Hayden Panettiere said injuries she suffered after being thrown from a zebra on a movie set continued to cause her pain decades later, with the actress also recounting how a flare-up of &#8220;an old neck injury&#8221; contributed to her escalating opioid use.
Panettiere, who died suddenly on Sunday at 36, wrote in her recent memoir, &#8220;This Is Me: A Reckoning,&#8221; about the lasting effects of an accident she suffered at 14 while filming the 2005 movie &#8220;Racing Stripes&#8221; in South Africa.
Panettiere said she was performing a stunt when she was <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/08/19/celebrity-news/hayden-panettieres-old-injuries-from-zebra-fall-still-bothered-her-months-before-death/">thrown from the zebra</a> she was riding, sustaining a concussion, whiplash, and injuries to two vertebrae in her neck.
&#8220;I kept my mouth shut and endured the pain in my back and neck,&#8221; she wrote in the memoir, adding, &#8220;Over 20 years later, these injuries still bother me.&#8221;
The &#8220;Nashville&#8221; actress also recalled that injury when discussing her struggles with addiction, both to alcohol and opioids, saying that her dependence on the pain medications in particular had escalated when an &#8220;old neck injury flared up.&#8221;
Panettiere was found unresponsive at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday afternoon. First responders found her in cardiac arrest and attempted cardiac life support, but she could not be revived. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 pm.
Brian Hickerson, Panettiere&#8217;s on-again, off-again boyfriend, was at the residence when she died and showed investigators a &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-detail-emerges-about-what-hayden-panettiere-was-taking-before-her-death">bag of medication</a>&#8221; that the actress had been taking at the time of her death. He said she was on nine medications.
An <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hayden-panettiere-autopsy-reveals-new-details-of-her-death">autopsy</a> performed on Monday revealed that there were no signs of trauma that might have contributed to her death, according to the Greenville County Coroner&#8217;s Office.
Her cause and manner of death remain undetermined pending further investigation and additional testing. Toxicology results could take several weeks.
Authorities have not determined whether opioids, other medications, or Panettiere&#8217;s previous injuries played any role in her death.

Warner Bros.’ Premiere “Racing Stripes” – After Party

Hayden Panettiere Said Bizarre Zebra Accident Left Her With Chronic Pain As Opioid Use Escalated

On-Set Zebra Accident Blamed For Hayden Panettiere's Opioid Use

Death

drug addiction

Hayden Panettiere

Hollywood

Movies

Opioids

President Donald Trump offered a remarkably specific assessment of North Korea&#8217;s secretive nuclear arsenal on Wednesday, saying dictator Kim Jong Un has 57 nuclear weapons as he confirmed plans for another meeting with the North Korean leader.
Trump made the comments during an impromptu meeting with reporters while touring a new White House helipad, where he was asked whether the two leaders would meet again.
The reporter began by asking whether or not Trump had been exchanging letters with Kim, and while the president refused to answer that question, he asserted that it was a good thing to have a working relationship with a leader who has nuclear weapons.
&#8220;I can’t tell you that,” Trump said of any possible correspondence. &#8220;But I get along with him. And you know what? The fact that I get along with him, that’s a good thing, not a bad thing.&#8221;
&#8220;He has 57 very powerful nuclear weapons. They should have never allowed it to happen. They should&#8217;ve never allowed it,&#8221; Trump continued. &#8220;If I were president [then] I wouldn&#8217;t have allowed it, but he&#8217;s got them.&#8221;
The figure was notably more precise than American officials typically offer, though it aligns with widely reported outside estimates. It remains unclear how Trump arrived at the number.
Trump said again that he got along well with Kim — and that he knew the North Korean leader &#8220;very well.&#8221;
&#8220;He&#8217;s going to be fine as long as we have a smart president,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;He&#8217;s going to be fine. If we have a dumb president, then he&#8217;s probably not going to be so fine.&#8221;
The reporter then pressed him further, asking whether he planned to meet with Kim before the end of the year.
&#8220;Yeah, I will be,&#8221; Trump replied before turning and walking away.
A <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/trump-pushes-for-kim-jong-un-meeting-this-year-2a9f9ae0?eafs_enabled=false">report</a> published Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal indicated that Trump has been pushing for a meeting with the North Korean leader, possibly in November, in conjunction with an already-planned trip to Asia. The report suggested that Trump&#8217;s goal was to encourage the dictator to abandon his country&#8217;s nuclear weapons program altogether.

