Democrat Charged In Alleged $1,500,000 Pandemic-Era Fraud Scheme

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The Democratic mayor of Lawrence, Mass. has been arrested and faces charges for allegedly fraudulently obtaining more than $1.5 million in pandemic-era small-business loans and misusing the money, the Department of Justice said Friday.

Brian DePeña, 61, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering and is set to make an initial appearance in a Boston federal court on Friday, the DOJ said in a news release. DePeña used the funds from the pandemic relief loans to fund his campaign account, pay personal taxes, and pay off more than $880,000 in high-interest mortgages, the department alleges.

“Mayor [DePeña] was elected to be a leader for the City of Lawrence. He was looked up to and trusted by his constituents, but he betrayed that trust through his alleged corruption and lies,” U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. “Today’s arrest is just another example of our determination to root out fraud by anyone, even public officials and holding elected officials accountable.”

In 2020 and 2021, DePeña applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for Tenares Tire Services Inc., a Lawrence-based tire sales and automotive services business that he owned, the DOJ alleged, citing charging documents. The EIDL program provided loans and advances aiming to “help businesses recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic,” according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Working capital did not include financing a political campaign, paying personal taxes, or paying off mortgages, according to the DOJ. (Read more from “Democrat Charged In Alleged $1,500,000 Pandemic-Era Fraud Scheme” HERE)

Hugh Hefner Tipped FBI about Epstein after Playboy Playmate ‘Raped’

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Playboy founder Hugh Hefner repeatedly called the FBI to report Jeffrey Epstein for sexual abuse in 2005, after a Playboy Playmate told him she was raped and trafficked by the disgraced financier, according to new details in a lawsuit.

Audra Lynn Christiansen — Miss October 2003 — turned to Hef for help when she was 23 and living at his Beverly Hills mansion, prompting the late magazine publisher to call the agency “multiple times” for assistance, according to the suit, filed by 32 Epstein victims against the United States.

In addition to the rape allegations, Christiansen said she confided in Hefner that she also was trafficked to one of his rich friends — Macau casino billionaire Stanley Ho, China’s “Godfather of gambling” who died in 2020, according to the filing.

She asked Hefner to call on her behalf in 2005, because she felt he had law enforcement connections and the “clout” to her allegations were taken seriously.

“Mr. Hefner called the FBI multiple times on behalf of Ms. Christiansen to report Jeffrey Epstein,” the complaint states. (Read more from “Hugh Hefner Tipped FBI about Epstein after Playboy Playmate ‘Raped’” HERE)

Egg Recall Upgraded to FDA’s Highest Risk Level: ‘Serious Adverse Health Consequences or Death’

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The FDA is upgrading an egg recall issued last month to its highest risk level, warning the public that exposure to the eggs could pose serious health risks.

On Wednesday, the FDA classified the recall as a Class I, indicating “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

Midwest Poultry Services first issued the recall of 1.6 million brown and white eggs in late July.

According to Midwest Poultry’s recall announcement, the eggs were produced and distributed from farms in Texas between June 6, 2026 and July 3, 2026, and have sell-by or best-by dates between July 20, 2026 and August 17, 2026.

The eggs were shipped to foodservice and retail customers in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, ere available to consumers at Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana, Brookshire Grocery stores in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Mississippi.

The recalled eggs can be identified by codes P-1950 or 0840962 with a Julian date between 157 and 184 printed on the side of the cartons. For a full list of examples, check the FDA recall site or call 574-405-9531. (Read more from “Egg Recall Upgraded to FDA’s Highest Risk Level: ‘Serious Adverse Health Consequences or Death’” HERE)

Five People Killed after Michigan Maniac goes on Bloody Shooting Spree

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Five people were killed in a Michigan shooting spree on Friday, sparking a massive manhunt that ended when the suspected gunman was found dead.

