NYC demands multiple IDs from emergency snow shovelers but not voters

New York City on Saturday put out a call for emergency snow shovelers ahead of a powerful nor’easter bomb cyclone, requiring workers to submit multiple forms of identification — contrasting the city’s election policy for most voters.

For the first time in nearly a decade, a blizzard warning was issued for New York City, with expected snowfall totaling 10 to 18 inches and wind gusts up to 55 mph.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency for New York City, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced outreach teams have been mobilized.

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) announced Saturday it is recruiting temporary, per diem shovelers to remove snow and ice from public areas, including bus stops, crosswalks, fire hydrants and step streets.

SHOVELING SNOW COULD POSE DANGEROUS HEALTH RISK FOR ONE GROUP, EXPERTS WARN

While pay is generous, starting at $19.14 per hour and increasing to $28.71 per hour after the first 40 hours worked in a week, workers must meet a number of requirements to be eligible.

Shovelers must be at least 18 years old, able to perform heavy physical labor and eligible to work in the U.S., according to the department.

They must also bring two small 1.5-inch square photos, two original forms of ID and copies, along with a Social Security card for registration, officials said.

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Unlike the strict emergency worker guidelines, the New York City Board of Elections does not require most registered voters to bring an ID.

First-time voters are only required to bring one of three documents including: driver’s license number, non-driver ID number or the last four digits of a Social Security number.

Those who did not provide ID when registering to vote are also able to vote by affidavit ballot.

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The DSNY did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Trump dumps GOP lawmaker after trade clash, backs primary challenger

President Donald Trump on Saturday withdrew his endorsement of Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Colo., accusing the congressman of lacking support for his tariff policies after Hurd publicly touted Congress’ constitutional authority over trade decisions.

“Based on a lack of support, in particular for the unbelievably successful TARIFFS imposed on Foreign Countries and Companies which has made America Richer, Stronger, Bigger, and Better than ever before, I am hereby WITHDRAWING my Endorsement of RINO Congressman Jeff Hurd, of Colorado’s 3rd District, and fully Endorsing Highly Respected Patriot, Hope Scheppelman, to take his place in Congress,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The move came one day after Hurd cited the Constitution’s separation of powers following a Supreme Court ruling Friday limiting the president’s tariff authority, and hours after Trump announced he would raise the global tariff rate to 10% and then 15% on Saturday.

The endorsement reversal marks a rare public break between Trump and a Republican incumbent.

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“The Supreme Court has clarified the scope of IEEPA, and that clarification matters,” Hurd posted Friday on X. “Article I assigns Congress the authority to regulate commerce with foreign nations and to impose tariffs. Major trade decisions should rest on clear statutory authority, not expansive emergency interpretations.”

Hurd wrote that while he shares Trump’s broader trade goals, “Strong trade enforcement must be grounded in durable legal footing.”

“If tariffs are necessary, Congress should debate them and vote on them directly. That is how our constitutional system is designed to function,” Hurd said.

TRUMP GIVES GRUDGING PRAISE TO LIBERAL TRIO WHO HELPED SINK HIS TARIFFS

In his Truth Social post announcing the endorsement withdrawal, Trump wrote that Hurd “is one of a small number of Legislators who have let me and our Country down.”

“He is more interested in protecting Foreign Countries that have been ripping us off for decades than he is the United States of America,” Trump added.

Trump also stressed pulling endorsements is uncommon and “difficult” for him:

TRUMP REVEALS HIS ‘NEW HERO’ SUPREME COURT JUSTICE AFTER TARIFFS RULING

“Taking back an Endorsement is a difficult decision for me. I have only done it once before, with a former Congressman named Mo Brooks, from Alabama… These are the decisions that must be made, however, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Earlier Saturday, Trump announced he was raising the global tariff rate from 10% to 15% following a 6-3 Supreme Court decision blocking his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

“Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday … I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff … to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level,” Trump wrote.

The order was issued under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.

