11.6 C
New York
Saturday, March 14, 2026
type here...
Home Blog Page 116

Northeast beaches are seeing more great white sharks as summer winds down

By
Reporters News Wire
-
0

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

As the summer days wind down, travelers are still hitting the beaches to take dips in the ocean.

Those in the Northeast may face a greater risk of shark attacks as new data shows an increase in great white sightings. 

The Oqunquit Fire Department (OFD) in Maine shared a shark advisory last week on its Facebook page. 

BEACHES WITH MOST SHARK ATTACKS AS AMERICANS PAY TRIBUTE TO ‘JAWS’ AND ACTIVIST WEIGHS IN

“A credible sighting of a 6–8-foot great white shark was reported approximately 200 yards off Little Beach near the mouth of the river,” OFD wrote. 

Officials put up a yellow flag on Aug. 19 to caution beachgoers and remind people to “follow posted advisories.”

About 93 great white sharks have been detected in Maine since Aug. 2020, according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources.  (iStock)

A great white shark was recently spotted at the beginning of this month by a drone showing the shark swimming in water near Scarborough, Maine.

About 93 great white sharks have been detected in Maine since late August 2020, according to the Maine Department of Marine Resources. 

“Shark behavior is clearly shifting.”

In July, the largest great white shark in the Atlantic was recorded near Nantucket, Massachusetts, stretching nearly 14 feet in length, Fox News Digital previously reported.  

For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle

There has also been an increase in great white sharks near the waters of Nova Scotia, Canada, according to a Marine Ecology Progress Series paper published in Inter-Research in May.

Researchers attribute the increase to an overall growth in the population of great whites between the years 2019 and 2021.

A great white shark

Authorities are warning beachgoers to remain vigilant after two great white sharks were spotted within 48 hours off the coast of Bailey Island, Maine.  (iStock)

They also say it could be due to “changes in habitat use that cause the population distribution to shift northward during warmer months.”

There have been 47 unprovoked shark bites globally in 2024, with 28 taking place in the U.S., according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File (ISAF).

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Activist Julie Andersen, founder of the New York-based Shark Angels, previously told Fox News Digital that several beach communities are seeing higher numbers of sharks this summer. 

“Based on trends over the past few years, shark behavior is clearly shifting,” she said. 

LeeBeth the shark

White shark populations are rebounding “thanks to decades of protection.” (Chip Michalove)

“From the West Coast to the East Coast and even parts of Mexico, sightings are increasing in places like California, Cape Cod, the Carolinas, Florida, and Baja.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Andersen said that in places like California or Cape Cod, Massachusetts, white shark populations are rebounding “thanks to decades of protection.” She said their return is a sign of healthier oceans.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Ashley J. DiMella is a Lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital. 

Weight loss drugs may reduce hidradenitis suppurativa symptoms, study finds

By
Reporters News Wire
-
0

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, have been shown to reduce the symptoms of a painful skin condition.

Hidradenitis suppurativa, also known as acne inversa, is a condition that causes small, painful lumps to develop under the skin, according to Mayo Clinic.

These lumps typically develop in areas of the body where the skin rubs together, and can be recurrent.

POPULAR WEIGHT-LOSS MEDICATION COULD RELIEVE PAINFUL ARTHRITIS SYMPTOMS, DOCTORS REPORT

Hidradenitis suppurativa tends to start after puberty and before age 40, persisting for many years and potentially worsening over time, according to Mayo Clinic. Women are three times more likely to develop the condition.

Medical and surgical therapy can help manage the condition and prevent complications.

GLP-1 medications could improve certain skin conditions, experts found. (iStock)

A new study, published in the journal JAMA Dermatology, analyzed how GLP-1 medication could impact this skin condition.

The French researchers noted that hidradenitis suppurativa is typically associated with overweight and obesity, affecting 50% of those patients.

WHO SHOULD BE TAKING WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS? DOCTORS SHARE BEST CANDIDATES

The experts noted that weight loss, whether through diet or obesity surgery, has a “beneficial effect” on the skin condition for most patients.

As GLP-1s have demonstrated “major efficacy” in weight loss, the researchers hypothesized that the medications could also have anti-inflammatory properties that may help with skin symptoms.

doctor measures woman's waist

Researchers found that patients with obesity and diabetes experienced a reduction in symptoms when taking a GLP-1. (iStock)

The study evaluated 66 patients with hidradenitis suppurativa who were taking a GLP-1 drug, following up at an average of 18.5 months later.

