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Charming City Fights to Restore Iconic Streets Amid Rising Homelessness and Drug Crisis

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Charming City Fights to Restore Iconic Streets Amid Rising Homelessness and Drug Crisis

In Savannah, Georgia, a city renowned for its stunning Spanish moss-laden oaks, charming waterfront vistas, and intricate ironwork, business leaders and municipal officials are actively addressing the escalating challenges of homelessness, encampments, and public safety within its historic areas.

In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, representatives from the City of Savannah, the Savannah Chamber, and the Savannah Tourism Leadership Council expressed their awareness of these issues. “We have noted recent reports highlighting a visitor’s encounter with the visible challenges of homelessness, vagrancy, and associated safety concerns in our historic public squares and spaces,” the statement mentioned.

While these organizations criticized some media portrayals as overly sensationalized for attracting attention, they conceded that the issues are indeed significant and increasingly apparent to the city’s residents, business proprietors, and visitors.

Homeless person rests on a bench

The daily reality of these challenges is notably felt within the business sector, according to Bert Brantley, President and CEO of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce.

Amid these developments, an image captures a poignant moment: an unhoused individual resting on a bench in Reynolds Square, illustrating the human side of this complex issue.

“Our businesses, workers, and downtown residents expect our public safety system to identify those committing crimes and deliver consequences for those illegal activities,” Brantley said in November 2024.

Homelessness remains a top concern for chamber members. Ahead of Savannah-Chatham Day in February 2026, Brantley called it “such an important issue,” while Mayor Van Johnson said city leaders are pursuing state-backed solutions to address ongoing challenges, according to WJCL.

City officials have increasingly turned to enforcement measures. In June 2025, WJCL reported on the city’s proposed urban camping ordinance, which city officials said would make it unlawful to camp, store personal property or get in the way of traffic.

Savannah Georgia famous fountain in Forsyth Park

Savannah, Georgia’s famous fountain in Forsyth Park in the downtown historic district park. (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Savannah passed an urban camping ordinance prohibiting camping, storing personal property in public spaces and obstructing sidewalks or traffic.

“I don’t think there’s a single person on this council that believes we should criminalize homelessness,” Alderman Kurtis Purtee told WJCL at the time. “But we have to figure out a way to start working together as a community, while holding people accountable for their actions.”

Johnson described the ordinance as “another tool in the toolbox,” adding that some individuals “regularly engaged in criminal activity” require a different response.

Unhoused people sit on benches in Savannah, Georgia.

Homeless individuals sit in Reynolds Square as the morning sun shines through on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. (Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Since the law took effect, the city says enforcement has led to 179 citations and 15 arrests. Officials also report that 135 individuals have engaged with service providers, with roughly 30% entering shelters after contact with authorities.

Encampments in the historic district have been reduced by about half since 2023, according to figures provided by the city and partner organizations. Those figures were not independently verified by Fox News Digital.

Downtown Savannah, Georgia. View of City Hall.

Located within sight of City Hall is the golden dome that is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. (Richard Burkhart via Imagn Content Services, LLC)

Beyond homelessness, authorities say the region is also contending with evolving drug threats.

A February 2026 News4Jax report on a DEA-led initiative, “Operation Fentanyl Free America,” highlighted shifting trafficking patterns in Southeast Georgia, including methamphetamine being transported in liquid form before conversion.

DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Drew Mayer said crystal meth remains “the most prevalent drug” in the region by volume.

“Drug smugglers are tough. They’re not going without a fight. We’ve seen an increase in methods to hide and disguise the loads of drugs with cover loads, transporting some of the drugs in a liquid form and other creative manners to avoid detention,” Mayer told News4Jax.

Savannah Georgia downtown Calhoun Square

Savannah, Georgia’s downtown Calhoun Square with trees and homes at sunset. (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

While fentanyl-related mass overdoses have declined, the drug remains a concern, with officials noting the emergence of “purple fentanyl” in Savannah, Brunswick and along the Georgia-Florida corridor.

Authorities say trafficking continues through the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick, with drugs moving through Atlanta and down the I-95 corridor into Southeast Georgia and Florida.

