Also tonight, the Sullivan Lady Arrows will host Tri-West in a 2-A soccer regional semifinal.  The Lady Arrows are 14-1-3, while Tri-West is 18-1.

In Volleyball:

A tough night, and a heartbreaking elimination, happened for the Rivet Lady Patriots in their match against Springs Valley. The Lady Patriots and Lady Blackhawks split their first four sets, before Valley took set five and the match in the lone game at the Northeast Dubois Sectiona.  The Lady Patriots end their year at 10-16.

Mid-October has arrived across the Hoosier State, bringing crisp morning air, dust trailing behind combine headers, and a stark contrast in field progress. According to the latest USDA Crop Progress Report released Oct. 13, 2026, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Indiana producers are matching historical strides on soybean harvest while navigating a slower-maturing corn crop.

Across the state, row-crop operators have spent the past seven days capitalizing on dry windows, pushing soybean harvest to 44% complete. That puts Hoosier farmers right on track with their five-year average of 43% for mid-October, surging 17 percentage points ahead of the previous week’s 27%.

The national picture tells a similar story of rapid autumn progress. Across the 18 major producing states, 46% of the U.S. soybean crop is in the bin, lagging slightly behind the five-year average of 50%, but making a massive 21-point jump in a single week.

Corn Harvest Matches Average, but Maturity Lags Behind

While combines are making quick work of Indiana’s soybean fields, the state’s corn crop continues to take its time crossing the finish line.

USDA reports 89% of Indiana corn is mature, up from 77% the prior week. While substantial, that figure trails the state’s five-year average of 90%. Statewide, corn harvested reached 34%, perfectly aligning with Indiana’s five-year average of 34% and jumping 13 points in a week.

Nationally, maturity reached 91%, matching the 2021–2025 five-year average. However, overall U.S. corn harvest progress stands at 33%, running six percentage points behind the national five-year benchmark of 39%. Neighboring states like Iowa (14% harvested vs. 34% average) and Michigan (4% harvested vs. 22% average) are dragging the national pace lower as late-season moisture keeps grain moisture levels high.

Condition Ratings Hold Steady as Crop Comes Home

Despite delays in maturity, crop quality remains solid across Indiana, outperforming national baseline conditions.

Indiana corn rated in the Good-to-Excellent category held firm at 64% (56% good, 8% excellent). That sits 8 percentage points above the national average of 56% good-to-excellent.

Indiana’s soybean condition mirrored corn almost identically, sitting at 64% Good-to-Excellent (54% good, 10% excellent), holding steady from the previous week and besting the 18-state national combined rating of 57%.

Leaf Drop Signals Final Stretch for Beans

For producers waiting on fields to turn, leaf drop ratings indicate the harvest window will remain wide open through late October.

• Indiana Soybeans Dropping Leaves: Reached 93%, closing in on the five-year average of 95%.

• U.S. Soybeans Dropping Leaves: Stand at 92%, compared to the national five-year average of 94%.

With 93% of Indiana beans past leaf drop and late-season conditions staying stable, grain bins across the state will continue to fill rapidly. The primary challenge for Indiana growers through the remainder of October will be balancing grain moisture dockage on slow-drying corn against the urge to clear fields before late-autumn weather systems settle into the Corn Belt.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to restore 100% of additional renewable fuel volumes waived through small refinery exemptions, a move that could help protect demand for American corn and soybeans as farmers harvest their crops and confront another challenging farm economy.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the proposal Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Peosta, Iowa, following an August decision that granted 29 small refineries full or partial exemptions from their obligations under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

The August exemptions totaled 1.76 billion renewable identification numbers (RINs), the credits used to demonstrate compliance with federal renewable fuel requirements. That was substantially higher than the approximately 990 million RINs EPA had projected would be exempted for the 2025 compliance year.

The difference — approximately 770 million RINs — is now at the center of EPA’s proposal to restore the waived obligations by requiring other refiners to account for those volumes in future compliance years.

For farmers, the stakes extend well beyond a regulatory dispute between Washington and the refining industry. Renewable fuel requirements help establish demand for corn used to produce ethanol and soybean oil used in biodiesel and renewable diesel. When those requirements are waived without corresponding adjustments elsewhere, agricultural groups warn that the resulting loss of demand can ripple through rural economies already under pressure from tight crop margins and high production costs.

“In each action taken, EPA works to deliver for all Americans,” Zeldin said. “As soon as we got into office, American farmers asked the Trump EPA not to give them handouts but create avenues for them to enter additional markets.”

He said the proposal is intended to maintain a “strong and durable market” for farmers selling their crops.

The agency is offering two options for restoring the additional waived volumes. One would divide the 770 million RIN difference equally between the 2026 and 2027 compliance years. The other would assign the entire amount to 2027.

EPA is accepting public comments through Dec. 4, 2026. The agency also said the proposed revisions could extend the existing March 31, 2027, deadline for reporting 2026 compliance.

The proposal is drawing broad support from agricultural and biofuel organizations, although industry leaders say the administration must follow through by finalizing the rule and providing greater certainty for future investments.

Farm groups welcome effort to protect demand

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) welcomed the announcement, saying it follows through on the administration’s commitment to protect farmers and biofuel producers.

