Category: Security

The Eagles are flying without touring guitarist Steuart Smith, who is stepping away from the rock band because of health issues.

“It is with profound regret that, due to performance issues associated with my recently diagnosed Parkinsonism, I find that I must bow out of my role with the Eagles while I can still do so gracefully,” the 72-year-old musician said Monday in a statement to USA Today. Representatives of Smith and the Eagles did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.

The musician, who has toured with the band since 2001, said that it’s been “a great quarter of a century” and, although he hoped to be able to finish out this year with the band, he said he “must now do what’s best for all concerned.”

Parkinsonism is not the same as Parkinson’s disease, but the two are often mistaken for each other. Parkinsonism refers to several conditions — including Parkinson’s disease — that have similar symptoms and features but different causes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Symptoms can include slow movements along with stiffness, walking and balance issues and/or tremor. Parkinsonism disorders can also share non-movement symptoms, such as mood and thinking changes, and speech problems and sleep disturbances, the clinic said. (Parkinson’s disease, which is caused by a loss of the neurotransmitter dopamine, makes up about 80% of all cases of Parkinsonism.)

Smith was there when the “Hotel California” hitmakers launched their Las Vegas residency at the Sphere in September. But when the band resumed its residency at the orb-shaped venue on Jan. 17, singer-songwriter Chris Holt stepped in for the absent guitarist. In a statement to American Songwriter last week, Eagles co-founder Don Henley confirmed that Smith had retired from touring.

“The Eagles will be forever grateful for the extraordinary talents that he brought to both our recordings and live performances. Steuart will be greatly missed, but he will always be a part of our musical family. We know our many fans join us in wishing him well,” Henley said.

Smith joined the Eagles in 2001 when Don Felder was fired, but has not always been credited as a full-time member of the act. The multi-instrumentalist famously said “I’m not an Eagle” in the 2013 “History of the Eagles” documentary but has regularly worked with Henley on solo projects, as well as with music legends Bob Dylan and Ringo Starr. He also has a country music resume that includes collaborations with Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill, Wynonna Judd, Dolly Parton, Trisha Yearwood and others.

In his review of “The Eagles: Live in Concert at the Sphere,” Times pop music critic Mikael Wood wrote that the band’s immersive show kept with “a long-established focus on the music beyond all else.” In November, the band extended the engagement to 32 shows over 16 weekends. They wrap the residency on April 12.

The residency comes amid a so-called farewell tour that the Eagles launched in late 2023. The band has promised to continue extending the tour for as long as audiences show up. Following Glenn Frey’s death in 2016, the 77-year-old Henley is the only original member still in the group. J.D. Souther, who co-wrote several of the Eagles’ signature tunes, died at 78 in September and Randy Meisner, another founder known for his lead vocal in “Take It to the Limit,” died last year at 77.

The group’s current lineup includes Henley, bassist Timothy B. Schmit and guitarist Joe Walsh, who have both been in the Eagles since the mid-’70s. Country star Gill and Frey’s 31-year-old son Deacon have also served as fill-ins.

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© 2025 Los Angeles Times

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Dajua Blanding, a Detroit rapper who goes by the name of “Dank Demoss,” is suing Lyft after a driver for the rideshare company allegedly denied her a ride and prevented her from entering his car due to her weight.

CBS 12 reported that Blanding recently announced on social media that she weighs 489 pounds. In a video shared on Instagram, Blanding can be heard assuring a Lyft driver that she can fit into his vehicle, prompting the rideshare driver to say, “Believe me, you can’t.”

Asked about the money she paid for the ride, the driver said, “I’m gonna cancel. You’re not gonna be charged.”

Throughout the video, the driver repeatedly explained that his vehicle was not able to accommodate the 489-pound rapper. The driver can be heard apologizing to Blanding, explaining that his tires were unable to handle the additional weight, and encouraging Blanding to order an Uber XL to receive a ride in a larger vehicle.

