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Harry Jowsey’s Surprise Wedding Shocks Fans in ‘Let’s Marry Harry’ Finale

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From notorious heartbreaker to loving husband, Harry Jowsey’s journey has captivated audiences.

In the thrilling finale of his dating show “Let’s Marry Harry,” Jowsey tied the knot with his chosen contestant, Amber Mozo.

The emotional moment unrolled on-screen as viewers witnessed the famously brazen reality star succumb to tears, deeply moved as the beautiful bride made her way down the aisle.

During the heartfelt ceremony, Jowsey and Mozo, a talented travel photographer from Hawaii, shared touching vows that resonated with their audience.

“On the first day of this incredible journey, I never imagined we’d end up here. But you, Amber, have caused me to pause, to soften, and to believe in true love. Standing beside you, I feel at home,” Jowsey poured out his emotions.

In a touching tribute, Jowsey, 29, wore his late father’s glasses while reading his vows, so “he could see how beautiful” Mozo is.

For her part, Mozo said, “I didn’t really plan on coming here, and I feel like life had better plans for me.”

She continued, “This whole process with you has been a process of surrendering, letting my guard down… You are so special and so unique, and I always said that unique souls have unique timelines, and it just feels like you were always meant to be on mine from my first date.”

At the start of the series, the “Too Hot To Handle” alum met 20 eligible bachelorettes looking to marry him.

Jowsey’s closest friends and confidants, Amanda Kloots, Georgia Hassarati, and Sonny Henty, stepped in to guide Jowsey toward the right woman and help him eliminate the rest.

Throughout the show, Jowsey wrestled with his former playboy ways and yearned for authentic love and marriage.

By the end, the Australian native narrowed it down to his final two contestants, Dannelle Davidson and Mozo, before deciding on the latter.

Jowsey has come a long way since he first made his reality TV debut on Season 1 of “Too Hot To Handle” in 2020.

He and co-star Francesca Farago were the standout couple from the dating show and had an on again, off again, relationship until they split for good in June 2020.

Jowsey then dated “Too Hot To Handle” alum Georgia Hassarati and “Love Is Blind” star Jessica Vestal.

He has also been romantically linked to Lucy Hale, Kristin Cavallari and Sia.

“Let’s Marry Harry” is streaming on Netflix now.

Lionel Messi Expresses Gratitude to Fans for Support During Challenging Times

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Lionel Messi has expressed heartfelt gratitude to fans, acknowledging their support during an intensely difficult period for him and his family following the loss of his father, Jorge, who passed away at 68.

Jorge, who played a pivotal role in managing Messi’s illustrious football career, died in a hospital in Rosario, near the family’s residence, around 10 p.m. local time on Friday, August 7.

The football community responded with a wave of tributes, with heartfelt messages coming from Messi’s first club, Newell’s Old Boys, as well as FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team.

In the wake of his father’s passing, Messi missed Inter Miami’s match against Monterrey on Sunday to be with family. By Wednesday, he turned to Instagram to convey his appreciation to supportive fans.

Messi shared, “I want to sincerely thank everyone for all the love, respect, and enormous consideration you have shown me and my family during this incredibly painful time following the loss of my dad.”

‘Thank you for being there for us, for every message, every gesture and, above all, for respecting our grief and our privacy.’ 

Lionel Messi has thanked fans for their support following the death of his father Jorge (left)

Lionel Messi has thanked fans for their support following the death of his father Jorge (left)

Messi's father and agent died in Rosario, Argentina on Friday August 7

Messi’s father and agent died in Rosario, Argentina on Friday August 7 

Messi also posted a picture with his father, captioned: ‘I love you, pa’ in Spanish.

Football legend Messi was extremely close to his father, who also operated as his agent and de facto business manager throughout his career, overseeing his son’s multi-million dollar empire off the pitch.

In recent months, though, the patriarch of the family had been dealing with an as-yet-unconfirmed medical issue that had seen him taken to hospital in his home country.

His illness first came to light when Lionel, 39, cried on the pitch at the World Cup in a rare public display of emotion.