US-POLITICS-TRUMP

Trump Gives Surprisingly Specific Number For Kim Jong Un’s Nuclear Arsenal

Trump Reveals How Many Nuclear Weapons Kim Jong Un Has

Donald Trump

Global Politics

Kim Jong Un

North Korea

Nuclear Weapons

Politics

A cocaine-trafficking ring run through two Penn State University fraternities got busted after investigators discovered one of the suspected college kingpins was accepting Venmo payments for his drugs under his real name.
A confidential informant reportedly <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/penn-state-frat-brother-thought-arrest-was-prank-led-authorities-cocai-rcna593188">told authorities</a> that Thomas Robinson, a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity, was selling cocaine out of the fraternity house under the name &#8220;T-Rob.&#8221; He was accepting payments for the drugs via Venmo — under the name Tom-Robinson, according to court documents filed in 2024.
The alleged multi-state <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/08/19/us-news/penn-state-fraternity-cocaine-ring-busted-thanks-to-absolutely-obvious-mistake/">drug ring</a> operated out of the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity houses and moved large amounts of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/frat-bros-busted-after-pledges-forced-to-cut-cocaine-in-university-drug-cartel">cocaine</a> on the Pennsylvania college campus in 2023 and 2024, state Attorney General Dave Sunday&#8217;s (R-PA) office announced on Monday.
&#8220;This was a coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving around two senior members of the fraternities, other fraternity brothers, and pledges,&#8221; Sunday&#8217;s office said. &#8220;In fact, according to the evidence uncovered, cutting and packaging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities.&#8221;
Robinson and Agostino Abbatiello, 24, allegedly served as the operation&#8217;s main suppliers, making numerous trips throughout 2023 and 2024 to New York City and Philadelphia to buy large quantities of cocaine, according to Sunday&#8217;s office. They allegedly brought the drugs back to the Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon houses, where the cocaine was cut and packaged for resale, mainly to Penn State students.
Sunday&#8217;s office announced charges against 14 individuals in connection with the bust — four current students, nine former students, and Robinson&#8217;s father, prominent Pittsburgh attorney Paul Robinson.
Prosecutors say the elder Robinson tried to conceal evidence after authorities began investigating his son. He was charged with &#8220;felony tampering, hindering apprehension for taking steps to conceal evidence, including a safe containing drugs and cash, and obstructing the investigation.&#8221;
Abbatiello, who allegedly ran the operation alongside Robinson, surrendered on Tuesday morning after missing his scheduled arraignment on Monday.
Magisterial District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker arraigned Abbatiello on a number of felonies — including possession with intent to deliver and conspiracy. Abbatiello was denied bail at arraignment.
Penn State said it placed Delta Upsilon on interim suspension while the university investigates the allegations. Sigma Chi is not recognized by Penn State and operates outside the university&#8217;s oversight, according to the school.
The Office of the Attorney General&#8217;s Drug Strike Force Section will be tasked with prosecuting the cases.

