House Oversight Chairman James Comer is demanding answers from former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra over allegations he concealed Dr. Anthony Fauci's pandemic-era diary and cellphone, records that now contradict Fauci's own sworn testimony. Comer, a Kentucky Republican, sent a letter to Becerra on Monday accusing the former Biden Cabinet official of failing to turn over […] The post House Oversight Committee accuses former Biden HHS secretary of hiding Fauci's COVID diary from Congress appeared first on American Almanac .
House Oversight Chairman James Comer is demanding answers from former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra over allegations he concealed Dr. Anthony Fauci's pandemic-era diary and cellphone, records that now contradict Fauci's own sworn testimony. Comer, a Kentucky Republican, sent a letter to Becerra on Monday accusing the former Biden Cabinet official of failing to turn over more than 1,000 pages of Fauci's personal diary entries in response to a November 2, 2023, congressional document request. That request specifically sought records containing the words "COVID-19," "gain-of-function," and "Wuhan." All three terms, Comer wrote, appear throughout the diary. Becerra never produced a single page, and never even acknowledged the diary existed,…Open
Tourists posing for photos on rocks at a popular Thai waterfall were swept downstream by a sudden flash flood on August 15, seconds after park officers blew a whistle ordering them out of the water. The group of foreign visitors had waded into a restricted zone at Mae Sa Waterfall in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, […] The post Flash flood sweeps selfie-taking tourists off rocks at Thailand waterfall after they ignored warnings appeared first on American Almanac .
Tourists posing for photos on rocks at a popular Thai waterfall were swept downstream by a sudden flash flood on August 15, seconds after park officers blew a whistle ordering them out of the water. The group of foreign visitors had waded into a restricted zone at Mae Sa Waterfall in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, near the northern city of Chiang Mai, when a wall of muddy water surged down the mountain at roughly 4:20 p.m. local time. Video footage captured by onlooker Arttie Martin shows the river rising in seconds, knocking several tourists off their feet and dragging them downstream as others screamed for help. One long-haired tourist can be seen trying to crawl across the torrent on hands and knees. Park rangers stationed at multiple…Open
Barbie released a new Marilyn Monroe Signature Doll on what would have been the Hollywood legend's 100th birthday, a collectible tribute that recreates her most famous on-screen moment. The doll, which went on sale Tuesday at Target, Amazon, and Walmart for $81, draws its design from Monroe's pink gown and "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best […] The post Barbie marks Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday with new collector doll appeared first on American Almanac .
Barbie released a new Marilyn Monroe Signature Doll on what would have been the Hollywood legend's 100th birthday, a collectible tribute that recreates her most famous on-screen moment. The doll, which went on sale Tuesday at Target, Amazon, and Walmart for $81, draws its design from Monroe's pink gown and "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" performance in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Barbie created the figure in collaboration with The Estate of Marilyn Monroe LLC, and it ships with a Certificate of Authenticity and collector-grade packaging, USA TODAY reported . Monroe died nearly 65 years ago, yet her hold on American culture has not loosened. The new doll is only the latest proof. Barbie previously released Monroe-inspired…Open
America's second-richest woman has spent more than $108 million acquiring properties on Southampton's Meadow Lane and is now renovating them into a family compound for her three children, all while rarely appearing in public. Julia Koch, the widow of industrialist David Koch and the controller of an estimated $81.2 billion fortune, purchased a 22,000-square-foot Tudor-style […] The post Julia Koch quietly assembles a Hamptons compound on Billionaire Lane appeared first on American Almanac .
America's second-richest woman has spent more than $108 million acquiring properties on Southampton's Meadow Lane and is now renovating them into a family compound for her three children, all while rarely appearing in public. Julia Koch, the widow of industrialist David Koch and the controller of an estimated $81.2 billion fortune, purchased a 22,000-square-foot Tudor-style home on Meadow Lane in 2022 for $75 million. The property sits on 500 feet of ocean-front beach and holds 15 bedrooms. A neighbor told Page Six at the time that the house "had fallen into a bit of a state of disrepair" and that Koch's team was "in the very early stages of exploring different options [for restoration], and that might be years away." Years later, the…Open
An 81-year-old Florida man known for his appearance on Animal Planet's "Fatal Attractions" was struck and killed on a rural Arizona highway after pulling over to look at a snake, and the driver who allegedly fled the scene now faces criminal charges. Ed Cassano, a father of two and lifelong wildlife enthusiast, was found dead […] The post Animal Planet personality Ed Cassano, 81, killed in Arizona hit-and-run after stopping to observe a snake appeared first on American Almanac .
