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This Childhood Diet Secret Could Change Your Brain's Future New

This Childhood Diet Secret Could Change Your Brain's Future

People who consumed less sugar during the first 1,000 days after conception may be significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease later in life, according to a new study published in the journal npj Aging. Researchers found that individuals exposed to sugar restriction from pregnancy through roughly age 2 had a 46 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared with those who were not exposed to those restrictions. They also showed lower risks of dementia, anxiety and depression in later life. The findings come from an analysis of more than 60,000 people enrolled in the UK Biobank and suggest that nutrition during the earliest stages of life may have lasting effects on brain health decades later. How Wartime Sugar Rationing Created a Natural ExperimentScientists were able to investigate the question using a unique historical circumstance. During World War II and for several years afterward, sugar was heavily rationed in the United Kingdom. Children younger than 2 did not receive a sugar ration. When rationing ended in September 1953, adult sugar consumption nearly doubled. Because it would be unethical to deliberately restrict a baby's diet for research purposes, the period of rationing created a natural experiment that allowed researchers to compare people exposed to lower sugar levels early in life with those who were not. A team of researchers in China examined the health records of 60,394 people born between 1951 and 1956. Participants were divided into groups based on whether sugar rationing covered their time in the womb only, their time in the womb and early childhood, or neither period, which served as the control group. The researchers then analyzed medical records and self-reported health conditions recorded in the UK Biobank to determine how participants' health changed as they aged. A stock image shows shows a doctor examining MRI images of patients' brains. | Getty ImagesCompared with the non-rationed control group, people who experienced sugar restriction during the first 1,000 days after conception had a 27 percent lower risk of developing dementia from any cause. Their risk of anxiety was 20 percent lower, while their risk of depression was reduced by 11 percent. The study found no association between early-life sugar restriction and the risk of Parkinson's disease. To understand whether the differences extended to the brain itself, the researchers also examined MRI scans from a subset of 9,053 participants. After accounting for other factors that could influence brain health, including genetics and family history, they found that people who were exposed to sugar rationing had brains that appeared younger than expected for their age. On average, the difference was about 0.39 years. The scans also revealed larger volumes in certain brain regions, including the hippocampus and thalamus, areas involved in memory and other cognitive functions. Summarizing their findings, the researchers wrote: "These quasi-experimental findings suggest that early-life sugar restriction is associated with attenuated neurobiological aging and lower risks of dementia and psychiatric disorders." What the Findings Mean—and Their LimitsProfessor Fahad Hanna, associate professor of public health at Torrens University Australia, told Newsweek that the findings are broadly consistent with current understanding of how early-life conditions can influence long-term health. "The first 1,000 days represent a critical period of brain development during which nutrition can influence metabolism, immune function, the gut microbiome, and even epigenetic pathways that may have lifelong consequences," Hanna said. "Excessive sugar intake early in life could contribute to metabolic dysregulation and chronic inflammation, and these are recognized as risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia." However, he cautioned that Alzheimer's disease has many contributing factors and that early-life nutrition should not be viewed as the sole determinant of future brain health. "Alzheimer's disease is a complex condition influenced by genetics, cardiovascular health, education, lifestyle, and many environmental factors accumulated across the lifespan. Early-life nutrition is likely to represent one piece of a much larger puzzle," Hanna said. The study authors also urged caution in interpreting the findings. While the researchers adjusted their analyses for a range of factors that could influence brain health, they emphasized that the results do not prove that lower sugar consumption directly prevents Alzheimer's disease or other neurological conditions. Hanna echoed that limitation. "The study provides an important association but does not establish direct causation," Hanna said. He noted that people exposed to lower sugar intake early in life "may also have differed in many other ways that influence dementia risk decades later, including socioeconomic circumstances, health consciousness in general (including physical activity) healthcare access, education, and broader dietary patterns throughout childhood and adulthood." He also noted that the findings were based on a unique period of sugar rationing that may not reflect modern dietary environments, highlighting the need for further research in other populations and settings. The authors made a similar point in their paper, writing: "These findings require replication in contemporary cohorts with detailed early-life dietary assessments before informing clinical or public health recommendations." While Hanna said the findings support existing public health guidance to limit excessive added sugar during pregnancy and early childhood, he warned against drawing conclusions about Alzheimer's prevention at this stage. "Parents should not interpret these findings as suggesting that occasional sugar exposure determines a child's future cognitive health," Hanna said. "Rather than viewing this as a story solely about sugar, I see it as further evidence that the first 1,000 days may be one of the most important windows for lifelong health. We have long recognized this for cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. Studies like this raise the intriguing possibility that brain health and dementia risk may also begin much earlier in life than we once thought." Reference: Xingji Lian et al, Early-life sugar rationing, brain aging, and long-term neurodegenerative and psychiatric health outcomes: a population-based natural experiment study, npj Aging (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41514-026-00452-z Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Kara Dolman and Emma Lee-Sang

Aug 01, 2026
Parole Board Scandal: Why Was a Commissioner Fired After Warning of a Killer's Threat? New

Parole Board Scandal: Why Was a Commissioner Fired After Warning of a Killer's Threat?

