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DHS torches New Jersey’s profane ‘F—ICE Act’ as assaults on agents skyrocket 1,300%

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DHS torches New Jersey’s profane ‘F—ICE Act’ as assaults on agents skyrocket 1,300%

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EXCLUSIVE: The Department of Homeland Security slammed a new vulgar New Jersey bill aimed at punishing federal immigration enforcement in the Garden State, highlighting several victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants that officials say lawmakers are ignoring.

Earlier this week, Assemblymembers Ravinder Bhalla and Katie Brennan, both Hoboken Democrats, drafted the “F—ICE Act” — with the profane acronym spelled out — that would allow civil action to be taken against immigration enforcement agents.

The bill was reportedly drafted after a Democratic Socialist councilman from neighboring Jersey City was rebuked by a federal agent when he arrived at the scene of a raid on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, where an agent told him: “I don’t need a warrant, bro.”

“This is a disgusting bill just meant to demonize our officers who are experiencing a highly coordinated campaign of violence against our law enforcement,” Deputy Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital.

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New Jerseyans protest ICE. (Charly Triballeau/Getty Images)

“Our officers are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them, a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats.”

Bis warned that anyone who lays hands on officers or tries to obstruct their operations “is committing a felony and a federal crime.”

“What these New Jersey sanctuary lawmakers are trying to do is unlawful, and they know it. Federal officials acting in the course of their duties are immune from liability under state law,” she said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the New Jersey Assembly Majority Office for comment from Bhalla and Brennan.

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Bis later added that New Jersey is the same state that “allowed a criminal illegal alien onto American streets who killed a mother and 11-year-old daughter while drunk driving.”

HOCHUL ENDORSES LEGISLATION TO ALLOW NEW YORKERS TO SUE ICE AGENTS: ‘POWER DOES NOT JUSTIFY ABUSE’

“What about recourse for the victims of illegal aliens?” she asked of the F—ICE Act sponsors.

Bis outlined several recent DHS arrests of illegal immigrants convicted of violent crimes, including Felix Diaz of Cuba, who was arrested on a homicide charge.

Rodrigo Basantes of Ecuador was convicted of endangering the welfare of a child through sexual contact and sexual assault of a victim under age 13, while Mexican national Jose Villalva was previously convicted of child molestation.

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Later Friday, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill doubled down on the state’s tack toward ICE with a scathing letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem objecting to the purchase of a warehouse near Lake Hopatcong that would be used as a federal facility.

“The Roxbury immigration detention facility will not make New Jerseyans safer. Across the country, federal immigration officers have trampled on basic liberties and engaged in unconscionable acts of violence against law-abiding Americans,” Sherrill claimed.

“These acts of violence have left Americans severely injured and, in some cases, resulted in their deaths. ICE agents have repeatedly violated the constitutional rights of citizens and non-citizens alike. I have no reason to believe that DHS will treat the people of New Jersey any differently should it expand its presence in our state.”

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She claimed DHS has shown a “chilling disregard for both human life and the rule of law.”

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However, not every New Jerseyan has been on board with the new governor, as boos rained down on the former Morristown congresswoman when she was introduced at a New Jersey Devils hockey game this week.

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Boston, MA

Wellness Hangouts Are the New Happy Hours

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Wellness Hangouts Are the New Happy Hours


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So long, cocktails; hello, electrolyte drinks. Are group health events becoming the city’s preferred way to gather after dark?


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Illustration by Jeannie Phan

For years, wellness was a solitary pursuit—early-morning workouts, solo spa appointments, quiet meditation apps. Now, a more collective approach is taking hold, reframing self-care as something to be shared. From candlelit sound baths to evening spa takeovers to communal ice baths, group wellness experiences are emerging as a new way to socialize—one rooted in restoration rather than reservations.

At the forefront locally is Spa After Dark, a new monthly series at the Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Boston. Held on the third Wednesday of each month, the hotel opens the spa after hours for a guided contrast-therapy experience designed to be both social and deeply restorative. Guests rotate between the sauna, vitality pool, and cold-water immersion under the direction of a trained professional, who enhances the sauna ritual with essential oils poured over hot stones, creating waves of aromatic heat.

