Texas sisters found with hands ‘locked together’ among the lost in devastating flooding
A beloved teacher and his wife. Young sisters staying with their grandparents. Multiple girls from a riverside summer camp and their father-figure camp director. These are some of the dozens of victims killed as gushing floodwaters swept across central Texas on Friday.
The flooding originated from the swift waters of the swollen Guadalupe River as a storm pounded the region with torrential rain.
The death toll has climbed to 82, with dozens more missing as of Monday morning.
As the floodwaters receded, more victims were being identified and their stories shared.
LIVE UPDATES: TEXAS FLOODING KILLS MORE THAN 80 AS SEARCH CONTINUES FOR DOZENS OF PEOPLE
Reece and Paula Zunker
Teacher and high school soccer coach Reece Zunker and his wife Paula were found dead following the devastating flash flooding in Kerr County.
“Reece was a passionate educator and a beloved soccer coach,” Kerrville Independent School District said in a statement. “His unwavering dedication to our students, athletes, and the Tivy community touched countless lives and will never be forgotten.
“Paula, a former Tivy teacher, also left a lasting mark on our community,” the statement continued. “The care and impact she shared with her students continue to be felt, even years later.”
The school district asked to keep the family “in your prayers,” as the couple’s two children, Lyle and Holland, were both still missing as of Sunday afternoon.
Harber Family
Blair and Brooke Harber, aged 13 and 11, were sleeping in a riverside cabin in Hunt, Texas, with their grandparents, Charlene and Mike Harber, when the torrent swept away their cabin.
The girls’ parents, R.J. and Annie, were staying five houses down from them and awoke at 3:30 a.m. to go check on the girls during the storm but found their house had already started to flood.
The family detailed their story in a GoFundMe post, sharing how the pounding rain masked the sound of the floodwaters in the home, which they said were “rising one foot per minute.”
R.J. and Annie broke a window to escape the flooded home and borrowed a kayak from a neighbor to try to reach their children.
NEW JERSEY COAST GUARD SWIMMER RESCUES NEARLY 200 PEOPLE IN DEADLY TEXAS FLASH FLOODS
“But the water had risen too high to reach the neighbor’s house that my parents and nieces and their 2 dogs were at,” the post read, detailing how the waters were rough and had white caps.
The bodies of Blair and Brooke were found 15 miles away in Kerrville.
“When they were found their hands were locked together,” the family said.
The sisters were both students at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas.
Charlene and Mike had yet to be found at the time of the fundraising post.
Tanya Burwick
The last time Tanya Burwick’s family heard from her was a frantic phone call about the floodwaters as she headed to work at a Walmart early Friday in the San Angelo area. When Burwick didn’t show up for work, her employer filed a missing persons report and sent a colleague to look for her.
Police investigating the 62-year-old’s disappearance found Burwick’s unoccupied SUV fully submerged later that day. Her body was found the next morning blocks from the vehicle.
“She lit up the room and had a laugh that made other people laugh,” Lindsey Burwick told The Associated Press, adding that her mother was a beloved parent, grandparent and colleague to many.
Jane Ragsdale
Jane Ragsdale, 68, devoted her life to the Heart O’the Hills Camp, a summer camp for girls in Texas Hill Country. She was a camper and counselor there herself in the 1970s before becoming a co-owner. By the 1980s, she was director of the camp in Hunt.
“She was the heart of The Heart,” the camp said in a statement. “She was our guiding light, our example, and our safe place. She had the rare gift of making every person feel seen, loved, and important.”
Dick Eastland
Dick Eastland was the director and co-owner of Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp on the banks of the Guadalupe River.
Those who knew Eastland said he made the ultimate sacrifice trying to save his campers from the flood.
“Camp Mystic’s Dick Eastland no doubt gave his life attempting to save his campers,” Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, wrote on X. “For decades he and his wife Tweety poured his life into loving and developing girls and women of character. Thank you Mr. Eastland. We love you and miss you.”
Paige Sumner, a former camper and friend of Eastland, wrote in the Kerrville Daily Times: “It doesn’t surprise me at all that his last act of kindness and sacrifice was working to save the lives of campers. He had already saved so many lives with the gift of Camp Mystic.”
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Katharine Somerville, a camp counselor at Camp Mystic’s Cypress Lake location, told “Fox News Live” on Sunday that the camp director was among the “most selfless men in the whole world” and “a father figure, a comforting force in the uncertainty of everything.”
