Today is an historic day in Israel as thousands gather at Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square to mark President Trump’s new cease-fire deal and celebrate the imminent release of Hamas hostages under President Trump’s deal. Other breaking news today includes NYPD footage showing two suspects driving stolen muscle cars through Bronx streets as they flee police pursuit and an entire house decorated with tombstones honoring Taylor Swift going viral on Garden Street in Garden Hill.
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1. A New Jersey school board member allegedly attacked a conservative mother of three in a gross text message.
New Jersey school board candidate was caught red-handed sending offensive text messages against a conservative mother of three in an apparent assault — then quickly gave up when outed.
A father whose daughter was killed by her bully received the highest payout ever in a school bullying lawsuit. New heart-pounding NYPD footage depicts two individuals driving an illegal muscle car through Bronx streets before trying to flee on sidewalks.
House on Garden Street decorated with tombstones of Taylor Swift has gone viral, garnering 2.5 million views on TikTok alone and creating controversy in the neighborhood. Dana Jacobson reports.
2. Two alleged thieves in a stolen muscle-car raced through the streets of the Bronx.
Two alleged thieves racing through the Bronx streets in an illegal muscle-car were captured on surveillance camera engaging in an intense chase that ended with a crash from “The Fast and the Furious.” A 32-year-old victim suffered severe head and leg injuries as a result.
Police chased an SUV as it sped across traffic in a chaotic scene punctuated with siren wails and baton slamming, according to NYC Scoop. When finally stopping the Ford vehicle cops yelled “Put your hands up! Get on the ground!” At last Bria Aponte and Kenneth Canty were taken from it and arrested.
Authorities allege the two members belonged to the neighborhood gang known as “5L,” which is affiliated with larger Blood sets, according to a 250-count indictment released Tuesday. They allegedly broke into cars, stole cash and credit cards from their victims and posted these as proof on social media before showing them off on social media as evidence, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney’s warning about state bail laws that may put most suspects back out on the street again.
3. A house on Garden Street decked out in Taylor Swift’s tombstones went viral.
Hoboken resident Susan Berger, an avid Halloween lover, takes great pleasure in decorating her Garden Street house with Halloween-inspired decorations each year. But this year she truly outdid herself: Her creation featuring Taylor Swift’s former lovers as grave markers went viral with 2.5 million views on TikTok alone and attracted visitors from across the globe.
Miranda Soukup of Minneapolis is creating creepy fun with her creative Taylor Swift “The Life of a Showgirl”-themed skeleton displays on her front lawn. A lifesize “Showgirl” Swift stands on stage while paparazzi skeletons and graveyard skeletons from past relationships line her sidewalk; printouts featuring Swift album covers featuring skeletons instead of Taylor line up her steps; while three cat skeletons represent Olivia, Meredith and Benjamin (which she currently has as pets).
Soukup began planning her display six months ago, but after hearing of Taylor Swift’s news she has added even more detail. To further surprise visitors she is even making bracelets as special treats to give away to guests!
4. Deepfakes of dead people rewriting the past.
All Things Considered host Zeyi Yang takes up an article published by MIT Technology Review detailing how Chinese companies are offering deepfakes of deceased loved ones for less. Now it is becoming less expensive and simpler for individuals who wish to have digital recreations of deceased family members interact with you or be displayed publicly as avatars.
The report highlights this as both creepy and dangerous; imagine what could happen when convincing deepfakes of politicians surface during election seasons, showing them in potentially compromised situations or making incendiary statements that would be difficult to refute; the consequences could be profound for democratic processes.
Hang Lu and Haoran Chu of UC Berkeley are currently conducting an experimental research study addressing this topic. Their researchers will focus on studying how perceived realism, desecration of the dead, surprise mediate effects of deepfake resurrection on identity and prosocial intentions; ultimately their research could offer the first empirically driven piece of guidance as to how best utilize this emerging technology for prosocial goals.