Florida woman charged with attacking 72-year-old wearing MAGA hat, police officer
A Florida woman is facing multiple charges stemming from her alleged attack on a 72-year-old man who was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat earlier this week.
Laura Garrett, 33, was arrested by the Largo Police Department on Tuesday for battery on a person older than 65, battery on a police officer and obstructing or resisting an officer without violence, according to Pinellas County Jail records.
Garrett admitted she approached the man – who has not been publicly identified – at Northeast Park and Paw Place to ask him about President Donald Trump and why he supports him, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX 13 Tampa Bay.
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The two got into an argument at some point during the confrontation before Garrett poured a can she was holding on the victim’s head and hit him on the back of his head and shoulder area with it, the arrest report said, though Garrett denied that she hit him with the can.
Police said she jumped a fence and walked away after the attack on the man.
She was later located by police officers, whom she allegedly fought with while they were attempting to arrest her.
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The arrest report states that Garrett intentionally dropped to the ground when officers put her in handcuffs and that when an officer tried to escort her to the front of the park, she wrapped both of her legs around him and caused him to fall.
The officer’s knee was bruised during the incident, which is what prompted the second battery charge.
Police said she continued to kick and pull away from arresting officers.
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Garrett was booked into the Pinellas County Jail Tuesday evening, but was released Wednesday night, jail records show.
US Army to introduce rigorous new Army Fitness Test — could you pass it?
“Army Strong” is more than just a tagline — for soldiers, it’s a requirement for duty.
The U.S. Army requires that all active-duty soldiers prove their physical prowess by passing a rigorous fitness test. There have been multiple versions of the test over the years — and the Army recently announced that a new version has been adopted.
On June 1, 2025, the military branch will roll out its new Army Fitness Test (ACFT) as a replacement for the current Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT).
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The new test — which is based on “18 months of data analysis and feedback from thousands of test iterations” — will introduce updated scoring standards that emphasize “readiness and combat effectiveness,” according to an Army press release.
Soldiers will have until Jan. 1, 2026, to meet the new AFT requirements without facing “adverse actions.”
AFT scores are recorded during basic training for soldiers and initial training for officers, the Army states on its website.
Active-duty soldiers are required to complete the test twice a year, while soldiers in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard must record scores once a year.
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“The AFT is designed to improve soldier readiness and ensure physical standards [and] prepare soldiers for the demands of modern warfare,” said Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax, senior enlisted leader, deputy chief of staff for Operations, Army Headquarters, in the release.
“It emphasizes holistic fitness over event-specific training and is grounded in performance.”
Scoring requirements are more demanding for the new test, with soldiers in combat roles held to the highest standards.
“Combat standards are sex-neutral for the 21 direct combat roles, a change designed to ensure fairness and operational readiness,” the release states.
5 components of the test
The AFT consists of the following five events, as described on the Army’s website.
1. Three-repetition maximum deadlift
In this challenge, the soldier must lift the maximum weight possible three times using a 60-pound hex bar and plates.
This move assesses muscular strength, balance and flexibility.
“It’s doable — but only with smart, progressive training.”
“Deadlifts require a person to recruit glute and hamstring strength in order to lift a barbell off the ground to waist height,” said Miles Hill, a certified personal trainer and boxing instructor at Rumble in New York City. “It is the most effective technique for picking heavy weights off the ground.”
The deadlift can also be dangerous for civilians if they use improper form, warned Dr. Hooman Melamed, an orthopedic spine surgeon and sport medicine expert from Beverly Hills.
“If your posture or form is off, the risk to your lower back and hips is high — it could be a career-ending injury for some,” he told Fox News Digital.
2. Hand-release push-up
The soldier must complete as many hand-release push-ups as possible in two minutes, using proper technique.
“Hand release push-ups require a person to drop all the way to the ground, lift their hands in the air for a second, and then push themselves back up to high plank,” said Hill, who is also a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo.
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Melamed noted that while hand-release push-ups are great for building upper body strength, if the person is not already strong, the sudden force can damage the shoulders.
The hand-release push-up tests muscular endurance and flexibility.
