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Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi Opens Up About Her Humbling Hysterectomy Recovery

Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi Opens Up About Her Humbling Hysterectomy Recovery

Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi is getting candid about her ongoing hysterectomy recovery. “Day 3 post-op,” Snooki, 38, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Sunday, August 2, sharing a selfie from her hospital bed. “This recovery is really humbling me.” The MTV personality revealed hours earlier via Instagram that she had a hysterectomy, where doctors moved her uterus, cervix and “some parts of [her] vagina” as treatment for cervical cancer. (Snooki was diagnosed with stage I cervical cancer in April.) “It’s starting to get dark. [I think] my surgery ended at 9:30 or 10:00. I’m going to be honest with you: not great,” Snooki said in her Friday, August 1, video update. “I told you guys, in general, I’m not good with pain, and I’ve really been trying to be tough, but it’s not great.” Snooki, a mom of three, tearfully admitted that her recovery journey has “been a lot.” “The good thing is, obviously I’ve had three kids, so when you have kids, your abs disconnect,” Snooki quipped, referring to diastasis recti, a condition impacting an estimated 60 percent of pregnant individuals in which their abdominal muscles separate in order to accommodate a growing fetus. “[My doctor] ended up putting them back together, which is nice, because they were totally separated from my three kids.” While finding the silver lining from her painful surgery, Snooki still admitted to feeling overwhelmed by the level of her pain. “Just dealing with all the pain, it’s not great,” she noted in her upload. “I’m doing my best and I’m trying to stay optimistic. I hope I sleep tonight. I have a heating pad, so that’s helping. We got my fan, I have a ton of ginger ale and, yeah, we’ll see what happens tomorrow. The first couple days is hell, and then it’s going to get better, so I’m trying to stay in good spirits.” The fashion entrepreneur further acknowledged that she was “being very vulnerable” in publicly documenting her recovery process. “I feel like in this journey, I’ve been very vulnerable in general,” she said. “I just want to keep it going because it’s a scary thing and a lot of us women deal with it, and no one really talks about it. I’m here to give that platform for all us ladies. … I’m here to show you what’s up. It’s scary and it’s OK to be scared, but now it’s over.”

Aug 02, 2026
What Really Happened with Iran's Hormuz Strait Deal?

What Really Happened with Iran's Hormuz Strait Deal?

Iran’s negotiators signaled to the US that they could reopen the Strait of Hormuz before President Trump called off massive strikes on the country this weekend, according to reports — but the IRGC is already denying any deal.Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Qatari and American diplomats that Tehran was prepared to make concessions on the Strait of Hormuz — including a deal that would allow ships to enter through Iranian waters, and exit via Oman, according to Israel’s N12 and reporter Barak Ravid.However, other Iranian officials are already claiming there’s been no deal involving the strait, where nearly a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supplies once flowed.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly agreed to concessions on the Strait of Hormuz, but it’s unclear if the IRGC is on board. Getty ImagesIran has carried out sporadic attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz to scare off ships. REUTERS“There is no agreement whatsoever regarding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the reports published on the subject are false,” an Iranian official said told Fars News Agency, which has ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The latest breakdown in the cease-fire deal came after Iran started attacking ships that were navigating Hormuz via a route through Omani waters that the US had opened. Iran has maintained it must be allowed to charge tolls to ships crossing through that strait — thought such a toll would be illegal under international law. Trump indicated that there had been a breakthrough when he opted to hold off on plans to launch a massive, multi-week attack against Iran that was reported to include strikes on critical infrastructure within the Islamic Republic.“[W]e have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to,” Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday.“This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat,” he added. “I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL.”President Trump has stressed that the US is still prepared to carry out massive attacks on Iran. AFP via Getty ImagesTrump further threatened that the US “is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II.”Trump’s move also came after he spoke to Saudi leader Muhammad bin Salman, who urged him to hold off on a major strike.Saudi media said MBS “emphasized the need to use the language of dialogue to reduce escalation and the importance of making all possible efforts to achieve a calming.”Oman had also backed the proposal, according to N12, but there are questions about whether Araghchi is in sync with the IRGC — which has pushed to take a harder line than the politicians who are negotiating with the US. The IRGC leadership have frequently blocked deals during negotiations with the US. Trump and his negotiators have long expressed frustration over internal Iranian divisions that have complicated discussions.Trump has repeatedly threatened to carry out massive attacks on Iran before later backing off due to optimism about a breakthrough.

Aug 02, 2026
Patrick Murtagh and Hannah Orval's Heartbreaking Journey of Loss and Resilience

