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Shocking Earth Day Report Reveals Nearly 50% of Americans Exposed to Toxic Air Quality

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Shocking Earth Day Report Reveals Nearly 50% of Americans Exposed to Toxic Air Quality


A recent report from the American Lung Association (ALA) reveals that nearly half of all Americans are exposed to unhealthy air conditions. Released in conjunction with Earth Day, the annual “State of the Air” report highlights alarming statistics, indicating that approximately 44 percent of the U.S. population—equating to over 152 million people—reside in areas plagued by harmful ozone levels and particle pollution.

The report, which draws on data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), also features lists of the “cleanest” and “most polluted” cities in the United States based on their ozone and particle pollution levels.

This year, Bangor, Maine, stands out as the only city to excel in all three categories: ozone, short-term particle pollution, and year-round particle pollution. The ALA has described this as a “grim indication” of the overall decline in air quality across the nation.

In Bangor, no days were recorded with unhealthy ozone levels or short-term particle pollution. Impressively, the city ranks tenth among all U.S. cities for its consistently low levels of year-round particle pollution.

The city reported zero total days of unhealthy ozone levels and short-term particle pollution. It ranked number 10 among all cities for its low year-round particle pollution levels. 

Bakersfield, Calif., maintained its ranking as one of the worst cities for air pollution in all three categories. The city, which is around 100 miles northeast of Santa Barbara, ranked first for having the worst year-round particle pollution and third for both harmful ozone and short-term particle pollution. 

Other California cities like Los Angeles, Visalia, San Jose, Fresno, San Francisco, and San Diego ranked high in at least two of these categories. Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, New York City, and Denver all reported bad air pollution metrics.

You can find the full report and its rankings here.

Overall, the ALA report found some improvements across the nation in terms of particle pollution, but worsening impacts of ozone. Almost 4 million more people are breathing in unhealthy levels of ozone compared to last year’s report. 

“This year’s report shows that air pollution results were mixed across the country and across pollutants, highlighting the complex nature of air pollution and the need for regional, state and local attention on pollution sources,” the ALA wrote in its key findings. 

The report also found that communities of color are disproportionately affected by air pollution and have an increased likelihood of living with chronic health conditions that make them more vulnerable to this pollution. 

“Although people of color make up 42.1% of the overall population of the U.S., they represent 54.2% of the people living in a county with at least one failing grade,” the ALA said in the report.

A person of color is over two times as likely as a white person to live somewhere with poor air pollution, while Latino people are over three times as likely, according to the ALA’s analysis.

Revitalize Your Posture: 5 Standing Exercises That Outperform Yoga for Over 50s

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Revitalize Your Posture: 5 Standing Exercises That Outperform Yoga for Over 50s

Rounding shoulders after age 50? Here are five standing exercises to strengthen your posture.

As we age, maintaining good posture can become a challenge, with many noticing their shoulders start to slouch or their posture deteriorate after hitting 50. This is a common occurrence, and research suggests that posture tends to gradually decline with age, often without us even realizing it. The hours we spend sitting down, constantly looking at screens, and losing muscle strength all play a role in this change. Poor posture not only affects your appearance but can also hinder your breathing, limit your mobility, and put extra strain on your neck, shoulders, and lower back.

Luckily, help is at hand. We consulted with Abbie Watkins, CPT, a certified personal trainer at OriGym, who provided her top five standing exercises aimed at strengthening posture. Although yoga is widely recognized for its posture-improving benefits, flexibility alone isn’t enough to fix posture problems. Often, these issues are caused by muscle weakness rather than tightness. In particular, the muscles in your upper back, shoulders, and core can become less active, while those in your chest and front body may take over. This makes standing exercises a fantastic choice for enhancing postural strength.

“If you’re aiming to bolster posture strength at 50 and beyond, it’s crucial to focus on strengthening the muscles that keep you upright,” Watkins advises. “The most effective approach to support your spine is by building strength in your upper back, shoulders, and core.”

“If your goal is to improve posture strength at 50 or older, focus on strengthening the muscles that hold you upright,” says Watkins. “Building strength through the upper back, shoulders, and core is the best way to support your spine.”

Resistance Band Rows

How to do it:

  1. Stand facing the anchor with your feet hip-width apart.
  2. Hold the band handles with your arms extended in front of you.
  3. Keep your chest lifted and your shoulders relaxed.
  4. Pull the band toward your torso by driving your elbows backward.
  5. Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the end of the movement.
  6. Pause for one to two seconds then slowly return to the starting position.
  7. Complete two to three sets of 10 to 15 reps, resting for 45 to 60 seconds between sets.