Drug dealing

Frat Bros Ran A Cocaine Empire Until One Boneheaded Move Blew It Up

The Stupid Mistake That Busted College Kingpin's Coke Ring

Cocaine

drug trafficking

Drugs

Penn State

Penn State University

Two police cars arrived at the South Carolina home belonging to Brian Hickerson&#8217;s grandmother early Wednesday morning — just three days after the sudden death of actress Hayden Panettiere, Hickerson&#8217;s apparently on-again, off-again girlfriend.
Page Six <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/08/19/celebrity-news/cops-pay-visit-to-hayden-panettieres-boyfriend-brian-hickersons-family-home-days-after-actress-death/?_gl=1*1i39vc8*_ga_0DZ7LHF5PZ*czE3ODcxNTE3MzUkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODcxNTE3OTUkajYwJGwwJGgw">reported</a> that two marked cars from the Greenville Police Department rolled up on property owned by Betty Ellison, knocking on several doors at the home but receiving no answer. The outlet stated that Zach Hickerson, Brian&#8217;s brother, was on the property at the time.
Both Brian and Zach had been spotted at the property one day prior, but neither came to the door when police arrived. After about three minutes, officers left the home — but returned less than two hours later to conduct a &#8220;welfare check.&#8221; They stayed on the property for about 10 minutes before leaving again.
Zach Hickerson, 38, was reportedly the first person to discover the late actress unresponsive when he walked into the Airbnb rental they were sharing on Sunday afternoon. Police on the scene said that he appeared to be visibly shaken as first responders worked on the 36-year-old &#8220;Nashville&#8221; star.
Brian, who had been involved with Panettiere on and off for a number of years, was reportedly asleep in another room when she was found — and did not appear to be upset until the actress was officially declared dead a short time later. He provided investigators with the &#8220;bag of medication&#8221; that she had been taking in the days leading up to her death.
Panettiere and Hickerson had a rocky relationship, and had once split after she accused him of domestic violence. Hickerson was arrested on Valentine&#8217;s Day in 2020 after reportedly striking Panettiere &#8220;with a closed fist,&#8221; and when police arrived he&#8217;d been locked out of their Airbnb rental in Wyoming.
Following his arrest, despite being informed that he was not allowed to contact the &#8220;Heroes&#8221; actress, Hickerson called her phone repeatedly and sent <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/08/18/celebrity-news/hayden-panettieres-boyfriend-brian-hickerson-allegedly-sent-threatening-texts-after-2020-arrest/">several texts</a> that appeared to be overtly threatening.
&#8220;Time to go to war I guess,&#8221; he wrote.
In another text, Hickerson appeared to be hinting at leverage he held over Panettiere: &#8220;After Wyoming and LA disappears so do the videos.&#8221;
&#8220;Even if i sit in a jail cell for ten years. All of the stuff that is vaulted overseas with my people will come out the second I step foot into prison,&#8221; another text read, according to <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/18/brian-hickerson-texts-to-hayden-panettiere-after-his-2020-arrest-revealed/">entertainment site TMZ</a>. &#8220;And all that does is hurt your name while simultaneously clearing my name. And at that point who actually cares?&#8221;
In another alleged text, Hickerson suggested that his attempts to stay out of court were ultimately for Panettiere&#8217;s protection: &#8220;I don’t want to go to court, for you. I will be f*cking fine in court, trust me, it’s for you.&#8221;

Celebrity Sightings In Palisades – March 8, 2023

Cops Make Visit Tied To Hayden Panettiere’s Boyfriend

Cops Swarm Boyfriend's Grandmother's Home Two Days After Hayden Panettierre’s Death

Celebrities

Domestic Violence

The late actress Hayden Panettiere was taking a &#8220;bag of medication&#8221; at the time of her sudden death on Sunday afternoon.
According to a <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hayden-panettieres-ex-boyfriend-was-scene-died-police-report-says-rcna593125">report</a> from NBC News, Panettiere&#8217;s on-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson handed over a bag containing the medications she&#8217;d been taking in the days leading up to her death — and although the names of the medications were redacted, The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/08/18/us-news/hayden-panettiere-was-on-bag-of-medication-at-time-of-death-as-cops-reveal-boyfriends-strange-reaction-to-her-overdose/">reported</a> that there were nine drugs listed in the Greenville City Police Department report.
Entertainment site TMZ <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/18/hayden-panettiere-found-while-boyfriend-slept/">reported</a> that Panettiere, who died just days before what would have been her 37th birthday, was discovered unresponsive in a chair by Zach Hickerson, Brian&#8217;s brother. Brian was reportedly asleep in another room of the Greenville, South Carolina, apartment they&#8217;d rented through Airbnb.
<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hayden-panettieres-ex-boyfriend-was-scene-died-police-report-says-rcna593125">Responding officer</a> Matthew Bryan said in his report that he first spoke with Zach — who was clearly distraught while first responders worked on Panettiere — but that Brian did not appear to be visibly upset until the actress was officially declared dead.
Additional reporting said Brian and the &#8220;Nashville&#8221; actress had been more on-again than off-again of late, but kept their <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/17/hayden-panettiere-brian-hickerson-forced-to-keep-relationship-private/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">relationship</a> quiet because her publicity team felt his presence would likely hurt her book sales.
Panettiere&#8217;s estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, also voiced concern about Hickerson in her first public comments following her daughter&#8217;s death: &#8220;This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson.&#8221;
Hickerson has not been accused by authorities of involvement in Panettiere&#8217;s death.
&#8220;I think Hayden was an amazingly talented person in so many departments and I think young people who grow up in the entertainment industry,&#8221; Vogel added. &#8220;It is a struggle and it&#8217;s a very challenging industry and it&#8217;s not unusual for them to sadly find the wrong path.&#8221;
Hickerson and Panettiere had both expressed anger toward Vogel in the past.
&#8220;Hayden&#8217;s mother is by far one of the worst people I&#8217;ve ever met in my life,&#8221; Hickerson told TMZ in May — and Panettiere said on a recent podcast that she&#8217;d been broken by her mother&#8217;s response when she asked if they could just be mother and daughter instead of manager and actress.
&#8220;You owe me,&#8221; Vogel reportedly said at the time, and <a href="https://people.com/hayden-panettiere-estranged-mom-speaks-out-after-death-12061596">Panettiere</a> told podcast host Jay Shetty that she&#8217;d been heartbroken to realize that she&#8217;d meant &#8220;money.&#8221;
The police report indicated that the responding officer was wearing a body cam at the scene, but that footage has not been released.
An autopsy was performed on Monday, and the coroner&#8217;s office released a statement saying that &#8220;no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death&#8221; — but the investigation is still ongoing. Toxicology reports could take weeks to compile.
&nbsp;

