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National Interest
US Raises Travel Caution For Popular European Destination US Raises Travel Caution For Popular European Destination
US Raises Travel Caution For Popular European Destination A trans-Atlantic favorite known for medieval squares, canals, and world-famous cuisine now comes with heightened federal caution. The State Department issued a Level Two travel advisory for Belgium on Thursday, July 23, urging Americans to exercise increased caution because of crime, terrorism, and unrest. Level Two is the second step in the federal government’s four-tier system. It sits above Level One, which calls for normal precautions, but below Level Three, which advises travelers to reconsider a trip. Level Four warns Americans not to travel. The State Department said petty crime is …

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by Joe Lombardi
Your Community
Dog's Discovery Leads To Rabies Alert After Bat Tests Positive In Virginia: VDH Dog's Discovery Leads To Rabies Alert After Bat Tests Positive In Virginia: VDH
Dog's Discovery Leads To Rabies Alert After Bat Tests Positive In Virginia: VDH A dog's discovery has prompted a rabies warning in Virginia after a bat found in Suffolk tested positive for the deadly virus. The bat was found in the 300 block of Turlington Road in Suffolk and collected after a dog located the dead animal, according to the Suffolk Health Department on Tuesday, Aug. 4.  Animal Control responded, recovered the bat, and testing later confirmed it was infected with rabies. While human rabies cases are rare, the virus is almost always fatal once symptoms develop. Health officials say the disease spreads when saliva from an infected animal enters the bod…

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by Zak Failla
Breaking News
13-Year-Old Arrested After Shooting Teen Relative During Virginia Family Fight: Police 13-Year-Old Arrested After Shooting Teen Relative During Virginia Family Fight: Police
13-Year-Old Arrested After Shooting Teen Relative During Virginia Family Fight: Police A family argument ended with a gunshot. Prince William County police say a 13-year-old Woodbridge boy is now facing felony charges after he allegedly shot his 18-year-old female relative during a domestic dispute inside a home on Lebourget Court late on Sunday night. Officers were called to the 15500 block of Lebourget Court around 10:36 p.m. on Aug. 2, where detectives say a verbal argument between the two family members escalated inside the home. According to investigators, the boy went into the home, retrieved a firearm, confronted the woman, and fired a single round. The bullet grazed…

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by Zak Failla
Breaking News
WMATA Train Operator Forged Doctors' Names, Recruited Coworkers: Feds WMATA Train Operator Forged Doctors' Names, Recruited Coworkers: Feds
Wmata Train Operator Forged Doctors' Names, Recruited Coworkers: Feds It wasn't just one fake claim. Federal prosecutors say a WMATA train operator built a years-long insurance fraud scheme by recruiting coworkers, forging doctors' names and cashing in on injuries that never happened. Michelle Shropshire, 55, of Waldorf, was sentenced Tuesday, Aug. 4, to 24 months in federal prison after orchestrating a four-year plot that defrauded AFLAC of more than $362,000, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. Prosecutors say Shropshire, who worked as a train operator for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, recruited fellow …

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by Zak Failla
Your Community
Virginia Confirms First Locally Acquired Dengue Case As Mosquito Spreads Virus Virginia Confirms First Locally Acquired Dengue Case As Mosquito Spreads Virus
Virginia Confirms First Locally Acquired Dengue Case As Mosquito Spreads Virus A mosquito bite in Northern Virginia has health officials watching closely. Virginia has confirmed its first documented case of locally acquired dengue virus, marking a milestone state health officials say is rare but important, even as they stress the overall risk to the public remains low. The Virginia Department of Health announced that a Northern Virginia resident contracted dengue despite having no known travel outside Virginia before becoming sick. The investigation, conducted with the Fairfax County and Loudoun County health departments, found the patient had been in close proximity…

