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Ohio mom uses social media, side hustles to make ends meet during government shutdown: ‘No days off’

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Ohio mom uses social media, side hustles to make ends meet during government shutdown: ‘No days off’

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Natalie Folino is making ends meet for her family. 

The stay-at-home mom of three from Dayton, Ohio, is harnessing the power of social media and side hustles to get her family through the federal government shutdown. 

“Currently, my husband is an essential employee for the Department of Defense, which means that he is still going to work every day,” Folino told Fox News Digital in an interview. “He’s commuting 40 minutes every way, but we are just not receiving a paycheck, which is a little problematic for a family like mine, who is a single-income family.”

Folino was already growing her social media brand before the shutdown, but now her side hustles are taking on a whole new significance. Due to the shutdown, her family has been without her husband’s income for 29 days and counting.

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HERE’S WHAT TRUMP WANTS TO DO TO RESHAPE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DURING THE SHUTDOWN

Natalie Folino is doing other people’s laundry, walking dogs and documenting her journey on her growing social media platforms. (Natalie Folino / Instagram)

To help keep her family afloat this month, Folino has taken on numerous side hustles and is documenting them on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, where she has amassed nearly 200,000 followers combined and more than 2 million likes on TikTok alone.

Her goal for October is to earn $5,000 — an ambitious target. (Spoiler alert: she did it!)

“I have to earn $160 every single day. No days off, we have just a couple of days to go,” Folino told Fox News Digital.

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SCHUMER’S SHUTDOWN IS LEAVING OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES HIGH AND DRY

Folino isn’t new to earning extra cash on the side. She began documenting her side hustles about two and a half years ago to help pay for her children’s increasingly expensive soccer activities. Over time, her experience juggling odd jobs has primed her with skills for financial emergencies like the one her family is facing this month.

“Overall, we are dipping into our savings,” Folino said. “I know that we are in a more blessed position than lots of people, so nothing for our family has actually changed other than the fact we’re kind of moving my earnings around a little bit.”

Folino has showcased a variety of side hustles, including laundry services, dog walking, social media monetization, coaching calls and even affiliate shopping links. In her videos, she notes charging $70 for two bags of laundry and $25 for dog walking.

SHUTDOWN FIGHT CASTS A SHADOW OVER JOBS AS TRUMP PREPARES FOR LARGEST FEDERAL RESIGNATION IN US HISTORY

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In her videos, Folino said her earnings have ranged from as high as $431 on some days to as little as $22 on others. She noted that she could have earned even more this month, but because she lives in a large Air Force community, some of her clients have also been affected by government furloughs and layoffs, further exacerbating the strain on the local economy.

While families with government employees can’t control the federal shutdown, Folino said people can control how they respond to challenges.

“There may be circumstances that are entirely out of your control. But there are a couple of things that I think that you can control,” she said.

Natalie Folino, a mother of three daughters ages 12, 10, and 9, completes a laundry service side gig at her home in Dayton, Ohio.  (Natalie Folino / Instagram)

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“I think that you could control your attitude and your outlook and I really think that you can control your work ethic. I am definitely a pull yourself up by your bootstraps-type mentality and I think that if you set a goal, and you’re willing to just really work and put yourself out there, there’s really no limit to it.”

In a video posted on Thursday, Folino shared an update with her followers on her efforts to earn $5,000 in the month of October, saying not only did she hit her goal, but she surpassed it by $224.

A visibly emotional Folino thanked her followers for their support and revealed that she will donate her earnings from the last two days of October to those in need in her community.

“Anything is possible,” she said.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Tigers vs Cincinnati Reds – April 24, 2026 – Redleg Nation

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Detroit Tigers vs Cincinnati Reds – April 24, 2026 – Redleg Nation


The Cincinnati Reds return home tonight after a 5-1 road trip. It’s Reds Hall of Fame induction weekend with events taking place every day of the series. Cincinnati is welcoming in the Detroit Tigers, who are on a 2-game winning streak. First pitch tonight is scheduled for 6:50pm ET.