Nearly 90% of the study participants had diabetes, and their average BMI was 39.4. Treatment for the skin condition was initiated for 53% of the patients.

IS OZEMPIC RUINING YOUR TEETH? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT IMPACT ON DENTAL HEALTH

After six months, 54% of patients had a reduction in symptoms. 

By the last consultation, 67% of the participants reported reductions and 60% had decreased pain.

hidradenitis suppurativa bumps on skin

Hidradenitis suppurativa, shown here, typically occurs before age 40 and can worsen with time. (iStock)

‘Cautious optimism’

Dr. Brendan Camp, a dermatologist in New York, reacted to these study findings with “cautious optimism.”

“It is impressive that, over a median of 18.5 months of follow-up, GLP-1 receptor agonists led to significant reductions in HS severity, flares and pain in patients, most of whom were obese and had diabetes,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Camp confirmed how GLP-1-aided weight loss can reduce “mechanical friction” and “adipose-driven inflammation in susceptible areas” where skin conditions can occur. 

GLP-1s also appear to have anti-inflammatory effects, which could potentially enhance skin healing and reduce the frequency of inflammatory skin disease flares, he said.

woman injecting weight loss drug in stomach

A dermatologist said he does not currently recommend GLP-1s solely for HS or other skin conditions, as it’s not prescribed for this indication. (iStock)

Potential limitations

Camp pointed out that while the study represents a “promising therapeutic signal,” its retrospective design “limits causal conclusions.”

“Solid confirmation via randomized clinical trials is critically needed,” he said.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Additionally, most participants in the study were obese and diabetic, which means the results may not be applicable to all patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. 

“Future randomized trials are required to determine who will benefit most and to establish safety and effectiveness in the wider HS population,” Camp said.

“GLP-1 therapies remain investigational for hidradenitis suppurativa and are not an approved indication.”

The dermatologist does not currently recommend GLP-1s solely for hidradenitis suppurativa or other skin conditions.

“Patients with HS should know that while these findings are hopeful — showing improvements in severity, flare frequency, pain and quality of life over months of treatment — GLP-1 therapies remain investigational for HS and are not an approved indication,” he noted.

For more Health articles, visit foxnews.com/health

Those who qualify for GLP-1 treatment for diabetes or obesity, however, may find that these drugs offer the “added potential benefit of HS symptom improvement.”

“Off-label initiation without a clear indication should be approached with caution — weighing cost, side effects and lack of definitive trial evidence — and only under the guidance of both a dermatologist and prescribing provider,” Camp added.

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.

Ancient carved head discovered by student at Scottish island excavation

By
Reporters News Wire
-
0

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

An undergraduate student was startled after a finely carved ancient head rolled out during a recent excavation – and seemed to smile back at her.

The discovery, made at Skaill Farm on the Scottish island of Rousay, was announced by the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Archaeology Institute on July 24. The site is part of a long-term research project of the institute.

Student Katie Joss was working along a trench wall when the head “stared back” at her, according to the university. 

MUSEUM UNVEILS 1,300-YEAR-OLD MONK DOODLES REVEALING SURPRISING COMPLAINTS ABOUT HANGOVERS AND WEATHER

Pictures from the dig show the head with curly hair and a slight smile, unfazed by its missing nose.

In a statement, UHI archaeology lecturer Sarah Jane Gibbon called the discovery “such an exciting find.”

A carved sandstone head with curly hair and a faint smile was unearthed at Skaill Farm, a University of the Highlands and Islands research project. (Dan Lee / UHI Archaeology Institute)

“The carved head is of rich, red sandstone, with yellow inclusions, that was likely quarried from the island of Eday and is the same as the molded fragments from the nearby St. Mary’s old parish church,” the expert noted.

The exact age and use of the head remains a mystery, though Gibbon said that its presence suggests that there was once a “building of some splendor” in the area.

“It’s something you would expect to find at an ecclesiastical site, not a farm.”

Dan Lee, an archaeologist and researcher at UHI Orkney, told Fox News Digital the find was “very unusual.”

MYSTERIOUS ‘DUMPED’ BODIES OF WOMAN AND CHILD FOUND BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN PICTURESQUE TOWN

“We don’t know of any other examples in Orkney,” he said. “It’s something you would expect to find at an ecclesiastical site, not a farm.”

Lee believes the head came from St. Mary’s Kirk and is medieval in nature. 

If true, the artifact shows that the church was likely “very finely built and of high status.”