After scoring a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening group game in Kansas City, Messi was questioned by journalists and said: ‘No, honestly it’s something completely unrelated to sports. It’s been a few difficult days, complicated.’

Just hours later, journalist Eduardo Feinmann explained the reason for the tears in an interview on Radio Mitre, one of the country’s most listened-to stations.

‘This has to do with his father. His father is not in good health,’ he said. ‘For quite some time now, several months, since last year. 

‘And this week there were some situations that slightly worsened his health, and Messi is going through this internal struggle. In other words, like any human being.’

It has since been reported that Jorge suffered a ‘medical episode’ at his home in January of this year, and he was hospitalized as a result.

In the aftermath, he was said to have undergone cardiovascular and neurological tests, but no official diagnosis was shared by the family, who sought to keep Jorge’s health out of the media.

Jorge’s health became headline news again in June, when a broadcaster in Argentina falsely claimed he had died – before later issuing an emotional apology and stepping down from her job.

Lionel is the third of four children of Jorge and his wife Celia Cuccittini, and the pair remained together until his death. 

They married in 1978 and split their time between Rosario and Miami, where their footballing superstar son currently plays for David Beckham’s Inter Miami in MLS.

Before becoming Lionel’s agent, Jorge worked for a steel manufacturer in Villa Constitucion, meeting his wife as a young man in Rosario – where the family then grew up.

Lionel Messi's father Jorge, pictured at the 2022 World Cup final, died at the age of 68

Lionel Messi’s father Jorge, pictured at the 2022 World Cup final, died at the age of 68 

Messi stands in front of his family (including father Jorge (third left) in Rosario in October 2003

Messi stands in front of his family (including father Jorge (third left) in Rosario in October 2003

Jorge arrives at son Lionel's wedding in 2017 with his wife Celia (L) and daughter Maria (R)

Jorge arrives at son Lionel’s wedding in 2017 with his wife Celia (L) and daughter Maria (R)

Messi has two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matias, and a younger sister, Maria Sol.

Jorge has been at Messi’s side throughout his historic career, which began in Argentina with Newell’s Old Boys, before he moved to Spain to join Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy in 2000.

He became the greatest of all-time in an incredible 21 years in Barcelona, before stunning the world with a move to Paris Saint-Germain – orchestrated by Jorge – in 2021.

After two seasons in the French capital, he moved to MLS and Inter Miami, where he remains to this day at the age of 39. 

While Lionel’s career has been magical on the pitch, it has not been without controversy off it, with Jorge famously by his son’s side throughout his tax fraud case in 2016.

The pair sat together in front of the court, with Jorge in his role as his son’s business manager, with the prosecution alleging that Messi failed to properly pay tax on income from his image rights between 2007 and 2009.

Ultimately, both father and son were convicted of three tax offenses, initially each receiving suspended 21-month prison sentences.

Jorge’s sentence was subsequently reduced to 15 months upon review in 2017 by Spain’s Supreme Court, with the pair also hit with substantial fines. 

Lisa Demuth Triumphs Over Lindell for MN Governor Nomination

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In a significant political victory on Tuesday night, Lisa Demuth emerged victorious over MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell to secure the Republican nomination for governor of Minnesota.

Demuth, who holds the position of Minnesota state House Speaker, surpassed Lindell by a comfortable margin on Monday night, garnering 43.6 percent of the vote compared to Lindell’s 32.3 percent.

Notably, Lindell was endorsed by former President Donald Trump as the race approached.

Trump praised Lindell in his endorsement, calling him the “Pillow Man” and one of the nation’s most devoted patriots, insisting he would make a remarkable governor for Minnesota, potentially replacing what he described as “one of the worst and most incompetent governors” in U.S. history.

“Mike, like myself, has a deep affection for Minnesota and aims to rescue it from disrepute,” Trump commented further. “His dedication to our country, particularly on issues like Election Integrity, is unparalleled.”

Lisa Demuth celebrated her win in a post on X.

“It’s an absolute honor to be the Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota. Today was a major milestone in this campaign, but we’re not done yet,” she said. “Tonight, Minnesotans made it clear they are ready for real change – at the top. It’s time to end the fraud, restore common sense to our state government and return Minnesota to a place that works for families, seniors, businesses and our next generation. Let’s go win in November!”

