Carol Ross, 87, can’t stop smiling at dance practice as she shouts out the steps of a routine to members of her tap and jazz troupe for women aged 50 and older.

“I’ve been dancing my whole life, it’s the best,” said Ross, who founded the Rodeo City Wreckettes group 23 years ago, at an age when many people are getting ready for retirement.

Ross and her 89-year-old husband and lifelong dance partner, John, have long known what more older adults are now discovering: moving to music is one of the best ways to stay healthy. Medical professionals say it doesn’t matter if it’s Western line dancing, ballroom steps, salsa, tap, Zumba at the gym, or with a group like the Wreckettes.

Julio Loya, a nurse and geriatric program coordinator at the Tucson Medical Center, affirmed, “Dancing is one of the most powerful activities for older people.”

Why dancing helps balance, strength and more

Dance, like other exercises, can help people lose weight, get stronger, reduce fall risk, increase mobility and flexibility, and even improve brain health.

“ It engages their brain, it changes their mood, and it connects them socially while getting them moving,” said Loya. “And it’s fun. Everybody has a good time.”

Dr. Tom Johnson, a gerontologist at the UC Health Seniors Clinic in Aurora, Colorado, said he remembers one man in particular whose passion for dance was so strong that he willed himself to attend one last class before he died in his late 80s.

“His No. 1 priority was that he danced until the day that he died,” Johnson said of his patient.

Johnson said dance can improve the balance of his patients at the clinic, which serves about 2,500 people 75 and older a year.

He said older patients can benefit from adding two to three dance sessions to the 150 minutes of aerobic exercise he recommends for them each week, because dancing often involves movements that help with balance, such as walking backward or standing on one foot.

Meeting people by dancing together

The Wreckettes practice their routines during two-hour sessions at least twice a week in a rented dance studio.

After studying ballet as a girl, then moving on to everything from ballroom to tap as an adult, Ross said it made sense to keep dancing when she and her husband moved from Philadelphia to retire in Tucson.

John Ross is a key part of the Wreckettes’ routines, typically joining his wife for at least one number. At one recent practice, it was a saucy saunter to Merle Haggard’s “Let’s Chase Each Other Around the Room.”

“I learned early on that dancing was a great way to attract the chicks,” joked John Ross, who slid across the floor like a much younger man.

Wreckettes member Cindy Soffrin said that watching her mother suffer as she aged convinced her to stay active as she got older.

“My mom was sedentary the last 20 years of her life. It was pretty rough,” said Soffrin, 74.

For 67-year-old Gail Kowalski, joining the Wreckettes three years ago meant finding new friends after her husband died and she moved from Utah to Tucson.

“Plus, it’s so dang fun,” Kowalski said.

The fun of performing

The Wreckettes perform throughout the year, from holiday events to rodeo shows, dressing up in a series of matching sparkly costumes.

But they all said what they love the most is being hired by retirement homes to perform for memory care patients. Wreckette members take turns picking a favorite charity to donate their earnings.

“When we first arrive, people will be distracted or sleeping,” said Soffrin. “But once the music comes on, they perk up right away.”

A similar dance group for older women in Las Vegas, the Vegas Golden Gals, also performs at retirement homes, said Cheryl Cortez, the group’s president. They add pompoms to their routines.

“I must now know close to 40 routines,” said Cortez, 69. “And that alone has to be great for the memory.”

How to begin dancing when you’re older

If you want to start moving to music, here are some tips from health professionals and dance instructors:

BEFORE STARTING: Check with your health provider before starting a dance or any exercise program. Choose something simple to start, like line dancing rather than intricate tango steps.

FIND A CLASS: Check with a YMCA, parks and recreation department, or senior or community center. Community colleges often have dance classes, sometimes tailored for older people. Local dance studios and YouTube videos are other options. If you have Medicare Advantage insurance with the Silver Sneakers benefit, find out if your local gym has Zumba or other dance classes you can attend for free.

BEFORE THE SESSION: Dress comfortably for easy movement, and warm up and stretch before class.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: Have fun! You are doing great things for your mind and body.

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden is a “victim” of football’s packed fixture schedule after being left out of England’s World Cup squad, says the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association.

Foden failed to secure a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the tournament in North America following a disappointing season for City.

The 25-year-old was among a number of leading players discussed during a meeting of Fifpro – the global body representing professional footballers.

PFA chief Maheta Molango, who also serves on the Fifpro board, said there are reasons behind why Foden has not hit the heights of previous seasons.

Foden picked up a number of individual awards at the end of the 2023-24 campaign – including being voted PFA player of the year.

“The number of games that he’s been available for has dropped and, when he has been available, it has not been the version of Phil Foden we saw two years ago,” says Molango.

“Unfortunately, he is one of the victims of this crazy calendar that only makes sense for those pursuing commercial gain to the detriment of the quality of the spectacle and the protection of players, who should be football’s heritage.

“It’s a very sad state of affairs if someone like Phil is not on the pitch because we love players who make us dream and who have pure talent.”

Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer, 24, was another high-profile player who endured a difficult campaign and was not selected by the Three Lions.