Split image of stone head, student

Archaeology student Katie Joss, right, made the discovery while working through a trench wall on site. The discovery was announced in late July.  (Dan Lee / UHI Archaeology Institute)

“You wouldn’t expect this kind of high-quality carving on a farm, and we haven’t found any red sandstone built into the main walls of the farm buildings,” said Lee.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

The head is also very well-preserved, suggesting that it had been sheltered indoors.

“It doesn’t appear to have been damaged, apart from the broken nose tip, but this may have occurred before it was deposited in a later rubble layer,” the archaeologist observed.

Wide shot of archaeologists digging at Skaill Farm

The find adds to a growing collection of sandstone fragments recovered from the Skaill Farm project. (Dan Lee / UHI Archaeology Institute)

“Stone preserves well in the ground, so it’s not surprising it has survived well. You can see the individual chisel marks where it was carved.”

Lee added that the head is one of many finely carved red sandstone artifacts at Skaill, such as a column capital – but it’s still a first of its kind.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle

“But we haven’t had anything resembling the human form, so this is unique!” he emphasized.

Scotland has a long history of human settlement, and the Skaill discovery is just one of many new finds.

Close-up of student excavating floor

The recent discovery is part of ongoing research at Skaill Farm, directed by the UHI Archaeology Institute. (Dan Lee / UHI Archaeology Institute)

On Sanday, another one of the Orkney Islands, a warship connected to the American Revolution was uncovered on a beach by a schoolboy.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

A prehistoric village was also recently discovered near Inverness, Scotland, at the site of a future golf course.

Kansas City police officer killed by fleeing suspect while deploying stop sticks

By
Reporters News Wire
-
0

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Kansas City is mourning the loss of a police officer after he was fatally struck by a driver fleeing law enforcement while attempting to deploy stop sticks.

The Kansas City Police Department in Kansas identified the slain officer as 26-year-old Hunter Simoncic. The young officer graduated from the department’s academy in 2023.

Simoncic was struck early Tuesday morning while deploying stop sticks on State Avenue in an effort to stop a driver who was fleeing law enforcement, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Dennis Mitchell III, 31, is accused of hitting Simoncic and is charged with capital murder, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of theft, according to Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree on Wednesday.

MAUI OFFICER KILLED IN LINE OF DUTY, POLICE CHIEF CALLS HER ‘THE FINEST OF US’

Kansas City, Kansas police officer Hunter Simoncic, 26, was killed on Tuesday when a driver fleeing law enforcement hit him with a truck while he was deploying stop sticks. (Officer Down Memorial Page)

The incident began at around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday when Kansas City officers responded to reports of shots fired on Everett Avenue, according to the department. 

Officers arrived at the location at 12:40 a.m. to find an unconscious man, later identified as Mitchell, in the driver’s seat of a truck. He woke up when they approached him and fled the scene, sparking a pursuit.

Mitchell abandoned the truck he was driving for another truck and continued fleeing, KBI said.

While police continued pursuing Mitchell, Simoncic and another KCKPD officer exited their vehicle to stage stop sticks.  When Mitchell got close to that location, he allegedly drove toward Simoncic, hit him with the second truck and drove off.

Simoncic was taken to the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Dennis Mitchell III mugshot

Dennis Mitchell III, 31, is accused of killing Kansas City, Kansas police officer Hunter Simoncic and is charged with capital murder in his death, among other crimes. (Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office)

UTAH POLICE OFFICERS KILLED DURING DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE RESPONSE WERE HUSBANDS, FATHERS: ‘DEFINITELY HEROES’

After allegedly hitting the officer, Mitchell wrecked at around 12:55 a.m. on Kaw Drive. He was taken into custody and transported to the same hospital as Simoncic for treatment. He was released not long after and taken to the Wyandotte County Jail.

Police said they later learned both trucks Mitchell drove Tuesday night had been reported stolen.

The department said in a Facebook post that Simoncic’s death brings a “profound sense of loss and pain.”

Before joining KCKPD, Simoncic worked as a shift supervisor at the Southeast Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center, according to the department. He also held a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in forensic science.

He was also a volunteer at Benjamin Banneker Elementary School and read to children on a weekly basis through a program known as Lead to Read KC.