Taylor Swift Fans Light Up Social Media with Convincing Time Travel Theories

Devoted followers of Taylor Swift are buzzing with a curious theory that the pop icon might be a ‘time traveler’, thanks to an unearthed advertisement that predates her birth by nearly a decade.

Swifties were left astonished after viewing the 1981 commercial for the Glamour Gals doll collection.

Though Taylor, at 33, entered the world in 1989, her fans speculated on TikTok whether the actress in the clip could indeed be her.

The video features a cheeky caption asserting: ‘This 1981 commercial is proof that Taylor Swift is a time traveler’.

The actress’s notable resemblance to Taylor, complete with her trademark fringe, fueled the speculation even further.

Is that you? Taylor Swift fans think they've proven the singer is a 'time traveller' as an advert which aired eight years before she was born has been unearthed

Is that you? Taylor Swift fans think they’ve proven the singer is a ‘time traveller’ as an advert which aired eight years before she was born has been unearthed

Doppleganger: Swifties did a double take upon watching the commercial for Glamour Gals dolls collection from 1981

Spitting image: Taylor pictured in October at the Eras Tour premiere

Doppleganger: Swifties did a double take upon watching the commercial for Glamour Gals dolls collection from 1981 (Taylor pictured right in October) 

Fans took to the comment section to comment on the uncanny resemblance.  

They wrote: ‘Wow it does really look like her’ and ‘Sounds like her too!’

‘She looks like her, but you can see the differences.’

‘I was like wait is that Taylor’ and ‘Taylor looks like her she was born first.’ 

The actress in question is Toni Hudson, now 62. She starred in 1985 film Just One of the Guys as Denise. 

Toni also made guest appearances on TV shows including The Greatest American Hero, T.J. Hooker, Knight Rider, The A-Team, and The Love Boat. 

While Taylor wasn’t in the Glamour Gals dolls advert, the singer has appeared dozens of commercials. 

The Love Story hitmaker has advertised for a whole host of brands – from Kegs to Target, Apple Music, Diet Coke, Macy’s and Sony. 

Actress revealed: The actress in question is Toni Hudson, now 62, who starred in 1985 film Just One of the Guys as Denise

Actress revealed: The actress in question is Toni Hudson, now 62, who starred in 1985 film Just One of the Guys as Denise

Amused: Fans took to the comment section to comment on the uncanny resemblance. They wrote: 'Wow it does really look like her' and 'Sounds like her too!'

Amused: Fans took to the comment section to comment on the uncanny resemblance. They wrote: ‘Wow it does really look like her’ and ‘Sounds like her too!’

It comes after it was reported last week Taylor has officially reached billionaire status. 

Bloomberg reported that Swift, 33, is now worth $1.1billion and joins the coveted ten-digit club which includes Kim Kardashian and Oprah Winfrey.

The success of the multi-Grammy Award-winning singer’s Eras Tour — which is on track to becoming the highest grossing tour in history — is credited for skyrocketing her net worth.

This is on top of huge earnings from her first six albums, which she re-recorded as she negotiating with streaming platforms how her music is monetized.

The accomplishment is particularly monumental as she is among a small few who’ve achieved the milestone ‘through music and performing alone.’

Along with boosting her own net worth, Bloomberg reported that the 53 concerts Swift performed in the United States this year ‘added $4.3 billion to the country’s gross domestic product.’

No.1 for 2023: It comes after it was reported last week Taylor has officially reached billionaire status. Just this week, Taylor broke records as she had the top-selling album of 2023 with 1989

No.1 for 2023: It comes after it was reported last week Taylor has officially reached billionaire status. Just this week, Taylor broke records as she had the top-selling album of 2023 with 1989

Just this week, Taylor broke records as she had the top-selling album of 2023-  and it only took five days for her to beat herself.

In what’s her fourth re-recording of her early records, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) has sold more than one million copies in the U.S. since it dropped on October 27, according to Luminate, as reported by Billboard.

The updated version of 1989 surpassed Midnights, which has sold more than 778,000 units in 2023 through October 26.