Lila Bonner and Eloise Peck
Lila Bonner and Eloise Peck were best friends and cabinmates at Camp Mystic.
The girls were from Highland Park, a city near Dallas. They had both recently finished second grade at Bradfield Elementary.
Janie Hunt
Janie Hunt was one of the Camp Mystic campers who died in the devastating floods over the weekend. She was just 9 years old.
Janie was a family member of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt. Clark’s wife, Tavia, said the family was devastated in an Instagram post.
“Our hearts are broken by the devastation from the floods in Wimberley and the tragic loss of so many lives – including a precious little Hunt cousin, along with several friend’s little girls,” Tavia Hunt wrote.
Anna Margaret Bellows
Anna Margaret Bellows, an 8-year-old from Houston, was also attending Camp Mystic.
Her parents confirmed to Fox News that she died in the flood.
Renee Smajstrla
Renee Smajstrla, an 8-year-old from Ingram, Texas, was another of the Camp Mystic girls confirmed to have died.
“Renee has been found and while not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly,” Renee’s uncle, Shawn Salta, told Fox News in a statement. “We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic. Please continue to pray for the other families in Kerrville. “
Linnie Anne McCown
Linnie Anne McCown, an 8-year-old from Austin, was confirmed to have died in the flood at Camp Mystic.
Her father Michael told Fox News, “She loved dance, gymnastics and was the sweetest girl to everyone she met.”
Sarah Marsh
Sarah Marsh, an 8-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was spending the summer away from home at Camp Mystic.
Marsh was a student at Cherokee Bend Elementary in suburban Birmingham.
“Our family is completely devastated by the loss of Sarah and her dear friends at Camp Mystic,” the Marsh family said in a statement to Fox News. “This is a tragedy that no parent can prepare for and it will never be right this side of Heaven.
“While we are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received, we request privacy as we navigate the unimaginable steps ahead,” the family continued. “We continue to keep the fellow campers, staff, and families in our prayers – for their rescue and return home.”
Mary Kathryn Jacobe
Mary Kathryn Jacobe, 8, was also killed in the flood at Camp Mystic, FOX26 Houston reported.
Mary’s family told the outlet that the girl was “fun, compassionate and kind.”
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“We will miss her dearly,” the family said.
Elon Musk takes bold Second Amendment stance with new political party
Billionaire business tycoon turned political power player Elon Musk indicated in posts on X that the America Party will stake out pro-Second Amendment, pro-bitcoin positions.
“The Second Amendment is sacred,” Musk declared in a post on X in response to a post that suggested firearm owners would like to know about the party’s position on guns.
Musk also responded to a question about whether the party will “embrace Bitcoin.”
“Fiat is hopeless, so yes,” he wrote.
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The party will also stand for free speech and reduced regulations, Musk has indicated.
“Is this the America Party platform?” someone asked in a post on X, writing out a list that included the following: “reduce debt, responsible spending only,” “modernize military with ai/robotics,” “pro tech, accelerate to win in ai,” “less regulation across board but especially in energy,” “free speech,” “pro natalist,” and “centrist policies everywhere else.”
“Yeah!” Musk replied.
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While the American political landscape is dominated by the two major political parties, Musk is looking to shake things up with the America Party.
“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom,” Musk declared in part of a post on X.
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Musk noted in another post, “Backing a candidate for president is not out of the question, but the focus for the next 12 months is on the House and the Senate.”
Gunman in tactical gear opens fire on Border Patrol agents at Texas facility
An active shooter armed with tactical gear and a rifle opened fire upon Border Patrol agents as they arrived at a Border Patrol annex facility in McAllen, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley on Monday.
Agents and local police returned fire and killed the gunman. No federal agents were hit, but one McAllen police officer was struck. Law enforcement sources say the officer is in stable condition.
“This morning an individual opened fired at the entrance of the United States Border Patrol sector annex in McAllen, Texas. Both Border Patrol agents and local police helped neutralize the shooter,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to Fox News. “This is an ongoing investigation led by the FBI. More information will be shared as it becomes available.”
Law enforcement believes the attack was a purposeful ambush targeting Border Patrol officials. Local police say they will hold a news conference on the attack later Monday.
TEXAS POLICE OFFICER SHOT NEAR ICE DETENTION CENTER AS TRUMP OFFICIALS PROMISE ZERO TOLERANCE
The incident comes just days after another Texas police officer was shot Friday night near U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Prairieland Detention Facility, authorities said.