In a caption to the Instagram video, Blanding wrote, “AM I WRONG ? @lyft what yall got to say about this yall driver discriminated against me ….. I JUST FEEL LIKE YALL TREAT BIG PPLE LIKE SHYT LIKE WE DONT BELONG HERE.”

Following the recent incident with Lyft, Blanding told Fox 2, “I’ve been in cars smaller than that. I just want them to know that it hurt my feelings.”

According to Fox 2, attorneys Jonathan Marko and Zach Runyan are representing Blanding in her discrimination lawsuit against Lyft. Addressing the Lyft driver’s decision to deny Blanding a ride, Marko said, “I knew that it was illegal, and I knew that it was wrong.”

Fox 2 reported that Marko cited weight as a protected characteristic in Michigan and argued that state law prevents companies from denying a person a ride based on their weight.

READ MORE: Pics: Airline gives ‘passengers of size’ free accommodations

In a statement obtained by The Daily Caller, the Detroit rapper said, “If I stand for something, I’ll fall for anything. Fighting for my community, my people, and making a change in the world, not just for me, but for everyone.”

Meanwhile, a Lyft spokesperson released a statement following the incident, saying, “Lyft unequivocally condemns all forms of discrimination—we believe in a community where everyone is treated with equal respect and mutual kindness. Our community guidelines and terms of service explicitly prohibit harassment or discrimination.”

Anthony Mackie, a Hollywood actor who is playing the role of Captain America in Marvel’s “Captain America: Brave New World” movie, is facing backlash after a viral video showed him saying that the Marvel superhero should not represent “the term ‘America.’”

In the video shared on social media, Mackie can be heard sharing his perspective of what Captain America represents.

“For me, Captain America represents a lot of different things, and I don’t think the term ‘America’ should be one of those representations,” Mackie said. “It’s about a man who keeps his word, who has honor, dignity, and integrity. Someone who is trustworthy and dependable.”

“This is kind of like an aspect of a dream coming true,” the Marvel star added. “You know, when I was a kid … all of us as actors, I believe, want to get back to that day before someone told you no. When you look out your door and you see a five-year-old with a stick and he’s slaying dragons to save the princess in the tower, that kid really believes there are dragons out there, that stick is really a sword, and he’s really trying to save that princess, and then one day, somebody told him no. There are no dragons, that’s not a sword, and that princess is not there. And all of his little dreams were dashed.”

READ MORE: American AF’s First Endorsement: Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense – The Real Captain America

In the video, Mackie claimed that it is an actor’s job to “get back to the day where we see that dragon and we slay that dragon to save that princess, and that’s kind of what that movie was to me.”

Social media users quickly responded with backlash following Mackie’s comments during Marvel’s press tour. One social media user wrote, “And this is why the movie will do poorly.” Another social media user said, “Pretty sure it’s about America. It’s in the name.”

American Principles Project President Terry Schilling commented, “If you play Captain America, you should be proud to be American… Won’t be taking my kids to see this woke garbage.” Meanwhile, Daily Wire host Ben Shapiro tweeted, “These studios at some point will have to stop giving their stars a platform to utterly destroy their product.”

Following the backlash, Mackie released a statement on Instagram Stories, saying, “Let me be clear about this, I’m a proud American and taking on the shield of a hero like CAP [Captain America] is the honor of a lifetime.”

“I have the utmost respect for those who serve and have served our country,” the Marvel star added. “CAP has universal characteristics that people all over the world can relate to.”

Pentagon officials have reportedly confirmed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has informed Retired General Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that he is revoking both his security detail and security clearance. Pentagon officials also indicated that Hegseth is ordering a review to determine if Milley should be demoted in his retirement.

According to NBC News, John Ullyot, a Pentagon spokesman, said that Hegseth has ordered the Department of Defense’s inspector general to examine “the facts and circumstances” regarding Milley’s actions “so that the Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination.”