Spa director Heather Hannig says the concept grew from her own love of thermaculture—the ancient practice of alternating heat and cold for physical renewal. When she started working at the property last year, she realized that the spa’s private suite, sauna, and soaking pools made it possible to translate that ritual into a shared, guided activity. The goal was to create something experiential rather than transactional: guests in swimsuits moving through multiple rounds of heat and cold, then lingering in lounge spaces to rehydrate and connect.

The shift to a more social experience—complete with nonalcoholic beverages, electrolyte-rich drinks, and food designed to support the body—was intentional. “As opposed to a dinner out or a bar experience, we were seeing that there’s an appetite for more group experiences that are wellness-focused, where people can socialize in this setting,” says Danielle McNally, director of marketing and communications for Mandarin Oriental, Boston.

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A man and a woman sit inside a wooden sauna. The man, wearing black shorts, is seated on the left side with his hands clasped and looking toward the woman. The woman, wearing a black bikini, is seated on the right side with one knee bent and her arms wrapped around it, looking toward the man. The sauna has wooden slatted walls and bench seating.

Courtesy Remedy Place Boston

This desire for collective wellness extends beyond hotel spas. At Remedy Place Boston, guests gather for communal ice baths, sauna sessions, and breathwork in a sleek, club-like environment that prioritizes recovery and connection. Release Well-Being Center in Westborough similarly taps into the power of group energy through workshops featuring sound baths, singing bowls, and guided practices aimed at nervous-system regulation. After all, these days, social currency isn’t about cocktails—it’s about how good you feel the next morning.

This article was first published in the print edition of the March 2026 issue with the headline: “The New Happy Hour.”

Is Wellness Culture Ruining Social Fun?

 

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Pittsburg, PA

The sound of music and the sound of the birds

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The sound of music and the sound of the birds


Inside the National Aviary, the magic and music of a bygone era will fill the space, blurring the line between concert and experience. The Peanut Butter and Jam Sessions from Chatham Baroque will take place later this month, and two of the artists joined us on PTL!



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Connecticut

New data shows drop in crime rates across CT, DESPP says

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New data shows drop in crime rates across CT, DESPP says


HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) – Crime rates kept falling across Connecticut in 2025, with murders, assaults, rapes, car thefts, and other thefts all dropping by double digits, according to the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

The number of murders in Connecticut dropped from 90 in 2024 to 70 in 2025, as seen in the newly released crime report for the fourth quarter. This decline matches a trend across the nation. The nationwide homicide rate is expected to be at the lowest level in more than 100 years, DESPP said.

“This is a story of double-digit declines. You have violent crime down. Robbery down by double digits. This is consistent from quarter to quarter,’’ said Dr. Michael Mascari, Chief Data Officer for DESPP.(DESPP)

“Irrefutably, this is making Connecticut – already one of the safest states – even safer. We are spending more time sharing our resources, building partnerships and task forces, and working collaboratively with our local and federal partners. These numbers are a reflection of that,” said Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Ronnell A. Higgins. “But we know there are still areas of concern.”

The latest numbers for 2025 show that crime rates continue to drop across the board in...
The latest numbers for 2025 show that crime rates continue to drop across the board in Connecticut, with murder, assault, rape, vehicle thefts, and other larcenies showing double digit declines for the four quarters of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.(DESPP)

Higgins said fraud offenses, particularly identity theft, continue to increase. Arson also continues to rise. A small but concerning rise in prostitution offenses has also been recorded, said DESPP officials.

“We are drilling down and working with our local and state partners to respond to the increase in these offenses,” Higgins said.

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Overall, crimes against property went down by 17 percent. The report said the overall number of crimes against persons is at its lowest point since early 2021.

“This is a story of double-digit declines. You have violent crime down. Robbery down by double digits. This is consistent from quarter to quarter,” said Dr. Michael Mascari, Chief Data Officer for DESPP.

Gov. Ned Lamont said the report shows Connecticut is getting safer, with crime down across the board.

“We’re on track for one of the lowest homicide rates in more than a century. Crimes of any kind are unacceptable, and we’ll keep building on this progress with smart public safety policies and strong support for our communities,” Lamont said.

Col. Daniel Loughman, commanding officer of the Connecticut State Police, said the results are driven by the discipline, coordination and effort of state troopers working alongside municipal and federal partners.

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“We recognize this progress, but we will not slow down. CSP will stay focused, stay proactive, and continue driving crime down to keep Connecticut safe,” Loughman said.



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