“We are closely monitoring the attacks on DHS detention facilities in Prairieland, TX, and Portland, OR, and are coordinating with the [US Attorney offices] and our law enforcement partners,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on X.
“The Department [of Justice] has zero tolerance for assaults on federal officers or property and will bring the full weight of the law against those responsible,” he added.
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Several suspects were arrested after an officer with the Alvarado Police Department was shot at around 11 p.m. while responding to reports of a suspicious person, FOX Dallas reported.
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When the officer tried making contact with the person, shots were fired and the officer was struck in the neck.
The officer was flown to a Fort Worth hospital for treatment and was later released.
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Several armed suspects fled but were arrested with the help of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and other authorities, the news station reported.
Latino district flips to Trump as Democrats confess ‘massive shift’ on border policy
Some leading Democrats are acknowledging that their party has failed when it comes to border security and messaging, according to a new report on Sunday from the New York Times.
“When you have the most Latino district in the country outside of Puerto Rico vote for Trump, that should be a wake-up call for the Democratic Party,” said Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas.
The report highlighted that Gonzalez witnessed President Donald Trump “win every county in his district along the border with Mexico.” Gonzalez’s 34th district in Texas has swung dramatically from voting heavily Democratic in recent presidential elections to going in favor of Trump in 2024.
“This is a Democratic district that’s been blue for over a century,” Gonzalez told the Times.
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Trump’s 2024 victory and subsequent crackdown on illegal immigration has alarmed his critics while delivering on a clear pledge during his successful campaign, and Democrats are left wondering how they got here.
The piece opened by highlighting a viral moment from a 2020 Democratic primary debate, when nearly every candidate on the stage raised their hand in support of decriminalizing illegal border crossings.
Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said the Democratic Party “got led astray by the 2016 and the 2020 elections, and we just never moved back.”
“We looked feckless, we weren’t decisive, we weren’t listening to voters, and the voters decided that we weren’t in the right when it comes to what was happening with the border,” Gallego told the Times.
In May, Gallego released a border security plan that would speed up asylum seekers’ claims and make other countries do their “fair share” in receiving asylum seekers, as well as take action against cartel violence.
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The New York Times reported that various Democrats “are pushing for a course correction they see as overdue,” noting a new proposal from the Democratic policy shop and left-wing think tank Center for American Progress. The organization is calling for expanding legal immigration but also for ramping up border security and clamping down on abuse of the nation’s asylum system, the latter two of which are longtime Republican priorities.
Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, admitted to the Times that Democrats will have to adopt some level of border security policy.
“I’m happy to argue with Stephen Miller or anyone else about why they are wrong,” Tanden told the New York Times. “But the way we’re going to be able to do that is to also honestly assess that the border has been too insecure, that it allowed too many people to come through and that we need to fix that.”
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Cecilia Muñoz, former director of the Domestic Policy Council under then-President Barack Obama said, “We, and I include myself in this, created a vacuum on this issue that we allowed the current president to fill.”
Muñoz added that “the country is now living with the results. And the results are appalling.”
The Times reported that Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, “first realized Democrats were in trouble in December 2022,” when illegal immigrants flooded into El Paso.
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“Living through what El Paso lived through, feeling how unsustainable all of this was, and frankly how challenging this was, I knew this would cause a massive shift in the perspective of Americans about immigration,” Escobar said. “There was a failure on the part of the Democratic Party altogether during the last administration in adequately recognizing what was happening.”
DHS to end temporary protected status for Honduran and Nicaraguan migrants
The Department of Homeland Security is moving to end temporary protected status (TPS) for Honduran and Nicaraguan migrants living in the U.S. today as the Trump administration continues to ramp up deportations across the country.
The decision to end TPS for the two nations comes weeks after DHS terminated the same status for Haiti and months after terminating TPS for Venezuelans. A federal judge has since blocked that termination amid an ongoing legal battle.
“Temporary Protected Status was designed to be just that—temporary,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News Digital. “It is clear that the Government of Honduras has taken all of the necessary steps to overcome the impacts of Hurricane Mitch, almost 27 years ago.”
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“Honduran citizens can safely return home, and DHS is here to help facilitate their voluntary return,” Noem said. “Honduras has been a wonderful partner of the Trump Administration, helping us deliver on key promises to the American people. We look forward to continuing our work with them.”
A source at DHS told Fox News Digital that revoking TPS will affect roughly 76,000 migrants currently living in the U.S., with 54,000 from Honduras and 22,000 from Nicaragua.
