Olympic champion Mary Lou Retton arrested for DUI in West Virginia
Olympic gymnastics champion Mary Lou Retton was arrested for DUI earlier this month, according to records on the West Virginia Judiciary website.
The 57-year-old was charged with 'driving under influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs' after her arrest on 17 May in Marion county, West Virginia, according to the records. She was released after posting a $1,500 bond.
Retton became a household name in the US after she won five medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, including a gold in the all-around competition – the first individual Olympic gymnastics medal ever won by an American – scoring a perfect 10 on the vault in the final rotation. The West Virginia native's performance landed her on the front of Wheaties boxes and keyed the sport's explosion in popularity in the United States.
After her gymnastics career, Retton remained active in the media, appearing in a number of films and TV shows. She was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997 and was the first woman to be selected into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.
Retton also served on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under US president George W Bush.
In 2023, she fell seriously ill with pneumonia and was in ICU for a number of weeks. At the time her daughter Kelley said her mother was 'fighting for her life' and started a fundraiser to cover medical costs for Retton, who did not have medical insurance. Donations to the fundraiser ended up totaling nearly $500,000. Retton recovered but said she had 'faced death in the eyes' during her illness.
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The Guardian
24 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘Ticking time bomb': Ice detainee dies in transit as experts say more deaths likely
A 68-year-old Mexican-born man has become the first Ice detainee in at least a decade to die while being transported from a local jail to a federal detention center, and experts have warned there will likely be more such deaths amid the current administration's 'mass deportation' push across the US. Abelardo Avellaneda Delgado's exact cause of death remains under investigation, according to Ice, but the Guardian's reporting reveals a confusing and at times contradictory series of events surrounding the incident. The death occurred as private companies with little to no oversight are increasingly tasked with transporting more immigration detainees across the US, in pursuit of the Trump administration's recently-announced target of arresting 3,000 people a day. 'The system is so loaded with people, exacerbating bad conditions – it's like a ticking time bomb,' said Amilcar Valencia, executive director of El Refugio, a Georgia-based organization that works with detainees at Stewart detention center and their families. Avellaneda Delgado lived most of the last 40 years in the US, raising a large family, working on tobacco and vegetable farms – and never gaining legal immigration status. He was arrested in Statenville, Georgia on 9 April due to a parole violation – and died on 5 May in the back of a van about half-way between the Lowndes county jail and Stewart detention center. His family say their search for answers has been frustrating, and have hired an attorney to help. Two of Avellaneda Delgado's six children who lived with their father told the Guardian he had no health conditions before being detained – but somehow was put in a wheelchair during the weeks he spent in jail, and was unable to speak during a family visit. The Guardian learned that he was given medications while in jail. 'Junior' Avellaneda, who bears his father's name and is the youngest, said he and his sister, Nayely, were rebuffed several times in their attempts to visit their father during the 25 days he was in jail, receiving emails that said only 'visit request denied'. Screenshots of the emails were shared with the Guardian. On 4 May, Junior finally was allowed a visit and drove the 30 minutes from the house where he lives with his father and Nayely, in Statenville. At the jail, he was shocked to see his father brought out in a wheelchair. 'My heart drops,' Junior said of the moment he saw Abelardo Sr. 'I'm thinking, 'What's he doing in the wheelchair?' Junior, 32, said he had never seen his father like that. The two sat facing each other, with a glass partition between them. 'I tried to get his attention and tapped on the glass. He was zoned out. At one point, he tried to stand up and fell back on his chair.' 