Starting Lineups

Eugenio Suarez was initially in the lineup as the designated hitter. Just after 6pm he was scratched from the lineup with what the Reds are calling mid-back pain. Nathaniel Lowe is now the designated hitter.

Starting Pitchers

Andrew Abbott

It has been an uneven start to 2026 for the Reds left-handed All-Star pitcher. He was dominant in his first outing of the season, and he pitched well in Miami, but he’s struggled in each of his last two starts and wasn’t exactly good in his second start of the season, either. All told his ERA is nearly six and he has 11 walks with just 15 strikeouts in 24.2 innings pitched so far this season.

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When it comes to the platoon splits – last season there wasn’t a big difference in how lefties or righties hit him. Teams didn’t send many left-handed hitters out to face him, so he was only facing the best lefties in the game while facing your every day right-handers. Righties did hit for a bit more power, but they didn’t hit for much power. This season, which isn’t listed below, lefties are CRUSHING him. They are hitting an absurd .478/.500/.609 against him in their 24 trips to the plate. Righties are hitting .266/.344/.367 against him, but also have 10 walks and just nine strikeouts – making tons of contact but not being able to do a ton with it thus far.

2025 Splits

Split PA H 2B 3B HR BB K AVG OBP SLG
RHH 510 110 19 1 17 34 109 .234 .287 .387
LHH 174 38 10 0 2 9 40 .236 .279 .335

Pitch Usage

4-seam Cutter Curve Slider Change
Velo 92.6 86.8 79.4 81.5 85.8
Usage 51% 1% 12% 16% 21%

Framber Valdez

In four of his five starts this season Valdez has been outstanding and allowed zero or one earned run. But on April 8th the Minnesota Twins roughed him up for eight runs on 10 hits and two walks. The 2-time All-Star is an innings eater and has averaged 192.0 innings for each of the last four years – all which came with the Houston Astros.

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Last season saw Valdez pitch much worse on the road where his ERA was 4.70 (compared to 2.58 at home). He struck out far fewer batters and gave up significantly more hits. When it comes to the platoon splits, Valdez has reverse splits – or at least did last season. Like Abbott, he was only facing the best lefties around and didn’t face many of them, but the ones he did face hit for a higher average, made more contact, and hit for more power.

2025 Splits

Split PA H 2B 3B HR BB K AVG OBP SLG
RHH 651 136 26 4 10 57 154 .234 .308 .344
LHH 151 35 7 0 5 11 33 .257 .309 .419

Pitch Usage

2-seam Curve Slider Change
Velo 94.3 79.0 86.1 89.7
Usage 49% 29% 2% 19%

When and Where

  • Game time: 6:40pm ET
  • Where: Great American Ball Park
  • Watch: Reds MLB Channel, Reds.tv (in-market), MLB.tv (out of market).
  • Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
  • Forecast: 75°, cloudy, 20% chance of rain

News and Notes

Keep an eye on the weather

While there’s not a big chance for rain at the start of the game there are spotty storms in the forecast as the evening progresses.

Jose Trevino officially begins a rehab assignment

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This afternoon the Reds announced that Trevino would be joining the Dayton Dragons tonight on a rehab assignment. He hasn’t played since April 4th after having a thoracic spine strain.

Division Standings

Team W L GB Playoff Odds
Cincinnati 16 9 0.0 29.1%
Chicago 16 9 0.0 73.4%
St. Louis 14 10 1.5 12.1%
Pittsburgh 14 11 2.0 55.0%
Milwaukee 13 11 2.5 39.5%
Playoff Odds via Fangraphs



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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee’s intense rain leads to 2.7 billion gallons of sewage released

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Milwaukee’s intense rain leads to 2.7 billion gallons of sewage released


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About 2.7 billion gallons of untreated wastewater was discharged into local waterways and Lake Michigan, according to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.

Last week’s torrents of rain pushed Milwaukee into its rainiest April on record. Upwards of 6.69 inches of rain fell in the Milwaukee area from April 12 to 16, according to the sewerage district’s rain gauges. Flood warnings remain more than a week later in a dozen counties.

