The USDA supplies an average of what a household (in various economic standings) should be spending on food. This is what it suggests for 2026.
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
Month: April 2026
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Another alum of My 600-lb Life has passed away.
Dolly Martinez was only 30.
She was even younger when she appeared on Season 10 of the TLC reality series.
What happened? Here’s what her family has shared. …
It was her own sibling who broke the tragic news
Her sister, Lindsey, shared the sad news on a Saturday, April 11 Facebook post.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my beautiful sister, Dolly,” her mournful post began.
“Dolly had the brightest personality,” Lindsey praised.
She elaborated: “She could light up any room with her laughter, her kindness, and her loving spirit.”
Lindsey affirmed: “She had a way of making everyone feel special, and her warmth will stay with us forever.”
“While our hearts are broken here,” Lindsey continued, “I find comfort in knowing she is now reunited with our dad in heaven.”
She added: “I can only imagine the joy of that reunion.”
Lindsey wrote: “Rest peacefully, Dolly. You will always be loved, always be missed, and never forgotten.”
She concluded her tribute to her dearly departed sister by asking loved ones to contact her or her wife and not others, as some people require peace and quiet as they mourn.
(We have, for obvious reasons, not chosen to republish private phone numbers here.)
What was her cause of death?
We do not yet know what Dolly’s official cause of death was.
She was only 30 years old.
When Dolly appeared on Season 10 of TLC’s controversial series, My 600-lb Life, she weighed 593 pounds.
Different people carry weight in different ways. In her case, being this size meant that she relied upon supplemental oxygen.
She also required assistance with daily tasks.
While on the show, Dolly discussed how food provided her with emotional support that she was unable to derive elsewhere.
This began in early childhood. Her father’s addiction led to her parents’ divorce, and as she spent more time on her own, she sought comfort from food.
Most people can relate to the joy that food brings. Balancing that with making safe and healthy choices for ourselves is a balance to which many relate.
According to her mother’s statements on My 600-lb Life, Dolly experienced stigma as a child, which led to her turning to food. This became an ingrained behavior and a self-perpetuating cycle.
Over the course of Season 10, Dolly lost about 40 pounds, but never received approval for the weight loss surgery that she sought.
Some are quick to blame the TLC series, but …
My 600-lb Life is a controversial series.
(The best that one can honestly say about it is that it’s better than The Biggest Loser, which many cite as a true reality TV atrocity.)
Some of the alums have sued. Some surviving family members have also sued.
Taking a group of vulnerable people who are in need of help and turning their struggles into entertainment is always going to be off-putting to many. Especially because many believe that the rapid weight loss that people undergo puts added strain on their health.
For now, though, we have no idea whether Dolly’s death was related to her previous weight or to any degree of weight loss. Our hearts go out to her loved ones at this time.
Dolly Martinez Cause of Death: ‘My 600-lb Life’ Star Dies at 30 was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Fans are finally getting their real first glimpse of Riley Green stepping into the world of Marshals ahead of the highly anticipated April 19 episode, where viewers will be introduced to his character, Garrett.
Meet Garrett: A Former Navy SEAL With A Past
In an exclusive sneak peek shared by USA Today, Garrett is revealed as a former Navy SEAL who reunites with his former teammates Kayce and Cal in the middle of an intense manhunt for what’s described as a “vicious enemy.” The clip opens with Garrett pulling up in a bus before reconnecting with Kayce, played by Luke Grimes.
A Tense Reunion With Kayce And Cal
Their reunion is anything but casual. Kayce questions Garrett’s sudden return, asking him, “After all this time, you just figured you’d show up?”
“Felt like seeing how my old teammate was doing,” Garrett responds.
Kayce makes it clear he’s still very much in the thick of things in his new role: “I’m a Marshal now. Still in the fight.”
Cal also questions Garrett’s reappearance. “Man shows up because life is good? I know a damaged man when I see one,” he says, hinting at the struggles Garrett may be facing.
