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U.S. health officials on Tuesday said they would phase out petroleum-based artificial colors in the nation’s food supply, potentially triggering an ingredients overhaul for scores of brightly hued products on American store shelves. The federal Food and Drug Administration will take steps to eliminate the synthetic dyes by the end of 2026, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said at a news conference. The agency will establish a standard and timeline for industry to switch to natural alternatives, revoke authorization for dyes not in production within coming weeks and take steps to remove remaining dyes on the market. Makary said that removing artificial dyes would boost children’s health. “For the last 50 years we have been running one of the largest uncontrolled scientific experiments in the world on our nation’s children without their consent,” Makary said. Health advocates have long called for the removal of artificial dyes from foods, citing mixed studies indicating they can cause neurobehavioral problems, including hyperactivity and attention issues, in some children. The FDA has maintained that the approved dyes are safe and that “the totality of scientific evidence shows that most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives.” The FDA currently allows 36 food color additives, including eight synthetic dyes. In January, the agency announced that the dye known as Red 3 — used in candies, cakes and some medications — would be banned in food by 2027 because it caused cancer in laboratory rats. Artificial dyes are used widely in U.S. foods. In Canada and in Europe — where artificial colors are required to carry warning labels — manufacturers mostly use natural substitutes. Several states, including California and West Virginia, have passed laws restricting the use of artificial colors in foods. The announcement drew praise from advocates who say the dyes carry health risks and serve no purpose beyond the cosmetic. “Their only purpose is to make food companies money,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest and a former FDA official. “Food dyes help make ultraprocessed foods more attractive, especially to children, often by masking the absence of a colorful ingredient, like fruit.” Removing artificial dyes from foods has long been a goal of so-called MAHA moms, key supporters of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his “Make America Healthy Again” initiatives. They were among protesters who signed petitions and rallied outside the Michigan headquarters of WK Kellogg Co. last year, demanding that the company remove artificial dyes from its breakfast cereals in the U.S. The group included Vani Hari, a popular food activist known as the Food Babe, who previously pressured the Kraft Heinz company to remove artificial dyes from its macaroni and cheese. Hari spoke at Tuesday’s event. She said the action marks “a new era” in safe food for children. However, food manufacturers said the action would unfairly target highly regulated color additives long confirmed to be safe. “There are not enough alternatives available to replace these products,” the International Association of Color Manufacturers said in a statement. “Supply chains will take an estimated five to 10 years to catch up and require importing more expensive ingredients grown in China, India and Mexico.” A spokesperson for the National Confectioners Association, a trade group for makers of candy, gum and mints, […]

On May 7th, join a select group of passionate Jewish school leaders at an intimate high-impact workshop.  What You’ll Leave with:– A clear Mission Statement that drives purpose and goals.– A powerful Vision that inspires growth and unity.– Core Values that guide every decision, big and small.   This is not a conference. It’s a working session.  Participants will leave the workshop with real, actionable frameworks to transform their leadership, and their school.   Plus, personalized 30-minute follow-up call with Robert.   Centrally located for New Jersey and New York Schools, this workshop will take place at Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island,  May 7th, 2025, 9:30 – 3:30 pm. Bring Your Key Team Members.   Click Here to Reserve Your Spot Now!  Eligible for professional development funding – ask us how! Brought to you by Clear Square Group – driving change in education.