'He didn't make eye contact with me and kept bobbing his head left and right,' he said. Junior asked a jail staffer accompanying Abelardo, Sr to hold the phone to his ear. 'I said, 'Dad, please answer me! Say something to me!' He just said, 'Hmmmm.' It broke me.' The staffer told Junior: 'We gave him his medication, that's probably why he's that way.' He thought, what medication? His father never took any medications at home, he said. Lowndes county jail's Capt Jason Clifton told the Guardian that Avellaneda Delgado was kept in the medical unit of the jail. Asked why, he referred to 'a note in the system that says he hadn't been eating enough, and didn't like the food'. 'I don't believe he was on any medications,' Clifton said. 'I don't see anything in the medical chart.' Told about Junior's account, the captain checked with the jail's nurse, who listed five medications being given to Avellaneda Delgado, two of which were for high blood pressure, plus an antibiotic. The morning after Junior's visit, the local jail handed Avellaneda Delgado over to Ice, for transport to Stewart detention center. Several hours later, Webster county coroner Steven D Hubbard was called to Weston, Georgia, where the van transporting Avellaneda Delgado had stopped on 5 May, after the driver called 911. A text summarizing the call sent by police to Hubbard said Avellaneda Delgado was 'unresponsive', with a blood pressure of 226/57. When the coroner arrived at the scene, he was already dead. The coroner told investigative reporter and immigration researcher Andrew Free he suspected that an aortic aneurysm was the cause of death. The Guardian heard a recording of the interview. Hubbard told the Guardian he doesn't know where the blood pressure reading cited in the text summarizing the 911 call came from – 'but if that was his blood pressure when he left Lowndes, he shouldn't have been going to Stewart. He should've been going to the hospital.' Avellaneda Delgado's family only learned of his death because the Mexican consulate in Atlanta called Nayely with the news – a pattern seen in most deaths under Ice custody, said Valencia, of El Refugio. 'You want to know what happened, but you face a system that is stopping access every step of the way,' he said. Ice's press release on the incident says the death is 'under investigation'. But Clifton and Hubbard both told the Guardian no one has contacted them, more than a month later. The family has learned there are at least two public agencies and three private companies that may have answers about what happened: Lowndes county and Ice; plus CoreCivic, which runs Stewart; CoreCivic's wholly-owned subsidiary TransCor, the company paid to transport detainees; and Southern Health Partners, the company paid to provide healthcare to detainees in Lowndes county jail. The Guardian asked Ice, TransCor and CoreCivic about the incident – including whether vans and buses transporting immigration detainees are equipped with cameras. Ice and TransCor did not respond. Ryan Gustin, senior director of public affairs for CoreCivic, said: 'At TransCor, the safety and security of the public, our staff, and those entrusted to our care are our highest priorities. To that end, we do not publicly disclose how the TransCor fleet is equipped, related to safety and security equipment.' Transportation of detainees is more under the control of private companies than in the past, said Katherine Culliton-González, chief policy counsel at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. TransCor president Curtiss D Sullivan titled the company's 2025 first quarter outlook 'The Time for Growth is Now'. 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'As input/output grows – not just in size, but in speed – the likelihood of making mistakes is going to increase,' Schriro said. 'Ice should make sure every person they take from law enforcement is fit for travel – for the length and conditions of being transported.' Avellaneda Delgado was the first Ice detainee in at least a decade to die while being transported from a local jail to a federal detention center, said Free, who also wrote about the case for ACPC, an Atlanta-based digital outlet. Meanwhile, Avellaneda Delgado's children just spent their first Father's Day without him. The day was doubly difficult for the youngest because it was also his birthday. Heavy rains kept the family from visiting Avellaneda Delgado's grave. 'It bothers me,' Junior said. Then he added: 'He was a great grandfather.'