Patrick Murtagh and Hannah Orval's Heartbreaking Journey of Loss and Resilience

Former NFL player and Aussie Rules football star Patrick Murtagh and his girlfriend, Hannah Orval, endured the ramifications of a pregnancy loss one year before their baby boy was born sleeping. “From the outside it can feel like everyone is blessed with their pregnancies, able to carry a child time after time without struggle,” Orval, 27, wrote to fans via Instagram in May. “Though I have come to understand it is just that we don’t talk about the other side of it. And personally we couldn’t at the time either so I understand why. But now I want to bring light to something that I hope no two people ever feel alone in again.” Orval and Murtagh, 26, announced in a joint statement on Friday, July 31, that their baby son Meelo Michael Murtagh entered the world stillborn. “Meelo Michael Murtagh, born into this big world early and sleeping. ���� he will forever be the biggest missing piece of the rest of our story. to be a family for even just for a day was irreplaceable,” the couple wrote. “Childbirth, I would do it over again every day in every lifetime to meet him. we are absolutely devestated [SIC], but forever our biggest achievement in life.” Later, the influencer penned a personal letter to Meelo where she wrote that it was “a dream for a lifetime of being” his mother. “I walk you through your next life too because I’ll always be your mumma,” Orval vowed via her Instagram Stories. “My heart will forever be frozen in time to the day we met you. Your little fingers, your little toes, your daddy’s nose.” Calling childbirth “the most sacred thing” she’d experienced, Orval reached out to other mothers who have lost children. “The pain that we, as mothers, would choose to go through over and over again in every lifetime. Nothing could ever prepare you for the feeling of your baby touching your skin for the first time, now I understand,” she wrote. “Though we are strong as mothers to bare these children, I [now] understood more in that moment the real power of who we choose to have kids with.” Two months before the loss of Meelo, Orval revealed in a powerful Instagram post that she and the athlete previously suffered a pregnancy loss in 2025. “Last year we were so excited to be having our daughter. Our first child, our first pregnancy. We also then simultaneously carried the grief of a missed miscarriage,” she recalled. “Unfortunately at our 12.5 week scan we were made aware her heartbeat could no longer be found. She had unfortunately stopped growing the week prior & I had shown no signs of miscarriage. My body had not told me in any way so we were utterly shocked by the news.” Orval clarified that the heartbreaking news came during a period of tremendous upheaval in her and Patrick’s lives as he was deep into training for the NFL. (Patrick signed with the Denver Broncos practice squad in August 2025 after being waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars that May.) “A different country, a new state, a new team, a new bunch of faces. Just us two to carry something so great. Timelines, decisions, surgeries, recovery, grief. It truely [SIC] was a cruel experience and I want to give my heart to the many that face this,” she wrote. She went on, “To carry both life and death. It does something profound to you. I craved the comfort of knowing other people had the same struggle, the same story. Though I didn’t want that experience for anyone else, I did want to know it wasn’t my fault, that I was not alone. I did everything right? Why us?” Orval stressed that she was sharing her story so any couples going through similarly traumatic experiences will know that they aren’t alone. “I by no means share this to scare anyone but I do want people to feel seen, to understand it is not their fault. They aren’t alone in that story, that grief or that loneliness,” she noted. “I hope this can open up conversation about the struggles many face. That it encourages women and men to both lean on their people for support during times of grief and struggle. You are never alone.” She poignantly concluded her by post, writing, “The first piece of us is a piece that will always be missing.” If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Aug 02, 2026
Florida Evangelist Removed from Flight After Preaching Stirs Controversy

Florida Evangelist Removed from Flight After Preaching Stirs Controversy

An Evangelist influencer from Florida was booted from an Alaska Airlines flight on Thursday after preaching to her fellow passengers during a take-off delay. Whitney Lynn, 40, filmed the bizzare scene on Alaska Airlines flight 708 out of Orlando International Airport in a series of Instagram videos, including the moment she was told she was apparently making crew members feel unsafe. The San Diego-bound flight was delayed prior to take off, which is when Lynn, started to preach from the aisle of the plane. Evangelist Whitney Lynn, 40, claims she was kicked off an Alaska Airlines flight for preaching.“I know we’re all waiting. It’s kind of frustrating, right? this wait. But I want to tell you that God’s timing is perfect and God knows everything,” Lynn can be heard saying to the surrounding aircraft passengers in one of the videos. “And maybe he’s sparing us from danger today. So I want you to rest and know that Jesus Christ loves you so much that he died on the cross for your sins,” she continued. In another video, an apparent airline staffer can be seen telling Lynn to gather her belongings and deplane the aircraft. The Evangelist influencer posted a series of videos of the incident on July 30. Instagram/@whitneylynn1“Can you tell me what’s going on? You can’t just tell me to get my stuff and then not tell me what’s going on,” Lynn asked the airport employee.The employee proceeds to tell the Evangelist that the crew don’t “feel safe” with her onboard.“Oh my gosh I didn’t know the message of Jesus Christ was unsafe,” Lynn said. “Wow, do I have any guns or anything like that? No, I don’t.”“So freedom of speech is not safe?” she questions.Lynn claimed it was an act of “spiritual warfare.”As she is gathering her belongings, Lynn says that her preaching is “spiritual warfare” because “demons don’t like the name of Jesus.”The influencer then disembarks the plane and is met by two members of airport upon re-entering the terminal, according to another video. In a statement to The Post, Alaska Airlines said that “prior to the departure of Alaska Airlines Flight 708 from Orlando to San Diego on July 30, our flight crew became increasingly concerned about a guest’s behavior on board the aircraft, which was also affecting other guests”“The passenger was asked to deplane the aircraft for safety reasons. For the foreseeable future, the guest will not be permitted to travel on our flights.”The Evangelist is allegedly temporarily banned from Alaska Airlines and its affiliate airlines following the incident. Instagram/@whitneylynn1Lynn later posted an email she claimed was Alaska Airlines Corporate Security advising that she was temporarily banned from the airline and its affiliates, including Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air Flights. “This decision was made based on reports we received regarding your recent travels with us,” the alleged email says.“Upon conclusion of our investigation, we will reach out to you once again with a final decision.”The Evangelist also claimed on social media that she successfully converted an airport shuttle driver who transported her back to her hotel that day — and prayed with a man she later met at the hotel’s front desk.“Looking back, I can clearly see God’s hand in it all. What seemed like a setback became an opportunity for people to hear the gospel and give their lives to Christ,” Lynn wrote.The Post reached out to Orlando Police Department but did not immediately hear back. 

