CLAIM: An image authentically shows convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and four boys posing for a photo on an island. FAKE: On Jan. 16, 2026, a Threads user posted (archived) an image allegedly showing the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and four boys posing for a photo on an island, with his hand on one boy's shoulder. The user's post claimed the image was not created with artificial-intelligence tools and added a message urging the release of the Epstein case files.

The National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) estimates the average household will spend $995 on home heating this winter, an increase of $84 compared to last year. NEADA also reports that residential electricity prices in 2025 are at their highest level in a decade, and that the average monthly electricity bill has increased by about 10% since January.

TikTok announced Thursday that it has finalized a historic deal to launch a majority American-owned joint venture, a move aimed at averting a potential U.S. ban on the popular social media app.

YES. A presidential pardon excuses the punishments of a felony, but the crime isn't automatically overturned or erased from one's record. Adam Johnson, photographed with Nancy Pelosi's lectern during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, announced he's running for office in Manatee County. He, along with nearly 1,600 others, were pardoned by President Trump in 2025. While his punishments were forgiven and civil rights were restored –– giving him the right to hold public office –– his conviction as a felon isn't erased. AllSides highlights content from Gigafact, a network of newsrooms that respond to online claims. View the full fact brief on Suncoast Searchlight.

TikTok said Thursday that it has established a new U.S. venture as part of an agreement to allow the popular social media platform to continue operating in the U.S.

American investors have closed a $14 billion deal giving them control of the U.S. version of TikTok, raising a host of questions about what's next for the social media app and its tens of millions of users.

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