Barnegat, NJ – A rapidly spreading wildfire, dubbed the “Jones Wildfire,” erupted in Barnegat Township, Ocean County, on Tuesday, afternoon, consuming 1,200 acres in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area and prompting mandatory evacuations, road closures, and the shutdown of a significant portion of the Garden State Parkway. As of 5 p.m., the blaze remained 0% contained, threatening 16 structures and casting thick smoke across the Jersey Shore region, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. The Garden State Parkway, a major artery along the Jersey Shore, is closed in both directions between Exit 63 in Stafford Township and Exit 80 in South Toms River, with additional closures at Exit 69 in Waretown. Local roads, including Route 532 (Wells Mills Road) between Route 72 and the Parkway, Bryant Road between Route 532 and Route 539, and Jones Road between Route 532 and Bryant Road, are also shut down to facilitate firefighting efforts and ensure public safety. Route 9 is closed in both directions at Wells Mills Road. Authorities are urging drivers to seek alternate routes and expect significant delays. The fire, first reported around 10:15 a.m. near Jones Road, initially covered just 5 acres but exploded in size due to dry conditions and shifting winds, reaching 150 acres by early afternoon and 1,200 acres by evening. The Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area, spanning Barnegat, Berkeley, Lacey, Manchester, Waretown, and Woodland townships, is a densely forested region with significant wildland fire risk, making containment efforts challenging. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents along Wells Mills Road (Route 532) from Bryant Road to the Garden State Parkway in Ocean Township, with a temporary shelter established at Waretown Methodist Church. The Barnegat Township Police Department expanded evacuations to include neighborhoods such as Windward, Mirage, Pheasant Run, Heritage Point North, Brookville, and all homes on West Bay Avenue. In Lacey Township, a mandatory evacuation was issued for the southern section of Barnegat Pines south of Lakeside Drive South, while Pheasant Run residents were urged to evacuate voluntarily. Sixteen structures, primarily single-family homes along Bryant Road and Wells Mills Road, are directly threatened by the advancing flames. Smoke and ash from the fire have been reported as far north as Lakewood and Jackson, with visibility severely impacted across Ocean and Burlington counties. No injuries have been reported, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has deployed an extensive response to combat the blaze, including fire engines, bulldozers, and ground crews. Aerial support includes a helicopter capable of dropping 300 gallons of water, an observation helicopter, and a contract air tanker that can release 600 gallons of water per drop. Backfiring operations, a controlled burning technique to deprive the wildfire of fuel, are underway to help contain the flames. Multiple Ocean County municipalities, including Lakewood, have sent emergency personnel to assist. The fire’s rapid growth has been exacerbated by abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions in Ocean County, with nearly 80% of New Jersey facing some level of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Pine Barrens’ unique ecosystem, which dries out quickly even after rainfall, adds to the complexity of firefighting efforts. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC / With reporting Via Lakewood Alerts)

President Trump sends a strong warning to China: “Ultimately, they have to make a deal because otherwise they’re not going to be able to deal in the United States … If they don’t make a deal, we’ll set the deal.”

FDA COMMISSIONER: “Today, the FDA is taking action to remove petroleum-based food dyes from the U.S. food supply and from medications.”

Federal immigration agents under President Trump have captured over 200 individuals with terrorist affiliations since the start of the year — a surge that includes a high-profile Indian national wanted for orchestrating a deadly attack on law enforcement and linked to a Pakistan-based terror group blacklisted by the United States.

New data obtained by The NY Post from the Department of Homeland Security reveals that, since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, ICE has detained 219 suspects tied to terrorism. That’s a staggering 655% increase compared to the same stretch last year when only 29 arrests were made under Joe Biden.

Among those apprehended is Harpreet Singh, an Indian national who illegally crossed the southern border into Arizona on January 27, 2022. According to DHS officials, he was promptly released by Border Patrol after being given a court appearance date.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin blamed Biden’s policies for enabling Singh to live freely in the U.S. for over three years without consequence.

“The Biden administration not only let a wanted terrorist into our country, but after he was arrested by Border Patrol agents, they released him into the interior of our country,” she said.

“While shocking, it’s not surprising given the Biden administration routinely released unvetted terrorists and criminals into American communities,” she added.

Authorities in India have labeled Singh as a top-tier fugitive, accusing him of facilitating terrorist recruitment and financing, and coordinating grenade attacks on law enforcement targets, including a former officer’s residence, to instill fear and chaos.

He is also reportedly behind several cases of violent extortion and intimidation in India.