Politico reported that Milley, who is a retired four-star general, could be demoted to a retired three-star general as a result of the inspector general’s investigation ordered by Hegseth.

In a statement obtained by NBC News, Pentagon Chief of Staff Joe Kasper said, “Undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trump’s leadership.”

READ MORE: Trump fires Ret. Gen. Mark Milley in purge of 1,000+ Biden appointees

On Tuesday, Fox News reported that senior administration officials had confirmed that Hegseth was preparing to announce that he would be “immediately pulling” both Milley’s security detail and security clearance. 

Milley had received a security detail due to his involvement in the Trump administration’s drone strike in 2020 that killed Qasem Soleimani, a top leader in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to Fox News.

According to Fox News, the Department of Defense will also be removing a second portrait of Milley from the Pentagon following the first portrait that was removed just a couple hours after President Donald Trump’s inauguration last Monday. While the first portrait honored Milley’s service as the top military official in the United States, the second portrait, which has been featured in the Army’s Marshall Corridor, honored Milley’s prior service as the Army’s chief of staff.

The removal of Milley’s security detail and security clearance comes after the retired general served as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019 to 2023. While Milley initially served under the Trump administration, Milley has repeatedly sparred with the president.

According to The Guardian, Milley previously described Trump as “the most dangerous person ever” and “a fascist to the core.” NBC News reported that Milley also called Gen. Li Zuocheng, the leader of China’s military, during the final months of Trump’s first administration to assure Chinese officials that the U.S. was not preparing for war against China.

The Trump administration announced a major update on Tuesday regarding the mysterious drones that were spotted over New Jersey and multiple other states in November and December of 2024.

At the start of her first press conference on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared that she had a statement “directly” from President Donald Trump regarding the mystery of the drones that sparked national security concerns under the Biden-Harris administration.

Leavitt told reporters, “Before I turn to questions, I do have news directly from the president of the United States that was just shared with me in the Oval Office from President Trump directly- an update on the New Jersey drones.”

“After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized by the FAA for research and various other reasons,” Leavitt added. “Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals, that enjoy flying drones. In time, it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy.”

In December, the Federal Aviation Administration announced “temporary flight restrictions” for drone flights in parts of New Jersey due to concerns regarding increased drone sightings. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Aviation Administration also released a joint statement in December confirming that the FBI had received approximately 5,000 tips of reported drone sightings but that the reports only resulted in roughly “100 leads generated.”

READ MORE: Mysterious drones may be linked to missing radioactive material, New Jersey mayor says

Asked about the mysterious drone sightings last week in the Oval Office, Trump told Peter Doocy, a Fox News correspondent, “I would like to find out what it is and tell the people. In fact, I’d like to do that.”

Trump then turned to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and asked her if the administration could “immediately” find out more information regarding the drone sightings that plagued the nation during the final months of the Biden-Harris administration.

“I can’t imagine it’s an enemy, or there would have been, you know, people would have gotten blown up all over. Maybe they were testing things,” Trump added. “I don’t know why they wouldn’t have said what it was.”

The 47th president also referenced drone sightings near the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, saying, “They had a lot of them flying over Bedminster, which is interesting.”

President Donald Trump is offering buyouts to agency employees who don’t want to comply with his demands that they return to the office as he looks to reshape the federal workforce in his second term.

The buyouts will run through Sept. 30 as long as the employees resign by Feb. 6, according to a White House official who shared details of the personnel plan on condition of anonymity. The offers were first reported by Axios.

The buyouts were offered in an email to federal employees that also warned that the administration was seeking a “more streamlined and flexible workforce.”

“While a few agencies and even branches of the military are likely to see increases in the size of their workforce, the majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force,” the email said. “These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status for a substantial number of federal employees.”

Many of Trump’s actions are likely to face court challenges. The head of the American Federation of Government Employees in a statement Tuesday said Trump’s “goal is to turn the federal government into a toxic environment where workers cannot stay even if they want to.”

