Mar-a-Lago Checkpoint Drama Ends in Standoff and Dog’s Death

A Florida woman’s alleged attempt to enter a Secret Service checkpoint near Mar-a-Lago ended with the death of her dog and an officer being bitten. Alexa Rae Scharf, 29, drove an SUV through a closed security checkpoint Tuesday night and ignored Secret Service officers’ requests to identify herself, CBS12 reported, citing a probable cause affidavit. She parked beside vehicle-screening tents, exited, walked to a hose, and turned it on. When an agent asked who she was, she said, “I’m here for the car wash,” then returned to her vehicle and drove toward him, forcing him to get out of her path. Minutes later, the agent found a nearby home’s entrance gate knocked down and damaged, with Scharf’s vehicle further up the driveway. As officers approached, she returned to her vehicle and backed up toward them, ignoring commands to stop. She eventually wove through police cruisers and fled the property, pursued by the officers. She was stopped again later, with officers breaking her driver-side window and taking her into custody. Palm Beach police told CBS12 in a separate account that Scharf had a pit bull in the car who charged officers when they opened her door. It bit one officer before it was shot twice and died. Officials said Scharf faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, resisting an officer without violence, and eluding police.

A judge has pushed the murder trial of Anna Kepner’s stepbrother from September to early November to give her accused stepbrother’s team more time to investigate. Timothy Hudson, 16, was detained as a juvenile on Feb. 2 and charged with 18-year-old Kepner’s murder on board a Carnival Cruise Ship. Kepner was found under a bed wrapped in a comforter and covered with life vests. Hudson was reportedly in the cabin alone with Kepner for three hours, and she didn’t emerge alive. Her death was ruled a homicide following an autopsy by mechanical asphyxia, with Hudson’s DNA found on a swab consistent with assault. Hudson’s lawyers requested a delay because of a “unique and very unfortunate family dynamic” allegedly complicating the defense team’s investigation. The plea agreement deadline is Oct. 23, with an Oct. 27 calendar call and a Nov. 2 trial date. Hudson’s defense team told Fox News that it “still weren’t in a position to give a statement.”

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Whether they’re the result of years of sun exposure, hormonal fluctuations, or the ghosts of breakouts past, dark spots and hyperpigmentation are among the most stubborn skincare woes to treat… and they tend to become more noticeable as we get older. Sure, prescription topicals like tretinoin and hydroquinone can definitely help address pigmentation, but they can also be challenging for sensitive skin, and hydroquinone generally isn’t intended for long-term use. If you’re looking for a potent over-the-counter option that takes a clinical approach to discoloration without hydroquinone, PCA Skin’s Pigment Gel Pro may be the next best thing. ​

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A man accused of killing father-of-four Jared Bridegan in a murder-for-hire scheme four years ago was found guilty Wednesday. Mario Fernandez-Saldana, 38, was convicted of first-degree murder and solicitation of murder in the 2022 killing, which prosecutors say was driven by a bitter custody dispute between Bridegan and his ex-wife Shanna Gardner. The Microsoft executive was fatally shot after he got out of his SUV to remove a tire from a road in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Officials allege that Fernandez-Saldana’s former tenant, Henry Tenon, was the one to pull the trigger. Fernandez-Saldana wrote three checks totaling $10,000 to Tenon after the murder. According to Assistant State Attorney Christina Stifler, Tenon was “basically homeless, squatting on people’s couches with overdrawn bank accounts.” Stifler also said that the motivation for the killing was that Gardner and Fernandez-Saldana, who were married at the time, wanted more custody of their shared twins. “They fixed it [the custody situation] by executing a man when they had other alternatives available to them. Thats why we’re here,” she said. Gardner is awaiting trial next month.

Dolly Parton’s Tennessee theme park has vowed to remain open following the country music legend’s death, in accordance with her wishes. After news of the star’s passing on Tuesday, the park wrote, “With heavy hearts, the Dollywood family mourns the passing of our beloved Dreamer-in-Chief, Dolly Parton. Everyone at Dollywood shares the sorrow of countless people around the world touched by Dolly’s warmth, wisdom and generous spirit.” Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton promised that the Nashville star’s legacy would live on under his watch. “The greatest privilege of my life has been helping Dolly bring her dreams to life at Dollywood,” he said. “Dolly’s heart was as vast as the mountains she cherished, and her compassion knew no bounds. She inspired generations to dream boldly and love deeply. While we grieve her loss, we are honored and committed to carry her light forward.”

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By now, GLP-1 medications need little introduction. Drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide (the active ingredients in Ozempic and Mounjaro, respectively) have completely changed the conversation around weight loss and metabolic health. And if you happen to live in Los Angeles (or, frankly, any major city), there’s a decent chance someone you know has tried one… even if they insist their dramatically leaner physique is exclusively the result of “drinking more water and weekly Pilates appointments.” Unfortunately, these prescription weight-loss drugs aren’t for everyone. They can be expensive, difficult to access, and, more importantly, aren’t necessarily appropriate for people who only want to lose a few pounds (especially if you’re concerned about maintaining lean muscle mass). Naturally, the meteoric rise in GLP-1 pharmaceuticals has also fueled interest in the supplement category, but not all formulas are created equal.