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by Zak Failla
On Your Side
Walgreens Closing Dozens Of Pharmacies In 2026, Including Arlington Location Walgreens Closing Dozens Of Pharmacies In 2026, Including Arlington Location
Walgreens Closing Dozens Of Pharmacies In 2026, Including Arlington Location Walgreens is planning to close dozens of stores in 2026 as the pharmacy chain reshapes its nationwide footprint, according to reports. The company now expects to shutter fewer than 100 locations in 2026, Inc. reported. That's down from earlier internal projections of as many as 700 closures. Walgreens originally announced in October 2024 that it planned to close about 1,200 underperforming stores over three years. The company expected to cut around 500 locations during the first year of the turnaround effort. The closures slowed down after private equity firm Sycamore Partners ac…

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by Chris Spiker
Your Community
Who Is He? Police Renew Search For 2002 John Doe Found Decomposing In Virginia Woods Who Is He? Police Renew Search For 2002 John Doe Found Decomposing In Virginia Woods
Who Is He? Police Renew Search For 2002 John Doe Found Decomposing In Virginia Woods He walked into the woods carrying little more than the clothes on his back. More than two decades later, no one has figured out who he was. Prince William County detectives are asking the public to take another look at one of the area's oldest unsolved mysteries, hoping someone recognizes the face, the clothing, or even the small everyday items found alongside an unidentified man whose remains were discovered on July 29, 2002, behind a commercial business in the 8100 block of Sudley Road in Manassas. The case has remained frozen in time for 23 years. Investigators said the decomposed rema…

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by Zak Failla
On Your Side
Chipotle Pulls Key Ingredient Amid Illness Outbreak Investigation Chipotle Pulls Key Ingredient Amid Illness Outbreak Investigation
Chipotle Pulls Key Ingredient Amid Illness Outbreak Investigation Chipotle has removed jalapeños from its restaurants across the US after the pepper was identified as a possible source of a Salmonella outbreak. The restaurant chain announced the move in a news release on Tuesday, Aug. 4. The decision comes as a Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 110 people in Minnesota. Chipotle uses jalapeños in several menu items like guacamole, pico de gallo, and chili-corn salsa. "As part of our established health and safety protocols, upon learning of a potential outbreak, we immediately initiated our ingredient traceability system and were able to identify j…

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by Chris Spiker
Weather
Stormy Stretch To Bring Drenching Downpours, Flood Threat To Northeast: Timing Stormy Stretch To Bring Drenching Downpours, Flood Threat To Northeast: Timing
Stormy Stretch To Bring Drenching Downpours, Flood Threat To Northeast: Timing A mostly calm start will not last long, with a moisture-loaded pattern poised to turn the Northeast unsettled. Wednesday, Aug. 5, will be partly sunny and mainly dry. Only isolated afternoon or evening storms are expected, with highs generally in the low to upper 80s. Storm chances rise Thursday, Aug. 6, as warmer, more humid air spreads north along the East Coast. Highs will reach the mid- to upper 80s, with some interior locations nearing 90 degrees. A strengthening area of high pressure near Bermuda will help draw moisture northward, according to AccuWeather. A northward surge o…

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by Joe Lombardi
National Interest
Disturbing Online Broadcast Prompts Emergency Response At Media Personality's Home Disturbing Online Broadcast Prompts Emergency Response At Media Personality's Home
Disturbing Online Broadcast Prompts Emergency Response At Media Personality's Home A disturbing online broadcast prompted an urgent response and left a prominent media personality hospitalized. Perez Hilton, 48, was taken to a Miami-area hospital after deputies responded to his home on Tuesday, Aug. 4, according to multiple reports. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office received multiple 911 calls from viewers who said Hilton appeared to harm himself during a TikTok livestream. Deputies confirmed that the celebrity blogger was alone inside the home. They used crisis intervention techniques to de-escalate the situation before paramedics transported him to the hospital, accordin…

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by Joe Lombardi
National Interest
Ariana Grande Breaks Silence About Decision To Step Back From Public Life Ariana Grande Breaks Silence About Decision To Step Back From Public Life
Ariana Grande Breaks Silence About Decision To Step Back From Public Life Ariana Grande is setting the record straight about a major decision that will reshape her next chapter. The 33-year-old singer addressed fans during an "Eternal Sunshine Tour" concert at Chicago’s United Center on Monday, Aug. 3, saying her plan to step back from public-facing work was deliberate and made well before it became public. “The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing," Grande told the crowd. "It is something that I had decided to plan." She noted that she made the plan “quietly, a long time ago.” Grande also reassured fans that outside negati…