Matt Frostic, a Michigan corn farmer and NCGA president, said the full reallocation would help ensure biofuel producers are not left short of the renewable fuel volumes originally established under the RFS.

“We are pleased to see that the administration has kept its pledge to protect farmers and biofuel producers while administering this critical program, and we appreciate that biofuel producers will be kept whole with the reallocation of all waived volumes,” Frostic said.

He added that corn farmers want the program administered with greater certainty in the years ahead.

“We hope that the Renewable Fuel Standard and the small refinery exemption program are managed with certainty in the years to come.”

The American Soybean Association (ASA) also endorsed the proposal, pointing to the importance of domestic biofuel demand as soybean growers navigate difficult economic conditions.

Dave Walton, an Iowa soybean farmer and ASA vice president, said the announcement addresses a key concern for growers who depend on a strong domestic market for soybean oil.

“Soybean farmers are navigating a tough farm economy, and the administration’s strong domestic biofuel policies will continue to drive much-needed market demand in the U.S.,” Walton said.

ASA urged EPA to finalize the supplemental rule as quickly as possible.

The American Farm Bureau Federation also views the proposal as an important step toward preserving agricultural demand.

Dr. Faith Parum, deputy chief economist for the organization, said the announcement provides more detail about how EPA intends to fulfill its earlier commitment to reallocate the waived volumes and gives stakeholders an opportunity to weigh in.

“These reallocations make sure that these renewable fuel volumes get made, and they’re made with North American feedstocks,” Parum said. “So, think about your corn and your soybean oil, and so that’s really great for American farmers and ranchers because it keeps that renewable fuel in production and ups those feedstock requirements.”

Parum said restoring the volumes would help maintain demand for a range of agricultural commodities used in renewable fuels.

“This is great for the farm economy because it keeps demand for our feedstock strong,” she said. “Our corn, our soybean, canola — all of that is used for these renewable fuels. And by making sure that these volumes are reallocated, it’ll make sure that demand is steady for U.S. farmers and ranchers.”

For growers, the distinction is important: A federal blending requirement does not guarantee a particular price for corn or soybeans, but it helps establish a market for the feedstocks used to manufacture renewable fuels.

Biofuel industry pushes for quick action

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Growth Energy and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) also praised EPA’s decision to propose full reallocation, while calling for additional steps to strengthen the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the RFA, thanked Zeldin and the White House for honoring their commitment to restore the renewable fuel volumes affected by the exemptions.

“While we believe most of the exemptions were unjustified, EPA’s reallocation plan — if finalized as proposed — will help offset the demand loss for ethanol producers and farmers,” Cooper said.

He said the industry needs certainty as it approaches 2027 and argued that refinery exemptions should not undermine domestic biofuel demand.

“With refiners enjoying record-high profit margins, gasoline supplies tightening, and drivers still paying too much at the pump, the Trump administration understands this is no time to undermine domestic biofuels with SREs,” Cooper said. “The administration should be expanding access to affordable American-made ethanol — not giving the oil industry another break.”

The RFA also called for reform of the small refinery exemption program, arguing that exemptions originally intended to provide temporary relief to genuinely small, independent refineries have become a recurring source of uncertainty for farmers and biofuel producers.

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said the proposal would help deliver on the potential of the historic renewable fuel volumes EPA established earlier this year.

“With this proposal, EPA would deliver on the full potential of historic RVOs and fulfill its promise to make American farmers and biofuel producers whole,” Skor said.

She added that restoring the waived volumes would strengthen rural economies and help farmers access dependable markets for their crops.

The American Coalition for Ethanol likewise called the proposal an important step toward preserving the integrity of the RFS.

“Every gallon of renewable fuel displaced by an SRE represents lost demand for American ethanol, lost value for farmers and a missed opportunity to lower fuel costs for consumers,” ACE CEO Brian Jennings said.

Jennings cautioned, however, that reallocation alone will not resolve the industry’s concerns. He urged Congress to pass nationwide legislation allowing year-round sales of E15, a gasoline blend containing 15% ethanol, before the end of the year.

ACE said uncertainty surrounding small refinery exemptions has delayed progress on year-round E15 and called on EPA to establish strong renewable fuel volumes in its upcoming “Set 3” rule.

The organization also wants EPA to account for any remaining demand losses if the waived volumes are not fully restored.

Why the 770 million RIN difference matters

The dispute began when EPA issued its August 31 decisions on pending small refinery exemption petitions for the 2025 compliance year.

Small refineries can seek relief from federal renewable fuel obligations if they demonstrate that compliance would cause disproportionate economic hardship. Refiners have argued that compliance costs and elevated renewable fuel credit prices can create financial pressure on their facilities.

EPA’s decisions granted full exemptions to 18 refiners and partial exemptions to another 11, producing a total of 1.76 billion exempted RINs. The RFA described the action as the second-highest annual volume of small refinery exemptions ever granted, while other industry accounts characterized the exemptions as the largest ever issued under the program.

The additional 770 million RINs above EPA’s original projection represent the specific volume addressed by Tuesday’s proposal.

