Tragedy struck Kentucky on Saturday evening during a mass shooting at an outdoor concert in Lexington, tragically claiming one life and injuring four others, including two children.

The chaos unfolded just over a mile away from where Governor Andy Beshear was presenting at the Kentucky Democratic Party’s Moving Forward Together dinner held at the Hyatt Regency. Local station FOX56 reported that gunfire shattered the evening’s peace in downtown Lexington.

Governor Beshear addressed the unsettling news with the audience, saying, “Before I continue, I do need to let y’all know we have some difficult news tonight.”

He elaborated from the podium, “About a mile and a half from here, a shooting took place since we started this dinner.”

Discussing the incident further, he added, “We have five people who sustained injuries, and there is likely one person who has passed away.”

Multiple victims, including two adults, a 14-year-old, and a 4-year-old, were shot around 6:45 p.m. in Charles Young Park and were transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

An outdoor concert event was taking place when the shooting occurred, according to the Lexington Herald Leader. 

A Lexington Police Department Spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the investigation was ongoing around 10:00 p.m. local time.

“No further details are available at this time,” the department said.

“If you know somebody who might be inclined to use a weapon, please do anything you can do to let us know before something happens. Please let us know,” Chief Weathers said at a press conference.

The Charles Young Park shooting follows three others in Michigan, Virginia and Chicago on Saturday. 

Phone calls from the boss can jerk you awake as early as 2 AM. By the time dawn breaks at 6 AM, any hope of more sleep has already slipped away.

Professional blow-dry sessions await, followed by meticulous layers of makeup application, and the deliberation over which designer ensemble to wear. In Donald Trump’s White House, appearance is nearly as prized as competence.

One woman, familiar with the inner workings of Trump’s circle, described the aesthetic demands as striving to achieve nothing short of ‘MAGA perfect.’

These polished looks and dazzling smiles are exactly what the public encounters when the cadre of intelligent women representing the Trump administration join the President on television, whether at MAGA rallies or during press briefings.

However, within a White House frequently accused of misogyny and the shadow of its leader’s alleged sexual misconduct, the everyday reality for those who serve there starkly contrasts the public facade.

Limited pay for demanding, 24/7 roles. No time to raise a family. And, of course, an implicit requirement to spend considerable amounts of their time and hard-earned cash on their appearance.

To pull back the curtain on life as a Republican ‘glamazon’ at the heart of US politics, several former female staffers have described, in confidence, what it is really like to The Mail on Sunday.

Summed up in a word? Exhausting. ‘It gets to be utterly draining,’ as one burned-out employee admitted to me last week. 

‘You have to be exceptional at your job, which is a given, but if you’re a woman you have to look a certain way, dress a certain way and be available 24/7, because this is a President who barely sleeps.

‘Add to that the pressure of a family at home and it’s no wonder so many of us flame out.’

That tension was laid bare just last week when Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s formidable press secretary, announced she was leaving the White House to become a full-time mother to her two young children. 

The 28-year-old admitted her decision was ‘bittersweet’, saying that since returning to the White House following the birth of her daughter in May she felt she could not be the mother her baby and two-year-old son deserved – while simultaneously giving the job the ‘constant time, energy and attention’ it required. 

It was a remarkably candid admission from someone who has become one of the most recognisable women in Trump’s Washington. 

Despite that, Leavitt was photographed on Friday night, looking fiercely chic in a scarlet-red dress alongside the President as they prepared to board Air Force One to New York. She is due to step down this month.

And she is not the first to do so even this year alone.

In fact, six women from Trump’s inner circle have left since January: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem, Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson and Director of Media Affairs Sonny Joy Nelson.

But perhaps it is little wonder. Quite aside from the normal pressures of a high-powered job in government, 80-year-old Trump is a man known for objectifying women (who can forget his famous ‘grab her by the p***y’ remark?) who is infamous for demanding total fealty, has unrelenting, exacting standards, and who sleeps only four hours a night. 