Aug 02, 2026
Sopranos Star Vincent Pastore's Sudden Passing Shocks Fans

Sopranos Star Vincent Pastore's Sudden Passing Shocks Fans

The Sopranos alum Vincent Pastore has died. He was 80. Pastore was found dead in his City Island residence in the Bronx on Saturday, August 1, by a neighbor, per Page Six. The outlet reported that police suspect Pastore died from natural causes. “I had the privilege of representing Vinny for more than 30 years, long before The Sopranos made him a household name,” his manager, Robert Attermann, told Page Six on Saturday, confirming the actor’s death. “To the world, he will always be remembered as the unforgettable ‘Big Pussy,’ but to those of us who knew him, he was so much more.” His statement continued, “Vinny was one of the kindest, most generous people I have ever known. He treated everyone with warmth and respect, never turning down a fan who wanted a photograph or an autograph.” Pastore is best known for playing Tony Soprano’s mafioso henchman-turned-saboteur Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on the first two seasons of HBO’s The Sopranos. (Following Sal’s infamous exit story line, Pastore returned multiple times for guest appearances on the HBO drama.) He broke into acting after obtaining a drama degree from New York’s Pace University. He had previously served in the U.S. military, fighting in the country’s Vietnam War. Pastore carved out a niche within the sprawling entertainment industry via various supporting roles in classic mob movies, including Goodfellas, Carlito's Way, Witness to the Mob and Mafia!. Away from the mob movie genre, Pastore lent his voice to the 2004 animated movie Shark Tale as the octopus Luca and voiced Terry on Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Following the announcement of his death, Pastore was remembered as a “beloved friend and collaborator” by Sopranos costar Michael Imperioli on Saturday. (Imperioli portrayed Tony Soprano’s drug-addicted protege Christopher on the HBO drama.) “This is a hard one for us, it seems like I’ve known Vinny forever. We did lots of work together and traveled all over the USA as well as Italy and Australia,” Imperioli, 60, wrote via Instagram. “Lots of good times. Lots of laughs. Vinny was a kind hearted brother who cared deeply about his family and friends. I will miss him always.” Fellow Sopranos alum Edie Falco — who played Tony Soprano’s long-suffering wife Carmella — told Page Six on Saturday that Pastore’s death was “an awful loss” and “so unexpected.” “Vinnie was always so full of life,” Falco, 63, noted. Having worked with Pastore on both The Sopranos and Goodfellas, Lorraine Bracco remembered the actor as “such a charming and funny man” via her Instagram Story. (Bracco starred as Tony’s psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi, on The Sopranos.) “Just a beautiful soul. Absolutely heartbreaking.” Bracco, 71, added. Junior Soprano actor Dominic Chianese shared via his own Instagram Story that he’d “lost a friend” on Saturday. “Paying respect and sending Love in tribute,” Chianese, 75, continued. “You were a gem Vinnie��.” Vincent is survived by a daughter, Renee Pastore, from his marriage to ex-wife Nancy Berke. His final big-screen performance will be in the upcoming 1950s coming-of-age drama Bad News on the Doorstep, in which he costarred with Mischa Barton, Rob Gronkowski and Chazz Palminteri.

Aug 02, 2026
New Mexico Tops the List as America's Kinkiest State

New Mexico Tops the List as America's Kinkiest State

Who’s been a naughty state? Turns out New Mexico is the most sexually adventurous state, driven by an astronomical 10,585 racy Google searches per 1,000 people and 6.5 visits to the adult store per every million people each month. The Land of Enchantment counts BDSM, swinging and making whoopee outdoors as favorites pastimes as they sex it up on an average of 2.06 times a week.A new survey reveals which are the kinkiest states in the US. Jack Forbes/ NY PostTheir Kink Score tops the list with an zipper-popping 91.6.Oregon is second with a score of 85.93, fueled by the nation’s highest rate of adult store visits at 11.3 trips per one million adults, while Arkansas (83.67) lands in third place, thanks to a healthy mix of bedroom activity and online curiosity.These two states’ secret antics include virtual sex, group sex and swinging with some good old-fashioned voyeurism thrown in.The new study conducted by Say It With A Condom ranked every state by quantifying everything from how many times residents get it on each week to searches for sexy online content and visits to adult-only stores.New Mexico leads the way as the kinkiest state in the US, with Oregon and Arkansas coming in close behind. georgerudy – stock.adobe.comRounding out the top 10 are Vermont (81.64), North Dakota (76.75), New Hampshire (70.10), Connecticut (69.71), Washington (67.75), Rhode Island (66.75) and Alaska (66.02), an icy state with red-hot bedrooms that engage in role playing and S&M.Alaska reports the highest average sex frequency of any state at 2.81 times per week, while Vermont and North Dakota stand out for their enormous appetite for kink-related Google searches, with more than 1,000 searches per 10,000 residents.New Yorkers were surprisingly vanilla.Sex-minded folks in the Big Apple admit they get a kick out of racy virtual sex. rotozey – stock.adobe.comThe Empire State lands at 21st, with a Kink Score of 52.05. New Yorkers report having sex 1.39 times a week, slightly above the national average of 1.08, while making 432 kink-related searches per 10,000 people.The Big Apple did secretly admit to indulging in a touch of sadism, virtual sex and voyeurism.Across the Hudson, New Jersey finishes a squeaky clean 43rd with a Kink Score of 32.74. Garden State residents average 1.21 sexual encounters per week, but record only 350 kink-related searches per 10,000 people and 1.1 monthly visits to adult stores per one million adults.New Yorkers who responded to the survey admitted they enjoyed voyeurism. The Washington Post via Getty ImagesFolks from the Big Apple also admitted a touch of sadism spices up their sex lives. Getty Images/iStockphotoThe uninhibited Jersey guys and gals admit they love to indulge in exhibitionism.The cowboys and cowgirls of Texas are America’s most straight-laced folks, earning a score of just 22.74.Pssst: Although its called The Lone Star State, those Texans are privately — and shockingly — into orgies, according to the survey.A large number of survey respondents told surveyors that BDSM was one of their secret turn ons. rotozey – stock.adobe.comIt’s joined in the bottom five by Florida (23.35), Tennessee (23.97), Georgia (26.52) and Mississippi (27.36).One thing most states report they won’t indulge in: Public Sex. Very few Americans like an audience.The biggest surprise is that many of the largest states failed to live up to their fast-living reputations.California ranked only 40th with a Kink Score of 34.16, while Florida finished 49th. But The Sunshine State does like to steam it up in the boudoir with BDSM, masochism with a sprinkle of … you guessed it, golden showers.“Sex is one of those topics people are endlessly curious about but still don’t always feel comfortable talking about openly. This study shows that interest in sex and kink is common across the US and that people are searching for these topics in every state,” Benjamin Sherman, CEO of Say It With A Condom, told The Post.“The key thing is that sex should always involve consent, communication, and protection. If people are exploring something new, they should feel able to talk honestly with their partner and make safe choices.”