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Trump called the ruling “deeply disappointing,” saying he was “ashamed” of certain members of the court.

Trump praised Hope Scheppelman as a “distinguished Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, and a brave U.S. Navy Veteran, who knows the America First Policies required…” and concluded, “unlike RINO Jeff Hurd, HOPE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” 

Fox News Digital reached out to Rep. Hurd’s office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Outraged cruise passengers blast company’s ‘idiotic’ new dress code crackdown

Some Norwegian Cruise Line passengers are blasting the company’s new dining dress code policy as “idiotic.”

T-shirts and shorts are the norm for many cruise lovers — but anyone who wants to dine at Norwegian Cruise’s top-tier restaurants may soon be swapping comfy clothes for designer duds.

Palomar, Ocean Blue, Onda, Cagney’s, Le Bistro and Haven restaurants will no longer allow shorts or flip-flops, according to the cruise line’s website.

POPULAR CRUISE COMPANY ABRUPTLY SHUTS DOWN, DISRUPTING UPCOMING VACATIONS

Tank tops, hoodies, robes, shorts, jeans with holes or tears, and caps/hats “may not be permitted” at various dining locations as well, the company said.

Attire with offensive language or images has been ruled out too, according to the Norwegian Cruise Line’s “frequently asked questions” page.

“Do not like the new rules for some of the restaurant venues. I am on VACATION, in a warm-weather climate, wearing a [collared] shirt and nice SHORTS,” one traveler wrote in response to one of the company’s Facebook posts.

“Been on 15 cruises with Norwegian, loved the relaxed style,” the traveler continued. 

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“Tell the fuddy daddies where to go,” the person added about the new policy — dubbing it “idiotic.”

In response to that particular poster on Facebook, the company replied, “Hi, we appreciate your feedback as it is valuable to us. If there is anything else we can do to assist you, please don’t hesitate to call us directly.”

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The beloved cruise line, which predicted it would have 3 million passengers across 34 ships in 2025, is known for its laid-back vibe. 

So the new dress code for certain restaurants came as a shock to some.

Another Facebook commenter griped, “Agreed! Nice shorts [and a] nice collared shirt should be allowed when on a Caribbean or other warm-weather cruise!”

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The person added, “Who wants to pack pants for only a couple [of nights] for just dinner?!” 

One man disagreed, saying, “Bring back class to sailing.”

Yet another traveler wrote, “Not sure the new no shorts rule is really what your customers are looking for. The freestyle thing has always been a big draw for NCL and I think this change is rather [tone-deaf].”

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But one man disagreed, saying, “Bring back class to sailing. For the nicer restaurants, not too much to ask to require slacks and a nice shirt.”

He also said, “No one wants to see hairy legs and smelly, fungus-laden [toenails] while dining.”

Another person chimed in, “Bravo on the new dress codes for restaurants!”

Fox News Digital reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line for comment.

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The company points out on its website that it’s “been the premier innovator in the cruise line industry for over 58 years. Most notably, we revolutionized the industry by offering guests the opportunity to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes.”

It also says, “Our award-winning fleet of 20 contemporary ships sail to nearly 350 of the world’s most desirable destinations.”

Headquartered in Miami, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. is a leading global cruise company operating Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 

Lawyer speaks out after client detained, released in Nancy Guthrie case

TUCSON, Ariz. — Two ex-cons from Tucson are facing intense online scrutiny in the Nancy Guthrie case despite authorities accusing neither of involvement — even after one was detained for hours in a SWAT raid and released without charges.

They are Luke Daley, 36, and Kayla Day, 32. Neither has been accused of playing a role in Guthrie’s disappearance.

Day was already in jail at the Pima County Adult Detention Complex during the operation targeting Daley last week, for allegedly skipping court dates on unrelated charges. The raid went on for hours on Feb. 13, with dozens of law enforcement vehicles seen at a home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood and more surrounding a Range Rover at a nearby Culver’s restaurant.