Hunter Simoncic's patrol vehicle

Patrol vehicle belonging to slain Kansas City, Kansas police officer Hunter Simoncic was adorned with flowers and candles ahead of a vigil planned for him. (Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office)

“While he grew up in a small town in southeast Kansas, he chose to serve our community because, in his words, ‘I want to take what I have learned in life to make positive changes in a community I believe truly deserves it.’ Let that sink in,” the department wrote.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Simoncic’s death comes just weeks after Elijah Ming, a deputy in Kansas City, was shot and killed in the line of duty.

“God speed Hunter. You and Elijah rest easy, we will take it from here,” KCKPD wrote on Facebook.

His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 3.

COVID vaccines limited to high-risk patients this fall season, FDA says

By
Reporters News Wire
-
0

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized COVID-19 vaccines for the fall — but only for high-risk groups.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy announced the FDA’s most recent actions on Wednesday in a post on X.

“I promised 4 things,” Kennedy wrote. “1. to end covid vaccine mandates; 2. to keep vaccines available to people who want them, especially the vulnerable; 3. to demand placebo-controlled trials from companies; 4. to end the emergency.”

LARGEST MEASLES OUTBREAK IN US IS OFFICIALLY OVER, HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY

“In a series of FDA actions today we accomplished all four goals.”

In the post, RFK stated that the FDA has issued “marketing authorization” for high-risk groups for the following vaccines: Moderna (6 months and older), Pfizer (5 years and older) and Novavax (12 and up). 

“These vaccines are available for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors,” RFK wrote.

High-risk groups include older adults over 65 and those who are more likely to develop severe COVID illness. 

MEDICAL GROUP GOES AGAINST CDC, RECOMMENDS COVID SHOTS FOR YOUNG KIDS

On its website, the CDC lists conditions that may increase the risk of severe COVID, including asthma, cancer, heart conditions, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, mood disorders, obesity, Parkinson’s, and chronic disease of the lungs, liver or kidneys, among many others.

RFK also announced that the emergency use authorizations for COVID vaccines have been rescinded.

High-risk groups include older adults over 65 and those who are more likely to develop severe COVID illness.  (iStock)

“The American people demanded science, safety, and common sense,” RFK went on. “This framework delivers all three.”

Before this change, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had recommended the vaccine for all Americans 6 months and older.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

In May 2025, Kennedy announced that COVID-19 vaccines would be removed from the CDC’s routine immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Instead of a universal recommendation, the CDC’s updated guidance calls for “shared clinical decision-making,” in which parents and doctors discuss the benefits and risks of vaccination for each individual case.

Older man vaccine

Before this change, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had recommended the vaccine for all Americans 6 months and older. (iStock)

However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) still includes it in its annual immunization schedule, as Fox News Digital previously reported.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

“It should be a conversation between the pediatrician, patient and parent, and should depend on the child’s health as well as the current state of COVID,” Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, previously told Fox News Digital.

Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.

The Bloom School of Jazz Celebrates its 50th Year Anniversary in 2025

By
Reporters News Wire
-
0
Bloom2
The Bloom School of Jazz Celebrates its 50th Year Anniversary in 2025 25

Boutique Jazz School Nurturing Thousands of Students Since 1975

Chicago, IL, August 26, 2025 – In the world of jazz education, one school is marking a milestone: the 50th anniversary of The Bloom School of Jazz in Chicago. This institution is built on Founder David Bloom’s vision of “transforming lives through music and creativity.” Bloom and his staff of instructors focus on helping students find their individual voice—from saxophonists to scatting singers. Everyone who walks through the school’s doors, from Grammy winners to a mix of students from a NAVY Seal to a federal judge, a psychiatrist to high school students, is challenged by Bloom, who is known for his demanding, no-nonsense teaching style.

In the early 1970s, Bloom started teaching eight hours a day in a small practice room in Hyde Park, where he is from, and then opened the school officially in 1975. Over the decades, the school has had five locations and is currently at 226 S. Wabash. At one time, the school had six teachers and 100 enrolled students. The current teaching staff includes Bloom and award-winning vocalist Spider Saloff. Today, students can study privately with Bloom or Saloff, or take a selection of Jazz Combo Courses.

It is one of the nation’s few dedicated, self-funded jazz institutions. Bloom was awarded Jazz Educator of the Year award from Jazz Institute of Chicago in 2017. Bloom’s flagship teaching methods are outlined in his “Bloom’s Ten Commandments of Jazz Soloing and Life” and “Bloom’s Laws.”

Bloom’s vision was clear: helping students discover their individual voices through various programs such as Jazz Vocal Courses and private instruction. His commitment has influenced countless careers and inspired creativity in all of his students.

