The New York Giants dropped to a 2-6 record following their recent matchup against the reigning Super Bowl champions.
On Sunday, the Giants faced off against the Philadelphia Eagles but fell short, losing 38-20.
This defeat highlights the challenges the Giants continue to face this season as they work to improve their standing.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-sounds-like-bullsh-t-giants-kayvon-thibodeaux-sounds-referee-s-explanation-disallowing-jalen-hurts-fumble-tush-push
A 24-year-old Honduran man, Josué Castro Rivera, who was fleeing federal immigration agents in Virginia, died on a highway after being struck by a vehicle. His death follows recent incidents in which three other immigrants in Chicago and California were killed during immigration enforcement operations under the Trump administration’s crackdown.
Castro Rivera was headed to a gardening job on Thursday when his vehicle was pulled over by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, according to his brother, Henry Castro. Agents attempted to detain Castro Rivera and the three other passengers in the vehicle. Castro Rivera fled on foot, tried to cross Interstate 264 in Norfolk, and was fatally struck by a passing vehicle, according to state and federal authorities.
Castro Rivera had come to the United States four years ago and was working to send money to his family in Honduras, his brother said. “He had a very good heart,” Henry Castro shared on Sunday.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Castro Rivera’s vehicle was stopped by ICE as part of a “targeted, intelligence-based” operation. Passengers were detained for allegedly living in the country without legal permission. DHS said in a statement that Castro Rivera “resisted heavily and fled,” and died after being hit by a passing vehicle.
Virginia State Police reported that officers responded to a vehicle-pedestrian crash at around 11 a.m. Thursday on eastbound I-264 near the Military Highway interchange. The victim was struck by a 2002 Ford pickup and pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.
Federal authorities and state police referred to the man as Jose, while family members said his name was Josué. Neither DHS nor state police have explained the discrepancy.
Henry Castro called his brother’s death an injustice and is raising funds to transport Josué’s body back to Honduras for the funeral. “He didn’t deserve everything that happened to him,” he said.
DHS blamed Castro Rivera’s death on “a direct result of every politician, activist and reporter who continue to spread propaganda and misinformation about ICE’s mission and ways to avoid detention.”
Similar deaths during immigration operations elsewhere have sparked protests, lawsuits, and calls for investigations amid claims that initial accounts by the Trump administration were misleading.
Last month, in suburban Chicago, federal immigration agents fatally shot a Mexican man during a traffic stop. DHS initially claimed a federal officer was “seriously injured,” but police body camera footage later showed the officer walking around and describing the injuries as minor.
In July, a farmworker died after falling from a greenhouse roof during a chaotic ICE raid at a California cannabis facility. And in August, another man fled from federal agents onto a freeway in California and was fatally struck by a vehicle.
These incidents highlight ongoing concerns about the methods and consequences of immigration enforcement operations in the United States.
https://abc7.com/post/man-fleeing-immigration-agents-is-fatally-struck-vehicle-virginia-highway/18076914/
Tras la indignación generada por la redada del ICE en Canal Street el martes de la semana pasada, agentes encapuchados aparentemente adoptaron una nueva estrategia en el 26 Federal Plaza: arrestar a varias familias a la vez para interrogarlas.
En los días posteriores a la mencionada redada en Chinatown, la sensación de temor y desesperación dentro de la corte de Manhattan solo se hizo más palpable. De acuerdo con fuentes cercanas a los procedimientos de ICE dentro del número 26 Federal Plaza, las tácticas de los agentes han cambiado radicalmente.
Asimismo, la semana pasada, un hombre ruso, junto a su esposa, su hijo pequeño y su bebé, fue arrestado tan rápido como salió de la sala del tribunal en el piso 12, solo para ser liberado más tarde. “¿Pensaron que íbamos a hacer eso? No lo haríamos”, comentó un agente de ICE, refiriéndose a la detención de la familia. No obstante, fueron detenidos de nuevo a pocos pasos por otro agente, quien dijo: “Necesitamos hacerles algunas preguntas”. Sin tocarlos, la familia del hombre fue llevada a un ascensor. Actualmente, no se sabe de su paradero.