Aug 02, 2026
Sen. Bernie Moreno's Silence on Daughter's Accusations Raises Eyebrows

Sen. Bernie Moreno's Silence on Daughter's Accusations Raises Eyebrows

Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio is unable or unwilling to say if his daughter Emily Moreno’s ex-husband, Rep. Max Miller, should resign after Emily accused the Ohio congressman of domestic violence, including breaking their daughter’s — the senator’s granddaughter's — collarbone. “I don’t know,” Moreno told political outlet NOTUS on Friday, July 31, when he was asked if Miller should be replaced in a contested race that could determine which political party controls the House. According to court documents obtained by Mother Jones and The New York Times, Emily — who filed for divorce in 2024 — has accused her ex of throwing hot water on her body, holding a gun to her head, pushing her with enough force to hurt her and breaking their daughter’s collarbone. Miller has vehemently denied the allegations, claiming his ex-wife is not “all there.” He has subsequently sued Emily for defamation, according to The Guardian. Like Moreno, many Republicans are either staying silent or continuing to support Rep. Miller in the wake of the allegations. “While we won’t dignify this baseless attacks by Democrats and their media allies, Senator Moreno will not speak on active litigation involving his family,” Raagan McCarthy, a spokesperson for Sen. Bernie, told NOTUS in a statement. Current Speaker of the House Mike Johnson told reporters, “The key word here is ‘allegation,’” when asked about the domestic violence claims levied against the congressman. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, also a Republican, told a local ABC affiliate news station that while the allegations are “serious and certainly troubling,” he believes “the people” of Rep. Miller’s district “are going to have to weigh the facts,” falling short of calling for the congressman to resign or drop out. “They’re the ones who decide who they want to represent them,” DeWine added. President Donald Trump — who has been credibly accused of sexual assault by over a dozen women, including his late ex-wife Ivana Trump, and was ordered by a judge to pay E. Jean Carroll $5.6 million after a jury found him liable for sexually assaulting her — gave Rep. Miller his “complete and total endorsement” in May, adding that the rep “will not let you down.” Miller is just one of many sitting or would-be politicians on both sides of the political aisle to stand accused of gross misconduct. In July, Graham Platner, a Democrat, withdrew from Main’s senate race among a slew of allegations, including sexual assault, inappropriate messages and abuse. (Graham has maintained his innocence and denied the allegations.) Former congressman Eric Swalwell, also a Democrat, suspended his gubernatorial run on April 12 before resigning from Congress amid multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. While Swalwell admitted to extramarital conduct, he denied the allegations before ultimately leaving office amid threats of an expulsion vote. According to a recent Politico poll, 66 percent of MAGA voters who voted for Trump, 80, said they would back a Republican candidate even if “a former partner has accused the Republican candidate of sexual assault” rather than vote for a Democrat.

Aug 01, 2026
Tragic End for Migrant on Overcrowded Boat Off California Coast

Tragic End for Migrant on Overcrowded Boat Off California Coast

Authorities made a horrifying discovery Wednesday after intercepting a small boat 14 miles west of San Clemente Island off the Southern California coast.Officials with the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection found 21 illegal migrants packed onto the small boat.Officials were notified of the boat by “a good Samaritan reporting a suspected alien smuggling vessel near San Clemente Island.” United States Coast Guard NewsOfficials with the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection found 21 illegal immigrants packed onto the small boat. United States Coast Guard NewsAs they boarded, authorities found an unresponsive 56-year-old man and performed CPR on him before a military helicopter flew him to a Los Angeles hospital.“A Coast Guard Air Station Ventura MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was diverted to conduct a medical evacuation,” officials said in a release. “The aircrew hoisted the patient and continued CPR while transporting him to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.”Hospital staff had managed to restore the man’s pulse, but the man ultimately did not survive.Images from the Coast Guard show a small vessel packed with several occupants wearing life jackets. As they boarded, authorities found an unresponsive 56-year-old man and performed CPR on him before a military helicopter flew him to a Los Angeles hospital. United States Coast Guard News United States Coast GuardOfficials were notified of the boat by “a good Samaritan reporting a suspected alien smuggling vessel near San Clemente Island.” It’s unclear where the boat departed from.The other 20 illegal immigrants were detained and transferred to US Border Patrol personnel, officials said.The other 20 illegal immigrants were detained and transferred to U.S. Border Patrol personnel, officials said. UCLA HealthSan Clemente Island, part of California’s Channel Islands, is located about 78 miles west of San Diego.The deceased man’s identity is unclear.

Aug 01, 2026
Former NY Parole Board Member Fired After Warning About Released Killer