Alumni include:

  • Steve Rodby, 17-time Grammy Winner, bass player with Pat Metheny for 30 years
  • Cliff Colnot, conductor of the DePaul University Orchestra
  • Paul Mertens, music director for Brian Wilson
  • Graham Maby, bassist with Joe Jackson
  • Alex Wurman, film composer for March of the Penguins
  • Russ Nolan, NYC sax player who has his own school, Jazz Lab NYC
  • Anthony Wonsey, NYC Jazz Pianist

Bloom is a composer, flutist and guitarist, and author of eight music education books published through Hal Leonard, and he has had articles featured in Guitar Player magazine and The Chicago Tribune. Additionally, he has written What is Soul?, a book of interviews with people including Studs Terkel, Oscar Brown Jr., and people from many professions; and Incite Insights, a book including over 60 essays on music and life, and images of his abstract paintings. He has released five CDs of his original compositions, along with arranger Cliff Colnot, on his own Fire and Form Records.

Video: Composition “For Eddie P.” (Eddie Palmieri, Salsa Legend) by David Bloom: HERE

Video: Composition/alto flute “Shadow of a Soul” by David Bloom: HERE

For complete information, visit: https://www.bloomschoolofjazz.com/
More about David: https://davidbloomworks.com/

Media Contact: The Bloom School of Jazz, Attn: Media Relations
226 S. Wabash Ave. Chicago, IL 60654, Phone: 773-860-8300
Email: dbloomjazz@gmail.com  

326739908 1154977048540902 7006127297929186251 n
The Bloom School of Jazz Celebrates its 50th Year Anniversary in 2025 26

            

Data brokers sell your personal info to scammers even without Facebook

By
Reporters News Wire
-
0


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

“I don’t use Facebook. I don’t even have an email. How could scammers possibly know anything about me?”

That’s the question I hear from people over 60 all the time. If you assume that by staying off social media and avoiding the internet, you’re invisible to fraudsters, think again.

The truth is, even if you’ve never posted a single thing online, scammers can still know your age, home address, relatives’ names, property value, and even when you’ve suffered the loss of a loved one. How? Because the everyday details of your offline life are quietly being collected, digitized, and sold.

And scammers are taking full advantage.

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter. 

REMOVE YOUR DATA TO PROTECT YOUR RETIREMENT FROM SCAMMERS

A woman holding a smartphone

Scammers can still know a lot about you, even if you have never posted anything online. (Fernando Gutierrez-Juarez/picture alliance via Getty Images)

How scammers target seniors without social media

Here’s the uncomfortable reality: you don’t have to “put yourself out there” for your information to appear online. Much of it becomes public record automatically, thanks to the way our legal and government systems work.

Some of the biggest sources include:

  • Obituaries: When a loved one passes away, obituaries often list family members, ages, locations, and relationships. To scammers, it’s a family tree of potential targets.
  • Real estate records: Property purchases, sales, and even mortgage details are public. This can tell scammers whether you own your home outright, what it’s worth, and if you might be cash-rich.
  • Probate filings: When estates go through probate, details about beneficiaries and assets are recorded. Scammers can identify heirs and target them with fraudulent “inheritance assistance.”
  • Property tax documents: These are often searchable by anyone. They reveal not only your address but also your financial standing.
  • Court filings: Divorce, bankruptcy, and civil disputes often contain personal details, which are public by law.

On their own, these may not seem dangerous. But combined, they create a shockingly detailed portrait of your life.

THE DATA BROKER OPT-OUT STEPS EVERY RETIREE SHOULD TAKE TODAY

A man leaning on a fence using a tablet

Public records can provide a portrait of your life. (Barbara Eddowes via Getty Images)

Bereavement scams and emotional tricks scammers use

One of the cruelest scams I’ve seen lately is what I call the bereavement scam.

Here’s how it works:

A scammer scrapes local obituaries to see who’s recently lost a spouse or child. They then reach out, by phone, email, or even mail, pretending to be a funeral home, a grief counselor, or a charity. Because they reference real names, dates, and relationships, their outreach sounds painfully authentic.

  • Example: “We saw you lost your husband on March 3rd. We’d like to offer you a free grief support service…”
  • Or: “Your loved one’s final medical expenses may qualify for reimbursement. We just need your banking details to confirm.”

When you’re in mourning, your guard is down. Scammers know this, and they exploit grief to steal money and identities.