“The impacts of a natural disaster impacting Nicaragua in 1999 no longer exist,” a DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “The environmental situation has improved enough that it is safe enough for Nicaraguan citizens to return home. This decision restores integrity in our immigration system and ensures that TPS remains temporary.”
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In May, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Trump administration in a ruling that lifted a San Francisco District Court Judge’s injunction that temporarily blocked the termination of TPS for Venezuelans, paving the way for the administration to legally revoke TPS for subsequent nations.
DHS sources have informed Fox that Nicaraguans and Hondurans in the U.S. with TPS are being encouraged to use the CBP One app to facilitate a secure departure, including a complimentary plane ticket and a $1,000 exit bonus.
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Created by Congress through the Immigration Act of 1990, TPS allows individuals from countries affected by natural disasters, war, or other dangerous, unusual circumstances to seek refuge in the U.S. This program can be renewed in 18-month increments.
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Campers report possible sighting of triple murder suspect father in remote forest
The manhunt for the Washington father accused of killing his three daughters before disappearing into the remote wilderness has intensified after campers in nearby Idaho reported a potential sighting over the holiday weekend.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service Greater Idaho Task Force, a family reported seeing a man resembling 33-year-old Travis Decker while camping in the Bear Creek area of Sawtooth National Forest on July 5, Fox 13 reported.
The family described the man as wearing a black mesh cap, a cream-colored shirt, black shorts, black gauged earrings and standing at 5’8″ to 5’10″ tall, according to the outlet.
The individual was reportedly carrying a black Jansport backpack and had a long ponytail and overgrown facial hair. He was wearing a black watch and either Vans or Converse low-top shoes.
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The sighting comes as authorities enter the sixth week of a sprawling manhunt for Decker after the bodies of his three daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, were found at Rock Island Campground on June 2. The girls’ mother had reported them missing three days earlier after they did not return home following a court-mandated custody visit with their father.
The three girls’ bodies were found with plastic bags over their heads and their hands bound within feet of Decker’s abandoned pickup truck, according to police.
Authorities from numerous local, state and federal agencies – including the U.S. Marshals Service and Border Patrol’s Tactical Unit – immediately began searching for Decker, a trained military survivalist and former member of the U.S. Army, by land and air.
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The U.S. Marshals Service did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
One month into the search, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) confirmed that authorities had deployed cadaver dogs in the search for Decker.
“Multiple canines with different disciplines are being utilized, and have been being utilized, throughout the search,” a CCSO spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “This includes human remains detection dogs.”
Authorities previously believed Decker may have perished in the wilderness, with the Kittias County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) revealing “there is no certain evidence that Decker remains alive or in this area,” before insisting officers are continuing to search for the wanted father.
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Last week, CCSO confirmed that traces of blood found on the tailgate of Decker’s truck belong to the missing father, ultimately ruling out the possibility of additional suspects in the killings.
“With this evidence, along with the other evidentiary items found at the scene, we do not have any reason to believe there are any other suspects,” the department said in a statement.
At the time of the alleged killings, Decker was homeless and living between motels and local campgrounds while suffering from mental health issues, according to court documents.
ALLEGED KILLER DAD COULD MAKE ‘ONE MISTAKE’ THAT ENDS MANHUNT, SHERIFF SAYS
The girls’ mother, Whitney Decker, spoke publicly about the loss of her children last month.
“I truly hope that the legacy of the girls’ lives on in everyone’s heart forever,” she said at a June 20 memorial service, according to Fox 13 Seattle. “They were incredible.”
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Authorities warn that Decker should be considered armed and dangerous but insist they have no reason to believe he is a threat to public safety. He is charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and kidnapping.
The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $20,000 reward for any information leading to Decker’s arrest.
‘Perfectly round, shiny sphere’ spotted near flight as UFO sightings pile up in state
New York state has seen 66 reported Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings during the first half of 2025, according to a report from the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC).
With 66 distinct incidents logged between January and late June, the state has had reports of an array of mysterious aerial objects, ranging from glowing orbs and silent triangles to fast-moving disks and shape-shifting lights.
The incidents, according to NUFORC, span rural hamlets, suburban skies and the bustling airspace of the Big Apple.
The NUFORC had 65 reported UFO sightings in New York in the first half of 2024.
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The phenomenon appears to be statewide, with hot spots in urban centers like New York City as well as multiple reports from smaller towns such as Chester, Ridge and Evans Mills.