Former NY Parole Board Member Fired After Warning About Released Killer

A former New York State Parole Board commissioner was given the boot after objecting to the release of a convicted killer who allegedly vowed to torture and murder her in a racist tirade after she voted to keep him behind bars, she told The Post.Tyece Drake said she repeatedly warned state officials about threats allegedly made by murderer Matthew Svanberg, 53, before he was granted parole in 2024. Svanberg spent 25 years behind bars for fatally shooting 26-year-old gas station attendant Dennis Folk in the face during a robbery at a Long Island service station in 1993.Matthew Svanberg went on the run for five years before he was captured and found guilty of murdering a gas station attendant. News 12Svanberg, who was 20 at the time, fled to Las Vegas after the murder and evaded capture for five years until he was nabbed by police and extradited to New York.The inmate flew into a rage when Drake, 53, denied him parole in 2023, according to a letter obtained by The Post a fellow inmate sent to the state Parole Board the following year.“He when (sic) on a racist rant about how he will kill that ‘Black B—h Drake, that F—ing N—-r B—h,’ if he ever gets his change (sic),” according to the letter from an inmate in prison with Svanberg at Woodbourne Correctional Facility in Sullivan County.“‘How dare that f—–g black b—h think that she is above a white man like me,'” the letter said. “‘She is beneath us. How dare she gets above her station.'”Svanberg said that one day, “He will teach her to respect a white man like him. That when she beg (sic) for her life, he will torture her then kill her,” according to the letter.Svanberg was “extremely angry” at Drake and “he felt that she was emotionally torturing him,” according to the letter.Dennis John Folk, 26, was shot in the face during a robbery while he worked the night shift at a Getty gas station in Ridge, NY. Change.orgDrake, a mental health professional appointed to the parole board in 2017, said she took her responsibility to protect the public seriously.“He was angry because I asked him so many questions,” said Drake, one of three board members who interviewed Svanberg. “It’s a murder case. I have to be thorough so that I am sure that if I’m releasing someone that the public is going to be safe.”During the hearing, Svanberg didn’t seem to be taking responsibility for his victim’s death, and he bragged about the killing while he was on the run, Drake said.Drake wrote the decision denying Svanberg parole, but he appealed in a Dutchess County Court and won a new hearing after a judge decided the killer couldn’t be denied parole based on the seriousness of his crime. At Svanberg’s second parole hearing, far-left board member Tana Agostini was on the panel, and was among three board members who interviewed him. Agostini was the lead interviewer on the case and wrote the decision to release him, citing the judge’s court decision.Matthew Svanberg allegedly threatened to kill a state parole board member who denied his parole and was later sprung in a second hearing. News 12Agostini was a pro-inmate commissioner who married a felon she helped to get out of prison before she was appointed to the board by then-Gov. Cuomo. She has since been replaced, and didn’t return a call seeking comment.Svanberg was released in May 2024.“I have been afraid for my life for two years,” Drake told The Post. “When I complained, I was fired. It has impacted me psychologically.”Drake insisted Svanberg should be sent back to prison because the board didn’t follow state law that requires members to adhere to the “deprecate standard” and determine whether releasing an inmate would minimize the seriousness of their crime and undermine respect for the law.“We have a parole board being so careless that they’re not following their own law,” said Drake, who was told she was being replaced in June 2025 after complaining about Svanberg’s release. Former parole board member Tyece Drake wrote letters to the board’s leaders and politicians complaining about Svanberg’s release after the alleged death threats. Department of Corrections and Community SupervisionThe state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, which oversees the parole board, said they investigated the threats against Drake but couldn’t prove it.“Subsequently, after a thorough investigation, the threats were determined to be unsubstantiated,” a statement from the agency read.As far as her employment, the agency said Drake was replaced because her appointment term ended. “We do not comment further on personnel matters,” a spokesperson said.Drake fired back that her term actually ended six years before she was replaced.The inmate who wrote the letter stated in it that he would deny writing it if he was asked because “I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder the rest of my life.”When investigators questioned him, the convict denied writing the letter as promised, according to an internal DOCCS email exchange between Drake and an investigator at the agency’s Office of Special Investigations, provided to The Post.And Svanberg, who is living with his brother in Wainscott, LI, denied making the threats when he was questioned, according to the exchange.“It should be noted that unsubstantiated does not mean it didn’t happen,” the investigator wrote in the email.Svanberg was working for his brother’s surf and kayak business in the Hamptons after his release. A working phone number for him coudn’t be found.Drake considers herself a “whistleblower” and wants to see change at the parole board.“I think leadership needs to be removed and have people in there who know what they’re doing,” she said.Drake also would like to see Svanberg go back to prison.“If they can reverse that decision, then they should reverse it,” she said. “He got out illegally.”

Aug 01, 2026
Former Parole Board Member Fired After Warning About Threats from Released Killer

Former Parole Board Member Fired After Warning About Threats from Released Killer