Other emotionally charged scams follow the same playbook

  • Fake Medicare calls referencing your age and location.
  • Phony financial advisors offering to “help” with retirement rollovers.
  • Romance scams targeting widows and widowers who live alone.
  • Fake agent scams trick victims into paying thousands of dollars through phone threats

The unifying factor is that these criminals don’t need Facebook to learn about you. They already have a dossier built from public and brokered data.

What’s even worse is that scammers can target your loved ones even years after your passing. They can call or text your close relatives claiming to offer free memorial services, annuities, or other common strategies when people are most vulnerable. Your exposed personal data fuels such morbid scams.

9 ONLINE PRIVACY RISKS YOU PROBABLY DON’T KNOW ABOUT

A man typing on a laptop

A man typing on his laptop (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)

The shocking sources of your personal data

Here’s the part most people don’t realize: scammers rarely dig through dusty courthouse files themselves. They don’t have to. That work has already been done by data brokers. Data brokers are companies whose entire business model is gathering and selling personal information. They collect from:

  • Public records (like those obituaries and real estate filings)
  • Consumer databases (credit headers, magazine subscriptions, surveys)
  • “People search” websites (Spokeo, Whitepages, BeenVerified, and dozens more).

The result is a searchable profile that might include:

  • Full name and aliases
  • Current and past addresses
  • Phone numbers and email addresses
  • Relatives and their contact info
  • Age, income range, home value
  • Legal or financial history

Once a broker has your data, they sell it. And once it’s sold, it spreads. Even if you’ve never had a social media account, companies may build a ‘shadow profile’ of you from leaked data, online purchases, or details shared by others, leaving it ready to be abused.

How to protect yourself from scammers and data brokers

The good news is, you’re not powerless. While you can’t stop public records from existing, you can make it much harder for scammers to access and weaponize your data. Here’s how:

1) Reduce your digital footprint

  • Request removal from people search sites and data brokers.
  • This prevents your profile from being sold to scammers.
  • Doing this manually can take hours and has to be repeated, but it works.

2) Stay alert for emotional manipulation

  • If someone contacts you after a loss, assume caution.
  • Verify charities and funeral services before engaging.
  • Never share banking or personal details over the phone or email.

3) Automate data removal

  • Instead of manually contacting hundreds of data brokers, you can use a service like Incogni.
  • It sends and tracks removal requests across 420+ brokers, and keeps repeating the process so your data doesn’t resurface.
  • With their Unlimited plan, you can request data removal from any other shady website and disappear from the internet.
  • For seniors, this is often the safest and most practical solution.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice.  They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy.  These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites.  It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Kurt’s key takeaways

Not being on Facebook doesn’t mean you’re invisible. Scammers don’t need you to share your life online. Your offline life is already online without your consent. The obituary in the local paper, the deed to your home, the probate record of your loved one’s estate, these are all turned into data points, sold to brokers, and resold to whoever wants them. That’s why protecting your personal data isn’t about avoiding the internet. It’s about reducing what’s already out there. The less data scammers can find, the harder it is for them to fool you with realistic, emotionally charged attacks. And that’s a big step toward keeping your money, your identity, and your retirement safe.

Do you believe it’s time for the government and companies to step in and protect your data privacy?  Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.

Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.



Source link

Italian farmers have installed turnstiles in the Dolomites amid tourist surge

By
Reporters News Wire
-
0

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

As European cities continue to struggle with surging tourist numbers, Italian farmers have taken matters into their own hands.

Locals have installed their own turnstiles across the Dolomites as influencers continue to flock to the mountain range in northeastern Italy.

Carlo Zanella, president of the Alto Adige Alpine Club, told Fox News Digital that the turnstiles are “working.”

COASTAL CITY GREENLIGHTS NEW VISITOR TAX AMID WIDESPREAD OVERTOURISM TREND

“The turnstiles were installed at the beginning of July by a farmer who owns the land where the path passes,” said Zenella.

Located in Val Gardena on the Seceda, the turnstiles charge visitors about $5 for access.

Italian farmers install turnstiles that require $5 for access to the Dolomites mountain range. The goal is to control tourist overcrowding. (Carlo Zanella)

Zanella shared the “big problem” that farmers are facing. 

He said it’s about visitors “who go to the meadows to pass or have a picnic and ruin the grass that the farmer has to cut to make hay.”