Pulling off the trifecta for 2023, Swift also the third top-selling album with the re-recording, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), with some 742,000 sold since its release in July.

The 21 song streaming edition of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) has generated over 307 million on-demand official streams as a whole in its first five days of release. That marks the biggest streaming week for any of Swift’s four re-recorded albums. 

The sales of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) are enhanced by its availability in 15 collectible physical formats: five color vinyl variants, eight CD editions and two cassette editions.

Fake Cop Arrested After Dramatic Door-Kicking Incident

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Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In an unusual turn of events, Darius Lafabium Rivers Jr., aged 38, found himself in police custody following an incident involving a neighbor’s door. Rivers is accused of impersonating law enforcement to gain entry into a nearby apartment by claiming there was an urgent water leak inspection and forcibly kicking the door open.

The incident reportedly unfolded around 5:57 p.m. on August 9. Rivers allegedly left his residence at The Crossings at Santa Fe, located at 3205 NW 83rd Street, and proceeded to an upstairs unit. There, he allegedly knocked and declared himself a law enforcement officer, insisting he needed to investigate a water emergency.

Inside the apartment, a woman and her male companion opened the door only to be confronted by Rivers’ demands. When they refused him entry and attempted to shut the door, Rivers allegedly became aggressive, using force to push the door open. He kicked the door twice, successfully breaching the doorway on his second attempt. The force of the doorknob striking the wall caused it to hit the woman’s hand.

After the altercation, Rivers reportedly retreated to his own apartment. Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputies were quick to respond and engaged Rivers, who allegedly continued his false claim of being a law enforcement officer.

Post Miranda, Rivers reportedly said he was a law enforcement officer for “Sam.” When asked to clarify what he meant, he reportedly said, “Uncle Sam.”

A deputy reported that Rivers was arrested for impersonating a law enforcement officer in 2025 at the University of Central Florida.

Rivers has been charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling, impersonating a law enforcement officer, battery causing bodily harm, and misdemeanor property damage. He has an unspecified criminal history in Hawaii in 2025 and in other Florida counties between 2006 and 2025. Judge Susan Miller-Jones ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Judge Miller-Jones also ordered a mental health evaluation.

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. 

Sheriff Criticizes Decision Not to Detain Man Accused in Parents’ Killing After Previous Bailouts

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Authorities report that a man with a history of violence and multiple arrests is at the center of a tragic shooting that left his parents dead before he attempted to take his own life.

Sheriff’s deputies have identified 35-year-old Justin Sislo as the suspect in a chilling murder-suicide case that unfolded on Friday in Madison, New York, a source confirmed to News Media.

The bodies of Steve Sislo, 76, and Donna Walker-Sislo, 72, were discovered at their residence on McCormick Road, raising a somber atmosphere in the community.

image shows mugshot

Law enforcement believes Justin Sislo fatally shot his parents before attempting suicide, according to deputies on the scene. (Madison County Sheriff’s Office)

In an official statement, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office detailed the sequence of events that ended in tragedy.

“While observing the residence from the exterior, the first responding Deputy observed two adult subjects, obviously deceased, through a main level window. Upon making entry to the home, a third adult subject was located deceased inside.”

The sheriff’s office confirmed the couple had recently paid $10,000 to bail their troubled son out of jail after he was arrested on charges related to a domestic violence case in which he faced two dozen charges. They had bailed him out of jail twice in one month.

Image shows aerial shot of Madison County, NY

Investigators discovered the Sislo family dead inside their home on Friday in a suspected murder-suicide, reports say. (Getty Images: TF Farlow)

He was arrested on July 29, deputies say.

Sislo’s father was a prominent businessman and philanthropist involved in numerous “local organizations, including the Capitol Theatre and the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce,” the Rome Daily Sentinel reported.

image shows still of Sislo

Steve Sislo, 76, was found dead inside his Madison, NY, home, deputies say. (The Daily Sentinel)

Authorities uncovered several guns at the suspect’s home during his most recent arrest. He also allegedly had two protective orders that banned him from having firearms, deputies say.