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How ‘The Studio’ Season 2 Pays Tribute to Catherine O’Hara’s Legacy

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How ‘The Studio’ Season 2 Pays Tribute to Catherine O’Hara’s Legacy

Apple TV+’s series The Studio plans to address the passing of its late star, Catherine O’Hara, in its forthcoming season.

“In many ways, we feel a bit adrift,” co-creator Seth Rogen shared with The Times of London in a feature published on Friday, April 3. He hinted at the upcoming season of the critically acclaimed comedy series. “However, it’s a reflection of life — something we all encounter. While our show typically steers away from somber themes, they will be present this season. We won’t shy away from it.”

O’Hara portrayed Patty Leigh in Rogen’s The Studio, which debuted in 2025, nearly a year prior to her passing at 71. Her death was attributed to a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lungs, with rectal cancer noted as a contributing factor.

Evan Goldberg, Rogen’s creative collaborator on The Studio, also told The Times that continuing the series without O’Hara poses an “unbelievable challenge.”

Catherine O'Hara Shared What She Wanted to Be Remembered for Before Death GettyImages-2169434417

Catherine O’Hara will be fondly remembered for her numerous iconic roles and achievements in Hollywood. Yet, she once revealed that her most valued accomplishment lay beyond the screen — the life she nurtured away from the spotlight. Two years prior, the Home Alone star expressed that her greatest pride was being “the mother of my children.”

“Obviously emotionally, dealing with the loss, but also when it comes to the show itself. We wrote it for her to be there,” Goldberg said. “We had it all set and the shock waves permeate throughout the entire new season. It’s been difficult. You worded it better than we could — she was the anchor and now the anchor is gone.”

O’Hara died in January and is survived by her husband and children. As for Rogen, he was among the well-wishers to offer his condolences via social media.

“Really don’t know what to say. I told O’Hara when I first met her I thought she was the funniest person I’d ever had the pleasure of watching on screen,” Rogen, 43, wrote via Instagram at the time. “Home Alone was the movie that made me want to make movies. Getting to work with her was a true honor. She was hysterical, kind, intuitive [and] generous.”

He continued, “She made me want to make our show good enough to be worthy of her presence in it. This is just devastating. We’re all lucky we got to live in a world with her in it.”

Rogen also mentioned O’Hara in his acceptance speech at the DGA Awards the following month.

Seth Rogen Pays Tribute to Studio’s Catherine O’Hara More Than 1 Week After Her Death

Seth Rogen is celebrating Catherine O’Hara’s legacy more than one week after her shocking death. “Honestly, there’s no one we wish we could thank in person at this moment more than we would love to thank Catherine O’Hara,” Rogen, 43, said during his speech on Saturday, February 7, while accepting the trophy for Best Comedy […]

“Honestly, there’s no one we wish we could thank in person at this moment more than we would love to thank Catherine O’Hara,” Rogen, who won Best Comedy Series Director, said in his February speech. “It was an honor to get to direct her every day and we worked very hard to make the show good enough to warrant her time and her presence. So, ultimately, we would like to thank the DGA for this, but we would mostly like to thank Catherine O’Hara for being such a wonderful person and for blessing us with your presence.”

O’Hara later posthumously won the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series award at the 2026 Actor Awards last month. Rogen accepted the trophy on her behalf.

“I was asked to assume the very sad honor of accepting this award on [Catherine] O’Hara’s behalf,” the comedian shared at the March ceremony. “I know she would have been honored to receive this award from her fellow performers, who I know she respected so much. She was such a big fan of all of yours.”

The Studio season 2 does not yet have a premiere date.

US Intensifies Search for Missing Serviceman Amid Iran’s Public Appeal to Locate ‘Enemy Pilot

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US Intensifies Search for Missing Serviceman Amid Iran’s Public Appeal to Locate ‘Enemy Pilot


In a tense atmosphere over southwestern Iran, the U.S. military continued its urgent search on Saturday for a pilot whose plane was shot down by Iran. The pilot went missing after the incident, and Iranian authorities have offered a reward for their capture.

The downed aircraft, identified by Iranian forces as a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle, was part of a duo that came under attack on Friday. While one crew member has been safely rescued, at least one remains unaccounted for. This incident marks the first time U.S. aircraft have been lost in Iranian territory since the conflict began six weeks ago, potentially signaling a significant shift in the ongoing military campaign.

