Princeton University has lost its top spot in the U.S. News & World Report rankings after a 15-year run as America’s No. 1 college. This year, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology overtook the venerated Ivy League school thanks to its top performance in faculty research, standardized test scores among incoming students, and alumni earnings after graduation. Harvard and Yale’s rankings held steady at No. 3 and 4 respectively, while the California Institute of Technology and Stanford tied for fifth place. No public universities appeared on the list until No. 20, with the University of California campuses in Berkeley and Los Angeles tying for the spot. Princeton declined to comment on losing its No. 1 position, though its president Christopher Eisgruber has in the past blasted the college rankings “game” as a “slightly daft obsession that does harm when colleges, parents, or students take it too seriously.”

The Department of Homeland Security has dramatically increased available funding for a group helping federal immigration agents break into people’s phones. ICE has set aside $96 million for Cellebrite, an Israeli digital surveillance company, for systems that can extract information from cellphones, tablets, and other devices, according to PunchUp, the Daily Beast’s sister Substack. The five-year contract marks a 170 percent increase on the department’s previous $35.5 million deal with the company, struck in 2019. DHS has rapidly expanded its surveillance capabilities since Donald Trump retook the White House. It’s unclear how much that tech accounts for within the more than $22 billion in private-sector deals for contractors participating in his immigration crackdown. But ICE’s arsenal now also includes facial-recognition technology, cellphone tracking systems, social media monitoring software, AI programs, and drones. DHS has repeatedly refused to confirm exactly who it is targeting, or to what extent. It is facing multiple lawsuits for failing to hand over information on its alleged use of that tech against migrants, protesters, and other groups caught up in the president’s immigration purge. A Cellebrite spokesperson told the Daily Beast that the company does not discuss “specific customers and contracts.” DHS said that “ICE employs various forms of technology while respecting civil liberties and privacy interests.”

Tom Latchem exposes the secrets, scandals, and stories that powerful people and institutions want to keep under wraps. Follow all of his reporting at PunchUp on Substack.

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From red light therapy caps to topical serums, there’s no shortage of over-the-counter products promising to support thicker, fuller-looking hair. Of course, if you’re experiencing sudden or significant shedding, it’s always best to consult your doctor or dermatologist to rule out an underlying cause. But for those looking to support healthy hair growth from the inside out, supplements have become an increasingly popular addition to the at-home arsenal. After all, nutrition plays an important role in both the hair growth cycle and overall scalp and follicle health.

O Positiv has built a loyal following around its female-focused supplements, including its popular URO vaginal probiotics and FLO PMS vitamins, and now the women-owned brand is bringing that same approach to hair care. Its latest launch, URO Hair Growth Capsules, is a clinically backed daily supplement designed to help support hair growth and volume while reducing the appearance of thinning in as little as 90 days.

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The formula combines familiar hair-supporting nutrients like biotin, iron, folate, and vitamin B12 with Serevelle, the brand’s proprietary botanical complex designed to help address DHT, a hormone linked with certain types of hair loss, and support a longer hair-growth phase. Rather than focusing on just one potential contributor to thinning, URO Hair Growth takes a more multifaceted approach.

Unlike other hair growth ingestibles, the daily capsules stand out because it also contains holy basil, an adaptogenic herb traditionally used to support the body’s response to stress. Prolonged physical or emotional stress can disrupt the normal hair-growth cycle and contribute to increased shedding, making them a great addition. For those who want a more inside-out approach to thinning (or to complement serums, scalp treatments, and high-tech devices), URO Hair Growth Capsules offer another option to add to your lineup.

A Kentucky man who won a record $167.3 million Powerball jackpot has been arrested after police found him drunk and asleep in a running car parked outside a Walmart. Authorities responded to reports of a vehicle stopped in an intersection before finding James Farthing alone in a white Mustang near a charging station. Scott County Sheriff’s Office deputies had to knock repeatedly on the window to wake the lottery winner, who smelled of alcohol and marijuana, had bloodshot eyes, slurred his speech, and struggled to maintain his balance. Farthing claimed a woman had driven him to the parking lot and left him there, but police surveillance footage showed no one exiting the vehicle after it parked. The incident marks Farthing’s fifth arrest since taking home the historic payout in April 2025. His legal troubles include a July arrest for first-degree strangulation and fourth-degree assault tied to domestic violence allegations. Farthing was booked into the Scott County Detention Center on a charge of public alcohol intoxication.

