NEW YORK — Even close attendees were left in the dark about the wedding venue for Taylor Swift and her Super Bowl-winning partner Travis Kelce until last Sunday, according to an insider privy to the details. Meanwhile, New York City officials are getting ready for a series of nuptial celebrations at Madison Square Garden this week.

While specifics about the upcoming ceremony are shrouded in mystery, News Media revealed on Tuesday that the NYPD is preparing for an event starting Thursday and continuing into the early hours of Saturday. This occasion is expected to involve street closures, a high-profile guest list, and much more, according to another well-placed source.

Informed city officials anticipate that Swift and Kelce will indeed tie the knot at the Garden. However, with the singer’s considerable resources and love for hidden clues, some speculate the high-profile ceremony at the home of the NBA champion Knicks might be a well-orchestrated distraction.

“We’ll have to wait to see if Taylor really shows up here, or if this is all just smoke and mirrors,” commented Paul Mauro, a former NYPD inspector experienced with securing events at Madison Square Garden. “Taylor can afford to rent out the Garden, only to opt for a different, secret venue entirely.”

The arena, which sits atop the Pennsylvania Station commuter railroad hub, is surrounded by subway lines, New Jersey Transit, Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak service, making it one of the busiest transit hubs in the country. It already routinely hosts a large police and National Guard presence.

“You’ll see all the resources,” Mauro said. “You’ll see the horses. You’ll see the ESU guys, that’s SWAT, with the uniforms and the long guns. You’re going to see all of that. But there will also be a lot of stuff you don’t see…You’re going to have a lot of intelligence assets that are deployed, things that are a little bit more clandestine. Together with the feds, there are likely going to be a lot of federal agencies represented because, as I said, you are going to be coming into the Fourth of July. Irrespective of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, this was going to be a hotbed of activity.”

Penn Station is also the city’s gateway to World Cup games hosted nearby in New Jersey. Commuters and tourists come and go at all hours. And less than 10 blocks away, on Saturday, July 4, Times Square will host a celebration for the nation’s 250th birthday.

“You’ve got a lot going on under the ground here,” Mauro said. “They have to consider all that as well. You’ve got to keep the trains moving. A big heavy lift for New York City. I have no doubt that they’ll come through.”

The NYPD has been doing it for decades, after all. Mauro pointed to President John F. Kennedy’s famous birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden — where Marilyn Monroe serenaded the president with her iconic rendition of “Happy Birthday” — as well as Mick Jagger’s birthday celebration at the end of a Rolling Stones tour — and President Donald Trump held a campaign rally inside during the 2024 campaign.

Derrick Parker, a former member of the NYPD’s hip-hop intelligence unit who was tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of high-profile visitors in the 1990s and 2000s, told News Media that the police department is preparing what is expected to be a “crazy weekend” between the World Cup, Independence Day and now, Swift and Kelce’s marriage.

“A lot of it is gonna go into planning,” he said. “Who’s attending [the wedding]? Who’s got problems with each other? That’s always a big concern. Are people gonna come to oppose it? She had stalkers too. I’m sure there are people they’re gonna be watching.”

Police preparations are expected to include shutting down 31st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, on the south side of the Garden, protecting the entrance to a parking garage where as many as 500 cars are expected to bring VIP guests to and from the wedding Friday.

“One of the things you’ve got to consider when you’re doing this level of security is who’s picking up the tab,” Mauro said. “The private security that goes on here, including what they call off-duty employment — those are cops who are allowed to work security on their own time, but they’re allowed to wear the uniform…That gets paid by the Garden. But, of course, all the other NYPD assets that are deployed here, including some that are deployed now on 31st Street, those are paid by taxpayers. There’s nothing unusual about that.”

In an unusual gesture, the family of a murder victim in Florida presented Ron DeSantis with personalized Sharpies, aiming to expedite the execution of the convicted killer.

This move led to the February execution of Ronald Heath, 64, by lethal injection. Heath’s execution was part of a broader increase in the number of death sentences carried out under DeSantis, who is nearing the end of his tenure as Florida’s Governor.

Heath was found guilty of the 1989 murder of traveling salesman Michael Sheridan. Despite exhausting all available appeals to delay his execution, DeSantis went ahead and signed his death warrant this year.