Court records reveal Sislo was charged with “strangulation” and “endangering an incompetent” in Cayuga County in June.

image shows map image of scene

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office made the gruesome discovery inside the Sislo family home in Madison, NY, reports say. (Google Maps)

WSYR reported, “On Monday, Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood condemned the fact that Sislo had been out of jail. He said he wished the judge set no bail and forced Sislo to stay in custody.”

Perez Hilton Livestream Horror: Tragic Personal Story Shines a Light on Misfortune

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Perez Hilton may face the prospect of spending six months or more in a psychiatric facility following a distressing self-harm broadcast, according to revelations by the Daily Mail.

The 48-year-old celebrity blogger was placed under Florida’s Baker Act last Tuesday night, which permits the short-term involuntary commitment of individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. This action followed an alarming incident where TikTok viewers witnessed him repeatedly cutting himself with a knife.

Medical personnel are currently addressing significant blood loss and unspecified injuries as they treat the well-known Hollywood insider.

According to a reliable source speaking to the Daily Mail, Hilton’s multiple injuries are expected to result in permanent scarring.

A friend close to Hilton remarked, “Perez is aware that events took a serious turn, and he’s conscious that things are not in a good place right now.”

‘But he doesn’t have a lot of presence of mind. He’s not able to fully process what happened.

Perez Hilton remains hospitalized after a self-harm incident last week, with insiders saying his recovery is expected to take months rather than days 

‘This is not going to be something where in five days, I’m like, “he’s fine,” This is months, maybe years.’

Hilton – real name Mario Lavandeira Jr – won’t be allowed to go home when he’s medically discharged.

He will instead be moved to a secure psychiatric facility where specialists will have 72 hours to assess his mental health.

The blogger could walk free when the clock runs down if they don’t think he’s a risk to himself or others.

But that’s a ‘long shot’ according to Mark Astor, a veteran Florida attorney specializing in Baker Act cases.

‘You don’t just get to walk out of there after 72 hours,’ Astor told the Daily Mail.

In a statement shared to Hilton's website , his team revealed that he suffered 'significant blood loss' in the horrific incident, as well as unspecified 'additional injuries'

In a statement shared to Hilton’s website , his team revealed that he suffered ‘significant blood loss’ in the horrific incident, as well as unspecified ‘additional injuries’

Miami-Dade County Sheriff's deputies were called to the home where Perez Hilton was found after he appeared to harm himself during a TikTok livestream on August 5, in Westchester, Florida

Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the home where Perez Hilton was found after he appeared to harm himself during a TikTok livestream on August 5, in Westchester, Florida

‘Whether it’s a mental health issue, drugs, or all of the above, they need to get to the bottom of what has happened here. Period.’

There are three possibilities, according to Astor, a former prosecutor, defense attorney, and partner at Astor Simovitch Law.

‘Number one, they could release him. Number two, they get him to agree to stay on a voluntary basis.

‘Or number three, they could file what’s known as a petition for involuntary placement,’ Astor explained.

The latter would involve a Miami-Dade judge holding a hearing within five days to decide whether Hilton should remain locked up.

The case would be confidential – with media barred from attending or hearing any of the details.

Hilton had been hospitalized earlier this year in March, and had shared pictures of himself in a hospital bed while recovering from sepsis

His mother, Teresita Lavandeira has remained at the hospital throughout his recovery, according to sources familiar with the situation

His mother, Teresita Lavandeira has remained at the hospital throughout his recovery, according to sources familiar with the situation 

‘Most of the time these things take place inside the actual facility,’ said Astor.

‘There’s going to be a prosecutor from the state attorney’s office, and either a private defense lawyer or a court-appointed public defender.

‘There’ll probably be a doctor there from the facility saying this is why we need more time.’

Patients can be held for a maximum of six months at a time. But a 30-day order is more realistic in Hilton’s case, Astor predicted.

He says the media personality’s family have a crucial role in what happens next.

Devoted mom Teresita Lavandeira, 72, has been at her son’s bedside at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital since last week’s episode.