The distinction matters because EPA’s March 27 “Set 2” rule had established historically high renewable fuel requirements for 2026 and 2027. The agency estimated that rule would generate more than $10 billion for rural economies and create more than 100,000 jobs in agricultural and manufacturing sectors.

The August exemptions raised concerns that some of the anticipated demand would disappear unless EPA increased obligations for other refiners.

Under the new proposal, EPA would restore the entire difference between projected and actual exempted volumes. However, the agency has not yet finalized the rule, and the ultimate timing of the restored obligations will depend on the outcome of the rulemaking process.

Reuters reported Tuesday that renewable fuel credit prices for ethanol and biodiesel fell slightly following the announcement, according to a refinery trader attending the OPIS biofuels conference in Chicago. That market reaction underscores that the proposal itself does not immediately resolve all uncertainty surrounding renewable fuel demand.

USDA, lawmakers back reallocation

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the proposal recognizes the contribution biofuel producers make to American energy supplies and agricultural markets.

“I’m thrilled to see Administrator Zeldin act on this growing momentum and provide a path forward to 100% reallocation by 2027,” Rollins said.

She said the biofuel industry generates more than $100 billion in economic activity and supports more than 100,000 American jobs.

Iowa lawmakers also praised the announcement, citing the importance of ethanol and biodiesel production to the state’s farm economy.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said he worked with the White House, Sen. Joni Ernst and Iowa Reps. Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Zach Nunn and Randy Feenstra to secure full reallocation.

“Today’s decision is a major boost for Iowa’s rural economy and the 31,000 Iowa jobs that biofuels directly employ,” Grassley said.

Ernst said reallocating the waived volumes into the 2026 and 2027 obligations would strengthen domestic markets while helping provide more predictable conditions for farmers and consumers.

Rep. Miller-Meeks said the proposal would help create additional demand for Iowa corn and soybeans. Hinson said it reflects an agreement reached with the administration in August to ensure exemptions do not reduce demand for homegrown biofuels.

Rep. Nunn emphasized the connection between domestic renewable fuels, consumer fuel costs and agricultural markets, saying he would continue working to get the rule finalized.

What happens next?

The next milestone is EPA’s Dec. 4 deadline for public comments. Agricultural organizations, biofuel producers, refiners and other stakeholders will have an opportunity to weigh in on whether the additional volumes should be divided between 2026 and 2027 or assigned entirely to 2027.

That choice will determine when the restored obligations take effect and how quickly the market receives a clearer signal about future demand.

For corn and soybean producers, the proposal offers a potential measure of support at a time when dependable markets remain critical to the farm balance sheet. But it does not eliminate the broader challenges facing growers, nor does it guarantee higher commodity prices.

The immediate question is whether EPA will finalize the rule in time to provide the certainty agricultural and biofuel organizations say they need heading into 2027.

For farmers who have spent the growing season investing in seed, fertilizer, fuel and other inputs, the stakes are straightforward: The more dependable the domestic market for ethanol and biodiesel feedstocks, the more opportunities there are to turn this year’s harvest into revenue.

EPA has proposed restoring the additional waived volumes in full. Now, the agricultural industry will be watching to see whether that promise becomes a finalized federal requirement.

American farmers could face mounting pressure on fertilizer availability and affordability as geopolitical conflict in the Middle East and trade uncertainty with Canada threaten supplies of three essential crop nutrients: nitrogen, phosphate and potash.

The risks extend well beyond shipping disruptions. Reduced exports, higher production costs and uncertainty over future trade policy are putting pressure on the global fertilizer market at a time when farmers are already watching input costs closely and trying to protect increasingly tight crop margins.

Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer for StoneX, says the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical choke point for global fertilizer supplies. The waterway connects the Persian Gulf to international shipping routes and serves as a major export corridor for several of the world’s leading fertilizer-producing countries.

“Three of the world’s biggest urea exporters—Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia—are behind the Strait of Hormuz,” Linville said. “The same three are big anhydrous exporters.”

Saudi Arabia is also a major phosphate exporter, compounding the potential impact of disruptions in the region.

“With the attacks that went on this weekend, it doesn’t look like it’s improving anytime soon,” Linville said.

For farmers, the concern is not simply whether fertilizer shipments can reach global markets. Disruptions can also affect the cost of manufacturing fertilizer, tightening supplies even in countries that produce their own.

Nitrogen supplies face mounting pressure

Natural gas is a major feedstock for nitrogen fertilizer production. When energy supplies are disrupted or gas prices rise, fertilizer manufacturers can face higher operating costs, and some plants may reduce production or shut down if operating becomes uneconomical.

Linville said the impact of the Strait of Hormuz disruption extends into global energy markets, affecting the economics of nitrogen production well beyond the Middle East.

“That gas goes to feed nitrogen production facilities around the world,” he said, explaining how disruptions to energy supplies can influence production decisions. “That’s why we’ve seen a little bit of European production go down.”

That creates a potential ripple effect throughout the fertilizer supply chain. Lost exports from major producing countries, combined with reduced production elsewhere, can leave buyers competing for a smaller pool of available product.

For U.S. farmers preparing for upcoming fertilizer applications, that combination raises concerns about both supply and price.

Sulfur shortages threaten phosphate production

The pressure on phosphate fertilizer may be even more complicated.