A former New York State Parole Board commissioner was given the boot after objecting to the release of a convicted killer who allegedly vowed to torture and murder her in a racist tirade after she voted to keep him behind bars, she told The Post.Tyece Drake said she repeatedly warned state officials about threats allegedly made by murderer Matthew Svanberg, 53, before he was granted parole in 2024. Svanberg spent 25 years behind bars for fatally shooting 26-year-old gas station attendant Dennis Folk in the face during a robbery at a Long Island service station in 1993.Matthew Svanberg went on the run for five years before he was captured and found guilty of murdering a gas station attendant. News 12Svanberg, who was 20 at the time, fled to Las Vegas after the murder and evaded capture for five years until he was nabbed by police and extradited to New York.The inmate flew into a rage when Drake, 53, denied him parole in 2023, according to a letter obtained by The Post a fellow inmate sent to the state Parole Board the following year.“He when (sic) on a racist rant about how he will kill that ‘Black B—h Drake, that F—ing N—-r B—h,’ if he ever gets his change (sic),” according to the letter from an inmate in prison with Svanberg at Woodbourne Correctional Facility in Sullivan County.“‘How dare that f—–g black b—h think that she is above a white man like me,'” the letter said. “‘She is beneath us. How dare she gets above her station.'”Svanberg said that one day, “He will teach her to respect a white man like him. That when she beg (sic) for her life, he will torture her then kill her,” according to the letter.Svanberg was “extremely angry” at Drake and “he felt that she was emotionally torturing him,” according to the letter.Dennis John Folk, 26, was shot in the face during a robbery while he worked the night shift at a Getty gas station in Ridge, NY. Change.orgDrake, a mental health professional appointed to the parole board in 2017, said she took her responsibility to protect the public seriously.“He was angry because I asked him so many questions,” said Drake, one of three board members who interviewed Svanberg. “It’s a murder case. I have to be thorough so that I am sure that if I’m releasing someone that the public is going to be safe.”During the hearing, Svanberg didn’t seem to be taking responsibility for his victim’s death, and he bragged about the killing while he was on the run, Drake said.Drake wrote the decision denying Svanberg parole, but he appealed in a Dutchess County Court and won a new hearing after a judge decided the killer couldn’t be denied parole based on the seriousness of his crime. At Svanberg’s second parole hearing, far-left board member Tana Agostini was on the panel, and was among three board members who interviewed him. Agostini was the lead interviewer on the case and wrote the decision to release him, citing the judge’s court decision.Matthew Svanberg allegedly threatened to kill a state parole board member who denied his parole and was later sprung in a second hearing. News 12Agostini was a pro-inmate commissioner who married a felon she helped to get out of prison before she was appointed to the board by then-Gov. Cuomo. She has since been replaced, and didn’t return a call seeking comment.Svanberg was released in May 2024.“I have been afraid for my life for two years,” Drake told The Post. “When I complained, I was fired. It has impacted me psychologically.”Drake insisted Svanberg should be sent back to prison because the board didn’t follow state law that requires members to adhere to the “deprecate standard” and determine whether releasing an inmate would minimize the seriousness of their crime and undermine respect for the law.“We have a parole board being so careless that they’re not following their own law,” said Drake, who was told she was being replaced in June 2025 after complaining about Svanberg’s release. Former parole board member Tyece Drake wrote letters to the board’s leaders and politicians complaining about Svanberg’s release after the alleged death threats. Department of Corrections and Community SupervisionThe state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, which oversees the parole board, said they investigated the threats against Drake but couldn’t prove it.“Subsequently, after a thorough investigation, the threats were determined to be unsubstantiated,” a statement from the agency read.As far as her employment, the agency said Drake was replaced because her appointment term ended. “We do not comment further on personnel matters,” a spokesperson said.Drake fired back that her term actually ended six years before she was replaced.The inmate who wrote the letter stated in it that he would deny writing it if he was asked because “I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder the rest of my life.”When investigators questioned him, the convict denied writing the letter as promised, according to an internal DOCCS email exchange between Drake and an investigator at the agency’s Office of Special Investigations, provided to The Post.And Svanberg, who is living with his brother in Wainscott, LI, denied making the threats when he was questioned, according to the exchange.“It should be noted that unsubstantiated does not mean it didn’t happen,” the investigator wrote in the email.Svanberg was working for his brother’s surf and kayak business in the Hamptons after his release. A working phone number for him coudn’t be found.Drake considers herself a “whistleblower” and wants to see change at the parole board.“I think leadership needs to be removed and have people in there who know what they’re doing,” she said.Drake also would like to see Svanberg go back to prison.“If they can reverse that decision, then they should reverse it,” she said. “He got out illegally.”

Aug 01, 2026
Why Did Bryan Kohberger Choose That House? The Disturbing Theory New