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Miley Cyrus said her heart “breaks for the world” in a statement following her beloved godmother’s death. Miley’s dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, asked Dolly Parton to be Miley’s godmother after touring with the 11-time Grammy winner as her opening act in the ‘90s. The 33-year-old said Parton had supported her throughout her life and noted that the country star appeared on Hannah Montana multiple times. Cyrus said she knows Parton would want her to feel every emotion, write a song about it, and be strong. Their last conversation was about music and metamorphoses, and Cyrus punctuated that statement with a butterfly emoji. She didn’t want to share intimate details, saying their “most sacred moments were private, and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts.” Their last performance together was tearful renditions of Parton’s popular hits “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene.” Her statement ended on an encouraging note for those mourning the loss. “We’re in this loss together, and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things,” Cyrus said.

Jaye P. Morgan, the singer and actor who became a fan favorite for her risqué behavior on The Gong Show, died on Monday at age 94, her family announced. Morgan lived in Castle Rock, Washington. Her family did not disclose a cause or place of death. Born Mary Margaret Morgan on Dec. 3, 1931, in Mancos, Colorado, she performed in a family vaudeville act as a child. After leaving school at age 17, she joined Frank DeVol’s orchestra and was the lead female vocalist from 1950 to 1953. Morgan had several hits in the 1950s, including “That’s All I Want From You,” which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and “The Longest Walk,” which reached No. 6. She later became a frequent television guest, appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and other variety programs. Morgan was a celebrity judge on Chuck Barris’ The Gong Show from 1976 to 1978, where she infamously unbuttoned her blouse and exposed her breasts during a dance routine. She later appeared in The Gong Show Movie and George Clooney’s Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Morgan is survived by her son, Paul.

Debbie Clark, known for her role as “Storm” on American Gladiators, died on Monday at the age of 61. Clark’s brother Steven confirmed her death to TMZ, telling them she died at her home in Boston after her pacemaker gave out. She died in her son Crayton Clark’s arms as they waited for paramedics to arrive. Paramedics tried to resuscitate her but it was too late. Crayton believes Debbie was overworking herself and died from cardiac arrest. He started a GoFundMe to be able to spread her ashes with her mother. “I’m already struggling because she didn’t leave me with much because she didn’t have much material wise, but she made up for it in love and kindness,” he wrote. The Gladiators posted a tribute to Clark on Facebook: “We’re incredibly saddened to hear that former American Gladiators star Debbie Clark, known to millions of fans as Storm, has passed away aged 61. Why the name Storm? Because producers told her she had “blown them all away”. The post also noted Clark was an exceptional athlete, and was a regular on the show for two years, before an ACL injury forced her to retire.

Dolly Parton’s song “Jolene” surged to No. 1 on Apple Music’s U.S. songs chart as fans turned to the country icon’s music following her death Tuesday. Parton died at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, TMZ reported. She also had ongoing kidney and autoimmune issues and was hospitalized on Friday. The popular song was released in October 1973 ahead of her 1974 album with the same name. TMZ reported that her death came suddenly, even for loved ones who knew she had been dealing with health problems. Tributes poured in from across the entertainment world, including from Eminem, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John. Just four days before her death, Parton opened up about her health in an interview with People. “As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” she said, referring to her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025. “Seriously, though, even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’!“ Parton added.

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Downton Abbey and Harry Potter legend Dame Maggie Smith left her kids a fortune. The 89-year-old died in a hospital in London, England, in 2024, but only now have new probate records been released, revealing what she left behind for her two actor sons. They inherited a net estate equivalent to $21,716,731, which includes The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie star’s five-bedroom West Sussex farmhouse, Douglas Lake Farm, the London Standard reports. The two-time Oscar winner had both her sons, Christopher Stephens and Toby Stephens, with her first husband, Robert Stephens, with whom she divorced in 1975. Both are working actors, although Christopher goes by the stage name Chris Larkin. A four-time Emmy and five-time BAFTA winner, she married Beverley Cross in 1975, a playwright with whom she remained married until his death in 1998. Royalties from Cross’s work, as well as copyrights and unpublished work that she inherited upon his death, are to be split between her two sons and Cross’s kids, Philippa Maughan and Shaun Cross.

A nationwide recall has been issued for chocolate-dipped mini donuts made by The Better Bakehouse Snack Company. The FDA recalled the company’s Donutful Chocolate Dipped Vanilla Cake Donuts on Monday after an allergic reaction was reported in connection with the product. According to officials, the individual has fully recovered. The FDA says the donuts, which are sold at Target, Kroger and Safeway, may contain milk that is not declared on the label. “People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product,” the agency said in a statement. The recall affects only products with the “Best If Used By” date Sept. 15, 2026, and lot code 26078. The problem was identified as a mislabelling issue at a contract manufacturer in March, and corrective measures have been taken. Customers who have already bought the donuts are urged not to eat them and can return the product to a retailer for a refund. The company said in a statement: “The Better Bakehouse Snack Company is working with the contract manufacturer and retailers to remove any remaining affected product from the marketplace.”