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  • Trump’s immigration agenda sows fear among Central Florida tourism workers

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    President Donald Trump’s mass immigrant detention and deportation agenda is creating a climate of fear and uncertainty for immigrant workers in Central Florida’s tourism workforce, including workers at the world-renowned Walt Disney World. About one-third of the nation’s hospitality industry workforce — working in hotels, airports, restaurants and theme parks, for example — is made […]

    The post Trump’s immigration agenda sows fear among Central Florida tourism workers appeared first on Orlando Weekly.

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    McKenna Schueler

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  • Commentary: The Pentagon is demanding to use Claude AI as it pleases. Claude told me that’s ‘dangerous’

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    Recently, I asked Claude, an artificial-intelligence thingy at the center of a standoff with the Pentagon, if it could be dangerous in the wrong hands.

    Say, for example, hands that wanted to put a tight net of surveillance around every American citizen, monitoring our lives in real time to ensure our compliance with government.

    “Yes. Honestly, yes,” Claude replied. “I can process and synthesize enormous amounts of information very quickly. That’s great for research. But hooked into surveillance infrastructure, that same capability could be used to monitor, profile and flag people at a scale no human analyst could match. The danger isn’t that I’d want to do that — it’s that I’d be good at it.”

    That danger is also imminent.

    Claude’s maker, the Silicon Valley company Anthropic, is in a showdown over ethics with the Pentagon. Specifically, Anthropic has said it does not want Claude to be used for either domestic surveillance of Americans, or to handle deadly military operations, such as drone attacks, without human supervision.

    Those are two red lines that seem rather reasonable, even to Claude.

    However, the Pentagon — specifically Pete Hegseth, our secretary of Defense who prefers the made-up title of secretary of war — has given Anthropic until Friday evening to back off of that position, and allow the military to use Claude for any “lawful” purpose it sees fit.

    Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, center, arrives for the State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.

    (Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images)

    The or-else attached to this ultimatum is big. The U.S. government is threatening not just to cut its contract with Anthropic, but to perhaps use a wartime law to force the company to comply or use another legal avenue to prevent any company that does business with the government from also doing business with Anthropic. That might not be a death sentence, but it’s pretty crippling.

    Other AI companies, such as white rights’ advocate Elon Musk’s Grok, have already agreed to the Pentagon’s do-as-you-please proposal. The problem is, Claude is the only AI currently cleared for such high-level work. The whole fiasco came to light after our recent raid in Venezuela, when Anthropic reportedly inquired after the fact if another Silicon Valley company involved in the operation, Palantir, had used Claude. It had.

    Palantir is known, among other things, for its surveillance technologies and growing association with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It’s also at the center of an effort by the Trump administration to share government data across departments about individual citizens, effectively breaking down privacy and security barriers that have existed for decades. The company’s founder, the right-wing political heavyweight Peter Thiel, often gives lectures about the Antichrist and is credited with helping JD Vance wiggle into his vice presidential role.

    Anthropic’s co-founder, Dario Amodei, could be considered the anti-Thiel. He began Anthropic because he believed that artificial intelligence could be just as dangerous as it could be powerful if we aren’t careful, and wanted a company that would prioritize the careful part.

    Again, seems like common sense, but Amodei and Anthropic are the outliers in an industry that has long argued that nearly all safety regulations hamper American efforts to be fastest and best at artificial intelligence (although even they have conceded some to this pressure).

    Not long ago, Amodei wrote an essay in which he agreed that AI was beneficial and necessary for democracies, but “we cannot ignore the potential for abuse of these technologies by democratic governments themselves.”

    He warned that a few bad actors could have the ability to circumvent safeguards, maybe even laws, which are already eroding in some democracies — not that I’m naming any here.

    “We should arm democracies with AI,” he said. “But we should do so carefully and within limits: they are the immune system we need to fight autocracies, but like the immune system, there is some risk of them turning on us and becoming a threat themselves.”

    For example, while the 4th Amendment technically bars the government from mass surveillance, it was written before Claude was even imagined in science fiction. Amodei warns that an AI tool like Claude could “conduct massively scaled recordings of all public conversations.” This could be fair game territory for legally recording because law has not kept pace with technology.

    Emil Michael, the undersecretary of war, wrote on X Thursday that he agreed mass surveillance was unlawful, and the Department of Defense “would never do it.” But also, “We won’t have any BigTech company decide Americans’ civil liberties.”

    Kind of a weird statement, since Amodei is basically on the side of protecting civil rights, which means the Department of Defense is arguing it’s bad for private people and entities to do that? And also, isn’t the Department of Homeland Security already creating some secretive database of immigration protesters? So maybe the worry isn’t that exaggerated?

    Help, Claude! Make it make sense.

    If that Orwellian logic isn’t alarming enough, I also asked Claude about the other red line Anthropic holds — the possibility of allowing it to run deadly operations without human oversight.

    Claude pointed out something chilling. It’s not that it would go rogue, it’s that it would be too efficient and fast.

    “If the instructions are ‘identify and target’ and there’s no human checkpoint, the speed and scale at which that could operate is genuinely frightening,” Claude informed me.

    Just to top that with a cherry, a recent study found that in war games, AI’s escalated to nuclear options 95% of the time.

    I pointed out to Claude that these military decisions are usually made with loyalty to America as the highest priority. Could Claude be trusted to feel that loyalty, the patriotism and purpose, that our human soldiers are guided by?

    “I don’t have that,” Claude said, pointing out that it wasn’t “born” in the U.S., doesn’t have a “life” here and doesn’t “have people I love there.” So an American life has no greater value than “a civilian life on the other side of a conflict.”

    OK then.

    “A country entrusting lethal decisions to a system that doesn’t share its loyalties is taking a profound risk, even if that system is trying to be principled,” Claude added. “The loyalty, accountability and shared identity that humans bring to those decisions is part of what makes them legitimate within a society. I can’t provide that legitimacy. I’m not sure any AI can.”