Officials allege Singh is a key player aligned with Harwinder Singh Rinda, a known figure in the notorious Babbar Khalsa International — a Pakistan-based radical group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 2002.

This militant outfit, which originated in the late 1970s, has been behind political assassinations, bombings, and armed assaults, according to Homeland Security.

It remains uncertain if Border Patrol officers had access to Singh’s background or his connections to extremist groups at the time of his initial release in 2022.

Last week, ICE agents successfully tracked Singh down and arrested him in Sacramento.

“He had been evading capture by using untraceable burner phones and encrypted applications,” the FBI said in a statement following his arrest.

McLaughlin stressed that the Trump administration is determined to remove any terrorist threats still at large in the country.

“Under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, ICE is unleashed to remove these violent criminals from America’s streets and put an end to catch and release,” she stated.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH: James Carville says democrats should make releasing an alleged MS-13 gang member their top priority. “This we should fight on. You can’t pivot to an economic issue.”

Incredible helicopter footage of the wildfire in Ocean County, south of Lakewood, which has now grown to 1,200 acres and is still 0% contained.

Read the full details of this developing story on Lakewood Alerts. 

In a investigative report released by Kikar HaShabbat, it has come to light that a Conservative-affiliated nonprofit organization allegedly funded the printing and distribution of street posters and pashkevilim in chareidi neighborhoods across Israel, spending tens of thousands of shekels on the campaign. These materials were aimed at dissuading participation in the upcoming elections for the World Zionist Organization (WZO). The report also reveals covert attempts to recruit chareidi journalists under the guise of a “campaign against avodah zarah” in an effort to manipulate public opinion within the frum world.

The findings raise serious ethical, legal, and communal concerns regarding the extent to which outside ideological forces are attempting to meddle in internal matters of the chareidi community, while falsely cloaking themselves in the language of daas Torah.

Conservative Figures Behind the Campaign

The investigation centers on a nonprofit called Merkaz Olami, which manages the activities of the Conservative Movement within the WZO. The organization is led by CEO Mr. Mauricio Beltr and board member Dr. Yizhar Hess, a prominent representative of the Conservative Movement who also serves as Vice Chairman of the WZO and a member of its executive.

A revealing photo shows Beltr and Hess leading a Torah procession during a Rosh Chodesh event associated with Women of the Wall, highlighting their ideological leanings and activist involvement.

Hidden Hands Behind the Posters

Several weeks ago, residents of major chareidi population centers began noticing walls plastered with posters urging non-participation in the WZO elections. These posters appeared to represent rabbinic opposition to voting in the elections—an issue still debated in the Diaspora and among gedolei Yisroel.

On one side of the debate, Rav Dov Landau has strongly opposed participation. On the other, the Eretz HaKodesh slate—which made headlines when it entered the WZO elections in 2020 under the leadership of Rabbi Pesach Lerner—has pointed to the public support they received in the past from Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l and other gedolim in both the U.S. and Israel.

While the posters gave the appearance of a grassroots campaign from within the chareidi community, Kikar HaShabbat uncovered a paper trail proving otherwise. A leaked invoice  (see below) shows that Merkaz Olami paid tens of thousands of shekels for the production and distribution of the posters. The posters were intentionally crafted to appear as if they came from within the frum community, concealing their true source.

Misleading and Potentially Illegal Conduct

A senior source in the WZO’s chareidi faction explained to Kikar HaShabbat: “Despite their efforts to obscure their involvement, it’s obvious that the Conservative Movement views Eretz HaKodesh as a threat, both ideologically and politically. They’re trying to weaken our representation by manipulating chareidi public opinion with misinformation.”

Beyond the ethical impropriety of impersonating chareidi rabbinic voices, the Conservative Movement’s conduct may have crossed legal lines. A senior legal official told Kikar HaShabbat that those involved in posting the materials could be liable for lashon hara (defamation). If parties running in the elections were involved, it could constitute a breach of election law. Furthermore, if anti-Zionist content was distributed using funds from a body supported by the WZO, it might violate the WZO’s own funding policies.

