VOA Layoffs and Journalist Imprisonment Spark Fear | JQJO

John Goodman said he once weighed nearly 400 pounds after giving up alcohol, a weight he attributed to “eating alcoholically.” The actor, who began his weight‑loss journey in 2007 at age 55, admitted that he had repeatedly lost and regained weight before deciding to stay sober. Goodman, now 74, explained that he underwent stomach surgery to address the weight gain, but the procedure caused other health issues such as anemia and a loss of subcutaneous fat. He has since lost 200 pounds and recently appeared at the Los Angeles premiere of “Digger,” where he was noted for his slimmer figure.

Prosecutors in New Mexico filed a civil lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime lawyer Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn, accusing them of profiting from his sex‑trafficking ring. The lawsuit, filed under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act and New Mexico Racketeering Act, claims the men concealed abuse at Epstein’s Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe. Indyke and Kahn deny any knowledge of the crimes and their attorney rejected the claims as "categorically false." The suit is separate from the state’s criminal probe, which was re‑launched in February. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez argues the executors are blocking victims’ efforts to recover Epstein’s estimated $635 million estate.

Elon Musk confirmed that SpaceX and Tesla are exploring a merger. After SpaceX’s earnings call on October twenty, 2026, Musk said both companies have independent director committees studying the possibility. He added that he cannot participate in the discussions because he is a conflicted party, but he believes the merger would be a good idea. The discussion follows SpaceX’s strong Q3 results, with sales of fourteen point six billion dollars and net income of four point four billion dollars, driven largely by AI compute contracts and Starlink. Tesla’s Q3 revenue was about twenty eight billion dollars, with net income falling forty‑three percent to seven hundred eighty‑seven million dollars, as the company expands robotaxi operations and AI initiatives.

The legendary studio behind Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Neverwinter Nights and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic announced that it is closing and that early development on the next Mass Effect game is ending. The announcement came minutes after Bloomberg reported 400 job cuts at Electronic Arts, including 50 at BioWare. EA said it was “making deliberate choices to align talent and investments where we see the greatest opportunities for players and long‑term growth.” BioWare, founded in 1995 and acquired by EA in 2007, has faced a series of high‑profile departures and mixed‑review titles in recent years. The studio’s closure marks the end of more than three decades of shared adventures.

Maryland dismissed long‑time head coach Mike Locksley on Wednesday after a 2‑5 start to the 2026 season. The Terrapins fell 37‑30 to Rutgers in their homecoming game at SECU Stadium. Athletic director Jim Smith said the decision was made after thoughtful conversations with Locksley and was in the best interest of both the coach and the program. Locksley, who began coaching Maryland in December 2018, finished with a 39‑54 record over seven-plus seasons. The school will begin a search for a replacement immediately. Locksley will receive a $9.75 million buyout; he earned $6.4 million this season. Maryland is the first Power Four program to fire its head coach this season.

A Republican candidate released a viral attack ad that featured the mother of Democratic nominee Amy Acton, calling her daughter a liar. The ad omitted that Acton alleged her mother was raped by her stepfather forty years ago when she was twelve. Acton and her brother were removed from their mother’s custody in 1978 after her stepfather was arrested and charged. The stepfather was never prosecuted and died in 2004. The ad was first posted on social media on Monday evening, and the campaign confirmed it on Tuesday, pledging to spend four million dollars to air it further. Ohio Governor Kathy Hochul and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the attack as abhorrent and vile. Acton’s team countered with a video featuring her brother Philip Stearns, describing childhood abuse and criticizing the Republican candidate.

NBC is developing a single‑camera reboot of the 1989 sitcom Coach, with Modern Family star Ty Burrell set to executive produce and star as the titular coach. The new series will follow a legendary coach who returns to Minnesota to rebuild his alma mater’s basketball program. The reboot is written by Daniel and Matthew Libman, co‑creators of Peacock’s Mr. Throwback, and produced by Davis Entertainment and Universal Television. Burrell’s role marks his first on‑screen appearance since Modern Family ended.