A former New York State Parole Board commissioner was given the boot after objecting to the release of a convicted killer who allegedly vowed to torture and murder her in a racist tirade after she voted to keep him behind bars, she told The Post.Tyece Drake said she repeatedly warned state officials about threats allegedly made by murderer Matthew Svanberg, 53, before he was granted parole in 2024. Svanberg spent 25 years behind bars for fatally shooting 26-year-old gas station attendant Dennis Folk in the face during a robbery at a Long Island service station in 1993.Matthew Svanberg went on the run for five years before he was captured and found guilty of murdering a gas station attendant. News 12Svanberg, who was 20 at the time, fled to Las Vegas after the murder and evaded capture for five years until he was nabbed by police and extradited to New York.The inmate flew into a rage when Drake, 53, denied him parole in 2023, according to a letter obtained by The Post a fellow inmate sent to the state Parole Board the following year.“He when (sic) on a racist rant about how he will kill that ‘Black B—h Drake, that F—ing N—-r B—h,’ if he ever gets his change (sic),” according to the letter from an inmate in prison with Svanberg at Woodbourne Correctional Facility in Sullivan County.“‘How dare that f—–g black b—h think that she is above a white man like me,'” the letter said. “‘She is beneath us. How dare she gets above her station.'”Svanberg said that one day, “He will teach her to respect a white man like him. That when she beg (sic) for her life, he will torture her then kill her,” according to the letter.Svanberg was “extremely angry” at Drake and “he felt that she was emotionally torturing him,” according to the letter.Dennis John Folk, 26, was shot in the face during a robbery while he worked the night shift at a Getty gas station in Ridge, NY. Change.orgDrake, a mental health professional appointed to the parole board in 2017, said she took her responsibility to protect the public seriously.“He was angry because I asked him so many questions,” said Drake, one of three board members who interviewed Svanberg. “It’s a murder case. I have to be thorough so that I am sure that if I’m releasing someone that the public is going to be safe.”During the hearing, Svanberg didn’t seem to be taking responsibility for his victim’s death, and he bragged about the killing while he was on the run, Drake said.Drake wrote the decision denying Svanberg parole, but he appealed in a Dutchess County Court and won a new hearing after a judge decided the killer couldn’t be denied parole based on the seriousness of his crime. At Svanberg’s second parole hearing, far-left board member Tana Agostini was on the panel, and was among three board members who interviewed him. Agostini was the lead interviewer on the case and wrote the decision to release him, citing the judge’s court decision.Matthew Svanberg allegedly threatened to kill a state parole board member who denied his parole and was later sprung in a second hearing. News 12Agostini was a pro-inmate commissioner who married a felon she helped to get out of prison before she was appointed to the board by then-Gov. Cuomo. She has since been replaced, and didn’t return a call seeking comment.Svanberg was released in May 2024.“I have been afraid for my life for two years,” Drake told The Post. “When I complained, I was fired. It has impacted me psychologically.”Drake insisted Svanberg should be sent back to prison because the board didn’t follow state law that requires members to adhere to the “deprecate standard” and determine whether releasing an inmate would minimize the seriousness of their crime and undermine respect for the law.“We have a parole board being so careless that they’re not following their own law,” said Drake, who was told she was being replaced in June 2025 after complaining about Svanberg’s release. Former parole board member Tyece Drake wrote letters to the board’s leaders and politicians complaining about Svanberg’s release after the alleged death threats. Department of Corrections and Community SupervisionThe state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, which oversees the parole board, said they investigated the threats against Drake but couldn’t prove it.“Subsequently, after a thorough investigation, the threats were determined to be unsubstantiated,” a statement from the agency read.As far as her employment, the agency said Drake was replaced because her appointment term ended. “We do not comment further on personnel matters,” a spokesperson said.Drake fired back that her term actually ended six years before she was replaced.The inmate who wrote the letter stated in it that he would deny writing it if he was asked because “I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder the rest of my life.”When investigators questioned him, the convict denied writing the letter as promised, according to an internal DOCCS email exchange between Drake and an investigator at the agency’s Office of Special Investigations, provided to The Post.And Svanberg, who is living with his brother in Wainscott, LI, denied making the threats when he was questioned, according to the exchange.“It should be noted that unsubstantiated does not mean it didn’t happen,” the investigator wrote in the email.Svanberg was working for his brother’s surf and kayak business in the Hamptons after his release. A working phone number for him coudn’t be found.Drake considers herself a “whistleblower” and wants to see change at the parole board.“I think leadership needs to be removed and have people in there who know what they’re doing,” she said.Drake also would like to see Svanberg go back to prison.“If they can reverse that decision, then they should reverse it,” she said. “He got out illegally.”

Aug 01, 2026
Lindsay Hubbard's Bold Comeback Sparks Buzz: Why Everyone's Watching