Un incidente parecido ocurrió pocos minutos después. Esta vez, un padre llevaba a su hija pequeña en brazos y su esposa fueron escoltados a un ascensor. Cuando los fotoperiodistas empezaron a tomar fotos, un agente comenzó a agitar la mano frente a las cámaras para impedir que las imágenes quedaran claras.
Ese mismo día, un grupo de agentes federales se acercó a una mujer que estaba esperando el ascensor y verificaron su documentación. Al decidir que no era la persona que buscaban, la dejaron sola, sin hacerle daño, pero el miedo a que pasara lo peor la hizo romper en llanto.
En otros momentos, se podía observar a algunos de los agentes con el rostro cubierto, deslizándose en los ascensores mientras los inmigrantes entraban, desapareciendo cuando las puertas se cerraban.
Este cambio de táctica se produce luego de meses de detenciones físicamente intensas que han visto a algunas personas que acuden al tribunal siendo derribados al piso y a otros llevados por los pasillos hasta perderlos de vista, informó AM NY.
Un observador de la corte, que se identificó como Peter y trabaja para tratar de rastrear a los detenidos por el ICE, indicó que esta nueva práctica de llevarse a las familias completas es extremadamente preocupante.
“Detener a familias enteras, incluso temporalmente, representa una grave escalada de tácticas. Con las separaciones familiares en el tribunal, aunque trágicas, el beneficio es que se puede brindar ayuda y asesoramiento adecuados a la familia restante de inmediato”, explicó Peter.
“Cuando una familia simplemente desaparece en el éter de la plaza federal, se queda sin ninguno de los recursos que son cruciales para apoyar a una familia después de la detención. Quizás ese sea el objetivo de esta nueva práctica”.
Asimismo, en una visita sorpresa el 23 de octubre, el representante demócrata Dan Goldman se enfrentó a varios sujetos encapuchados, exigiendo ver sus placas y preguntándoles para qué organización trabajan.
En este caso particular, una docena de oficiales estaban apostados afuera de una sala de tribunal, esperando a que el juez liberara a sus demandados. Poco después del mediodía, un gran grupo de personas, principalmente familias, salió de la corte al pasillo.
Un padre joven que acunaba a su hijo fue arrestado inmediatamente, lo que causó que su esposa se abriera paso entre la muchedumbre y gritara pidiendo piedad. Los fotógrafos de los medios y el congresista observaban con atención.
Al final, los agentes lo dejaron ir y las familias corrieron en estampida hacia los ascensores. Golpearon el botón de bajada, se empujaron y treparon unos a otros para entrar en el ascensor como si su vida dependiera de ello.
El mencionado observador de la corte dijo que cree que, gracias a la presencia de la prensa y a la visita sorpresa de Goldman, el hombre fue dejado en libertad.
El viernes, los políticos buscaron mantener la presión, esta vez con la aparición sorpresiva del interventor de la ciudad de Nueva York, Brad Lander.
A retired firefighter’s stories are often shared casually around barbecues or in the corner of a local pub. But in Port Macquarie, those stories have inspired the creation of an entire museum dedicated to the firefighting legacy.
Tucked inside a modest building just off the main road—affectionately known as “The Shed”—the Mid North Coast Fire Museum is a passion project run entirely by retired firefighters. These veterans not only care for the museum’s exhibits but also bring them to life with firsthand stories of firefighting in the local area.
Despite its compact size, the museum boasts a surprisingly rich collection. Many historical pieces were collected by the original members who founded the local fire station. The exhibits include firefighting memorabilia from across New South Wales and even from overseas, with gear imported from the United Kingdom.
Two fire trucks hold pride of place in the museum’s display. One of these trucks is still operational and often seen cruising through town on sunny days, turning heads and delighting passersby—albeit now serving a more peaceful role.
