Men's Journal's Blog, page 106
May 20, 2025
Cause of Death Released for UW-Platteville Students Kelsie Martin & Hallie Helms
Kelsie Martin and Hallie Helms have been named as the two students who are dead in the incident at a UW-Platteville campus dormitory in Wisconsin. Authorities say their cause of death was gunshot wounds.
A preliminary autopsy showed Martin was shot to death, according to WKOW-TV. Helms "died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound," the television station reported.
According to the university's commencement program, both Martin and Helms graduated from the university on May 17. Hallie L. Helms received a degree in elementary education. Kelsie Martin received a degree in psychology. UW-Platteville is part of the Universities of Wisconsin system.
The university's chancellor named Martin and Helms in a statement sent to the campus community and Men's Journal. The cause of death was initially not released. However, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that "several sources on campus said a shooting apparently had occurred."
The Grant County coroner's office declined to release the cause of death on May 20, saying the incident was still under investigation, but authorities later released it.
Student Amanda Sawatzki described to The Journal Sentinel hearing what sounded like a gunshot when a "loud bang" rang out in the campus dorms after hearing "the voices of two people fighting in a room down the hall."
UW-Platteville Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich confirmed the names of the two dead students in an email sent to Men's Journal by the university.
"It is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of two UW-Platteville students, Kelsie Martin, 22, of Beloit, Wisconsin, and Hallie Helms, 22, of Baraboo, Wisconsin. This incident was a targeted and isolated event between the two individuals. Families of the students have been notified," the email reads.
Martin's LinkedIn page says that she worked as an assistant director in the residence hall. The campus touted Martin in a posting on Facebook.
"I own over 400 books and want to have my own in home library one day," the post quotes her as saying. It also quotes her as saying she applied to be an RA "to help people the same way my RA helped me" and that she enjoyed "the lasting connections I have made."
"Worked as the lead supervisor of a residence hall on campus, overseeing 8-12 RAs and SAs. Attended weekly meetings, held regular office hours, and responded to various emergencies around the hall, including but not limited to mental health, hate and bias, policy violations, and more," the LinkedIn page says.
According to WPR, the incident was "targeted" and "isolated" and both Martin and Helms lived in the dormitory.
"The UW-Platteville Police Department responded to an incident which occurred in Wilgus Hall on the afternoon of May 19th. The initial investigation has determined that this is an isolated incident and there is no on-going threat to the public," police wrote in a statement on Facebook.
In a press conference, Chief Joseph Hallman of the UW-Platteville Police Department said that, just before 4 p.m., police received a 911 call indicating a situation at Wilgus Hall, a dorm on campus.
There was not an active ongoing threat, police determined immediately, he said. They ordered the campus to shelter in place.
Just after 5 p.m., the shelter-in-place was lifted as it was determined to be an "isolated" incident, he said. He would not release whether there was a shooting, deaths, or a cause of death at that point.
Evetovich also spoke at the news conference and said officials are trying to be supportive of students, but she did not reveal additional details of the incident. Officials announced that they had cancelled final exams for the rest of the week.
Students told WAOW-TV that they were frustrated by the lack of information.
University counselors "will be offering triage counseling Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. In addition, a toll-free emotional support line is available at 844.602.6680 or 720.272.0004, staffed by mental health professionals. The line will be available overnight from Monday into Tuesday, with hours of operation adjusted as needed based on demand," the university's email said.
"The well-being of our Pioneer community is my biggest concern. Please take the time to take care of yourself and others."
Authorities Recover Long-Missing Statue of Jim Morrison
Authorities in France have found a long-missing statue of Doors frontman Jim Morrison, which was stolen from his grave in 1988, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
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The statue was moulded by Croatian artist Mladen Mikulin and placed upon his grave at Paris’s Père Lachaise cemetery in 1981 to commemorate 10 years since Morrison’s passing. The famed singer was found dead in 1971 in the bathtub of his Paris apartment at age 27. Though Morrison was a known drug user, no autopsy was performed after his death, and the official cause remains unknown. The New York Times reported that French investigators speculated Morrison died of a heart attack “possibly aggravated by excessive drinking.”
On Monday, May 19, officers working with the financial and anti-corruption department within Paris’s judicial police department located the statue during an unrelated search pertaining to a fraud case, bringing an end to the 37-year mystery. It has since been placed back at Morrison’s gravesite.