Legal experts say a judge could order Hilton (pictured with singer Katy Perry in 2010) to remain in psychiatric treatments for months if he is deemed a danger to himself or unable to care for himself

Legal experts say a judge could order Hilton (pictured with singer Katy Perry in 2010) to remain in psychiatric treatments for months if he is deemed a danger to himself or unable to care for himself 

It’s possible she and her daughter Barbara Giarraffa, 42, could persuade authorities to release Hilton to a private facility, which would cost between $15,000 and $30,000 per month.

The pair could also apply to become his legal guardians, taking responsibility for Hilton’s healthcare decisions away from the State of Florida.

‘If he’s willing to get help, great. It’s possible they come to an agreement with the state for what’s known as a bed-to-bed transfer,’ Astor explained.

‘They could potentially file for a guardianship. In effect, they would be saying to the judge, listen, we want to get the state out of the picture here.

‘He’s got a family that loves him and we want to be the decisionmakers for him.’

Hilton’s three kids – Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, eight, all born via surrogacy – are in the custody of their grandma.

They have not been to the hospital to see their dad because family members fear it would be too traumatic, according to the Daily Mail’s sources.

The trio were at Hilton’s Miami home last week when he began to behave erratically before quick-thinking Teresita ushered them outside and called for help.

A neighbor’s Ring camera captured police trying to coax him from the rented property before they decided to ‘tactfully disengage’ and ‘monitor the situation.’

Dispatch records from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office described the incident as a ‘suicide attempt.’

The blogger moved from Las Vegas to Miami earlier this summer to focus on his family after suffering a devastating bout of sepsis requiring 21 days in the hospital and two surgeries.

In a subsequent interview with the Daily Mail, Hilton revealed the near-death experience had prompted him to become a born-again Christian.

Hilton's team confirmed that his 'children remain safe and are being cared for by immediate family'

Hilton’s team confirmed that his ‘children remain safe and are being cared for by immediate family’

‘This has probably been a long time coming. He just reached the point of no return,’ said Astor, a nationally-recognized behavioral health lawyer.

‘The fact that he did it online on TikTok suggests he was praying for help: “Somebody come and save me.”

‘The idea here is to get him back in the game, not to tarnish him or take his children away. I think he’s going to get the help he needs and he’s going to be a dad again.’

A statement posted to the Perez Hilton website over the weekend read: ‘Perez’s condition remains serious but stable.

‘He experienced significant blood loss and sustained additional injuries that will require surgery in the coming days.

‘His treatment and recovery will be a long process. We are grateful that Perez was able to spend time with his mother and sister yesterday.

‘As our family remains focused on Perez’s treatment and recovery, we also need the space and privacy to care for everyone affected by this situation.’

If you or someone you know needs help in the US, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. If you are in the UK, call Samaritans at 116 123 for free. If you are in Australia, call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.

Indiana Community Begins Recovery After Deadly Storms and Portage House Explosion

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PORTAGE, Ind. (WLS) — The aftermath of Tuesday’s fierce storms has left communities across Northwest Indiana scrambling to assess and address the widespread destruction.

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Among the most serious incidents, a deadly house explosion, now suspected to have been triggered by the severe weather, has captured widespread attention.

Residents of Portage, Indiana, are grappling with a scene of devastation they’ve never witnessed before, marking this as an unprecedented disaster for the area.

In response, city officials have declared a state of emergency to expedite cleanup efforts and facilitate a thorough investigation into the explosion’s origin.

Witnesses recounted hearing a thunderous boom at the time of the explosion, which ignited a massive fire, consuming the remnants of the affected home.

People in Portage, Indiana say they have never seen destruction like this.

People in Portage, Indiana say they have never seen destruction like this.

Storm debris made it difficult to get to the burning home. Some neighbors tried to help put out the fire, but the flames were just too intense.

Meanwhile, the power is still out in places, some neighbors say they’re worried about the chance for more storms Wednesday.

SEE ALSO | Next round of storms bring chance for severe weather Wednesday across Chicago area

The Bonner Senior Center, located at 5800 Lexington Avenue, is open for Portage residents who need a place to stay.

The Northwest Health Center on Willowcreek Road is also open for those seeking shelter.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun will join other leaders to assess the storm damage in Hammond on Wednesday at about noon.