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by Joe Lombardi
National Interest
A Diet Darling May Be Working Against Healthy Aging A Diet Darling May Be Working Against Healthy Aging
A Diet Darling May Be Working Against Healthy Aging One of nutrition’s loudest messages may have the formula for a longer, healthier life flipped backward. A sweeping scientific review published in Cell Press Blue finds that eating less protein consistently extends lifespan and improves metabolic health in laboratory models, including yeast, fruit flies, and rodents. The human evidence is far thinner. No study has shown that protein restriction extends a person’s lifespan. Short-term human trials have, however, found improvements in blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, and body fat, according to the review. The findings raise a provocative qu…

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by Joe Lombardi
National Interest
Former '60 Minutes' Correspondents Take On New Assignment Former '60 Minutes' Correspondents Take On New Assignment
Former '60 Minutes' Correspondents Take On New Assignment Two familiar faces from one of television’s best-known news programs are bringing their newsroom experience to the classroom. Columbia Journalism School announced on Monday, Aug. 3, that Sharyn Alfonsi and Scott Pelley have been appointed journalists-in-residence for the 2026-27 academic year.  The former “60 Minutes” correspondents will mentor students individually and in groups while leading lectures, workshops, and special events. Their work will focus on strengthening students’ reporting, investigative, and sourcing skills. Alfonsi and Pelley will also each contribute an article t…

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by Joe Lombardi
National Interest
These Grocery Staples Under Scrutiny As Parasite Cases Linked To Lettuce Climb These Grocery Staples Under Scrutiny As Parasite Cases Linked To Lettuce Climb
These Grocery Staples Under Scrutiny As Parasite Cases Linked To Lettuce Climb The produce aisle may hold more questions than answers as investigators chase the sources of a massive parasite surge. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday, Aug. 3, that a nine-state Cyclospora outbreak was linked to iceberg lettuce recalled by Taylor Farms de Mexico. The Food and Drug Administration traced the cluster to shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants. The nine-state outbreak had caused at least 1,947 illnesses and 98 hospitalizations as of Friday, July 24. However, that outbreak represents only part of the nationwide surge. The North Carolina D…

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by Joe Lombardi
On Your Side
Seat Belt Issues Trigger Massive Recall Of 1.5M+ Ram Pickups Seat Belt Issues Trigger Massive Recall Of 1.5M+ Ram Pickups
Seat Belt Issues Trigger Massive Recall Of 1.5M+ Ram Pickups More than 1.5 million Ram trucks are being recalled worldwide because of a seat belt problem that can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Stellantis is recalling about 1,271,294 Ram 1500 pickups in the US from the model years 2019 through 2026, the company announced. The recall also affects about 156,138 trucks in Canada, 15,088 in Mexico, and 74,084 in other markets outside North America. The anchors for the second-row center or driver-side seat belt buckles may not have been properly attached to the truck's body structure. Some customers have reported that the buck…

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by Chris Spiker
National Interest
Hollywood Star Back Home After Nearly Four Months In Hospital Hollywood Star Back Home After Nearly Four Months In Hospital
Hollywood Star Back Home After Nearly Four Months In Hospital A beloved television star has reached a hopeful turning point after a long and closely watched health ordeal. Christina Applegate, 54, is back home following a nearly four-month hospital stay in Los Angeles, TMZ reported in an exclusive on Monday, Aug. 3. The outlet reported that Applegate was discharged and doing well. She had been hospitalized since late March. The reason for the extended stay remains unknown. Parade reported that her representatives have not disclosed what condition required treatment. Applegate has publicly battled multiple sclerosis, or MS, since announcing her diagn…