Initiated on February 28 by the United States and Israel, the conflict has had far-reaching effects across the Middle East. The violence has led to thousands of casualties, disrupted global markets, obstructed crucial shipping lanes, and led to a surge in fuel prices, with no signs of the hostilities abating as Iran retaliates against U.S. and Israeli airstrikes with its own regional assaults.

Just two days prior to this incident, President Donald Trump declared in a national speech that the U.S. had effectively “beaten and completely decimated Iran” and vowed to rapidly conclude the military operations. The U.S. and Israel had recently claimed that they had significantly weakened Iran’s air defense capabilities.

Hostilities persisted on Saturday with reports of an Iranian drone striking the headquarters of Oracle, a major U.S. technology company, in Dubai. Additionally, the Israeli military reported missile launches from Iran aimed at their territory.

Meanwhile, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said on social media that an airstrike hit near its Bushehr nuclear facility, killing a security guard and damaging a support building. It is the fourth time the facility has been targeted during the war.

Also Saturday, Iran’s top diplomat reiterated his government’s willingness to join talks aimed at stopping the war. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said they “have never refused to go to Islamabad.” Pakistan said last week that it would soon host talks between the U.S. and Iran, but it’s not clear when or if they will take place.

Two U.S. planes attacked

Saturday’s search for the pilot focused on a mountainous region in the country’s southwestern province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad.

Neither the White House nor the Pentagon released public information about the downed planes.

In an email from the Pentagon obtained by The Associated Press, meanwhile, the military said it received notification of “an aircraft being shot down” in the Middle East, without providing more details.

A U.S. crew member from that plane was rescued. But the Pentagon also notified the House Armed Services Committee that the status of a second service member on the fighter jet was not known. A U.S. military search-and-rescue operation continued Saturday.

In a brief telephone interview with NBC News, Trump declined to discuss the search-and-rescue efforts but said what happened would not affect negotiations with Iran.

Separately, Iranian state media said a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft crashed in the Persian Gulf after being struck by Iranian defense forces.

A U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive military situation said it was not clear if the aircraft crashed or was shot down or whether Iran was involved. Neither the status of the crew nor exactly where it went down was immediately known.

An anchor on a TV channel affiliated with Iranian state television urged residents to hand over any “enemy pilot” to the police.

Throughout the war, Iran has made a series of claims about shooting down piloted enemy aircraft that turned out not to be true. Friday was the first time the Iranian public was urged to look for a downed pilot.

Iranian state media said in a post on the social platform X its military shot down a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle. The aircraft is a variation of the Air Force fighter jet that carries a pilot and a weapons system officer.

Tech giant Oracle hit in Dubai following Iranian threats

An apparent Iranian drone damaged the Dubai headquarters of Oracle on Saturday after Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard threatened the firm.

The attack targeted the headquarters, which sits along Dubai’s main Sheikh Zayed Road highway. Footage verified by The Associated Press outside the United Arab Emirates showed damage to the building. A large hole could be seen in the building’s southwestern corner, with the “e” in “Oracle” on a neon sign damaged.

The sheikhdom’s Dubai Media Office, which speaks for its government, said a “minor incident caused by debris from an aerial interception that fell on the facade of the Oracle building in Dubai Internet City,” adding there were no injuries.

Oracle, based in Austin, Texas, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Guard has accused some of America’s largest tech companies of being involved in “terrorist espionage” operations against the Islamic Republic and said they were legitimate targets.

Earlier Iranian drone strikes hit Amazon Web Services facilities in both the UAE and Bahrain.

Iran keeps a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and issues a veiled threat to disrupt a second waterway

In a social media post late Friday, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker, issued a veiled threat to disrupt traffic through the Bab-el-Mandeb, a second strategic waterway. The strait, 32 kilometers (20 miles) wide, links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It is one of the busiest choke-points in global trade, with more than a tenth of seaborne global oil and a quarter of container ships passing through it.

“What share of global oil, LNG, wheat, rice, and fertilizer shipments transits the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait?” Qalibaf wrote. “Which countries and companies account for the highest transit volumes through the strait?”

Iran has already greatly disturbed the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, sending fuel prices skyrocketing and jolting the world economy. World leaders are struggling to end Iran’s stranglehold on the strait as the U.N. Security Council is expected to take up the matter Saturday.