Attempted Influence Over Chareidi Media

The posters were just the tip of the iceberg. The report reveals that for several years, Conservative operatives have been engaged in a broader campaign to sway public opinion in the chareidi world. As part of this strategy, they attempted to recruit influential chareidi journalists to promote anti-Eretz HaKodesh messaging.

According to a respected media insider who spoke to Kikar HaShabbat under condition of anonymity, “Not long ago, someone from within the chareidi PR world approached me indirectly with an offer to join a campaign—promising a generous paycheck. The goal was to create media and social pressure against Eretz HaKodesh, portraying them as Zionist infiltrators.”

Once the journalist discovered the campaign was backed by the Conservative Movement, he declined the offer, stating: “As tempting as it was, I couldn’t participate in something driven by their agenda. I know they approached others as well.”

Another prominent chareidi PR strategist confirmed that powerful figures from the general Israeli media helped facilitate the campaign. “A top PR firm even offered a ‘blank check’ to any chareidi consultant willing to lead the campaign,” he said. “They used major media personalities to try to lure key figures in the chareidi press. This wasn’t a spontaneous protest—it was a coordinated, well-funded effort to smear Eretz HaKodesh over the long term.”

Double-Faced Tweets

Adding to the deception, Dr. Yizhar Hess—who serves as a senior executive in Merkaz Olami—retweeted the very posters his organization funded, pretending to empathize with Eretz HaKodesh as if he were not involved. His tweets gave the false impression that he was merely observing the controversy, rather than orchestrating it from behind the scenes.

The report concludes by emphasizing the dangerous implications of such outside interference. What was initially seen as a simple poster campaign has now been exposed as part of a much larger, coordinated strategy that may have legal, ethical, and halachic consequences.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Gunmen shot dead at least 26 tourists at a resort in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Tuesday, in what appeared to be a major shift in the regional conflict in which tourists have largely been spared. Police described the incident as a “terror attack” and blamed militants fighting against Indian rule. “This attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, wrote on social media. Two senior police officers said at least four gunmen, whom they described as militants, fired at dozens of tourists from close range. The officers said at least three dozen others were injured, many in serious condition. Most of the tourists killed were Indian, the officers said, speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with departmental policy. Officials collected at least 24 bodies in Baisaran meadow, some five kilometers (3 miles) from the disputed region’s resort town of Pahalgam. Two others died while being taken for medical treatment. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Police and soldiers were searching for the attackers. “We will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences,” India’s home minister, Amit Shah, wrote on social media. He arrived in Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir, and convened a meeting with top security officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was cutting short his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and returning to New Delhi early Wednesday, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a key resistance politician and Kashmir’s top religious cleric, condemned what he described as a “cowardly attack on tourists,” writing on social media that “such violence is unacceptable and against the ethos of Kashmir which welcomes visitors with love and warmth.” The gunfire coincided with the visit to India of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who called it a “devastating terrorist attack.” He added on social media: “Over the past few days, we have been overcome with the beauty of this country and its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn this horrific attack.” U.S. President Donald Trump on social media noted “deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against terrorism.” Other global leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, condemned the attack. Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety. Kashmir has seen a spate of targeted killings of Hindus, including immigrant workers from Indian states, after New Delhi ended the region’s semi-autonomy in 2019 and drastically curbed dissent, civil liberties and media freedoms. Tensions have been simmering as India has intensified its counterinsurgency operations. But despite tourists flocking to Kashmir in huge numbers for its Himalayan foothills and exquisitely decorated houseboats, they have not been targeted. The region has drawn millions of visitors who enjoy a strange peace kept by ubiquitous security checkpoints, armored vehicles and patrolling soldiers. New Delhi has vigorously pushed tourism and claimed it as a sign of normalcy returning. The meadow in Pahalgam is a popular destination, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dotted with pine forests. It is visited by hundreds of tourists every day. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, while condemning the attack, said the Modi government should take accountability instead […]

On Isru Chag, the second yahrtzeit of the beloved singer and baal menagen, R’ Michoel Schnitzler z”l, whose stirring songs continue to move the hearts of thousands even after his passing, was marked.