3. Sprint-drag-carry
With the sprint-drag-carry (SDC), the soldier is tasked with completing five 50-meter shuttles (sprint, drag, lateral, carry, sprint) as quickly as possible, using two 40-pound kettlebells and a 90-pound sled.
“The sprint-drag-carry is probably the toughest sequence here, since it requires explosive strength, muscular endurance and cardiovascular endurance,” Hill said.
Melamed calls the SDC a “brutal test of speed and explosive power.”
“If you’re not conditioned, tearing a hamstring or pulling something mid-run can happen,” he said.
4. Plank
The soldier must maintain a proper plank position for as long as possible, testing muscular endurance and balance.
“A plank is an ultimate test of core strength and endurance, as it requires a person to hold their body weight for as long as they can,” said Hill. “It can be challenging, but it is the time requirement that determines the challenge.”
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Melamed noted that while this move looks simple, holding a proper plank for time is extremely challenging. “It exposes weaknesses in the back, core and shoulder girdle.”
5. Two-mile run
The soldier must complete a timed two-mile run on a flat outdoor course in a test of aerobic endurance.
“Two-mile runs are relatively easy for any able-bodied human — however, the time constraints are what makes it challenging,” Hill said.
The standing power throw event, which was part of the previous version of the test, is no longer included as a requirement.
“We eliminated the standing power throw because it wasn’t effectively promoting fitness and readiness as well as we would like,” Mullinax said.
“Furthermore, it presented an elevated risk of overuse injury and encouraged soldiers to focus on technique rather than demonstrating true power.”
How tough is it?
The toughness of a workout or fitness test is relative to the overall fitness of an individual, according to Dr. Jason Perry, M.D., primary care sports medicine physician with Baptist Health Orthopedic Care in Deerfield Beach, Florida.
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“Generally speaking, the AFT is challenging, but not impossible for the average person with a basic fitness foundation,” Perry, who is unaffiliated with the Army, told Fox News Digital.
“It’s designed to test full-body strength, muscular endurance, speed, agility and cardiovascular stamina — all elements essential for combat readiness, but also relevant to functional fitness for civilians.”
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Compared to a typical gym workout, the AFT is more demanding because it combines different physical domains into one test, he said.
“Compared to elite athletic training, it’s moderate — but not easy,” Perry added.
For civilians who regularly strength train, run or do functional workouts (like CrossFit or HIIT), this test is well within reach, he said.
For a civilian who exercises three to four times a week, the AFT is “realistically achievable” with focused training over an eight- to 12-week period.
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“About 30 to 50% of healthy, recreationally active adults could likely pass it with little to moderate training,” he predicted. “Sedentary adults or those with chronic conditions would have a harder time and would likely need a focused eight- to 12-week (or possibly longer) conditioning plan to pass.”
Melamed wasn’t quite as optimistic, estimating that less than 5% of civilians could pass the AFT.
“If you try this unprepared, you could get seriously hurt.”
“These aren’t weekend-warrior workouts — this is military-level conditioning,” he told Fox News Digital. “You have to work your way up to this level of intensity training.”
The expert also noted that there is a mental component to the test, but said mindset alone isn’t enough.
“If you try this unprepared, you could get seriously hurt,” he cautioned. “It’s doable — but only with smart, progressive training. You have to work up to it gradually.”
“And this test is as much about strategy and recovery as it is about raw strength.”
‘The View’ insider sounds alarm on show’s political coverage as Disney boss wants less
There seems to be a clash of views within the ABC daytime talk show “The View” over the hyper-political coverage it has become known for.
The Daily Beast reported about an apparent rift between the ladies of “The View” and the top brass at the company, going all the way up to Disney CEO Bob Iger, about a desire for the hosts to cool off the politics.
Notably, all six of the co-hosts (Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ana Navarro) voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election and are outspoken critics of President Donald Trump.
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“[ABC News president Almin] Karamehmedovic convened a meeting with ‘s executive producer Brian Teta and its hosts, and suggested the panel needed to broaden its conversations beyond its predominant focus on politics, two sources familiar with the meeting said,” the Daily Beast reported Wednesday. “Karamehmedovic highlighted episodes with celebrity guests that he said were highly rated, one source said, and encouraged them to lean into such coverage moving forward.”