Trump has vacillated on America’s role in the strait, alternately threatening Iran if it does not open the strait and telling other nations to “go get your own oil.” On Friday, he said in a post on social media: “With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE.”

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began. In a review released Friday, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a U.S.-based group, said it found that civilian casualties were clustered around strikes on security and state-linked sites “rather than indiscriminate bombardment” of urban areas.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 19 have been reported dead in Israel and 13 U.S. service members have been killed. In Lebanon, over 1,300 people have been killed and more than 1 million displaced. Ten Israeli soldiers have also died there.

Vanessa and JoJo Simmons Share Surprising Reasons They Skip Sleepovers for Their Kids

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Vanessa and JoJo Simmons Share Surprising Reasons They Skip Sleepovers for Their Kids

Vanessa and JoJo Simmons are shedding light on how their parenting styles differ from those of their upbringing.

In a recent episode of their podcast, “For Good,” which Vanessa co-hosts with her brother, the duo discussed the contrast between the freedom they experienced as children and the more cautious approach they employ with their own kids.

JoJo noted, “Our parents weren’t constantly checking on us. Nowadays, I’m much more protective. I wouldn’t let Mia walk to the corner store alone. It’s too risky.”

Vanessa echoed this sentiment, sharing, “I was hesitant to let Ava go to Starbucks with her friends, even though it’s just a five-minute trip.”

Reflecting on their own childhood, JoJo reminisced, “We’d be at the mall with friends when we were just 10 or 11 years old. Our parents would drop us off without a second thought.”

“We used to be at the mall with our friends at 10, 11. Drop us off,” Jojo recalled.

Even with that perspective, Vanessa said certain boundaries are non-negotiable in her household.

“I don’t even let my daughter do sleepovers. Like it’s just… Just family sleepovers. That’s it,” she said.

JoJo agreed, making his stance clear as well.

“We’re not doing sleepovers ever,” he said.

Jojo explained that her hesitation comes down to not knowing what goes on in other homes.

“No offense to any other parent or anything out here, but I just don’t know y’all like that. You may seem cool, but I don’t know how you run your household,” he said. “Some people be having guns in their house.”

Still, Vanessa acknowledged that there are moments where she has had to push herself to let Ava experience independence, including a recent sleepaway camp.

“I was praying. I had an AirTag on her. They were like, ‘No cell phones.’ I’m like, this is crazy,” Vanessa said. “It was so uncomfortable for the whole four days that she was away. But that situation also helped me to let go a little bit… but I’m still not letting go.”

Despite their concerns, both Vanessa and JoJo recognized the role independence can play in a child’s development.

“That creates character,” Jojo said. “We were able to be outside a little bit more. I think it created a lot of character, in my opinion.”

The conversation ended on a reflective note, with Vanessa sharing how becoming a parent has changed the way she thinks about her own parents.

“Parenting is really not easy. Now, I really have such a deeper level of respect for, you know, our parents now that we’re adults and we’re parents ourselves. Like, you can look and be like, “Wow, this is not easy.” And to have so many kids, I got one,” she said.

Vanessa is mom to one daughter, Ava, whom she shares with partner Mike Wayans, while JoJo shares two children, daughter Mia and son Joey, with his wife Tanice Amira.

 

Billionaire Returns Art Stolen by Nazis to Rightful Jewish Heirs

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Billionaire Returns Art Stolen by Nazis to Rightful Jewish Heirs

A legal decision has mandated that a billionaire art dealer must return a valuable Amedeo Modigliani painting to the heirs of a Jewish man from whom it was seized during the Nazi occupation of France.

This 1918 oil painting, which portrays a chocolate merchant donning a hat and tie, was appraised at approximately $25 million, as reported by The New York Times.

In a ruling delivered by New York Supreme Court Judge Joel M. Cohen, the painting known as ‘Seated Man With a Cane’ was declared to have been the property of Oscar Stettiner, an antiques dealer once based in Paris.

Consequently, Judge Cohen has ordered David Nahmad, the billionaire whose holding company currently possesses the artwork, to relinquish it back to the rightful estate.

“Oscar Stettiner held, or at the very least had the superior right to possess, the painting before it was unlawfully seized,” Judge Cohen stated, underscoring the legitimacy of Stettiner’s claim to the artwork.