Reverse Flyes

How to do it:

  1. Slightly bend your knees and hinge forward at your hips.
  2. Keep your back neutral and your core engaged.
  3. Let your arms hang down toward the floor.
  4. Raise your arms out to the sides in a wide arc.
  5. Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the top.
  6. Lower your arms back down with control (avoid using momentum to lift the weights).
  7. Perform two to three sets of 10 to 12 reps. Rest for 45 to 60 seconds between sets.

Wall Angels

How to do it:

  1. Position your feet slightly away from the wall for balance.
  2. Press your lower back, upper back, and head gently into the wall.
  3. Raise your arms into a “goal post” position with your elbows bent.
  4. Slowly slide your arms upward along the wall.
  5. Keep your arms and back in contact with the wall as much as possible.
  6. Lower your arms back down with control.
  7. Aim for two to three sets of 8 to 12 reps, resting for 45 to 60 seconds between sets.

Y Raises

Y raises target your upper back and shoulder stabilizer muscles, which are often underactive but play a crucial role in maintaining an upright posture. Strengthening them can help strengthen your shoulder blades and reduce neck strain.

How to do it:

  1. Hinge slightly forward at your hips while keeping your back neutral.
  2. Let your arms hang down in front of you.
  3. Raise your arms upward at a diagonal angle to form a “Y” shape.
  4. Keep your thumbs pointing upward throughout the movement.
  5. Squeeze your shoulder blades at the top.
  6. Lower your arms slowly back to the starting position (avoid shrugging your shoulders).
  7. Complete two to three sets of 10 to 12 reps. Rest for 45 to 60 seconds between sets.

Chin Tucks

How to do it:

  1. Keep your shoulders relaxed and your chest lifted.
  2. Look straight ahead and draw your chin backward without tilting your head.
  3. Imagine creating a “double chin” as you move.
  4. Hold the position for two to three seconds.
  5. Relax and return to neutral.
  6. Perform two to three sets of 10 to 12 reps, resting for 30 to 45 seconds between sets.

Megyn Kelly Criticizes Pete Hegseth’s Use of Religious References in Military Strategy Discussions

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Megyn Kelly Criticizes Pete Hegseth’s Use of Religious References in Military Strategy Discussions

Megyn Kelly has taken aim at her former Fox News colleague, Pete Hegseth, for his frequent use of religious references in speeches about military actions.

Kelly, who identifies as a lifelong Roman Catholic, expressed her disapproval during Thursday’s episode of The Megyn Kelly Show, focusing her critique on the defense secretary.

While acknowledging that she generally admires Hegseth, Kelly clarified that she is “not a fan of the praying and the constant references to God, Jesus, and the Bible coming from the Pentagon when discussing military strategies.”

Speaking with conservative podcaster Britt Mayer, she emphasized, “It makes me very uncomfortable. Very much so.”

Kelly went on to praise the approach of U.S. General Dan “Raizin” Caine, who she says sticks to “just the facts.” She added, “I understand religion plays a significant role in Pete’s life, and that’s wonderful, but I prefer a more straightforward method in official communications.”

Kelly quickly added that such language ‘doesn’t belong when you’re talking about our plans to wipe out people, including possible civilians.’ She pointed to past rhetoric from Donald Trump before playing a clip of Hegseth from earlier in the day.

‘These two things do not belong together, and I just – I’m really uncomfortable with it,’ she said again, before cuing the clip.

Kelly prefaced that ‘if Joe Biden did this through his Pentagon, I would have ripped him a new one’.

Megyn Kelly took aim at her former Fox News colleague and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over his insistence on using religious language while discussing the war with Iran

Megyn Kelly took aim at her former Fox News colleague and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over his insistence on using religious language while discussing the war with Iran 

She pointed to a clip from a Pentagon press briefing where Hegseth invoked scripture to take a stab at the media's coverage of the conflict in Iran

She pointed to a clip from a Pentagon press briefing where Hegseth invoked scripture to take a stab at the media’s coverage of the conflict in Iran

Hegseth was then heard recalling how ‘this past Sunday, I was sitting in church with my family, and our minister preached from the Book of Mark, the third chapter.

‘And in the passage, Jesus entered a synagogue and healed a man with a withered hand,’ Hegseth read.   

‘The Pharisees came to watch. And as the scripture reads, they came to see whether he, Jesus, would heal him – or he would heal him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse him,’ he continued.