More than just a showcase of firefighting tools and equipment, the Mid North Coast Fire Museum stands as a heartfelt tribute to a close-knit community of first responders. The walls seem to hold countless stories, and fortunately, the storytellers themselves are right there alongside them, eager to share their experiences.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mid-north-coast-fire-museum
When the Channel Tunnel opened in 1994, the undersea rail link brought Britain closer to the European mainland than ever before. However, had circumstances been different, history might have taken a very different path. Among the competing proposals for a fixed Channel crossing was a massive bridge — a scheme so audacious that fate never allowed it to come to fruition.
### The Euro Route: Driving Across the Channel
Forget the double handling involved in putting cars on trains and traveling entirely by rail. Instead, the aptly-named Euro Route proposed that motorists simply drive across the Channel, perhaps even stopping for duty-free shopping in the middle of the sea along the way.
### Long-Held Dreams of a Channel Crossing
The concept of a permanent tunnel or transit link between Britain and France has deep historical roots. The earliest recorded example dates back to 1802, when French engineer Albert Mathieu-Favier proposed a tunnel design for horse-drawn stagecoaches travelling between the Isles and the mainland. Ultimately, though, the engineering challenges were beyond the era’s capabilities.
Despite this, the idea never truly disappeared. Starting in the late 1950s, British and French governments began exploring options seriously. The Channel Tunnel Study Group was formed as an Anglo-French task force to assess the feasibility of building a crossing. This effort led to an initial construction attempt beginning in 1973, which was abandoned two years later by British Prime Minister Harold Wilson due to high costs and the strains of the global oil crisis.
It would be over a decade before the concept returned to prominence. In 1984, the French and British governments reconvened to establish baseline project parameters, opening the development process to proposals in 1985. The Channel Tunnel Group eventually won with a plan for a 51.5-kilometer dual-track rail-only tunnel, carrying both passengers and vehicles between the two countries.
The Treaty of Canterbury was signed in 1986, construction began shortly after, and the infrastructure that exists today was born.
### The Bold Euro Route Proposal
While the Channel Tunnel was the winning project, it wasn’t the only proposal on the table. The Euro Route project was an altogether bolder scheme, featuring a three-stage crossing combining both road and rail.
Besides a twin-track rail tunnel similar to the Channel Tunnel, the Euro Route’s key selling point was its road crossing, promising motorists the convenience of driving straight across the Channel without the hassle of loading and unloading vehicles onto trains.
Marketing materials boldly stated:
*“From your home you will drive straight to France.”*
The project was not cheap. Estimated to cost around £6 billion (1985 prices), it was two to three times more expensive than the Channel Tunnel proposal. This higher price tag was unsurprising, given it included an entire road crossing in addition to a rail tunnel.
However, the project was backed by a powerful consortium of British institutions—including British Steel, Barclays Bank, and GEC—which had collectively secured over seven billion pounds in funding. The plan was to recoup costs over time through toll charges on users.
### Design and Functionality: Bridge, Tunnel, and Islands
The road crossing combined drama with practicality. Motorists would leave the M20 near Dover and pass through toll booths before driving onto a cable-stayed bridge standing approximately 50 meters above sea level. This bridge would stretch 8.5 km to an artificial island.
From this island, the motorway would spiral down beneath sea level into an undersea tunnel — a 21 km immersed tube tunnel carrying parallel dual carriageways safely below the shipping lanes. On the French side, a second artificial island would mark the tunnel’s end, with another bridge carrying traffic the last 7.5 km to the mainland.
A third artificial island between the two main islands was designed to serve as a ventilation shaft for the road tunnel and act as a navigation marker to enforce lane discipline for shipping in the busy Channel.
Overall, traveling the Euro Route was expected to take just 30 minutes over the road. With customs formalities “speeded up by computer,” the total journey time was anticipated to be approximately 45 minutes—a significant advantage over the all-rail Channel Tunnel.