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A representative for Morrison’s estate told Rolling Stone that the family was "happy to hear the news" that a "piece of history" had been returned to its rightful spot. “It's gratifying to see that it's been recovered,” he added.
Morrison’s grave has long been a congregation spot for fans of the singer. His resting spot is located in a nook within Pére Lachaise known as Poet’s Corner, where Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, and other famous artists are interred. Fans have come far and wide to pay their respects to Morrison in vastly untraditional ways, such as graffitiing his grave and those of his neighbors.
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May 19, 2025
Taylor Swift Premiered a Snippet of 'Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor's Version)'
Pop sensation Taylor Swift has kept a relatively low profile since the end of her record-breaking Eras Tour last year, and it has been an abnormally long time since she has treated her fans to any new music. However, fans were given an unexpected treat on Tuesday.
Taylor Swift has been gradually re-recording all of her old albums before her Lover album in order to earn a version of the master recordings for each of her songs. So far, she has recorded Fearless, Red, Speak Now, and 1989, leaving just her debut album and Reputation to be re-recorded.
It's been over 18 months since she released 1989 (Taylor's Version), her most recent re-recorded album. Though there have been a lot of hints that Reputation would be the next album to be re-recorded, it has still not been announced, making it by far the longest it has been between her re-recorded albums. However, fans got a little taste of what's to come this week.
The most recent episode of The Handmaid's Tale, which was released on Tuesday at midnight, included a surprise premiere of "Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version)," which will be included on her upcoming re-record of her Reputation album.
Rebellion (June's version). A new episode of #TheHandmaidsTale is now streaming on @hulu and with #HuluOnDisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/NUFzqd3tyB
— The Handmaid's Tale (@HandmaidsOnHulu) May 20, 2025
Needless to say, the surprise premiere of the song led to a lot of reactions from Swifties on social media.
"REP TV IS COMINGGGGGGG," one fan wrote in a post on X.
"You never know where Taylor Swift or her music will turn up," someone else added.
"Y’all be ready she’s coming !!!!!" another person wrote.
"almost the whole song omg rep tv is so close," a fan commented.
It's not clear when Taylor plans to release Reputation (Taylor's Version), but the release of this song does seem to indicate that it is coming in the near future.
Newark Airport Has Another Alarming Incident
The Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons this month, and it faced another alarming incident on Monday.
The major airport servicing New York City has faced a number of equipment and staffing issues this month, resulting in many delays and cancellations. The issues got so bad that NBC News correspondent Tom Costello quoted an anonymous air traffic controller earlier this month who called the airport "not safe."
“It is not safe. It is not a safe situation right now for the flying public,” Costello reported.
"Really an incredible statement, unsolicited," Costello added about the source's comments. "He just said that to me, and separately: ‘Don’t fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs.’”
While the U.S. government has stepped in to try to remedy the issues, reducing incoming and outgoing air traffic at the airport, the Newark Airport dealt with yet another concerning incident on Monday.
According to CBS News, the Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into a brief radio system outage at the Philadelphia air traffic control center responsible for handling flights at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday.
The control center lost radio frequencies for two seconds at around 11:35 a.m. local time on Monday, the FAA said, marking the fourth incident of this kind to take place at Newark Airport since April 28 amid consistent equipment and staffing issues.
Obviously, it has been a concerning several weeks for one of the country's busiest airports.
Toyota’s C-HR Is Back—And It’s Now Fully Electric
After disappearing from U.S. showrooms in 2022, the Toyota C-HR is officially making a comeback, but not in the form you remember. The automaker has reintroduced the compact crossover as a fully electric SUV, and it’s making a bold entrance with coupe-inspired styling, all-wheel drive, and a manufacturer-estimated 290-mile range.
Unveiled on May 14, the all-new 2026 Toyota C-HR Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) trades in its gas-powered roots for a high-performance electric setup. It boasts 338 horsepower and can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in around five seconds. Standard AWD gives it road-gripping capability, while a new underfloor battery design lowers the center of gravity for a smoother, more agile ride.
Built on Toyota’s dedicated e-TNGA EV platform, the reinvented C-HR will come in SE and XSE trims, offering a range of premium features like a massive 14-inch touchscreen, customizable ambient lighting, and dual wireless phone chargers. Drivers also get Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0 suite, complete with lane departure alerts, adaptive cruise control, and emergency braking.
The C-HR BEV will be capable of DC fast charging, going from 10% to 80% battery in about 30 minutes. Plug & Charge technology and a NACS charging port offer access to thousands of stations nationwide. Toyota says it will also include regenerative braking paddle shifters and remote climate control through the Toyota app.