Decades after the Nazis seized the painting and sold it to an unknown buyer, it emerged again at an auction in 1996.

Nahmad’s firm International Art Center, bought the work at the auction and has kept it in Switzerland ever since.

The Nahmad family has been in the art business for generations and long resisted the effort by Stettiner’s estate to recover the painting.  

Stettiner himself had brought a legal claim to court in 1946 after World War II ended. A French court ruled in his favor and ordered the painting be returned to him, but it had already been sold to a man who no longer had it in his possession.  

Pictured: 'Seated Man With a Cane', a 1918 work by Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani

Pictured: ‘Seated Man With a Cane’, a 1918 work by Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani

Oscar Stettiner, a Jewish art dealer, owned the painting. It was confiscated from his Paris shop by the Nazis. His descendants won a court battle this week to get the work returned to his estate

Oscar Stettiner, a Jewish art dealer, owned the painting. It was confiscated from his Paris shop by the Nazis. His descendants won a court battle this week to get the work returned to his estate

Stettiner died in 1948, never having recovered the painting. 

The lawsuit against Nahmad and his holding company was filed in 2015 by Stettiner’s grandson, Philippe Maestracci. Also involved in the suit was Mondex, a company that specializes in recovering stolen art.

‘Our client, Mr. Maestracci, is overwhelmed with joy and the satisfaction that after so many years the quest of his grandfather has finally been fulfilled,’ James Palmer, Mondex’s founder, told The Times.

‘We now look forward to Mr. Nahmad to abide by his promise to return the painting upon receiving the order of the court, which today he has now received,’ Palmer added.

A lawyer for the Stettiner estate, Phillip Landrigan, accused Nahmad and his lawyers of dragging out litigation in hopes that ‘the heir would be forced to give up’.

For years, the case was largely focused on whether Nahmad was even connected to International Art Center, the company that bought the painting 30 years ago. Eventually, Nahmad conceded he ran the company.

In interviews, Nahmad defended himself by saying he had loaned the painting out to several museums, including the Jewish Museum in Manhattan in 2004.

Billionaire David Nahmad (pictured with his son Joseph and wife Collette) bought the painting in 1996 from a Christie's art auction. Nahmad was ordered by the judge to hand it over

Billionaire David Nahmad (pictured with his son Joseph and wife Collette) bought the painting in 1996 from a Christie’s art auction. Nahmad was ordered by the judge to hand it over

Modigliani spent his adulthood in Paris, where he painted portraits and nudes in a surreal style. He was also a sculptor

Modigliani spent his adulthood in Paris, where he painted portraits and nudes in a surreal style. He was also a sculptor

‘If you had any doubt about looted art, would you really lend it to a Jewish museum?’ Nahmad told The Times in 2016.

Even though the Stettiner family had been misled about where the painting was for 50 years, Judge Cohen said, the Nahmad family was not at fault for that. Nahmad bought the work through Christie’s.

The judge said he found the evidence tying Stettiner to the painting were compelling. Records showed he lent the work for a 1930 exhibition in Venice. 

‘The evidence shows a straightforward and persuasive chain of ownership/right of possession flowing directly from Mr. Stettiner to Nazi seizure to a forced sale,’ the judge said.

Modigliani, who painted the work Stettiner’s family just recovered, was born in Northern Italy to a Sephardic Jewish family in 1884.

In 1906, he moved to Paris, where he began his career. He was a painter and a sculptor, becoming well known for his portraits and nudes that depicted people with surreal proportions.

His work was considered scandalous and controversial while he was alive but later saw great acclaim after his death in 1920. He died at age 35 of meningitis caused by a tuberculosis infection.

In 2015, one of his nude portraits, ‘Nu couché’, sold at a Christie’s auction in New York City for $170.4 million, making it one of the most expensive painting ever sold.

Shocking Gym Attack: Ex-Member Allegedly Stabs Planet Fitness Employee Over Billing Dispute

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Shocking Gym Attack: Ex-Member Allegedly Stabs Planet Fitness Employee Over Billing Dispute

Inset: Davier Massey (Cheltenham Township Police Department). Background: The Planet Fitness located at 1000 South Easton Road in Wyncote, Pennsylvania (Google Maps).