Sulfur is an important raw material in phosphate fertilizer manufacturing, and Linville said the Strait of Hormuz accounts for about half of the world’s tradable sulfur supply.

Losing access to that material can constrain phosphate production, including at manufacturing facilities outside the Middle East.

“The Strait of Hormuz has about half the world’s tradable supply coming from that body of water,” Linville said. “Without that supply, other manufacturers like ours here in the U.S., production rates suffer because there’s just not enough of it, and/or the price is so high it doesn’t make financial sense.”

That creates a difficult dynamic for farmers trying to understand fertilizer prices.

Ordinarily, weaker demand would be expected to put downward pressure on prices. But when manufacturers face elevated costs for essential raw materials, prices may remain stubbornly high even when buyers pull back.

Linville said that dynamic has been particularly frustrating in the phosphate market.

If phosphate prices decline too far to cover the cost of production, manufacturers may cut output, potentially tightening supplies further.

“More production shuts down because that price floor is so stinking high,” Linville said.

The result is a market in which weaker demand does not necessarily translate into the price relief farmers might expect. High production costs can limit how far prices fall while also discouraging manufacturers from producing more fertilizer.

For growers, that means continued uncertainty as they weigh fertilizer purchases against crop prices, cash flow and expected returns.

Canada trade tensions put potash in the spotlight

While the Middle East threatens nitrogen and phosphate supplies, U.S.-Canada trade relations represent another potential vulnerability for American agriculture.

The United States depends heavily on imported potash, a key source of potassium used to support crop development, water regulation and overall plant health. Canada is by far the most important foreign supplier to the U.S. market.

Linville said roughly 90% of U.S. potash imports come from Canada, making negotiations over the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) particularly important to fertilizer buyers on both sides of the border.

“When you look at our overall demand, we don’t produce very much of it,” Linville said of U.S. potash production. “There’s a heavy reliance on imports.”

So far, the trade rhetoric has not translated into direct action against potash, Linville said. But he warned that a breakdown in negotiations could change that.

“Fortunately, for all the bluster on both sides of the aisle, both sides of the border, we’ve never seen anything actually go against potash yet,” he said.

That relative stability may not be guaranteed if the two countries fail to reach common ground.

“If this trade agreement continues to fall apart, we can’t find common ground, and we can’t get something put in place, I think both sides of the border go after potash,” Linville said.

Such a move could disrupt an important supply relationship for both countries. Canada relies on the U.S. market for a major outlet for its potash, while American farmers depend on Canadian production to meet domestic fertilizer needs.

Linville said both sides understand how important that relationship is to the movement of potash across the border.

Farmers face a convergence of risks

The fertilizer market now faces several overlapping pressures: geopolitical conflict threatening export routes, shortages of raw materials constraining manufacturing, energy costs affecting nitrogen production and trade uncertainty putting a major potash supply relationship under scrutiny.

Each challenge presents a different risk, but together they could make fertilizer purchasing more difficult for farmers trying to manage input costs and protect margins.

The stakes extend beyond the price paid per ton. Fertilizer is a foundational input for corn, soybeans and other major crops, and decisions about application rates and nutrient availability can have consequences for yield potential and profitability.

For producers planning ahead, the key questions are whether supplies will remain accessible, how much fertilizer will cost when purchases are made, and whether global manufacturers can maintain production amid ongoing disruptions.

Linville’s assessment underscores the importance of watching developments in both international shipping and North American trade negotiations. A resolution to one challenge would not necessarily eliminate the others.

For now, fertilizer availability and affordability remain concerns for farmers navigating an already uncertain economic environment. With global supplies exposed to conflict, production costs and trade policy, the path to dependable, competitively priced fertilizer may depend on developments far beyond the farm gate.

Adam Rubin, co-owner of Art of Play and a children’s author, spoke with Fox News Digital inside the Brooklyn store Tuesday morning, claiming the singer has put his business in danger after their viral dispute over a $15,000 mechanical singing bird.

The bird at the center of the controversy now has a staggering $15 million price tag.

KELLY CLARKSON SLAMS BROOKLYN STORE OVER ‘PRETTY WOMAN’ TREATMENT

"But I am afraid for the safety of our shop. Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," Rubin told Fox News Digital.

Rubin claimed the backlash has extended beyond angry comments online, with people associated with the business allegedly facing threats and having their personal information exposed.

"We've got incredible support from our neighbors and fans over the past few days, and all of them have been attacked, threatened, doxed," he said.

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Rubin also accused Clarkson of an "abuse of power," arguing that the singer's enormous platform has intensified the backlash against his small business.

Rubin argued that Clarkson's celebrity status carries a responsibility.

"You can't just try to squash somebody like a bug and expect everybody to give you a pass," he said. 

Rubin also questioned why strangers would go to such lengths to attack a small business on behalf of a celebrity, expressing frustration that people who had never visited his store were joining the backlash.

The mechanical bird that sparked the dispute has also undergone a dramatic price change.

A photograph taken Tuesday by Fox News Digital shows a new sign beside Molly identifying the bird as a creation of artist Bliss Kolb, with an eye-popping price of $15 million.

The sign describes Molly as "The world's most famous singing bird automata!" and lists its price as "$15,000,000."