MULTIPLE SUSPECTS ARE POSSIBLE IN NANCY GUTHRIE ABDUCTION

Court documents obtained by Fox News Digital detail the May 2025 arrests of both of them in a Walmart parking lot.

Daley was arrested by the Marana Police Department in Pima County on May 15, 2025, accused of selling drugs, possessing paraphernalia and a gun despite a prior felony conviction, according to the filings.

Officers allegedly witnessed “indicators of illegal drug transactions” centered on a vehicle he was driving.

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Although Daley’s complaint does not identify the passenger, Day was also arrested on May 15 at the same Walmart location, and her complaint states she was with a male driver. She also faces drugs and weapons charges in connection with the incident.

Police approached the vehicle, where they saw a used syringe with heroin-like residue, according to a probable cause affidavit. Daley and the passenger were subsequently detained. 

Read the court documents:

A search of the vehicle found heroin paraphernalia, a 9mm pistol with a loaded magazine, about a thousand opioid pills, suboxone strips and $1,366 in cash, police alleged. 

Daley appeared in court on Jan. 12, and is currently out of custody. His jury trial was rescheduled from Feb. 24 to May 19, according to court documents.

SEARCHES FOUND FOR NANCY GUTHRIE’S ADDRESS AND DAUGHTER’S SALARY BEFORE ‘TODAY’ HOST’S MOTHER VANISHED

He was the target of a search warrant on Feb. 13, in which Pima County deputies and the FBI detained people for hours, including Daley and his mother. They were released without charges. None have been accused of playing a role in Guthrie’s suspected abduction. 

A Range Rover was towed during the incident, but it was not immediately clear whether it belonged to him. A neighbor told Fox News Digital earlier this week that Daley’s totaled Dodge Charger had been towed by his insurance provider after the raid due to an unrelated crash.

The neighbor added that Daley was “pissed” about the SWAT raid, and his mother was upset because she doesn’t know what’s going on — adding that “everyone wants Nancy Guthrie found.”

NANCY GUTHRIE DISAPPEARANCE: SHERIFF PLEADS WITH SUSPECT TO ‘JUST LET HER GO,’ INSISTS CASE NOT COLD

The Pima County Sheriff declined to comment regarding Friday’s activity and whether any vehicles towed so far in the case had been returned to their owners. 

The Range Rover, which had been searched at the scene and sealed with evidence tape before the tow, was not visible from the perimeter of the sheriff’s impound lot when visited by Fox News Digital Tuesday. 

“We have no additional comments at this time besides the information released in our updates,” a public information officer told Fox News Digital.

Additional court documents reveal Day was also arrested on March 19, 2025, on four more drug-related charges.

Authorities allegedly found Day passed out in the driver’s seat. They saw in “plain view” the presence of drug paraphernalia, according to the complaint. She was asked to step out of the vehicle and allegedly responded with slurred speech and confusion. 

She was arrested, and arresting officers said they had found opioid pills, a white crystalline substance, a black tar substance and evidence of heroin use.

A warrant was issued for Day’s arrest in January, accusing her of missing court dates in her pending cases.

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She is currently being held without bail, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, but she refused transport to her Feb. 18, court date. 

It was rescheduled to Feb. 27, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department was ordered to transport Day “by any means necessary,” according to court documents.

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Daley’s lawyer, Chris Scileppi, and Day’s lawyer, Nicholas Brereton, both declined to comment when contacted by Fox News Digital.

In a statement to 12 News, a local outlet, Scileppi disavowed any connection to the Guthrie case.

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“Scileppi Law can confirm that Luke Daley was the subject of two search warrants issued and served on February 13, 2026,” he said. “Mr. Daley and his mother were both detained by law enforcement while the search warrants were being executed.

Both were released without charges, he said.

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“Mr. Daley has no link whatsoever to Nancy Guthrie and has no information related to her kidnapping,” Scileppi added. “Like the entire Tucson community, both Mr. Daley and his mother are hopeful that Nancy will be returned to her family unharmed.”

