Daring hurricane hunters fly straight through monstrous Milton to collect crucial data

Researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were in for a “bumpy” ride after they sent aircraft into the eye of Hurricane Milton to collect data on the massive storm barreling towards Florida.

The flight missions were done by the Aircraft Operations Center’s WP-3D Orion #NOAA43 plane, which is affectionately called “Miss Piggy.”

The government agency said in a social media post that operations, like “Miss Piggy,” are sent to collect critical data that helps improve forecasts on their track and intensity and support hurricane research.

“Data collected by the agency’s high-flying meteorological stations helps forecasters make accurate predictions during a hurricane and help hurricane researchers achieve a better understanding of storm processes, improving their forecast models,” the agency said.

COASTAL FLORIDIAN WARNS OTHERS TO ‘GET OUT’ AS HURRICANE MILTON CLOSES IN: ‘WE HAVE NO IDEA’ WHAT’S COMING

NOAA Programs and Integration Engineer Nick Underwood captured the intense flight through the Category 5 cyclone.

The video captured the turbulent ride, with loose items — including Underwood’s cellphone and wallet — left flying through the aircraft.

The planes are flown and crewed by members of the NOAA Commissioned Officers Corp. and scientists on board use instruments that continuously transmit measurements back to the ground.

WALT DISNEY WORLD SHUTTING ITS GATES AHEAD OF HURRICANE MILTON

The crews measure the storm’s pressure, humidity, temperature, wind direction and speed to provide “a detailed look at the structure of the storm and its intensity.”

Milton is expected to make landfall on Florida’s central-west Gulf coast Wednesday night, according to forecasters. 

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Although it will likely fluctuate in intensity, it will remain “an extremely dangerous hurricane” through landfall.

Walz tells supporters the drastic change he’d make if elected

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday called for the elimination of the Electoral College during a fundraiser in California, a move some Democrats have advocated for in the past after election defeats. 

Walz was in California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s private home in Sacramento when he remarked about the process by which U.S. presidents are elected.  

“I think all of us know the Electoral College needs to go,” he said, according to a pool report at the event, Bloomberg reported. “We need a national popular vote, but that’s not the world we live in.”

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In 2023, the Minnesota governor signed the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an agreement in which each state would allocate all its electoral votes to whoever wins the popular vote for president, regardless of how individual states voted. The compact would take effect only if supporters secure pledges from states with at least 270 electoral votes. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to the campaigns of Vice President Harris and former President Trump. 

The Electoral College comprises a certain number of electors from each state who cast votes for the president and vice president. In 48 states and Washington, D.C., whichever candidate receives the most ballots in their favor is awarded all the electoral votes for that state. Maine and Nebraska assign their electors using a proportional system.

The winner needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidential election. 

The Electoral College was created by the Founding Fathers in an effort to make sure large states didn’t dominate small ones in presidential elections or wield too much power. Abolishing the system would require a major constitutional change. 

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In recent years, some Democrats have called for eliminating the process in favor of a popular vote. Recent examples cited include former President Trump’s 2016 win over Hillary Clinton, in which she won the popular vote but received fewer electoral votes. 

In 2000, former President George W. Bush lost the popular vote but narrowly won the electoral vote. Many Republicans have argued against getting rid of the Electoral College system, saying such a move would result in states with larger populations having undue influence.

Others argue it would cause presidential candidates to focus on a few states during the campaign season while ignoring others.

In 2012, Trump panned the electoral system, calling it “a disaster for a democracy.” In 2018, he again voiced support for the idea because a popular vote would be “much easier to win.”

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A majority of Americans – 63% – favor doing away with the Electoral College, according to a recent Pew Research Center poll released last month.

Prosecutor declines to charge ‘dangerous’ Colombian migrant in 17-year-old’s death

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office declined to pursue any charges against a “dangerous” Colombian migrant who was arrested for murder last week in Chicago.

Foxx’s decision comes after a CPD source shared with Fox News the migrant’s illegally-acquired gun went off in an apartment building, killing a “beautiful and promising” 17-year-old girl.

A Chicago Police source told Fox News that when 19-year-old Juan David Ramirez-Olivo was arrested for murder last week and questioned by CPD, he lied about being from Venezuela. Ramirez-Olivo is a Colombian national.

‘DANGEROUS’ MIGRANT IS PERSON OF INTEREST IN SHOOTING DEATH OF 17-YEAR-OLD CHICAGO GIRL

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement source tells Fox News that Ramirez-Olivo previously came into the United States under the parole program and was given a notice to appear.

ICE shared with Fox News it placed a detainer on Ramirez-Olivo last Thursday after he was arrested for first-degree murder and taken into custody on Saturday. 