The Pharisees – an ancient Jewish sect Hegseth described as the ‘self-appointed elites’ of the era – had hearts too ‘hardened’ to acknowledge Christ, Hegseth said.

‘They were only there to explain away the goodness in pursuit of their agenda.’

Hegseth – a Fox News star from 2014 to 2024 – quickly likened the Pharisees to ‘our press.’ 

‘Not all of you. Not all of you,’ he said. ‘But the legacy Trump-hating press.’

Hegseth – a practicing Christian – also drew criticism for a presentation the day before, during which he mistook a monologue from 1994 classic ‘Pulp Fiction’ for real biblical verse to be referenced. 

Since becoming defense chief, Hegseth has found no shortage of ways to bring his faith into the Pentagon. Pictured: L-R) Rep Jason Crow (D-CO), Sen.Joni Ernst (R-IA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Hegseth and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) pray on June 26, 2025

Since becoming defense chief, Hegseth has found no shortage of ways to bring his faith into the Pentagon. Pictured: L-R) Rep Jason Crow (D-CO), Sen.Joni Ernst (R-IA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Hegseth and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) pray on June 26, 2025

Kelly, a Fox star for 12 years until 2017, groaned after playing the Thursday clip. 

Mayer, the host of The Britt Mayer Show, agreed the speech made her ‘uncomfortable.’ 

The criticism comes as the administration faces pushback from Catholics over the White House’s increasingly fractured relationship with the pope. 

It also comes as Hegseth has repeatedly sought to bring his Christian faith into the Pentagon since becoming defense chief. 

Promotional videos from the department have displayed Bible verse alongside defense department military footage, for instance.

During a March 13 briefing, Hegseth said he would give ‘no quarter’ to the enemy -a phrase widely understood to mean taking no prisoners and killing them instead. 

Pope Leo XIV, meanwhile, has made several general appeals for peace since the conflict began on February 28 – earning ire from the administration.

Trump responded by calling the religious leader too ‘weak on crime’ and a ‘liberal.’ He has refused to apologize. 

Kelly's guest, conservative podcaster Britt Mayer (right), agreed with her sentiment and described Hegseth's religious language as 'uncomfortable' in the context of war

Kelly’s guest, conservative podcaster Britt Mayer (right), agreed with her sentiment and described Hegseth’s religious language as ‘uncomfortable’ in the context of war

Pope Leo, the first US-born pontiff, responded t during the first day of his trip to Africa on Monday, telling reporters he had ‘no fear of the Trump administration.’

Kelly, meanwhile, said she helped Hegseth ‘get’ his ‘job’ during her critique.

A longtime Trump supporter, she broke with the president in February over the conflict. The Mail has approached both her and Hegseth’s office for comment.

Shocking Verdict: Son Receives Life Sentence for Mother’s Tragic Death in Home Invasion

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Shocking Verdict: Son Receives Life Sentence for Mother’s Tragic Death in Home Invasion

Inset: John Aylor. Background: Body cam footage from Aylor”s arrest after he allegedly killed his mother (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office)

A 39-year-old Florida resident is facing a potential life sentence following the brutal murder of his mother. The man, who entered her home via a dog door and fatally stabbed the 64-year-old while two children were present, acted out of frustration after finding nothing valuable to steal.

On Monday, Hillsborough County Circuit Judge G. Gregory Green handed down a 45-year prison sentence to John “Jake” Jacob Aylor. This decision came after Aylor confessed to charges of second-degree murder with a weapon and armed burglary with battery, relating to the tragic August 2024 incident involving his mother, Julie Aylor, as per court documents.

Initially facing first-degree murder charges, Aylor could have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

The plea agreement partly aimed to shield the victim’s family from the ordeal of a trial. Among those present during the crime was Aylor’s own 10-year-old daughter, who would have been subjected to the trauma of testifying. This was reported by the Tampa Bay Times.

Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez emphasized the importance of safeguarding the family’s well-being. “Our priority was to protect the victim’s family and prevent further trauma,” she stated. “The trial would have forced key witnesses, who are minors, to relive intensely traumatic experiences.”

Lopez said the sentence “ensures that the defendant takes accountability while receiving a significant period of incarceration,” adding that, given his age, he will spend most of his life in prison.

Family members were given the opportunity to speak at the sentencing hearing, which brought the case to a close more than a year after the killing.

As Law&Crime previously reported, the violence unfolded in the early morning hours of Aug. 12, 2024, at Julie Aylor’s home in Brandon, where she lived with two grandchildren.