A masked suspect in Guthrie’s apparent abduction has been described as standing between 5 feet, 9 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with an average build. He was carrying a black Ozark Trail brand backpack and what appears on video to be a holstered pistol.

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She is believed to have been abducted from her home in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills around 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 1 — about two miles from Daley’s home.

Authorities have said that DNA recovered from a glove in the area was not a match for the FBI’s CODIS database — suggesting it does not belong to someone with a criminal history like Daley or Day.

Pop icon ditches ‘cool’ image for faith as fans cry ‘canceled’ over religious turn

Gwen Stefani is facing both backlash and praise after speaking out on faith.

As the pop icon promotes a 40-day Lent challenge on the prayer and meditation app Hallow, she’s facing accusations of undergoing a “MAGA makeover.”

“Hey everyone, I just got my ashes, and I’m ready for Lent. This year, I’ll be doing Hallow’s 40-day Lent Prayer Challenge. It’s going to be incredible. Check it out. God bless,” Stefani says in the ad, which has been widely shared on social media.

GWEN STEFANI ‘STEPPING BOLDLY INTO HER FAITH,’ SPARKING STRONG REACTIONS FROM FANS: EXPERT

In another video she posted on Instagram on Ash Wednesday, the 55-year-old singer expressed her excitement for Lent and invited her 17.7 million followers to join her in the 40-day prayer challenge with Hallow. 

Stefani’s boldness in stepping forward with her faith — and her decision to work with Hallow — has not come without controversy.

Stefani’s loyal fans appear divided on social media. Some have been cheering her on, but others are more critical, accusing her of abandoning her former “cool” image and diving headfirst into religious conservatism by partnering with the app, which has garnered criticism for its anti-abortion stance and its ties to conservative figures like Vice President JD Vance, who is an investor.

One critic wrote on X, “How she went from being the coolest woman ever to this MAGA religious b—- is beyond me. Shame on her.”

GWEN STEFANI SAYS SHE’S TURNED TO FAITH ‘RIGHT AWAY’ DURING TOUGH TIMES: ‘IT’S A JOURNEY’

Another lamented, “Gwen Stefani’s MAGA downfall is soooo disappointing.”

“She ain’t no hollaback girl anymore … she has the maga makeover…” another comment read, as the user referred to one of her hit songs.

One person simply wrote, “Ugh canceled.”

Defenders have rushed to Stefani’s side, calling out what they say as hypocrisy from those criticizing her for her faith.

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“If being religious is now a MAGA thing, then maybe we should start dragging all your favorites who also share faith,” one fan wrote.

Another fan hit back at the “MAGA” labeling, saying, “It’s a huge disservice when we label people who just want to stay out of the political moment. Gwen represents millions who don’t fit into these boxes. We should be careful.”

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One user quipped, “You’re the only reason I’m still on this godforsaken app…”

Several other followers left heart emojis in support of Stefani.

This isn’t the first time Stefani has teamed up with Hallow.

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She first announced her collaboration in December 2024, as she launched a 25-day prayer challenge for Advent, another partnership with the app that invited her fans to engage in prayer and meditation ahead of Christmas.

The app has also received endorsements from other celebrities, including Mark Wahlberg and Chris Pratt.

Jessica Alba sizzles in bikini photos on Miami vacation with ‘Top Gun’ boyfriend

Jessica Alba is enjoying her beach vacation.

In a recent Instagram post, the 44-year-old actress shared snippets from her vacation in Florida, captioning the post, “A Miami minute.”

The carousel of photos featured pictures of the ocean views, a relaxing bubble bath and the yummy food she snacked on while away, as well as a few bikini pictures.

One of the pictures shows Alba lounging on the beach in a brown and white patterned bikini with the ocean waves visible behind her. She can be seen wearing the same bikini in a mirror selfie, showing off her toned abs.