This isn’t just a rebadge. It’s a full reinvention of the C-HR nameplate that Toyota first launched in 2018 and pulled from the U.S. in 2022. The new BEV version embraces a sleeker silhouette, smart tech, and electrifying performance, positioning it as a serious contender in the growing EV crossover market.
Expect the 2026 C-HR BEV to arrive at Toyota dealerships nationwide next year.
Publix Recalls GreenWise Baby Food Over Lead Concerns
Publix Super Markets has issued a voluntary recall of one of its GreenWise baby food products due to potential lead contamination. The recall, announced May 9, affects 4-ounce pouches of GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food sold across the chain’s eight-state operating area.
According to the company, routine product testing revealed elevated levels of lead in the baby food, which is manufactured by Bowman Andros LLC. While there have been no reported illnesses linked to the product, Publix is urging customers to return the affected pouches for a full refund.
The impacted product can be identified by the GTIN number 41415-00901 and a “Best If Used By” date of November 1, 2025.
“As part of our commitment to food safety, potentially impacted products have been removed from all store shelves,” said Publix Director of Communications Maria Brous in a statement. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is aware of the recall, which is being made out of an abundance of caution.
Consumers with questions are encouraged to contact Publix’s customer care line at 1-800-242-1227 or visit the company’s website at publix.com.
Lead exposure is particularly dangerous for infants and young children, with potential long-term effects on brain development, learning, and behavior, according to the CDC. Even small amounts can be harmful.
Publix, which operates more than 1,400 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky, has been recognized for its commitment to quality and customer service. The grocery chain emphasized its continued focus on food safety and transparency in light of the recall
U.S. Has Active Travel Advisory for Jamaica
As summer fast approaches, many Americans have already begun planning their trips and out-of-the-country vacations for the next few months. But as you plan your travel, the United States has an active travel warning for one of the more popular vacation spots in the Caribbean.
Jamaica is one of the more popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean, with the country welcoming 4.3 million visitors in 2024, which generated $4.3 billion for the country's economy, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board.
However, the United States Department of State is warning Americans to think again before visiting the Caribbean vacation destination.
The United States has an active Level 3 travel advisory for Jamaica, warning Americans to "Reconsider Travel" to Jamaica as a result of crime and health concerns.
The travel advisory warned that violent crime occurs throughout Jamaica. While the tourist destinations typically experience less of this crime, U.S. citizens have been victims of violent crimes even while on resorts, and law enforcement is often slow and/or inadequate.
"The homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica is among the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Armed robberies and sexual assaults are common," the travel advisory states.
"The U.S. Embassy routinely receives reports of sexual assaults, including from U.S. citizen tourists at resorts. U.S. citizens report slow or unsatisfactory response to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a final verdict and sentence."
In addition to concerns about violent crime, the State Department also warns that Jamaica's health care may not be adequate in the case of a medical emergency, either.
"U.S. citizens should not expect the same level of health care available in Jamaica as is available in the United States," the advisory states. "This includes generally lower levels of emergency service response times or routine care for illness or injury. Private hospitals require payment up front before admitting patients and may not have the ability to provide specialized care. Ambulance services are not always staffed with EMTs or always readily available, especially in rural areas. U.S. citizens should bring extra prescription medication as common medications such as insulin can be difficult to obtain."
Needless to say, if your travel plans include Jamaica this summer, it would be wise to reconsider or at least take special care.
Score Free Chipotle All Summer—Here’s How
Chipotle is turning up the heat this summer with its biggest customer giveaway yet. The fast-casual giant just announced the launch of its “Summer of Extras” program, offering over $1 million in free burritos and exclusive perks for Chipotle Rewards members.
Running from June 1 through August 31, the three-month promotion rewards loyalty members with extra points, surprise giveaways, and the chance to win burritos for a year—plus a limited-edition stainless steel gift card. Each week, 10,000 lucky participants will be selected at random to receive a free burrito, simply for making a qualifying purchase or submitting an online entry.
In total, one fan in each of the 48 states where Chipotle operates, plus Washington, D.C., will walk away with a grand prize of 52 free entrée codes and that coveted stainless gift card.
To join the fun, guests need to sign up for Chipotle Rewards and opt into “Summer of Extras” at chipotle.com/summer-of-extras. Participants can then complete up to four milestones per month to rack up bonus points and sweepstakes entries. Each milestone is tied to entrée purchases and offers up to 300 points and 30 entries per round.