The bloodshed was first discovered at a home in Missaukee County, after troopers responded to a property on a report that someone had been shot around 11:40 a.m., Michigan State Police said in a news release.

Police found three dead people and one in critical condition at the home.

State police said the suspect, 39-year-old Chad Hickman, had fled the property prior to the troopers arriving on scene.

Two more slain victims were later found — one in the woods near Whitlock Lake and another in a separate home, according to state police.

The carnage prompted a frantic search for Hickman, who police said was considered armed and dangerous. (Read more from “Five People Killed after Michigan Maniac goes on Bloody Shooting Spree” HERE)

UPDATE: Airport Installing Foot Washing Stations for Muslim Travelers

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[Editor’s note: see updated article below] By Breitbart. The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is set to install privately-funded, dedicated Islamic foot washing stations in the facility, according to documents from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

According to the document, the project, which comes at an estimated cost of $300,000, is expected to begin August 31.

Women and men will have separate facilities that will not be shared between the sexes.

“Project consists of adding Ablution stations to existing concourse level restrooms in Terminal D, one Men’s ablution station in existing men’s restroom and one Women’s ablution station in the existing women’s restroom,” the details of the project read, as some say this will help eliminate the use of sinks in that capacity and keep the floors dry.

Reports indicate that this is a privately funded project and the stations will be in Terminal D of the airport. Audacy notes that this terminal “handles many of DFW’s international flights.”

(Read more from “Airport Installing Foot Washing Stations for Muslim Travelers” HERE)

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DFW Airport scraps controversial Islamic foot-washing station plan as Texas Gov Abbott takes aim

By Brittany Miller. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday directed a review of state grants to entities operating two major Texas airports over religious accommodations after Dallas Fort Worth International Airport said it would no longer move forward with a proposal to install Islamic washing stations.

Abbott said the state will review grants to entities operating DFW and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston for possible revocation and denial of future funding. He also referred both airports to the U.S. Department of Transportation for investigation.

“Government-owned airports cannot favor one religion over all others,” Abbott wrote on X Friday. “DFW plans to install Islamic wudu washing facilities are illegal. I’ve directed a review of all state grants to both airports for possible revocation, and referred DFW & IAH to USDOT for investigation.

“Texas will not allow illegal religious discrimination at taxpayer-funded facilities.” (Read more about Muslim traveler and foot washing HERE)

(Read more from “Airport Installing Foot Washing Stations for Muslim Travelers” HERE)

President Trump Finally Addresses if He’ll Seek a Third Term in the White House

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President Donald Trump dismissed a question Tuesday night from a reporter about the possibility of him running for a third term in 2028, saying “the law is very strong.”

“Everybody asks me that question, and you know that the law is very strong on that,” Trump said while speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. “I’d love to run, but the law is very strong.”

“I get asked by everyone, well, even tonight they’re screaming at the event, ‘2028,’” he said, referring to the Patriot Games, which he had attended earlier that day. “No, everybody wants me to do it, but the law is very strong.”

Section 1 of the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that no one can be elected president more than twice.

The amendment was ratified by the states in February 1951, roughly six years after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had served an unprecedented four terms as president. (Read more from “President Trump Finally Addresses if He’ll Seek a Third Term in the White House” HERE)

Owner of Suspiciously Vacant Adult Daycare Billed Medicaid $32M While Donating to Kathy Hochul, other Dems

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Kathy Hochul received $55,000 in campaign contributions from social adult daycare centers (SADCs) in fraud-plagued Flushing, Queens, records show.

Almost half of those donations can be linked to two men: local powerbroker Baoli Zhang, and Jiemin Shang — who own two of Flushing’s biggest daycare businesses, both of which were empty of patients when visited by The Post last week.

Zhang, 69, personally donated $10,000, as well as another $5,000 through his Bao Kang Adult Day Care, financial disclosures show. Zhang’s various businesses have claimed at least $32 million from Medicaid since 2018, on behalf of tens of thousands of patients.

