JQJO — General news · Page 40

As a federal shutdown drags on, advocates warn that SNAP benefits could be halted on 1 November, imperiling food aid for 42 million people. The USDA has told regional directors to hold payments “until further notice,” even as more than 200 Democratic lawmakers urge the agency to tap contingency funds. Republicans blame Democrats, but anti-hunger leaders call that misleading, noting a CBO estimate that Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act already stripped nearly $187bn from SNAP through 2024. Personal stories from Minnesota to Kentucky underscore the stakes, after a USDA spokesperson inaccurately linked ACA subsidies to undocumented immigrants.

Canal Street’s rows of knockoff sellers fell quiet after a DHS immigration raid Tuesday, described as a targeted operation against counterfeit goods. Nine people were arrested. DHS said five protesters were also detained, accusing four of assaulting law enforcement and one of obstruction; they were later released pending investigation. By Thursday, a few vendors had returned to subdued sidewalks, citing rent and family obligations, while advocates denounced the raid as an attack on immigrant communities and culture. A nearby shop manager welcomed the crackdown. The street’s long history of crackdowns—and comebacks—hung over a shaken but slowly stirring scene.

In a bye-maggedon Week 8 with six teams idle, a fantasy column spotlights bold starts and sharp fades. Bo Nix draws a soft Dallas defense allowing 25.1 QB points, while Joe Flacco’s pass-happy Bengals face a Jets unit missing Sauce Gardner. Jaylen Warren, Isaiah Pacheco, Michael Pittman, Stefon Diggs, Tucker Kraft and Dalton Schultz headline starts. Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud, Michael Penix, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Tony Pollard, Xavier Worthy, DJ Moore, Pat Freiermuth and even Travis Kelce land on the bench, with Rashee Rice’s surge dimming Kansas City pass-catching shares.

Amy Schumer shared a mirror selfie on Instagram showing a slimmer figure, drawing attention to what a nutritionist described as roughly a 40-pound loss in recent months. The 44-year-old comedian, who previously cited weights of 160 pounds in 2015 and 170 in 2022, now appears around 130 pounds, with a trimmer waistline, according to the Daily Mail. Schumer has discussed trying Ozempic and liposuction, and says Mounjaro, plus estrogen and progesterone for perimenopause, have boosted her energy and eased symptoms. She called her experience “really good,” noted coverage limits for such drugs, and said she invested in Midi Health.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom mocked President Trump’s plan to send National Guard troops to San Francisco as “laughable,” saying he reversed course for “obvious reasons” because “there’s nothing happening.” Citing the Major Cities Chiefs Association, he said the city is tracking a 70-year low in homicides and a year-over-year drop in violent crime, and vowed to sue if any military forces are deployed. Trump later said he scrapped plans to send federal agents after talks with tech leaders and Mayor Daniel Lurie. Newsom also touted San Francisco’s tech surge and discussed politics and 2028 prospects.

The Miami Heat gathered Friday without Terry Rozier after the NBA placed him on indefinite leave following his arrest by federal agents. Prosecutors allege Rozier conspired with friends to help them win bets tied to a March 2023 Hornets game; he denies wrongdoing. Coach Erik Spoelstra and teammates Bam Adebayo and Jaime Jaquez Jr. voiced support, even as Miami focuses on its next game. An indictment says Rozier told a childhood friend he would pull himself from that game, enabling bettors to wager on his unders and later collect proceeds.

Netflix has licensed Hollywood Arts, a Victorious spinoff starring Daniella Monet as Trina Vega, ordering 26 episodes for a 2026 global Netflix debut, followed by a second window on Nickelodeon and Paramount+. Developed at Nickelodeon and now produced by Paramount Television Studios, the multi-camera series follows Trina’s return to her former school as an unqualified substitute who clashes with—and inspires—new students. Jake Farrow and Samantha Martin serve as showrunners; Monet executive produces alongside them and director Jonathan Judge. Production is underway in Vancouver after an Oct. 14 table read; Yvette Nicole Brown will guest star.

After the 2010 Neanderthal genome, the question of resurrection persists. George Church argued cloning could work, and Colossal pursued de‑extinction projects, but experts told Live Science the effort is technically prohibitive and ethically unacceptable: immune incompatibilities, the absence of living cells, and error‑prone editing hinder success, and any born individual could face isolation or exploitation with little scientific value. The legal landscape is unclear, raising worries about private ventures. Several researchers say better answers would come from exceptional natural preservation — exemplified by Ötzi and Tollund Man — and that a permafrost Neanderthal would reveal far more.

Microsoft unveiled Mico, a blob-like animated avatar for Copilot’s voice mode, as part of a “human-centered” rebranding that aims to build AI that “earns your trust.” Mico shows warmth and personality, reacting “like someone who truly listens,” and even hides an Easter egg that turns it into Clippy. “Clippy walked so that we could run,” Microsoft’s Jacob Andreou said. The launch also raises concerns: by deepening parasocial feelings toward LLMs, Mico could drive more engagement—and potentially pay more to access. Whether it becomes beloved or an annoyance remains unclear.

Taco Bell is doubling down on drinks with its in-restaurant Live Más Café counters, now open in Chula Vista and near UC Irvine and projected to reach 30 locations across Southern California, Dallas and Houston by year-end. The “bellrista”-run stations spotlight churro chillers, specialty coffees, and brightly colored refrescas. The chain aims for a $5 billion beverage business by 2030, reporting more than 600 million drinks sold this year, up 16%, with over 60% of orders including a beverage. Early results are strong: Irvine averages 900 drinks daily; Chula Vista tops 750.