He is known for throwing ‘tantrums’ when things don’t go his way and expects those closest to him to be available all hours of the day and night.

And it is also no accident, commentators say, that the women elevated to work for Trump – who, in a previous life, owned the Miss Universe contest – are all beautiful, perfectly manicured and extremely capable.

Those who spoke to the MoS did so on condition of anonymity because their subsequent roles are within Trump-supporting organisations. 

The enduring fallout of working at the heart of the Maga movement under such a ‘polarising’ boss is such that many discovered they were viewed as a ‘liability’ by some employers, particularly blue-chip companies. Others have left the workplace completely.

A legal source said: ‘The President is always ‘on’. When he wants someone he shouts your name. And you’d better come running. He thinks nothing of calling you at 2am. 

‘You are expected to look a certain way. Most of the women at the White House get their hair blown out at least twice a week before work and then there is pressure to go to the gym and dress well. 

‘A lot of the younger aides don’t make that much money. You’re talking maybe $50,000 [£37,000] to $70,000 [£52,000] a year. It’s not only a stressful business working in Trump’s world – it’s an expensive one.’

For Karoline Leavitt, sources suggest, the pressure of her job while juggling two very young children simply got too much.

One source said Trump was so ‘dependent’ on her he ‘constantly’ called her during her most recent maternity leave, asking when she would return.

During her first maternity break she returned to work three days after giving birth because of the assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Karoline told an interviewer: ‘I had the baby in my arms and I looked at my husband and said: ‘I guess I’ll be going back to work.”

Another source close to the President’s inner circle said: ‘I don’t think Karoline minded being called but I think reality set in this time around. 

‘She’s always going to be expected to put the President first and maybe it’s time to put her kids first?’ Other women have been open about their time in Trump’s corridors of power.

For Blanche Sprague, who served as his high-powered executive and enforcer long before he became a force in politics, no time of day was off-limits for a call.

Now 67, Sprague has described her role as ‘like a nanny’ dealing with Trump’s petty grievances and requests.

 ‘He used to call me up at night and say, ‘Did you know that there’s a soda bottle in front of Trump Plaza?’ and I would have to make sure that it was picked up right away because he would drive past again to see that it was gone,’ she recalled.

On another occasion, at a book signing in Florida following the publication of Trump’s The Art Of The Deal in 1987, Sprague’s task was to make sure his favourite pen, with robin’s egg blue ink, did not run out. 

More recently, Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff, has credited her upbringing with an alcoholic father for her ability to work alongside Trump.

While the President does not drink, Wiles said that he had an ‘alcoholic’s [exaggerated] personality’ and governs with the mindset that ‘there’s nothing he can’t do. Nothing, zero, nothing’.

Meanwhile, other published accounts of life in his inner circle give more troubling insights into his alleged behaviour.

Stephanie Grisham, who worked as press secretary during Trump’s first term – and became First Lady Melania’s right-hand woman – wrote a scathing memoir, I’ll Take Your Questions Now, in which she accused the President of constantly berating her, describing his anger as ‘terrifying’. 

‘I began to see how his temper wasn’t just for shock value or the cameras,’ she wrote. 

‘I began to regret my decision to go to the West Wing.’ In one outburst, she said, Trump ‘unleashed on me’.

‘His eyes were fixed and filled with anger. His face had passed red and was turning almost purple.’

She also accused him of allegedly targeting young female employees, including a press aide who he invited into his private Air Force One cabin because he ‘wanted to look at her a**’.

But Trump has dismissed Grisham as a disgruntled former employee who had become ‘angry and bitter’ and was ‘paid by a radical Left-leaning publisher to say bad and untrue things’.

There is another way of looking at Trump’s interest in women, of course. The ‘dichotomy’ with Trump, as one source points out, is that – while he clearly loves being surrounded by brilliant, feisty (and good-looking) women – he is also a champion of their skills.