Unlike many states, Florida grants its governor the authority to determine the execution dates for death row inmates, allowing DeSantis to wield substantial influence over these life-and-death decisions.

Under DeSantis’s administration, Florida has become known as America’s execution capital, with 19 individuals executed in 2025 alone, comprising 40 percent of all executions nationally.

The power to unilaterally set execution dates reportedly led Sheridan’s family to woo DeSantis by gifting him custom blue Sharpies, his pen of choice for signing legislation and death warrants, reports the New York Times. 

The gambit worked, as DeSantis promptly fast-tracked Heath’s death warrant and he became the first inmate to be executed in Florida this year.  

Insiders said the move was indicative of DeSantis’s strong support for the death penalty in a legacy move as he readies to leave office, when he is term-limited in January 2027. They’ve speculated that he wants to be the next US Attorney General, with President Donald Trump an outspoken supporter of capital punishment. 

The total of 19 executions pushed forward by DeSantis in 2025 broke the state’s annual record of 11, which was set back in 1936. 

DeSantis’s affinity for executions stands in stark contrast to most other governors, including many Republicans, who have walked back the death penalty across the nation. 

At least 33 states have either not carried out an execution in at least a decade or abolished the practice entirely, with the number of people sentenced to death also dropping sharply. 

Compared to 1995, when 307 people were sentenced to death, just 23 people received the punishment in the US last year, per data from the Death Penalty Information Center. 

Experts said DeSantis has wielded his power over executions in a freestyle-manner, with attorneys and the families of victims attempting to attract his attention – or avoid it – as cases move through the courts. 

The length of time an inmate has spent on death row does not appear to play a role in DeSantis’s decisions, the Times noted, leaving many to try and gauge how the governor will choose the next inmate to be executed.

‘He could be deciding who is next to die by throwing darts at a list of names, or spinning a roulette wheel,’ Maria DeLiberato, an attorney with the ACLU’s Capital Punishment Project, told the Times. 

The surge in executions in Florida comes amid scrutiny on the death penalty practices across the nation, with a number of lethal injections going wrong in recent years due to complications with the cocktail of drugs used.

In 2022, this led the execution of killer Joe Nathan James to become the longest in US history, as he endured an agonizing three-hour ordeal while strapped to a gurney before eventually dying. 

Following the execution of Heath in February, the next inmate put to death in Florida, Billy Kearse, took twice as long as usual, allegedly due to the same issues. 

Attorneys for another Florida death row inmate, Chadwick Willacy, requested records about the state’s execution practices to prove this, and just one week later DeSantis signed Willacy’s death warrant. 

The example has reportedly added to fears that moves they make in court, including filing appeals or legal challenges, could draw DeSantis’s attention and lead him to fast-track certain inmates. 

In the face of some criticisms over his urgency to execute Florida’s killers, DeSantis defended the practice, and said meeting with victims’ families convinced him of the importance to do so.

‘There’s a saying: Justice delayed is justice denied,’ DeSantis told the Times. 

‘We’re doing it to be able to bring justice to the victims’ families.’

DeSantis’s head of communications, Alex Lanfranconi, added: ‘My advice to those who are seeking to avoid the death penalty in Florida would be to not murder people.’ 

The Daily Mail has contacted DeSantis’s office for comment.  

A former Wisconsin high school student is claiming religious discrimination after officials at her school prevented her from including a Bible verse in a slideshow at her graduation ceremony, citing the district’s policy on religious neutrality.

Sarianne Beronja, who graduated from Arrowhead High School in Waukesha County in 2026, had hoped to feature a passage from Proverbs 3:6 alongside her photo in a slideshow displayed during the commencement.

The verse she chose was: “In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.”

Less than a day before the graduation ceremony, Beronja was informed by an associate principal that her chosen verse could not be used, citing a ban on religious messages.

School authorities reportedly also rejected her alternative suggestion, which was to include a thank you to God for His presence “beside me through these last four years.”

“My faith helped shape who I am,” she told Fox News Digital. “Over the past four years, this verse was something I kept coming back to that kept me grounded and moving forward.”

Superintendent Conrad Farner told Fox News Digital that religious and political messages were barred from the graduation slideshow because it is considered “school-sponsored speech.”