An Alternative View Of The 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards

New Detail Emerges About What Hayden Panettiere Was Taking Before Her Death

Hayden Panettiere Was Taking 'Bag Of Medication' When She Died 

actress

overdose

More than a dozen fraternity brothers have been arrested for their roles in a drug-trafficking ring that involved members of two Penn State University fraternities.
Thirteen fraternity brothers from Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon — four of whom are still students at the university — and one father are facing a slew of charges related to a multi-state narcotics enterprise. The ringleaders of the operation had suppliers in Philadelphia and New York City and sold their product primarily to students at the university, according to a <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/08/18/us-news/13-penn-state-frat-bros-busted-in-cocaine-trafficking-ringincluding-ny-student-at-top-of-the-food-chain/">report</a> from The New York Post.
According to Attorney General Dave Sunday (R-PA), the fraternity kingpins even coerced younger pledges into taking part in their illicit scheme.
&#8220;This was a coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving around two senior members of the fraternities, other fraternity brothers, and pledges. In fact, according to the evidence uncovered, cutting and packaging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities,&#8221; Sunday said in a statement.
&#8220;According to the investigation and a grand jury presentment, two members of the organization — Agostino Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson — were the main suppliers for the group, making regular trips to Philadelphia and New York for large quantities of cocaine,&#8221; a <a href="https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/taking-action/ag-sunday-state-college-police-announce-charges-against-14-people-in-cocaine-trafficking-ring-involving-penn-state-u-students-fraternities/">press release</a> from Sunday&#8217;s office read, in part.
Abbatiello, upon learning that authorities at Penn State had gotten wind of the drug-trafficking scheme, reportedly &#8220;begged them not to talk about his involvement.&#8221;
Five of the men have been charged with felonies related to the operation. Abbattiello and Robinson, along with Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat, have been charged with involvement in &#8220;corrupt organizations, conspiracy, and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity,&#8221; The Post reported.
Robinson&#8217;s father, Paul Robinson, was also charged with felonies related to his efforts to obstruct the investigation and hide or tamper with evidence — including cash and drugs that he had reportedly hidden in a safe.
Robert Zanolla, also 24, was &#8220;charged with felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility.&#8221;
The others — Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Price, and Charles Wiseman — were charged with misdemeanors.
The cases, according to Sunday&#8217;s office, &#8220;will be prosecuted by the Office of Attorney General Drug Strike Force Section.&#8221;
Andrea Dowhower, Penn State’s vice president for Student Affairs, issued a statement following the arrests:
<blockquote>We are horrified by these serious allegations against current and former students. Criminal activity, including hazing, such as this has no place at our institution, and we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can. We will continue to enhance our efforts around health and safety and hazing educational efforts for all our organizations.</blockquote>
The university has taken action against Delta Upsilon, putting the entire fraternity on a temporary suspension — but because Sigma Chi is not an officially recognized fraternity at Penn State, that house is not under a similar suspension.