The Dolomiti Superski area, spanning over 12 valleys, had 4 million winter visitors in the 2024 season, according to The Times.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle

“I am against the influencers,” said Zanella, “because they almost always tell things that are not in events [related] to the locality and show the mountain differently from what it is. They are only interested in making money [through] advertising.”

DOLOMITES ITALY OVER TOURISM FARMERS

“The turnstiles were installed at the beginning of July by a farmer who owns the land where the path passes,” a source told Fox News Digital.  (Carlo Zanella)

Photos of the mountain range shared on social media show daily lines of thousands of tourists.

In the Province of Belluno, where the Dolomites are located, tourist arrivals increased 11% from 2019 to 2023, according to the official tourism portal.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“The first 11 months of 2024 show a stability in flows compared to the previous year,” the tourism portal notes.

DOLOMITES ITALY OVER TOURISM FARMERS

The Dolomiti Superski area, which spans over 12 valleys, had 4 million winter visitors in the 2024 season. (Carlo Zanella)

Zanella said local authorities have met about how to handle tourism issues, but no decision has been made yet.

He believes the best way to reduce the flow of tourists is to highlight that “there are other even more beautiful places to visit.”

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Fox News Digital reached out to the Ufficio Informazioni e Accoglienza Turistica for comment.

Ashley J. DiMella is a Lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital. 

Italy hiker search shows a breakthrough in AI drone technology

By
Reporters News Wire
-
0


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A missing hiker’s dead body was finally found in July in Italy’s rugged Piedmont region after 10 months. The recovery team credited the breakthrough to an AI-powered drone that spotted a critical clue within hours. The same process would have taken weeks or even months if done by the human eye.

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter. 

TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT DEPLOYING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO SPOT AIR TRAFFIC DANGERS, DUFFY SAYS

Search and recovery mission in the Italian Alps

The hiker, an experienced mountaineer identified as Nicola Ivaldo, had been missing since September 2024 on the northern slopes of Monviso in Italy’s Cottian Alps. This remote section of the mountain is known for sheer cliffs and loose rock. Sudden weather changes often make search efforts slow and hazardous.

Italian search and rescuers use AI-powered drone to find hiker's body

Italian search and rescuers announced in July 2025 that they had used an artificial intelligence-powered drone to locate the dead body of a hiker who had been missing for months. (Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico – CNSAS)

The National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) specializes in high-altitude and cave rescues. They had conducted multiple ground searches since the disappearance. In early 2025, they turned to drone technology to renew the effort. Flying about 164 feet above the terrain, the drones surveyed a 452-acre section of the mountain. During the operation, they captured more than 2,600 high-resolution images. This aerial perspective revealed details in areas that would have been difficult and risky to reach on foot.

A yellow helicopter picking up two people in mountains

Drone in flight near the peak of Monviso in Italy’s Cottian Alps during a rescue mission. (CNSAS)

How AI technology sped up the search

Instead of relying on human experts to manually scan thousands of photos, AI software analyzed the entire dataset in just hours. Using color and shape recognition, the system highlighted objects that did not match the surrounding environment.

One detection stood out: the red helmet belonging to the missing hiker. That small but critical find enabled rescuers to pinpoint the location and plan recovery efforts. Once the site was confirmed, teams navigated steep and unstable ground to reach the area. They worked in challenging alpine conditions to recover the hiker. Officials emphasized that this was a joint success between advanced technology and the skilled human team interpreting the AI’s results.

ALASKA HIKER MAULED BY BEAR RESCUED WITH HELP OF ADVANCED DRONE TECHNOLOGY ON REMOTE TRAIL

A drone with mountains behind it

Search and rescue drone flying over mountainous terrain. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

The future of AI in search and rescue

This operation marks a turning point in search and rescue tactics. AI-enabled drones can cover vast and dangerous areas without risking human lives. They speed up the search process and increase the chances of finding people alive.

Similar AI-aided searches have been used in Canada, Switzerland, and the United States. These missions often deliver faster results than traditional methods. Rescue teams hope that as the technology advances, it will reduce fatal accidents and locate missing persons faster. It could also allow human rescuers to focus their efforts where they are needed most.

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right – and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

A drone in the mountains

Drone in flight near the peak of Monviso in Italy’s Cottian Alps during a rescue mission. (CNSAS)

Kurt’s key takeaways

AI drones are changing the game for search and rescue. They can analyze massive amounts of visual data in hours instead of weeks. Combined with expert human teams, this technology could save more lives and make high-risk missions safer.

Do you think AI should play a bigger role in rescue operations? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.

Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved. 

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.