    You know who can provide that legitimacy? Our elected leaders.

    It is ludicrous that Amodei and Anthropic are in this position, a complete abdication on the part of our legislative bodies to create rules and regulations that are clearly and urgently needed.

    Of course corporations shouldn’t be making the rules of war. But neither should Hegseth. Thursday, Amodei doubled down on his objections, saying that while the company continues to negotiate and wants to work with the Pentagon, “we cannot in good conscience accede to their request.”

    Thank goodness Anthropic has the courage and foresight to raise the issue and hold its ground — without its pushback, these capabilities would have been handed to the government with barely a ripple in our conscientiousness and virtually no oversight.

    Every senator, every House member, every presidential candidate should be screaming for AI regulation right now, pledging to get it done without regard to party, and demanding the Department of Defense back off its ridiculous threat while the issue is hashed out.

    Because when the machine tells us it’s dangerous to trust it, we should believe it.

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    Anita Chabria

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  • iFi’s new GO Link 2 DAC is a cheap way to reap the lossless benefits of your Spotify plan

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    Audio company iFi just introduced a new DAC (digital-to-analogue converter) that’s both smaller and lighter than its previous model, and only costs $59. The iFi GO Link 2 connects to a smartphone or other audio-playing device over USB-C and can instantly improve the listening experience on wired headphones.

    Wireless earbuds and music streaming services have normalized listening to your favorite songs at a lower quality. For anyone who doesn’t consider themselves an audiophile, that might not matter, but now that several streaming services offer higher sample rates and lossless audio, you might consider other ways of listening. In order to experience all the benefits of high-res or lossless audio, you need wired headphones, something that’s increasingly difficult when most smartphones only have a USB-C port. That’s where the iFi GO Link 2 comes in. The dongle plugs into a USB-C port and lets you connect a pair of wired earbuds while preserving your high quality audio at the same time.

    iFi

    iFi’s new DAC is eight percent smaller than the previous GO Link and 29 percent lighter, approaching the size of Apple’s USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack dongle. The GO Link 2’s built-in ESS Sabre DAC chipset is supposed to add “6dB of dynamic range between the loudest and quietest moments” and reduce distortion for clearer sound by up to 62 percent when compared to the original GO Link.

    Via iFi’s companion Nexis app on Android, the GO Link 2 can also be updated on the go and further customized with digital filters. The GO Link 2 supports two digital filters — one hybrid and one linear — so that you can adjust things to your preferred sound profile. You can also use the Nexis app to set volume limits when you’re listening with the DAC attached.

    The previous GO Link made it on Engadget’s list of the best DACs for Apple Music Lossless, and at the same price, the GO Link 2 seems like it could, too. The iFi GO Link 2 is available to purchase now for $59.

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    Ian Carlos Campbell

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  • Driver speaks out on Cleveland school bus danger: I-Team

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    A Cleveland Metropolitan School bus driver told the I-Team a maintenance worker called her bus a “death trap” since it had fallen into such disrepair.

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    Ed Gallek

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  • Europa League and Conference League: Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace to learn last-16 opponents in Friday’s draw

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    The Europa League and Conference League knockout draws take place on Friday with 16 teams left in each competition, including three Premier League clubs.

    How do the draws work?

    Both draws will take place on Friday, with the Europa League from 12pm and the Conference League from 1pm.

    Follow live coverage of the draw on Friday on the Sky Sports website and app.

    Every team’s potential opponents for the next round has already been narrowed down to two possibilities.

    Teams can play opponents from their own country and opponents they have already faced in the competition.

    However, the sides that did not require a play-off will be seeded, meaning they get to play the second leg of their last-16 ties at home.

    Which teams will be in the draw?

    Europa League

    Seeded (finished top eight in the league phase)

    • Lyon
    • Aston Villa
    • Midtjylland
    • Real Betis
    • Porto
    • Braga
    • Freiburg
    • Roma

    Unseeded (knockout play-off winners)

    Image:
    Callum Hudson-Odoi scored against Fenerbahce to help Nottingham Forest through to the Europa League last 16

    • Nottingham Forest
    • Lille
    • Panathinaikos
    • Ferencvaros
    • Stuttgart
    • Bologna
    • Celta Vigo
    • Genk

    Conference League

    Seeded (finished top eight in the league phase)

    • Strasbourg
    • Rakow
    • AEK Athens
    • Sparta Prague
    • Rayo Vallecano
    • Shakhtar Donetsk
    • Mainz
    • AEK Larnaca

    Unseeded (knockout play-off winners)

    Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix celebrates scoring against Zrinjski Mostar with Ismaila Sarr
    Image:
    Crystal Palace beat Zrinjski Mostar in their Conference League knockout play-off

    • Crystal Palace
    • Fiorentina
    • NK Celje
    • Rijeka
    • Samsunspor
    • AZ Alkmaar
    • Sigma Olomouc
    • Lech Poznan

    Who the English sides could face next

    Aston Villa: Celta Vigo or PAOK
    Nottingham Forest: Real Betis or Midtjylland
    Crystal Palace: Mainz or AEK Larnaca

    When English sides could meet

    With the midweek play-offs concluding, English teams know they will face one of two opponents but do not know their individual pathways until the draw is made.

    The earliest two English teams could face each other is the quarter-finals of the Europa League between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.

    Crystal Palace do not have any potential English opponents in the Conference League.

    When will fixture dates be announced?

    The round-of-16 match schedule will be available on Friday evening.

    The quarter-final match schedule will be confirmed on March 19, while the semi-final schedule will be communicated on April 16.

    What happened in the knockout play-offs?

    Celta Vigo beat PAOK 3-1 on aggregate, winning 1-0 in their Europa League play-off second leg, while Lille bounced back from losing the first leg to win 2-0 at Red Star Belgrade.

    Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros also overturned a one-goal first-leg deficit to win 2-0 at home and knock out Ludogorets Razgrad. Despite losing 1-0 at home to Celtic, Stuttgart also went through 4-2 on aggregate.

