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Illinois man loses job, dedicates life to traveling to all 195 countries

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Illinois man loses job, dedicates life to traveling to all 195 countries

A man with a mission has set out to accomplish his goal of visiting all 195 countries in the world.

Connor Michalek is a 33-year-old blogger originally from Chicago, Illinois, who, at the age of 18, took a break from college to travel.

He told SWNS that he was studying economics at Texas Christian University when he decided to take a hiatus and travel to Bolivia.

COUPLE PULLS THEIR KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL TO TRAVEL THE WORLD: ‘SLOW DOWN AND LIVE IN THE MOMENT’

“I booked a trip to Bolivia and spent three months there staying with families,” he said, adding, “I really caught the travel bug from there — it [was] all about meeting new people and doing something out of [my] comfort zone.”

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Connor Michalek (pictured here in Tunisia) lost his job at the end of 2022 and decided to travel full-time.  (SWNS)

While there, Michalek organized homestays and took Spanish classes while also doing volunteer work. 

Over the years, Michalek has never let his travel bug die.

He decided to take it to the next level after losing his job at the end of 2022.

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With a dream of visiting all 195 countries across the globe, Michalek chose full-time traveling as his next path. 

“I flew into Morocco as it was a starting point where I could travel east around the world,” he told SWNS. 

Michalek (pictured here in Nepal) said he’s always had a travel bug.  (SWNS)

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From there, Michalek went to Mauritania and Senegal before going to Tunisia and beyond to Europe. 

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Michalek, who said he saved money over the years and sold big-ticket items to fund the trip, said that although it’s been an amazing journey, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. 

Now, 55 countries in, Michalek can admit he’s put himself in some “dodgy situations.”

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews/lifestyle

“In Senegal, we had problems at border control, but that was the only incident we ever had that was a problem for us,” he told SWNS. 

Michalek, a travel blogger from Chicago, Illinois, has been to 55 countries (pictured here in Africa) and hopes to visit all 195.  (SWNS)

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Michalek loves the continent of Africa — stopping in 22 countries within the last year. 

When in Malawi, Michalek helped raise awareness of HIV, saying that although “the people don’t have a lot, they are definitely rich in some aspects.”

Michalek told Fox News Digital that his favorite country to visit is Mexico for its beaches and tourist spots.

“The depth of its culture, with traditions and celebrations that go back centuries, is something you can feel in every place you visit,” he said. 

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Michalek (pictured here in the Sahara Desert) said that his travel journey hasn’t all been smooth sailing.  (SWNS)

Next on his list is French Polynesia for Christmas before going to Austria to spend time with his partner’s family, he said.

Michalek believes there’s no better time to start traveling than when you’re young, saying, “When you’re young, you’re open, curious and still figuring out who you are.”

“If travel is something you’ve been dreaming about, make it happen now. The world has so much to teach us, and every experience, every challenge, every friendship you make along the way will be something you carry for the rest of your life,” he said. 

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“Embracing the unknown, stepping out of your comfort zone, and taking those risks will show you what life is really about.”

Other notable countries Michalek has explored include Peru, Albania, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, India, Japan, Nepal, Turkey, Egypt and Mozambique. 

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Michigan

2 Smoothie King employees fired for refusing to serve customer in Trump hoodie

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2 Smoothie King employees fired for refusing to serve customer in Trump hoodie


Two employees who refused to serve a man and his wife because he was wearing a hoodie with President Trump’s name on it were fired after a video of the heated encounter went viral.

Erika Lindemyer and her husband, Jake, were forced out of a Smoothie King franchise location in Ann Arbor, Michigan, following a fiery clash with two young female workers on Sunday.

Jake and Erika Lindemyer were denied service at a Smoothie King location in Michigan on Sunday. Leftism/X

The employees claimed they didn’t “feel comfortable” serving the couple because of Jake’s pro-Trump hoodie, as captured by Erika in a viral video.

Jake and Erika fired back at the pair and insisted that they were being “discriminated” against based on their “political views.”

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Both of the employees told them to leave. Leftism/X

“We were just wanting a smoothie and you literally looked at us and I asked you if everything was OK and you said ‘We don’t feel comfortable serving you’ because of my husband’s hoodie. That is discrimination,” Erika spat.

“Okay, well, have a great day,” the first employee said.

“That is illegal,” Erika tried to insist again.

“I said Trump discriminates [against] us,” another employee chimed in.

“Okay, well that has nothing to do with us getting a smoothie!” Erika guffawed.

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Erika and Jake claimed they were being discriminated against. Leftism/X

“OK, well that’s who you support though, that’s who you love,” the first employee chided.

“What’s embarrassing is that we’re American citizens and I wanted to get a smoothie,” Erika huffed.