image of drugs

Frat Bros Busted After Pledges Forced To Cut Cocaine In University Drug Cartel

Frat Bros. Forced Pledges To Cut Cocaine In University Drug Cartel

Fraternity

After a primary season marked by socialist wins — and a party that can&#8217;t seem to stop the dramatic lurch to the Left — Democrats are losing the public relations game with average voters, and they&#8217;re losing big.
CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten detailed the Democratic Party&#8217;s flagging favorability numbers during a Tuesday morning segment — and although he was also careful to note that President Donald Trump was not faring any better in recent polls, he made it clear that Democrats still had some serious work to do ahead of November&#8217;s midterm elections.
&#8220;Donald Trump&#8217;s political brand ain&#8217;t too hot to trot these days,&#8221; Enten explained, holding his nose for emphasis when he added, &#8220;But I gotta tell you, P-U when it comes to the Democratic brand.&#8221;
&#8220;The net favorability rating of the Democratic Party — you know, back in 2018, when Democrats during the first Trump presidency, right? When they were able to win back control of the House? They were even,&#8221; Enten said.
Enten&#8217;s tone was incredulous as he dropped the comparison to 2026: &#8220;Twenty-five points underwater! Oof. Oof. You know, the Dem brand, it&#8217;s not too good these days, it&#8217;s not too good. It kind of smells like a New York sidewalk in the summer.&#8221;
But what Enten did not address was the wide ideological chasm between the Democrats who ran — and ultimately flipped a number of seats — in the 2018 midterms and the Democrats who have secured primary wins in the 2026 cycle.
Among the 2018 winners were two who eventually switched their party affiliation either to Republicans or independent: New Jersey&#8217;s Rep. Jeff Van Drew — now a Republican — and Arizona&#8217;s former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who declared her affiliation to be independent in 2022. Others, like Reps. Max Rose (D-NY), Antonio Delgado (D-NY), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) were somewhat moderate in their voting records.
Just eight years later, the big primary wins have gone to a number of far-Left candidates who openly attack Israel and embrace socialism — and even a few who are card-carrying members of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Michigan&#8217;s Democratic Senate nominee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dsa-whistleblower-says-hell-do-everything-he-can-to-elect-mike-rogers">Abdul El-Sayed</a>, for example, proudly campaigned alongside antisemitic communist and Mao Zedong superfan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cnn-gives-el-sayed-a-chance-to-renounce-hasan-piker-he-does-the-opposite">Hasan Piker</a> — and he was not the only one to do so. DSA-aligned candidates won primaries in New York on the coattails of Democratic socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
And as more moderate Democrats lose to primary challenges from the far-Left, a number of others have opted to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/panic-sets-in-dems-tailspin-as-they-realize-the-hostile-socialist-takeover-already-started">fall in line</a> in an attempt to save their own skins, defending the rise of socialism by claiming that the Democrat tent is big enough for everyone.

Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Holds Rally In Detroit With Sen. Bernie Sanders And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Dems Are Losing The Public Relations War As Party Lurches Left

The Normies Don't Like Socialism, Dems Hardest Hit: Poll

Democratic Socialists Of America

Democrats

Harry Enten

Media

Polls

Socialism

The Atlanta Dream issued a statement on Monday, effectively blaming &#8220;WNBA Security&#8221; for a confrontation at Sunday&#8217;s game that led to a mother and daughter being forced to cover up their pro-woman attire.
&#8220;The Atlanta Dream believes in creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone,&#8221; the statement read. &#8220;Unfortunately, at last night&#8217;s game, WNBA security took actions that fell short of that standard. At no point was Dream personnel involved in the decisions made by WNBA security.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://t.co/NBILzMBYXS">pic.twitter.com/NBILzMBYXS</a>
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) <a href="https://x.com/AtlantaDream/status/2089481993163591795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;The league issued this statement earlier today,&#8221; the Dream added. &#8220;&#8216;The WNBA is aware of interactions at last night&#8217;s game in Atlanta in which fans were asked by league security to cover their shirts. This should not have happened.'&#8221;
At the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/see-it-sophie-cunningham-fans-targeted-again">game in question</a>, which featured the Indiana Fever playing the Dream at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Kasey Thomason and her daughter Annie said that after shelling out thousands for good seats, they were approached by arena security and told to cover their XX-XY Athletics shirts or leave. As The Daily Wire previously reported, Kasey’s shirt featured the XX-XY logo in red, white, and blue; Annie’s shirt, with an XX on the front, came from the Riley Gaines collection and read, “For the Girls,” across the back.
They had gone to the game to show their support for Fever shooting guard Sophie Cunningham — who recently drew fire from the far-Left when she defended sex-based rights for women and girls in athletics — and with just two minutes left in overtime, they were told to cover up their shirts because someone had determined that they were &#8220;offensive.&#8221;
“Biology and science is offensive?” Kasey asked. But Kasey and Annie ultimately put on the offered Atlanta Dream “Wellness &amp; Health Night” shirts so that they could see the end of the game — which the Fever won, 95-91.
Kasey and Annie said they believe another fan — who had come to the game wearing a shirt that read &#8220;Trans Kids Belong In Sports&#8221; — had tipped off security to come and get them. That same woman, they said, commented on their newly acquired &#8220;Wellness &amp; Health Night&#8221; shirts in mocking tones after they were forced to put them on.