According to the report, “The View” co-host Ana Navarro forcefully pushed back, insisting their audience want their perspectives on politics. Navarro reportedly took her message directly to Iger, who she thanked for allowing them to keep doing their jobs, though Iger “reaffirmed that the show needed to tone down its political rhetoric” while expressing his support for “The View.”
“Ultimately, the women found the requests ‘silly’ and that ‘they were just going to keep doing their thing,’” the Daily Beast wrote.
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A source with “The View” confirmed to Fox News Digital these discussions were had, but suggested not all the hosts are in lockstep with Navarro.
“Most hosts agree with the ABC top brass,” the source told Fox News Digital. “‘The View’ is a daytime network talk show and needs to do more than just politics and Trump bashing. This was a welcome direction for many of us.”
When asked whether “The View” will ultimately pivot towards less political coverage as the second Trump presidency continues, the source responded, “It’s hard to say,” but added, “Ignoring Bob Iger seems like a terrible decision.”
Another source familiar with the situation said such conversations with talent are normal based on viewer feedback, and that this conversation in particular is about finding a “balance” in topics and reevaluating politics in general, not just stories pertaining to Trump.
Despite the internal discussions, “The View” has maintained its critical coverage of Trump and his administration in recent weeks.
A spokesperson for ABC News declined to comment.
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Iger’s request for a shift in “The View” did not occur in a vacuum. Trump, known for his feuds with the media, is currently in mediation with Paramount Global to resolve his $20 billion lawsuit against CBS News over the handling of its “60 Minutes” election interview with Harris.
ABC News itself settled a lawsuit filed by Trump in December, shelling out $15 million for his presidential library and an apology over liberal anchor George Stephanopoulos’ false assertions that Trump was found “liable for rape,” alluding to the civil case victory by accuser E. Jean Carroll, when a jury actually determined Trump was liable for “sexual abuse.” That settlement was personally approved by Iger according to reports.
Trump also landed multimillion-dollar settlements from social media giants Meta and X over their past suppression of his accounts on their platforms and is currently suing board members of the Pulitzer Prize for awarding The New York Times and The Washington Post for their Russiagate coverage.
The revelations about former President Joe Biden’s declining health while he was in office have brought a new spotlight on what officials in his administration said at the time about the former president’s health.
One of the most outspoken officials defending Biden’s mental and physical stamina was White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
She has been on record denying that the former president was experiencing cognitive decline or other health issues from as early as 2022.
When then-CNN anchor Don Lemon asked Jean-Pierre if Biden would have the “stamina” necessary to complete a second term in June 2022, she appeared shocked at the question.
“That is not a question that we should be even asking,” she said before adding that reports of Biden’s declining cognitive faculties were “hearsay.”
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“Don, you’re asking me this question. Oh my gosh. He’s the President of the United States… just look at the work he does. And look how he’s delivering for the American public,” she said.
Jean-Pierre called reports of Biden capping events as early as 10 a.m. because he was fatigued “ridiculous assumptions,” in an August 2023 press conference. The following month, when questioned whether Biden’s staff “treats him like a baby” the press secretary pushed back.
“No one treats the President of the United States, the commander in chief, like a baby. That’s ridiculous. It’s a ridiculous claim,” she responded.
After Special Counsel Robert Hur declined to prosecute Biden for the alleged mishandling of classified documents last year, claiming that a jury would consider him to be a sympathetic “elderly man with a poor memory,” Jean-Pierre said his assessment “does not live in reality.”
“The reality is, that report, that part of the report does not live in reality. It just doesn’t. It is gratuitous. It is unacceptable, and it does not live in reality,” Pierre said at the time.
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CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson’s new book, “Original Sin,” details disturbing accounts of the Biden White House’s inner workings, which show that the president’s senior staffers were attempting to hide his alleged cognitive decline from the public and even his own Cabinet.
The book reports that Cabinet secretaries were denied access to the then-president, his aides openly mused about whether he would need to be put in a wheelchair if he made it to a second term, Biden frequently forgot his staffers’ names, and he did not even recognize famous supporter George Clooney when the two were face-to-face at a 2024 fundraiser.