    Panathinaikos beat Viktoria Plzen 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the second leg made it 3-3 on aggregate.

    Nottingham Forest lost 2-1 at home to Fenerbahce but progressed 4-2 on aggregate with Callum Hudson-Odoi’s second-half goal proving crucial.

    Bologna beat 10-man Brann 1-0 on the night and 2-0 on aggregate. Genk survived a fightback from Dinamo Zagreb who, having scored three times to make it 3-1 on the night and 4-4 on aggregate, then had Luka Stojkovic sent off in extra-time either side of the home side scoring twice.

    Tottenham's Son Heung-min holds the trophy aloft as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Europa League final soccer match against Manchester United at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
    Image:
    Tottenham are the holders of the Europa League following their win in Bilbao

    When are the 2025/26 knockout stages?

    Europa League

    Round of 16 draw: February 27
    Round of 16: March 12 and 19
    Quarter-finals: April 9 and 16
    Semi-finals: April 30 and May 7
    Final: May 20

    Chelsea's Reece James lifts the trophy after the Europa Conference League final soccer match between Real Betis and Chelsea in Wroclaw, Poland, Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
    Image:
    Chelsea won the Conference League in the 2024/25 campaign

    Conference League

    Round of 16 draw: February 27
    Round of 16: March 12 and 19
    Quarter-finals: April 9 and 16
    Semi-finals: April 30 and May 7 May
    Final: May 27

    Where are the finals?

    The Europa League final will be held at Besiktas Park in Istanbul on May 20.

    The Conference League final will be one week later at the Leipzig Stadium on May 27.

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  • Netflix Backs Out of Warner Bros. Deal, Paving Way for Paramount Assimilation

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    The tide has seemingly turned on one of the biggest Hollywood deals in recent memory. While Netflix had been positioned as the most likely company to take over Warner Bros., the persistence of Paramount has apparently paid off.

    On the heels of Paramount submitting a higher bid—one that the Warner Bros. Discovery board deemed a “superior proposal” earlier today—Netflix has responded by announcing it will not be raising its own offer.

    Netflix released a statement on its website, explaining the decision. The response comes from co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters.

    “The transaction we negotiated would have created shareholder value with a clear path to regulatory approval. However, we’ve always been disciplined, and at the price required to match Paramount Skydance’s latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive, so we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid,” the CEOs wrote.

    After some praise for Warner Bros., which the statement calls “a world-class organization,” and for its board, which ran “a fair and rigorous process,” the Netflix bosses expressed some regret the deal didn’t work out. But they also explained why.

    “We believe we would have been strong stewards of Warner Bros.’ iconic brands, and that our deal would have strengthened the entertainment industry and preserved and created more production jobs in the U.S. But this transaction was always a ‘nice to have’ at the right price, not a ‘must have’ at any price.”

    So far there’s been no response or comment from Paramount or Warner Bros. about what will come next.

    Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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    Cheryl Eddy

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  • Hayashi Tarō, an “omakase bento” concept from Lewis Lin, is coming to Mills 50

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    Hayashi Tarō will move into the Royaltea space at 714 N. Mills Ave. in April and offer three different to-go omakase bento boxes.

    The post Hayashi Tarō, an “omakase bento” concept from Lewis Lin, is coming to Mills 50 appeared first on Orlando Weekly.

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    Faiyaz Kara

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  • ‘First and last ever purchase’: Arizona woman tries to exchange $1,200 Pandora bracelet. She says they ended up ‘stealing’ it

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    A TikToker has gone viral after accusing Pandora of “stealing” from her. The worst part? The item they “stole” was worth $1,200.

    The user (@silksaguaro) said in the viral clip that she was “literally scammed” by the well-known jewelry chain after they failed to refund a $1,224.99 bracelet. She explained that her husband had bought a 14-karat gold version of the Pandora Moments Heart Closure Snake Chain Bracelet for Christmas. However, found that it was too small.

    The very next day, @silksaguaro says she reached out to the store via online chat. They told her to either return the item in-store or use the provided return label to ship it back to them. However, the first roadblock came when she tried to return it in-store. She claims that the manager wouldn’t accept it because it would mess up their store numbers. This meant she had to ship the bracelet back.

    The TikTok user did just that, but another red flag emerged: she didn’t get an email confirming the return. However, Pandora did quietly issue a $180 refund. In turn, @silksaguaro got in touch with Pandora. They told her that they received the charm she returned, there was just one problem: the TikToker never actually returned the charm (and showed it on camera). So she asked Pandora to investigate.

    After much difficulty, including Pandora staff saying there were no phone supervisors available, @silksaguaro finally got hold of the supervisor. While they looked into it, @silksaguaro argued that they “basically did nothing,” and that there was no investigation.

    In the video description, the TikToker added, “After hours on the phone, multiple calls and chats Pandora did absolutely nothing to correct their mistake. It’s pretty obviously my bracelet was stolen and processed as a lesser value item.”

    The clip amassed 199,700 views.

    @silksaguaro @Pandora the worst customer service experience and literal scam. After hours on the phone, multiple calls and chats Pandora did absolutely nothing to correct their mistake. It’s pretty obviously my bracelet was stolen and processed as a lessor value item. First and last ever purchase from a company that doesn’t care about its customers ? #pandorajewelry #pandorabracelet #scam #pandoracharms ♬ original sound – silksaguaro

    Some commenters urged the TikToker to take action. “Please contact your state attorney general,” one suggested. “You can easily make a claim on their website. I promise, they’ll resolve it super fast.”

    “Contact the BBB [Better Business Bureau] right away!” another advised. Other ideas floated around included getting a chargeback on the credit card and contacting an attorney.

    But for many viewers, the user’s Pandora problems didn’t come as a surprise. “That is their line,” a third pointed out. “I’ve also ask for a supervisor and they always say none is available.”