One said he had ‘always promoted women to senior positions, going all the way back to his early days in business’.

Many of the women who have worked for him are only too happy to acknowledge this fact.

One said: ‘You have to remember, this is a man who had two women – Kellyanne Conway and Susie Wiles – leading his election campaigns. During his first term his daughter [Ivanka] was front and centre.

‘He gave Karoline Leavitt the press secretary’s job at 26 and even people who disagree with her political views agree that she’s been one of the most impressive and effective press secretaries of all time. 

‘It’s unfair that people attack the President when he has been a great supporter of women in a town that has always been male-dominated. 

‘People criticise him for wanting women around him to have a certain level of professionalism and beauty, but that’s who he is.

‘He’s a businessman at heart and he has always believed that you need to dress to impress. 

‘To be fair, it’s not just the women. I’ve seen him attack men for wearing jeans or an ill-fitting suit.’

And those same defenders argue that it is natural ‘female competition’ that drives Trump’s women to focus so heavily on appearance.

‘He doesn’t force these women to have 6am blow-outs or get plastic surgery or go on weight-loss drugs,’ the source points out.

‘They get the Botox and fillers because the White House is a competitive place.

‘Everyone is vying for his attention. He’s the President of the United States, for God’s sake.’

Trump doesn’t mind that attention at all, according to author Michael Wolff, who has written four books about the President.

He says: ‘I think part of it is Trump saying, ‘They are available to me’. That’s what he wants people to think. I think that it remains enormously important to him to be seen as the guy the women are around.’ (For his part, Trump’s spokesman Steven Cheung has in response called Wolff ‘a lying sack of s***’.) But there is no suggestion that Trump does not recognise female expertise – far from it.

Two of his closest aides are Natalie Harp (social media) and Margo Martin (press). Both are impossibly leggy and glamorous and are reported to have the President’s ear.

Meanwhile, when it comes to Leavitt, she will firmly remain on Trump’s speed dial.

‘The President trusts her judgment. He respects her decision to spend time with her kids but he will continue to seek her guidance,’ one loyalist said.

Some have suggested that Leavitt has chosen to jump ship ahead of November’s mid-term elections in which Trump is expected to get a drubbing. 

But the legal source said: ‘I would strongly refute that. I think Karoline has shown how times have changed.

‘If anything, Trump has empowered women. He’s made it very clear that he’s keeping her on as a trusted adviser. She’s only 28.

‘In the 1980s, women had to choose between a career or family. Now they don’t. 

‘She’s more than proved herself at her job and she’s not going anywhere. Mark my words. Karoline will remain a force behind the scenes.’

With applications to fill positions at the White House at an all-time high, particularly from young women hoping to emulate the success of others like Leavitt, there is unlikely to be a shortage of glamazons to take her place.

In a major event at D23 in Anaheim, California, Disney pulled back the curtain on an exciting slate of franchise updates that promises to keep audiences captivated for years to come. The highly anticipated revelation of Marvel’s new X-Men cast stole the spotlight, complemented by significant announcements regarding Avengers: Doomsday and Star Wars: Starfighter, alongside a lineup of fresh animated films.

The long-standing buzz around Marvel’s X-Men has finally been put to rest as the studio revealed its star-studded ensemble. The casting includes Sadie Sink stepping into the shoes of Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott taking on the role of Professor X, Samara Weaving embodying Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd set to electrify as Storm, and Adam Driver as the formidable Mister Sinister. Mark your calendars; the film is slated for a May 5, 2028 release.

Marvel’s presentation also offered a tantalizing glimpse of Avengers: Doomsday. The event was a reunion for Marvel fans, featuring appearances by Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Hayley Atwell. Even Hugh Jackman joined them on stage in a moment that electrified the audience.

Switching to a galaxy far, far away, Ryan Gosling took center stage to unveil Star Wars: Starfighter, a project under the direction of Shawn Levy set to release around Memorial Day weekend in 2027. Additionally, Disney confirmed that the second season of Ahsoka is set to stream on Disney+ beginning January 20.