“We’ve seen only a glimpse [this year] to the detriment of Chelsea fans [and] England fans,” Molango added.

Fifpro claim players cannot cope with “high-threshold competitive seasons” year after year without eventually suffering injuries or a decline in performance.

Data collected by the organisation indicates Arsenal‘s England midfielder Declan Rice and Liverpool‘s Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk could be at increased risk of injury or reduced form next season because of their workloads.

Van Dijk played in all 38 of Liverpool‘s Premier League games while Rice featured in 36 for Arsenal.

Both are set to feature at the expanded 48-team World Cup where matches will also be played in high temperatures.

Molango fears the World Cup will simply become a “survival of the fittest”.

He said: “There is a big chance that may be the case because some of the most talented players at the biggest clubs will reach a point where it is simply too much.

“You cannot go into a competition having already played 60, or close to 60, games.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration wants all current and future federal employees to sign non-disclosure agreements, part of a continuing crackdown on leaks to the media.

The notice in the Federal Register from the Office of Personnel Management posted Tuesday asked for comment on a draft NDA to be used by federal agencies for “both new and existing employees.”

“The form is intended to document Federal employees’ acknowledgment of, and agreement to comply with, current legal obligations to safeguard non-public, confidential, or proprietary information, created or obtained through their official duties, while expressly preserving the right to make disclosures authorized by law,” the notice said.

The notice sought comment on several questions, including whether the NDA should cover only unclassified information and what appropriate actions, if any, agencies should consider for new or current employees who choose not to sign the agreement.

The OPM noted “several recent instances” where internal agency communications related to rulemaking and policy development were disclosed without authorization. It also discussed specific instances in which federal employees at the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security disclosed information about planned immigration enforcement actions without authorization.

In one case, the New York Times and Washington Post received unauthorized information on the U.S. raid on Venezuela this past January and delayed “publishing what they knew to avoid endangering U.S. troops,” the OPM request for comment said.

A Washington Post spokesperson declined to comment.

Charles Stadtlander, executive director of Media Relations and Communications for the Times, said in an email that the paper had extensive reporting on operations targeting Venezuela and preparations for land-based military operations. “Contrary to some claims, however, The Times did not have verified details about the pending operation to capture Maduro or a story prepared, nor did we withhold publication at the request of the Trump administration.”

Ferreting out leaks that the administration deems harmful to its messaging has been a priority across multiple agencies since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. As part of that crackdown, the FBI in January seized the electronic devices of a Washington Post reporter, a move that alarmed media organizations and advocates of press freedom.

One other notable incident occurred last year when dozens of reporters turned in their access badges at the Pentagon, rejecting new rules imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that would leave journalists vulnerable to expulsion if they sought to report on information — classified or otherwise — that had not been approved by Hegseth for release.

The American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley said in a statement that OPM’s proposed rule is part of a continuing effort to silence federal employees.

“This proposed NDA is another attempt by the administration to purge the civil service of nonpartisan career employees and replace them with loyalists who won’t speak out against waste, fraud, and abuse,” Kelley said.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses after a fatal crash yesterday (May 25) that took place in Bradley Lane from the direction of Askham Richard towards Rufforth.

The crash happened around 10.25am yesterday morning and involved a 53-year-old man – who was part of a group of cyclists – and a John Dere tractor.

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A spokesperson for the force confirmed that the man died earlier today and that his family had been informed.

They added: “The driver of the tractor, a 75-year-old man from the York area was interviewed by police and released under investigation.”

The road remained closed for several hours yesterday to allow for collision investigation work and recovery to take place; it has been confirmed none of the other cyclists were injured.

Police say they are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken to police, or anyone who may have dashcam footage of the collision or moments leading up to it, including either of the vehicles involved prior to the collision.

If you can help in any way, please email the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at SCIU@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and speak to the Force Control Room.

Please quote reference number 12260095101 when providing details.

Multiple fatalities have been reported after a chemical explosion occurred at a paper mill in Washington state.

First responders were at Nippon Dynawave Packaging in Longview, “following the rupture of a tank containing white liquor,” the Longview Fire Department said in a joint statement released on Facebook by local officials and the packaging company.

The explosion occurred at around 7:15 a.m. local time on Tuesday, according to officials.

Officials confirmed “multiple critical injuries” related to the explosion. The fire department said people were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Multiple people had chemical burns and other injuries from the explosion, the fire department said in a previous Facebook post.

There have also been multiple fatalities, according to officials, but an exact number has yet to be released.

There is “no immediate threat” to the community, the fire department said in its most recent statement. But officials have asked people to avoid the area as they investigate.

“Responding agencies continue coordinating closely with facility personnel and partner agencies as the investigation and recovery efforts continue,” the fire department said.

There were five fire trucks, seven ambulances and a hazmat team at the paper mill Tuesday.

Nippon Dynawave Packaging has around 550 employees at its pulp and paper mill, according to Washington’s Department of Ecology.

The mill makes about 280,000 tons of paperboard and pulp each year. It also has about 450 workers at its liquid packaging plant.

This is a developing story…

London City Lionesses are attempting to pull off the biggest transfer in WSL history as they chase the two-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Whether other clubs are also in discussions is unclear, but London City have been linked with a move for Putellas for some time and are the favourites to bring her in.

