NBA Gambling Probe, Crypto Pardon, & Safest Travel Spots

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Adam Rogers
October 24, 2025

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Portland coach Chauncey Billups and Miami guard Terry Rozier were among 34 people arrested Thursday in federal probes into illegal sports betting and rigged poker games tied to four Mafia families. The years-long investigation involved tens of millions of dollars.
Prosecutors say Rozier shared private game details like injury reports with gamblers for profit. Sportsbooks flagged suspicious bets on his stats in 2023 when he left a game early, citing injury. His lawyer says he’s “not a gambler” and plans to fight the charges.
Billups allegedly took part in rigged poker games using X-ray tables, hidden cameras, and altered shuffling machines to cheat victims. He was reportedly told to lose on purpose to avoid suspicion and was later paid $50,000 for his role. Authorities say the games netted over $7 million from players.

President Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao on Wednesday, the Binance founder who pleaded guilty to enabling money laundering. Zhao served four months in prison after admitting that Binance failed to prevent terrorists, cybercriminals, and child abusers from using the platform. Binance paid over $4 billion in fines, while Zhao paid $50 million personally.
Democratic senators warned in May about conflicts of interest after Zhao applied for a pardon, citing Trump family ties to crypto ventures. Trump has also hosted events promoting his meme coin, with buyers spending nearly $150 million.
The pardon is Trump's second for crypto exchange founders - in March, he pardoned three BitMEX co-founders who were also convicted of financial crimes.

A new analysis of 151 clinical trials involving over 58,000 people found major differences in how 30 antidepressants affect the body. While all can help with mood disorders, some cause significant changes in weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol levels.
The review showed striking contrasts: people taking agomelatine lost about 5½ pounds on average, while those on maprotiline gained nearly 4 pounds. Heart rate differences between drugs exceeded 20 beats per minute, and certain medications, such as duloxetine and paroxetine, were associated with higher cholesterol or blood sugar levels.
Researchers stressed that antidepressants aren’t interchangeable and called for more personalized prescribing. They’ve released a tool that helps doctors and patients weigh physical side effects against mental health benefits, aiming to match each person with the safest and most tolerable option.

The White House East Wing has been completely demolished for Trump's planned ballroom project, which has grown from $200 million in July to roughly $300 million now. (More)

A federal mortgage fraud investigation into Senator Adam Schiff has stalled after months of work failed to produce enough evidence to bring charges against him. (More)

Twenty-five states will cut off food stamps for millions of Americans on November 1 because the government shutdown left no money to send monthly grocery checks. (More)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney set a goal to double non-US exports in the next decade as American tariffs chill investment and threaten jobs in key industries. (More)

Tropical Storm Melissa will likely strengthen into a major hurricane with 111 mph winds by this weekend, threatening Jamaica and Haiti with flooding and dangerous conditions. (More)

North Korea tested new hypersonic missiles, claiming precise strikes and nuclear capability. (More)

US stock markets closed higher on Thursday (S&P +0.58%, Nasdaq +0.89%, Dow +0.31%). Indexes rose on Thursday as investors bought tech stocks after companies reported strong earnings. (More)

Target will cut 1,800 corporate jobs to fix slow growth and simplify operations. The retailer’s sales have stalled for four years, and shares have dropped 65% since 2021. (More)

Anthropic and Google announced a deal Thursday giving the AI company access to one million custom chips worth tens of billions of dollars for 2026. (More)

The Dodgers and Blue Jays start the World Series tonight at 8 p.m. ET in Toronto, with 22-year-old rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage facing Blake Snell. (More)

Lionel Messi extended his contract Thursday to stay with Inter Miami through 2028. (More)

Broadway musicians reached a tentative deal Thursday with producers, avoiding a strike that would have silenced 23 musicals, including "Hamilton" and "The Lion King." (More)

A study found nearly one in five urinary tract infections in Southern California were caused by E. coli from grocery store meat, mostly turkey and chicken. (More)

Mosquitoes were found in Iceland for the first time, ending the country's status as one of the world's few mosquito-free places. (More)

Two coral species that built Florida's reefs are functionally extinct after a 2023 heat wave killed up to 100% of their colonies across the state. (More)

The best Halloween candy, according to kids.

10 tips for winterizing your home.

DC restaurant locks phones up upon entry.

Netherlands tops the list of the safest places to travel in 2026.

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