He said students were given explicit instructions to limit messages to family thank-yous and future plans.

“By defining the boundaries of the slideshow ahead of time (limiting the topic strictly to family thank-yous and future career/college plans), the expectations and limits were clearly articulated and established,” Farner said.

“The slideshow was never meant to be a forum for ANY religious or political viewpoints. It is an extremely brief picture of each graduate that allows for an extremely brief thank you or future plans. Again, the slideshow is district-sponsored speech, NOT a public forum.”

The school official cited the 1988 Supreme Court ruling in Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, which gives school administrators the right to restrict school-sponsored expression if it is “reasonably related to legitimate educational concerns.”

Farner said opening the door to political or religious expression would create a disruptive environment at graduation, adding that the school wanted to avoid a situation where students and parents would want to bring “signs and buttons and flags” to express themselves. 

Going forward, Farner said the school will no longer utilize a slideshow at graduation.

However, Beronja told Fox News Digital she did not believe the school consistently barred religious statements at graduation, claiming students had included Bible verses and expressions of faith in past ceremonies.

The student and her mother are fighting the school district policy to protect future students’ expression, seeking help from the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL).

“We are celebrating our country’s 250th birthday, and, after all, the United States was founded on being a nation of religious freedom,” Beronja said.

“I think the school district should make sure that students of faith are not treated differently because their expression is religious. Students shouldn’t worry that a Bible verse will be rejected when other personal messages are allowed.”

WILL has accused the district of violating the student’s First Amendment rights.

“Once a school creates an opportunity for students to express their own views, it cannot exclude religious viewpoints while permitting comparable non-religious speech,” WILL said in a press release.

“The actions by Arrowhead appear to have done exactly that.”

The organization is asking the Arrowhead Union High School District to immediately alter its policy to allow students of faith to receive “the same constitutional protections afforded to every other student.”

Cory Brewer, WILL deputy counsel, stated, “‘Separation of Church and State’ is not an excuse to erase the viewpoints of students of faith. Arrowhead invited students to express themselves and approved countless secular messages, but when Sarianne shared a Bible verse that reflected her faith, school officials censored it. That’s unconstitutional.”

Brewer said WILL is prepared to take legal action if the district does not comply.

The future of autonomous technology isn’t confined to a single aircraft or system. Instead, it’s about how these interconnected advancements collaborate to aid military personnel. In a recent video, Lockheed Martin experts delve into how AI, the F-35, Lockheed Martin Vectis™, Matrix Autonomy, and the U-Hawk are empowering pilots and operators by providing real-time data for improved decision-making.

Showcased in the video is a realistic approach to autonomy that focuses on reducing workload, extending mission capabilities, and enhancing safety by minimizing direct exposure to danger. The core focus is on human-centric systems contributing to safer, more efficient operations.

From the Moon to Mars: Engineering the Future of Human Exploration

Lockheed Martin is pioneering the future of space exploration, from the Moon to the long-awaited mission to Mars. Through expert insight, the video explains how Lockheed Martin’s extensive collaboration with NASA—from the historic Viking 1 Mars mission to the current Orion and Artemis programs—is driving the development of technologies designed to explore deeper into space while ensuring the safe return of astronauts.

The video details the crucial role of robotic missions, lunar resource usage, nuclear energy, and sophisticated spacecraft systems in setting the stage for human space expeditions. It emphasizes the vision, teamwork, and meticulous engineering required to transform ambitious concepts into reality, as Lockheed Martin supports NASA’s journey from lunar exploration to Mars preparation.

Next-Generation Missile Defense at Mission Speed

As missile threats evolve at unprecedented speeds, defense strategies demand systems that can rapidly detect, decide, and act. The video features insights from Lockheed Martin experts on how cutting-edge integrated systems, AI-driven decision-making tools, and open architectures are reshaping Missile Defense by integrating capabilities across terrestrial, maritime, aerial, and spatial domains.

As the global security landscape becomes more complex, Lockheed Martin is focused on building defense technology that can keep pace with emerging threats. Integration is central to modern missile defense, bringing together sensors, platforms, data, and decision-making tools into a more connected digital environment.