A Troubled Past Comes To Light
The preview confirms Cals fears. Garrett is seen surrounded by bottles, appearing weighed down by memories of his time in the military.
“Music’s my only escape. It helps me forget about the past,” Garrett admits as flashbacks from what appears to be a SEAL operation appear on the screen.
A Hidden Tease? Fans Spot Unreleased Song ‘My Way’
Fans may also hear a familiar song playing in the background: Riley Green’s “My Way,” which he previously teased on social media last spring. There’s also a quick shot of a scene showing Garrett playing a guitar around the campfire. Could this be a teaser that he may finally be releasing the song after all this time? Fans will have to stay tuned to find out.
This marks Riley Green’s acting debut, which he confirmed to Country Now in December, revealing at the time that he had a TV appearance in the works. He shared that he felt right at home on set, though the experience came with its challenges, as he balanced filming with his demanding tour schedule.
“It was a little tough because of the travel, because I was still playing shows every weekend and flying out and flying back and flying out. So that was the tough part about it. But as far as actually on set acting and kind of being there and getting into that head space, I felt like it came sort of natural to me,” he shared.
Green will appear in the Marshals episode “Blowback” on Sunday, April 19 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*.
The post Riley Green’s Troubled Character Garrett Takes Center Stage In Intense ‘Marshals’ Sneak Peek appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
By: Corinne Smith, Alaska Beacon
Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed off on a supplemental budget bill that authorizes nearly $450 million in additional state spending this year.
The budget bill covers additional costs incurred by the state this fiscal year ending in June, including funds for disaster relief, education, corrections and transportation.
The bill was approved by the Alaska State Legislature two weeks ago. Dunleavy signed the budget on Apr. 2, and transmitted it back to the Legislature on Thursday.
“I appreciate the Legislature’s support of these proposals,” Dunleavy said in a letter announcing his signature on the bill. “The supplemental budget I have signed into law today enables the State to meet current fiscal year responsibilities and represents prudent and fiscally responsible investments in emergency and fire response, public safety and statewide transportation needs.”
The budget includes $75 million for disaster relief to address the response to the Western Alaska storms last fall, and nearly $100 million for fire suppression, particularly in Interior Alaska. It includes $20 million for the Alaska Department of Corrections overtime expenses, as well as $70 million in time-sensitive funding for transportation — sought by the construction industry to unlock a federal match of $630 million for state construction projects.
It also includes $130 million for the Alaska Higher Education Fund which provides grants and scholarships for students, as well as $34.4 million for Medicaid and $12.8 million for other public assistance programs through the Alaska Department of Health.
The governor’s office submitted an additional $11.6 million request, but it was submitted too late to include in the budget bill, and will be rolled into the proposal for next year’s budget.
Additionally, the state is waiting on an appeal decision after failing a federal disparity test for education funding, and could potentially be liable for $72 million in K-12 funding for next year, according to officials with the Legislative Finance Division.
Oil revenues still uncertain
In the Legislature, the bill was delayed this year amid ongoing debate in the House of Representatives on whether to pay for the larger than usual budget bill out of state savings — an act that requires the approval of three-quarters of legislators.
Members of the House Republican minority caucus objected to spending from a state savings account, the Constitutional Budget Reserve. After the Alaska Department of Revenue projected the state would see an additional $500 million in oil revenue due to a surge in oil prices driven by the Iran war, they argued the state would not need to pull from savings to pay its bills.
Members of the multipartisan House majority caucus objected to the uncertainty of revenue forecasts and future oil prices, and argued for a draw from state savings to fund the budget bill immediately.
If oil-driven state revenues from now until the end of the fiscal year are not sufficient to cover the $450 million supplemental budget, then lawmakers agreed to draw from state savings. That means oil prices must average approximately $82 per barrel of oil through June for state revenue to cover spending, according to officials with the Legislative Finance Division.
House Speaker Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, was among legislators who supported the draw from savings several weeks ago, instead of banking on uncertain future oil revenues. On Friday, he said it seems revenues will cover the budget bill.