Lindsay Hubbard's Bold Comeback Sparks Buzz: Why Everyone's Watching

For years, “Activated Lindsay” was something Summer House viewers braced themselves for. Now, they can’t get enough. After a decade of unforgettable feuds, messy breakups and some of reality TV’s most iconic one-liners, Lindsay Hubbard is finally having the last laugh. The star is in the midst of a full-blown renaissance as fans who once questioned her are now celebrating her unfiltered takes, viral reunion moments and unapologetic social media clapbacks. “[It’s] validating after so many years of having my character attacked,” Hubbard (a.k.a. Mother Hubbard to her stans) says of getting her long-awaited flowers. “People finally understand [me]. They’re like, ‘Oh, OK, Lindsay’s a strong, hardworking girl who doesn’t take s*** from anyone.’” The newfound support comes after one of the most transformative — and turbulent — chapters of her life. In the span of two years, Hubbard, 39, endured a broken engagement to costar Carl Radke, welcomed daughter Gemma, now 18 months, navigated another brutal split weeks after giving birth and balanced single motherhood while filming not one but two Bravo series. As if that weren’t enough, she also found herself with a front-row seat to the reality TV scandal of 2026, as it was revealed that Amanda Batula had secretly been dating her best friend Ciara Miller’s ex West Wilson behind everyone’s back. The revelation set off a firestorm that fractured friendships, dominated headlines and left everyone asking: What’s next for Summer House? The good news: The show (which just scored its first Emmy nom!) and Hubbard are coming back, and she says she’s finally feeling like herself again. “You can always tell when something’s a bit off,” Hubbard says of navigating life as a newly single first-time mom. “Now I’m firing on all cylinders.” (Need proof? Just look at the tough love she gave Batula in the Summer House aftermath episode.) “I’m like, ‘F*** it,’” she says. “I don’t care anymore; I say what I feel.” Hubbard tells Us Weekly more about her triumphant return for season 11 of ˆ — “I am so back, baby!” — her spinoff In The City and her recently stacked dating roster. Congrats on the Emmy nod! How did you react? I screamed and I ran a lap around my apartment. I texted Kyle [Cooke] and Carl on a group text first, then our editors and our executives. My messages were filled with a lot of caps, exclamation marks and extra letters. This has been a good year for you so far. Do you feel a shift? I do. It’s a culmination of so many things. I had a heavy couple of years, going through [breakups]. I became a mom and did back-to-back TV shows. There was obviously a big scandal in the middle of it, which was very consuming, but there were some positives that came out of it. I’ve gotten lighter. Was there a specific moment when you felt something lift? I started feeling like myself a few months ago. I said, “OK, I’m in a good groove.” I have my mom cadence down and scheduling with Gemma and work. You seem to have less of a filter. I say what I feel, and if you don’t like it, don’t follow me. In the beginning, with the scandal, we couldn’t really say anything. We had to wait for the reunion. So Threads and Instagram were my outlets. I do feel activated in a really positive way. I’m also goofy and funny, and I’ve obviously found my softer side since having Gemma. We can be all of these things. That’s why I’m here and why we’ve been here for 10 years. People are seeing a more well-rounded version of you. You have me on Summer House, which is my fun weekend vacation side, and then on In The City, you see my everyday life. I’m the girl who works my ass off day in and day out, sometimes seven days a week, and being a mom. But I’m also that fun, young-hearted person in Kyle’s DJ booth, fist pumping and being the hype woman. You look amazing. What are you doing workout-wise? It’s hard [because] my focus is being a mom, working and then trying to fit in a date, so working out has taken a back seat. For me and Kyle, it’s like the less sleep we get, the more drinks we consume… somehow things go in the opposite direction in a positive way. How are you feeling about turning 40 in August? I feel so good about entering my 20 times two decade! [Laughs.] I don’t feel 40. Fifty years ago, everyone who was 40 looked 80 with gray, curly hair — like perms and rollers and stuff — we don’t look like that anymore. I am happy to be leaving behind [all of the] heartbreak of my 30s, [which was a] journey that took my entire 30s to figure out. That’s the one area of my life that I’m more cautious moving through because I have Gemma. Is it comforting to feel like you’ve figured so much out at this point? It’s comforting and exciting. I’ve been burned in a lot in my relationships, but I’m so glad none of them worked out. [Laughs.] I have the love of my life with Gemma, and if I’m going to make another big decision [like] a full-blown relationship, I’m going to take my time figuring that out. Is it hard to trust men? Men are interesting creatures. I try not to take my past traumas into any of my next relationships. Are you looking for love? I’m enjoying not being locked down. [Laughs.] I’m already locked down as a mom and at work, so I don’t have the energy to commit fully to any one person. You’ve talked about having a roster of guys — do you have one now? Great — now they’re all going to see this and break up with me [when they] realize they’re not the only ones! This is why it’s hard to date, because I have to answer questions like this! [Laughs.] I’m working on the roster. A lot of them are long-distance right now, and I like that. It seems like you have that with country singer Dustin Lynch — we saw you guys hang out on In The City. Do you prefer long distance because the guys can just come and go? I would love for them to come and go! [Laughs.] Dustin and I are just friends. I love that guy; he’s such a great person. Frank [Acosta, cofounder of Manhattan Milk, a.k.a. Frank the Milkman] is long-distance — he lives here, but he also lives in Miami, and he travels so much for work. But we talk every day. He also sells tequila. I always say, “Baby needs milk, mama needs tequila,” so he’s a great fit. You’re open about sex and how you waited a long time after having Gemma. What’s the latest with that? I’m not a virgin anymore. [Laughs.] [Now I’m] like, “OK, when’s the next time?” I’ve always been a very confident, sex-positive person. I bought condoms, so that’s good, and I know when I’m ovulating at all times, so [it’s a] no on those days, but I haven’t really had that much sex. It’s quite a tragedy! Do you think you’ll eventually be ready for something serious again? I do. I love companionship, I love operating as a team, probably from all the team sports I played growing up. I would love a partner that fits well into my life. I’m not looking for that right now… but I’ve come out of the fog and I have more clarity on where life is going for me and Gemma. How do you meet guys? I’m not on the dating apps, and I don’t really go out to bars for funsies, so it really does take, like, someone setting me up. Or I’ll reconnect with someone I have history with. Do potential partners have to be OK with being in the public eye? One hundred percent. I don’t want to be in a position where I have to choose between a guy and my career, so I’m very clear from the beginning that if you want to be in my life, you have to be OK with me being in the public eye and filming with me because it’s my real life. How is coparenting with your ex? We’re in such a great place, better than we’ve ever been, and he’s such a great father and her relationship with him is so special. We communicate very well, so we’re nailing coparenting at the moment. Hopefully, it stays that way. You guys split shortly after Gemma was born. What was that like? Anybody who’s had a kid can understand what life is like six, seven weeks postpartum. [Add] a breakup and transitioning very quickly into coparenting and mediation and trying to work out custody and finding apartments that are [close] but not too close. [Laughs.] It was one of the hardest years of my life, and I don’t say that lightly because I’ve been through a lot of s***. What was the heaviest point for you? The day we broke up, I was at a restaurant next to [costar] Yvonne [Najor]’s apartment, and I was like, “I’m coming over.” I left my breast pumps at home, and I needed tequila, so she’s literally helping me hand-express the milk out of my boobs into a big bowl on my lap. What a friend! We do have such a beautiful, interesting friendship. She’s usually helping me sort out my love drama, and I’m usually helping her sort out her career stuff. She always tells me, “You’re so good at making money, but you suck at love.” I’m like, “Cool, thanks!” What do you think you learned from everything you’ve been through? You’re a lot stronger than you think. The way I react when someone takes a hit on me — here we go, why am I f**king Tony Soprano? [Laughs.] I’m not the person who crawls under my sheets. Now I’m putting my boxing gloves on because we’re about to go, and when I’m in the ring, you can take all the punches and I’m going to stand there until you wear yourself out. Do you believe everything happens for a reason? Very much so. It wasn’t my first choice to be a single mom. I thought we were going to figure it out, but I’m never going to force anyone to be with me. I have the resources and the work ethic to be a provider, and I’m happy she can watch me work hard and be a positive, important role model. Gemma makes her debut on In The City — was it a big deal for you to show her face? We film the show, and it comes out [about] 10 months later, so she looks completely different now than she did then. We have her for a certain period until her features become more permanent and she starts going to school. Becoming a mom was single-handedly the most important role I’ve taken on, so I’m happy to be able to share that part of my journey with the world. You sat down with Us shortly after your engagement to Carl ended, and you were very emotional. Do you recognize that Lindsay? That feels like 15 lifetimes ago. When I talked to you guys about that breakup, I was very unclear about the future; I had no idea where anything was going. You’re returning to Summer House for season 11. Yay! I’m excited to spend a hot toddler summer with Gemma every other weekend, and then a hot MILF summer with my friends when she’s with her dad. Any hesitation about coming back? Filming two shows back-to-back is not for the weak. I feel blessed to share my life with the world, but there hasn’t really been an “off” moment for me over the past couple of years. I basically have two speeds: mom life and work life. So, I wouldn’t say there was hesitation in sitting this season out, but as long as mama can get a mini vacation somewhere in there to breathe and rest, I should be good! What do you think the vibe will be? Pretty much everyone is single, which is very old-school Summer House, and we’re all ready to put this scandal behind us. It’s going to be a good time. Is it hard to rehash the scandal? The horse is already dead, and we can only beat it so many times. It was a very complex betrayal for many different reasons. We could be talking about it for years to come — I hope not, but it could happen. How do you feel about Amanda and West not returning? It’s the right decision. We need positive, fun vibes. Even if people wanted to hate-watch or watch it for the cringe, I don’t think it’d be fun for anyone else. You and Kyle gave an interview in Cannes in late June, where he said he wanted West to return. What did you make of that? [That day,] Kyle had just rolled out of bed with somebody still in his bed. I was operating on two brain cells, and he was operating on one, so I wouldn’t trust anything we said. [Laughs.] Do you feel like you have closure on that whole situation? Oh, I had closure right after my conversation with Amanda on the aftermath episode. How are you and Amanda now? I haven’t really spoken to her. We filmed the reunion for In the City, and we were good and pleasant. We all went out to a bar afterward, and she was there, which I was actually shocked by, but I haven’t spoken to her since. It seems like [she and West] are traveling a lot. Everyone needs a break, and that’s OK. Where does West go from here? I don’t think [he goes] anywhere from here. He got some very bad advice from some very bad PR people and friends. He should take a break. Would you feel comfortable filming with Amanda and West if they joined In The City later on? If I can film with my ex-fiancé, who broke my heart on television in the most publicly humiliating way, I’m fine with a scandal that didn’t directly involve me. But I don’t think the fans are comfortable with that. And I’m not trying to piss our fans off. Lessons were learned during the Scandoval situation. Have you had moments where you wanted off the show? There were some hard seasons, but I’m a strong bitch. You can’t out-trauma the trauma I’ve already been through. You’ve had issues with Danielle Olivera going back to 2019. [In episode 1 of In The City, Hubbard claimed Olivera hooked up with Radke after their first split in season 4, and later had a “diabolical meltdown” after not being involved in Carl’s season 7 proposal.] How did you feel when you found out she joined the show? I found out the day before we started filming. I was like, “I’m sorry. What’s happening?” How’s your friendship now? We’re in a good place. I called her from France when I found out that she [and boyfriend Eoin Heavey] had baby Aiden. I called Eoin’s phone, and they answered, and they were so excited. Georgina and Yvonne and I sent them flowers to their hospital room. I’m excited for this new chapter for her. You’ve been on Summer House for 10 years! What would you tell your 2016 self? Trust the universe and be authentically you. For anyone who might want to be on reality TV, you just have to be yourself. That’s why you’re getting that opportunity. Any regrets? I try not to have too many regrets, even if I’m embarrassed by my actions. I just learn and adjust and grow as a human. What are you most excited about currently? Last year was a very intense year for me. I’m excited to have a lighter summer where I am fully present and engaged, whether that’s my time with Gemma or with my friends at the house. What do you hope to accomplish in the next 10 years? No more timelines. As long as we’re happy and healthy, and I can provide for my baby, we’re good. I don’t have a lot of expectations. I know who I am at my core and that I’m a hardworking individual with a lot to give to the world. I’m just going to keep doing that, and everything will fall into place. For more on Lindsay Hubbard, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands tomorrow.