Shang runs Livingwell Day Care, which donated $5,000 to Hochul in 2022, the same year it billed $5.8M to Medicaid. Another $5,000 came from Finest Adult Day Care, which Shang also runs.

“In 2021, [social adult daycare centers] were dying due to COVID. Someone threw them a lifeline and must have said something like, ‘Take care of me, I’ll take care of you.’ They’re making more money than ever now,” an industry source claimed to The Post. (Read more from “Owner of Suspiciously Vacant Adult Daycare Billed Medicaid $32M While Donating to Kathy Hochul, other Dems” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Birth Order Linked to 150 Health Conditions in Study of 10 Million American Siblings

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Whether someone is the older or younger sibling may be linked to certain health outcomes later in life, according to a massive new study.

Analyzing medical data from 10 million U.S. siblings over two decades, researchers from the University of Chicago and Columbia University found links suggesting that birth order may be connected to specific long-term health risks.

Researchers examined 569 disease categories across families and among siblings, identifying 150 conditions that were significantly associated with birth order.

First-born children showed a higher likelihood of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diagnoses, including autism, ADHD, Tourette’s and OCD, as well as immune-allergic conditions like food allergies.

Second-born children were statistically more prone to migraines, shingles, substance use disorders and gastrointestinal issues like gastritis. (Read more from “Birth Order Linked to 150 Health Conditions in Study of 10 Million American Siblings” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr\

Sen. John Kennedy Mocks Socialists with Snappy New Nickname — as He Torches Kamala Harris

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Republican Sen. John Kennedy unleashed on former Vice President Kamala Harris Monday, chiding the potential 2028 candidate for desperately cozying up to “Lulu Lenins” — unveiling a new nickname for democratic socialists that quickly went viral online.

Kennedy (R-La.) bitingly called Harris “no longer relevant” in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Monday night and mocked her for trying to woo progressives after her disastrous loss to President Trump in 2024.

“No disrespect, but Vice President Harris is no longer relevant. She had her shot and she missed,” the senator told Hannity.

“She can cozy up to the ‘Lulu Lenins’ all she wants to,” Kennedy quipped.

Harris — who said she is “thinking about” a 2028 presidential bid — has been quietly strengthening ties with one of the Democratic Party’s fastest-rising socialist stars, recently holding an extended private phone call with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The snappy nickname for the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) comrades is a combination of the popular and pricey athletic apparel brand Lululemon and Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin, who founded the communist Soviet Union. (Read more from “Sen. John Kennedy Mocks Socialists with Snappy New Nickname — as He Torches Kamala Harris” HERE)

Weed Is Now America’s Most Commonly Used Drug, And The Reason Why May Be Worse Than You Think

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Cannabis-related hospitalizations are climbing as more young Americans appear to be embracing it to cope with how they perceive the state of the world.

Emergency room visits for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) — cyclical vomiting caused by frequent cannabis use — rose roughly 16% from Oct. 2025 through May 2026, according to a Thursday report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The report comes after the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that approximately 21.4 million people in the U.S. use cannabis daily or near-daily, surpassing the consumption frequencies of roughly 19.9 million cigarette smokers and 17.2 million alcohol drinkers.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main compound within cannabis plants which triggers “highs.” Marijuana is a part of the plant with significantly higher concentrations of THC than others. Approximately 33.7% of marijuana users are between the ages of 18-25, according to the SAMHSA’s recent survey.

Multiple studies show that many young people turn to THC to self-medicate for anxiety and depression.

Thirty-four percent of Zoomers, the group of people — also referred to as “Generation Z” — born between 1997 and 2012, reported taking prescription medication for their mental health as of May 2025, whereas 19% reported self-medicating, according to a Harmony Healthcare IT study published in July. (Read more from “Weed Is Now America’s Most Commonly Used Drug, And The Reason Why May Be Worse Than You Think” HERE)