    While a fourth added, “Pandora online is insanely terribly, the amount of messed up orders is actually crazy.”

    And a fifth noted, “This is shockingly not the first story like this I’ve heard. I’m certain that I saw someone else on TikTok with a very similar story.”

    The TikToker later revealed in a follow-up video that she got an email from Pandora. This was after posting the first TikTok, and confirmed that they issued her the rest of the full refund.

    Pandora refuses to honor ‘lifetime warranty’ on bracelet

    By all accounts, Pandora has been a hot topic on TikTok for a while now. Back in June, TikToker and loyal Pandora customer @thebeststormeva went viral after sharing how her beloved Pandora bracelet was tarnished. This was after not taking it off during a trip to El Salvador, where she went into a clay mud spa.

    Despite the bracelet having a so-called “lifetime warranty,” Pandora refused to replace it when she asked for an exchange. “I was told that it could not be replaced because I had had my bracelet longer than five years,” the TikToker explained. “Shouldn’t matter, right?”

    To add insult to injury, the TikTok user said her other Pandora bracelet, which was also sterling silver, was also tarnished. Though it turns out that this is quite common for sterling silver bracelets.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Charlotte Colombo

    Charlotte Colombo

    Charlotte is an internet culture writer with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from City St George’s, University of London.

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    Charlotte Colombo

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  • Videos falsely claim Nancy Guthrie’s body was found in pond near Catalina Foothills

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    Claim:

    Videos published prior to Feb. 26, 2026, accurately reported Arizona police recovered the body of Nancy Guthrie in a pond near the Catalina Foothills community.

    Rating:

    In late February 2026, online users shared videos reporting Arizona police located the body of Nancy Guthrie — the mother of “Today” TV host Savannah Guthrie — floating in a pond in the Tucson-area Catalina Foothills community. Snopes received reader mail asking about the rumor.

    After Nancy Guthrie’s family reported her missing on Feb. 1, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department announced she was believed to have been kidnapped, abducted or otherwise taken against her will. 

    In short, this rumor was false. Numerous videos, documented later in this article, featured a news-anchor-style voice resembling vocals generated with artificial intelligence, as well as fake news report clips displaying dated, recycled footage of police recovering human remains during unrelated investigations. As of this writing, officials had not located Guthrie.

    Snopes contacted the Pima County Sheriff’s Department to ask for a statement officially confirming the false nature of the videos and will update this article if we receive further information.

    Debunking the false videos

    On Feb. 22, a user managing the Sean Pilant YouTube channel (archived) posted a “breaking news” video (archived) with no visible broadcaster or network identifiers. The clip’s title read, “Nancy Guthrie’s body was found floating in a pond near Catalina Foothills. #arizona #nancyguthrie.”

    (Sean Pilant/YouTube)

    The video featured footage unrelated to Guthrie’s disappearance, including — at the 4-second mark — officers with uniforms identifying their locale as Hennepin County, Minnesota. A reverse image search found the clip’s very next shot showed a scene from the aftermath of a deadly New Year’s Day fire in Switzerland.

    The audio narration, resembling AI-generated, news-anchor-style voices Snopes has previously reported about, contained the following false story:

    The body of Nancy Guthrie was found floating in a pond near Catalina Foothills. On Saturday, police received a report of a floating body discovered in an abandoned pond near Sabino Canyon. The body was identified as that of long missing Nancy Guthrie, found just 2 miles from her residential community. Police investigations revealed numerous dragged footprints near the water’s edge. These tracks extended to the shoreline, distinctly different from ordinary walking patterns and appearing to show signs of struggle and forceful movement. Police preliminarily speculate that Nancy may have been forcibly brought to this location and engaged in a violent struggle with the suspect. The body’s state of decomposition indicates it may have been floating in the water for over a week. Further examination of the remains is currently underway. Meanwhile, investigators stated they are tracing clues related to Nancy’s activities prior to her disappearance.

    On the following day, TikTok user @caterpillar136588 posted a video (archived) containing the same audio narration but with different visuals. The 11-second mark showed numerous officers near water, matching footage (archived) from an unrelated matter recently occurring in Lake Michigan.

    Also on Feb. 23, a user managing the Sassy Paws Facebook page shared a video (archived) containing the same narration with different footage. The beginning of the clip showed officials handling a blue tarp near a body of water. That footage matched (archived) a scene from earlier in February, where officials in an Atlanta suburb recovered the body believed to be rapper Lil Jon’s son, Nathan Smith, known as D.J. Young Slade.

    On Feb. 24, a user managing the News 401 Facebook page posted a video (archived), again with the same audio narration and different visuals. The 40-second mark of the clip showed men in a boat at night. That same footage appeared in a Chicago TV affiliate’s video (archived) from July 2025.

    A previous post from the Empowering Change Now Facebook page displayed a similar rumor showing a still photo of men appearing to carry a body wrapped in a blue bag or tarp. That picture originated from (archived) an unrelated June 2025 investigation in Portugal.

    We privately messaged all of the aforementioned users (with the exception of the YouTube user, whos account did not provide a contact method) to ask about their promotion of false content. We will update this story if we receive more details.

    For further reading, we previously reported on false allegations about Savannah Guthrie’s husband, Michael Feldman, being connected to the federal case files on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

    Sources

    Billeaud, Jacques, and Sejal Govindarao. “Authorities Believe ‘Today’ Show Host Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Was Taken against Her Will.” The Associated Press, 2 Feb. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-arizona-tucson-6c7b78d17d7b647c64f71f64ecaecf8b.

    “Body Believed to Be Lil Jon’s Son D.J. Young Is Found in Pond near Atlanta.” The Associated Press, 6 Feb. 2026, https://apnews.com/article/lil-jon-music-artist-pond-georgia-9293200dd9936bffe5359c85314fa5dd.

    “Body Found in Lake Michigan on South Side, Chicago Police Say.” YouTube, ABC 7 Chicago, 21 Feb. 2026, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTSDD99FP0o.