Not forgetting fans of animated features, Disney Animation delivered exciting updates. They peeled back the curtain on upcoming films including Frozen 3, Incredibles 3, and sequels for Tangled, Coco, and Zootopia 3, each gearing up to enchant audiences through the decade’s end.

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In a troubling incident early Saturday morning, gun violence struck Virginia State University (VSU), leaving at least five individuals injured. Among the victims, one remains in critical condition, as confirmed by both university officials and the VSU Police Department.

Authorities swiftly detained 19-year-old Camron Harris from Henrico, Virginia. Harris was discovered hiding within a dormitory closet on the campus, allegedly connected to the shooting. This development came from reports by The Associated Press.

Chesterfield County Police have stated that Harris is not registered as a student at VSU.

In connection with this case, police have secured eight felony warrants against Harris, involving charges such as malicious wounding and using a firearm during a felony. As of now, it remains uncertain whether Harris has retained an attorney to represent him.

University officials conveyed to News Media that officers were called to the 3300 block of Boisseau Street around 1:28 a.m., where they encountered five victims suffering from gunshot wounds in the vicinity of VSU residence halls.

“All five were transported to area hospitals. One individual is currently in critical condition. The remaining four sustained non-life-threatening injuries.”

The university said earlier on X that the shooting involved “multiple suspects.” No arrests have been announced.

Police had not provided additional information Saturday evening about whether authorities were still searching for other suspects.

VSU, a state-supported HBCU, is located in Ettrick, Virginia, about 25 miles south of Richmond.

One of the victims was confirmed to be a VSU student. The student was among those who sustained non-life-threatening injuries and has been released from a hospital, the university said in a statement.

Police said the five people who were shot range in age from 17 to 23. Four are not VSU students. The VSU student is 20 years old. The victims’ names have not been released.

Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive.

VSU police earlier revealed that the shooting occurred near the school’s Quad Annexes student housing complex.

According to the university, law enforcement “does not believe there is an immediate threat to the VSU campus community.”

“We recognize the concern this incident has caused among our students, parents, alumni, friends and the broader VSU community,” the university said in a statement Saturday afternoon. “VSU police will maintain an increased presence on campus as the investigation continues.

“Students should monitor their VSU email for additional safety measures currently in effect and information about available support resources.”

The campus initially went into lockdown, but the lockdown has been lifted, according to a university official and VSU police.

The shooting occurred on the same day that resident halls opened to returning students Friday for the school’s fall 2026 semester, according to the school’s calendar. Classes for the semester will begin on Monday.

Rozia A. Henson Jr., a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates, shared a message on social media praying for the victims and their families.

“Virginia State University is my alma mater. Waking up to this news is heartbreaking. My prayers are with everyone affected this morning, with their families, and with the entire Trojan family. VSU, we are with you,” Henson Jr. posted on X.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger also addressed the shooting in a social media post Saturday afternoon, saying she and her husband “are praying for a quick recovery for those who were shot this morning at Virginia State University.”

“Our thoughts are with the VSU community. Thank you to the first responders and law enforcement who responded to the scene,” she wrote. 

An investigation into the shooting, led by the Chesterfield County Police Department with assistance from VSU police, U.S. Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), and the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, is ongoing, a university official told News Media.

The university is asking anyone with information to contact Chesterfield County Police at 804-748-1251, Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660, or VSU police at 804-524-5411.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

It seems perfectly apt that this summer marked the moment Amar’e Stoudemire was immortalized in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

For a wave of younger basketball aficionados, Stoudemire was the trailblazing star who revived the New York Knicks’ relevance after a spell of despair. On Saturday evening, in Springfield, Massachusetts, he was officially enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame—coincidentally just over two months following the Knicks’ dramatic championship victory.

Presently, the Knicks enjoy a level of relevance that harks back to their glory days. In many respects, their thrilling championship win along with Stoudemire’s Hall of Fame induction represents the culmination of an incredible journey he initially set in motion.