Beginning on Motzaei Yom Tov and continuing late into Monday night, a crowd estimated at nearly 2,000 people gathered at the beis hachaim Har Shalom in Monsey to pay tribute at R’ Michoel’s kever. Family members, rabbanim, friends, and fellow singers were among those who came to mark the occasion and remember the man whose voice brought chizuk Yidden across the world.

A large tent was set up near the kever for candle lighting and tefillah, creating a space for people to gather in reflection and song. The event was arranged and overseen by R’ Michoel’s close friend, composer and baal chessed Moti Attias, who dedicated significant time and effort to ensuring the hilula would be a meaningful and uplifting experience.

Among those who participated in the hilula were the Spinka Rebbe of Monsey and the noted mashpia Harav Moshe Yaakov Horowitz of Spinka, both of whom came to honor R’ Michoel’s memory.

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יארצייט ר’ מיכאל שניצלער ז”ל (צילום: מוטי אטיאס) יארצייט ר’ מיכאל שניצלער ז”ל (צילום: מוטי אטיאס)

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יארצייט ר’ מיכאל שניצלער ז”ל (צילום: מוטי אטיאס)

יארצייט ר’ מיכאל שניצלער ז”ל (צילום: מוטי אטיאס)

יארצייט ר’ מיכאל שניצלער ז”ל (צילום: מוטי אטיאס)

יארצייט ר’ מיכאל שניצלער ז”ל (צילום: מוטי אטיאס)

יארצייט ר’ מיכאל שניצלער ז”ל (צילום: מוטי אטיאס)

יארצייט ר’ מיכאל שניצלער ז”ל (צילום: מוטי אטיאס)

יארצייט ר’ מיכאל שניצלער ז”ל (צילום: מוטי אטיאס)

יארצייט ר’ מיכאל שניצלער ז”ל (צילום: מוטי אטיאס)

יארצייט ר’ מיכאל שניצלער ז”ל (צילום: מוטי אטיאס)

יארצייט ר’ מיכאל שניצלער ז”ל (צילום: מוטי אטיאס)

A Manhattan jury determined Tuesday that The New York Times did not commit libel in a 2017 editorial that Sarah Palin argued had harmed her reputation.

Palin, who had Trump’s backing during her 2022 run for Alaska’s House seat, ultimately lost that race. Her long-running defamation suit against The Times has now returned to court for another round.

The jury reached its conclusion in just over two hours following closing remarks from both sides during the second week of proceedings in the federal civil case.

During her testimony, Palin said the editorial had a personal toll, triggering a spike in death threats and affecting her emotionally. She testified that it left her disheartened and deflated.

The editorial in question was corrected in under 14 hours after publication, according to the newspaper.

Palin’s attorney, Kenneth Turkel, told jurors that The Times should be held responsible because its then-editorial page editor, James Bennet, either knowingly included falsehoods or was reckless in failing to verify the information.

He asked the jury to award Palin damages for the impact on her reputation and for the emotional distress she endured. “Find a number and let her get some closure to this thing,” he said.

“To this day, there been no accountability,” Turkel told the panel. “That’s why we’re here.”

He cautioned jurors not to be misled by Palin’s outward appearance on the stand. “She doesn’t cry a lot,” he said. “It may have been to them an honest mistake. For her, it was a life changer.”

Palin, who has a degree in journalism, filed the defamation suit in 2017—roughly ten years after becoming a household name as the Republican pick for vice president.

The suit focused on a New York Times editorial published after a gunman with a history of anti-Republican views wounded Rep. Steve Scalise during a 2017 Congressional baseball practice.

In that editorial, the newspaper connected Palin’s political action committee to a climate of violence, referencing a controversial map that highlighted electoral districts, including Rep. Gabby Giffords’, with stylized crosshairs. Giffords was critically injured in a 2011 mass shooting that killed six people.