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Also included in the slideshow is a photo of a man holding up a sign which reads, “Will you be my Valentine,” signed by her boyfriend, actor Danny Ramirez. The two could be seen cuddling while out at a restaurant in another photo, in which Alba is smiling at the camera and Ramirez has his faced pressed against hers while smiling.

Fans could not help but leave positive messages for the actress in the comments section, with one writing, “You are soo stunning. You just look amazing,” and another adding, “The most beautiful woman in the world truly.”

Ramirez also made an appearance in the comments section, sending three rose emojis.

Alba first confirmed she and Ramirez were in a relationship in October 2025, when she posted photos of the two of them on vacation in Australia, after first sparking romance rumors in July 2025.

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Fans later got a further look into their romance when she shared photos from her New Year’s Eve vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, which included a video of Ramirez leaning in kiss the “Fantastic Four” star.

Her relationship with Ramirez comes after her split from her ex-husband, Cash Warren, after 16 years of marriage.

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The two announced their separation in January 2025, with Alba filing for divorce a month later. In the divorce filings, the date of separation is listed as Dec. 27, 2024.

“I’ve been on a journey of self-realization and transformation for years – both as an individual and in partnership with Cash,” she wrote on Instagram. “I’m proud of how we’ve grown as a couple and in our marriage over the last 20 years and it’s now time for us to embark on a new chapter of growth and evolution as individuals.”

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“We are moving forward with love and kindness and respect for each other and will forever be family,” she concluded. “Our children remain our highest priority and we request privacy at this time.”

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Throughout their 16-year marriage, the former couple welcomed three children together: Honor, 17; Haven, 14; and Hayes, 8.

Bears look to Indiana after Pritzker ‘caught asleep’ by stadium play

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich argued Gov. JB Pritzker got “outplayed and outflanked” as the Chicago Bears look to leave the state for Indiana.

On Thursday, an Indiana House panel approved legislation to help finance a potential new NFL stadium for the team. The facility could be constructed near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana, just across the state border.

“The Indiana legislature did what it did, and it caught our governor asleep,” Blagojevich said Saturday on “Fox & Friends Weekend.”

“Governor Pritzker really is guilty of gubernatorial malpractice, and this isn’t the first time a major business is about to leave Illinois,” he added.

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Blagojevich blamed the blue state’s high taxes as a reason the team may be considering the move, noting other major companies like Boeing and Tyson Foods that have already left.

“He [Pritzker] spent $3 billion on illegal immigrants, migrants, and apparently doesn’t have the money or has paid the attention to try to keep the Bears in Illinois,” he said.

Fox News Digital reached out to representatives of Pritzker but did not immediately hear back. 

“He’s been outplayed and outflanked by this Indiana governor because his priorities are all about defending sanctuary for illegal immigrants,” Blagojevich said.

DUFFY GIVES ILLINOIS 30-DAY ULTIMATUM AFTER AUDIT FINDS 1 IN 5 NONCITIZEN TRUCK LICENSES ISSUED ILLEGALLY

The Bears released a statement on the development plans, calling them the “most meaningful step forward” in their quest for a new stadium.

Chicago leaders, however, aren’t giving up hope. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said during a news conference that the Bears “belong” in Chicago, adding that the door is open for conversations with the team about remaining in its namesake city.

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“[Pritzker] turned his back on a working-class fan base of the Chicago Bears,” Blagojevich said.

“This would be a disgrace if Pritzker allows the Bears to leave and allows the governor of Indiana to intercept our Bears.”

Pritzker told reporters he was “very disappointed” and caught off guard by the Bears’ latest announcement, saying his staff spoke to the franchise for more than three hours on Wednesday.

While Illinois leaders expressed shock at the news, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun revealed the Bears approached his state five months ago after being “rebuffed” by its own government.

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“This is dereliction because they’ve been trying to work with the state, with the city, for three years,” Braun said Saturday on “Fox News Live.”