The marketing materials highlighted:
*“NOTE: A shuttle service would require additional time for waiting, and loading and unloading; Euro Route does not.”*
### Why Not a Single Long Tunnel?
The combined bridge-tunnel-bridge concept might sound complicated compared to a single long road tunnel from coast to coast. However, a tunnel spanning well over 30 km would have been undesirable due to the prolonged time spent underground and concerns about traffic emissions building up in such an enclosed space.
The open-air bridges were designed to break up the journey and limit the distance spent underwater. Moreover, the artificial islands weren’t just entry and exit points. Euro Route envisioned them as destinations in their own right, featuring refueling stations, refreshments, parking, hotels, and even duty-free shopping complexes.
### The Rail Component
The Euro Route rail tunnel proposal was quite similar to the Channel Tunnel project ultimately built. It planned a tunnel running between Cheriton (UK) and Sangatte (France), mostly constructed using immersed tube methods rather than boring through the entire length.
The design featured two tubes for bidirectional travel with a central maintenance shaft—closely mirroring the final Channel Tunnel configuration.
### Public Opinion and the Final Decision
Research at the time suggested public sentiment leaned in favor of driving across the Channel. Around 52% of people preferred driving, with many actively disliking the car shuttle system used in the rail-only proposal.
Despite this, when decision time came, both governments chose the simpler, cheaper rail-only Channel Tunnel project. The decision is perhaps viewed differently today, given the Channel Tunnel’s significant budget overruns and construction delays.
We may never know how well—or badly—the Euro Route might have performed had it been built.
### A Dream That Never Took Flight
The Euro Route’s bridges and islands remain forever on the drawing board—a grand infrastructure dream that fell victim to caution and economics. Yet, those architectural drawings continue to capture the ambition of an era when anything seemed possible, even building a bridge linking two former bitter enemies over the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
—
The story of the Euro Route is a fascinating what-if in the saga of connecting Britain and continental Europe—reminding us of the bold visions that often pave the way for future achievements.
https://hackaday.com/2025/10/27/the-channel-crossing-bridge-that-never-was/
**Kardashian Family Drama: Kim and Kylie Furious Over Kris Jenner’s New MAC Cosmetics Deal**
*Published: October 27, 2025, 6:15 a.m. ET*
Things aren’t so pretty inside the beauty world of the Kardashians. RadarOnline.com can reveal that beauty entrepreneurs Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner are furious that their momager, Kris Jenner, 69, has signed on as the new face of MAC Cosmetics — flaunting her post-facelift glow.
**Kim Feels Betrayed**
“Kim feels betrayed,” claimed a family insider. “She built her beauty line from scratch, only to have her own mother jump in bed with the competition.”
Kylie is also feeling the sting. Her billion-dollar Kylie Cosmetics empire launched the family’s makeup dynasty, making Kris’ move all the more controversial.
**Kris Jenner’s MAC Deal Sparks Concern**
“It’s one thing for Kris to chase new deals,” said a source. “But to align with a brand that’s directly competing with two of her daughters? That’s a whole new level of cold.”
Despite the backlash, Kris is apparently unapologetic. “It’s just business,” claimed a beauty insider.
**Post-Facelift Glow or Cause for Concern?**
Kris’ new deal comes after she sparked widespread concern following her latest facelift, which some critics described as “drooping.”
“She’s invested in top-tier procedures from the best surgeons in the business, so people are surprised to see her appearance shifting so soon,” explained an insider close to the Kardashian family.
They added, “Kris takes enormous pride in looking flawless, and the talk about her face ‘drooping’ has really shaken her. Her biggest fear is crossing that line into the overly done, Michael Jackson-type territory where she has gotten so many surgery top-ups her face starts to fall apart—just like his literally did by the end.”