According to investigators, the girls had gone to bed around 9 p.m., believing they were alone in the house with their grandmother. But at approximately 4:30 a.m., one of the children awoke to the sound of a man yelling angrily from inside the home.

The voice, the girl later told deputies, belonged to Aylor, her father.

Aylor, who did not live at the residence, was known to unlawfully enter through a dog door at the back of the house, authorities said. A purple beach cruiser bicycle he frequently used was found outside the home that morning.

Moments after hearing the yelling, the child heard her grandmother scream his nickname — “Jake” — followed by pleas for help.

“Jake, help me,” the victim cried out, according to witness statements.

The attack proved brutal. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner later determined Julie Aylor had been stabbed at least 10 times, suffering fatal wounds to her neck and torso.

Inside the bedroom, investigators recovered a blood-covered knife consistent with a set from the home’s kitchen, along with another broken knife. Aylor’s palm print was later identified in suspected blood on one of the weapons.

As the victim lay dying, she managed to crawl from her bedroom toward her granddaughter’s room, begging for help. One of the children called 911 around 4:50 a.m., telling dispatchers her grandmother was “bleeding out.”

Deputies arrived to find Julie Aylor dead inside the home.

Evidence suggested Aylor fled immediately after the attack. K-9 deputies later recovered the victim’s cellphone several houses away, its screen smeared with what appeared to be blood. Forensic analysis identified Aylor’s fingerprint on the device, indicating he had taken it while leaving the scene.

Authorities said the killing followed a pattern of troubling behavior. Aylor had a lengthy criminal history and struggled with drug addiction, and he was known to break into his mother’s home to steal property.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister previously said Aylor became enraged when he could not find anything worth taking, escalating into a confrontation that turned deadly.

“This is a mother who has been taking care of his child since she was born,” Chronister said at the time, noting the victim had long served as the girl’s primary caregiver.

After the stabbing, Aylor fled on foot. Deputies searched nearby homeless encampments before receiving a tip that led them to a residence less than a mile away, where he was arrested the following day.

He remained jailed without bond as the case moved forward, ultimately agreeing to plead guilty to reduced charges in exchange for a fixed sentence.

“We hope this decision helps provide some measure of stability and healing for the children and allows the family to move forward without the added burden of a lengthy trial,” Lopez said.

Tragic Shooting: Marine Veteran Fatally Shot by Husband Outside Home, Authorities Report

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Tragic Shooting: Marine Veteran Fatally Shot by Husband Outside Home, Authorities Report

A tragic incident unfolded in Kansas, where a 25-year-old Marine veteran lost her life in a shooting, reportedly at the hands of her estranged husband.

According to police reports, Ivy Unruh succumbed to her injuries on April 20, just days after being shot outside her apartment in northeast Wichita.

Court records reveal that her husband, 29-year-old Joshua Orlando, is facing charges of premeditated first-degree murder. Currently, he is in custody with his bond set at $1.5 million. He appeared in court for the first time, and a preliminary hearing is set for May 5.

Police stated that Unruh was shot on the morning of April 17 and was immediately taken to the hospital in critical condition but unfortunately passed away later. Orlando was apprehended shortly after the incident, and the authorities are treating the case as a domestic violence-related homicide.

Joshua Orlando mugshot after arrest in Wichita killing of Marine veteran wife

Joshua Orlando, who stands accused of murdering his estranged wife, Ivy Unruh, is pictured here. (Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office)

Police said there were no prior domestic violence reports in Wichita involving the couple. Investigators confirmed Unruh had filed for divorce in August 2025 and had separated from Orlando. The two previously lived in Marion, Kansas.

The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed Unruh served from November 2020 to November 2024, rising to the rank of sergeant. She worked as a satellite transmission system operator and was awarded the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

She deployed to Australia in 2023 as part of Marine Rotational Forces – Darwin, and her last duty assignment was with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California, according to the Marine Corps.

Unruh later worked as a broadcast engineer at PBS Kansas, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Colleagues at PBS Kansas were stunned by the news. Station president Victor Hogstrom described the moment he learned what happened as shocking and difficult to process, telling KAKE News his initial reaction was one of disbelief. He remembered Unruh as a driven, reliable team member who was well-liked and respected by those she worked with, adding that she is deeply missed, according to the outlet.

Ivy Unruh in Marine Corps uniform posing in photo with another person.

