California’s smaller cities just scored a major travel-world bragging right — with two Golden State destinations landing among the 10 best small cities in a new national ranking. Santa Barbara grabbed the No. 5 spot, while Healdsburg came in at No. 8 in Conde Nast Traveler’s latest Readers’ Choice Awards, putting the two California towns … Read more
Beneath the splendor of its monuments and ruins, Rome is taking aim at a modern-day chariot: the golf cart. Hundreds of them have started carrying tourists through the historic center. Even rolling along at a moderate speed, these golf carts have so far outpaced regulation. But the city is mounting a crackdown. For critics, the … Read more
Chea Eagleson realized she was a mean girl while lying on the floor of an Indiana crack den. Then 17, the party girl was sprawled on the beer-stained carpet at 2 a.m. as two small, feral children slept by her side. Before dropping out of high school the previous year, Eagleson had spread rumors that … Read more
Hollywood’s stars are fading away. It might be known for honoring the best in the biz, but today, the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame leaves a lot to be desired. According to a UK tourist, who recently visited Los Angeles and documented her trip via TikTok, Hollywood is the “worst place in LA” to visit. … Read more
California schools flexed their academic muscles in a new global college ranking — with two Golden State universities cracking the top 10 and six landing in the top 25. Stanford University was named the No. 3 best global university in the world in US News & World Report’s 2026–2027 Best Global Universities rankings, trailing only Harvard … Read more
Jeremy Schaap is a self-described historian of sports. “Without a PhD,” the well-known ESPN reporter likes to joke. Just a quick peek at the work that Schaap has done over the years would suggest that joke isn’t too far off from the truth. Schaap, 56, has authored books on heavyweight boxing champions in the 1930s … Read more
The Happiest Place might get a lot less “social.” Disney insiders say the company is weighing a sweeping crackdown on influencer behavior in its theme parks — including monetized live streaming — after a recent, disturbing incident inside Disneyland that triggered a massive police response. The chaos unfolded in March when Anaheim police rushed to … Read more
That’s one shell of a milestone. An 80-year-old man finally cracked a nearly century-old oyster offer at an Alabama restaurant that’s been dangling the deal since the 1930s by simply walking in with his 99-year-old father. Jimmy Rush said he had his 80th birthday all planned out — by finally cashing in on a promotion … Read more
Meghan Markle has suffered yet another setback as the second season of her Netflix series “With Love, Meghan” has failed to crack the streamer’s top 10 list. A second eight-part installment of the Duchess of Sussex’s lifestyle series dropped on the streaming platform on Aug. 26, and featured guest appearances from Markle’s celeb pals, including Chrissy Teigen, Tan France, … Read more
Israeli researchers have developed a new vaccine that is “100% effective” against bacteria that is deadly to humans. The announcement came from Tel Aviv University, which teamed up with the Israel Institute for Biological Research to create the mRNA-based vaccine, the first to protect against bacteria. “In the study, we show that our mRNA vaccine provides 100% protection against … Read more
A flight passenger came out in defense of a controversial travel trend, sparking an etiquette debate among flyers. The trend of “gate lice” was widely reported last year when American Airlines began prohibiting people from boarding ahead of their particular seat zone. The airline began using technology that audibly alerts gate agents when passengers are attempting to … Read more
When Lauren Isler first heard about “CoComelon,” an addictively popular animated streaming series that reportedly hooks toddlers on its bright colors, loud music and characters sporting oversized heads and googly eyes, she didn’t think twice about letting her young son watch. However, the Virginia influencer, who posts as @MamasandMesses on Instagram, quickly noticed how overstimulated … Read more
Authorities in Bali, Indonesia have unveiled a new policy banning “menstruating tourists” from entering temples over concerns that “dirty” period blood will contaminate their holy sites. This unorthodox law is included in a list of policies the tropical island’s governor, Wayan Koster, imposed on March 24 to clamp down on “misbehaving tourists” overrunning the paradise, … Read more
A pub in central London has been slapped with a list of new noise rules — after a neighbor complained the sound of “laughter” was keeping them up. The Globe, located near Baker Street station, was hauled before Westminster Licensing Committee after a local applied for its closing time to be changed from 12 a.m. … Read more
Troubled former One Direction crooner Liam Payne had a toxic cocktail of drugs in his system at the time of his balcony death in Argentina last week — including crack and so-called “pink cocaine,” according to a new report. The 31-year-old died instantly of massive internal and external injuries when he took his lethal fall, … Read more
The Labor Department is reviewing United Airlines’ leave policies after the carrier implemented stricter measures to crack down on employees abusing sick time. “Through numerous recent inquiries from workers, the Wage and Hour Division has become aware of a possible change in United Airlines’ leave policies,” said Jessica Looman, the Labor Department’s wage and hour administrator. … Read more
It’s a bit of a hairy situation. There are a lot of things everyone knows will get you stopped at airport security, from weaponry in your carry-on to controlled substances to water bottles. Lately, however, there’s been a rumor floating around the internet regarding the illicit nature of a whole different kind of allegedly forbidden … Read more
A pair of Bill Belichick’s former quarterbacks met on the ESPYs red carpet and had themselves a laugh over the ex-Patriots coach’s dating life. Red carpet host Cam Newton took some time to chop it up with his former teammate, Mac Jones, and immediately opened up with a rib at his former coach, who has … Read more
“So the Pope walks into a bar …” Pope Francis welcomed a star-studded group of comedians to the Sistine Chapel at The Vatican on Friday — and they only had to wake up at “the butt crack of dawn” to meet him. “So, we’re on our way over to see the Pope,” Whoopi Goldberg, 68, said … Read more
In the new Yorgos Lanthimos film “Kinds of Kindness,” a character played by Emma Stone recounts a dream in which she was the denizen of a bizarre world. “There, dogs were in charge,” she murmurs. “People were animals, animals were people.” But being brought to heel by their canine masters wasn’t as bad as it … Read more