“New York, the Garden, there’s nothing quite like it,” Stoudemire passionately exclaimed during his induction speech. “To hear MVP chants echoing every night with your name is electrifying; the arena buzzes with energy. New York is undoubtedly the premier stage for any player. Before my arrival, the allure of New York had dimmed for many. But I was determined to change that narrative. That’s why I declared, ‘The Knicks are back, and we’re going to make it happen.’ Seeing the team clinch the championship this year was rewarding.”

In 2010, Stoudemire, a 27-year-old superstar at the height of his powers, made a bold move to join the Knicks, who were recovering from a disappointing 29-53 season. That same summer, LeBron James and Chris Bosh opted to join forces with the Miami Heat.

At the time, stars were avoiding the Knicks and their dysfunction. But Stoudemire, after emerging as one of the league’s best bigs with the Suns, embraced it. 

“You walked into the Garden when nobody else would,” Carmelo Anthony said in a tribute video posted by the Knicks, “and told the whole league the Knicks was back.” 

Stoudemire spent four-plus seasons with the Knicks, who made the playoffs his first three seasons with the team — after the franchise had reached the postseason just twice the previous 10 years. During his first year with the team, he was named to the All-NBA Second Team and set a franchise record by scoring 30 or more points in nine straight games. 

The Knicks traded for Anthony midway through Stoudemire’s first season with the team. The two led the Knicks to the second round in the 2012-13 season, but never quite reached the massive expectations for the duo. Stoudemire was plagued by knee injuries, which cut his prime short. 

Stoudemire was a six-time All-Star and rookie of the year. He made All-NBA First Team once and the Second Team four times. 

There was another lull for the franchise after Stoudemire and Anthony’s Knicks tenures were over, but they are now the place to be for stars. 

“I wanted to bring players to New York to experience what I experienced in the city,” Stoudemire said. “We were able to bring in Carmelo and I think the energy of having me there showed the rest of the league, hey, New York can be a destination place.” 

It’s poetic that Stoudemire was enshrined in the same class as Mike D’Antoni, who coached him with both the Suns and Knicks. 

D’Antoni spent four seasons with the Knicks, leading them to a playoff berth in 2010-11 — their first since 2003-04. 

“New York’s a special place,” D’Antoni said Saturday. 

Doc Rivers, Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, Mark Few and Joey Crawford were the other inductees in this year’s class. 

As the Knicks continue to celebrate their championship, two important figures who helped put them back on the map are now enshrined in immortality. 

These days, it’s hard to escape the onslaught of ‘superfoods’ touted for their age-defying benefits. Usually, these come in the form of costly powders, exotic berries, or high-priced supplements.

But you might be surprised to learn that one of the best-kept secrets for anti-aging is likely already in your pantry—and it costs less than a dollar per serving: canned black beans.

According to nutrition experts, the true powerhouse of anti-aging isn’t tucked away in upscale wellness aisles. It’s readily available in supermarkets, found in humble cans of beans.

Beans are not only affordable and long-lasting, but they also offer versatility in meals. Rich in fiber and loaded with plant compounds linked to healthier aging, these ordinary beans deserve recognition as a true superfood.

While social media influencers might be pushing expensive supplements, Anne Till, a registered dietitian and the owner of Anne Till Nutrition Group in North Carolina, argues that black beans are essential in the conversation about longevity.

‘While exotic powders and imported berries dominate the ‘superfood’ spotlight, humble black beans quietly deliver everything those expensive trends promise – at a fraction of the cost,’ Till tells Daily Mail.

Tara Schmidt, the lead dietician at Mayo Clinic Diet in Minnesota, agrees, adding that beans are overdue for a glow-up. 

‘If there were an award for the most underrated food in the grocery store, beans would be near the top of the list,’ says Schmidt. ‘They’re affordable, versatile, shelf-stable and packed with fiber, plant protein, vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds.’