As the Kardashian-Jenner beauty empire continues to dominate the industry, this latest family drama highlights the complex dynamics behind the scenes. Only time will tell how Kris’ new partnership with MAC Cosmetics will affect their already competitive beauty legacy.
https://radaronline.com/p/kardashian-beauty-war-kris-mac-deal-facelift/
Ten years and $150 million in legal fees later, Neil Cole, the brother of fashion designer Kenneth Cole, has finally been exonerated of charges related to securities fraud.
Cole was sentenced to 18 months in prison for accounting fraud in 2023. However, earlier today, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled that he had been wrongfully convicted due to being tried twice for the same offense—legally known as “double jeopardy.”
Now, the brand master behind Iconix, a company that secured partnership deals with celebrities such as Jay-Z, Madonna, Pharrell Williams, Marla Maples, and Jenny McCarthy, is preparing to go on the offensive.
“I did absolutely nothing wrong. No one could come up with a single document to show I had done anything they accused me of,” Cole told me in an exclusive interview. “This was an example of lawfare, not the pursuit of justice,” he claimed.
He also charged that his second prosecution was an example of “an overzealous, fame-seeking prosecutor trying to make a name for himself.” The Post has reached out to the Southern District for comment.
Cole was initially charged with ten counts by the Department of Justice in 2019, accused of accounting fraud, inflating his company’s earnings, and misleading investors. However, he was acquitted by a jury. Then, in 2021, the federal government charged him again with another count of fraud, leading to a jury conviction. Cole appealed the decision, arguing that he was being tried twice for the same offense.
This ruling ends a multi-year saga that began in 2014, when the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) started investigating civil charges against Cole, then head of Iconix. Cole had founded Iconix in 2005, and it grew to become the second-largest licensing company in the US, behind Disney.
Employing over 150 people, including his two sons, the company generated more than $400 million in annual revenue. Some of Cole’s high-profile clients also came under scrutiny, with the SEC questioning Jay-Z. In response, Cole’s attorneys labeled the case a “celebrity witch-hunt.”
“The government claims I did all this [engage in fraud] to save just $750,000,” said Cole, pointing out that this was an insignificant amount given how lucrative the company was at the time.
Amid legal challenges, Iconix stock plummeted from $40 per share to just thirty cents. In 2021, Cole sold the company to private equity firm Lancer Capital for $585 million—far shy of its $3 billion valuation before the allegations surfaced.
Following his conviction, Cole enlisted the support of two notable figures. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wrote a letter urging a federal judge to impose a lighter sentence. (Cole’s fashionista brother, Kenneth Cole, is married to Cuomo’s sister, Maria.)
Kenneth Cole also penned a letter in support of his brother. Both men highlighted Neil Cole’s philanthropic efforts, noting his board memberships with Crutches 4 Kids, Ronald McDonald House, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and The Mount Sinai Children’s Center Foundation.
Now, after spending more than $150 million on his legal battle and giving up his business, Cole is considering his options. He tells me that, luckily, his insurance company covered the bulk of the legal costs.
“There are a lot of people to be held accountable,” he said. “Twelve out of twelve jurors acquitted me, but the government did everything again to make a case against me.”
“We will try to recoup everything that was spent [on lawyers],” he added.
Of course, the larger damage is reputational.
“You can’t recoup your reputation. This was my life’s work, built from scratch.”
But Cole is ready to start again and plans to launch a new business at the end of the summer.
“I’ve been through hell, but I’m very appreciative to be on the other end.”
https://nypost.com/2025/10/27/business/neil-cole-exonerated-of-accounting-fraud-after-150m-legal-battle/
In and around Chicago, ICE has broken down doors, zip-tied and detained residents regardless of their legal status, and trashed their homes without warrants.
Federal troops have tear-gassed and pepper-sprayed peaceful protesters, journalists, Chicago police officers, and even a pastor mid-prayer.
Among those detained are a local TV journalist who was tackled to the ground and thrown into a van, a Chicago alderwoman, and a fifteen-year-old U.S. citizen who was held for hours without being allowed to contact his family for the crime of throwing eggs at Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents.