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by Joe Lombardi
Breaking News
WATCH: Massive 2-Alarm Fire Tears Through DC Apartments, Leaving 44 Without Homes WATCH: Massive 2-Alarm Fire Tears Through DC Apartments, Leaving 44 Without Homes
Watch: Massive 2-Alarm Fire Tears Through DC Apartments, Leaving 44 Without Homes A wall of flames. Thick black smoke. Then an all-out fight to keep an entire apartment building from going up. More than 150 firefighters battled a massive two-alarm blaze Tuesday afternoon in Southeast DC after fire tore through the roof of an occupied apartment building, forcing dozens of residents, including 16 children, from their homes. The fire broke out around 2:18 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at an apartment building in the 5300 block of E Street SE, where crews quickly found flames racing through the upper floors and roof. Update: 2 Alarm Fire 5300 Block of E Street SE2nd alarm was ca…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
'You Always Had A Smile': Loved Ones Remember Jesse Fultz Sr. After Deadly Motorcycle Crash 'You Always Had A Smile': Loved Ones Remember Jesse Fultz Sr. After Deadly Motorcycle Crash
'You Always Had A Smile': Loved Ones Remember Jesse Fultz Sr. After Deadly Motorcycle Crash The streets will glow with candlelight this week, but they won't be able to fill the space Jesse Fultz Sr. leaves behind. Maryland is mourning the sudden loss of the devoted husband, father, brother and friend after the Jefferson family man was killed in a motorcycle crash, leaving behind his wife, Becky, and their two young sons, Junior and Tucker. As loved ones struggle to process the tragedy, one message has echoed across social media again and again: Jesse made people feel like family. "To have you stripped away from us within the blink of an eye hurts different because we all thought …

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by Zak Failla
Your Community
He Bought The Last Scratch-Off Left. It Was Worth $1 Million He Bought The Last Scratch-Off Left. It Was Worth $1 Million
He Bought The Last Scratch-Off Left. It Was Worth $1 Million Talk about leaving nothing behind. A Maryland mechanic became an instant millionaire after buying the very last scratch-off ticket left in a vending machine, turning a split-second decision into a $1 million payday. The Cecil County man, who now jokingly goes by "Mr. Money Bags," wasn't even planning to buy that particular ticket. He had just picked up his children from the babysitter and stopped at the Royal Farms on Perryville Road in Perryville when something caught his eye. The customer in front of him had been loading up on Triple Red 777s scratch-offs. By the time it was his turn, …

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by Zak Failla
Breaking News
140 Guns Hidden In Air Compressors: Ex-Haitian Police Officer Pleads Guilty In DC 140 Guns Hidden In Air Compressors: Ex-Haitian Police Officer Pleads Guilty In DC
140 Guns Hidden In Air Compressors: Ex-Haitian Police Officer Pleads Guilty In DC They weren't shipping air compressors. They were shipping an arsenal. A years-long gun trafficking scheme unraveled in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, when a former Haitian National Police officer admitted smuggling at least 140 firearms from South Florida to Haiti by hiding them inside industrial air compressors packed with foam insulation, federal prosecutors announced. Jean Robert Casimir, 53, of Lauderhill, FL, pleaded guilty in US District Court in DC to conspiracy, smuggling, and violating US export control laws for orchestrating the operation, according to the US Attorney's Offic…

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by Zak Failla
Your Community
Were You At This Maryland ER? Health Officials Warn Of Measles Exposure Were You At This Maryland ER? Health Officials Warn Of Measles Exposure
Were You At This Maryland ER? Health Officials Warn Of Measles Exposure A new Maryland measles case has prompted a public health alert after officials said people may have been exposed inside a hospital emergency department on the Eastern Shore. The Maryland Department of Health announced Tuesday, Aug. 4, that a Maryland resident tested positive for measles after potentially exposing others at the ChristianaCare Union Hospital Emergency Department in Elkton. Anyone who was inside the emergency department at 106 Bow St. between 7 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2, may have been exposed, health officials said. State health officials are conducting contact tr…