An 81-year-old Florida man known for his appearance on Animal Planet's "Fatal Attractions" was struck and killed on a rural Arizona highway after pulling over to look at a snake, and the driver who allegedly fled the scene now faces criminal charges. Ed Cassano, a father of two and lifelong wildlife enthusiast, was found dead lying in the road on August 7 after a vehicle allegedly driven by 57-year-old Ricky Finch struck him on a highway in rural Arizona, the New York Post reported . Finch allegedly fled the scene in a white Ford Fusion. Cassano had stepped out of his vehicle to examine a snake on the roadside, a routine act for a man who had spent decades working with some of the most dangerous reptiles on earth. Finch later called…Open
Food Network star Bobby Flay marked girlfriend Brooke Williamson's 48th birthday with a public Instagram tribute, the latest sign that two of the food world's biggest names are still going strong after more than a year together. Flay, 61, posted a carousel of photos on August 15 from the couple's recent travels, along with a […] The post Bobby Flay celebrates chef girlfriend Brooke Williamson's 48th birthday with Instagram tribute appeared first on American Almanac .
Food Network star Bobby Flay marked girlfriend Brooke Williamson's 48th birthday with a public Instagram tribute, the latest sign that two of the food world's biggest names are still going strong after more than a year together. Flay, 61, posted a carousel of photos on August 15 from the couple's recent travels, along with a clip of the pair at the New York City Wine & Food Festival last October. His caption kept it simple: "Happy birthday to the most talented chef in the universe. She's pretty cute too! Xo." Williamson replied on the post: "I love you forever ." The couple began dating in March 2025. Since then, they have gone from a private item to a public one, competing head-to-head on Food Network's "BBQ Brawl" season 7 and openly…Open
Four-time Olympic alpine skier Chemmy Alcott landed in a French hospital with a collapsed lung and a chest drain after a mistimed front flip off a five-meter diving platform turned a holiday into an emergency. Alcott, 44, was vacationing in Annecy, France, when she attempted the flip and hit the water hard, landing feet-first. The […] The post British Olympic skier Chemmy Alcott hospitalized with collapsed lung after vacation diving mishap appeared first on American Almanac .
Four-time Olympic alpine skier Chemmy Alcott landed in a French hospital with a collapsed lung and a chest drain after a mistimed front flip off a five-meter diving platform turned a holiday into an emergency. Alcott, 44, was vacationing in Annecy, France, when she attempted the flip and hit the water hard, landing feet-first. The former Team GB skier, who competed in four Winter Olympics and served as a BBC commentator during the 2026 Games, shared video of the incident and her hospital stay on Instagram, along with a characteristically dry account of what went wrong. The impact collapsed one of her lungs. Doctors inserted a chest drain, a tube used to remove trapped air and fluid from the chest cavity, and Alcott spent multiple nights…Open
The Town of East Hampton has filed a lawsuit demanding the immediate demolition of a 60-foot sculpture built from welded shipping containers on once-protected farmland in Montauk, land restricted to agricultural use since 1983. The complaint, filed in Suffolk County Supreme Court, names property owner Max Levai and his business, The Ranch, over what the […] The post East Hampton sues over unpermitted shipping container sculpture on protected Montauk farmland appeared first on American Almanac .
The Town of East Hampton has filed a lawsuit demanding the immediate demolition of a 60-foot sculpture built from welded shipping containers on once-protected farmland in Montauk, land restricted to agricultural use since 1983. The complaint, filed in Suffolk County Supreme Court, names property owner Max Levai and his business, The Ranch, over what the town calls the unlawful construction of an unpermitted structure. The sculpture, titled "Mediating Figure," was built by Los Angeles-based artist Matt Johnson from 12 retired steel shipping containers and installed on the property on June 27. Residents quickly pushed back, and the East Hampton Town Board voted 4-1 on July 7 to pursue legal action. The town brought four charges: violation…Open
Young drinkers priced out of $20 bar cocktails are pregaming with tiny, high-alcohol canned drinks that retail for as little as three dollars, and viral TikTok challenges are pushing the trend toward reckless territory. A tennis ball-sized can of BuzzBallz costs between $3 and $4.50 at a liquor store or gas station. It packs between […] The post Gen Z turns to $3 canned cocktails to dodge sky-high bar prices — and the results aren't pretty appeared first on American Almanac .
Young drinkers priced out of $20 bar cocktails are pregaming with tiny, high-alcohol canned drinks that retail for as little as three dollars, and viral TikTok challenges are pushing the trend toward reckless territory. A tennis ball-sized can of BuzzBallz costs between $3 and $4.50 at a liquor store or gas station. It packs between 15% and 20% alcohol by volume, roughly three to four times the strength of a standard light beer. For a generation watching every dollar, the math is simple: one or two cans before heading out, and the $20-per-cocktail bar tab shrinks or disappears entirely. The trend, the New York Post reported , has turned brands like BuzzBallz and Cutwater into social media fixtures, with TikTok challenges daring users to…Open