WNBA: AUG 16 Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream

Team Blames ‘WNBA Security’ For Targeting Sophie Cunningham Fans

Atlanta Dream Blames ‘WNBA Security’ For Targeting Sophie Cunningham Fans

Atlanta

Indiana Fever

Sophie Cunningham

Transgender

WNBA

Women's Basketball

With control of the U.S. Senate hanging in the balance, Democrats are pushing to pick up seats anywhere they can — but reports out of Alaska suggest a storm may be brewing for Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola ahead of Tuesday&#8217;s primary.
Peltola, according to several reports, will be going into Tuesday&#8217;s primary without her campaign manager, Anton McParland — who has been with Peltola since 2022 and previously served as her chief of staff.
The Alaska Landmine <a href="https://alaskalandmine.com/landmines/saturday-night-massacre-mary-peltola-fires-senior-campaign-staff-days-before-primary/">reported</a> that several senior staffers were handed walking papers in what the outlet referred to as a &#8220;Saturday Night Massacre&#8221; — leaving other staffers wondering whether they might be next.
New York Times political reporter Kellen Browning <a href="https://x.com/Kellen_Browning/status/2089172446872055865">appeared to confirm</a> at least part of the Landmine&#8217;s story, writing on X, &#8220;This is true [a]nd Anton McParland, Peltola’s campaign manager and former chief of staff, is no longer with the campaign.&#8221;
McParland&#8217;s departure is particularly notable because of just how long — and how closely — he worked with Peltola. By her side since her breakthrough victory to land a U.S. House seat in 2022, he remained on her staff throughout her one term in Congress — first as her deputy chief of staff, then as her chief of staff.
After Peltola&#8217;s 2024 reelection loss, both she and McParland moved on to take roles at lobbying firm Holland &amp; Hart in March 2025. When she launched her U.S. Senate run, he managed her campaign.
Prediction markets have Peltola&#8217;s race — against incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) — as a virtual dead heat, but losing a longtime adviser and campaign manager just hours before the polls open could hurt voter confidence.
Alaska is broadly viewed as a &#8220;must-win&#8221; state for Democrats, who need to pick up four seats in the upper chamber to gain control — and a major campaign shake-up going into Tuesday&#8217;s primary does not project the kind of strong message that Peltola needs to send.
Peltola also scrambled to do some damage control a few days prior, running away from the endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris&#8217;s Fight for the People PAC sent an email last Wednesday promoting Peltola, saying in part, &#8220;If there’s anyone who can flip Alaska and secure the Senate majority for Democrats — it’s Mary.&#8221;
Peltola&#8217;s campaign quickly dismissed the email as unsolicited and said no one on the campaign had been aware of it before it went out: &#8220;Mary isn’t seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48 — her focus is and always will be Alaska.&#8221;
An <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-hopeful-runs-from-kamala-harris-support">endorsement from Harris</a>, who performed poorly in Alaska in her 2024 presidential bid, is not expected to give Peltola any kind of boost — and being tied to Harris&#8217;s record and policies could put her at a disadvantage in the typically red state.
Thus far, it is unclear whether McParland&#8217;s exit is related to the campaign&#8217;s attempt to distance Peltola from Harris following that email.
But Peltola&#8217;s campaign shake-up is not the only complication dogging Alaska&#8217;s Senate race: incumbent Sen. Sullivan will be joined on the ballot by another candidate named Dan Sullivan — a retired 5th grade teacher who describes himself as a &#8220;pragmatic Republican.&#8221;
President Donald Trump and a number of others have suggested that his name on the ballot was an intentional move to confuse voters and damage the incumbent, but Democrats have denied any connection with his campaign.
Alaska&#8217;s &#8220;top four&#8221; primary — in which the top four candidates in every primary, regardless of party, advance to the general election — sets the stage for even more confusion in the general election, because both Dan Sullivans could see another face-off in November.