The Times later acknowledged the piece included factual mistakes, issuing a correction that clarified “the editorial had ‘incorrectly stated that a link existed between political rhetoric and the 2011 shooting’ and that it had ‘incorrectly described’ the map.”

Bennet, appearing emotional on the stand last week, told the court he deeply regretted the mistake. He said he acted swiftly to fix it after readers raised concerns.

Representing the paper, attorney Felicia Ellsworth argued that there was no basis to conclude that either The Times or Bennet acted with intent to deceive. “There’s not been one shred of evidence showing anything other than an honest mistake,” she said.

Ellsworth emphasized that the correction was made promptly and transparently. She said The Times “corrected the record loudly, clearly and quickly.”

She also noted that numerous editors consistently testified about their dedication to accuracy and the immediate efforts taken to correct the error. Meanwhile, she said, Palin’s accusations lacked concrete support. “Palin’s claims were ‘supported by nothing other than her say so,’” Ellsworth told the jury.

She reminded the court that because Palin is a public figure, the legal bar for proving defamation is particularly high—requiring proof of “actual malice.”

“To Governor Palin, this is just another opportunity to take on fake news. To James Bennet, the truth matters,” she said.

Back in February 2022, U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff had ruled against Palin’s claims while the jury was still in deliberations. Ultimately, the jury ruled the same way.

The current trial was made possible after the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived the case last year.

The appeals court faulted the initial trial, stating that the judge’s actions overstepped jury boundaries. It also noted that the earlier proceedings had multiple legal missteps, including barring certain evidence, giving jurors incorrect instructions, and mishandling one of the jury’s questions.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a Tuesday speech that the ongoing tariffs showdown against China is unsustainable and expects a “de-escalation” in the trade war between the world’s two largest economies. But in a private speech in Washington for JPMorgan Chase, Bessent also cautioned that talks between the United States and China had yet to formally start. Trump placed import taxes of 145% on China, which has countered with 125% tariffs on U.S. goods. Trump has placed tariffs on several dozen countries, causing the stock market to stumble and interest rates to increase on U.S. debt as investors worry about slower economic growth and higher inflationary pressures. Details of the speech were confirmed by two people familiar with the remarks who insisted on anonymity to discuss them. “I do say China is going to be a slog in terms of the negotiations,” Bessent said according to a transcript obtained by The Associated Press. “Neither side thinks the status quo is sustainable.” The S&P 500 stock index rose after Bloomberg News initially reported Bessent’s remarks. The Trump administration has met for talks with counterparts from Japan, India, South Korea, the European Union, Canada and Mexico, among other nations. But Trump has shown no public indications that he plans to pullback his baseline 10% tariff, even as he has insisted he’s looking for other nations to cut their own import taxes and remove any non-tariff barriers that the administration says have hindered exports from the U.S. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday that Trump told her “we’re doing very well” regarding a “potential trade deal with China.” China on Monday warned other countries against making trade deals with the United States that could negatively impact China. “China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests,” China’s Commerce Ministry said in a statement. Leavitt said the Trump administration has received 18 proposals from other countries for trade deals with the U.S., adding that “everyone involved wants to see a trade deal happen.” The uncertainty over tariffs in the financial markets has also been amplified by Trump calling on the Federal Reserve to cut its benchmark interest rate, with the president saying he could fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell if he wanted to do so. Leavitt said Trump believes the Fed has by holding rates steady as it awaits the impacts of tariffs “in the name of politics, rather in the name of what’s right for the American economy.” (AP)

Walgreens has reached a settlement with the Department of Justice that could total as much as $350 million, resolving accusations that the company knowingly filled countless illegitimate prescriptions for opioids and other controlled drugs, and submitted fraudulent billing requests to federal programs.