The Chicago Police pushed for Olivo to be charged with involuntary manslaughter; Foxx’s office went to bond court last Friday afternoon and repealed the charges, citing “insufficient evidence” to Fox News.

A CPD source says a police chief assigned to this case was not happy with Foxx’s decision and was pressing for Olivo to be charged.

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“If they want to say that it was a complete accident and it wasn’t reckless then minimally charge him with the weapon that he admitted to illegally purchasing,” the CPD source told Fox News. “No one thinks it’s legal to purchase a gun off a guy on the street. Plus, he shouldn’t even have a weapon.”   

Ramirez-Olivo was in an apartment on Tuesday, October 1 with 17-year-old Stephanie Lopez Ramirez when, a CPD source said, his illegally acquired gun went off–hitting Stephanie in the arm and killing her. 

A family friend of Ramirez shared, “she was a very sweet girl who loved her family very much. Always happy and full of life.”

Chicago Police did confirm that a female victim was found inside a residence unresponsive with one gunshot wound to the left arm. Ramirez was pronounced dead at the scene and a person of interest was in custody. 

Ramirez-Olivo claimed it was an accidental shooting, but Chicago police sources and a family friend of the victim question that claim. 

“After a thorough review of information presented to us by police, we concluded that the totality of the evidence was insufficient to meet our burden of proof to file criminal charges,” wrote Kimm Foxx’s office in a statement to Fox News. “As prosecutors, we have both an ethical and legal obligation to make charging decisions based on the law and evidence. We are open to a further review if new or additional information is brought to us.”

Police records indicate Ramirez-Olivo was arrested in March in Chicago for possession of a deadly weapon, a knife, out on the street. He was also accused of previously stabbing someone.

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The office of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for additional comment.

Judge rules in favor of young Chiefs fan falsely accused of sporting ‘blackface’ at game

A Delaware judge ruled Monday that the Armenta family’s lawsuit against Deadspin for accusing their son of wearing “blackface” at a Chiefs game last year can proceed.

In 2023, Deadspin writer Carron Phillips wrote an article using an image of nine-year-old Holden Armenta sporting black and red Kansas City Chiefs face paint at a game, showing only the black half of his face. Phillips accused Holden of finding a way to “hate Black people and the Native Americans at the same time” and accused his parents of teaching him “hatred.”

Holden’s parents Raul Jr. and Shannon later filed a lawsuit in February accusing the sports blog of maliciously attacking Holden by selectively posting only one half of his face and accusing them of racism. 

On Monday, Superior Court Judge Sean Lugg denied Deadspin’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, agreeing that the blog posted “provable false assertions” as facts rather than opinion.

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“Deadspin published an image of a child displaying his passionate fandom as a backdrop for its critique of the NFL’s diversity efforts and, in its description of the child, crossed the fine line protecting its speech from defamation claims,” the judge wrote.

“Having reviewed the complaint, the court concludes that Deadspin’s statements accusing [Holden] of wearing black face and Native headdress ‘to hate black people and the Native American at the same time,’ and that he was taught this hatred by his parents, are provable false assertions of fact and are therefore actionable,” Lugg added.

Lugg also refused to dismiss the case based on the assertion that the case should have been filed in the Armenta family’s home state of California rather than Delaware, where Deadspin’s parent company G/O Media resides. G/O Media later sold Deadspin to Lineup Publishing one month after the lawsuit was filed.

A representative from G/O Media declined to comment to Fox News Digital.

Deadspin did not retract the original article. However, an editor’s note was added to address the controversy.

“We regret any suggestion that we were attacking the fan or his family. To that end, our story was updated on Dec. 7 to remove any photos, tweets, links, or otherwise identifying information about the fan. We have also revised the headline to better reflect the substance of the story,” the note read.

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The headline was also changed from “The NFL needs to speak out against the Kansas City Chiefs fan in Black face, Native headdress” to “The NFL Must Ban Native Headdress And Culturally Insensitive Face Paint in the Stands.”

Phillips initially doubled down on his accusations in a since-deleted X post.

“For the idiots in my mentions who are treating this as some harmless act because the other side of his face was painted red, I could make the argument that it makes it even worse. Y’all are the ones who hate [M]exican but wear sombreros on cinco [de Mayo],” Phillips said.

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Robert F. Kennedy’s widow hospitalized as family asks for prayers

Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, remains hospitalized after suffering a stroke last week, her family announced.

Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III announced on social media Tuesday that his grandmother suffered a stroke in her sleep on Thursday, and was brought to an area hospital.

“She is comfortable, she is getting the best care possible, and she is surrounded by family,” he wrote.

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Ethel, who turned 96 in April, had spent her summer filled with her favorite activities and with close family, her family said.

