing With the Stars. In a lively announcement coinciding with Hulu’s Get Real House event in April, it was confirmed that Summer House’s Ciara Miller and Love Island’s Maura Higgins would take on the exciting dance challenge. Shortly thereafter, Savannah Bananas second baseman Jackson Olson also donned his dancing shoes, as the roster of competitors continues to grow.
Kloots appeared on season 30 of the hit ABC competition show, where she was partnered with Alan Bersten. The pair ultimately placed fourth and lost to champions Iman Shumpert and pro Daniella Karagach. Kloots, however, would be game to try her hand at an all-star season.
“I would be there. I’m sure [casting director and executive producer] Deena Katz and ABC know that I would be there in a heartbeat,” she told Us. “I mean, it would be a dream come true. I’m so proud of that show.”
Kloots went on to gush about the series recently receiving an Emmy nomination, which she said was “so well deserved” given its “wonderful atmosphere.”
“Everybody’s rooting for each other,” she said. “There’s no jealousy or cattiness or fights or mean spirited. Everybody’s there to help each other. It’s such a wonderful experience. I would love to go back.”
While not quite an all-star season, Kloots did return to the ballroom for DWTS Con in Palm Springs earlier this month and performed a number alongside Bersten, 32, and former champ Hannah Brown.
“It was so fun, oh my gosh!” Kloots said. “I love that show so much and dancing has always been a part of my life. But then I packed my shoes away. When I got to do that show, it was such a part of my healing journey. I am forever grateful. So to be back with that family — and I say family because they are all those pros are incredible and they now have children. Everybody’s in the dressing room and playing with everybody, and they’re all so kind and so supportive and they work so hard. Then all the celebrities that came back are like me, they just love this show so much and have been so grateful to be a part of it. It’s just sort of like this big love fest amidst this crazy dancing.”
Us
Days after appearing at the fan convention, Kloots launched the “Good Grief With Amanda Kloots” podcast with Dear Media. Kloots, whose husband Nick Cordero died in 2020 after facing COVID-19 complications, hopes to feature candid conversations about facing significant changes in life. (Kloots and Cordero shared son Elvis, whom they welcomed in 2019.)
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“It’s been six years since I lost my husband. I do a lot of therapy, from science-backed therapy to very woo-woo — I live in Los Angeles, so I’ve done almost all of it,” she shared. “It was in this last year that I had this kind of turnaround in therapy with my relationship to grief.”
Kloots explained that she helps “a lot of widows” who she takes “under [her] wing and try to help because widows did that” for her when she was “newly grieving.”
“We all talk about how to survive grief in the beginning, but we don’t really talk about the beauty and the things that grief can teach us because we live with it,” she noted. “We live with it for the rest of our lives. It isn’t going anywhere, which was my misconception. I thought I could heal it, and I’d get my graduate certificate. And it isn’t that. It’s how you learn to live with it, and most importantly, how you can learn to love yourself again in this grief. So that’s hopefully the message of the podcast.”
In a heartfelt revelation, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, expressed how her daughter, Princess Lilibet, fills her with a sense of bravery.
Princess Lilibet inspires courage in Duchess Meghan
The Duchess, now 45, along with her husband Prince Harry, who is 41, are proud parents of two children: seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet. In a new promotional clip for her upcoming documentary, “Cookie Queens,” Meghan shared a poignant reflection on how motherhood has become her “superpower.”
In a Q A video with InStyle magazine, where she was questioned by young children, Meghan was asked what her superpower was and replied: “Being a mum.”
She went on: “I feel like we have superpowers because we juggle it all and enjoy it all with grace and grit at the same time.”