According to an announcement from the DOJ, alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG), Walgreens will pay $300 million in penalties related to violations of the Controlled Substances Act. The DOJ also stated that the pharmacy chain sought government reimbursement through Medicare and other health programs for many of those improper prescriptions, thereby violating the False Claims Act. The settlement includes an additional $50 million payment if the company is acquired or merges before the year 2032.

The lawsuit filed by the federal government on January 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois accuses Walgreens of dispensing unlawful prescriptions for controlled drugs over an extended period, from August 2012 through March 1, 2023.

Federal prosecutors claim that Walgreens filled scripts involving “excessive quantities of opioids,” provided medications far in advance of the allowable dates, and supplied what they described as an “especially dangerous and abused combination of three drugs” referred to as a “trinity.” This trio—composed of an opioid, a benzodiazepine, and carisoprodol—is often sought by substance abusers and poses an even greater risk than opioids alone.

Despite clear warning signs indicating potential abuse or invalid prescriptions, Walgreens pharmacists continued to fill them, the DOJ contends. These so-called “red flags” suggested that many of the prescriptions may not have had any legitimate medical justification or were not written in line with accepted professional standards.

The complaint also accuses Walgreens of pushing its employees to prioritize speed over diligence when filling prescriptions, creating a work environment that discouraged proper verification of medication legitimacy.

Furthermore, the company’s compliance division allegedly disregarded mounting evidence that its stores were filling unlawful prescriptions, and in some cases, deliberately withheld critical data from pharmacists that could have helped them detect and prevent such activity.

“Pharmacies have a legal responsibility to prescribe controlled substances in a safe and professional manner, not dispense dangerous drugs just for profit,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. “This Department of Justice is committed to ending the opioid crisis and holding bad actors accountable for their failure to protect patients from addiction.”

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York John J. Durham added, “This settlement holds Walgreens accountable for failing to comply with its critical responsibility to prevent the diversion of opioids and other controlled substances.”

Walgreens, however, pushed back on the government’s position. “We strongly disagree with the government’s legal theory and admit no liability,” said company spokesperson Fraser Engerman in a statement published by NBC News.

“Our pharmacists are dedicated healthcare professionals who care deeply about patient safety and continue to play a critical role in providing education and resources to help combat opioid misuse and abuse across our country,” Engerman added.

{Matzav.com}

A large wildfire that broke out Tuesday afternoon in southern Ocean County has forced the closure of the Garden State Parkway near Exit 74 and prompted evacuations. The situation is developing, as numerous fire crews – including air tankers – are battling the 1,200+ acre, 0% contained blaze, which is still growing.  

A majority of Israelis continue to support a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages, according to a new poll published by the Kan public broadcaster. In the survey of 602 respondents, 56% said they would back a deal that includes both the return of all hostages and an end to the war in Gaza. Only 22% opposed such a deal, while another 22% said they were unsure. The findings highlight an ongoing rift between the Israeli public and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who reiterated over the weekend that he would not support such an agreement if it meant leaving Hamas in power. Hamas has publicly expressed support for a permanent ceasefire-and-hostage deal, but Netanyahu and members of his war cabinet argue that ending the war before dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities would endanger Israel’s long-term security. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared on Tuesday a major overhaul of the State Department, announcing the elimination of numerous internal offices and programs as part of a broader effort to eliminate waste and streamline operations.

“Today is the day. Under @POTUS’ leadership and at my direction, we are reversing decades of bloat and bureaucracy at the State Department. These sweeping changes will empower our talented diplomats to put America and Americans first,” Rubio stated in a public message, marking the launch of the department’s reorganization.

In a detailed statement, Rubio criticized the department’s current structure, claiming it had grown inefficient and too large to meet its responsibilities effectively. “In its current form, the Department is bloated, bureaucratic, and unable to perform its essential diplomatic mission in this new era of essential diplomatic competition,” he wrote, pointing to rising costs and diminished results. He added that this expansion had led to “less effective and efficient diplomacy” for the American people.