The new figure is 1,000 times the original $15,000 price at the center of Clarkson's complaint.

Art of Play previously explained in a public statement that the original $15,000 figure referred to a nearly identical automaton available from artist Bliss Kolb, while Molly herself is permanently attached to the wall and serves as a fixture in the store's magic performances.

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Rubin also addressed the dramatic price change during his conversation with Fox News Digital, pointing to the attention Molly has received since Clarkson's visit.

He described the new figure as a matter of "supply and demand," while the store has maintained that the bird is not for sale.

Rubin suggested Molly's sudden notoriety has made her one of the most recognizable mechanical birds in the world.

The new sign offers a striking contrast to the original $15,000 price tag that Clarkson cited in her complaint.

The price change adds another twist to a dispute that began Saturday when Clarkson visited the Brooklyn shop and later accused an employee of treating her as though she couldn't afford its merchandise.

KELLY CLARKSON'S STORE CALLOUT SHOWS THE 'POWER' OF CELEBRITY STATEMENTS: EXPERT

Clarkson initially took to social media to describe what she considered a humiliating shopping experience, comparing her treatment to Julia Roberts' character in the 1990 film "Pretty Woman."

"Just drove all the way to Brooklyn to check out this store I thought looked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy and literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me," Clarkson wrote.

"Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale."

The singer later doubled down on her account after Art of Play disputed her version of events.

Clarkson maintained that she had pointed to a $15,000 price tag and was told the bird was available for purchase, but that an employee suggested finding her something comparable.

"So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar. Got it," Clarkson wrote in a follow-up post.

Art of Play has maintained that the encounter was a misunderstanding.

In its public response, the store explained that Molly is a permanent fixture in the shop and that employees had offered Clarkson the opportunity to purchase a similar bird from its creator.

KELLY CLARKSON SAYS 'AMERICAN IDOL' PRODUCERS 'LIED' ABOUT $1M PRIZE

The business also said another singing bird automaton, priced at approximately $2,000, was available.

For Rubin, however, the controversy has become much more personal than a disagreement over an unusual piece of merchandise.

During his conversation with Fox News Digital, the co-owner revealed that he had recently undergone a medical procedure and was not supposed to be working.

"I'm not even supposed to be here today. I got a cancer removed from my face last week," Rubin said.

"I'm getting the stitches out tonight."

Rubin said his concern about the store's safety was the reason he came in despite recovering from the procedure.

The co-owner also wanted to explain what Art of Play represents beyond the dispute that has suddenly brought it national attention.

"This is a curiosity shop," Rubin told Fox News Digital.

He described a business built around objects intended to inspire curiosity, including spinning tops, kaleidoscopes, puzzles, games and playing cards.

"And the reason this place exists is to make people feel like a kid again," Rubin said.

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The business began online before operating a small location in San Diego. Rubin said the Brooklyn shop opened approximately two years ago.

Rubin, who is also a children's book author and magician, has spent years working in the world of illusion and performance.

The Brooklyn store also houses a small theater that hosts close-up magic performances, with Molly serving as the opening act, according to Rubin. Art of Play has previously maintained that the bird is permanently attached to the wall and was not available for purchase.

Despite the public dispute, Rubin said Clarkson would still be welcome back at the shop.

"We messaged her. I don't know if she saw it. I don't know if she cares," Rubin said.

Fox News Digital reached out to a representative for Clarkson for comment.

Fox News Digital's Janelle Ash and Christina Dugan-Ramirez contributed to this report.

Manganiello sat down with "CBS Mornings" to discuss his health and his newly released memoir, "Bloodlines." 

During his appearance, the actor told Gayle King he was offered the role as the main villain, Deathstroke, in Ben Affleck's canceled "Batman" movie.

He wrote in his memoir that, at the same time as the job offer, he was "dying." Manganiello received the call to appear in the movie in 2016.

"I got the call about a month out of the hospital after I collapsed on another set," Manganiello told King. "After about a year of feeling these mystery symptoms, I went into the hospital for two months straight and, at the end of my stay, they wound up having to remove my entire large intestine to save my life.

JOE MANGANIELLO DENIES SOFIA VERGARA’S CLAIM MARRIAGE ENDED BECAUSE HE WANTED A BABY: ‘SIMPLY NOT TRUE’

"They had split me open. My entire large intestine had turned to pus, and it was about to explode," he continued. "They took it out, and the surgery left me with an ostomy bag. And in the wake of that, I lost 60 pounds in two weeks. I couldn't walk. My eye went cross-eyed. I lost my voice. I had five catheters."

Manganiello explained that, after he was released from the hospital, he was in the process of trying to gain the weight back when he got the call to meet Affleck and appear in the "Batman" movie.

The actor told King he was still married to Sofia Vergara at the time, and she was the one who ultimately made the decision for the doctors to save his life and remove his large intestine.

"They had to call her as my next of kin and give her options of what she thought I would want done to me while I was unconscious. She chose the right one, and it bought me time," Manganiello said. "It didn't solve the problem. The doctors still had no idea what was causing this, how to treat it. But it bought me enough time."

"But we do have to credit her for saving your life. For making that decision," King replied.

"Absolutely," Manganiello said.