Ivy Unruh, seen in an undated photo, during her time in the United States Marine Corps. (GoFundMe)

Ivy Unruh smiling and holding a dog in personal photo

An undated photo of Ivy Unruh, who was killed in an alleged Wichita domestic violence case. (GoFundMe)

Even after her death, Unruh continued to serve others. Her family said in a GoFundMe post that she was an organ donor who saved six lives—”six pieces of her that will live on.”

“Six humans that still have life and get to go home to their families because of her,” they wrote.

Veterans hold flags during honor walk for Marine veteran Ivy Unruh organ donation

Veterans line a hospital hallway during an honor walk for Marine veteran Ivy Unruh. (Victor Buckner Facebook)

Members of the veteran community also honored her final act of service. An American Legion post in Mulvane, Kansas, held an honor walk as Unruh was taken to donate her organs, recognizing her as a former Marine.

Loved ones say they also hope her story raises awareness about the dangers of domestic violence.

Ivy Unruh portrait, Marine veteran killed in Wichita shooting

Ivy Unruh is remembered by family as a strong and courageous Marine veteran. (GoFundMe)

Wichita police spokesperson Kris Gupilan urged anyone experiencing abuse to seek help, saying in comments reported by KAKE News, “If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please know that resources are available and you are not alone. Help is available.”

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.

Fox News Digital has reached out to PBS Kansas and the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for additional comment.

Stepheny Price is a Writer at Fox News with a focus on West Coast and Midwest news, missing persons, national and international crime stories, homicide cases, and border security.

Online Watchdog Alerts Major Video Game Companies Amid Growing Child Grooming Concerns

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Major players in the video gaming industry may face fines approaching $50 million if they do not comply with new directives aimed at protecting children from grooming and radicalization. This significant move underscores the pressing need to address these serious online threats.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has issued a formal notice to popular gaming platforms including Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft, and Steam. These companies are now required to demonstrate their strategies for identifying, preventing, and responding to severe online harms.

The necessity of these measures arises from growing worries that such platforms are being exploited by sexual predators to initiate contact with children or by extremists seeking to disseminate violent propaganda and cultivate radical ideologies among young users.

Lauded as a “global precedent,” this initiative has garnered support from experts like Australian Catholic University professor Niusha Shafiabady. She commends it as a crucial advancement in the effort to safeguard the younger generation. “With a game as vast as Roblox, complete control is unfeasible,” she stated to AAP on Wednesday, “but any effort to mitigate these existing risks is certainly better than none.”

“In the scale that a game like Roblox has, controlling everything is impossible … but any ways to mitigate these risks that exist is better than nothing,” she told AAP on Wednesday.

Roblox and Fortnite are among the most popular games for younger children, but both have been embroiled in various controversies.

Neo-Nazi, anti-Semitic and violent content has been found on Fortnite, including a map based on a concentration camp where 100,000 people were killed during World War II.

Terrorist attacks and mass shootings have reportedly been recreated on Roblox.

University of Sydney researcher Milica Stilinovic described the commission’s attempts as “essentially playing whack-a-mole” because the internet is fluid, but said compelling platforms to be forthcoming about the user experience was needed.

“Seeking transparency from these particular platforms is crucial because they’re not coming to the table in terms of how the plumbing works on the back end,” Dr Stilinovic said.

The video game platforms face fines of up to $825,000 per day should they fail to comply with the commissioner’s notice.

“Gaming platforms are amongst the online spaces most heavily used by Australian children, functioning not only as places to play, but also as places to socialise and communicate,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said.

“Predatory adults know this and target children through grooming or embedding terrorist and violent extremist narratives in gameplay, increasing the risks of contact offending, radicalisation and other off-platform harms.”

About nine in 10 Australian children between the ages of eight and 17 have played games online.

Online services are required to implement processes to protect Australians from illegal and restricted material, including measures to address risks of grooming.

Roblox has pledged to make private by default those accounts belonging to children under 16, and will introduce tools to prevent adults from contacting them without parental consent.

Fortnite developer Epic Games uses chat filters to remove hate speech and has implemented systems to automatically report potentially harmful chat interactions with those under 18.

Players under 16 are not allowed to use text or voice chat until a parent consents.

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Donald Trump’s Strategic Move to Bolster Party Influence Faces Major Setback

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Donald Trump’s Strategic Move to Bolster Party Influence Faces Major Setback
In July last year, Donald Trump began a campaign that he hoped would lock up his party’s control in Congress.

In a political twist, Democratic states have successfully turned the tables, leveraging a strategy that now appears to be working in their favor.