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Chipotle is also gamifying the experience with a leaderboard that tracks superfan stats like location visits and ingredient preferences (yes, even Team Guac vs. Team Queso).
“We’re giving our loyal fans the chance to get rewarded more than ever,” said Chief Brand Officer Chris Brandt. “It’s our most rewarding summer yet.”
As an added bonus, new Rewards members will score a free guac offer after their first purchase. Just don’t forget to clean your calendar because Chipotle’s free food bonanza starts June 1.
Marvel Just Leaked Two 'Fantastic Four' Spoilers In the Weirdest Way Possible
Generally speaking, if you're looking to avoid big spoilers, the week a massive movie comes out is the danger zone. Sometimes, two weeks before can be bad, because some movie critics let too many specific plot details into their reviews. But when a movie is still two months away, generally, you'd think you'd be safe from spoilers. Well, think again! In two separate and bizarre incidents, Marvel has accidentally leaked two spoilers about The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Here's what to know about how these spoilers happened, plus whether you can avoid any more in the future. Mild spoilers ahead.
To be clear, neither of these spoilers is particularly huge, but it's also true that both could have been avoided. This is your last chance to turn back!
Okay, so first, on Monday, on X, and as reported by CinemaBlend, leaked images from a Snapple ad surfaced, which have fully revealed the towering villain Galactus, in all of his armored glory. (We'll not post the images here, you can head over to X if you want.) We knew Galactus was coming, thanks to glimpses in the trailer, but a full reveal has not happened yet, and certainly, nobody expected it to come via Snapple.
Related: 'Fantastic Four' Trailer Reveals Classic Marvel Villain's Surprising Comeback
The second leak was a little bigger: As pointed out by IGN, ads for forthcoming Funko Pops based on First Steps have confirmed that the character of Franklin Richards is very much in the movie. Franklin is Reed Richards and Sue Storm's son. The trailers already told us that Sue was pregnant, so the idea that this character could show up wasn't out of nowhere.
And yet, nobody expected advanced confirmation that this child would be Franklin Richards, a deep-cut character from the comics. To be sure, the new Fantastic Four movie hasn't been fully ruined by these leaks. But let's hope that as it gets closer to July, Marvel puts the lid on any other big secrets.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25, 2025.Related: First 'Fantastic Four' Teaser Confirms Surprising Alternate Timeline
'Dilbert' Creator Scott Adams Announces He May Not Live Past Summer
Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams has announced that he might not live past summer.
On his podcast Real Coffee With Scott Adams, which he also posted to his X page on May 19, Adams revealed his diagnosis. The podcast has had 1 million views in less than 24 hours.
Adams began by discussing President Joe Biden's prostate cancer, and he said it's not the good kind.
"I would like to extend my respect and compassion and sympathy for the ex-president and his family," Adams said. "It's a terrible disease. It's going to get very painful for the president..."
Eventually, he segued into the news about his own diagnosis.
“I have the same cancer that Joe Biden has,” Adams said. “So, I also have prostate cancer, that has also spread to my bones. But I’ve had it longer than he’s had it ― well, longer than he’s admitted having it ― so my life expectancy is, maybe this summer. I expect to be checking out from this domain sometime this summer.”
Coffee With Scott Adams 5/19/25 https://t.co/miG4jySdsD
— Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) May 19, 2025
Adams said that the disease "is already intolerable. I can tell you that I don't have good days. So if you're wondering, 'Hey Scott, do you have any good days?' Nope, every day is a nightmare, and evenings are even worse."
He said he doesn't "function too well" after the show. He has the ability to get up for part of the day to do the podcast, but he's "always in pain, and the pain moves around to different parts of my body." He said he has been using a walker to walk for months now, and he called the pain from cancer "intolerable."
Adams said he's processed his diagnosis.
"Everybody has to die, as far as I know. It's kind of civilized that you know about how long you have so you can put your affairs together and make sure you said your goodbyes," Adams said.
He said it was "good" that it gave him enough time to "wrap things up." He said he didn't announce the diagnosis sooner because he didn't want to be treated as the "dying cancer guy."
Adams chastised the public for becoming "prostate experts." The first part of his podcast was a lengthy discussion about Biden's cancer and questions surrounding it.
Related: Joe Biden Releases First Public Comment on Cancer Diagnosis
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