Source link

Mediterranean diet paired with other changes prevents diabetes in older adults

By
Reporters News Wire
-
0

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Eating a Mediterranean diet — including lots of produce, whole grains and healthy fats — while also adding a few healthy lifestyle behaviors could lower your diabetes risk by almost a third.

That’s according to research published Aug. 25 in Annals of Internal Medicine, which found that following a Mediterranean-style diet along with calorie control, regular activity and professional support cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) by 31%. 

The findings come from the PREDIMED-Plus trial, a six-year study of nearly 4,800 older adults in Spain who were overweight or obese and at risk of diabetes.

FRENCH FRIES TIED TO DIABETES RISK, BUT NOT ALL POTATOES ‘CREATED EQUAL,’ STUDY FINDS

“In practical terms, adding calorie control and physical activity to the Mediterranean diet prevented around three out of every 100 people from developing diabetes,” co-author Miguel Martínez-González, professor at the University of Navarra in Spain, said in a press release.

“That’s a clear, measurable benefit for public health.”

Experts say simple lifestyle changes could help prevent millions of new cases of diabetes. (iStock)

“We’re facing a global epidemic of diabetes,” co-author Frank Hu, Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, said in the release.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the world’s fastest-growing health conditions, affecting nearly 16% of U.S. adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Experts say simple lifestyle changes could help prevent millions of new cases.

YOUR DNA COULD BE STOPPING YOU FROM LOSING WEIGHT, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

What the diet looks like

The Mediterranean diet primarily consists of the following ingredients.

  • Plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains
  • Healthy fats, such as olive oil and nuts
  • Moderate amounts of fish, lean proteins and dairy
  • Little to no red meat

This way of eating has been linked to better heart health, improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammation.

Mediterranean diet whole foods like legumes and non-red meat.

The Mediterranean diet has been linked to better heart health, improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammation. (iStock)

Registered dietitian and food blogger Lauren Harris-Pincus, based in New Jersey, previously spoke to Fox News Digital about the benefits of whole-food diets like this one.

“Fiber-rich carbohydrates like fruit, veggies, beans/legumes, nuts and whole grains are beneficial to meeting fiber goals, supporting gut health and helping to prevent lifestyle diseases,” she said. 

Study design

The study looked at nearly 4,800 people in Spain who were overweight or obese and at risk of diabetes.

Half of the group followed a Mediterranean diet while also incorporating additional lifestyle changes, including cutting about 600 calories a day, adding moderate exercise (like brisk walking or light strength training), and receiving professional weight-loss support.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The other half followed a Mediterranean diet without calorie restriction, exercise guidance or extra support.

After six years, the first group had a 31% lower risk of developing diabetes. On average, they also lost 3.3 kilograms (about 7 pounds) and trimmed 3.6 centimeters (about 1.4 inches) from their waistlines.

“Adding calorie control and physical activity to the Mediterranean diet prevented around three out of every 100 people from developing diabetes.”

The control group lost significantly less, only 0.6 kilograms (1.3 pounds), and had almost no change in waist size.

“The best lifestyle strategy to reduce the risk of diabetes is to lose weight by adhering to a healthy, energy-reduced diet and increasing physical activity,” co-author Jordi Salas-Salvadó, M.D., PhD, professor at the University of Rovira i Virgili in Spain, told Fox News Digital.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

While the Mediterranean diet isn’t the only eating plan that could help prevent diabetes, it offers a “highly sustainable, long-term weight-loss option,” he added.

Salas-Salvadó noted that no previous trial has assessed the effect of reducing calories in the context of a healthy, relatively high-fat diet.

Woman sitting at the table dressing fresh organic vegetables salad plate with olive oil

After six years, the group that modified their diet, exercised regularly and received professional support had a 31% lower risk of developing diabetes. (iStock)

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Fox News senior medical analyst, was not involved in the study but has previously spoken about the effects of the Mediterranean diet.

“The alternative — saturated fats, salts and sugars — are not heart-healthy and increase the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer, all of which increase mortality risks,” he told Fox News Digital.

Potential limitations

The study’s approach of monitoring diet, physical activity and weight loss makes it difficult to gauge which factor had the most impact, according to Salas-Salvadó.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

He also pointed out that because the participants were older adults in Spain, further studies are needed to assess outcomes in other populations, like younger people and non-Mediterranean populations.

Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health. 

1...115116117...1,139Page 116 of 1,139

Editor Picks

Must read

Popular categories