A man from Pennsylvania is facing serious charges after allegedly stabbing a Planet Fitness employee multiple times, following his ban from the gym due to an unpaid bill.

Davier Massey, 28, has been charged with a range of offenses, including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault, making terroristic threats, criminal mischief, harassment, and disorderly conduct.

Massey is currently held without bail at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

The incident unfolded after Massey was barred from the Planet Fitness on South Easton Road in Wyncote, on Wednesday, because of an outstanding bill, as reported by Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate WPVI. He returned briefly on Thursday but left without incident.

However, around 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Massey came back to the gym, located in Cheltenham Township, causing a disruption. According to the Cheltenham Township Police Department, an argument with a staff member quickly escalated, resulting in Massey allegedly stabbing the employee several times.

Police officers responded to the gym to find a man with multiple stab wounds. He was rushed to an area trauma center “for treatment for life threatening injuries,” the law enforcement agency said.

The victim is reportedly recovering in the hospital.

Massey was located “a short distance away” and arrested. He is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on April 16.

“We are saddened by the incident that took place at our Cheltenham location,” Planet Fitness said in a statement provided to the local outlet. “Our thoughts are with the team member as they recover. We appreciate local law enforcement’s quick action, and the franchise owner is fully supporting them in their investigation.”

Jonathan Majors Injured in On-Set Incident Amidst Crew Walkout Over Safety Issues

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Jonathan Majors Injured in On-Set Incident Amidst Crew Walkout Over Safety Issues


Just over a week has passed since crew members abandoned the South Carolina filming location of Jonathan Majors’ forthcoming action film, and emerging details reveal a production environment that reportedly descended from disorder to hazardous conditions.

Previously, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) initiated a strike on March 26 due to unsuccessful negotiations for a contract that would encompass health and pension benefits. However, numerous crew members indicate that the labor conflict soon morphed into a more pressing concern: safety.

The situation reached a critical juncture when Majors and his co-star, JC Kilcoyne, unexpectedly plunged approximately six feet from a window during a mishap in a scene. The glass, which was intended to shatter during a stunt at a later stage, had allegedly been replaced with a loose piece of tempered glass.

According to sources, Kilcoyne required stitches across his hands. One crew member remarked that the aftermath was as unsettling as the incident itself: “When I arrived, no one mentioned anything about the fall… It felt strange to me.”

Representatives for Kilcoyne have stated that the actor “is recovering well” and “did not perceive any danger while on set.”

But crew who ultimately walked off the job say the incident was just the latest in a string of red flags. Workers described props falling unpredictably — including a rigged tree branch that struck the set medic — and a lack of basic production structure. One veteran crew member claimed there were no standard safety meetings ahead of stunts or prop firearm use, and said it was nearly impossible to identify who was in charge.

“You couldn’t find anybody. You didn’t know who they were,” they said, adding that crew resorted to circulating a “black market” crew list just to keep track of each other.

Concerns extended beyond the set itself. Crew reportedly pushed back on filming in a location later discovered to have black mold, after producers allegedly considered moving forward despite warnings about possible asbestos exposure.

“They didn’t really care about the long-term effects on the crew,” one worker said.

The production has also drawn scrutiny over special effects supervisor Chris Bailey, who previously pleaded guilty to illegal possession of explosives on a film set. Bailey dismissed the incident as a “paperwork infraction,” insisting “no pyro was mishandled.”

By the time the strike was underway, more than 60% of the crew had signed union cards backing IATSE representation. Still, producers — including Dallas Sonnier — have made clear they’re not interested in negotiating.

“The entire industry is in freefall…We don’t negotiate with communists,” Sonnier said in one statement, doubling down after an earlier remark that dismissed picketers as “four assholes with signs.”

Despite the ongoing strike, filming appears to be continuing in some capacity, with producers reportedly seeking replacement crew as union leaders urge workers not to cross the picket line.

The film — believed to be an “anthology sequel” to 2020’s Run Hide Fight — is still shrouded in secrecy. But behind the scenes, it’s the off-camera drama that’s stealing the spotlight.

US Fighter Jets Impacted in Iran Conflict: Key Details and Implications

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US Fighter Jets Impacted in Iran Conflict: Key Details and Implications


In a significant escalation, two U.S. Air Force fighter jets were downed on Friday in separate incidents while conducting operations against Iran, according to military sources.