A grand jury has unanimously found that there is no evidence to support bringing charges in the death of a Black teenager who was mysteriously found dead off the coast of Mississippi. Nolan Wells, 18, was celebrating July 4th with friends on Horn Island, a remote barrier island, when he went missing. His body was found two days later, raising questions about why his friends—who are all white—had left him behind. After months of investigation and speculation, the grand jury concluded there was no evidence of criminal activity or racial motivation. The grand jury found that “the position of, the condition of, time of discovery, and location of Mr. Wells’ body is consistent with drowning,” according to a report released Monday by the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. The report acknowledged there was unexplained bruising on the back of Wells’ head but said it was “not a fatal injury.” Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Wells family, said the grand jury result “leaves us with more questions than answers” and is an attempt to “close the chapter on Nolan Wells’ death without getting to the truth.”

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Right now, the Peach is only $29 (normally it’s $69) when you use the code PEACHTOY20 at checkout. Whether you’re exploring solo or turning up the heat with a partner, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Police have charged streamer and self-described “looksmaxxing” influencer Clavicular with rape, as well as with providing a minor with alcohol and drugging an individual for the purposes of sex. The 20-year-old influencer, real name Brandon Peters, was hit with the charges in Cape Cod on Sept. 8, stemming from an alleged incident that took place in May of last year. His representatives said in a statement that he “has not been physically served,” and accused The Bulwark, which first broke the news, of “exaggerating the status of a case to boost traffic.” It’s not the first time the controversial streamer, who built an online following by undergoing bizarre and often extreme treatments to maximize his perceived attractiveness, has run into trouble with the law. Authorities in Florida charged him in April for unlawful discharge of a firearm after an online video that appeared to show him shooting at an alligator in the Everglades. His lawyer said of that incident that Peters was “following the instructions of a licensed airboat guide,” that he’d “relied on that guidance,” and that “no animals or people were harmed.”

Cate Blanchett was applauded after calling on her theater audience to stop filming during a performance. The Australian A-lister—who has won two Oscars—told the crowd during Friday’s curtain call for Electra/Persona at London’s National Theatre, “There are few places on this planet where we can simply be together and be present. I understand you like filming the curtain call—and it is kind of flattering in a way—but for anyone who is filming the show, please don’t, because it spoils it for the next group of people who come in and are present with us. So thank you very much.” Her appeal went down well with the crowd, who cheered in response, the BBC reported. In doing so, Blanchett, 57, became the latest actress to chastise theatergoers for using their phones in the past months. Others include Daniel Craig, Hugh Jackman, and Rosamund Pike, who told an audience member to stop texting during her West End performance in Inter Alia earlier this year. Theaters usually ask the audience to turn off their phones. Written and directed by Benedict Andrews, Electra/Persona brings together Sophocles’ ancient Greek tragedy Electra and Ingmar Bergman’s film Persona. Running until Oct. 10, Blanchett and co-star Nina Hoss discover which roles—Electra/Elisabeth or Clytemnestra/Alma—they will play each night through a live coin toss before the performance.

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Dolly Parton secretly flew to Germany for experimental treatment before her death, according to a new report. The “9 to 5” singer died in August at the age of 80 after a battle with cancer, but a year before her death, she flew to Frankfurt on a private jet, TMZ reported. The outlet cited anonymous sources who claimed that while there she underwent an unknown experimental treatment that saw her stay in Europe for a week afterward. The sources said that the “Jolene” icon believed it had been effective and had made her stronger. Those in the country music star’s inner circle knew she had been sick, but she fought the short battle privately, and the type of cancer that afflicted her is not known. She is understood to have been surrounded by loved ones as she died at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Tennessee and was buried in Nashville at the Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum.