Why Did Bryan Kohberger Choose That House? The Disturbing Theory

Bryan Kohberger took the motive for the Idaho murders to his prison cell. One filmmaker believes the answer may lie in why he chose the house he attacked.“The fact that [this] was the house that he chose. This was a house that had five women living in it. The night that the murders happened, Xana Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, was over, but really, this was a house full of women, and it seems quite clear that he targeted it,” Skye Borgman, director of the Netflix docuseries “The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare,” told Fox News Digital.“He watched the house; he was around the house in the days, weeks and months leading up to the murders,” Borgman said. “So, it seems pretty likely that he had a very low regard, if not hatred, for women.”“It’s all conjecture, but he seemed to struggle with his relationships with women,” Borgman explained. “And we look at this incel movement and the question of whether or not he was an incel, and whether or not he didn’t like women.”“It seems to me that there was a hatred of women there,” Borgman added.Kohberger, 31, is serving four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to the 2022 stabbing murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen at an off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho.Bryan Kohberger is is seen in the Ada County Courthouse after his sentencing hearing, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. APBefore his arrest, former classmate Lilly Karaban recalled him as someone with a “his way or the highway” attitude who seemed to exist “in his own world.”Interviews, court records and accounts featured in the documentary described a series of troubling interactions involving Kohberger.According to the documentary, classmates described him as “not particularly well liked,” saying he frequently spoke down to women, engaged in “mansplaining” and became argumentative or aggressive during interactions. Several students said they found him “creepy” and that he made them feel uncomfortable.“There were just strange incidents and strange behavior,” Moscow Police Chief Anthony Dahlinger said in the documentary.Former Washington State University Police Chief Gary Jenkins recalled another student’s account of feeling cornered by Kohberger during an aggressive encounter. She also believed he occasionally followed her to her car. Kohberger was ultimately terminated from his teaching assistant position.Final photo of the victims, pictured just hours before their untimely deaths. Instagram/Xana KernodleJenkins said none of the reported incidents were referred to police because “nothing that occurred rose to the level of a crime.”Ed Jacobson, an FBI special agent involved in the investigation, said in the documentary that “we never saw evidence that shows Bryan Kohberger is part of the incel movement,” an online community of mostly men who say they can’t find romantic or sexual partners and often direct their frustration toward women.“But Bryan Kohberger was very good at hiding his online activity,” he noted.For Borgman, the biggest question surrounding the Idaho murders remains the one Kohberger has never answered: why?“I would love to, I think, along with the rest of the world, know why he did what he did,” she told Fox News Digital. “But it is one of those things that I don’t think any of us will ever know. That’s a frustrating thing for myself … and I know especially for the families. They wish so truly that he had been forced through the terms of his plea deal to give us more information about the why of it all.”In the documentary, Karaban said she believed Kohberger “has a thing against women based on the description of what he did to those poor three girls.”“People who brutalize women the way Kohberger did dislike them, find them threatening,” she said. “So they take all that anger out on them.”Award-winning author James Patterson, who wrote a book on the case, previously told Fox News Digital his reporting uncovered multiple accounts of Kohberger engaging in unwanted interactions with women before his arrest.At Seven Sirens Brewing Company in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Kohberger would push his way into unwanted conversations with female bartenders and patrons. He went as far as asking for their addresses. Some women, according to the book, complained to the brewery’s owner about “the creepy guy with the bulging eyes.”“Pretty much everybody we talked to just said, ‘This is a strange man with a strange look — couldn’t look people in the eye,'” Patterson said. “If he did look you in the eye, sometimes people wished that he hadn’t. And his impression of himself was totally out of whack with the way other people perceived him.”In a police report obtained by Fox News Digital, an exotic dancer said a man she now believes was Kohberger visited the club where she worked in 2019, about two hours from his family’s Pennsylvania home. She told investigators that while she was performing, the man remarked that he wanted to kill people. When she jokingly asked who, she said he replied, “Whoever I want.”Dried blood stains the foundation under the bedroom where Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were found stabbed to death. Kai Eiselein for NY PostBelieving he was trying to get her attention, she alerted bouncers to keep an eye on him. She said the encounter didn’t stand out again until she saw Kohberger’s photo on television after his arrest and became fairly certain he was the man she had encountered.Borgman believes Kohberger was trying “to commit the perfect crime.”“He failed in doing that,” she said. “But I think his silence is a way of attempting to keep the spotlight focused on him.”Borgman said police are also “grappling with the why.”“We spoke to one of the FBI agents who worked the case, and he essentially says, ‘You’ve got to be OK with not knowing,'” Borgman said. “And that’s really hard for humans to do: be OK with not knowing. And to crawl inside somebody’s mind and figure out the whys … it’s impossible. And I think that’s one of the reasons people followed this case for so long. … That question of the why still lingers with just about everybody.”After years of searching for answers, the victims’ families are no longer waiting for them, Borgman said. Instead, they’re focused on honoring their loved ones’ legacies.“I don’t think they expect the perpetrator to talk,” she said. ” … The families now are looking forward, not backward. … Every one of them is committed to trying to help families who may be going through something like this.”“So while I don’t want to say they’re hopeful, every one of them is taking this tragedy and trying to make something good out of it because that’s the only thing they can do,” she said. “They can’t carry around the hatred in their lives, or else it’ll just consume them. So they carry the love forward. And the love is really with Ethan, Maddie, Kaylee and Xana.”Kohberger recently tried to withdraw his guilty plea for the Moscow, Idaho murders, alleging coercion. James Keivom for NY PostJust two days before the documentary premiered on July 29, Kohberger made a dramatic bid to withdraw his guilty plea. He asked a judge to let him stand trial instead, alleging his attorneys pressured him into accepting a plea deal by promising better prison conditions and warning him about life on death row.In his request, Kohberger said his attorneys didn’t adequately represent him and that his guilty plea wasn’t knowingly or voluntarily entered because it “was induced by unkept promises” and threats, The Associated Press reported.In 2025, Kohberger said he was pleading guilty “freely and voluntarily.” In doing so, he agreed to waive his rights to appeal, confirm that he understood the penalties for the crimes and assure the court that he wasn’t coerced by his attorneys or anyone else to enter the plea. In exchange, prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty.Borgman said some investigators involved with the case were so shaken by the crime and its impact on Moscow that “they don’t work in law enforcement anymore.”“It’s something that was too much, and they ended up leaving the police force,” she said. “So it’s important, I think, to really factor into what happened, the incredible toll it takes on law enforcement and the incredible toll it takes on the community.”“So many people felt fear,” she said. “The fear was so deep that they weren’t leaving their homes. And that fear, along with the arrest of the perpetrator, also led to this amazing feeling of community. It brought people together.”