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King went on to cite Manganiello's memoir in which he wrote that his mystery illness put a strain on his marriage to Vergara. The former couple married in 2015 and announced their separation in 2023. Their divorce was finalized in 2024.

"That kind of pain was like a flood in my life. You can't predict how that's going to affect people. It affected me a certain way, it affected her," he said. "It was seven years long. People didn't know about it. I was living in secret with this. Only the closest people around me knew."

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King mentioned that Vergara's son, Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, 35, shared a post about a "narcissistic" man on Monday.

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"Her son posted a thing about, ‘This is what happens when you deal with a narcissistic man,’ and she has liked that post," King began. "They appear to be saying that, basically, it’s terrible what happened to you, but the bottom line is that you’re a narcissist. What do you say to that?"

Manganiello appeared a bit shocked before he replied, "Well, I think anybody who said that should read the book first and understand what the book is actually about because it’s not about that. It’s about the suffering I went through."

"Bloodlines: A Memoir" released on Oct. 13.

During an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, the comedian, 78, opened up about how losing his longtime Pacific Palisades home in the January 2025 wildfires and the death of his close friend Rob Reiner greatly impacted his faith.

Crystal was asked whether he had been speaking with God after the painful losses. The actor referenced his previous one-man show, "700 Sundays," in which he described conversations with God, before offering a stark response.

BILLY CRYSTAL DESCRIBES PAIN OF LOSING HOME IN PALISADES FIRE AT FIREAID BENEFIT CONCERT: ‘FELL TO MY KNEES’

"No, ’cause I don’t trust Him," Crystal said.

"Too many bad things have happened," he added. "The Earth is in bad shape. This is a weird, scary time. So no, not anymore."

Crystal’s longtime home was destroyed in the Palisades fire after he and his wife, Janice, lived there for 46 years. The couple raised their children and grandchildren in the house, which Crystal described as a "magical place."

Speaking at a benefit weeks after the disaster, Crystal recalled visiting the remains of what was once his home.

ERIKA KIRK PENS ESSAY ON GRIEF AS READERS GAIN INSIGHTS INTO WRENCHING PAST YEAR

"When we were finally able to get back to our house in the Palisades, which I lived in for 46 years, like thousands of you, our house now looked like this," Crystal said, before a photo of the aftermath of the Palisades Fire appeared on the screen.

"I stepped onto the grounds and fell to my knees and I wailed. I had not cried like that since I was 15 years old, and I was told that my father had just died. I remember looking in the mirror back then with my whole life ahead of me thinking, ‘What’s my life gonna be like without him?'"

"And now folks, I'm 76-years-old, without a mirror and a lot less life to ponder thinking, ‘What is my life going to be like without our home?’" Crystal asked.

The loss became the inspiration for Crystal’s new Broadway show, "860," which is named after the street address of the home. The production recreates his home office onstage and explores his family, career, memories and grief.

NICK REINER INDICTED IN MURDERS OF PARENTS ROB REINER, MICHELE SINGER REINER AT BRENTWOOD HOME

"860" also reflects on the loss of Reiner, who was killed with his wife, Michele, in December 2025. Crystal said he and Reiner had been together at a holiday party the night before their deaths.

"We said goodbye," Crystal recalled. "And then … what?!?"

Despite the tragedies, Crystal said humor has helped him move forward.

"That’s what I do," he said when asked how he finds humor during the darkest moments. "It’s a healer."

Crystal said performing "860" has already helped him process the loss of his home and friends.

"I’ve absorbed the biggest pains that people couldn’t go through — the loss of home, dearest of friends," he said. "And I’m OK."

The 23-year-old Swedish activist appeared outside a high school in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, where students were demanding more teachers, better facilities and shorter school days, Reuters reported.

More than 6,800 people have been detained since the protests began in September, according to French authorities. Demonstrators have set fires, erected barricades and confronted riot police in cities across France, although many protests have remained peaceful.

FRANCE EXPLODES AGAIN AS STUDENTS RIOT OVER EDUCATION

Thunberg, who rose to prominence organizing school strikes over climate change, criticized the French government's response to the demonstrations.

"We are inspired by the young people who are demanding their basic rights," Thunberg told reporters, according to Reuters. She also described the police response as "extremely violent."

About 161,500 people marched across France on Tuesday, including 41,500 in Paris, according to Interior Ministry figures. The Education Ministry said 214 schools were closed.

FRENCH SCHOOL RIOTS DEEPEN AS EXPERTS POINT TO FAR-LEFT ALLIANCE FUELING ‘BROADER CONFRONTATION’

President Donald Trump weighed in on the turmoil last week, blaming mass migration rather than complaints about education.

"What’s happening in France is nothing less than out of control mass migration. This isn’t about schools, this is about Islam wanting to take over a once great Country!" Trump wrote on Truth Social on Oct. 6.

The demonstrations have become a political flashpoint ahead of France's presidential election next May, with far-left presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Mélenchon accusing the government of excessive force against young protesters.

FRANCE IS DEVOURING ITSELF AS SCHOOL RIOTS REVEAL A CRISIS FAR BIGGER THAN BROKEN CLASSROOMS

Mélenchon joined demonstrators in Paris on Tuesday, while right-wing National Rally leader Marine Le Pen has condemned violence by protesters and called for those responsible for damaging schools to pay for repairs.