Evans Mills, which is located near a military base, saw repeated orb sightings in March, prompting witness speculation about possible connections to defense activities.
The most common shapes were orbs, spheres and triangles, frequently observed performing advanced maneuvers.
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Several reports detailed sharp right-angle turns, sudden accelerations and zigzagging flight paths.
One particularly vivid sighting, according to NUFORC, took place in Chester on March 25, 2025, when someone walking their dog around 6 p.m. reported seeing two extremely fast white orbs flying in close formation.
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Initially, the witness believed the objects to be birds, but their unusual speed and synchronized, wavering flight pattern stood out. Midway through their trajectory across the sky, the objects executed a sharp, nearly 90-degree turn to the northwest without any deceleration, the witness claimed.
At that moment, they transformed into dark, aerodynamic ovals that nearly disappeared into the night sky, according to the report. The witness described the orbs as momentarily pitch black.
A handful of these sightings also included photographic or video evidence, although NUFORC has not released digital evidence.
Other entries speculated about plausible explanations, like drones, aircraft, fireworks and even the International Space Station. The bulk of reports from NUFORC remain open and unexplained.
April through June represented a peak in activity, aligning with warmer months that typically encourage outdoor observations.
Another remarkable incident reportedly occurred on June 24, 2025, during a commercial flight approaching New York City.
A passenger seated in 1A reported to NUFORC that they witnessed a metallic ball flying in the opposite direction, roughly 100 to 200 feet below the aircraft.
The witness, arriving from Toronto, described the object as a perfectly round, shiny sphere that caught his eye due to its metallic gleam.
The witness noted that the object did not resemble a balloon or stationary object, saying it moved steadily away from the aircraft.
The passenger immediately alerted the pilots upon landing, though neither reported seeing the object. Despite this, the observer remained convinced of the object’s extraordinary nature.
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NUFORC was founded in 1974 by UFO investigator Robert J. Gribble and aims to document and investigate unexplained sightings across the world.
“The Center’s primary function over the past five decades has been to receive, record, and to the greatest degree possible, corroborate and document reports from individuals who have been witness to unusual, possibly UFO-related events,” the website says.
Morning workouts can boost weight loss if one key habit is followed, experts say
Exercising first thing in the morning can be beneficial for mental and physical health.
In terms of weight loss, previous research suggests that early morning may be the best time to exercise, according to the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
The research, published in the journal Obesity, recorded the activity levels of 5,285 participants, taking into consideration the time of day they exercised.
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Those who consistently engaged in morning activity, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., were found to have a lower risk of obesity than those who were most active in the midday or evening.
The morning exercisers also had a lower average BMI (body mass index) and waist size.
Certified fitness trainer Alissa Mosca with Planet Fitness in New York agreed that morning workouts are a “great way” to start the day.
“When the day begins with a morning workout routine, the body releases multiple different chemicals, which aid in our overall functionality,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“This includes chemicals like endorphins and dopamine, which are the chemicals that make us feel good and help us move forward with positive energy. Additionally, we wake up our muscles, stimulate the brain and prepare to take on the day.”
The sleep-exercise balance
Sleep and wellness expert Todd Anderson, co-founder of Dream Performance & Recovery in Nashville, Tennessee, emphasized the importance of striking a healthy balance between exercise and rest.
22The first couple hours of exercise in a week are “insanely impactful,” Anderson said — and it doesn’t have to be strenuous activity.
“Our bodies are meant to move,” he said. “Getting two hours of movement or exercise in a week should be very high on the priority list.”
While it might seem that morning exercise is cutting into sleep time, Anderson pointed out that regular exercise could actually result in a higher quality of slumber.
“The sleep you’re getting will be more impactful,” he said.
“Getting two hours of movement or exercise in a week should be very high on the priority list.”
But for people who hit the gym daily and don’t get sufficient shuteye, Anderson said he considers it a “no-brainer” to opt for adequate sleep over an early-morning workout.
“When it comes down to body composition and weight loss or just fitness in general, you’ll probably have a better outcome from that hour of sleep when you’re already at a pretty decent level of activity,” he said.
“When you sleep, it allows you to respond effectively to the stress from the workouts.”
Mosca agreed that proper rest and recovery requires seven to eight hours of sleep, which allows the muscles to have the greatest amount of repair and growth.