The Indiana governor confirmed he has no intention of changing the team’s title, noting that “Chicago Bears” remains an “iconic name” regardless of the zip code. He said he’s looking to give the franchise a “better home” in a state where the “dollar goes a lot farther.”

Federal law bans liquor bottle ‘marrying’ — but some bartenders confess to it anyway

While topping off one liquor bottle with the remnants of another behind the bar may look like a marriage of convenience, experts say the practice is anything but harmless — and that customers should know the warning signs.

“Marrying” liquor bottles, as it’s known in the industry, is prohibited under federal law and state liquor laws generally mirror the rule. And the rule isn’t just in place to stop bartenders from pouring the cheap stuff into top-shelf bottles: You can’t mix the same brand, either.

“Under the rules of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, once a distilled spirits bottle is opened, it cannot be refilled or combined with any other bottle,” said Sanwar Mal Khokhar, a mixologist and bar manager at Sanjh, a high-end Indian restaurant in Texas.

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“It is considered misbranding or tampering with a federally labeled product,” Khokhar told Fox News Digital.

The federal regulation, 27 CFR § 31.201, prohibits placing any distilled spirits into a liquor bottle other than what was originally inside at bottling. It also bars adding any substance that alters the original contents. Violations can trigger fines, suspension or even revocation of a liquor license.

“Because a liquor license is essential to running an establishment, most professionals avoid doing this,” Khokhar said.

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Yet industry chatter suggests the practice isn’t unheard of.

In a Reddit thread in the r/bartenders community, dozens of bartenders acknowledged that while marrying bottles is illegal, it often happens out of sight and with well or rail spirits. Some described consolidating partial bottles at closing time to save space or streamline inventory.

“It’s always been illegal, and we’ve always done it anyway,” one Redditor commented.

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“It’s illegal in my state, but every bar I’ve worked in does it,” said another.

Others pushed back, calling the practice unnecessary and a sign of poor bottle management. Yet some admitted to refilling premium bottles with lower-cost liquor, which is the kind of deception federal and state laws are designed to prevent.

“In the U.S., alcohol distribution is tightly regulated for tax control and consumer protection,” Khokhar explained. “Refilling or combining bottles interferes with the system.”

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Each bottle is taxed and tracked, so if they are combined, batch identification is lost, which can create problems in the case of a recall.

“The major risk is contamination and loss of traceability,” Khokhar said. “Once bottles are combined, you lose clear batch identification. If there is ever a recall or contamination issue, it is almost impossible to trace the source.”

There are also health concerns. Combining bottles increases the risk of foreign particles entering the container, improper handling and potential cross-contamination with allergens, he noted.

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Consumer safety advocates have also warned that refilling bottles can open the door to fraud, including watering down liquor or substituting cheaper spirits for premium brands. Counterfeit alcohol can even lead to severe illness.

While regulators and liquor control boards conduct inspections, customers can also spot subtle clues.

“The first sign could be mismatched caps or seals, labels that appear tampered with, unusual fill levels at odd times of service, or staff taking bottles out of guests’ sight and returning them or inconsistent taste between pours of the same brand,” Khokhar said.

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Worn or peeling labels on bottles can also be a potential red flag, according to reports.

In a well-run bar, the protocol is simple.

“Once the bottle is finished or empty, the first thing you need to do is scratch off the sticker and discard it immediately,” Khokhar said.

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If a customer believes they’ve witnessed refilling, Khokhar advises raising the concern with management first. If the issue remains unresolved, they can contact their state alcohol regulatory authority.

Olympians make surprising statements about Eileen Gu’s decision to pick China over US

As American-born Team China skier Eileen Gu faces mounting scrutiny in the Winter Olympics, two other Americans competing in Milan Cortina have spoken out in support of the controversial medalist. 