She also dismissed videos of Biden appearing disoriented or frail as “cheap fakes” and insisted that they were based on “misinformation” in a June 2024 interview with MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace.
“It’s also very insulting to the folks, the viewers who are watching it. And so we believe we have to call that out. We’ve been calling it ‘cheap fakes.’ That is something that came directly from the media outlets in calling it that, the fact-checkers and calling it that,” Jean-Pierre said. She made similar remarks in the briefing room.
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After Biden’s debate performance in June alarmed Democrats and started a pressure campaign to force him out of the 2024 race, Jean-Pierre remained steadfast at the podium. At one point, she said Biden was sharper than ever.
After he dropped out of the race last July, Jean-Pierre was pressed by Fox News’ Peter Doocy on whether there was a White House “cover-up” of his health.
“First of all, there’s been no cover-up,” Jean-Pierre told Doocy, adding, “I want to be very clear about that.”
Jean-Pierre didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Caitlin Clark, Rhyne Howard separated after confrontation in Fever’s win over Dream
Tensions were high in the early going between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream Thursday night.
The two teams were 48 hours removed from a battle that came down to the final seconds, which the Dream won, 91-90. So, maybe there was some carryover.
With less than 30 seconds to go in the first quarter, Caitlin Clark and Rhyne Howard exchanged some words and had to be separated. Howard was playing full-court defense on Clark, who was dribbling up the court.
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Refs whistled the play, and the two bumped into one another. Both appeared to extend an arm, and Clark began to walk away from the situation before Howard took a step forward. But one of Howard’s teammates quickly stepped in and led Howard away.
“I’m not scared of you,” Clark appeared to say, and she was backed by her teammates.
Despite the tense moment Thursday, they shared a funny one earlier this month in the preseason, when Howard jokingly picked at Clark’s ear after their exhibition, prompting a laugh from Clark.
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It was a slow night overall for Clark, who had just six points heading into the fourth quarter. She had 27 points two nights earlier against Atlanta.
Indiana trailed, 75-71, with just over two minutes to go, but it ended the game on a 10-1 run. Clark added five points in the fourth quarter to finish with 11.
Clark’s teammate, Natasha Howard, led the way with 26 points, while Rhyne Howard dropped 24.
The scuffle between Clark and Howard came five days after Clark and Angel Reese had to be separated. Clark was called for a flagrant foul on Reese, who then had words for Clark.
The incident prompted an investigation into alleged hateful comments toward Reese by fans at the game. Reese reposted a TikTok that said she is “unsafe” playing in Indiana.
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The Fever are back in action Saturday against the reigning WNBA champion New York Liberty in Indianapolis at 1 p.m. ET.
Jessica Biel offers glimpse into Montana family life with Justin Timberlake and sons
Jessica Biel shared a rare glimpse into her home life with her husband Justin Timberlake and their children in rural Montana. Biel recently invited InStyle magazine to her home in the Rocky Mountains, where she posed for photos — including the outlet’s Summer Issue cover — and sat down for an interview.
The 43-year-old actress and the 45-year-old singer left Hollywood years ago and moved to Big Sky, Montana, where they are raising their two sons, Silas, 10, and Phineas, 4.
During her interview, Biel spoke candidly about the challenges of balancing her busy career and motherhood.
“Spending time with the family unit is a huge priority right now, because I’ve been gone, Justin’s been gone,” she said.
Biel explained that when she isn’t working or doing press, her typical Saturday involves skiing with Timberlake in the morning and later picking up their children at ski school before hitting the slopes as a family in the afternoon.
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“These moments at this time feel kind of priceless,” the “7th Heaven” alum said.
Biel explained that she and Timberlake split parenting and childcare duties when they are both at home with their sons.
“We’re doing the same thing every other parent is doing:‘Okay, tennis. You got the tennis? I’ll get the thing,’” she said.
Biel told InStyle that she feels fortunate to have a strong support system of family and friends to lean on while juggling her demanding work schedule and her parental duties.
“It really takes a village to raise any kid, let alone in a wild business like this where parents are traveling for long times for work,” she said.
The “Sinner” star noted that she and Timberlake strive to ensure that one parent is able to stay home with Silas and Phineas if the other is away working.