The Iranian military successfully shot down an F-15E Strike Eagle within their airspace, necessitating an urgent search-and-rescue mission after the crew was forced to eject. This marks a pivotal moment, as it is the first instance of an American fighter jet being downed by Iran since the conflict began.

According to a U.S. official, speaking anonymously to The Hill, one of the two crew members aboard the two-seat aircraft has been successfully rescued by U.S. forces. However, the whereabouts of the second crew member remain uncertain.

The Pentagon informed the House Armed Services Committee about the missing service member’s status, as shared by a congressional aide, who also requested anonymity. This typically indicates the Defense Department is currently unable to ascertain the missing individual’s location.

Normally, this means that the Defense Department does not know the service member’s whereabouts.

President Trump was briefed on the downing of the F-15, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. 

The Iranian military was also searching for the missing U.S. service member, The New York Times reported. 

The president was working with his national security team at the White House on Friday, receiving updates on the conflict that has been ongoing for over a month, a senior White House official told The Hill. 

After the F-15E, a dual-role fighter plane that can complete air-to-ground and air-to-air missions, was hit in Iranian airspace, a U.S. search and rescue mission was kick-started, including an A-10 Warthog attack plane, a close-air support jet, which was also struck by Iran, a source said.  

Videos shared on social media also showed a C-130 refueling jet flying low over Iran. 

Iran claimed that its air defenses shot down the A-10, a single-seat jet that can be utilized versus ground targets and light maritime attack planes. 

The plane reportedly got to Kuwaiti airspace, where the pilot ejected and the plane crashed. The pilot was rescued. 

A U.S. Air Force UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was also part of the rescue operation to locate the F-15 service member. The helicopter, which can transport troops, deliver supplies and carry up to 9,000 lbs of load, was hit by Iran, but was able to escape, a source familiar with the matter told The Hill. Another search-and-rescue helicopter was struck by the Iranian military on Friday, the source added. 

Since the war began on Feb. 28, with joint airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel, a total of 365 U.S. service members have been wounded, according to new figures published by the Pentagon. 

Of the total, 247 were in the Army, 63 in the Navy, 19 were in the Marines and 36 were in the Air Force. The number of U.S. service members killed in the conflict remains at 13, according to the Pentagon.

European Ministers Push for Profit Caps on Energy Firms to Combat Rising Prices

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European Ministers Push for Profit Caps on Energy Firms to Combat Rising Prices
The finance ministers of Spain and four other European countries are urging the European Union to impose a bloc-wide windfall tax on energy companies, concerned that surging oil and gas prices driven by the war in Iran will fuel inflation and strain households.
Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said on Saturday that his counterparts from Germany, Italy, Portugal and Austria had signed a letter to the European Commission citing “market distortions” caused by the price spike.
“The conflict in the Middle East has caused oil prices to rise, placing a significant burden on the European economy and on European citizens,” the letter, dated from Friday and made public by Cuerpo in an online post, said.
Fuel crisis
The finance ministers of Spain and four other European countries are urging the European Union to impose a bloc-wide windfall tax on energy companies. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

“Ensuring that this financial burden is shared equitably is crucial,” the statement emphasized.

Europe is largely dependent on imported oil and gas, leaving it vulnerable to external shocks. In 2022, turmoil in energy markets following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine pushed inflation into double digits in many European countries.

Previously, the European Union introduced a “solidarity contribution,” which included limits on excessive energy profits.

“In light of the ongoing market imbalances and financial limitations, the European Commission is encouraged to promptly establish a similar EU-wide contribution mechanism,” the letter suggested.

It further stated, “This would clearly demonstrate that those benefiting from wartime circumstances have a responsibility to help alleviate the strain on the general populace.”

Strait of Hormuz
Iran has blocked most tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint for about 20 per cent of global oil and gas — in a move that threatens to stress fuel markets. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Fueled primarily by rising oil prices, the annual inflation rate across the 21 euro-using countries increased to 2.5% in March, up from 1.9% in February.

Iran has blocked most tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint for about 20 per cent of global oil and gas — in a move that threatens to stress fuel markets for months.

European Union Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen warned this week that disruption caused by the closure means fuel prices are unlikely to “go back to normal in a foreseeable future.”