“If someone is going to bed at 12 a.m. to 1 a.m. nightly and then trying to wake up for a 6 a.m. workout, the progress will stall and the effects of the hard work that is put in will take that much longer to come to light,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“Getting on a regular sleep schedule, unwinding earlier, putting the electronics down and focusing on calming the mind will allow someone to recover faster, have more energy in the morning, and release those happy brain chemicals that make us feel accomplished.”
The trainer stressed that morning workouts are not for everyone, and there are certain factors that can prevent success.
For those considering a morning workout, Mosca recommends that they ask themselves the following questions.
“Did I get enough sleep the night before?”
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“How was my nutritional intake?”
“Am I overly stressed?”
“Do I keep hitting snooze when the alarm goes off?”
“If we find that the answers to those questions [aren’t] on the positive side, consider an afternoon mini-workout: 15 to 20 minutes after work or on break, to get the muscles moving and stimulated,” Mosca suggested as an alternative.
“The body adjusts the more that it moves and the more it is in a consistent routine. Taking the right steps to change the routine is crucial, so we don’t overload the body all at once.”
Mosca reiterated that sleep and recovery play a “crucial role” in fitness journey success.
“If we shorten the timeframe for our bodies to recover, they will constantly be trying to play catch-up, but never reaching that finish line,” she said. “We want to set clear goals and reasonable expectations.”
Rapper buys horse-racing team — and moves it across country to his hometown
The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) is coming to one of the best sports cities in the United States.
Rappy Nelly has purchased the Seattle team and will move it to his native St. Louis, where it will aptly be called the Nellies.
“I’m excited to be part of bringing a new professional sports team to the city that means so much to me…” Nelly said in a statement to FOX Business. “I can’t wait to hit the track and celebrate with our incredible St. Louis fans.”
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The horses will run at Fairmount Park in nearby Collinsville, Illinois, just 15 minutes across state lines – the historic racetrack is undergoing a $100 million renovation that NTL CEO Randall Lane said is sure to bring fans inside.
“You look at the Cardinals, St. Louis supports its teams and falls in love with its teams. We’ve talked to the mayor’s office about this and coordinated there. It’s a city that loves sports, that wants to support its teams, and Fairmount Park is 100 years old. It’s really historical, old track that they’re putting $100 million,” Lane said in a recent interview with FOX Business.
“We like going where there’s investment. We like going where there’s a century-old tradition of horse racing. But we wouldn’t have done this without Nelly spearheading it, because having local ownership, having somebody that’s so synonymous with the city to the point of even the name is so fun. I mean, the St. Louis Nellies. Almost all of our teams have horse-related names, but it’s both smart and speaks to the fact that we’re tyring to create a team that speaks to St. Louis itself.”
The NTL is backed by several high-profile athletes and celebrities, including Lamar Jackson, Julius “Dr. J.” Erving and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
“National Thoroughbred League is fun in that it’s taking a team sport perspective into a sport everyone already knows. It’s a glamorous sport, it’s a sport of kings. So it’s a sexy investment, and it’s a sexy league,” Lane said. “So it kind of appeals to people who are interested. But here, you’re playing in a sport that’s a $15 billion sport. They know what managing a team means, and these professional athletes accumulate fast wealth. Celebrities, movie stars, the idea of owning appeals to a lot of these folks who made a lot of money from other people paying them, and now, they want to be the owners.
“Professional athletes help make us better, because they understand what attracts crowds, what makes great competition. Music performers make us better since music has always been a part of NTL. They know what attracts crowds. These investors are more than just shiny names – they’re people who make us better… If you think about horse racing, fashion is part of horse racing, horse racing weekends have liquor throughout them. They have fashion throughout them, they have music throughout them. So he checks all the boxes in terms of making us better.”
To celebrate the move, Nelly will serve as host of the NTL’s Nelly Cup at the track on July 19 with a day full of racing, music by A Tribe Called Quest’s Jarobi White, and a Nelly-inspired fashion show.
The NTL has been breaking plenty of its own gate and betting records, and Lane thinks Nelly’s involvement will keep those patterns going.
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“What we want to do is be kind of an entryway for new fans to come in. We think we have a multi-hundred million, billion-dollar opportunity here,” Lane said. “We don’t have to invent a billion-dollar sport – we just have to be a force within that sport to create new excitement, more fans, which obviously benefits the NTL, but it benefits all of thoroughbred racing.
“Because if we can bring new fans in, bring casual fans in more frequently, have people start following thoroughbred racing more actively, we’re doing something that’s great for the sport, while hopefully creating something that’s very valuable for our investors and something that’s super fun and valuable for our fans.”