US-POLITICS-ELECTION-PORTRAIT

‘Chaos’ Reigns In ‘Must-Win’ Senate Race For Dems

2026 elections

Alaska

Kamala Harris

mary peltola

Senate Democrats

U.S. Senate

The autopsy for actress Hayden Panettiere has revealed more information about her shocking death at the age of 36.
The Greenville County Coroner’s Office delivered an initial statement on the &#8220;Nashville&#8221; actress&#8217;s post-mortem, saying that her body had not shown visible &#8220;signs of trauma&#8221; at the time of her death.
&#8220;The decedent has been identified as Hayden [Lesley] Panettiere, 36, of California. Panettiere was found unresponsive inside the residence, where she had been temporarily staying. An autopsy was completed today. At autopsy, no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death,&#8221; the statement read.
&#8220;This investigation remains active and ongoing. No further details are available for release at this time,&#8221; the coroner&#8217;s statement concluded, but the office stipulated that additional testing was ongoing and that additional information would be released as it was made available.
First responders were dispatched to an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, where Panettierre was reportedly staying with on-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson, on Sunday. Their arrival came following a 911 call indicating that there was an unresponsive woman who may have suffered a cardiac arrest. Two ambulances arrived on the scene, according to entertainment site TMZ, and both unloaded stretchers, but it is unclear why they thought a second stretcher might be needed. Hickerson was reportedly at the apartment at the time, but both ambulances ultimately left the scene without patients onboard.
Additional reports from TMZ suggested that first responders used both Narcan and epinephrine — used to treat opioid overdoses and cardiac arrest, respectively — but did not confirm whether they were used exclusively to treat Panettierre or someone else who may have been in the apartment.
Earlier reports included information from the 911 call from the apartment, and indicated that Panettierre was being treated for a suspected overdose.
The &#8220;Heroes&#8221; actress has had a long and well-documented history of struggling with addiction, dating back to her teenage years when she said adults had offered her &#8220;happy pills&#8221; ahead of red carpet appearances: &#8220;They were to make me peppy during interviews.&#8221;
As her battle escalated, she eventually compromised her liver function to the point that she developed jaundice.
&#8220;I was being told how to be and how to live by so many people in my life. I wanted certain decisions to be my own, and nobody could stop me. What I put in my body was like an act of defiance,&#8221; she said — and she added that her addiction had gotten much worse while she battled postpartum depression following the birth of the daughter she shares with ex Wladimir Klitschko.
&#8220;I never heard any stories about it at all,&#8221; she said of <a href="https://people.com/parents/hayden-panettiere-wishes-someone-told-me-its-ok-postpartum-depression/">postpartum depression</a> in 2023. “I just thought there was something seriously wrong with me, so I thought, ‘[Alcohol] will fix this. Duh!’ And it didn’t. It does for a moment, but then it made everything worse.&#8221;
By the time she sought treatment, her eyes were yellow from the jaundice and her hair had thinned and begun to fall out.
&#8220;Doctors told me my liver was going to give out,&#8221; Panettierre admitted during a 2022 interview — and in her recently released memoir, she added, &#8220;A doctor told me that if I didn’t stop drinking, I’d be dead within five years.&#8221;
Panettierre spent months in rehab, and went into great detail in her memoir describing her experiences going through withdrawal: &#8220;Once during withdrawal, I heard voices that were so terrifying I got on all fours and crawled to my bathroom, where I lay on the cool, clean tiles and waited for the panic to pass. I couldn’t sleep, and my head pounded like it was pressing against my skull.&#8221;
Panettierre was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m. on Sunday, just five days before what would have been her 37th birthday.

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Hayden Panettiere Autopsy Reveals New Details About Her Death