“As appears now, oil prices are continuing to move in an upward trajectory, which means that the bill at the very end could be fully funded,” Edgmon said. “But there’s still a fair amount of time in front of us for oil prices to, you know, continue to be volatile.”
Edgmon said barring a dive in oil prices, he doesn’t expect another vote on drawing from the state savings this session.
“That’s pending a dramatic drop in oil prices, of course, which doesn’t seem to be on the horizon.”
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Donald Trump has been on a rampage lately.
No one is safe from the president’s wrath these days, as he unleashes his fury on everyone from Tucker Carlson to Pope Leo XIV.
Yes, even the pope is catching strays at the moment, with Trump blasting the Chicago native as “weak” and “terrible” on foreign policy.
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” Trump wrote, adding:
“He talks about “fear” of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart. I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA.
“He gets it, and Leo doesn’t!”
The post came during a very strange 24-hour period, during which Trump also posted a photo of himself as Jesus Christ.
“I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History,” Trump ranted on, adding:
“Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.
“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
For obvious reasons, many social media users — including supporters of Trump’s — were shocked by Sunday’s posts.
And Pope Leo was quick to respond to the White House’s provocation.
“To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is,” Leo told The Associated Press aboard the papal plane over the weekend.
“And I’m sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today.”
Trump has yet to respond to the Pope’s rebuttal or to the backlash against his bizarre Jesus photo.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
Donald Trump Potrays Self as Jesus Christ, Blasts ‘Weak’ Pope Leo In Shocking … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
A subadult fur seal is hauled out on St. Paul Island in 2007. About two-thirds of the world’s northern fur seal population uses the Pribilofs for breeding. (Photo by Carla Stanley/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
A conservation group sued federal fisheries managers over catch limits in the pollock trawl fishery, arguing that their regulations do not adequately protect northern fur seals in the Bering Sea.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court of Alaska on Wednesday, centers on the fur seal population on St. Paul Island, home to nursing females that rely on pollock to feed their pups.
The Center for Biological Diversity, an Arizona-based conservation group, alleges that NOAA Fisheries violated federal conservation laws by not including stronger protections for fur seals in its annual harvest limits for pollock by trawlers.
The group cites data that northern fur seals have declined by 70% on St. Paul Island since the 1970s.
“The federal government is legally required to make sure industrial fishing doesn’t devastate this vulnerable population of seals, but it’s failed to act for decades,” said Cooper Freeman, Alaska director at the Center for Biological Diversity, through a prepared statement.
NOAA Fisheries, also called the National Marine Fisheries Service, is responsible for ensuring fish stocks are sustainable and conserving marine life. The agency wrote in March that there is “not sufficient information” to determine if the pollock trawl fishery is disrupting fur seal populations on St. Paul Island in violation of federal law.
Similar long-running legal battles have been fought over trawl fishing and its impacts on Steller sea lion populations in Western Alaska.
Trawl fishing for pollock in the Bering Sea is divisive in Alaska. Supporters point to billions of dollars in economic activity and thousands of jobs created by the fishery. Opponents argue that trawling for pollock is leading to environmental damage and salmon bycatch.
The fur seal challenge has been assigned to Judge H. Russell Holland, a senior U.S. District court judge.
Not everyone who experiences sudden weight loss is automatically using Ozempic. In fact, these celebrities attest that they shed pounds without using GLP-1s.