Aug 01, 2026
The Surprising Last Meal Item Death Row Inmates Can't Have New

The Surprising Last Meal Item Death Row Inmates Can't Have

A hot topic for average Joes when it comes to the death penalty is what an inmate chooses to have for their final meal. It's a common party question too, so most people have an idea of what they would have in front of them if they were to eat for the final time . But many won't associate the question with death, or the deaths of some of the world's most evil people. Without a doubt, death row meal requests have piqued the interest of the general public, but they aren't as common as you'd think. This is because several US states have banned death row inmates from having a choice at all , with the move coming around 2011, when Lawrence Russell Brewer requested an obscene amount of food. The convict was on death row after committing a racially motivated murder, and for his final meal, he requested a selection of foods such as two chicken-fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, and a Pizza Hut meat lover's pizza. But when the food arrived, he claimed he was not hungry and did not eat any of it, which led to Texas prison officials ending special last meal requests for good. Death row inmates were given more of a choice for their final meals in the past. Credit: Mike Simons / Getty What is the banned item in death row final meals? While prison officials have more say on what can and can't be included in death row inmates' final meals, there is one item that is prohibited. Prisoners are not allowed to ask for alcohol - it is considered contraband behind bars, so it isn't allowed in the facility under any circumstance, and this includes a final meal request. Tobacco also isn't permitted, so when a prison allows a final meal, the request must fit within its parameters. It has long been believed that the final prisoner who was granted a prohibited item was Manuel Fernandez back in 1835, as he was granted a "nip of brandy," while smoking a cigar in his final moments. Different era, it must be said. Which states allow final meals? Approximately 12 US states allow inmates on death row to request a final meal, but there are different rules in place depending on the state. Florida, for example, allows the meal to cost up to $40, while Oklahoma sets the cap at $25. However, the majority of states serve inmates regular prison cafeteria food with no special requests granted. Dominick Occhicone recently had a final meal request granted in Florida. Credit: Florida Department of Corrections A recent death row inmate's final meal Dominick Occhicone, who spent four decades behind bars after he was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend's parents in 1986, would be part of the US's first double execution in nine years. The inmate was pronounced dead at 6:13 PM at the prison, just five hours after ex-cop James Duckett was given the lethal injection too. But hours before the deed, the murderer requested that he have eggplant parmesan, a salad, garlic bread, and a Pepsi as his final meal, as per the Tampa Bay Times . Duckett, 68, who was convicted of raping and drowning an 11-year-old girl in 1987, instead asked for eggs, grits, bacon, biscuits, and chocolate milk for his last meal. The last state to hold executions on the same day was Arkansas in April 2017, with 1964 being the last time two inmates were executed on the same day in Florida. Duckett and Occhicone became the 11th and 12th inmates executed in The Sunshine State this year, after the US Supreme Court denied appeals on Tuesday. Featured image credit: Mike Simons / Getty

Aug 01, 2026
Ariana Grande's New Video Sparks Heated Debate Over Her Appearance New

Ariana Grande's New Video Sparks Heated Debate Over Her Appearance

Pop star Ariana Grande released her new music video for the song 'Petal' on Friday, generating widespread discussion across social media platforms regarding her physical appearance. The audition-themed video features the 33-year-old Grammy winner wearing a retro look heavily influenced by the aesthetic of the movie Grease. In specific scenes, she dances alongside other hopeful actresses while wearing tight black leggings, an off-the-shoulder top, a matching neck scarf, and her signature ponytail styled in tight ringlets. The visual presentation quickly caught the attention of fans and online observers after Grande shared a snippet on her social media accounts with the caption, “petal ꕤ 。˚ music video out now.” While many viewers focused on the creative concepts behind the release, a substantial number of comments shifted toward speculation about the singer’s weight and overall well-being. The resulting digital debate has highlighted the ongoing friction between celebrity public platforms and audience commentary. Social media users express physical concern Following the debut of the video, several fans voiced immediate anxieties regarding Grande’s slighter frame. On various social networks, individuals openly debated whether the pop star appeared healthy. “She is extremely thin and it’s concerning,” remarked one person, while another user chimed in, “I think people are allowed to be concerned for her health.” Another viewer pointed out that Grande’s “bones are literally popping out” and visible in the footage. The conversation extended to platform comment sections, including YouTube, where users attempted to balance praise for the artistry with direct appeals regarding her health. Someone on YouTube wrote, “as an Ari fan, the song and video are absolutely incredible concepts and incredibly executed but honestly all I can think about is how I hope she’s okay because she literally looks ill. She needs to get help.” Viewers defend the singer against public scrutiny Conversely, a large portion of Grande's fan base quickly moved to push back against the intense focus on her body, arguing that public evaluation of an individual's weight is inherently invasive and counterproductive. One defender on X wrote, “If y’all actually cared about her you wouldn’t be publicly making comments about her body,” while another user bluntly urged commenters to “mind your own f–kin business.” Other supporters insisted that an artist's physical appearance should not be treated as a topic for open forum critique, reminding audiences to appreciate the work itself rather than projecting assumptions. Another wrote, “Leave her body alone. Ariana doesn’t exist for your commentary. She’s out here meeting fans, dropping Petal, and living her life her weight is not a public discussion. Body-shaming a woman for being thin is still body-shaming. Full stop. Protect her energy and keep the focus where it belongs: the music.” One person ranted, “CLOCK THEM, ARIANA GRANDE. THEY BETTER STOP COMMENTING ON HER BODY, HER WEIGHT, OR HER LOOKS. It’s weird, it’s unnecessary, and she doesn’t owe anyone an explanation for how she looks.” Previous statements on body commentary This is not the first instance where Grande has been the subject of public scrutiny regarding her health and size. In 2024, the performer addressed the emotional toll of these discussions during an interview where she was asked how she navigates the intense social expectations placed upon women to maintain a flawless appearance. At the time, she stated, “I think that it’s something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you’re experiencing it on,” adding that observations about weight are frequently “uncomfortable” and “horrible.” During that same discussion, Grande emphasized how casual remarks from acquaintances or strangers can cross boundaries, noting, “Even if you go to Thanksgiving dinner, and someone’s granny says, ‘Oh my God, you look skinnier! What happened?’ or ‘You look heavier! What happened?’” She further explained, “I think in today’s society, there is a comfortability that we shouldn’t have at all - commenting on others’ looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scenes or health or how they present themselves.” She warned that this widespread habit is “really dangerous.” Grande later re-shared a clip of the interview on her Instagram Stories, adding the caption, “resharing this from last year ♡ as a loving reminder to all,” while noting that “it’s hard to protect yourself from that noise.” Featured image credit: BabyDoll Music

Aug 01, 2026
OnlyFans Model's Stunning Plea Deal: What Could It Mean for Her Murder Trial? New

OnlyFans Model's Stunning Plea Deal: What Could It Mean for Her Murder Trial?