The police response has drawn criticism following an incident last week in which a 15-year-old boy lost his hand and part of his lower arm after picking up a police dispersal grenade that detonated during a demonstration in Lens.

French authorities subsequently suspended the use of the type of stun grenade involved in the incident.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for restraint and dialogue as the demonstrations continue.

Students have complained about deteriorating buildings, teacher shortages and school days that can stretch from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has asked ministers to address their demands.

Fox News Digital's Greg Norman-Diamond contributed to this report.

Collin, 22, claimed in an interview with ABC that his mom allegedly made him sleep in a locked room in the basement as a way to isolate him from his father, Jon Gosselin.

He claimed that one of his teachers noticed he had a swollen earlobe, which Collin said happened after Kate allegedly "dragged" him across the room by his ear during one abusive incident.

'JON & KATE PLUS 8' REALITY STAR'S TELL-ALL MEMOIR FOLLOWS YEARS OF ABUSE ALLEGATIONS

"My teacher saw ... and then I talked to my guidance counselor, and I told them about it," Collin said. "And my mom was not very happy that I spoke about that."

He was eventually pulled from school in the fourth grade, and recalled being "too afraid to say anything" when child protective services questioned abuse allegations.

COLLIN GOSSELIN SENDS CRYPTIC SIGNAL TO MOM KATE AFTER CLAIMS SHE'S 'SPIRALING' OVER HIS UPCOMING MEMOIR

Gosselin admitted he wasn't sure about life before the cameras arrived at his home to film his family, and told the outlet, "Simply put, my whole life that I lived was a lie."

After one attempt to runaway, Collin claimed his mother allegedly zip-tied him and locked him in his basement room.

KATE GOSSELIN CALLED A 'MONSTER' IN SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS AFTER SON COLLIN ANNOUNCES MEMOIR

"She had put my wrists together ... and my ankles, and took black zip ties and zip-tied my hands and feet together," he alleged to the outlet.

Days before his 12th birthday, Collin claimed Kate had him removed from their home and placed him in an institution. He alleged he was then "pumped with medication" and received little contact from his family.

"I was told, 'This is for your own good,'" he recalled before admitting, "I threatened my mom's income, I threatened her image and people will do anything to protect their reputation, especially my mom."

Kate claimed through the years that Collin suffered from a number of behavioral challenges. Collin wrote that she claimed he had autism, bipolar and obsessive compulsive disorder, but an independent psychological evaluation allegedly showed he didn't have any of those diagnoses.

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"Everybody was like, 'Were you surprised when you got this?' I was like, 'No,'" he said. "Because I knew that, it's just that I needed it on paper."

In a sit-down with Jay Shetty ahead of the release of his memoir, "In The Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood,' Collin claimed his earliest memories were when camera crews took over his house.

"We were rolling every day, I mean at least a majority of the week, every week of the month of the year," he said.

"And they were always there. There was always lights set up and cameras. And then once it got big enough and it was, it became, it went from ... you know, the big family in the small humble house to the big house."

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Gosselin recalled the first indication that life "wasn't normal for a child" when his parents went through a divorce.

"It was never normal," Gosselin noted. "That should never be a thing where you exploit children, where you film them potty training. But when I first had that recollection that ... realization, it was when my parents divorced and I kind of overheard some conversations where my father didn't want that for his children."

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"They would do things like they'd have photo shoots where they'd bring in like puppies and they'd be like, 'Kids, play with the puppies, have fun, pet them.' Once they got all the pictures, we'd still want to play with the puppies ... and they'd take the puppies away."

Fox News Digital has reached out to Kate's reps for comment.

While Kate has remained quiet about the allegations, she defended herself over the summer on social media.

The former reality TV star responded to comments on her TikTok posts referencing a few of Collin's claims where he alleged she "forced" him and his seven siblings apart and "pitted them against each other" as they were growing up.

"If you are 100% certain that the accusations against you are lies, my suggestion would be to take him to court and sue him for defamation!" one fan asked. She responded, ""I can’t bc I’m a public figure. Rules are different unfortunately. Or I def would!"

She wrote on another post, "Malice is one of the hardest things to prove. I tried :(. The rules are different for ppl in the public eye."

Gosselin also shared that she "consulted a high power LA attorney" in the past "when other ppl were putting crazy stuff out there," and that is what they told her. "The courts don’t honor it if you’re in the public eye :(" she added.

She later responded to another comment, saying, "Sadly, Only parents who have a mentally ill child understand! It’s so tough and I’m learning that ppl have NO ability to understand unless they’ve been through it themselves."

For generations, Americans have been warned that the notorious outlaw liquor could leave them blind. But "Moonshiners" stars Mark Ramsey and Eric "Digger" Manes say there's more behind that warning than most people realize.

"There's a huge different thought process behind moonshine than there was, say, in the '40s, '30s, early years," Manes told Fox News Digital.

KENNY LAW, 'MOONSHINERS' STAR, DEAD AT 68

"There was a lot of propaganda out there. It was said that it could make you go blind, make you die, make you go crazy, make you get the jack leg. The government was the one that was poisoning the industrial alcohol the people were stealing to make bathtub gin."