They are willing to pull out all the stops to boost their ranks, including offering her wages that would reflect her status as one of the greatest players of all-time.

They have been braced for a big summer, starting conversations with several players in January, with the view to boosting the squad at the end of the season.

London City have ambitions of breaking into the WSL’s top three and qualifying for the Champions League in the not-too-distant future, and a signing like Putellas would be a huge step towards that.

Putellas, who only lifted the Champions League trophy with Barcelona on Saturday, is also the blockbuster name billionaire owner Michele Kang craves.

Kang also owns Lyon, who Barcelona beat in Saturday’s final, and she will know all too well what qualities Putellas possesses and the heights she can help London City reach.

This year’s WSL newcomers are not your average club – an independent outfit, backed by seemingly unlimited funds from Kang and a desire to grow a women’s football team from scratch. That makes them an intriguing project.

With Spanish coach Eder Maestre at the helm, close friend Jana Fernandez thriving there, and Barcelona team-mate Mapi Leon also expected to join London City, there are draws for Putellas.

However, going from her childhood club, who she has just captained to her fourth European title, to a team who finished mid-table in the WSL this season would be a drop down.

It further highlights the draw of the WSL and its rapid growth as more of the world’s best players view England as a strong league.

Putellas is a player every club in the world would surely be happy to accept so if London City Lionesses can pull it off, it would be a remarkable achievement for the WSL club.

The outer black pieces were designed by Kevin Germanier, who is known for his sustainable approach to fashion, while the gold dress was custom made by Nike.

“Sometimes people say athletes are in show business or entertainers or whatever,” Osaka said.

“For me, Grand Slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel like I’m an entertainer.”

At the Australian Open in January, Osaka made a statement entrance in a jellyfish-inspired outfit which she dedicated to her two-year-old daughter Shai.

Former British number one Annabel Croft said a lot of players “would not be able to live up to the expectation” of walking out in custom made outfits like Osaka’s.

“If you out there in an extraordinary outfit, you’ve got to live up to that and have the confidence to play in it and give the crowd the tennis as well as the outfit,” she said on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

“Naomi can handle it. She really loves it and she’s not fazed by it.”

Since the birth of her daughter in 2023, Osaka has re-established herself in the world’s top 20 and she reached the semi-finals at the US Open in September.

The former world number one will face Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the next round.

A yellow weather warning is in place across parts of England this evening as thunderstorms are expected to follow a record-breaking heatwave.

Forecasters declared a heatwave in multiple parts of the country on Tuesday, with amber heat health alerts issued in large swathes of England.

But the hot weather is expected to break on Tuesday evening, with the Met Office warning “isolated intense thunderstorms” could bring disruption to some places.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms covering parts of the south west, the midlands, the north west of England, and Yorkshire and the Humber. The warning came into force at 3pm and is in place until 10pm on Tuesday.

Forecasters said there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services in areas where storms occur.

Temperatures reached 35C at Kew Gardens in London, breaking the highest minimum temperature in May for a third consecutive day. The figure also provisionally marks a new all-time hottest meteorological spring temperature, beating the record set on Monday.

The health warnings mean there is likely to be a “significant” impact on health and social services, and a rise in deaths, with alerts in place until 5pm on 27 May.

Met Office Chief Forecaster Andy Page said: “The exceptional late-spring heat is set to continue for much of this week.

“Last night provisionally recorded the warmest May night on record, and we’re likely to see further very warm nights in the south over the coming days. There is a chance a few places will experience a ‘tropical night’ in the south of England and in Wales tonight, which is where temperatures don’t fall below 20°C.

“While many places will stay dry and sunny, the heat and humidity mean that a few isolated thunderstorms have developed with more possibly developing later today, particularly across parts of England. Looking further ahead, the focus for the highest temperatures will shift westwards on Wednesday, with northern areas feeling more of the warmth on Thursday.

“We’ll then see a gradual change later in the week, with temperatures easing slightly, though still above average, before a more marked change to near-normal temperatures by Sunday and an increased chance of showers and some longer spells of rain.”

A heatwave has been declared in eight locations in southeast England, which have now met the threshold of 27C for three consecutive days of hot weather.

The Met Office listed 12 locations where the record was topped on Monday – ranging from Suffolk to Berkshire to Warwickshire – while 97 of its monitoring sites reached or surpassed 30C.

The UK’s previous warmest May night was measured on Sunday when temperatures did not fall below 19.4C at Kenley Airfield.

Those forecasts span the Midlands, the south-east and south-west of England, East Anglia and South Wales.

Here’s what the weather authority has forecast over the coming days:

Tuesday

Another very hot day across much of England and Wales with strong sunshine. Fresher across northern areas with sunny spells. A yellow weather warning is in place for thunderstorms until 10pm across much of England.

Wednesday

Dry on Wednesday with sunny spells for many. Cloudier in the northeast but some bright spells slowly developing. Very warm in the southwest, but feeling fresher elsewhere.

Thursday to Saturday

Staying hot across parts of the south through the next few days. A risk of a few thundery showers at times, but largely dry for many.