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Russia launched deadly strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight, causing power outages in Kyiv and the surrounding region.

Following Trump’s lunch with AI leaders at the White House, the industry remains largely unchanged on AI safety.

A CNBC investigation shows how former Fed advisor John Rogers became entangled with a man U.S. officials identify as a Chinese intelligence operative.

New research shows that U.S. alcohol use has declined for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, but drinking remains above pre-pandemic levels — with one particular group showing a sharp increase in heavy intake.A study led by the University of Southern California/Keck Medicine found that among adults ages 50 to 64, alcohol use increased by nearly 4% from 2018 to 2024, while heavy drinking increased by more than 36%.Across all age groups, alcohol use declined by nearly 2% and heavy drinking declined by more than 8% from 2022 to 2024. However, overall alcohol use remained above pre-pandemic levels.BEER, WINE OR LIQUOR? MASSIVE STUDY REVEALS WHICH WAS LINKED TO LOWER DEATH RISKAmong Gen Z adults, alcohol use declined by more than 5%. Millennials drank approximately 17% less from 2022 to 2024.The findings, which were published on Sept. 21 in Annals of Internal Medicine, were based on self-reported data from the National Health Interview Survey, which included 114,352 U.S. adults from 2018 to 2024.Heavy drinking was defined as five or more drinks per day or 15 or more drinks per week for men within the preceding 12 months, and at least four daily drinks or eight weekly drinks for women.Men were found to have a larger alcohol decline than women (2.4% vs. 1.1%), but women had a larger reduction in heavy drinking (9%) compared to men (7.7%).ALCOHOL TIED TO SURPRISING CANCER DEATH PATTERN IN ADULTS UNDER 55, RESEARCHERS FIND”Women’s heavy drinking rose more than men’s during the pandemic and is still about 13% above where it was in 2018,” lead study author Brian P. Lee, M.D., associate professor of medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, told Fox News Digital. “Women develop liver damage at lower levels of drinking than men, so that number carries more weight than it looks.”The study was funded in part by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the National Institutes of Health.The chief limitation of the study is that people reported their own levels of drinking, which tend to run low, according to Lee.”It also can’t tell us why drinking changed, only that it did,” he told Fox News Digital. “And we have two years of decline after four years of increases, so I’d describe this as a promising turn rather than an established trend.”The researchers also did not investigate the reasons younger adults reduced alcohol consumption.Dr. Chris Tuell, clinical director of addiction services at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, said many factors may contribute to the increased rate of drinking among older adults.”As we approach our 50s and 60s, we start reflecting on our lives, and changes start to happen,” Tuell, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.The loneliness epidemic in the U.S., and the fact that people are more “polarized” and “disconnected,” may also come into play, according to Tuell.Grief and loss may also lead to increased drinking as people seek a way to escape or cope with the loss of friends and family members.”One out of four people will experience some mental health issue … depression, anxiety, loss, grief — these are real things that are impacting people,” Tuell said. “And it’s at a time where a person might feel very vulnerable.”BRAD PITT SAYS HE CAN DRINK IN ‘RESTRAINED MANNER’ AFTER 7 SOBER YEARS, BUT EXPERT RAISES RED FLAGAs people age, there may also be increased issues related to chronic pain and medical issues, resulting in reduced function.”Now I have these aches and pains, or maybe I’m diagnosed with something more serious,” Tuell said as an example. “So that becomes a problem that I now have to deal with.”Many aging adults are also approaching retirement age, which can result in a loss of structure and change the identity they’ve had for decades, the expert noted.”I wake up and something I’ve done every day for many, many years is no longer happening. So I’m more bored. What do I do with my time? This is unfortunately a perfect storm for things like substance use.”As older adults experience body changes, they don’t metabolize alcohol the same way they once did, Tuell noted.CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES”What I used to drink maybe five years ago … that same amount now can affect me differently, because I’m not metabolizing it like I used to,” he said.Women are especially impacted by alcohol, Tuell said, likely because they may have less body fat and don’t have as much water in their bodies.Lee noted that while alcohol doesn’t harm everyone equally, the risk starts at low levels and goes up with every additional drink.”There isn’t a level the evidence shows to be safe.”To determine whether someone has a problem with alcohol, Tuell recommends using the “three Cs.”Alcohol can still be problematic even if someone doesn’t have an addiction, Tuell noted.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERFor example, they might drink more than they should, to the point where they get a hangover or put themselves at risk.”Maybe it’s impacting my interactions with other people, interpersonal relationships, hobbies, interests,” he said. “Maybe it’s affecting my sleep.”In a normal sleep pattern, people go through a cycle four to five times per night — but when they drink, it’s more like two to three times, Tuell said. “So, we’re not getting good rest during that period.”It’s never too late to seek help with alcohol dependency, he pointed out.TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ”I’ve treated people in their 80s who still have a lot of life left,” Tuell said, pointing out that Americans are living longer. “So we’re aging, we’re getting older, and there are a lot of life changes happening … physically, emotionally, psychologically.”For those who are over 50 and drinking more than they did before 2020, Lee recommends asking a doctor about liver health, “even if nothing feels wrong.””There are clear increases in cancer and liver risk with alcohol, even at low levels,” he warned. “Even advanced liver disease might have no symptoms, and the earlier alcohol-related liver damage is caught, the more of it can be undone.”