“Sometimes we do a good job; we try to have one of us working full-time, only one,” she said. “It doesn’t always happen, because the opportunities arise and the timing is what it is. You just have to take advantage of it.”
Biel is starring in the upcoming movie “Matchbox,” which is based on the Mattel toy brand of the same name. The film, which Mattel developed after the massive success of 2024’s “Barbie,” was filmed in Morocco, Slovakia and Hungary.
The actress told InStyle that the timing of the movie’s shoot ” couldn’t have been worse” as Timberlake was in the middle of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour. She recalled that Silas and Phineas traveled to Europe to stay with her while she was filming the action-adventure comedy.
“We had our incredible [travel] teachers and our incredible nanny and our family helped out,” Biel said. “The kids are good, we’re good, it’s all positive; it’s just when you’re in the middle of it, you’re like, ”
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However, Biel admitted that finding a balance as a working mom can be tough.
“It’s so hard,” she said. “I don’t do it very well all the time.”
The Emmy Award nominee went on to share the words of wisdom that she had received from her longtime producing partner, Michelle Purple.
“She said one thing to me a long time ago. She goes, ‘Listen, all you can do is: When you’re working, you’re 100-percent working, and when you’re home, you’re 100-percent home. Do not take a work call when you’re at home with the kids. If you do it half-a–, you’re not good at anything,'” Biel recalled. “That was a good piece of advice.”
In a video for InStyle, Biel reflected on what had most surprised her about being a parent.
“The thing that surprised me about being a parent, and surprised me about myself is that I actually might be the rule enforcer,” she said. “Sometimes. But it’s not really my style.”
“I just sort of thought ‘Justin’s going to be the rule enforcer and that’s the way it’s gonna be,'” the actress continued. “I’m a Pisces, I’m more emotional, gentle, easygoing and whatever, but I’m kind of good at it. I drop a boundary and I’m like ‘Nope, you can’t cross it.’ It took a while to learn that, but it’s an important skill to have.
“And sometimes he can be really soft about things. Which I didn’t expect!” Biel added. “We take turns, and I think that was surprising to me.”
The couple, who tied the knot in 2012, purchased their home in Blue Sky’s exclusive, gated community, Yellowstone Club, in 2015, shortly before they welcomed Silas. Biel gave birth to Phineas during the summer of 2020.
In 2021, Biel and Timberlake listed their Los Angeles mansion for $35 million, but the pair later took the home off the market. The pair sold their New York City penthouse for $29 million in 2022.
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During a 2024 appearance on SiriusXM’s “Let’s Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa,” Biel explained that they decided to make Montana their primary residence so they could raise their children away from the paparazzi.
“You get hammered on the East Coast. You kind of get hammered on the West Coast. That’s why we don’t really live there anymore,” she said. “We’re just trying to create some normalcy for these kids.”
“We want to share our family with our loved ones and friends and also, we understand that our job has this major public-facing element, so we understand that part of it, but also these kids didn’t choose this,” Biel continued.
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“I don’t want to expose them in a way until they have an ability to make that decision for themself, you know?” she added. “This very social media world is where they exist and where they live and that will be a very big part of their life and their reality.”
“I just don’t want it to be on my account so we try to engage in a way that feels authentic, but also just not, you know, blasting them all over the place and no disrespect to anybody who feels comfortable doing that. That’s just our family choice.”
Though Silas and Phineas have made appearances on their parents’ social media platforms, Biel and Timberlake do not show their sons’ faces. While speaking with InStyle, Biel explained that she and Timberlake often face a dilemma when it comes to how much their children should be in the public eye.
“It’s a tricky one, a tricky balance. We do really try hard not to expose them in a way that they’re not comfortable with,” she said.
Silas made a rare public appearance last August when he accompanied Biel to the US Open tennis tournament in Queens, New York. Biel told InStyle that she had a conversation with Silas ahead of the event to gauge whether he was prepared for the inevitable media attention.
“My son was 9 at the time, and he’s a huge tennis fan — that’s his sport, that’s what he plays,” she said. “We had this opportunity, and we talked about it. We talked about photographers. You know, ‘Are you comfortable with that?’ He can’t make these decisions on his own, but at this point, we can at least discuss what’s his opinion around it.”