Schools in Valparaiso, Crown Point, Hobart and Gary announced they will be closed on Wednesday.

SEE ALSO | School Closings: Chicago Area, NW Indiana Complete List

Due to the power outages, Gary Transit service is suspended for Wednesday, including Access219 paratransit service.

In southeastern Indiana, a 4-year-old boy died after a tree fell on her home in Jennings County.

According to the Jennings County Deputy Chief Cody Low, a tree fell on a single-family home in the Geneva Township just before 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The home was located in a heavily wooded neighborhood.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Neighbors mourn resident who died in NW Indiana house explosion as rare derecho tore though area

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How 10 Years of Ice Exposure at Work Changed My Life

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What unites thrill-seeking sports enthusiasts, chronic doomscrollers, individuals grappling with addiction, and those facing challenges like Parkinson’s disease and ADHD? The answer lies in dopamine. This powerful neurotransmitter plays a pivotal role in driving reward, motivation, memory, and movement within the human body, but is its influence always constructive? Discover more by watching the SBS On Demand episode of Insight titled Chasing Dopamine.

Chasing Dopamine

episodeInsightNews And Current Affairs51m

Content warning: This piece discusses drug use and addiction.

At the age of 18, during a party fueled by my recent breakup blues, someone handed me crystal meth, known as ice, and in a bid to momentarily escape my reality, I chose to accept it.

Before I knew it, 10 years had passed, and I no longer recognised the woman that stood in front of the mirror.

There were a few factors that went into me making that decision that night.

I didn’t really know who I was and placed all my worth in what other people thought about me. And I actively avoided rejection or confrontation, which meant I had no boundaries and never said no. I also had a high appetite for risk, because I thought it would make me look cool and be liked.

For the next 10 years, I would smoke amphetamines every single day — chasing dopamine and trying to regulate my emotions in an unhealthy way.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that contributes to our motivation, reward systems, and habit development. Dopamine is not itself addictive, but the associated substances, behaviours or activities that cause the brain to release dopamine can be.

I liken smoking ice to the dopamine centre of your brain lighting up like a Christmas tree. Your dopamine receptors are the lights, and it takes so much power to light the tree. But you need more and more of the drug to reach the feeling of your first high, to power the lights. And with regular drug use over time, the dopamine receptors start to die off, and your brain needs more drugs to feel the same high.

I experienced a full spectrum in that decade: The hard times would send me further into my addiction, and I’d try escape the reality I had created for myself.

The good times would make me believe I didn’t need to change — that I could manage it all. I would still go to work, look after my health in other ways, study at university, pay my rent and maintained my relationships with family.

But all the while, I would sneak off into the toilets to smoke a pipe — just to feel normal.

Keeping something like that hidden for long periods of time is exhausting because you can never keep up the charade. Eventually, the walls start to crumble around you.

a closeup shot of a young woman looking away from camera. she has brown hair, blue eyes and gold earrings

The cycle of being able to keep it all together was getting shorter and shorter.

Things would be going “well” but then something would happen, and there would be a crash; I’d become dysfunctional with periods of couch surfing, hotel hopping, unemployment and being in unhealthy relationships.

And then I would seem to get it together again and then be highly functioning again.

Until I wasn’t.

A fateful decision

One day, eight years into my addiction, I found myself sitting in my unregistered car, with no phone, no money, no job and no licence, feeling desperate.

It was in this moment I realised how I could make money quickly and get myself some power back.

I went to my dealer’s house and asked to sell drugs for them. It was a poor decision that would change my life forever, for better and for worse.

And the newfound agency I felt as a drug dealer soon landed me in custody several times for supply of a dangerous drug, and my longest stint behind bars was 10 months.

The first time I was in a cell was terrifying. They strip searched me and took my shoes, which meant I was barefoot on the cold concrete.

They handed me a blanket that made me itch just by looking at it, and my bed: three small square mats, which slid apart during the night and exposed my body to the cold concrete.

As I lay in the cell with my itchy blanket, I thought about how I had reached this point in my life. I also thought of nothing and slept.

You would think this would be the time I would try and get myself together — to finally be rid of the drugs.