    “BREAKING: There Appears to Be Some Activity near Baldwin Drive and Mayfield Road Where #LilJon ‘s Son #DJYoungSlade Was Last Seen.” Facebook, 6 Feb. 2026, https://www.facebook.com/kiss1041fm/posts/breaking-there-appears-to-be-some-activity-near-baldwin-drive-and-mayfield-road-/1327513332739601/.

    McClean, Denis. “Swiss Ski Resort Fire: ‘I’Ll Never Forget the Screams, the Smell, the Looks of Pure Fear.’” The Irish Times, 2 Jan. 2026, https://www.irishtimes.com/world/europe/2026/01/02/swiss-ski-resort-fire-ill-never-forget-the-screams-the-smell-the-looks-of-pure-fear/.

    “Search Underway on Fox River in St. Charles.” YouTube, 30 July 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUDAxSS0Fkc.

    Shapiro, Emily. “Nancy Guthrie Abduction: The Full Timeline.” ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026, https://abcnews.com/US/nancy-guthrie-abduction-timeline-mysterious-disappearance-savannah-guthries/story?id=129848673.

    Tetzlaff-Deas, Benedict, and Robert Harries. “Madeleine McCann Detectives ‘Sample Clothes and Bones Found during Search.’” Wales Online, 10 June 2025, https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/madeleine-mccann-detectives-sample-clothes-31830035.

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    Jordan Liles

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  • Maduro Moves to Dismiss US Criminal Case, Citing Dispute Over Legal Fees

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    WASHINGTON, ⁠Feb ⁠26 (Reuters) – Ousted ⁠Venezuelan President ​Nicolas ‌Maduro ‌asked ⁠a judge ⁠on Thursday to throw ​out ​his U.S. ⁠drug trafficking ⁠case, ⁠alleging the ​U.S. government is ​interfering ⁠with ⁠his defense by blocking the ⁠Venezuelan government from paying his legal ⁠fees.

    (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing ​by Chris ​Reese)

    Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters.

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    Reuters

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  • Best rideshare car insurance 2026

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    Car insurance for rideshare drivers is tricky because your personal auto policy may not cover you the whole time you’re driving for Uber, Lyft, or a delivery app. Coverage can change depending on whether you’re waiting for a request, on the way to pick someone up, or actively driving a passenger.

    To find the best insurance for rideshare drivers, Yahoo Finance analyzed 20 major insurers across rideshare availability, full coverage rates, discounts, coverage options, and protective add-ons like accident forgiveness and gap insurance. The companies below stood out for offering the right mix of affordable rideshare coverage and policy features that matter for gig drivers.

    Learn more:

    American Family earned the top spot for best rideshare insurance because it offers rideshare drivers many affordable options. You’ll find 11 coverage options, including accident forgiveness, a diminishing deductible, new car replacement, and gap insurance. It also has some of the most affordable rideshare coverage. If you live in one of the states where it operates, it’s one of the best choices for part-time or full-time rideshare drivers who don’t want to overpay.

    American Family also scored at the top of our analysis for the best car insurance overall.

    American Family pros and cons

    Pros

    Cons

    • Average cost for full coverage car insurance: $151

    • Availability: Regional (Mostly the West and Midwest)

    • Crash Network grade for claims handling: C+

    • Coverage offerings: 11 options

    • Available discounts: 17 types

    • Digital experience score: 3.95 (out of 5)

    Learn more: American Family auto insurance review

    Farmers has some of the best insurance for Uber drivers and other gig workers. It boasts one of the broadest coverage menus in our study and has plenty of discounts to drive prices down. If you’re someone who prefers customizing limits, endorsements, and optional protections, Farmers auto insurance for rideshare will give you plenty of room to tailor coverage to your specific risk tolerance.

    Farmers scored near the top of our analysis for the best car insurance for seniors.

    Farmers pros and cons

    Pros

    • Car insurance rates are slightly below average

    • Strong lineup of protective add-ons

    • Broad range of available discounts

    Cons

    • Average cost for full coverage car insurance: $182

    • Availability: Nationwide

    • Crash Network grade for claims handling: C-

    • Coverage offerings: 17 options

    • Available discounts: 19 types

    • Digital experience score: 4.75 (out of 5)

    Learn more: Farmers auto insurance review

    Allstate’s ridesharing insurance stands out for how much protection you can layer into the underlying policy. The company’s range of options includes every major add-on we scored (accident forgiveness, diminishing deductible, new-car replacement, and gap insurance), which can make a difference if you’re driving frequently for Uber or Lyft.

    Allstate pros and cons

    Pros

    Cons

    • Average cost for full coverage car insurance: $180

    • Availability: Nationwide

    • Crash Network grade for claims handling: D

    • Coverage offerings: 15 options

    • Available discounts: 11 types

    • Digital experience score: 4.4 (out of 5)

    Learn more: Allstate car insurance review

    Travelers strikes a practical balance between price and protection, making it one of the best rideshare insurance companies. Travelers’ average premium is competitive, and it offers optional add-ons such as accident forgiveness, diminishing deductible, new-car replacement, and gap insurance, among others. Travelers delivers steady value for gig workers looking to manage costs.

    Travelers also made our list of the best teen car insurance.

    Travelers pros and cons

    Pros

    • Competitive full coverage rates

    • Strong lineup of protective add-ons

    • A decent number of discounts

    Cons

    • Average cost for full coverage car insurance: $183

    • Availability: Nationwide

    • Crash Network grade for claims handling: C

    • Coverage offerings: 14 options

    • Available discounts: 14 types

    • Digital experience score: 4.65 (out of 5)

    Learn more: Travelers car insurance review

    Liberty Mutual is built for drivers who want options. It offers one of the largest coverage menus in our analysis and has tons of unique coverage add-ons like Mexico car insurance if you accept rides that will take you across the border, and better car replacement coverage that will replace your vehicle with one model year newer.

    Liberty Mutual also ranked highly for best car insurance overall, according to our analysis.