Team USA veteran women’s skeleton athlete Kelly Curtis, who also serves as a staff sergeant in the Air Force, admits she hasn’t put much thought into Gu’s decision to represent China over the U.S. Still, Curtis insists she only has respect for Gu due to her talent and accomplishments. 

“I honestly have not given it much thought. She is the most decorated freestyle skier, so she’s at the top of her run, and I have nothing but respect for her,” Curtis told Fox News Digital. 

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Meanwhile, another American citizen who chooses to represent another country in the Olympics directly supports Gu’s decision to compete for China.

Team Israel bobsled captain AJ Edelman, who grew up in New England, has opted to represent Israel in Skeleton in the 2022 Beijing Winter Games and in bobsled this year. He previously told Fox News Digital that, despite being a proud American, he would never consider representing the U.S. over Israel. 

Edelman questioned those who have criticized her for choosing China. 

“Every single athlete has a different athletic journey, and every single athlete chooses a path in their life of that athletic journey that is there’s and there’s alone. I think it is incredibly inappropriate for anyone to demand service of someone in sport for any particular reason that is not of that athlete’s own will,” Edelman told Fox News Digital of Gu and the criticism she has received.

“When it comes to Eileen or any other athlete who represents another country … that is of no one’s right to question. It is absolutely inappropriate and extreme.”

Edelman compared Gu’s decision to his own choice to represent Israel. 

“Any athlete is free to choose the athletic path that they take, and I’m going to respect that. In terms of my own decision to represent a country that is not the United States, I chose to do something that I thought would make an impact in a particular community. And I felt that community would best be impacted through the appearance or through representation through the state of Israel,” he added.

However, Edelman made financial sacrifices to compete for Israel, which has a bobsled team with far fewer resources than the U.S. 

He previously told Fox News Digital he had to live below the poverty line in order to maintain his commitment to leading the Israeli team for the last 13 years, and had to sell all of his bitcoin, which he says would have been worth millions today if he held onto it. 

“It was all spent on bobsledding,” he said. “I’d be a mega-millionaire if I still had it.”

Gu meanwhile has become a multimillionaire, while representing China. 

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Gu is the highest-paid Winter Olympic athlete in the world, making an estimated $23 million in 2025 alone amid partnerships with Chinese companies, including the Bank of China, and western companies. Gu has said she represents China for her mother, who was born there.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Gu and Zhu Yi, a fellow American-born figure skater who now competes for China, were paid a combined $6.6 million by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau in 2025 for “striving for excellent results in qualifying for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.” In all, the two were reportedly paid nearly $14 million over the past three years.

Meanwhile, Gu has not addressed the alleged human rights abuses carried out by China. 

In an interview with TIME Magazine, Gu was asked her thoughts on China’s alleged persecution of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. 

“I haven’t done the research. I don’t think it’s my business. I’m not going to make big claims on my social media,” Gu answered.

“I’m just more of a skeptic when it comes to data in general… So it’s not like I can read an article and be like, ‘Oh, well, this must be the truth.’ I need to have a ton of evidence. I need to maybe go to the place, maybe talk to 10 primary-source people who are in a location and have experienced life there. Then I need to go see images. I need to listen to recordings. I need to think about how history affects it. Then I need to read books on how politics affects it. This is a lifelong search…

“It’s irresponsible to ask me to be the mouthpiece for any agenda.”

Gu admitted that she’s felt like a “punching bag” amid the backlash this winter.

“I do,” Gu said when asked if she feels “like a bit of a punching bag for a certain strand of American politics,” per USA Today. 

“So many athletes compete for a different country. … People only have a problem with me doing it because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about. And also, because I win. Like if I wasn’t doing well, I think that they probably wouldn’t care as much, and that’s OK for me. People are entitled to their opinions.”

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Gu has previously said she was “physically assaulted” for her decision to represent China.  

“The police were called. I’ve had death threats. I’ve had my dorm robbed,” Gu told The Athletic. “I’ve gone through some things as a 22-year-old that I really think no one should ever have to endure, ever.”