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette loves the game of football, but back home in Mullins, South Carolina, a true country lifestyle is how he, his family and friends love to spend their time.Whether it’s taking care of his horses, which NFL fans have come quite familiar with since the Panthers took him in the first round in 2024 out of South Carolina, fishing, or riding around town on what he calls a “trail ride,” Legette’s southern roots are shown in full force whenever he’s back home.Before the 2026 season, Legette was able to show some of his Panthers teammates what it’s like in his small South Carolina town that has less than 4,000 residents, including his quarterback, Bryce Young. Sports Illustrated was along for the ride, as Legette showcased a day in his life with the entire town alongside him for the trail ride.CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGEIt was an experience that had Legette quite grateful, not just for himself and allowing his teammates to experience the special side of his life off the field, but for the people in Mullins.”To tell you the truth, man, that part of it was great — for them to be able to come and do those things. But I think the best thing really in my eyes about the whole situation was them boys being able to come in my community,” he told OutKick in a recent interview, while highlighting his partnership with Bojangles. “People in my community being able to see other people other than me, you know what I’m saying? Because they always see me.”PANTHERS’ BRYCE YOUNG, XAVIER LEGETTE SPEND OFFSEASON WEEKEND RIDING HORSES AND RIPPING ATVSLegette, with his southern accent and unique hobbies, has become a fan-favorite in the Panthers community, as well as the NFL in general. Viral moments, from his first news conference after being drafted to telling folks he didn’t mind trying asparagus for the first time, made him someone football fans couldn’t get enough of.Legette is nothing but positive and genuine, two of the many characteristics he had growing up surrounded by the people he loved most in his small town. Now that he’s at this stage of professional life, all he wishes to do is give back and grow the place he still, and will always, call home.Having Panthers teammates there to see that meant the world to him.”I grew up there and I’m one of the first ones to be able to be in this position that I am being from Marion County.” he added. “So just being able for them to see other faces, they was excited.”Everyone know everybody, but my family, it stands out to me, you know what I’m saying? They’re the ones that helped me able to [do this]. They shaped me into being who I am today. I got my love for them. It’s out of this world and being able to just go through the growing pains with them, ups and downs, and then it’s nothing but smiles on their face. That’s what I love to see.”Oh, and one of those viral moments mentioned before includes his admittance to eating raccoon, squirrel and other animals that he and his family find on hunts. When his teammates were in town, they had to try the local cuisine.”Oh yeah, we had the raccoon out there. A couple of them tried it,” Legette said, noting that Young left early before it was ready. Fellow receiver David Moore was among those who tried the raccoon.THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!COUNTRY MEETS SPOOKYLegette’s southern lifestyle is one that came to life for a one-of-a-kind content series by Pepsi and Bojangles, and it stars one of his prized horses, affectionately known as Dime Piece, as Halloween and football come together.Legette had a smile ear-to-ear as he discussed the Bojangles Bite Box which, starting Oct. 1, will come with limited-edition haunted house packaging.”I think it’s a great collab. It’s one of the biggest ones I’ve ever did, and man, I hope we can come up with something else for the future.”They understand my love for the horses and they wanted to bring that to life with this commercial. It’s great.”While Legette will be heading to Bojangles whenever he can to get his Bite Box, he’s also excited for another Halloween, where he might just have to be his favorite superhero yet again.”All I wanted to be was Spider-Man every year,” he said, laughing.