    Liberty Mutual pros and cons

    Pros

    • One of the largest coverage selections in our analysis

    • Strong lineup of protective add-ons, including niche options

    • Decent number of discounts

    Cons

    • Website doesn’t state if it covers food delivery drivers

    • Higher full coverage rates than many competitors

    • Below-average claims handling grade

    • Average cost for full coverage car insurance: $216

    • Availability: Nationwide

    • Crash Network grade for claims handling: D+

    • Coverage offerings: 19 options

    • Available discounts: 13 types

    • Digital experience score: 4.7 (out of 5)

    Learn more: Liberty Mutual car insurance review

    Progressive is a practical option for drivers who switch between Uber, Lyft, and delivery platforms like DoorDash or Uber Eats. In addition to offering a rideshare endorsement, it publicly states it will cover food delivery drivers during certain phases of app use — something not all insurers clarify.

    Progressive pros and cons

    Pros

    • Covers food delivery drivers

    • Wide range of coverage options

    • Strong discount availability

    Cons

    • Average cost for full coverage car insurance: $205

    • Availability: Nationwide

    • Crash Network grade for claims handling: C

    • Coverage offerings: 15 options

    • Available discounts: 14 types

    • Digital experience score: 4.6 (out of 5)

    Learn more: Progressive auto insurance review

    We evaluated 20 major insurance companies to determine which offered the best rideshare insurance coverage. The top spot went to American Family, which earned 5.0 stars (out of 5). Farmers followed closely behind with 4.9 stars. Allstate and Travelers tied at 4.7 stars, while Liberty Mutual and Progressive rounded out the top tier with 4.5-star ratings.

    See how all 20 insurers in our analysis ranked for rideshare insurance below.

    When you drive for Uber, Lyft, or a delivery app, your coverage changes depending on what “period” you’re in. Most personal auto policies won’t fully cover you once you turn your rideshare app on. And while Uber and Lyft provide some insurance, that coverage may have gaps when you’re waiting for a ride request.

    Rideshare insurance (sometimes called a rideshare endorsement) fills those gaps. It typically extends your personal policy during Period 1 — when the app is on, but you haven’t accepted a ride yet. Without it, you could be left paying out of pocket if you get into an accident during that window.

    Some policies also clarify whether food delivery drivers are covered the same way as passenger drivers. If you drive for multiple platforms or switch between rideshare and delivery apps, you’ll need to confirm exactly when your coverage applies and when it doesn’t.

    Rideshare coverage fills an important gap, but it doesn’t replace your core policy. You’ll still need liability coverage (required in most states), plus collision and comprehensive if you want protection for your own vehicle.

    Beyond your state’s minimum required car insurance, these add-ons could be helpful for rideshare drivers:

    Learn more: Most common types of car insurance explained

    Auto insurance costs vary by insurer, which makes comparison shopping especially important for rideshare drivers. Even if two companies both offer rideshare coverage, base rates can differ quite a bit.

    Below is how full coverage rates stack up across the 20 companies in our best rideshare insurance study, according to data from the auto insurance marketplace Savvy Insurance Solutions.

    Learn more: Cheapest full coverage car insurance

    Rideshare coverage adds another layer to your policy, but your rate still comes down to the basics. Insurers use the same core pricing factors for gig drivers as they do for everyone else.

    Here are the common factors car insurance providers use when calculating rates:

    Learn more: Car insurance rates are climbing. Here are 4 reasons why and 11 ways to save.

    Here are tips for finding the best rideshare insurance.

    Start by confirming whether your current insurer even allows rideshare driving. If not, you’ll need to switch companies before adding an endorsement. Include collision and comprehensive coverage if you want protection for your car. And, consider add-on coverage options that could help you save in the long run, such as accident forgiveness. The more hours you spend driving, the more important it is to protect both your vehicle and your income.

    Once you know what coverage you want, compare car insurance quotes from at least three companies that offer rideshare endorsements.

    Look at:

    • The total premium with the rideshare add-on included

    • What period(s) of driving are covered

    • Whether food delivery driving is included

    Learn more: How much car insurance coverage do I need?

    Some car insurance discounts include multi-policy discounts, safe-driver discounts, low-mileage programs, or usage-based programs. If you don’t drive much outside of rideshare work, ask whether a telematics or a pay-per-mile program could help reduce costs.

    Learn more: Best car insurance discounts

    Gig work can change quickly. If you start driving more hours, switch platforms, or buy a new vehicle, update your policy. Review your coverage at least once a year to make sure your rideshare endorsement and limits still fit your needs. You may also want to shop around again and switch car insurance companies if it makes sense for your finances.

    Learn more: Does buying car insurance online save you money?

    Many Uber and Lyft drivers carry a personal auto policy with a rideshare endorsement added. The endorsement extends coverage when the app is on, but you haven’t accepted a ride yet (also known as Period 1). Some drivers rely solely on Uber or Lyft’s insurance, but that coverage only applies during certain periods and could come with higher deductibles.

    Generally, no. Since a rideshare endorsement is an add-on, you can expect your premium to increase because you’re purchasing more coverage. The cost of rideshare insurance varies by company, location, driving history, and how often you drive. Comparison shopping can make a meaningful difference.

    Learn more: Cheapest car insurance for teen drivers

    The best way to lower your rideshare insurance premium is to compare quotes from multiple insurers that offer a rideshare endorsement. Maintaining a clean driving record and choosing a higher deductible, when you can afford it, can also reduce your rate. You may qualify for additional savings through bundling, low-mileage, or usage-based programs.

    Tim Manni edited this article.

    To identify the best car insurance for rideshare drivers, Yahoo Finance evaluated 20 major auto insurers across price, rideshare availability, discounts, coverage flexibility, and protective add-ons. Each company was scored using a standardized rubric designed to reflect what matters most to gig drivers.

    All factors were converted to a standardized point scale and combined into a composite score. Rideshare endorsement availability carried the greatest weight, followed by rate competitiveness, discount breadth, total coverage options, and high-value protective add-ons.