“Purging the federal government of dedicated career federal employees will have vast, unintended consequences that will cause chaos for the Americans who depend on a functioning federal government,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said.

Trump in one of his first actions of his new administration, ordered government workers back to the office, revoking work-from-home accommodations under his predecessor Joe Biden.

On Monday, the Trump administration gave agencies until Feb. 7 to devise plans for the return of federal employees to in-person work. The return-to-office mandate applies to federal workers “unless excused due to a disability, qualifying medical condition, or other compelling reason certified by the agency head.” Military spouses working civilian jobs are also exempt.

In addition, separate guidance from the Office of Personnel Management on Monday gave Trump authority to hire and fire some employees who previously had civil service protection.

Return-to-work policies are a focus of Elon Musk, the billionaire Tesla Inc. and SpaceX CEO heading the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk pushed for the mandate in an attempt to encourage some federal workers to simply quit or be fired as no-shows.

Many federal workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements, including one that Social Security Administration workers secured in the final days of the Biden administration, that allow more flexible work arrangements.

Data from the Office of Management and Budget show that about 10% of the workforce is permanently remote — including disabled workers with a documented accommodation, military spouses and those where the nature of the work is mobile.

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© 2025 Bloomberg L.P

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Rapper DJ Unk died of a heart attack, his wife has revealed days after his death at age 43.

The attack killed him as he slept, his wife, Sherkita Long-Platt, told TMZ.

Long-Platt noted that her husband, whose given name was Anthony Platt, did not do drugs, dispelling rumors his death was substance-related.

She revealed the news on Sunday, the same day family, friends and fans honored him at a vigil and balloon release in Atlanta’s Central Park. They remembered him for his charity and kindness as well as his artistry, as WXIA-TV reported.

DJ Unk had had a heart attack in 2009 when he was just 27, he told hip-hop news website XXL in a 2010 interview. The “Walk it Out” and “2 Step” rapper attributed that to bad eating habits and running himself into the ground with a punishing tour schedule.

“I constantly be on the go, I constantly be on airplanes, in different weather and you know it just took a toll on me,” he told the outlet. “It was stress.”

Unk said the experience had inspired him to modify his habits. On Friday Long-Platt broke the devastating news, posting on Facebook that she had “just lost my husband and my kids just lost their father.”

His recording label, Big Oomp Records, paid tribute with an Instagram post encouraging people to shower virtual flowers on a post from website Atlanta Culture, which called DJ Unk an artist whose work “brought energy that defined an era.”

“Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of DJ Unk,” Big Oomp said. “Put your flowers in the comments as we honor his impact on Atlanta and beyond.”

Unk was known for his “Beat’n Down Yo Block” debut album, which hit No. 21 on the 2006 Billboard R&B and Hip-Hop chart. “Walk It Out” took the nation by dance storm, and “2 Step” went gold.

That debut album “didn’t just give us hits, they gave us culture,” Atlanta Culture said in its post honoring the fallen rapper. “From club floors to block parties, his music made everyone move.”

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© 2025 New York Daily News

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What makes a food healthy? For the first time in 30 years, the Food and Drug Administration is updating its claim on what food products can use the word “healthy” on their labels.

And both the foods being taken off the list and the new foods now approved to use that claim might surprise you.

“This was long overdue. The term ‘healthy’ as used as a claim for foods is way out of date,” says Dr. Donald Hensrud, a Mayo Clinic physician specializing in nutrition and the editor of “The Mayo Clinic Diet.”

Dr. Hensrud says the FDA’s updated claim for using the word “healthy” on packaging labels is more in line with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and things like fortified white bread, highly sweetened cereals and yogurt with added sugars will no longer be labeled as “healthy.”

“Now, when people see the simple term ‘healthy food’ on foods, it meets certain criteria. There’s evidence supporting its health. It contains low amounts of saturated fat and sodium like it did before, but now also low amounts of sugar,” he says.