A mother and daughter attended Sunday&#8217;s WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream — but with just two minutes left in overtime, they were told to cover up their &#8220;offensive&#8221; pro-woman t-shirts or leave the arena.
Kasey Thomason and her daughter Annie said that after shelling out thousands for good seats, they were approached by arena security and told to cover their XX-XY Athletics shirts or leave. Kasey&#8217;s shirt featured the XX-XY logo in red, white, and blue; Annie&#8217;s shirt, with an XX on the front, came from the Riley Gaines collection and read, &#8220;For the Girls,&#8221; across the back.
Both Kasey and Annie said that they had come to the game — and had chosen to wear those particular shirts — to show their support for Fever shooting guard Sophie Cunningham. Cunningham, who has repeatedly declared her position as not political, unapologetically stood up for women and girls in sports, saying that they deserved a space where they could compete without being forced to take on biological men.
When the security guard first approached, Kasey asked if their shirts were a problem — and was told that someone had found them &#8220;offensive,&#8221; according to a <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/mom-daughter-told-cover-xx-xy-t-shirts-threatened-ejection-fever-dream-game">report</a> from Fox News Digital.
&#8220;Biology and science is offensive?&#8221; Kasey asked. But with just two minutes to go in overtime, Kasey and Annie did put on the offered Atlanta Dream &#8220;Wellness &amp; Health Night&#8221; shirts so that they would not miss the end of the game. The Fever ultimately came away with the 95-91 win.
The two said they believe it was another fan who had complained about their attire — a woman wearing a t-shirt that read &#8220;Trans Kids Belong In Sports&#8221; and was previously featured on the Jumbotron during the game.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hey <a href="https://x.com/AtlantaDream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AtlantaDream</a> &amp; <a href="https://x.com/StateFarmArena?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StateFarmArena</a>,
Why was this woman not told to cover-up her “Trans Kids Belong” t-shirt like the mom &amp; daughter were told with their <a href="https://x.com/xx_xyathletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@xx_xyathletics</a> shirts?
Seems like a double standard to me… <a href="https://t.co/SAkXiYjrU3">pic.twitter.com/SAkXiYjrU3</a>
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) <a href="https://x.com/JonnyRoot_/status/2089339085324497356?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;She was the one that told on us,&#8221; they said, adding that after they&#8217;d put on the &#8220;Wellness &amp; Health Night&#8221; shirts, that same woman had approached them and said, &#8220;I like your shirt.&#8221;
It was unclear whether she&#8217;d also been approached about her shirt, but later in the game, Kasey and Annie noticed that her jacket was zipped up to cover the message.
The WNBA has rules regarding signs and attire, stating that no &#8220;obscene&#8221; or &#8220;indecent&#8221; messaging is allowed at the games. In addition, State Farm Arena&#8217;s rules state that &#8220;clothing, garments or signs displaying explicit language, profanity or derogatory characterization towards any person(s)&#8221; will not be allowed.
The security guard did not state which of those rules Kasey and Annie might have run afoul of, saying only that they&#8217;d been determined &#8220;offensive.&#8221;

Mother And Daughter Forced To Cover Up Pro-Woman T-Shirts At WNBA Game

SEE IT: Sophie Cunningham Fans Targeted Again

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Riley Gaines

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Actress Hayden Panettiere, best known for roles in &#8220;Nashville&#8221; and the NBC drama &#8220;Heroes,&#8221; has died at the age of 36.
A representative for the actress <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/08/16/us-news/actress-hayden-panettiere-dead-at-36-report/?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=nypost">confirmed the news</a> on Sunday in a statement delivered first to ABC News: &#8220;It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.&#8221;
Panettiere had been very open in recent years about her history of substance abuse and her battle with postpartum depression — and had just published her memoir, &#8220;This Is Me: A Reckoning,&#8221; in May.
The actress was raised in New York by her parents, actress and producer Lesley Vogel and Alan Lee “Skip” Panettiere, a retired New York City Fire Department captain — and she landed her first acting gig at just 11-months old.
&#8220;My introduction to acting was actually at 11 months old,&#8221; Panettiere said during a 2023 interview with <a href="https://www.etonline.com/hayden-panettiere-dishes-on-her-biggest-roles-from-a-wendys-commercial-to-remember-the-titans">Entertainment Tonight</a>, referencing a Playskool Toy Train commercial. &#8220;I don’t know if that would really be an introduction to acting, because I don’t think acting was involved at that point. I didn’t have lines, I was just playing.&#8221;
Panettiere went on to land guest roles on several soap operas and other shows like &#8220;Law &amp; Order: SVU,&#8221; but it was not until she landed the role of Claire Bennet — the indestructible cheerleader on NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Heroes&#8221; — that her career really got off the ground.
When &#8220;Heroes&#8221; ended in 2010, Panettiere landed another series — &#8220;Nashville&#8221; — that ran from 2012 to 2018.
Her on-again, off-again relationship with heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko lasted from 2009-2011 and 2013-2018. They had one daughter together, Kaya, who was born in 2014.
Panettiere had a younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, who passed away in 2023 due to cardiomegaly — an enlarged heart — and aortic valve complications. He was 28 years old.
No cause of death has yet been reported for the actress.

Actress Hayden Panettiere Dead At 36

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Virginia Kruta