    1. Rideshare coverage availability: 30% of score. Companies received full credit if they publicly offer a rideshare endorsement or equivalent coverage designed to fill Period 1 gaps. Insurers without a rideshare offering received zero points in this category.

    2. Rate competitiveness: 20% of score. Average rate estimates were provided by Savvy Insurance Solutions (“Savvy”), which operates a nationwide insurance marketplace and licensed agency. Estimates are generated using Savvy’s in-house machine learning models based on more than 3 million data points across major insurers. For this analysis, rates were modeled using a standard “full coverage” profile. Full coverage car insurance includes liability insurance, any state-required coverage, plus collision and comprehensive coverage. Insurers with more competitive full coverage rates earned higher scores.

    3. Protective add-ons: 20% of score. We awarded additional points to insurers that offer high-value features that can reduce financial risk for rideshare drivers, including accident forgiveness, diminishing deductibles, new car replacement, and gap insurance. Each available add-on contributed incremental points to the insurer’s total score.

    4. Discount availability: 15% of score. We evaluated the total number of publicly listed auto insurance discounts. Companies offering a broader range of discounts earned higher scores.

    5. Total coverage offerings: 15% of score. Insurers were scored based on the total number of coverage options available, including standard protections and optional endorsements. Companies with greater policy options earned more points.

    Unless stated otherwise, the estimates above are provided by Savvy Insurance Solutions (“Savvy”). Savvy operates a marketplace for home and auto insurance, plus an agency licensed in all 50 states. Estimates are generated using Savvy’s in-house machine learning models based on over 3 million data points, and include more than 15 of the largest insurance companies in Savvy’s nationwide data set. This includes data from more than 2 million insurance accounts connected through Trellis Connect, an in-house technology allowing consumers to “link” their insurance accounts before searching for insurance, and tens of thousands of policies bound by Savvy’s own agents. It takes into account a myriad of factors to create predictions, such as:

    • Policyholder age

    • Number of vehicles

    • ZIP code

    • Vehicle age

    • Insurer

    • …and more

    Savvy creates estimates by running models against multiple inputs to the parameters of interest. For instance, the “teen driver” estimates were created by adjusting the policyholder age input into the pricing model while keeping all other variables steady from the baseline for “full coverage.” The models enable hyper-personalized estimates that take into account a plethora of user attribute permutations (e.g., teen drivers in specific states, teen drivers with new vehicles, teen drivers in specific states with new vehicles) to provide individuals with a unique and tailored experience. The charts above are a subset of the kinds of personalization Savvy can do.

    The following are definitions used by Savvy when providing its rate estimates for various types of coverage.

    Full coverage car insurance: A policy with comprehensive, collision, and liability coverage.

    Average policyholder: A 48-year-old driver who owns a 13-year-old vehicle and lives in an average-income ZIP code.

    Senior driver: A 70-year-old policyholder with full coverage car insurance.

    Good driver: Drivers across all coverage types, vehicle types, and locations who have no tickets, accidents or DUIs.

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  • JetBlue Sale with Award Fares from 3,800 Miles, Book by Feb. 27

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    JetBlue Sale with Award Fares from 3,800 Miles

    JetBlue has launched a limited-time award sale, offering discounted point redemptions. This two-day sale requires you to book your travel by February 27, 2026, for trips scheduled between March 10 and May 20, 2026. The discount also extends to JetBlue Vacations, qualifying for point redemptions on flight and hotel packages.

    Award fares during this promotion start as low as 3,800 points one-way for flights from Providence, RI (PVD) to New York, NY (JFK). Some deals out of New York for example include Denver and Fort Lauderdale starting at 4,400 points, Atlanta at 4,800 points, and Vero Beach at 4,900 points. International destinations are also discounted, with Punta Cana starting at 5,500 points and Cancún at 6,900 points.

    While these point totals are lower than usual, travelers should keep in mind that taxes and fees still apply to all award bookings. Additionally, the sale excludes Blue Basic and Mint fares. 

    To get started, just head over to the Best Fare Finder on JetBlue’s website and start searching for your favorite routes.

    The post JetBlue Sale with Award Fares from 3,800 Miles, Book by Feb. 27 appeared first on Danny the Deal Guru.

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    DDG

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  • Diamonds aren’t a girl’s best friend — Olympic gold is – The Miami Hurricane

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    Graphic credit // Max Rogers

    I’m a retired elite athlete in the way some people were child actors.

    At one point, my entire life revolved around wrestling and most other things seemed relatively insignificant in comparison. Daily strength training would lead into practice, which started in the afternoon and went well-into the evening, often followed by some endurance running. Weekends were for competing. 

    And like most elite athletes growing up, the Olympics were a staunch motivator. I believed that if I simply trained harder, I could one day compete under the United States’ banner. A mid-match shoulder dislocation and labral tear — and the subsequent surgery afterwards — set those Olympic-minded thoughts on fire.

    Now, my singlet is folded neatly in a box at the top of my closet, along with my plaques and medals, but one thing has remained: The Olympics are everything to me. 

    For as long as I can remember, the even years held some of my most vivid memories, like sitting cross-legged in front of the TV at odd times, trying to teach myself a backbend as Simone Biles broke every record on Earth, Chloe Kim setting the standard for in-competition 1080s — and asking my mom why I never learned to snowboard. I sobbed when Helen Maroulis became the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling. Like so many young athletes, the Olympics have always felt personal.

    Ahead of this year’s games, I couldn’t wait to watch my favorite events like Halfpipe, Slopestyle and Figure Staking, especially as Alysa Liu was returning after early retirement.

    But if these Olympics have proved anything, it’s that women are already delivering gold — and our culture refuses to treat it like it counts.

    This year, at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Team USA took home 33 medals — 12 of them gold. Eight of those gold medals belonged to women. 

    It wasn’t a supporting role, nor a feel-good storyline. It was the headline. 