But for me, being incarcerated only pushed me further into that life, because now I was a criminal with no hope for the bright future I once believed I was going to have.

Chasing sobriety

I had tried many times to stop using drugs before, but it never stuck.

The stints would usually last one or two months. I would move from the Gold Coast back home to Moreton Bay, Queensland, to be with my mum and dad, convinced that I was only using because of the people I hung with.

I needed to understand why I sought out that world if I was ever going to get a handle on my addiction.

Coming off ice looks different for everyone.

For me, I would just sleep and eat for weeks on end. When my body had finally detoxed the drugs, what was left was a shell of a human — devoid of life.

I felt empty, like someone had turned down the volume for colour in my world — like my capacity to enjoy anything had died.

It was a feeling I had become scared to face, and so I stopped trying to get sober and continued using.

Establishing a new path forward

It wasn’t until 2018, when I was in custody for the last time that things really started to change.

When you’re sitting in a cell that’s two by four metres for 22 hours a day with nothing to do, you soon realise that you must look inwards and work on yourself to not land back in custody.

So, I met with an incredible therapist weekly who taught me all the thing I needed to understand so I could stop masking my head noise with drugs. This included my behaviour patterns and understanding how I showed up in the world.

I also attended a narcotics support group and learnt that your brain has pathways for behaviour. In my case, when I learned new pathways (as in new ways to handle certain emotions) my brain stops telling me that I need to use drugs.

It’s an oversimplified explanation — but all I needed to hold onto to break free of that life.

These days, my life looks worlds away from the girl sneaking to the work toilets to smoke drugs.

Tahlia Isaac

I had heard that your dopamine receptors die when you use ice, so I went through a time where I didn’t think I’d feel happy again.

But slowly and surely, all the feelings a healthy brain lets you experience returned. Learning to emotionally regulate and sit with emotions joy, sadness, excitement, and pain has kept me from going back to drugs.

And despite everything that happened to me in that decade, I hadn’t cried once. Being able to cry again was an experience I’ll never forget.

a young brunette woman at a lecturn presenting at a function

These days, my life looks worlds away from the girl sneaking to the work toilets to smoke drugs.

I have built an entirely new life that doesn’t require me to run from anything or occupy myself with anything or replace the drug use with anything. I worked through it and addressed the reasons why I was using drugs. I just replaced it with life and living life.

I’m a mum, a wife, a criminologist, and a whole person who experiences a whole life.

I also founded an advocacy organisation supporting women to break their cycles of incarceration, which is my main work. Going back into women’s prisons and helping them is now a much healthier dopamine hit for me.

My joy now also comes from hearing my kids laugh, soaking up the sunshine with friends at lunch, or watching the beautiful colours of a sunset.

Readers struggling with their use of alcohol and other substances can contact the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 for free and confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More information is available via Lifeline.

ICE’s Latest Gear Sparks Controversy Among Left-Wing Advocates

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Prepare for a potential backlash from advocates of open borders.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents might soon wield an unexpected addition to their toolkit: electrical shock-delivering gloves.

According to a recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acquisition planning document, released on Monday, the agency is poised to allocate up to $20 million for innovative law enforcement technology. These futuristic gloves are designed to emit an electrical shock to help agents manage situations where individuals resist detention.

The DHS announcement indicated that a no-bid contract for these devices could be open for proposals as early as Friday.

Confirmed: @ICEgov officers could soon be equipped with gloves capable of delivering electric shocks to gain compliance from combative individuals.

The @AP is reporting that a DHS notice published yesterday lays out how ICE plans to spend up to $20 MILLION to purchase thousands of “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” by March.

The device, known as the G.L.O.V.E. — Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter — is worn by officers and can deliver an electrical shock through contact. It is manufactured by Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies and has previously been used by some law enforcement agencies and jails.

The manufacturer declined to comment to the AP.

The technology is officially called the CTG-5 G.L.O.V.E. – which stands for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter – and the devices are manufactured in Lexington, Kentucky, by Compliant Technologies LLC. The gloves are not entirely new to law enforcement, and have been used previously by some jails and police departments.