The ‘Longevity Magic’ in Black Beans

So, what makes these humble little beans such a big deal? 

A lot of it comes down to ‘inflammaging,’ the chronic, low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress that can speed up aging and raise the risk of problems like heart disease, insulin resistance and cognitive decline, according to Harvard Health.

Put simply, black beans may help calm some of that inflammation and a lot of the good stuff is right in their dark outer coat. 

‘The dark, rich coat of the black bean is where the longevity magic lives,’ explains Till. ‘That deep color is driven by potent anthocyanins… alongside powerful polyphenols like quercetin and kaempferol.’

Those compounds act a bit like cleanup crews for your cells, helping neutralize harmful free radicals before they can do damage. 

‘Black beans contain nutrients that support the body’s long-term health. Their fiber feeds beneficial gut bacteria, while naturally occurring polyphenols, including anthocyanins, help protect cells from oxidative stress,’ she told Daily Mail. 

‘Together, these components contribute to an eating pattern that’s associated with healthier aging.’

The Heavy-Hitting Science

If you’re doubting the idea that a 99-cent can could compete with a $30 supplement, the research is pretty compelling. 

In a meta-analysis published in Advances in Nutrition that tracked over 1.14 million participants, researchers found that adding just 50 grams of legumes a day, roughly a third of a can, was linked to a six percent lower risk of dying from any cause.

The heart-health case is strong, too. Research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that eating at least four 100g servings of legumes per week is linked to a 14 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease. 

And modeling data from the Food4HealthyLife study published in PLoS Medicine suggests that shifting your diet toward more legumes from early adulthood could add more than two years to your life expectancy.

And here’s the part that makes canned black beans especially lovable: they’re convenient. Time is one of the biggest roadblocks to eating well, and canned beans basically remove the excuse. 

‘From a nutrition standpoint, canned beans absolutely hold their own,’ says Schmidt. ‘If the convenience of canned beans helps you to eat said beans, I’m all for it.’

Shopping Tips

When you’re shopping, look for cans labeled ‘No Salt Added’ or ‘Low Sodium’ if you want the healthiest pick.

If regular canned beans are what you have, no problem: dump them into a colander, drain off the liquid, and give them a good rinse under cold water. Till says that simple step can wash away a big chunk of the added sodium.

You also don’t have to eat a big bowl of beans every day to get the perks. 

These experts suggest using them as an easy upgrade – something you can add to meals in place of more processed ingredients.

For meat-eaters, Till likes what she calls the ’50/50 swap.’

‘When making ground meat dishes like tacos, chili, bolognese or burger patties, swap out half of the ground beef for an equal amount of rinsed, lightly mashed black beans,’ Till says. 

‘This directly mirrors the clinical trial protocols that successfully reduced systemic inflammation, instantly cutting saturated fat while boosting fiber.’

Schmidt takes a similar approach with her family meals: ‘My family exclusively uses beans for dishes like quesadillas, tacos, and enchiladas.’ 

‘If replacing animal meat completely is a step too far, consider simply adding them into other dishes that contain ground meat. Lastly, liven up your breakfast by adding beans to eggs, along with avocado and salsa.’

For a fast, cooking-free lunch, keep it simple: drain and rinse a can, then toss the beans with lime juice, olive oil, and whatever veggies are sitting in your fridge.

The Bottom Line

Eating for longevity doesn’t have to mean blowing your grocery budget or spending hours on complicated recipes. 

By working canned black beans into your meals, you’re giving your heart health a boost and supporting healthier aging in one of the easiest, cheapest ways possible. 

‘Black beans aren’t a trendy “anti-aging miracle potion” – they are simply the smartest, cheapest cardiometabolic insurance policy you can buy in a grocery store,’ Till said.

And Schmidt added: ‘Healthy aging isn’t about finding one miracle food, it’s about consistently eating nutrient-rich foods, and black beans make that easy and convenient.’