The OnlyFans model accused of knifing her boyfriend to death in their ritzy Miami high-rise has reached a plea agreement ahead of the second-degree murder trial that was scheduled to start next month.The terms of the undisclosed agreement reached by Courtney Clenney, 30, will not be final unless the court accepts them, according to a statement Fox News Digital obtained from the model’s attorneys, Prieto Law Firm and Puglisi Carames Law.The agreement is expected to be presented in the Miami-Dade County court on Aug. 10. OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney, 30, reached a plea deal in her boyfriend’s murder case. Instagram“We will reserve further comment on the specific terms until they are placed on the record before the Court,” Clenney’s attorneys said Friday. “The firm asks that the public and the media allow the legal process to conclude and refrain from speculation.”The 30-year-old model has remained behind bars since August 2022 after being charged with second-degree murder in connection to the death of her estranged boyfriend, Christian Obumseli in April of that year.One of Clenney’s attorneys, Frank Prieto, previously claimed she acted in self-defense after Obumseil grabbed her by the throat. The X-rated star claimed self-defense following the fatal stabbing of her beau, Christian Obumseli. City of Miami PDClenney has been behind bars since her arrest in August 2022. APClenney’s attorneys alleged that Obumseli was abusive and argued their client was a battered partner. Obumseli’s family, however, claim that he was the victim of domestic violence. The influencer, who went by Courtney Tailor on social media, was arrested in Hawaii after prosecutors reopened a probe into the fatal stabbing.Clenney was doing a stint in rehab for substance abuse and post traumatic disorder at the time police picked her up. The now-30-year-old was arrested in Hawaii where she had traveled to for rehab. APThe toxic pair began a relationship in November 2020 but were reportedly estranged at the time of Obumseli’s death. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle described Obumseli’s death as the culmination of a “tempestuous and combative relationship,” at the time of the model’s arrest. According to a heavily redacted police report, officers arrived at the couple’s luxe apartment around 5 p.m. on April 3, 2022 in response to a battery call, the outlet reported. The toxic couple were in a relationship for less than 2 years before Obumseli was stabbed to death. InstagramWhen police arrived, Obumseli was found with a single stab wound to the torso and Clenney was drenched in her boyfriend’s blood, according to police bodycam footage. Clenney told investigators that her boyfriend pushed and threw her to the floor before she grabbed a knife and threw it at him from several feet away.A medical examiner determined that the knife wound Obumseli sustained in his chest was three inches deep.

Aug 01, 2026
Social Security Crisis Looms: Are Benefit Cuts Inevitable? New

Social Security Crisis Looms: Are Benefit Cuts Inevitable?