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The systemwide combined sewer overflow, initiated at 8:24 p.m. on Apr. 14, lasted about 114 hours. The wet weather also resulted in several sanitary sewer overflows in the sewerage district’s isolated-sewer system.

In a combined system, a single pipe carries both untreated wastewater and stormwater. It makes up 6% of the sewerage district’s service area, and is located entirely within the city of Milwaukee and the Village of Shorewood. In an isolated-system, sewage and stormwater flow through different pipes.

In both cases, an overflow can mean elevated bacteria from untreated wastewater in local waterways.

The estimated total volume was of the sanitary sewer overflows was 11.6 million gallons, impacting West Allis, Milwaukee, Bayside and River Hills. Specifically, these overflows occurred at:

  • W. Grant Street and S. 77th Street in West Allis;
  • S. 43rd Street and W. Lincoln Avenue in Milwaukee;
  • S. 74th Street and West Oklahoma Avenue in Milwaukee;
  • N. Broadmoor Road in Bayside;
  • N. Lake Drive and East Ravine Lane in Bayside
  • N. Range Line Road and Milwaukee River in River Hills; and
  • N. River Road and W. Greentree Road in River Hills.

An in-plant spill also occurred at the Jones Island Water Reclamation facility as a result of the intense rainfall. However, the sewerage district said that Lake Michigan and local waterbodies were not impacted. Work on this spill is ongoing.

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By federal law, the sewerage district is allowed six combined sewer overflows per year. Since 1994, it has captured and cleaned an average of 98.6% of wastewater.

Last year’s historic August flood event led to about 5.14 billion gallons of untreated wastewater being discharged into nearby waterways and Lake Michigan. It was the largest systemwide since the Deep Tunnel was built in 1993.

Since 1995, the sewerage district has invested more than $580 million in green infrastructure and flood management projects to improve the landscape’s ability to hold onto water, helping to avoid overflows. 

Green infrastructure helps nature do its job by absorbing and storing rain and melting snow. It protects against flooding and excessive heat as well as improves air, soil and water quality, which can help the city better adapt to a changing climate.

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Caitlin Looby covers the Great Lakes and the environment for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact: clooby@gannett.com. Follow her on social media @caitlooby.

Caitlin is an Outrider Fellow whose reporting also receives support from the Brico Fund, Fund for Lake Michigan, Barbara K. Frank, and individual contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. Journal Sentinel editors maintain full editorial control over all content. To support this work, visit jsonline.com/support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation (memo: “JS Community Journalism”) and mailed to P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689.

This fundraising effort is made possible through our partnership with Local Media Foundation, a verified 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (tax ID #36-4427750) and EnMotive Company, LLC, a subsidiary of USA TODAY Co., Inc. USA TODAY Co., Inc. is the parent company of this publication.

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The JS Community-Funded Journalism Project is made possible through our partnership with Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36-4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association, and EnMotive, LLC, a subsidiary of USA TODAY Co., Inc. USA TODAY Co., Inc. is the parent company of this publication.



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Minneapolis, MN

Iconic Minneapolis Music Festival Ends After More Than 25 Years

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Iconic Minneapolis Music Festival Ends After More Than 25 Years


MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Basilica Block Party has officially come to an end after more than 25 years as one of the Twin Cities’ best-known summer music events.

The Basilica of Saint Mary said this week that the final Block Party was held in 2024, “concluding an incredible run and leaving a lasting legacy in our community.”

“For over 25 years, the Basilica Block Party brought together an extraordinary spirit of music and community in the Twin Cities,” organizers said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for the fans, the artists, and the support shown for our beloved Basilica.”

The event began in the 1990s as a fundraiser for the Basilica of Saint Mary and grew into a major outdoor music festival, drawing national acts and thousands of fans to downtown Minneapolis over the years.

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While the Block Party is ending, the Basilica said it will continue hosting other events and community opportunities.

“The Basilica of Saint Mary continues to be a strong voice in our community and we look forward to new events and opportunities to build connections in the future,” organizers said.

The Basilica also pointed supporters to its “Restoring Beauty, Inspiring Hope” campaign, a comprehensive restoration and capital campaign aimed at preserving and renewing the historic church.





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