BreakingNews.ie
29 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Peptides or retinol? Here's what is best for banishing wrinkles
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'Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that speeds up cell turnover and stimulates collagen production, which can help improve skin texture and reduce fine lines, but often causes irritation initially,' explains Halliley. Advertisement 'Peptides are trending right now because they offer a gentler, science-backed route to firmer, healthier-looking skin – particularly for those who can't tolerate stronger actives.' Unlike retinol, which delivers visible changes more rapidly, peptides play the long game – supporting the skin's underlying structure without the sting. 'Retinol delivers quicker surface-level changes and is highly effective for reducing the appearance of fine lines by boosting epidermal turnover,' says dermatologist Dr Munir Somji. 'Peptides work deeper over time to support structural integrity and long-term firmness.' Advertisement In practice, pairing them means you get the best of both worlds, but it depends on your skin type and age. How to use peptides and retinol depends on your skin type and age 'Retinol has long been the gold standard for tackling fine lines and wrinkles thanks to its well-established ability to increase cell turnover and boost collagen,' says Halliley. 'That said, peptides can complement this process by supporting skin structure and hydration. In fact, using both together – for example, a retinol serum at night and a peptide-rich moisturiser or eye cream – can deliver synergistic benefits without overloading the skin.' How the ingredients affect collagen production Collagen is the key player in affecting how our skin visibly looks as we age. It is the most abundant protein in our body, making up about 30 per cent of all protein, and provides structure and strength to our bones, skin and muscles. Advertisement Both peptides and retinol are highly relevant for targeting collagen loss, which is the leading cause of wrinkles and sagging. 'Collagen is essential for keeping skin plump, firm and resilient – and it naturally declines as we age,' says Halliley. 'Retinol directly stimulates collagen synthesis by activating fibroblasts in the dermis, which makes it highly effective over time. 'Peptides help by mimicking natural cell signalling, encouraging the skin to repair and regenerate its collagen and elastin fibres.' In other words, retinol makes more collagen by waking up the cells that produce it, while peptides send signals to your skin to repair itself, thus increasing collagen production and other anti-inflammatory cells more holistically. Advertisement How to use if you have sensitive skin The elephant in the room, of course, is irritation. And while retinol may be celebrated as the hyperactive anti-ageing ingredient – it's also very strong. 'While retinol can cause redness, dryness and peeling – especially in the early stages – peptides are much more tolerable and suitable for sensitive or compromised skin,' says Halliley. For patients with rosacea, post-procedure redness or simply sensitive skin, Somji says peptides are best, as they offer anti-ageing and firming benefits without triggering inflammation. 'Peptides are often my go-to for patients recovering from clinical procedures or managing chronic skin concerns like rosacea,' he explains, 'they help reinforce the skin barrier and reduce inflammation, all while actively improving texture and tone.' What to use depending on your age Knowing whether to reach for peptides or retinol often comes down to your age and skin condition. For those just dipping into preventative skincare, peptides offer a gentle entry point. 'For younger skin or those in their late 20s to early 30s […] peptides can be a brilliant introduction to anti-ageing without the risk of irritation,' explains Halliley. The more mature your skin, the more retinol you can use 'More mature skin or those with visible photoageing [sun damage] can typically tolerate and benefit from retinol,' explains Somji, 'especially for pigmentation or textural concerns.' How to incorporate them into your routine Knowing all this, you now may be eager to douse yourself in bottles of peptides and retinol – but timing and layering is everything. 'My recommendation is to use retinol in the evening, when your skin is in repair mode, and always follow with a nourishing moisturiser,' says Halliley. 'Peptides can be used morning or evening – they're versatile, and you'll often find them in serums or moisturisers designed to strengthen and hydrate.' Lifestyle Dermatologists reveal what the TikTok banana peel... Read More Somji prefers a slower and more structured approach, and says to use retinol at night (as it increases your sensitivity to light) starting one to two times per week and following with a hydrating moisturiser. For daytime, he recommends layering peptides with antioxidants – like vitamin C – and SPF.