Biel explained why she ultimately decided to go through with the outing, telling InStyle, “You really want to give your kids every experience.”
“I don’t know if it was the right decision, to be honest with you, but he and I had a good time,” she added. ‘It’s scary every time. But it’s also their life. And so it’s this really tricky, tricky thing to figure out, what’s appropriate.”
Biel noted that she and Timberlake are also ambivalent over whether they should encourage Silas’ natural talent and interest in acting. “If he was a kid actor, he’d probably work all the time,” she said.
However, Biel told InStyle she would prefer that Silas wait until he is older to decide whether he wanted to follow in his parents’ footsteps.
“‘And when you’re 18 years old, you want to be professional? Have at it. That’s your choice.’ That’s what I would like to hold on to, if possible, for him, you know?” she said.
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Texas road construction unearths ‘colossal’ prehistoric animal remains
A recent excavation in Texas yielded some “colossal creatures,” according to local officials – and archaeologists are hopeful more will be uncovered soon.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced the discovery in a recent press release. In a statement, officials said the excavation took place in Lubbock during the environmental review for Loop 88, a proposed state highway.
During the archaeological survey, diggers uncovered ancient bones dating back to prehistoric times. The remains belonged to megafauna, which are large mammals.
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Chris Ringstaff, a project planner with TxDOT’s environmental affairs division, said that megafauna bones “[are] not unusual in the region.”
Ringstaff also noted that at least one giant ground sloth was identified, thanks to its distinctive tooth.
“Whether all the bones are giant ground sloth or there are different animals such as mammoth or mastodon, we’re not sure,” he said.
“Paleontologists will give us positive identification.”
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“We’re here to get the road built, but who doesn’t love digging up big ol’ animals?” Ringstaff added.
TxDOT noted that the Lone Star State is home to many dried-out lakes called playas, which date back to the Ice Age.
“In prehistoric times, animals and humans used playas as water sources and these sites can sometimes contain evidence of human activity,” the press release noted.
Archaeologists are still searching for small artifacts. They’re also using dating techniques to determine the age of the remains.
If any proof of human settlement is found, the project will be temporarily halted.
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“Should the site reveal human activity with megafauna from the Ice Age, it would be [the] first of its kind for a TxDOT project,” the statement said.
Several prehistoric bones are found in the U.S. every year.
Last summer, archaeologists in Iowa unearthed a 13,000-year-old mastodon skull.
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Later in 2024, a New York homeowner found a complete mastodon jaw in his Scotchtown backyard.
Yuka app used by RFK Jr gains popularity as Make America Healthy Again movement grows
As health-conscious Americans look for ways to eat better, there is a mobile app that shoppers can use to guide them at the grocery store, sometimes with surprising outcomes.
Yuka is a free app that proponents of the Make America Healthy Again movement are embracing – even U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“I use Yuka,” Kennedy told Fox News Digital in April.
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Developed in France, Yuka expanded to the U.S. in 2022.
It has been gaining ground, with about 25,000 new users each day, co-founder Julie Chapon told Fox News Digital. (See the video at the top of this article.)
“I think consumers are really being more conscious now about what they want to eat – and there is really this need to have access to more transparent information,” said Chapon from New York City.
‘Results can be surprising’
Sam Stark, a public relations consultant in New York City, said she uses the app “about every other shopping trip, mostly when I’m considering adding something new to our meals.“
“My husband and I eat as [healthfully] as possible with minimal processed foods, but we also want variety,” she told Fox News Digital.
“It’s become a regular part of my shopping routine when I’m browsing unfamiliar products.”
Many times, Stark said, she’ll avoid a food product that has scored poorly.
“I often use it to compare similar products, such as which granola is actually the healthiest option,” she said.
“The results can be surprising.”
“I’ve limited and given up foods I really enjoyed as well, like this blue cheese dressing I loved, after seeing the rating. Sometimes the app tells you what you need to hear to make better choices.”
“Sometimes the app tells you what you need to hear to make better choices.”
Stark also introduced her friend to Yuka.
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Cristina Cote, a New York-based real estate broker, told Fox News Digital that she uses the app every time she shops, “especially when exploring new products.”