Historical records support part of Manes' account. During Prohibition, the federal government required industrial alcohol to contain toxic additives to discourage people from drinking it, according to the Smithsonian Channel. Some of that alcohol was diverted into the illegal liquor market and sold for consumption, although it was distinct from traditionally distilled moonshine.

The consequences were deadly. According to the Smithsonian Channel, 66 people died in New York City on Christmas Day 1926 after consuming poisoned industrial alcohol. The city's medical examiner, Charles Norris, blamed the federal government's practice of adding toxic substances to industrial alcohol, including those involving methyl alcohol, also known as methanol, which can cause blindness and death.

WATCH: ‘MOONSHINERS’ STARS REVEAL THE TRUTH BEHIND A MISUNDERSTOOD TRADITION

But not every warning about illicit liquor was a scare tactic.

Ramsey acknowledged that moonshine posed genuine health risks in earlier generations, particularly when distillers unknowingly used dangerous materials to build their equipment.

"Back in the day, there were people who had health issues because of moonshine," Ramsey explained. "The solder that they used to build the pots had lead in it back in the day, and they didn't know that it was happening. So once it was discovered that the solder had lead in it, even the old timers here, when they built their stills, they no longer soldered their joints on the inside of the pots. All the solder connections were on the outside where the mash never touched the solder anymore."

"So yeah, it caused some issues, but it was strictly an accident," he said. "They just didn’t know any better."

While moonshine does not inherently cause blindness, improperly produced spirits can contain dangerous levels of methanol, a toxic form of alcohol. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that methanol poisoning can damage the optic nerve, causing permanent vision loss or death.

"Moonshiners," which is now in its 16th season, premiered in 2011. The series follows "a diverse group of people living in Appalachia who carry on a 200-year-old tradition passed down from their forefathers, making moonshine," according to the show's synopsis.

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Distillers can legally produce and sell spirits marketed as moonshine if they comply with federal, state and local licensing, taxation and other requirements. Federal law generally prohibits producing distilled spirits at home for personal consumption, according to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, although recent court rulings have challenged the constitutionality of certain restrictions.

According to The Washington Post, federal appeals courts have issued conflicting rulings on a federal restriction on home distilling dating back to 1868.

In April 2026, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a federal restriction prohibiting distilled spirits plants from operating in homes and certain other locations was unconstitutional. Days later, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reached the opposite conclusion, upholding the restriction as a "necessary and proper means" of collecting liquor taxes, the outlet reported.

The Hobby Distillers Association and four individual plaintiffs challenged the restriction in the 5th Circuit case, according to The Washington Post. Supporters of legal home distilling hope overturning the restriction could spark a "craft spirits revolution."

The legal battle has since reached the Supreme Court. In July, John Ream, the plaintiff in the 6th Circuit case, asked the justices to review the ruling. The Justice Department filed a separate petition in August, seeking to overturn the 5th Circuit's decision.

Ramsey also challenged longstanding stereotypes about "moonshiners."

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"A lot of times, people give it a bad name because they just see it as poison and a bunch of heathens out doing stuff they shouldn’t do," he said. "And moonshiners, as a rule, are very, very good people. They were just simply doing what they had to do to survive back in the day."

"[Moonshine] didn't actually sell in Appalachia," Ramsey said. "It went farther north: Ohio, Detroit, New York, the East Coast. ... One of my friends told me ... he took a load of liquor to Ohio and said, 'Them fellas up there, they get it. And every one of them said, 'God bless them hillbillies.'"

"The liquor business back in the day, the heyday of it, probably wouldn't have flourished here in Appalachia so prominently had it not been for our northern neighbors buying it," Ramsey said. "So we had a reason to make it, and they had a reason to want it."

"We were broke, but could make liquor," Manes added. "And they had money and could buy it."

Ramsey is also optimistic about the future of moonshine. He said a new generation of distillers is eager to carry on the tradition.

"As we saw in previous seasons … we always want to know who's going to fill our shoes, who's going to carry the torch forward," he said. "[And] we have so many good distillers up and coming. I think it's got a future, a very healthy one. Things will change. It's been argued that the best drink of liquor hasn't been made yet, so they've got something to shoot for."

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"That's the most beautiful thing about the lessons you learn from these old timers that taught you how to make liquor," Manes said. "You make do with what you've got, and you don't let the situation you're standing in drag you down. You keep going forward."

For Manes, preserving the tradition comes down to pride in his craft.

"To me, it's more the pride," he said. "It's no different. I don't know what hobby you may have. It may be painting. You may paint pictures. Well, if you do a beautiful portrait, and you stand back, and you look at it, you think, 'Wow, that really does look good.'"

Manes said he gets that same satisfaction from turning simple ingredients into moonshine.

"We take what other people would consider slop — that’s the conglomeration of cornmeal and sugar — and make a crystal-clear product that tastes good," he said. "And we love it."

"Good thing about this business is it [doesn't] really have bad times," Ramsey said.

"If you’re down in the dumps, you drink to drown your sorrows," he joked. "If you’re happy, you drink to celebrate. So it’s got a good source of customers all the time."