Day: August 17, 2025

Jill Biden Ends Her 40-Year Teaching Career at NOVA. After four decades devoted to education, First Lady Jill Biden has officially concluded her tenure as a professor. She announced during a virtual event honoring educators that she had taught her final class at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)—a place where she had been teaching English and writing full-time for 15 years. Speaking at the event—joined virtually by union leaders Randi Weingarten (American Federation of Teachers) and Becky Pringle (National Education Association)—she said, “Being your First Lady has been the honor of my life. But being your colleague has been the work of my life.” Jill Biden recalled that she managed to balance her teaching career with her role in the White House, reflecting her deep commitment to the classroom: “I will always love this profession, which is why I continued to teach full time while serving as your First Lady.” NOVA President Anne Kress praised her as an “exceptional faculty member” who earned the deep respect and admiration of both students and staff. She added that Biden leaves behind a powerful legacy at America’s community colleges. Jill Biden launched her teaching journey in 1976, instructing high school students in English and working as a reading specialist…. CONTINUE READING…

Austin Lee Russell, better known to millions of television viewers as “Chumlee” from the hit reality series Pawn Stars, is once again in the spotlight — but this time, not for his lighthearted banter or comic relief on screen. According to multiple reports, the 33-year-old reality TV personality is considering a plea agreement following a highly publicized raid at his Las Vegas residence, during which authorities reportedly discovered controlled substances and firearms. The news has stirred widespread conversation, not only among fans of the long-running History Channel show but also across social media platforms where discussions about celebrity accountability, second chances, and legal reform are trending. While Russell has not publicly commented in detail about the case, official documents and court statements suggest he is preparing to plead guilty to certain charges in order to avoid the possibility of harsher penalties. The Details of the Case Court filings reveal that Russell is expected to plead guilty to attempted possession of a controlled substance, a charge that often carries less severe penalties compared to direct possession or intent to distribute. As part of the plea agreement, he would forfeit items seized during the raid, serve three years of probation, and undergo mandatory treatment and monitoring programs. Perhaps the most notable aspect… CONTINUE READING…

Only four years ago, Cole Prochaska “weighed as much as three men.” After trading his 5,000-calorie a day diet for a pair of sneakers, the 41-year-old man walked his way to a dramatic weight loss, proudly revealing he is now the size of “one person.” In 2021, Florida’s Cole Prochaska didn’t know exactly how much he weighed, only that he tipped the scales at more than 585 pounds, the highest number the scale would measure. The man, now 41, explains he’s been heavy since he was only six, and has lived a sedentary lifestyle with lots of overeating. According to Today, his “overeating” included gorging on several bags of chips and a 12-pack of soda cans in one day. And, when he went out for fast food, he’d eat five cheeseburgers or a whole pizza “easy.” He estimates he was consuming about 5,000 calories a day. “I felt pretty bad,” Prochaska said. “I would always put on a happy exterior because that’s what a lot of big people do. But I was a pretty lonely person. You don’t want to go to anywhere because you don’t want to have to worry about fitting in the chairs and worry about having to walk… CONTINUE READING…

Elijah Oliver Cabin | Cades Cove, Blount County, TN | Built c. 1866 If you’ve ever walked the winding trail to the Elijah Oliver Cabin in Cades Cove, you know it feels like stepping into another time. Tucked in a quiet hollow off the main loop road, this historic homestead tells the story of a resilient mountain family and a way of life that has all but disappeared. Today, thanks to a recent donation of Elijah Oliver’s personal wallet to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Collections Preservation Center, we’re learning even more about the man who built this farmstead—and the history he carried in his pocket. Who Was Elijah Oliver? The Olivers were one of the founding families of Cades Cove. When they arrived, there were no permanent white settlers in the area until the family patriarch, John Oliver, moved there in 1818 from Carter County with his wife, Lucretia. Elijah Oliver (1829–1905), one of their sons, grew up on his father John’s property and later established a farm at the west end of Cades Cove.  Born in either 1824 or 1829 (depending on the record), Elijah Oliver spent his entire life in the Smoky Mountains, growing up in the valley… CONTINUE READING…

Whitley Family House | Brandon County, MS | c. 1917 or 1919 Locals have driven by this home and lamented its deteriorated condition for more than 30 years. Like a sad sentinel, this local landmark holds the story of one Mississippi family who grew up within its walls. But it also holds the story of kit homes, like so many others of this time, that were ordered from a catalog and shipped here by train to be assembled piece by piece on site. What is a Kit Home? As early as 1902, manufacturers were designing and delivering homes in kits across the U.S. on rail lines that were now reaching every corner of the country. Suddenly, a wide variety of designs in ready-to-build homes were accessible to would-be homeowners in rural and urban settings alike. Of the kit home manufacturers that emerged in the early 1900s, one stepped ahead of the pack- Sears Roebuck & Co. Their catalog reached iconic status in the American home during this era, offering a wide variety of household items and materials that soon included entire kits of almost 400 different designs. As railroad shipping networks expanded, Sears’ ability to reach new customers with new… CONTINUE READING…