“I appreciate Yuka as a tool to be mindful and make healthy choices,” Cote said.
She’s also cut out products that score poorly on the app.
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“If I find out that a product I like is not well-rated, I will stop buying it and replace it with something healthier and [purer],” she said.
“It can be disheartening when you find out something you enjoy contains harmful ingredients.”
Users scan bar codes
Yuka lets users scan the bar codes of food products, generating a score from one to 100 based on three criteria: nutritional quality (60% of the rating), the presence of additives (30%) and whether the product is organic (10%), Chapon said.
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The scores are then color-coded into four different categories: excellent (dark green), good (light green), poor (orange) and bad (red).
“You also have access to a detailed information sheet on each product to understand why the rating is good or bad,” Chapon said.
If an item receives a poor or bad rating, Yuka recommends similar products with a better ranking.
“The app is 100% independent,” Chapon said. “We receive absolutely no money from brands or manufacturers to influence our evaluations or recommendations.”
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Although Yuka isn’t affiliated with MAHA, Chapon credits the increasingly popular movement for the app’s ascent – and for challenging the food industry.
“I think the MAHA movement has also fueled this interest,” Chapon said.
‘Help people make better choices’
Yuka also has a feature that allows users to call out a food maker with a high-risk additive.
Since the feature launched in November, more than 600,000 callouts have been made, Chapon said.
“A lot of brands have received a lot of emails – and they are very mad,” Chapon said. “But that’s part of our mission and we know it’s risky.”
Among the brands that have had dialogue with Yuka are Tru drinks and Chobani, Chapon said.
Both companies “were really interested in improving their ratings and understanding why they don’t have good ratings.”
Fox News Digital made multiple requests for comment to Tru drinks and Chobani about the app’s rating system.
Ultimately, Chapon said she hopes the app will “help people make better choices for their health” and “push manufacturers to improve what they put in their products.”
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“We have many brands starting to really pay attention and trying to understand how they can do better. Sometimes they just don’t realize they are using very controversial ingredients.”
“We are here to help them to improve,” she added.
Third accomplice charged with aiding fugitive in Orleans Parish jail escape
A third alleged accomplice has been arrested in connection with the escape of one of ten inmates from the Orleans Parish Correctional Facility, according to Louisiana State Police.
Connie Weeden, 59, is believed to have assisted the fugitives and was taken into custody following an investigation that revealed she was in contact via phone with escapee Jermaine Donald – both before and after the escape. Donald remains at large.
Authorities say Weeden gave cash to Donald via a “cell phone app.” She has been charged with one felony count of accessory after the fact and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center.
TWO MORE ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY AIDING NEW ORLEANS JAILBREAK FUGITIVES
“According to Louisiana law, those convicted of accessory after the fact shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both,” a statement from the LA state police said. “Law enforcement personnel from multiple local, state, and federal agencies will continue to pursue every lead until the remaining fugitives are located. Those who choose to assist or conceal these individuals are violating the law and will be held accountable. Harboring fugitives threatens the safety of our communities and will not be tolerated.”
AUNT URGES CONVICTED MURDERER TO SURRENDER AS ORLEANS PARISH JAIL MANHUNT CONTINUES
Weeden is the third person charged for aiding the escapees since the jailbreak. Cortnie Harris and Corvanntay Baptiste were previously accused of providing support and transportation to other escapees.
The following fugitives are still at large:
- Corey E. Boyd, 19, faces charges of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery, illegal carrying of weapons involving a crime, and obstruction of justice.
- Lenton J. Vanburen Jr., 26, faces charges of illegal carrying of weapons, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon, obstruction of justice, and introducing contraband in prison.
- Jermaine Donald, 42, faces charges of second-degree murder, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon, and obstruction of justice.
- Antoine Massey, 32, faces charges of domestic abuse involving strangulation, theft of a motor vehicle, and a parole violation.
- Derrick Groves, 27, faces three counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, and battery of a correctional facility employee.
- Leo O. Tate Sr., 31, faces charges of simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon, illegal carrying of a weapon, motor vehicle theft, and multiple drug counts.
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Authorities have reminded the public that these individuals are considered armed and dangerous.