The Guardian
29 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘The risk is the lure': subway surfing in New York City continues to claim young lives
Jaida Rivera's 11-year son, Cayden, was supposed to be in school at Brooklyn's Fort Greene preparatory academy on the morning of 16 September last year. Staff saw him in the cafeteria after his grandmother dropped him off at 7.45am. But 30 minutes later he was marked as absent. Cayden had somehow slipped out, boarded a G subway train traveling south and was riding on top of one of its carriages when he fell on to the tracks at the Fourth Avenue-Ninth Street station just after 10.00am. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The boy was the youngest of six to die subway surfing in New York City last year – a highly dangerous practice of balancing on top of the swift-moving subway trains as they rattle through the city. It is typically attempted in Brooklyn and Queens, where New York's subways often run aboveground, and typically in warmer months when schools are in session – suggesting that it has become a dangerous type of after-school activity often spurred by social media cachet. New York has long warned against the stunts. But to little avail. Police data shows that arrests for subway surfing were up 70% from the prior year, and the average age of those apprehended was 14. Arrests of young people for subway surfing have spiked 46% this year, with police statistics showing 164 children arrested so far, up from 112 during the same period last year. So far two have died. Last week, a 14-year-old, described as a repeat offender, was critically injured when he fell from a 5 line train in the Bronx. But the 7 line, between Manhattan and Queens, is the most popular, according to the NYPD's transit chief, Joseph Gulotta, in part because surfing the 7 mimics the closing frames of 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming. Earlier this month, New York's governor, Kathy Hochul, launched a new 'Ride Inside, Stay Alive' campaign aimed at high school students and featuring pro BMX athlete Nigel Sylvester to warn about the dangers of subway surfing. Train surfing dates back more than a century: local newspaper archives mention people getting maimed or killed riding on top of trains as early as 1904 – the year the subway opened. The 'risk is the lure', a 1991 New York Times story deduced. So it's not uniquely a internet 'challenge' phenomenon. Committed subway surfers speak in familiar terms. 'I could quit anytime I want,' a 14-year-old subway surfer named Efaru told the Times last year, adding that it was 'not an addiction' but acknowledged: 'Running on top feels like you're in a real-life movie.' The 2025 anti-surfing campaign includes announcements in subways and drones in the sky. 'New York will continue to do everything we can to keep our young people safe on the subways,' Hochul said. But city and state administrators know they're up against a powerful if unwitting promoter – namely the peer value of subway surfing videos on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and other social media platforms. In 2023, when five people died from subway surfing – a striking increase over five who died between 2018 and 2022 – New York City's mayor, Eric Adams, held a social media summit during which he said 'unfettered access is hurting our children – encouraging them to steal cars, ride on top of subways'. Soon after, the main social media platforms removed about 3,000 subway surfing videos. So far this year, more than 1,800 videos have been taken down. After the death of a teenage girl who was subway surfing last year, Adams said: 'The allure of social media fame has lured too many young people on top of trains, and the consequences have been deadly.' He said that social media companies whose 'algorithms promote this deadly content haven't done nearly enough to put an end to it'. Last week, Cayden's distraught mom, Jaida, 26, was in her attorneys office in lower Manhattan. The outside world, she said, was triggering. 'I don't do much but sit in my room or in the bathtub. I find quiet there,' she added. She had sometimes confiscated her son's phone, she said, but 'the first thing that would be on TikTok when he opened it would be surfing'. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Last year, the state passed a law to prohibit the provision of addictive feeds to minors. But Rikki Davidoff, Rivera's attorney, says the efforts by social media companies has proved ineffective at curbing the spread of subway surfing videos. 'Your algorithm is your algorithm, right?' she says. 'It's still easy for a four-year-old to search subway surfing as it is for a 12-year-old. But one is far more impressionable for the other.' There are renewed efforts to hold New York's city authorities accountable. Davidoff plans to sue the city, the board of education and the MTA, but there are a number of hurdles, including an 1847 law that limits compensation in wrongful death cases to financial losses – losses that wouldn't be applicable to a minor, almost by definition. A bill that would open up the law to grief and anguish claims like Rivera's has been blocked three times by Hochul. Known as the 'grieving families' bill, it recently passed the New York legislature again, and again sits on the governor's desk. The governor calls the bill 'well-intentioned', but says it would lead to higher health insurance premiums and other costs. 'There are a lot of powerful interests on the other side of this,' says Sabrina Rezzy, spokesperson for the New York State Trial Lawyers Association. 'But 47 other states managed this without doctors fleeing the state and premiums skyrocketing. 'We're looking for our state government to stand up the rights of children,' Rezzy adds. 'We see the most vulnerable individuals affected most by the 1847 law, as you would expect.' Rivera's attorney has called on train operators to radio each other to slow down when they see surfers, and Rivera points to a failure by the public school system to crack down on truancy and failures by the MTA to make it harder to climb on top of trains. 'I don't think they're really done anything, to be honest,' she says before breaking off, sobbing.