Health Digest – Health News, Wellness, Expert Insights
It’s weeks like this that prove the NFL doesn’t really have an offseason. NFL free agency may have stalled, with teams waiting for June 1 to manage their compensatory picks. But the draft news is ramping up, with the first round next Thursday. Surely, we’ll start to see smokescreens and misdirection. And maybe we’ll see a blockbuster trade or two. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s assess what happened around the NFL this past week. This is “Sound Smart,” where I try to spin forward, dive deeper and think outside the box. If I do my job, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s happening this NFL offseason. 1. IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW, IT’S THAT… You can blame Patrick Mahomes for the lack of fanfare around Fernando Mendoza. Nine years after the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes No. 10 overall, his selection is still changing the landscape of the NFL. It’s a tremendous compliment to how much the Kansas City quarterback has achieved. In a roundabout way, I think Mahomes’ resounding success is the reason why there’s limited hype around Mendoza, the presumptive No. 1 pick this year. Let’s flash back to 2019, when Tom Brady last won a Super Bowl with the Patriots. He was the gold standard. Pocket quarterbacks were the status quo, and mobile QBs seemed to be a trend. At the NFL Combine, players often compared themselves to Brady — admittedly drawing eye rolls in the process. But now? College quarterbacks want to compare themselves to Mahomes, Josh Allen and other mobile QBs. That’s not Mendoza. He’s more of a Brady type — a pocket quarterback. (Mendoza’s style is most comparable to Detroit’s Jared Goff or former longtime Falcons QB Matt Ryan.) Make no mistake: Mendoza is deserving of that No. 1 spot. But there seems to be a lack of fanfare around him, and I think it’s because everyone is so accustomed to dual-threat QBs (Cam Ward, Caleb Williams, Bryce Young or Trevor Lawrence) going in that top spot. “[Mahomes] definitely inspired a lot of people to find a guy like that,” an NFL GM told me. “I think everybody’s trying to kind of get away from the stationary quarterback — the traditional pocket quarterback — because of the way these defensive fronts are nowadays. You have to have somebody that can move around the pocket, have feeling around the pocket, and then extend plays and create with their legs if need be. “So, yeah, I would say, in that breath, maybe [Mahomes] did change the mindset of some coaches and some evaluators.” 2. MONDAY MORNING CONTROVERSY — AVERTED Lamar Jackson showed up for offseason workouts, which is a sign of good things to come for Baltimore. Finally, the Ravens can enjoy a positive storyline. Seriously, a thing happened in Baltimore that wasn’t controversial. It has been a tumultuous offseason for the Ravens, who fired longtime head coach John Harbaugh and replaced him with first-time head coach Jesse Minter. It could be a great hire, but it is, no doubt, controversial. The Ravens then began the process of trading for superstar edge rusher Maxx Crosby — before backing out. The medical information didn’t check out, they said, so Crosby was returned to the Raiders and Baltimore signed free-agent Trey Hendrickson. Again, it could be a great move, but it is also controversial. Let’s not shy away from highlighting the good items along with the controversy. Two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson showed up for voluntary offseason workouts, which he skipped last year. Jackson is due for a new contract, and he’s still building a relationship with Minter and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. So it’s a big deal that he was present for the voluntary portion. Last year, Jackson had his worst regular season since 2021. Just as important, his organization is trying to build something new — and very much around him. He needed to be there. 3. EVERYONE’S AFRAID TO SAY If Kirk Cousins was initially avoiding the Raiders, I’d understand why. Quarterback competitions are rarely fair, if ever. So, I can understand why it took so long for Kirk Cousins to land with the Las Vegas Raiders. It was, after all, reported almost immediately after his release by the Falcons on March 11 that he would be a Raider. But the veteran quarterback took his time to be 100% sure that Las Vegas was the best place for him. And that difficulty probably has very little to do with anyone currently on the Raiders. It has everything to do with the guy who’s about to be a Raider: Mendoza. In fact, Las Vegas might be a good football team in 2026. It would defy what we know about the Raiders, generally speaking, because the organization has won 10 games (or more) just one time since 2017. But if you look simply at their offense — which is often the key to a big turnaround (like what the Patriots and Bears did last year) — then you’ll see reason for optimism. Running back Ashton Jeanty was one of the best prospects in last year’s draft, and there’s still hope for him. Brock Bowers is the best tight end in the NFL at just 23 years old. New head coach Klint Kubiak was the best offensive coordinator in football last year. Center Tyler Linderbaum was the