Donald Trump pressured Republican states to redraw their congressional maps.
Donald Trump pressured Republican states to redraw their congressional maps. (AP)

In a decisive move, Virginia voters passed a referendum yesterday that permits the redrawing of the state’s district maps. This change is poised to tip the scales, potentially securing additional seats for the Democrats.

The referendum, which passed by a narrow margin, is set to significantly alter the political landscape by reducing the number of Republican-leaning seats from five to just one.

“Contrary to expectations that we would concede, we mounted a strong response,” commented Hakeem Jeffries, a leading figure in the Democratic Party.

The current Virginia map is reasonably evenly split between Republicans and Democrats.

This strategic redistricting, a practice known as gerrymandering in the U.S., involves manipulating electoral boundaries to sway electoral outcomes.

Unlike in Australia, most US states allow state legislators to draw congressional districts, as well as their own state-level districts.

The party in power in that state then has the power to draw districts in a way that favours them.

“A brazen abuse of power and an insult to democracy,” Cruz wrote on X.

“Forty seven per cent of (Virginia) voted Trump. They will now get just 9 per cent of the seats.”

Virginia state senator Louise Lucas, who orchestrated the redraw, responded directly.

“You all started it and we f—ing finished it,” she said.

Three women have left Donald Trump's cabinet since the start of March.
Donald Trump’s popularity is now barely about 30 per cent. (AP)

Trump began his gerrymandering campaign by leaning on local politicians in Texas to do so.

“I got the highest vote in the history of Texas, as you probably know, and we are entitled to five more seats,” Trump said at the time.

The redrawing of the map split Democratic bastions in Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Dallas so they shared vast swaths of Republican-heavy territory elsewhere.

The people of California then overwhelmingly voted for a map that cost Republicans five seats.

The mapmakers drew tendrils into Dallas to place Democratic voters into heavily Republican districts.
The Texas mapmakers drew multiple tendrils into Dallas to place Democratic voters into heavily Republican districts. (State of Texas)

A redrawing in Missouri split Kansas City into three in a way that cost Democrats a seat.

And in North Carolina, a marginal Democratic seat was redrawn to favour a Republican.

But this week’s result now puts Democrats ahead in the redrawing battle.

Republicans currently hold a four-seat edge in the House of Representatives. 

In November’s elections, Democrats are now heavily favoured to win thanks to the unpopularity of Trump.
If Democrats take control of the House, they could effectively stymie Trump’s legislative agenda and block funding to many of his ambitions, including the war with Iran.

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Shocking Findings: Medical Examiner Reveals Fatal Injuries of 14-Year-Old Celeste Rivas

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Shocking Findings: Medical Examiner Reveals Fatal Injuries of 14-Year-Old Celeste Rivas

In a disturbing turn of events, a 14-year-old girl who was tragically discovered deceased in the trunk of a car belonging to singer D4vd was the victim of a brutal stabbing and subsequent dismemberment, as confirmed by the Los Angeles coroner’s office.

The autopsy report, accessed by The Daily Mail, disclosed that Celeste Rivas Hernandez succumbed to knife wounds inflicted on her liver and chest.

Her remains were located in a Tesla owned by D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, in September of the previous year.

The report further revealed the grim detail that the young girl’s ring and pinky fingers had been mutilated.

Burke is currently facing charges of first-degree murder, committing lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14, and body mutilation.

His defense lawyer entered not guilty pleas to all counts during his first court appearance Monday. 

By the time investigators discovered Rivas Hernandez’s remains, her head was partially skeletonized and missing an eye, the report details.

Coroners also said Benzodiazepines and Methamphetamine were detected in Hernandez’s liver. 

The body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found in a Tesla towed from the Hollywood Hills on September 8 last year, a day after she would have turned 15

Rivas’s body was found in a Tesla towed from the Hollywood Hills on September 8 last year, a day after she would have turned 15

D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, performs onstage at Made on YouTube on September 18, 2024 in New York. Burke has now been charged with first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14 and mutilating a body

D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke, performs onstage at Made on YouTube on September 18, 2024 in New York. Burke has now been charged with first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14 and mutilating a body

The Tesla SUV where police say Rivas' body was discovered on September 8, 2025

The Tesla SUV where police say Rivas’ body was discovered on September 8, 2025

Rivas Hernandez was reported missing by her family in 2024, when she was 13.

Prosecutors say she then fell victim to continuous sexual abuse by Burke for at least a year from September 2023 to September 2024.

The teenager’s mother, who reported her missing three different times that same year, said her daughter was dating a guy she never met, named David.