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by Zak Failla
Your Community
Kids In Stolen Kia Linked To Deadly Crash At Maryland Intersection, Police Say (UPDATED) Kids In Stolen Kia Linked To Deadly Crash At Maryland Intersection, Police Say (UPDATED)
Kids In Stolen Kia Linked To Deadly Crash At Maryland Intersection, Police Say (Updated) A stolen car. Four children inside. One innocent driver never made it home. Maryland investigators say the violent Germantown crash that triggered a mass casualty response Tuesday morning began with a stolen Kia carrying juveniles as young as 12 before it slammed into another vehicle at one of Montgomery County's busiest intersections. The crash happened around 5:25 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Great Seneca Highway and Clopper Road, where Montgomery County police and fire crews found a white Kia Optima and a blue Toyota Matrix with catastrophic damage. The crash in Montgomery County. T…

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by Zak Failla
Breaking News
'He Helped Keep The Port Moving': Longtime Longshoreman Killed In Freak Maryland Work Accident 'He Helped Keep The Port Moving': Longtime Longshoreman Killed In Freak Maryland Work Accident
'He Helped Keep The Port Moving': Longtime Longshoreman Killed In Freak Maryland Work Accident One ordinary workday became the kind of Monday no family ever imagines. A Maryland community is mourning the loss of David "Deon" Smith, a longtime International Longshoremen's Association Local 333 member who was killed in a tragic workplace accident Monday morning, Aug. 3, at the Port of Baltimore's Dundalk Marine Terminal. Maryland Transportation Authority Police said officers responded shortly after 9 a.m. for reports of an injured worker.  Smith, 53, was struck by a crane boom during cargo-handling operations, according to authorities. First responders attempted life-saving measu…

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by Zak Failla
Your Community
Dump Truck Rolls Onto Side, Shuts Down Busy Virginia Intersection Before Rush Hour (PHOTOS) Dump Truck Rolls Onto Side, Shuts Down Busy Virginia Intersection Before Rush Hour (PHOTOS)
Dump Truck Rolls Onto Side, Shuts Down Busy Virginia Intersection Before Rush Hour (Photos) A morning commute came to a grinding halt when a dump truck rolled onto its side at a busy Virginia intersection, spilling its load across the roadway. The crash happened around 7:50 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, at the intersection of James Madison Highway and Remington Road in Culpeper County, where emergency crews found an overturned dump truck and a passenger vehicle involved in the collision. Photos from the scene show the bright yellow truck lying on its side with its load dumped onto the shoulder, while deputies, firefighters and rescue crews worked around the wreckage. The dump truck…

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by Zak Failla
National Interest
Charging Bison Chases Child In Terrifying Yellowstone Incident: Video Charging Bison Chases Child In Terrifying Yellowstone Incident: Video
Charging Bison Chases Child In Terrifying Yellowstone Incident: Video A peaceful wildlife sighting turned into another heart-pounding close call at Yellowstone National Park. A viral video recorded Tuesday, July 28, shows a bison briefly chasing a child after a group walked toward the grazing animal near a park boardwalk. No injuries were reported. The child began running when the bison turned toward the group, triggering a brief chase. Witnesses can be heard shouting warnings as the child races along the boardwalk and reaches safety. The footage was recorded by park visitor Brittany Peteler, according to 6abc Philadelphia, which published a Storyful r…

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by Joe Lombardi
Breaking News
Fort Washington Man, Veteran Park Police Officer Identified In Fatal Maryland Shooting: AG Fort Washington Man, Veteran Park Police Officer Identified In Fatal Maryland Shooting: AG
Fort Washington Man, Veteran Park Police Officer Identified In Fatal Maryland Shooting: AG Questions remain. But now, the names are public. A Maryland man killed during a police shooting at Fort Washington Park last week has been identified as 30-year-old Alex Charles, while the officer who fired the fatal shots has also been publicly named as the state's investigation continues. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General announced Tuesday, Aug. 4, that Charles, of Fort Washington, died in the July 31 encounter with Maryland-National Capital Park Police in Prince George's County. The officer involved was identified as Cpl. Anthony Delozier, a 15-year veteran of the Maryland-Nat…