The violence has escalated beyond these incidents. For example, one schoolteacher in her car was shot at five times by ICE agents. Additionally, a father of two was killed after attempting to evade arrest at a traffic stop.
Read Full Article »
https://www.realclearreligion.org/2025/10/27/the_bishops_and_ice_1143469.html
Maine, once a national competitor in student achievement, now sits at or below the national average for standardized test performance. While scores nationwide have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic, Maine student performance has been sliding for more than a decade.
A Maine Monitor analysis of 20 years of student test scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) revealed that some students are sinking to the bottom faster than others. Low-income students and children with disabilities saw peak test scores on the NAEP starting around 2007. After that, these students began experiencing significant declines.
Between 2007 and 2024, the portion of all Maine students reaching at least a partial, basic level of understanding in reading and math fell by more than 14 percent. However, the declines were much steeper for certain groups. The percentage of students with disabilities reaching this bare-minimum performance level or higher dropped by more than 32 percent in some subjects—and in some cases, more than 40 percent. Low-income students meeting the same level fell by more than 23 percent during the same period.
Overall, the percentage of Maine test takers performing at or above the basic level is lower than the national average. It is important to note that NAEP results are presented only as percentages, not total numbers, and the exact losses in performance vary depending on the subject and grade level.
To ensure accuracy, The Maine Monitor consulted two education researchers who confirmed that children with disabilities and those from low-income households are sliding significantly. Students with disabilities often have individualized plans that provide accommodations for learning and may include conditions such as autism and dyslexia. Economically disadvantaged students are defined as those from low-income households, homeless children, or those who qualify for programs such as free and reduced-price lunch.
Other groups have been struggling as well. Black students and English language learners have seen significant losses in test scores, although data collection for both groups has been inconsistent over the years due to their relatively small populations in Maine.
NAEP categorizes student performance into four levels:
– **Below Basic:** Students cannot demonstrate even fundamental knowledge in reading or math.
– **Basic:** Students show partial, but not complete, understanding of grade-level skills. For example, fourth graders meeting the basic level in reading can make simple inferences from text, and eighth graders can answer specific questions about the text.
– **Proficient:** Considered the goal for all student performance by the National Assessment Governing Board, this level indicates a solid understanding of challenging math and reading skills.
– **Advanced:** Students have mastered math and reading skills beyond the proficient level.
Maine saw its percentage of students performing at the proficient level begin to decline between 2013 and 2017 across grade levels and subjects. Meanwhile, the proportion of students performing at the advanced level has remained fairly consistent over time, typically between 2 and 10 percent across grade levels and subjects.
Unfortunately, the percentage of students performing below the basic level has been growing since 2007. For instance, about 59 percent of fourth graders with disabilities tested below basic in reading in 2007; by 2024, that number had risen to roughly 78 percent. Similarly, 41 percent of low-income fourth graders tested below basic in 2007, increasing to 59 percent by 2024.
These trends highlight growing challenges in educational equity and achievement in Maine, especially among vulnerable student populations. Addressing these issues will be critical to improving outcomes for all students in the state.
https://www.centralmaine.com/2025/10/27/these-maine-students-are-sinking-to-the-bottom/
Bauer College Assistant Dean of Strategic and Global Initiatives, Nikhil Celly, guides new leaders to keep pace with an ever-changing world.
“Houston isn’t just a big city, it’s a global powerhouse with a workforce that speaks more than 140 languages,” Celly explains. “That makes Houston a launchpad for companies looking to reach the world.”
He adds, “Here, businesses can innovate locally and scale globally.”
“The city’s diversity means new ideas get tested in a market that mirrors the world, but it also demands leaders ready to navigate culture, policy, and competition on an international scale,” Celly concludes.
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/bauer-business-focus/2025/10/27/534109/houston-as-a-global-business-hub/?utm_source=rss-bauer-business-focus-article&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=hpm-rss-link