“She has had a great summer and transition into fall,” Kennedy posted on X. “Every day she enjoyed time with her children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was able to get out on the water, visit the pier, and enjoy many lunches and dinners with family. It has been a gift to all of us and to her as well.”

Kennedy, the current Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, said that she was resting comfortably and receiving treatment at the hospital.

“She is, as you may know, a strong woman who has led a remarkably fulfilling life. We are here looking after her,” he posted. “Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. We ask that you respect our family’s privacy at this time.”

Ethel is the sister-in-law of former President John F. Kennedy. 

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She founded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization in 1968 after her husband Robert was assassinated in June 1968.

View from helicopter gives wild perspective of school’s viral moment

The unranked Vanderbilt Commodores had their best win in football program history over the weekend.

They took down top-ranked Alabama, 40-35, on Saturday night, and the party was on.

Fans tore down the goalposts inside FirstBank Stadium after the victory, and it became the most prized possession in Nashville.

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The goalpost was ripped out from the ground, carried outside the stadium, and escorted through Broadway.

It eventually landed in the Cumberland River, and fans loved what they saw.

But, there is one view that hasn’t been seen by many: that of a helicopter flying overhead.

Not only is it a birds-eye view, the night vision was on.

It was not the first time Tennesseans celebrated a win over Alabama by taking the goalpost for a wild ride. Volunteer fans did the same thing two years ago, when, at the time, No. 6 Tennessee defeated No. 3 Alabama.

The Commodores carried a 23-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.

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Vanderbilt added 17 points in the second half and held off a furious comeback attempt from No. 1 Alabama to secure the upset victory in Nashville. 

Jalen Milroe, among the top Heisman Trophy candidates after he delivered a dazzling performance last week in Tuscaloosa to hold off Georgia, finished Saturday’s loss with 312 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Sedrick Alexander ran for two touchdowns, Randon Fontenette scored on a pick-six and Diego Pavia outplayed Milroe.

“Games like this change your life,” Pavia said.

Prior to Saturday, Vanderbilt last defeated Alabama on Sept. 29, 1984.

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Saturday’s improbable win improved Vanderbilt’s record to 3-2, while Alabama lost for the first time. The Crimson Tide return home next week and will try to bounce back against South Carolina.

Doctors weigh in as bizarre social media trend sweeps across airplanes

A recent travel trend taking over social media shows airline passengers recreating their skin and hair care routines while in flight.

From serums to face masks to even red light therapy, social media influencers and even some dermatologists are taking time during their flight to make sure they are refreshed by the time they exit the plane.

This trend takes self-care to new heights, literally, but there is rising debate over the benefits of doing your skin care while in the middle of a flight.

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It can be as simple as a hydrating mist and sunscreen to red light gadgets with various serums and heartless curl tools.

Sarah Palmyra, beauty content creator in Los Angeles, told Fox News Digital that she’s an “anxious flyer,” so taking care of her skin on long flights helps her “unwind.”

“I’m not sure what they put in that airplane air but after going through a long customs line I feel like I look crusty and sleep deprived,” Palmyra said. “I noticed when I did my skincare routine on longer flights (anything over 4 hours) I could really avoid this and would land feeling like my skin looked refreshed and awake.”

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Palmyra said she first makes sure her skin is clean before using a serum and a moisturizer. Sometimes she uses sheet masks, and has received compliments from flight attendants who notice the glowing results, she said.

Ava Lee, CEO and founder of byAVA in New York, shares Korean beauty skin care secrets on social media and has spent many hours trying out viral skin care routines on flights.

“First, airplane cabins have low humidity and the recycled air can dehydrate the skin. That’s why I focus on hydration, hydration, hydration with my sheet masks and mists and sleeping masks,” Lee told Fox News Digital via email.

Lee uses an assortment of hydrating products before locking in the moisture with a sheet mask and sleeping in it, she said.

“I still hold this excitement so whenever I get on a plane, it’s a form of self care for me to indulge in the experience and make the most out of a somewhat stressful experience.”

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Lindsey Zubritskey, a doctor in Mississippi known as @dermguru on social media, has done skin care on her flights long before it went viral on social media.

“Flights, especially if they’re long, can cause issues with your skin. The air on a plane is significantly drier, and thus can lead to irritation, redness and dryness for your skin,” Zubritskey said.

AIRLINE PASSENGER GOES VIRAL FOR RECORDING NEIGHBOR’S MIDFLIGHT PHOTO ATTEMPTS 

“The UV exposure can be more intense at higher altitudes as well, which is more obviously seen in those who are in the airline profession (think flight attendants and pilots). Keeping my sunscreen with me at all times and reapplying is crucial to me, especially as someone who suffers with melasma.”

