Good Morning!

It's Wednesday, August 13, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Woman sues ex over spiking drink with abortion pills to cause miscarriage.

• World’s first artificial tongue is extremely human!

• Is milk really healthy for you?

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SPILL THE NEWS

Judge Orders ICE To Improve Conditions In NYC Migrant Holding Cells

A federal judge has ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to immediately improve conditions for detainees held at its Manhattan facility at 26 Federal Plaza, following allegations of overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and limited access to legal counsel. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan issued a temporary restraining order requiring ICE to limit capacity to 50 square feet per person, provide sleeping mats, increase cleaning to three times daily, and supply basic hygiene products. “There is a very serious threat of continuing irreparable injury,” Kaplan said, citing sworn affidavits describing detainees sleeping on concrete floors near open toilets and enduring “horrific stench.”

The lawsuit, filed by immigrant rights groups on behalf of Peruvian asylum-seeker Sergio Alberto Barco Mercado, claims detainees were held far longer than the typical 72 hours, given only two small meals daily, and had limited access to medical care and lawyers. ICE officials dispute widespread overcrowding, saying as of Monday, only 24 detainees were in cells with a stated capacity of 154, and that hygiene products and meals are provided.

Murad Awawdeh of the New York Immigration Coalition welcomed the ruling as “a step forward,” while ICE has not commented further on whether longer-term reforms will be adopted.

Texas Woman Sues Ex For Causing Miscarriage With Abortion Pills

A Texas woman has filed a federal wrongful-death lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend, a Marine, and the abortion pill provider Aid Access, alleging he slipped her medication to end her pregnancy without her consent. The suit claims the man spiked her drink with abortion-inducing drugs obtained from the European-based telemedicine group.

The case cites the Comstock Act, an 1873 federal law prohibiting the mailing of abortion-related materials, a statute anti-abortion advocates have recently tried to revive in court. It also alleges violations of the Texas Wrongful Death Act, which allows certain relatives to sue over the death of a fetus. The Marine has not publicly commented, and the defendants have yet to file formal responses. 

Aid Access, founded by Dutch physician Rebecca Gomperts, has faced scrutiny for sending abortion medication to the U.S., often bypassing state restrictions. The group has said it operates legally under international law and outside U.S. jurisdiction. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, could become a high-profile test of how far old federal statutes like the Comstock Act can be applied to modern abortion cases following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Perplexity AI Wants To Buy Google’s Chrome

AI start-up Perplexity has made an unexpected $34.5 billion bid to acquire Google’s Chrome browser, a move coinciding with an upcoming U.S. antitrust ruling that could force Google to divest Chrome. Backed by Jeff Bezos and Nvidia, Perplexity says its offer represents “an important commitment to the open web, user choice, and continuity for everyone who has chosen Chrome”. CEO Aravind Srinivas told Alphabet chief Sundar Pichai the sale would place Chrome “with a capable, independent operator” in the public interest.

Critics remain skeptical. Technology investor Heath Ahrens called the bid a “stunt” and far below Chrome’s true value, while Tomasz Tunguz of Theory Ventures estimated the browser is “ten times more valuable”. Google, which has about three billion Chrome users, argues that a forced sale would be “unprecedented” and harmful to consumers.

The Justice Department says divesting Chrome is key to curbing Google’s search monopoly, which controls roughly 90% of the market. Perplexity, valued at $18 billion, has faced copyright disputes and previously attempted to buy TikTok’s U.S. operations. The company says Chrome’s default search would remain Google’s, though users could change it. Google has not commented on the bid.

DON’T MISS

📜 Putin briefs Kim Jong Un ahead of Trump meeting at U.S. military base in Anchorage.

📉 After 133 years in business, Kodak says it might have to cease operations.

🪖 Pentagon plans to create National Guard “reaction force” to address civil unrest.

🐕 DOGE data analysis reveals organization saved 5% of its claims. Is it true?

🧬 Fertility startup Gameto raises $44 million to test egg-freezing therapy in U.S.

🎥 On first day in DC, National Guard troops caught on video, make over 20 arrests. 

👅 World’s first artificial tongue tastes like humans’. 

🤝 Israel in talks to resettle Palestinians to South Sudan amid Gaza crackdown.

🔫 CDC gunman shot at least 200 rounds on facilities; RFK Jr. blames COVID response.

⚖️ Trump threatens lawsuit against Fed Chair Powell over renovation costs.

IN GOOD HEALTH

👵 Older Americans embracing technology may see sharper thinking, reduced cognitive decline, and improved everyday abilities, according to new research.

💪 Combining Pilates principles with wall support, Wall Pilates offers a joint-friendly, posture-enhancing routine that builds strength, improves flexibility, and works the entire body.

🏋️‍♂️ Struggling to see fitness gains? Adding creatine to your routine can increase muscle power, speed recovery, and maximize workout benefits.

🥛 Does drinking milk genuinely strengthen bones, or is bone health influenced more by overall diet, exercise, and other factors?

HOUSE TO HOME

🪵 Midcentury modern kitchens blend organic wood textures with refined geometric forms, evoking understated elegance and enduring style.

🏠 A messy floor plan can mess with your mind. A smart design creates cozy spots that lift your spirits and energy.

🛠️ Don’t let your landlord sneak repair bills your way — know your rights and keep your wallet happily untouched!

🛋️ Small studio? No problem! Clever hacks maximize space, style, and storage, making your all-in-one room truly shine.

THE FAME FRAME

👩‍🦰 ‘We’re just girls’: Jennifer Aniston says she, Gwyneth Paltrow discuss Brad Pitt.

📄 Sean “Diddy” sues lawyer Mark Geragos for $100 million defamation claim.

🎤 Kevin Hart to lead Netflix’s comedy contest series.

🏢 ‘Only Murders in the Building’ season 5 trailer is here!

🚔 Four arrested in Brad Pitt’s Los Feliz home ransacking case.

WEIGH IN

“Clarity of purpose kills fear.” 

— Rosa Parks