The pair were rumored to have shared matching ‘Sshhh’ tattoos on their right index fingers.

The autopsy report confirmed that Rivas Hernandez did have the tattoo. Photographs of Burke also show that he has the same markings on his finger.

Authorities described Rivas Hernandez as a ‘runaway’ at the time she was killed with a sharp object on or around April 23, 2025, when she was allegedly at Burke’s house in the Hollywood Hills.

Prosecutors allege Burke mutilated her body about two weeks later. 

The autopsy report states that an investigator found her dismembered arms and legs in a trash bag under her body in the trunk of the car.

Burke, seen in his booking photo, has entered not guilty pleas to all counts

Burke, seen in his booking photo, has entered not guilty pleas to all counts

LAPD officers clad in tactical gear and carrying rifles swarmed the 21-year-old musician's Hollywood Hills mansion on April 16, 2026 and arrested him

LAPD officers clad in tactical gear and carrying rifles swarmed the 21-year-old musician’s Hollywood Hills mansion on April 16, 2026 and arrested him

The murder charges include special circumstances – lying in wait, committing crime for financial gain and murdering the witness in an investigation – that could carry the death penalty. Prosecutors have not announced whether they will seek it.

‘We believe the actual evidence will show David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez,’ lead defense attorney Blair Berk said in court Monday. ‘We would like to have the evidence come into the light of day.’

Berk told the judge that after media reports of months of secret grand jury proceedings, she would like a public preliminary hearing to take place as soon as possible so a judge can decide whether there is enough evidence for trial.

Burke is entitled under California law to have the evidentiary hearing within 10 court days of his arraignment and has insisted on sticking to the time frame. Nearly all defendants waive their right to have the next hearing so fast.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday. 

Rivas Hernandez’s remains were discovered in September 2025 after a Tesla Model Y, which was registered to Burke’s Texas address was impounded in Los Angeles. 

The vehicle had sat on a public street for more than 72 hours and was seemingly abandoned, according to the LAPD.

Employees at the Hollywood Tow yard called police after they noticed a stench coming from the vehicle. 

Burke engaged in continuous sexual abuse of Rivas Hernandez, pictured together, for at least a year from September 2023 to September 2024, a criminal complaint alleged

Burke engaged in continuous sexual abuse of Rivas Hernandez, pictured together, for at least a year from September 2023 to September 2024, a criminal complaint alleged 

Rivas Hernandez was believed to have been only 13 when the alleged sexual abuse bega

Rivas Hernandez was believed to have been only 13 when the alleged sexual abuse began

An autopsy report confirmed that Rivas Hernandez had a 'Shhh...' tattoo on her right inidex finger. A zoomed-in picture of Burke's finger shows he has a matching one

An autopsy report confirmed that Rivas Hernandez had a ‘Shhh…’ tattoo on her right inidex finger. A zoomed-in picture of Burke’s finger shows he has a matching one

Investigators searched the Tesla and found a cadaver bag ‘covered with insects and a strong odor of decay,’ court documents said.

‘Detectives partially unzipped the bag and observed a decomposed head and torso,’ the filings added.

LA medical examiner’s office investigators then removed the bag and ‘discovered the arms and legs had been severed from the body,’ according to court documents.  

A second black bag was found under the first, and dismembered body parts were inside it.

The coroner determined that Rivas had been deceased in the vehicle for ‘an extended period of time before being found’. 

The medical examiner said she was wearing black leggings, a tube top, a yellow metal chain bracelet and stud earrings when she was found.

Neighbors said the Tesla had been moved several times over the preceding three months before it was left on Bluebird Avenue in the Hollywood Hills. 

Last September, LAPD obtained a warrant to search the rented $20,000-a-month home that Burke had been staying at in Hollywood Hills. Officers seized a computer from the residence.

Burke broke his lease shortly after the raid and moved out of the home.

Burke looks on as his defense attorneys Blair Berk (left) and Marilyn Bednarski (right) speak during his arraignment for the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez at Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on April 20, 2026 in Los Angeles

Burke looks on as his defense attorneys Blair Berk (left) and Marilyn Bednarski (right) speak during his arraignment for the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez at Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on April 20, 2026 in Los Angeles

Police raided a $4.1 million home in the Hollywood Hills where Burke had been staying last year

Police raided a $4.1 million home in the Hollywood Hills where Burke had been staying last year 

D4vd, pronounced ‘David,’ gained popularity among Gen Z fans for his blend of indie rock, R&B and lo-fi pop. He went viral on TikTok in 2022 and landed a record deal.