A senior Republican lawmaker is warning that millions of Americans could face automatic double-digit Social Security benefit cuts within the next several years unless Congress acts to fix the program's finances.In a Senate floor speech Wednesday, Senate President Pro Tempore and Finance Committee member Chuck Grassley said the Social Security retirement trust fund is projected to be depleted in 2032.At that point, payroll tax revenue would only cover about 78 percent of scheduled benefits, translating to an automatic benefit cut of roughly 22 percent for retirees.“Unfortunately, Congress has a tendency to put off action until too late and at the last moment,” Grassley said.“This is never the best approach. But, with respect to addressing Social Security’s funding shortfall, it poses [a] serious risk not only to the tens of millions of retirees, but also a risk to the national economy.”While Republicans and Democrats disagree sharply on how to fix Social Security's long-term funding gap, both the right and left broadly agree that the program faces a serious problem that should be addressed before the automatic cuts.Why It MattersMore than 69 million Americans receive Social Security benefits, and the program remains the largest source of retirement income for millions of older Americans. Recent surveys also show growing anxiety about its future. An AARP poll found only 36 percent of Americans are confident in the program's future, while a Bipartisan Policy Center survey found that 74 percent of Americans worry Social Security could run out before they retire and 80 percent are concerned Congress could cut benefits....What To KnowGrassley said that allowing automatic cuts to occur would be unacceptable for retirees who depend on these monthly checks. But beyond that, it could also create broader economic and fiscal risks.“The longer Congress waits to act, the more likely it is that any solution to Social Security will lean heavily on debt financing to bridge the funding gap, and that’s how it’s tied to the entire national economy,” Grassley said.“So, come 2032, the nation will already have outstanding debt larger than at any time in the nation’s history relative to the size of our economy. Flooding the bond market with trillions of dollars in new debt in short order then risks setting off a chain of events leading to a fiscal crisis.”More broadly, Social Security’s finances have been squeezed by recent demographic changes. There are far fewer workers paying payroll taxes for every beneficiary than there were decades ago. And as Americans live longer and baby boomers continue to enter retirement, benefit payments are growing faster than the taxes flowing into the system. Grassley said that neither party's current preferred talking points offer a complete solution.“A bigger problem faces us today, and we should have a bipartisan agreement in this town, including a president who wants to get us Social Security on a financially sound basis,” Grassley said.He also said the scope of Social Security's funding shortfall is too large to be solved solely by taxing high earners, a proposal favored by many Democrats, or exclusively through reducing waste, fraud and abuse, a common Republican argument.That means meaningful reform will likely require some combination of revenue increases and benefit changes rather than a single easy fix, experts say.“Every year Congress waits, the same bill gets handed to a smaller group of people,” Michael Ryan, finance expert and founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek.“What happens? Congress waits. In 1983 they were months from depletion, not six years out. Grassley's on the floor because he's watched this movie. Watch who pays. The 1983 deal shielded people near retirement and raised the retirement age on workers then in their forties and younger. Same template means today's 45 year old carries it and today's 72 year old doesn't.”What Proposals Are on the Table?Numerous ideas have been floated to fix Social Security’s finances, but many of them have been debated for decades.Raise or Eliminate the Payroll Tax CapOne of the most popular proposals among Democrats would mandate higher earners to pay Social Security taxes on a larger share of their income.At the moment, earnings above a specified threshold are not subject to Social Security payroll taxes. Still, this could prove unpopular with America’s workforce.“All of the options to address Social Security are politically unpopular. Increasing the Social Security wage cap, means-testing benefits, or raising payroll taxes all require individuals to contribute more to fund current and future benefits,” Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group and host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek.Increase Payroll Tax RatesAnother possible fix is to gradually increase the payroll tax paid by workers and employers. Small increases phased in over time could generate significant additional revenue while spreading the burden across future workers. Raise the Full Retirement AgeFiscal conservatives have also suggested gradually increasing the age at which workers qualify for full retirement benefits.The argument generally goes that because Americans are living longer than when Social Security was created, it’s a necessary change to the program.However, many remain against this, as it would effectively cut benefits, particularly for blue-collar workers and lower-income Americans who may be unable to delay retirement. “The reality is that no one wants to step on this political hand grenade, so it will continue to be kicked down the road,” Thompson said. “Congress loves to spend, and anything that is not budget neutral will be viewed as an expansion of the debt that ultimately has to be offset by stronger economic growth.”Slow Future Benefit GrowthSome proposals would alter benefit formulas or reduce future cost-of-living increases.While this would not necessarily reduce current checks, it could slow the growth of benefits for future retirees. Means TestingAnother periodically discussed option would reduce benefits for wealthier retirees while preserving them for lower-income Americans.The idea is that this would target resources toward those who need them most. The main criticism, however, is that this could transform Social Security from an earned-benefit system into a welfare-style program. “The most likely result will be not one dramatic fix but a bipartisan package that gradually combines additional revenue with measured benefit or eligibility changes,” Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.Are There Any Simple Fixes?Grassley said the shortfall is too large to be solved through a single policy change, and other retirement researchers generally agree that no standalone proposal can fully close the projected financing gap without creating significant trade-offs.“To ensure this cut never happens, the entire nation needs to have an honest discussion about Social Security,” Grassley said. “This will require the president, members of Congress, political candidates and leaders of senior advocacy organizations to come clean about the facts with the American people.”What Reagan Did in the 1980sDuring his Senate remarks, Grassley pointed to the landmark bipartisan Social Security reforms enacted in 1983 under President Ronald Reagan and Democratic House Speaker Tip O'Neill. Facing a similar looming funding crisis, Reagan and O'Neill agreed to create the National Commission on Social Security Reform. Subsequently, the commission's recommendations became the basis for major bipartisan legislation. The reforms included a package of revenue increases and benefit adjustments, including gradually raising the retirement age for future beneficiaries, increasing payroll tax collections and bringing additional income into the system. Ultimately, that helped restore solvency and generated a surplus that helped support benefits for decades. After extending the program's viability for more than 40 years, Congress faces the challenge once again on how to preserve Social Security for future generations.“All of our politicians seem to see the issue, but none of them are proposing concrete action,” Drew Powers, founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek. “There are a lot of ideas around commissions and blue-ribbon panels, even a committee that will urge Congress to act, but I have yet to see a proposal that starts to solve the problem directly.”What Happens NextAccording to the latest Social Security trustees' projections, the retirement trust fund is expected to be able to pay full benefits until late 2032. After that, incoming payroll taxes would cover only about 78 percent of scheduled benefits if nothing changes.“With every new proclamation, I am further convinced this issue will be tabled until the proverbial 11th hour,” Powers said. “Everyone in Congress seems to be more concerned with their re-election bid than they are solving the issues in Social Security.”

Aug 01, 2026
Why Is Oprah Closing Her Iconic School in South Africa? New

Why Is Oprah Closing Her Iconic School in South Africa?

Oprah Winfrey says she will close the school for underprivileged girls she set up in South Africa two decades ago at the end of next year.Winfrey opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in 2007 after being inspired by conversations with former South African President Nelson Mandela about the transformative power of educating girls.He was among the guests at the school’s opening ceremony.Oprah Winfrey poses for photos with students at her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, on Jan. 13, 2012. AP Photo/Denis FarrellWinfrey’s charitable foundation ran and funded the school, but it was always part of the agreement that the academy campus near Johannesburg be ultimately handed over to the provincial education department, the academy said.“The dream was never simply to build a school,” Winfrey said in a statement issued by the academy on Wednesday. “It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women. That mission doesn’t end with one campus. It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education.”The academy said Winfrey’s commitment to educating South African girls would continue through an expanded national scholarship program supporting academically talented girls at leading schools across the country.More than 500 girls have graduated from the academy and some have attended top universities in South Africa, the United States and Europe, according to the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.Oprah Winfrey attends the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Henley-on-Klip, South Africa, on Jan. 2, 2007. ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Gauteng provincial government will take over the 52-acre academy campus, which has 21 classrooms, six science and computer laboratories, a 10,000-volume library and a 600-seat theater.It did not immediately say what the plans for the property were.Gauteng Provincial Minister for Education Lebogang Maile said those currently enrolled in the school will be able to complete their education with uninterrupted financial support.Oprah Winfrey embraces former South African President Nelson Mandela during the ground-breaking ceremony for the girls’ school on Dec. 6, 2002. APThe academy drew international attention shortly after opening in 2007 when several students accused a dormitory matron of physically and sexually abusing them.Winfrey traveled to South Africa to meet with students and parents, publicly apologized, and commissioned an independent investigation.The matron was acquitted of criminal charges in 2010.