best offensive lineman on the free agent market. Whether it’s additions or returners, there’s a lot to like about the Raiders. Even while the situation is murky at QB, it’s the good kind of uncertainty. Las Vegas should have a difficult decision to make in September because it has a healthy competition between Cousins and the projected No. 1 overall pick, Mendoza. Which gets me back to my original point: QB competitions are rarely fair. Tom Brady has made it clear that he doesn’t want Mendoza to start right away. And Cousins is a legit option to make that plan happen. Together, they can try to do what, historically speaking, hardly ever happens: have the No. 1 pick begin his NFL career as a backup quarterback. But it would be anomalous. Cousins must know that. And so it made sense that he didn’t want to jump at being a likely backup for the Raiders. “I honestly don’t want to start unless I’m the best option, and I told Klint that,” Cousins told reporters last Wednesday. “The best player should play. As long as that’s the case, I have no qualms about however it plays out. I do think Fernando is going to be a great addition to our team. I think he’s going to have a great future in our league. “I have no problem being a voice in the room to help him to the degree I can. He’s going to have great support around him with the coaching staff. But to be able to watch a veteran quarterback go through his habits and routines and process, that can be a great asset for him.” Cousins seems to understand his role for the Raiders in 2026. He might know — well before Las Vegas realizes it — that he is not likely to hold off Mendoza for long. The top pick in the draft is almost always a Week 1 starter. [How a ‘Life-Giving’ FaceTime with Tom Brady Helped Kirk Cousins Sign with Raiders] 4. PEELING BACK THE CURTAIN Two NFL Draft prospects are trying to allay injury concerns and land in the top 10. There might not be two prospects with more important medical information than receiver Jordyn Tyson and tackle Francis Mauigoa. And that’s why we’re seeing them both make late pushes to get the necessary information in front of NFL teams. In the case of Tyson, he has decided to host a workout for NFL teams on April 17 — just one week before the draft. Last season at Arizona State, Tyson suffered a hamstring injury in mid-October and missed three games. He also sat out of drills at the NFL Combine and ASU Pro Day. It’s rare to see a hamstring injury drag on this long, but Tyson has maintained he’s healthy and will be ready to play. This workout could go a long way in confirming that. And because there’s a lot of parity between the top three receivers in this draft class (from Carnell Tate to Makai Lemon to Tyson), it could go so far as to thrust him into a spot as the top receiver. [Ranking the Top 10 Wide Receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft] With Mauigoa, he did a medical recheck last Friday to address concerns regarding a back injury that gave him issues at the end of last season at Miami. Teams must have come away from the combine feeling like the medicals left them with questions. So Mauigoa’s recheck is an effort to answer those questions — and land in the top 10 on April 23.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
Nostalgia comes for us all eventually, and for Boomers, there’s one particular ceramic frog that has the power to send people back in time, just by sight.
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
Ebony Riley has launched the pre-order for her debut album Beautiful Tragedy, unveiling the project’s official artwork and sharing a new track, “Through The Motions (Interlude).” The rollout also includes a black-and-white trailer introducing the themes and imagery behind the album.
The newly revealed artwork shows Riley seated atop a pile of garments, referencing her background in fashion while signaling a shift toward her work as a recording artist. The image connects her earlier career with her current focus on music, drawing a line between those two chapters. Fans who pre-order the album receive immediate access to “Through The Motions (Interlude),” a short piece built around a voicemail from a loved one that offers an early look at the project’s tone.
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Riley also released an accompanying trailer for Beautiful Tragedy. The visual follows her running before stopping and embracing a young girl watching archival footage of Riley on a television. The clips include moments from her childhood, early performances, and training, presenting a narrative that reflects the personal experiences behind the album. The sequence concludes with the album title, setting the framework for the project’s story.
The announcement follows a period of momentum for the Detroit-born singer. Her 2025 single “Only You” reached No. 15 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart. She continued into 2026 with “HONEST,” produced by Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. Before focusing fully on music, Riley built a career in modeling, appearing in campaigns for major fashion houses.
Listen to Ebony Riley’s “Through The Motions (Interlude)” here.
Discover more about the world’s greatest R&B artists | uDiscover Music