His popularity led to collaborations with stars such as SZA and Kali Uchis. 

When the teenager’s body was discovered, Burke had been on a tour in support of his first full-length album. The tour was later canceled. 

Susan Smith, Convicted in 1994 for Her Children’s Murder, Faces Another Parole Hearing

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Susan Smith, Convicted in 1994 for Her Children’s Murder, Faces Another Parole Hearing

In South Carolina, Susan Smith, the woman found guilty of drowning her two young children by driving her car into a lake, is once more eligible for parole consideration.

Susan Smith has been incarcerated since her conviction in 1995. She received a life sentence after confessing to securing her infant and three-year-old in their car seats before submerging the vehicle in a lake. Initially, Smith misled authorities by claiming she had been carjacked with her children still inside.

RELATED: South Carolina Mother Serving Life Sentence for Drowning Her Sons Faces Parole Hearing in November

In her initial police interview, Smith recounted a fabricated story, saying, “I was at a red light when, out of nowhere, a Black man approached, opened the door, and jumped into the car. He had a gun pointed at me and told me to drive. When I tried to ask why, he threatened to kill me if I didn’t ‘shut up.’”

“I was stopped at a red light. And this — out of nowhere — this Black guy came up, just opened the door, and jumped in the car. And he had a gun, and he had it pointed in my side and he told me to drive, and so I did. And when I tried to ask him why he was doing this or whatever, he just told me to ‘shut up’ or he’d kill me,” said Smith in that initial interview.

The bodies of Michael and Alex Smith were found in Smith’s car, which was located in John D. Long Lake. On the night of November 3, 1994, a press conference was held in downtown Union, where the sheriff at the time announced that Smith had been charged with murdering her two sons.

FILE – In this July 27, 1995 file photo, Susan Smith is escorted into the Union County Courthouse in Union, S.C. Smith sentenced to life in prison for killing her two young sons never planned to kill them and instead intended to end her own life, according to a letter she wrote to The State, a Columbia, S.C., newspaper, reported Wednesday, July 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Lou Krasky, File)

MORE | Susan Smith denied parole 30 years after drowning sons by rolling car into lake

Since being in prison, Smith has had trouble. Initially imprisoned in Columbia, S.C., two guards were later charged with having sex with her. Since that time, she’s been located at a state correctional facility in Greenwood. 

More recently, she was charged with communicating with a documentary filmmaker while in prison and receiving money from that filmmaker, which is a violation of South Carolina Department of Corrections policy.

In 2024, Smith was denied parole. Her new hearing is set for this November.

Newberry Man Faces Additional Charge After Detective Links March-Arrest Pistol to Stolen Gun Report

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In Newberry, Florida, a 23-year-old man named Kobe Deon Delima finds himself facing new charges after a detective linked a firearm recovered during his arrest in March to a stolen gun case. Delima is now charged with grand theft of a firearm after the detective’s investigation connected the dots.

Delima’s initial arrest on March 13th came with a slew of charges, including possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, tampering with evidence, possession of a small amount of marijuana, resisting an officer without violence, and petit theft. These charges were serious on their own, but the recent development adds another layer to the case.

The turn of events unfolded when, on April 7th, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Detective took on a case involving a Newberry resident who reported a missing pistol. The man had noticed the firearm missing from his pickup truck on April 6th, although he hadn’t seen it for three to four weeks prior. The stolen weapon was identified as a tan Sig Sauer P365 9mm pistol.

The detective’s meticulous investigation led to a breakthrough when he compared the serial number of the stolen pistol with the one found on Delima during his March arrest. Initially, a typographical error—an omitted zero in the serial number—seemed to obscure the connection. However, by diligently cross-referencing property reports and photographic evidence, the detective was able to confirm the firearm as the one reported stolen, tying Delima to the theft.

The detective compared the serial number of the stolen pistol to the firearm recovered during Delima’s arrest, and he found that a typographical error — the initial report was missing a zero in the serial number — but by reviewing the property reports and photographs from the case, he was able to confirm that it was the victim’s pistol.

The victim also reportedly correctly described the ammunition that was found in the pistol.

Post Miranda, Delima reportedly said he never had the gun, it cannot be proven that he ever had the gun, and if his DNA is found on the gun, “it is what it is.” He then said he did not want to answer any more questions.

Delima has been charged with grand theft of a firearm. He has three felony convictions (one violent) and three misdemeanor convictions (one violent), and Judge Joy Danne added $15,000 bail to his existing $154,000 bail.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 
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