Aug 01, 2026
Former Power Rangers Star's Shocking Prison Act: What Drove This Desperation? New

Former Power Rangers Star's Shocking Prison Act: What Drove This Desperation?

In a bizarre and gruesome escalation to a high-profile Southern California murder case, jail officials confirmed that a former child actor awaiting trial for a horrific double homicide at sea attempted to self-mutilate while in custody. Skylar Preciosa Deleon (born John Julius Jacobson Jr.), 29, was rushed to an area hospital from the Orange County Men’s Central Jail after using a razor blade to partially sever her own penis. According to sheriff’s department officials, jail guards discovered the heavily bleeding inmate inside a housing unit. Deleon was immediately transferred to an outside medical facility where surgeons successfully reattached the organ. Driven by transition goals In a subsequent interview, Deleon revealed that the extreme act of self-harm was a desperate attempt at gender reaffirmation surgery. "I basically took a sheet and tied it around my lower extremity… I tied it around and I went to cut it off," Deleon stated, explaining the desire to transition from male to female. The incident shed light on what defense attorneys later presented as the core motive behind a string of cold-blooded crimes. During the trial, Deleon’s legal team argued that an overwhelming fixation on securing funds for a gender reassignment operation drove the financial scheme that led to multiple murders. The deadly yacht plot At the time of the 2008 jailhouse incident, Deleon was facing capital murder charges for the 2004 deaths of Thomas and Jackie Hawks, a retired Arizona couple. Skylar Preciosa Deleon post-transition. Credit: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation According to prosecutors, Deleon posed as a wealthy buyer interested in purchasing the couple's 55-foot yacht, the Well Deserved. During a sea trial out of Newport Harbor, Deleon and several accomplices overpowered the couple. After forcing the Hawkses to sign over power of attorney documents, the group bound the couple, handcuffed them to a 66-pound anchor, and threw them overboard alive into the Pacific Ocean. Their bodies were never recovered. Deleon was also tied to the 2003 financial-gain murder of John Peter Jarvi, whose throat was slit in Mexico. Subsequent legal actions and taxpayer funding Following a conviction on three counts of first-degree murder, an Orange County jury recommended the death penalty. Deleon was officially sentenced to death in April 2009. Though the gruesome jailhouse self-mutilation failed, Deleon eventually secured the procedure decades later. While housed on California's death row under an ongoing statewide execution moratorium, Deleon legally changed her name and successfully petitioned the state for gender-affirming medical care. In April 2023, California taxpayers funded Deleon’s official gender-reassignment surgery and breast augmentation under progressive state correctional healthcare mandates. She had a non-speaking role as a child extra in a 1994 episode of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Featured image credit: Daniel Knighton / Getty

Aug 01, 2026
Stephen A. Smith's Unexpected Apology to Kyrie Irving Shocks Fans New

Stephen A. Smith's Unexpected Apology to Kyrie Irving Shocks Fans

The “A” stands for atonement.ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith issued a shocking on-air apology to Kyrie Irving for blasting the much-maligned NBA superstar’s refusal to comply with mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations, which derailed the Brooklyn Nets’ 2021-22 season.Smith interrupted his scheduled vacation Friday after watching Dr. Anthony Fauci deflect questions from Congress about the origins of the pandemic by pleading the 5th Amendment — saying he “felt compelled” to issue a mea culpa to Irving who was ruthlessly shamed for deciding against getting the COVID shot.ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith issued an on-air apology to Kyrie Irving for criticizing him over refusal to comply with mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. STEPHEN A. SMITH SHOW/SIRIUS XM “I watched Dr. Fauci on Capitol Hill yesterday and the person I thought about most was Kyrie Irving,” said Smith admitted.“There’s several people that we all owe apologies to, and I’ll put myself at the front of the list, but none more so than the apology that I owe to Kyrie Irving,” the 58-year-old said at the start of his near 20-minute monologue.“The reality is, is that Kyrie Irving, no matter what we think, may have been more right than we have given him credit for and unquestionably was more vilified than he deserved. And ladies and gentleman, it starts with me,” Smith continued.“We saw vaccine mandates and booster mandates and you know distancing stipulations and mask mandates and all of this other stuff. And along the way, there were a select few individuals in the world of sports especially that stood up and said, ‘Nah, I’m not down for this,’” Smith recounted.Irving refused to comply with mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations while playing for the Brooklyn Nets. Getty ImagesDr. Anthony Fauci appears before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at the Capitol, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. AP Photo/Allison RobbertDuring the 2021-22 NBA season, Irving sat out 35 games, including all games at Barclays Center, due to New York state’s vaccine mandate.That rule was later lifted by then-Mayor Eric Adams who created an athlete/performer exemption in March 2022.