Aug 01, 2026
Oprah Winfrey's Bold Move: Closing Her South African School Sparks Questions

Oprah Winfrey's Bold Move: Closing Her South African School Sparks Questions

Oprah Winfrey says she will close the school for underprivileged girls she set up in South Africa two decades ago at the end of next year.Winfrey opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in 2007 after being inspired by conversations with former South African President Nelson Mandela about the transformative power of educating girls.He was among the guests at the school’s opening ceremony.Oprah Winfrey poses for photos with students at her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, on Jan. 13, 2012. AP Photo/Denis FarrellWinfrey’s charitable foundation ran and funded the school, but it was always part of the agreement that the academy campus near Johannesburg be ultimately handed over to the provincial education department, the academy said.“The dream was never simply to build a school,” Winfrey said in a statement issued by the academy on Wednesday. “It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women. That mission doesn’t end with one campus. It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education.”The academy said Winfrey’s commitment to educating South African girls would continue through an expanded national scholarship program supporting academically talented girls at leading schools across the country.More than 500 girls have graduated from the academy and some have attended top universities in South Africa, the United States and Europe, according to the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.Oprah Winfrey attends the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Henley-on-Klip, South Africa, on Jan. 2, 2007. ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Gauteng provincial government will take over the 52-acre academy campus, which has 21 classrooms, six science and computer laboratories, a 10,000-volume library and a 600-seat theater.It did not immediately say what the plans for the property were.Gauteng Provincial Minister for Education Lebogang Maile said those currently enrolled in the school will be able to complete their education with uninterrupted financial support.Oprah Winfrey embraces former South African President Nelson Mandela during the ground-breaking ceremony for the girls’ school on Dec. 6, 2002. APThe academy drew international attention shortly after opening in 2007 when several students accused a dormitory matron of physically and sexually abusing them.Winfrey traveled to South Africa to meet with students and parents, publicly apologized, and commissioned an independent investigation.The matron was acquitted of criminal charges in 2010.

Aug 01, 2026