Some new foods that have been added to the “healthy” label list are fruits, vegetables, eggs, whole grains, fatty fish such as salmon, olive oil, nuts, seeds and even water. “And we know from years of research that these foods are healthy,” says Dr. Hensrud.

“The FDA is going to work on a symbol that foods can use that have the healthy claim approved for it, and that’ll make it easier for people to identify healthy foods,” he says.

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© 2025 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

“Tiger King” star Joe Exotic has taken issue with Donald Trump pardoning hundreds of Jan. 6 insurrectionists and ignoring his calls for clemency.

The former zoo owner-turned-reality TV star — whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado — has been publicly crusading for a release from prison since his conviction on 19 criminal counts in 2020.

Currently incarcerated at Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, he previously used social media as an avenue to plead for a presidential pardon from Trump.

Now serving a 22-year prison stint for hiring a hit man to snuff out rival Carol Baskin, Exotic has maintained his innocence and feels he never got a fair shake — comparing his judicial plight to people who are considered actual killers.

“Being in prison with the evidence that I have is wrong, especially when they’re releasing people that have murdered people,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “I don’t hold anything against the Jan. 6 people, but some of them people really hurt some police officers and they’re free because they were hostages. Hell, I’m a hostage, I’m a political prisoner in America, and I’m asking President Donald J. Trump to put an end to this and let me go home.”

Shortly after being sworn in as the 47th U.S. president, Trump issued 1500-plus pardons to violent rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, several of whom were convicted of beating law enforcement officers. More than 140 police officers were injured during the seven-hour siege, leading to about $2.8 million in damages, CNN reported.

The 61-year-old Exotic became a pop culture phenomenon with the runaway success of the Netflix 2020 true crime series “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.”

After being previously sentenced to 22 years for his role in the murder-for-hire plot against Baskin, Exotic was resentenced by a federal judge to 21 years in prison in Jan. 2022, the judge shaving off just one year despite Exotic’s request for leniency as he underwent cancer treatment.

“I plead to President Trump,” he said, adding: “I’m not begging, but I’m asking that he take five minutes and look at the evidence.”

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© 2025 New York Daily News

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to visit Washington next week to meet with President Donald Trump, according to people familiar with the matter, as the leaders look to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza.

The meeting is not yet finalized and may not come together in that time frame, the people said on condition of anonymity to discuss the plans. The early sit-down would come at a critical time, just weeks until the end of the first phase of the pause in fighting. Skeptics have questioned whether the deal will hold through its second phase, which would ultimately lead to a permanent end to the war in Gaza.

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, is expected to travel to Israel this week to discuss the prospect of securing a longer-term solution to the conflict, according to Israeli television.

More than 30 hostages held by Hamas are slated to be returned to Israel during the six-week truce, in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners. More humanitarian aid is entering Gaza during the stretch, with roughly 600 trucks per day delivering supplies.

Trump last weekend floated the idea of relocating Palestinian refugees to neighboring Arab countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, with much of Gaza devastated by air strikes. The suggestion was swiftly rejected by both nations, which have said Palestinians must be allowed to return to their homes.

Trump has indicated he’s willing to give wider latitude for Israel to carry out military strikes in the region compared to former President Joe Biden. The White House removed a hold on 2,000-pound bombs put in place under the previous administration out of fear that the weapons could add to the civilian death toll in Gaza.

The president repeatedly warned Hamas prior to the latest ceasefire agreement there would be “hell to pay” if Israeli hostages weren’t released before his inauguration.

Netanyahu and Trump had a close relationship during the U.S. president’s first term. Trump was critical of Israel’s military campaign against Hamas during the 2024 presidential campaign but the two have exchanged complimentary words since Trump won a second term, and Netanyahu’s wife visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club for dinner.

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© 2025 Bloomberg L.P

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