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Explosive Accusations: Kyle Cooke Challenges West & Amanda’s Romance Timeline, Claims ‘Betrayal’ and Manipulation

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Explosive Accusations: Kyle Cooke Challenges West & Amanda’s Romance Timeline, Claims ‘Betrayal’ and Manipulation

Kyle Cooke has publicly accused West Wilson of betrayal, alleging that Wilson manipulated public perception for his benefit. The star of “Summer House” also opened up about the challenges facing his business.

Kyle Cooke Accuses West of ‘Betrayal’ and Audience Manipulation Amid Amanda Drama, Plus Shares More Details Behind Loverboy Financial Struggles

Credit: Ivan Apfel/Bravo, Zach Hilty/BFA.com

Earlier this week, Kyle’s wife, Amanda Batula, confirmed her romantic involvement with Wilson. This revelation came months after Amanda announced her split from Kyle. Fans have expressed their disapproval, viewing Amanda’s actions as a betrayal of Ciara Miller, West’s former partner.

In the latest season, West has been vocal about Kyle’s behavior towards Amanda. During the filming, Kyle and Amanda were still married, yet West criticized Kyle in his confessionals for his treatment of Amanda. He even likened Kyle to the infamous “Wolf of Wall Street” after Kyle gifted Amanda an extravagant watch following an insult.

Kyle addressed the situation in an interview with Adam Glyn on TikTok, where he discussed the dynamics of their relationship.

In an interview with Adam Glyn on TikTok, Kyle addressed the relationship.

“I’m giving Amanda grace just because I know … from a mental standpoint [that] she’s fragile,” said Kyle.

He was then asked if he thinks they hooked up in the summer. “I’ve seen rumors, I’ve seen blinds, and I’ve had DMs that say it dates back to like June,” he said. “I don’t know what to believe. … There’s a little murkiness as to our separation, and we put the announcement out, that I think we’ll have to address the reunion.”

Kyle said he’s still in “shock” and “disbelief,” and Andy Cohen hasn’t reached out to him.

“But again, I feel like West kind of positioned itself very conveniently to be this knight in shining armor for women, standing up for Amanda, checking me,” he said. “For him to say what he said in his confessional and then double down on Watch What Happens, I was like, something’s up.”

“I mean, he basically threw his friendship with me away in one swoop,” he added. “Then that’s when, you know, the wheels started turning in terms of … all these rumors. What happened to Bro Code? He compared me to the Wolf of Wall Street [for] buying Amanda a watch. Like, the Wolf of Wall Street buys his wife present when he bangs a hooker. And he goes, ‘I probably made things worse for you with that comment.’ I’m like, ‘Bro, you lit me on fire, you kicked me when I’m down.’”

Kyle said West is “smart” and “strategic” enough to know the “audience” of the show, and he “clearly [knows] what to say to women to win them over.”

“A lot of people don’t understand how close [West and I] were,” he said. “We traveled to Toronto, we traveled to the Ozarks, I was at his parents’ house, riding horses in his dad’s ranch, like, there’s some wild betrayal there.”

According to Kyle, West is capable of “manipulating any female, my wife included.”

@adamglyn

Part 3 of my talk with @Bravo star Kyle Cooke talking about the Amanda and West relationship. #summerhouse #bravo

♬ original sound – Adam Glyn

Around the same time, Kyle addressed his business in an Instagram video – after sharing his struggles with LoverBoy in the latest episode.

“I have no control as to what happened this week. But I did open to Carl about the financial stress I’m under running Loverboy on this week’s episode of Summer House,” he said. “So my original plan was to kind of start touching on those challenges.”

“Most of my days I’m just behind the computer, 10, 12 hour work days, not prioritizing content, and I’ve relied a little too heavily on the show to give you guys a glimpse into entrepreneurship and running a small brand and some of the challenges that we face in big alcohol,” he added. “But obviously a lot has changed this week.”

“When I talked about that $500,000 investment, it’s to literally cover payroll to keep [my employees] in their seats and to stop them from going to a competitor,” he said. “I don’t take a salary, as we’ve talked about. … I’m gonna turn this thing around. We’re still up against the clock. We’re still running out of cash. We’re still looking for an operational partner. I thought by now all that would be solved.”
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