A COVID wave is washing over California, with the state seeing continued increases in the number of newly confirmed cases and hospitalizations as some officials urged the public to take greater precautions. The extent of the recent increases has prompted some county-level health officials to recommend that residents once again consider wearing masks in indoor […]

In 1992 EFF presented our very first awards recognizing key leaders and organizations advancing innovation and championing civil liberties and human rights online. Now in 2025 we're continuing to celebrate the accomplishments of people working toward a better future for everyone with the EFF Awards!All are invited to attend the EFF Awards on Wednesday, September 10 at the San Francisco Design Center. Whether you're an activist, an EFF supporter, a student interested in cyberlaw, or someone who wants to munch on a strolling dinner with other likeminded individuals, anyone can enjoy the ceremony!REGISTER TODAY!GENERAL ADMISSION: $55 | CURRENT EFF MEMBERS: $45 | STUDENTS: $35If you're not able to make it, we'll also be hosting a livestream of the event on Friday, September 12 at 12:00 PM PT. The event will also be recorded, and posted to YouTube and the Internet Archive after the livestream.We are honored to present the three winners of this year's EFF Awards: Just Futures Law, Erie Meyer, and Software Freedom Law Center, India. But, before we kick off the ceremony next week, let's take a closer look at each of the honorees. First up—Just Futures Law, winner of the EFF Award for Leading Immigration and Surveillance Litigation:Just Futures Law is a women-of-color-led law project that recognizes how surveillance disproportionately impacts immigrants and people of color in the United States. In the past year, Just Futures sued the Department of Homeland Security and its subagencies seeking a court order to compel the agencies to release records on their use of AI and other algorithms, and sued the Trump Administration for prematurely halting Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status, a humanitarian program that allows hundreds of thousands of Haitians to temporarily remain and work in the United States due to Haiti’s current conditions of extraordinary crises. It has represented activists in their fight against tech giants like Clearview AI, it has worked with Mijente to launch the TakeBackTech fellowship to train new advocates on grassroots-directed research, and it has worked with Grassroots Leadership to fight for the release of detained individuals under Operation Lone Star.We're excited to celebrate Just Futures Law and the other EFF Award winners in person in San Francisco on September 10! We hope that you'll join us there.Thank you to Fastly, DuckDuckGo, Corellium, and No Starch Press for their year-round support of EFF's mission.Want to show your team’s support for EFF? Sponsorships ensure we can continue hosting events like this to build community among digital rights supporters. Please visit eff.org/thanks or contact tierney@eff.org for more information on corporate giving and sponsorships.EFF is dedicated to a harassment-free experience for everyone, and all participants are encouraged to view our full Event Expectations.Questions? Email us at events@eff.org.

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Pornhub owner Aylo will pay a $5 million settlement to the FTC and Utah over allegations that the company knowingly profited off of illegal materials.

Continuing to give back to those in need. Over the last few weeks, we have seen Texas country artists and friends of these artists band together to support the Texas Hill Country after the horrific floods that occurred over the 4th of July weekend. While it may take months to fully assess the damage caused by these floods and determine what is needed for these communities to fully recover, they are left with ample funding thanks to the country music community. While I’m sure these numbers will still only make a small dent in what is needed to rebuild, it’s still incredible to see so many artists band together to raise money for the Lone Star State. Many artists have organized benefit shows, raising substantial amounts for the relief fund. George Strait’s “Strait To The Heart” concert raised $6.5 million and counting, Pat Green raised over $1 million through his virtual concert held at Globe Life Field, Koe Wetzel’s show raised over $750,000, Josh Weathers quickly organized a virtual show that surpassed $500,000, and Robert Earl Keen raised $3 million and counting during his recent benefit show in New Braunfels, Texas. While many artists have stepped up, with some performing at multiple benefit shows, the efforts to support flood victims are now extending beyond the stage. With many of the benefit shows wrapping up, artists are still finding ways to give back. Recently, the red dirt group, the Turnpike Troubadours, announced that they are collecting donations for Texas flood relief, and one lucky fan who donates will win a signed Evan Felker guitar. “Hey guys, I’m Evan Felker. I play with a band called the Turnpike Troubadours. Maybe this guitar or maybe one of my J-200s, and 100% of this will go to relief for the flood victims in Texas.” Said at the start of the video. In a separate post on their social media, the band gives some more information as to how fans can enter to win this beautiful piece of Turnpike Troubadours’ history. “Donate to enter to win Evan’s Gibson Pre‑War SJ‑200 Guitar. 100% of the money raised will go to Texas Flood Relief. Donate + enter with our friends at Conscious Alliance.  This is the very guitar Evan played on our latest album, ‘The Price of Admission,’ and it made an appearance on stage at every Turnpike Troubadours show from January 2024 through July 2025. Your prize will also include a Letter of Authenticity signed by Evan Felker, confirming its place in Turnpike Troubadours history.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Turnpike Troubadours (@turnpiketroubadours) Felker later posted on his personal Instagram images of the actual guitar that he will gift to a fan: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Evan Felker (@felkersongs) Back to the YouTube video, Felker shares why it was weighing on his heart to do this in an effort to raise more money for Texas flood victims. “As a dad and as a guy who called Texas home, this is near and dear to my heart. I’ve been thinking about you guys a whole lot.” Felker then says that he’s going to perform a tune that he hasn’t played at shows much recently. That song is “Empty As A Drum,” the stunning acoustic ballad from their 2012 record Goodbye Normal Street. The tune highlights the feeling of being empty as the narrator feels hopeless and is in despair, hoping that a person, perhaps a lover, will appear at the bar he’s at. However, he has created a mess in his mind, knowing that they will likely not show up. As he wrestles with the emotions of profound loneliness, he sips on a finger or two of rum before deciding that it’s time to give up and go home. “And I’m gonna give it one more minute Give me one more round of rum Well I’m as empty as a drum I’m as empty as a drum Could you spare a cigarette I hate to be a bum But here’s to hopin’ she’ll still come I’m too old to be this dumb Well, I’m too old to be this dumb.” As always, Evan Felker delivers a stunning vocal performance in this laid-back performance. The guitar, too, sounds incredible, and I can fully admit the thought of having that hanging on my wall sounds pretty good. The Turnpike Troubadours are good Okies who are lending a hand to their brothers and sisters in Texas. Be sure to donate to this wonderful cause, and who knows, maybe you’ll be the lucky winner of this stunning guitar. Turn this one all the way up. The post Turnpike Troubadours Are Giving A Signed Evan Felker Guitar To One Fan Who Donates To Texas Flood Relief first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

NBC News asked the sexual abuse victim of Jeffery Epstein if President Trump was involved in anything inappropriate. The answer was ‘no’. Watch below: Sure, they had to ask that question. I . . .