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by Zak Failla
Breaking News
Maryland Gang Member Convicted After Innocent Man Mistaken For Rival In Deadly DC Hit: DOJ Maryland Gang Member Convicted After Innocent Man Mistaken For Rival In Deadly DC Hit: DOJ
Maryland Gang Member Convicted After Innocent Man Mistaken For Rival In Deadly DC Hit: DOJ One wrong walk home turned into a death sentence. A Maryland man was among four members of a violent Southeast Washington street crew convicted Monday, Aug. 3, for running an armed drug operation that used machine guns to defend territory and ultimately gunned down an innocent bystander, federal prosecutors said. Markquette Rajon Cowan, 27, of Maryland, was found guilty alongside Washington, DC residents Christopher Jordan Broady, 26; Joshua Nicholas Stephenson, 25; and Larry Duncan, 35, following a four-week trial in US District Court. Prosecutors said the men belonged to the "Push Dat Sh…

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by Zak Failla
Breaking News
NYPD Cop Dies After Breast Explant Surgery: Reports NYPD Cop Dies After Breast Explant Surgery: Reports
Nypd Cop Dies After Breast Explant Surgery: Reports The NYPD is mourning the loss of a 31-year-old officer who reportedly died of a botched breast implant surgery in the Dominican Republic. Rebecca De Paula's family members tell Spanish outlet Noticias SIN that she developed a bacterial infection after having her breast implants removed in the Dominican Republic. De Paula developed severe diarrhea and her condition rapidly worsened before she died at a clinic in Santo Domingo following the procedure on Sunday, Aug. 2, according to the outlet. Her family is urging officials to probe whether or not medical malpractice or negligence contributed…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
UFC Fighter Dies Suddenly At 34, Teammate Says He 'Lost A Brother' UFC Fighter Dies Suddenly At 34, Teammate Says He 'Lost A Brother'
UFC Fighter Dies Suddenly At 34, Teammate Says He 'Lost A Brother' A Brazilian mixed martial artist who fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship died after suffering an apparent heart attack. Allan Nascimento was found unresponsive on the morning of Monday, Aug. 3, the UFC announced. The flyweight and São Paulo native was 34 years old. Nicknamed "Puro Osso," which means "All Bones" in Portuguese, Nascimento made six appearances in the UFC, posting a 4-2 record inside the Octagon. "A fixture on the doorstep of the Top 15, Nascimento was a constant presence alongside his teammates whenever they made the walk, sharing an especial…

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by Chris Spiker
Weather
Neighbor Helps Resident Escape After Tree Crushes Home Near Virginia Border (PHOTOS) Neighbor Helps Resident Escape After Tree Crushes Home Near Virginia Border (PHOTOS)
Neighbor Helps Resident Escape After Tree Crushes Home Near Virginia Border (Photos) A Maryland resident escaped without a scratch Tuesday morning after a massive tree came crashing through a two-story home in Fort Washington, thanks in part to a quick-thinking neighbor. The collapse happened around 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 4, in the 12900 block of Heather Circle in Prince George's County, where firefighters arrived to find the tree split through the middle of the house. According to the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department, the occupant was able to self-extricate with assistance from a neighbor before crews arrived. No injuries were reported. Photos from the scene show the…

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by Zak Failla
Breaking News
DOJ Says County Gun Law Violates Supreme Court Decision In Maryland DOJ Says County Gun Law Violates Supreme Court Decision In Maryland
DOJ Says County Gun Law Violates Supreme Court Decision In Maryland Maryland's toughest local gun restrictions are now at the center of a federal lawsuit. The US Department of Justice has sued Montgomery County, accusing officials of violating the Second Amendment by making it nearly impossible for law-abiding residents with concealed carry permits to legally carry firearms in public. The lawsuit, filed Monday, Aug. 3, targets Montgomery County's recently enacted Bill 23-26, which prohibits firearms in thousands of locations throughout the county and creates a 100-yard exclusion zone around each of those places. According to the Justice Department, the res…

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by Zak Failla