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Channing Tatum put to rest rumors that he ran a secret Instagram account that criticized his ex-fiancée, Zoë Kravitz. Tatum, 46, addressed speculation over the weekend that he ran the Instagram account @bidness_nonya, which had been commenting about Kravitz and her new fiancé, Harry Styles. “Yo i truly can’t believe yall think this is what I’m doing with my free time. F---in hilarious,” the 21 Jump Street star wrote on his Instagram Stories on Monday. “Also why would I follow a burner account if I didn’t want people to connect me to it? Wtf come on. But if I really need to say it, I only have one IG account @channingtatum.” The account in question now appears inactive, but it had allegedly commented on a recent post showing Kravitz, 37, and Styles, 32, kissing in public, saying, “Just here for the hate.” Tatum and Kravitz called off their engagement in October 2024 after three years together. Kravitz and Styles were engaged earlier this year in April.

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Whether you’re looking to create a shaded spot for outdoor date nights or family barbecues, you can transform any outdoor space with the world’s most popular modern pergola kit from Hanso Home. Its latest design, the Smart Motorized Louvered Pergola, is built with Category 5 hurricane-rated T6 aerospace-grade aluminum and features a laundry list of sophisticated design specs, including adjustable louvers to control the sun, a 100 percent rain- and rust-proof build, an optional remote-operated roof, and an enhanced LED lighting kit. The newest pergola is also engineered for up to 165 mph wind resistance with the louvers closed and up to 120 mph with the louvers open.

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You don’t have to have a backyard villa to elevate your backyard space with Hanso Home’s new-and-improved pergola. Although the pergola does not come assembled (you can also hire their team to assemble it for you for an additional fee), it is easy to self-assemble with two people in two to four hours, which is one of the reasons that it’s a top choice for U.S. renovation contractors—along with the fact that adding a premium pergola to your yard can increase your home’s value by an average of $27,000, according to the brand. Best of all, the Fifth-Generation Hanso Horizon Smart Pergola is built to last for at least 30 years and is backed by a ten-year warranty.

Emmy winner Christina Applegate has shared her first video after spending months in the hospital. The 54-year-old actress sent love to her fans and also shared a new image of herself in her Instagram story. News broke in March that Applegate, 54, had been hospitalized amid her ongoing battle with multiple sclerosis. The next month, she posted on Instagram that he had been “getting stronger and better every day.” The Dead to Me star announced her MS diagnosis in August 2021, and made her first public appearance following the news when she attended her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony the following year. In the clip posted on Monday, she took time to send “love” to her fans while showing off her glowing new look, thanking her hair stylist, and pointing out a “new weird spot on my cheek haha.” Applegate was reportedly discharged from the hospital last month, with a source telling People the actress was home from the hospital and “doing very well.” Actor Henry Winkler responded to her post, saying, “You are truly powerful.” Her Ride or Die co-star Octavia Spencer and comedian Chelsea Handler posted fire and love heart emojis. Best known for her roles in Married... With Children, Samantha Who? and Dead to Me, Applegate won an Emmy in 2003 for her role as Rachel’s sister Amy on Friends.

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A child actor who starred on That’s So Raven and The Tracy Morgan Show has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison, to be served consecutively with past convictions. Bobb’e Thompson, 30, pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm in Iowa federal court, according to USA Today. Thompson was arrested in Iowa last year after he was pulled over for speeding at 104 miles per hour, and a state trooper found a stolen loaded pistol in Thompson’s car. He had previously been convicted of battery with serious bodily injury and assault with force in Los Angeles in 2020, and again of prohibited possession of a firearm in L.A. in 2022. U.S. The Iowa judge recommended “a Bureau of Prisons facility as close to the defendant’s family as possible.” Thompson was also served three years of supervised release. He was only 6 when he got his start on the sitcom My Wife and Kids. After playing Tracy Morgan’s character’s son in 30 Rock and The Tracy Morgan Show, and the enemy of Corey in That’s So Raven, Thompson appeared in five seasons of Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘n Out until 2020 and ALLBLK’s 2026 movie Funny Thing About Love.