Anticipation is on the rise for Disney’s live-action rendition of ‘Moana,’ as enthusiasts of the beloved story will soon have the opportunity to connect more closely with the daring voyager and explorer without leaving American shores.

Moana first captured our hearts in 2016 with Disney’s animated feature. Now, this captivating tale is set to make a dramatic live-action debut, bringing with it one of its most memorable elements—her distinctive canoe.

Fans will be thrilled to know that the very canoe used in the movie is making its way to the Jersey shore this Friday.

The skilled captain who played a part in crafting this iconic vessel for the movie will be docking at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach, ready to offer an exciting experience for fans.

Captain Nakoa Prejean teamed up with stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, portraying Maui, and Catherine Laga’aia as Moana, to instruct them on the arts of sailing and traditional wayfinding techniques.

Every textile, every voice, every face of this film belongs to Polynesia. That includes Laga’aia, a 19-year-old Samoan Australian who is making her feature film debut.

She’s been a fan of the courageous daughter of the village chief since she was 9 years old.

From the music to the dance, to the dress, all of this is a full-circle moment for Laga’aia.

She recalls the moment she stepped into the costume.

“I did a try-on in Aotearoa New Zealand, which was really fun,” says Laga’aia. “I got to stand with our costume designer, Liz McGregor, and getting to put it on for the very first time was very surreal. You’re seeing and feeling these things for the first time, and they’re all made out of the authentic material that they would have been made out of, which is so fun. It’s such a beautiful thing to get to wear and don these outfits as a representation of where we all come from.”

That, she says, is the beauty of this film: the commitment to authenticity and the culture of the Pacific Islands.

For more on Moana’s canoe making a stop in Point Pleasant Beach, click here.

If June felt like an emotional rollercoaster, you weren’t alone, according to findings from a leading human performance company.

Insights from WHOOP, the company known for its health-tracking wearable device, have shed new light on mental health patterns among its member base. This health optimization platform, which requires a yearly subscription starting at $199, delivers continuous biometric data to help users enhance their physical and mental well-being.

According to national statistics from 2022, almost one in four adults in the United States faces a mental health challenge.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, WHOOP took a closer look at anonymized data from hundreds of thousands of its users across the U.S. This analysis aimed to gain a deeper understanding of how individuals experience and document their mental well-being on a daily basis.

The findings were striking. Anxiety and stress stood out as the most frequently documented mental health concerns among WHOOP users. In 2025 alone, over 160,000 members recorded these experiences in the WHOOP Journal, surpassing other symptoms such as mood fluctuations, irritability, and depression.

The timing of these logs also suggests a seasonal pattern.

According to WHOOP’s data, the first week of May saw the highest spike in mental health journaling activity of the year. An additional 7,000 members logged mental health entries in that week-long period.

Beyond the self-reported data, the company says these findings could also reveal a physiological correlation between mental and physical health outcomes.

WHOOP tracks a variety of important health metrics such as heart rate variability (HRV), sleep performance, respiratory rate, skin temperature and blood oxygen, using them to predict a daily recovery score that reflects a person’s physical readiness.

Based on analysis across roughly 30,000 WHOOP users, on days when members reported elevated stress or anxiety levels, their recovery scores and sleep duration were significantly lower compared to days when those symptoms were not reported.

Fortunately, WHOOP also offers resources and tools for users experiencing stress or anxiety.

The company’s AI feature, WHOOP Coach, provides real-time insights into cognitive and emotional stress, helping identify patterns and potential triggers. It also offers science-backed breathing exercises designed to calm the nervous system and support recovery.

WHOOP’s latest data highlights how wearable technology can do more than track performance — it can also help users identify trends and implement changes that support both mental and physical health.

This article was written by Miska Salemann, New York Post Commerce Writer/Reporter. As a health-forward member of Gen Z, Miska seeks out experts to weigh in on the benefits, safety and designs of both trending and tried-and-true fitness equipment, workout clothing, dietary supplements and more. Taking matters into her own hands, Miska intrepidly tests wellness products, ranging from Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint Longevity Mix to the viral Oura Ring to Jennifer Aniston’s favorite workout platform – often with her adorable toddler by her side. Before joining The Post, Miska covered lifestyle and consumer topics for the U.S. Sun and The Cannon Beach Gazette.