Rubio outlined a sweeping strategy to modernize the State Department, asserting it would decentralize authority and strengthen operations at every level. “That is why today I am announcing a comprehensive reorganization plan that will bring the Department into the 21st Century. This approach will empower the Department from the ground up, from the bureaus to the embassies,” he said. He further explained, “region-specific functions will be consolidated to increase functionality, redundant offices will be removed, and non-statutory programs that are misaligned with America’s core national interests will cease to exist.”

According to the Free Press, part of the reform includes closing 132 offices, shrinking the total from 734 to 602. Department leaders have also been tasked with submitting plans to reduce their workforce by 15 percent. In some instances, departments will be merged or renamed to increase efficiency. One notable change involves the office of the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights—commonly referred to as the J office.

The Free Press elaborated on the shift: The J office, the documents show, is being overhauled and renamed as the Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance and Human Rights. There, officials plan to abolish its Office of Global Criminal Justice, which was formed in 1997 to advise on U.S. policy related to genocide, war crimes, and other grave human rights violations.

Some of the responsibilities previously held by that office will be reassigned to the Office of the Legal Adviser, based on internal plans.

The report also noted that Rubio has teamed up with Elon Musk, who is working through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to spearhead these reforms.

Currently, the State Department ranks 15th among 22 federal agencies for cost-saving performance, according to DOGE’s efficiency rankings. The Department of Justice sits at the bottom of the list, while Health and Human Services holds the top spot. Overall, DOGE has reported $160 billion in taxpayer savings to date.

{Matzav.com}

George Santos is defending his recent social media tirade to a federal judge who will be sentencing the disgraced former New York congressman later this week on fraud charges. In a lengthy letter ahead of the Friday court date, Santos, 36, said he remains “profoundly sorry” for his crimes but protests that the seven-year prison sentence sought by prosecutors as “ridiculous” and overly harsh. “Every sunrise since that plea has carried the same realization: I did this, me. I am responsible,” wrote the former Republican lawmaker, who pleaded guilty last summer. “But saying I’m sorry doesn’t require me to sit quietly while these prosecutors try to drop an anvil on my head.” Prosecutors, in a filing last week, argued Santos “remains unrepentant” and has not shown genuine remorse, as his lawyers have claimed in their own filing seeking a lighter, two-year prison stint. They cited a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, in which he disparaged the U.S. Department of Justice as a “cabal of pedophiles” and cast himself as a victim of prosecutorial overreach. Santos, who admitted he deceived donors and stole the identities of nearly a dozen people to fund his congressional campaign, countered that his “colorful” posts are being wrongly “repurposed as a sword against me” by prosecutors. “Contesting the severity of a proposed sentence is not the same as contesting guilt, and punishing protected speech because it questions punishment should trouble anyone who values fair prosecution over personal vindication,” he wrote. Santos said calling himself the “scapegoat” in social media posts was in reference to prosecutors claiming he was the “organizer/leader” of his campaign’s financial fraud and warranted a stiffer sentence. He argued his former campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, who has also pleaded guilty and faces sentencing next month, shares equal part in the blame. “If I were the criminal mastermind they portray, I would be the clumsiest in modern memory: leaving a trail of screenshots pointing directly back to myself,” he wrote in the Saturday letter. Santos also pushed back at prosecutors’ claims that he has not made efforts to pay the roughly $580,000 owed as part of his plea deal, saying he’s “liquidated personal assets, reduced my living expenses, and tried as hard as I could to raise some money for restitution.” He added that he has not asked any of his friends or family to write letters to the court on his behalf, nor did he expect any supporters to attend Friday’s sentencing in Long Island federal court out of embarrassment and shame. “I don’t want to bring anyone else in my life into this mess,” Santos wrote. “This is mine to deal with and mine alone.” The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York’s office, which is prosecuting the case, declined to comment. Santos was elected in 2022 to represent parts of Queens and Long Island but served barely a year before being ousted by his House colleagues. Santos fabricated much of his life story, leading to questions about how the political unknown had funded his winning campaign. (AP)