The second employee noted that they “have a right to refuse service” and directed the couple to the exit.

“You asked a question and [the other employee] gave you an answer. Have a great day. Have a great day. The door’s right there,” the second worker said.

The employees said they were “uncomfortable” serving the couple because Jake was wearing a piece of
Trump merchandise. Leftism/X

Erika threatened to call the police while storming out, but it’s unclear if she did.

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In a separate video shared Monday, one of the workers joked that she might’ve “accidentally started a race war” and called on the public to help remove Erika’s video.

“I am a minor and she recorded me without my permission. The people in the comments are all white and they’re all being hella racist, guys, please help me get this video taken down,” she implored.

Smoothie King confirmed that the girls involved in the viral confrontation “are no longer with the business” as of Monday.

The girl posted her own video joking she might’ve “accidentally started a race war.” Leftism/X

“As a brand, Smoothie King is committed to ensuring our stores are a place free of discrimination of any kind, where every guest and team member is treated with care and respect,” the company wrote on X.

The owner of the Ann Arbor franchise location will also enforce “mandatory retraining for all employees that outlines our guest experience standards.”

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In early December, a woman who worked at a Target in California was berated by a customer for wearing a Charlie Kirk “Freedom” T-shirt.

When the employee insisted she was allowed to wear the red shirt, the irate customer accused her of supporting “a racist.”

The medical center where the agitated customer worked was bombarded with upwards of 6,000 “profanity-laced” phone calls after online sleuths doxxed her personal information.





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Minnesota

Minnesota sues to block Trump administration’s withholding of Medicaid funds

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Minnesota sues to block Trump administration’s withholding of Medicaid funds


Minnesota on Monday sued President Donald Trump’s administration in an attempt to stop it from withholding $243 million in Medicaid spending, warning it may have to cut health care for low-income families if the funding is held back.

The lawsuit asked a U.S. court in Minneapolis to issue a temporary restraining order to block the withholding for Medicaid, which is the health care safety net for low-income Americans.

The move came after Vice President JD Vance said last week the administration would “temporarily halt” some Medicaid funding to Minnesota over fraud concerns, as part of what he described as an aggressive crackdown on misuse of public funds.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office has a strong track record of fighting Medicaid fraud and has won more than 300 convictions and $80 million in judgments and restitutions during his time in office.

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“Trump’s attempts to look like he’s fighting fraud only punish the people and families who most need the high-quality, affordable healthcare that all Minnesotans deserve,” Ellison said in a statement. “As long as I am attorney general, I will do everything in my power to defend our tax dollars, both from fraudsters and from the Trump administration’s cruelty.”

The lawsuit names the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as well as Dr. Mehmet Oz, in his official capacity as CMS administrator, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his official capacity as HHS secretary.

The Department of Health and Human Services, which includes CMS, didn’t immediately return messages seeking comment late Monday.

The threatened cuts amount to roughly 7% of Minnesota’s quarterly Medicaid funding, Ellison’s office said in a news release. Minnesota could be required to significantly cut health care services for low-income families or other government services if the cuts take effect, it said.

Medicaid, which is known as Medical Assistance in Minnesota, provides health insurance to 1.2 million Minnesotans who would otherwise be unable to afford it. A family of four may qualify for Medical Assistance with an income at or under $42,759, the attorney general’s office said.

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The lawsuit said the administration violated due process procedures because it was taking hundreds of millions of dollars without proving Minnesota’s noncompliance with Medicaid regulations through discovery and an evidentiary hearing.

It alleged the administration failed to provide Minnesota with details about its decision, in violation of federal law. It cited legal precedents, including one that said Congress may impose conditions on states’ acceptance of federal funds, but “’the conditions must be set out unambiguously.’”

Minnesota’s complaint further charged the administration violated the Constitution because the withholding imposed retroactive conditions on Minnesota’s Medicaid funding.

It said withholding the funds was arbitrary, capricious and part of a pattern of political punishment of Minnesota.

The administration said it would hold off on paying $259.5 million to Minnesota for Medicaid spending in the fourth quarter of 2025. Minnesota’s lawsuit challenges the withholding of $243 million of this money.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for March 2, 2026

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The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 2, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 2 drawing

02-17-18-38-62, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 2 drawing

Midday: 3-3-4

Midday Wild: 2

Evening: 4-8-9

Evening Wild: 7

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 2 drawing

Midday: 6-4-2-2

Midday Wild: 5

Evening: 2-8-2-4

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 2 drawing

Early Bird: 08

Morning: 12

Matinee: 05

Prime Time: 04

Night Owl: 02

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Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 2 drawing

13-17-18-23-28

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 2 drawing

21-28-58-65-67, Powerball: 25

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.

To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

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P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
  • Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
  • Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
  • Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
  • Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
  • Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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