Hello! This is August 7, 2025.

DOJ Doubles Reward for Capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro to $50M

The DOJ has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, citing his role in drug trafficking operations involving major cartels. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro-linked cocaine, often laced with fentanyl, has fueled U.S. overdose deaths. He faces U.S. charges including narco-terrorism and weapons offenses.

Report: Fort Stewart Shooting Suspect Endured Years of Bullying Over Stutter

Sgt. Quornelius Radford, accused of shooting five soldiers at Fort Stewart, was reportedly bullied for his stutter since joining the Army, to the point he rarely spoke. All victims are expected to recover. Radford’s father said he sent a farewell text before the attack. A fellow soldier tackled him, stopping further gunfire.

Cincinnati Beating Victim Speaks Out, Pushes for ‘Holly’s Act’

Holly, a single mother injured while stopping a brutal July 26 attack in Cincinnati, suffered a severe concussion and neurological damage. She says police never took her statement and only one bystander called 911. Now in hiding, she’s working with Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) on “Holly’s Act” to toughen bail and sentencing laws and hold bystanders accountable for not reporting violent crimes.

4 High-Yield Dividend Kings to Buy Before Fed Rate Cuts

With rate cuts likely later in 2025, high-yield Dividend Kings could shine. Altria (6.53% yield) offers top tobacco brands and a buyback plan; Black Hills (4.54%) is a multi-utility serving 8 states; Stanley Black & Decker (4.73%) is the world’s largest toolmaker; and Target (4.35%) remains a solid retail play despite recent struggles. All have 50+ years of dividend hikes and Buy ratings from Wall Street.

OpenAI Launches GPT-5, Promises ‘PhD-Level Experts on Demand’

OpenAI has unveiled GPT-5, its most advanced AI model yet, two years after GPT-4’s debut. CEO Sam Altman called it “a significant step along our path to AGI,” saying it feels like “talking to a legitimate PhD-level expert in anything.” The release comes as 700M people now use ChatGPT weekly and amid rival launches like Anthropic’s new Claude. OpenAI, valued at $300B, plans to convert its for-profit arm into a public benefit corporation while navigating legal and regulatory scrutiny.

Gas Station ‘Feel Free’ Tonic Linked to Addiction, Severe Health Risks

A plant-based tonic called Feel Free, containing kratom leaf and kava extract, is drawing warnings after users reported addiction, skin damage, seizures, and withdrawal symptoms. Sold at gas stations nationwide, the product is marketed as a mood-boosting, energy-enhancing supplement for adults 21+. Experts say combining kava’s depressant effects with kratom’s stimulant/euphoric properties heightens addiction risk and can cause liver injury. Some users say they consumed up to 12 bottles daily, spending thousands monthly. The maker, Botanic Tonics, insists it promotes responsible use and caps intake at two servings a day.

Study: French Fries Raise Type 2 Diabetes Risk by 20%

Harvard researchers found that eating just three servings of French fries per week increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 20%, while replacing them with whole grains cuts the risk by 19%. The 30-year study, involving over 205,000 participants, showed no diabetes risk from baked, boiled, or mashed potatoes. Experts say preparation method matters and dietary swaps can have a major health impact. The findings, published in The BMJ, support revising nutrition guidelines to focus on how foods are made and what they replace in the diet.