Aug 01, 2026
The Doctor's Words That Echoed Before Her Final Moment New

The Doctor's Words That Echoed Before Her Final Moment

A prominent Dutch psychiatrist is facing intense public scrutiny following revelations regarding his practice of administering lethal injections to patients suffering from severe mental health issues, including teenagers. Dr. Menno Oosterhoff, who specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry, has assisted patients with terminating their lives for several years, The Atlantic reports . While the procedure is legal under specific guidelines in the Netherlands, his actions have sparked a fierce debate across Europe regarding the ethics of psychiatric euthanasia. The legal framework for medically assisted suicide in the Netherlands was established by lawmakers in 2002. Under this law, physicians are permitted to grant euthanasia requests provided they are voluntary, well-considered, and stem from unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement or reasonable alternative solutions. Dr. Oosterhoff primarily handles individuals who do not possess physical disabilities, operating under the belief that providing an authorized path for those with terminal mental diagnoses helps prevent unassisted suicide and shortens prolonged suffering. Public opinion on the matter remains deeply divided. While some supporters view the psychiatrist as a compassionate figure who helps individuals facing desperate circumstances, critics have raised significant alarms. The conversation intensified nationwide following a public television broadcast titled "Milou's Battle Continues," which detailed the experience of a 17-year-old girl who sought out Dr. Oosterhoff to end her life. Milou Verhoof died by euthanasia at the age of 17. Credit: NPO The doctor's last words to the teen The teenager, Milou Verhoof, sought assistance after experiencing years of severe trauma, including a sexual assault at age 13 and a near-fatal illness affecting her brother. Following multiple suicide attempts and lengthy delays from other medical professionals, she met with Dr. Oosterhoff. On October 2, 2023, the procedure was carried out in her childhood bedroom. Before administering the injection, Dr. Oosterhoff said (per The Manchester Evening News ) to Milou, "Girl, have a good trip," in front of her parents. At her funeral, he later noted, "You've been through so much," to express sympathy for her long struggles. Her mother, Mireille Verhoof, defended the decision in an email correspondence, stating, "Because of Dr. Oosterhoff's extremely careful and cautious approach, we as parents trusted that his conclusion-that Milou truly could not go on and that the days were unliveable for her-was the only correct one and confirmed what we as parents had long seen in our child." This case highlights a broader statistical shift in the country of 18 million people. Though the vast majority of the 9,958 euthanasia cases in 2024 involved terminal physical ailments, psychiatric euthanasia instances grew from 88 in 2020 to 219 in 2024. Legal challenges and debate in Spain The discussion surrounding medically assisted death has also intensified in other parts of Europe, notably following a high-profile case in Spain involving a 25-year-old woman named Noelia Castillo Ramos. She became quadriplegic in 2024 after jumping from a building following a gang rape. Before her scheduled procedure, she gave a final television interview, declaring, "I have four days left because on the 26 they will perform euthanasia on me," which brought widespread attention to the legal battle over her choice. Her father strongly fought the decision in court, arguing that his daughter suffered from a personality disorder and was dependent on the state mental healthcare system prior to her assault. Castillo Ramos expressed that the legal opposition from her family increased her emotional pain, noting that none of her relatives supported her path. She defended her autonomy by asking, "None of my family is in favour of euthanasia. I am a pillar of the family. I leave them suffering. But what about my suffering?" She further argued that "The happiness of a father, a mother, or a sister should not be more important than that of a daughter or the life of a daughter," before her legal termination was ultimately carried out. Featured image credit: David Sacks/Getty Images

Aug 01, 2026
Why Gen Z Is Officially Ditching This Millennial Fashion Staple New

Why Gen Z Is Officially Ditching This Millennial Fashion Staple

It’s Z fitness fashion faux pas of the day. After reigning as choice activewear for 20-something years, 20-somethings online have officially declared workout leggings “dead.”RIP to the grip. Rather than breaking a sweat in the skintight togs, gym rat Gen Zs now prefer loose-fitting, baggy sweatpants or shorts while exercising, according to a recent report by Edited, a retail analysis group.Gen Z gym buffs are ditching fitted leggings for baggy, loose-fitting sweats and shorts. BullRun – stock.adobe.comBut the youngsters’ sudden aversion to leggings — a millennial fashion fav — is less about style, and more about their self-image issues. “I’m so embarrassed and insecure about wearing leggings,” confessed a body-conscious belle in a trending clip. “I hate how they fit me, how they’re so tight on me and you can see, like, the structure of my legs.”Online, young women claim that their hate for leggings in rooted in body-image issues. opolja – stock.adobe.comThose groans were echoed by a sea of Gen Zs who agreed, commenting, “Leggings are so uncomfortable,” “I f- -king hate leggings,” and “It’s body dysmorphia.”And their beef with the bottoms isn’t just idle internet chatter — it’s evident in sales and web searches, too.  Researchers for Edited found that consumer interest in leggings has plummeted from 46.9% to 38.7% since 2022. Due to the drop in demand, top athletic brands such as Nike and adidas have “scaled back leggings investment” this year. (Lululemon fans can breathe easy as the Canadian imprint is still investing in the snug head-turners, per the findings).Athleisure lovers, namely fashionistas under age 27, are instead reaching for billowing, “boxy” garb, according to Pinterest data featured in the study. New data reveals that young adults are buying “boxy,” oversized workout wear for comfort. pressmaster – stock.adobe.comInvestigators noted that, “58% of searches are from the 18 to 24 year-old demographic with popular pins showing oversized sweatpants and boxy T-shirts.” The experts attribute the rising fondness for lightweight, looser-fitting pants to Gen Z’s preference for comfort over compression, as well as the influence of baggy clothes icons Billie Eilish and Zendaya. But team Z’s loathing of leggings is nothing new. Tastemakers like Billie Eilish and Zendaya have been hailed the de facto leaders in the loose-fit over leggings charge. Ulia Koltyrina – stock.adobe.comThe whiny whippersnappers have attempted to “cancel” the Y2K-wardrobe staple for years, deeming them “cringe” and “cheugy” in viral vids. They’ve tried exalting yoga pants or “flared leggings” to the original look’s former glory.  But, thus far, no bottoms have truly unseated the tried-and-true legging. But now, some Gen Zs are hoping workout shorts will finally give the clinging gear a run for their money. “As a gym girlie, one thing about me is, I’m a shorts girlie until the end of time,” vowed Danica, a TikTok fit-influencer. “B—ch, I promise you, once you put on a good pair of shorts, you are never going to touch your leggings again.”Em, a dietician and trainer, separately voiced similar sentiments, saying, “I feel so cute, sexy, hot, confident when I wear shorts to the gym.”“But leggings, I hate.”

Aug 01, 2026