Zubritskey’s regular routine consists of moisturizer, lip balm and sunscreen reapplication.

When she hops on longer flights, she will also use a hydrating facial mask “to really try and counteract the dryness and keep my skin clean/prevent breakouts,” she said.

AIRLINE PASSENGER’S ‘AWKWARD’ SEATING ARRANGEMENT GOES VIRAL: ‘NEVER GOING TO RECOVER’

There is a debate surrounding in-flight skin care as some people fear it may not be hygenic to continuously touch your face while in a public space like an airplane.

The overwhelming amount of dryness in the cabin has also led some to believe that adding more hydration to the face will only result in the dry air pulling more moisture out of the skin.

“When it comes to skincare during flights, one key factor to consider is the airplane’s cabin environment. The humidity levels inside an aircraft can drop below 10%, which is significantly lower than the typical indoor environment (around 30-50%). This extremely low humidity can have a pronounced drying effect on the skin,” Meri-Liina Kainonen, a Copenhagen-based licensed cosmetologist, told Fox News Digital.

“While it might seem intuitive to apply skincare products mid-flight to counteract this, it can actually backfire. Most skincare products are formulated to work best in environments where there’s some level of humidity to help the skin absorb and retain moisture.”

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Kainonen recommends hydrating the skin with a nourishing mask and serum the night before the flight and finalizing the routine the day of the flight with a rich moisturizer and barrier cream.

“This will help your skin better withstand the drying effects of the cabin environment without needing further intervention while airborne,” she added.

Dr. Brendan Camp, a licensed dermatologist, said lengthy skin routines as seen on TikTok are not always necessary, but he does encourage travelers to focus on hydration and skin protection.

“Because higher altitudes expose your skin to higher levels of UV radiation, it is important to wear sunscreen and pull the window screen down if sitting next to it,” Camp, who is based in New York City, told Fox News Digital.

To fight against a dry environment like an airplane cabin, Camp recommends drinking lots of water and moisturizing the skin to fight against transepidermal water loss.

Zubritskey said she has seen what a bit of skin care while flying can do for the skin and recognizes the difference additional hydration can make.

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“I notice a huge difference in my skin when traveling. It tends to get drier, more irritated, and inflamed, which makes fine lines and discoloration more apparent. In-flight skincare routines help to mitigate these issues,” Zubritskey said.

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For Lee, the benefits of hydration takes out any negatives, she said.

“There are people who claim that it’s not hygienic to do in flight skincare but for me, the benefits of walking off a plane with hydrated, plump skin outweighs everything,” Lee said,

Team owner finally says who he talked to the night before he fired head coach

The New York Jets’ firing of head coach Robert Saleh came just one day after a meeting between owner Woody Johnson and quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the owner said on Tuesday.

Johnson said he met with Rodgers on Monday night, just prior to the firing, but that Rodgers had no input in the decision made Tuesday morning, the owner told reporters on a conference call later in the day. Johnson also said no one had any input on the Saleh firing except for him.

Rodgers has not spoken out about Saleh’s firing since it happened. Rodgers was originally scheduled to appear on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, but his appearance was pushed back to Wednesday. 

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The relationship between Saleh and Rodgers has been heavily dissected this season amid a series of questionable moments between the quarterback and coach. 

During a win against the New England Patriots in Week 3, Rodgers was seen rejecting a hug from Saleh. The coach told reporters after the game that the rejection was in response to staying focused on the game. 

“Part of the things that we’ve been talking about is to just get the defense a two-score lead,” Saleh told reporters at the time. “And it was a two-score lead, so I guess he just wanted to see something on defense. He just reminded me that we got a two-score lead.

FORMER JETS QUARTERBACK REVISITS AWKWARD HUG BETWEEN ROBERT SALEH, ARRON RODGERS AFTER FIRING

Rodgers said he didn’t know that Saleh was going for a hug at the time.

“He’s not a big hugger, usually. So, I didn’t know he was going for the hug. He likes to do the two-hand chest push as well. But he talks a lot about two-score leads. So I kind of just gave him a push and said ‘two-score lead.’ That’s what happened.” 

The quarterback later said that he and Saleh “have a great relationship” during an episode of McAfee’s show. 

“Rob and I have a great relationship,” Rodgers said during an appearance. “We have since day one when I got here. We have text message conversations, threads that we’re in, conversations about a number of different topics outside of football. We have a good friendship.” 

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Saleh was reportedly escorted out of the team building by security. The coach went 20-36 with New York and never won more than seven games a year while at the helm.

The Jets are off to a 2-3 start this year after losing to the Minnesota Vikings, 23-17, in London on Sunday and are among the most penalized teams in the league this season.