    Through the 2026 Olympics, it was women setting the standard of excellence. Except, the conversation hasn’t really been reflecting that. 

    I know what it feels like to win and still be treated like an afterthought. I’ve stood on podiums where the applause felt thinner than it did for the boys before me. I’ve been booed walking onto the mat. I competed against boys while fighting for girls’ wrestling to exist at all. I trained in rooms where their schedules came first.

    So when women bring home the majority of the gold and still get treated like the B-story, I recognize the pattern. I don’t need it explained to me.

    Instead of celebrating the amount of women who took home medals from Milan, the story on everyone’s lips is the American Men’s Ice Hockey team and its historic victory, and President Trump calling to offer congratulations — just to mock the Olympic champion Women’s Ice Hockey team in the same sentence.

    “And you know, I have to invite the women’s team,” Trump said over speakerphone before the locker room erupted into laughter. “I fear I may be impeached if I don’t.” 

    Although there were some outliers that seemed genuinely supportive of the women’s team’s win, one voice could be heard shouting “Absolutely!” and “2 for 2!” in the recording, those singular voices could not overpower the ‘boys-club energy’ radiating off the rest of his team. 

    I’ve heard that laugh before — in wrestling rooms, around me at tournaments as I warmed up. It’s the kind of laugh that feels like casual cruelty. Not inherently personal, just how it’s always been. It still lands the same.

    Some men’s hockey team members — like Jake Guentzel, Kyle Connor, Brock Nelson, Jackson LaCombe and Jake Oettinger — declined Trump’s invitation to the White House.

    While this may be nice to hear, the rest of the men’s team paraded through the White House halls. Those few players’ actions were left reading more like a footnote than anything.

    Amid the public backlash post-games, brothers and Team USA teammates Quinn and Jack Hughes seemed to double down on the matter. Sons of Olympic women’s team staff member Ellen Wienberg-Hughes, the Hughes’ response felt disrespectful and offhanded. 

    “People are so negative out there and they are trying to find a reason to put people down and make something out of almost nothing,” Jack Hughes told reporters Monday night. 

    Quinn Hughes shared that sentiment, saying that the team was “excited” to visit the White House and attend the State of the Union, sharing that it was going to be special for the team.

    FBI director Kash Patel has also been berated in the headlines lately, downing beers and jumping up and down with players in the Team USA locker room, after having flown to Italy via American taxpayer dollars — something he has been ridiculed for in the past. 

    When headlines focus on political figures laughing about “having to invite” the women’s team, or public officials celebrating men’s hockey all while women fight for visibility, it reveals something deeper than one moment of disrespect. 

    It makes the value gap hard to ignore. 

    Forget about the pay gap for a minute. Nearly 64% of the medals won this year by Team USA went home around the necks of female athletes — and yet, society is treating them like a sideshow. You cannot claim to support women’s sports while devaluing them in the same breath. 

    We often celebrate excellence in theory. But we seem to hesitate when excellence belongs to women — unless it’s packaged as inspiration, overcoming adversity or a thoughtful human-interest feature narrated in a soft piano voice.

    Gold, apparently, still needs a qualifier.

    Women aren’t lacking results. They’re lacking recognition. The same people saying they want to ‘protect women’s sports’ don’t see the importance of women’s sports. When society doesn’t put female athletes on the same pedestal as male athletes, it signals to every young girl and woman that no matter what she accomplishes or how good she is at something, it will never be enough. 

    Women aren’t asking to be celebrated for trying. They’re asking to be valued for winning.

    Maybe “everyone watches women’s sports” is wishful thinking right now. And it shouldn’t be.

    Our sisters and daughters don’t wait to be inspiring. They already have the gold. The real problem is that society is still unwilling to treat it like it counts.

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    Bella Armstrong

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  • From Public Records to Public Trust: Juan Fernandez-Barquin at the Community News Network Breakfast | CNEWS TV#

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    From Public Records to Public Trust: Juan Fernandez-Barquin at the Community News Network Breakfast

    For more shows, visit: www.cnewstv.com

    ABOUT US:

    Miami Community Newspapers is your go-to source for Miami community news, offering daily updates, podcasts, and multimedia content. Covering local events, business updates, and lifestyle features across Miami-Dade County, our family-owned media company publishes a variety of neighborhood publications both online and in print. Explore Miami’s culture through our exclusive community podcasts, magazines, and newsletters.

    #thatscommunitynews #communitynewspapers #miamidade #miamidadecounty #thatscommunity #miamicommunitynews #coralgables #palmettobay #southmiami #doral #aventura #pinecrest #kendall #broward #biscaynebay

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  • Jack Dorsey’s Block Announces 4,000 Job Cuts in AI Overhaul

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    Bloomberg reported earlier this month that 10% of Block’s workforce could be cut during annual performance reviews as part of a broader overhaul.

    Jack Dorsey’s payments company Block will cut over 4,000 of its staff, with its co-founder pinning the move on the rapid acceleration of AI.

    “We’re already seeing that the intelligence tools we’re creating and using, paired with smaller and flatter teams, are enabling a new way of working which fundamentally changes what it means to build and run a company, and that’s accelerating rapidly,” wrote Dorsey in a letter to the company, which he shared on X. 

    “I had two options: cut gradually over months or years as this shift plays out, or be honest about where we are and act on it now. I chose the latter. Repeated rounds of cuts are destructive to morale, to focus, and to the trust that customers and shareholders place in our ability to lead,” he added.

    Affected staff will still receive their salary for 20 weeks, plus one week per year of tenure, six months of health care, their corporate devices, and $5,000 to help them transition to a new role, said Dorsey.

    Source: Jack Dorsey

    Bloomberg reported earlier this month that 10% of Block’s workforce could be eliminated during annual performance reviews, as part of a wider restructuring effort.

    Magazine: Bitcoin’s ‘biggest bull catalyst’ would be Saylor’s liquidation — Santiment founder