Category: News

Alex Smalley has been on a great run in the PGA Tour in 2025. Except for the only cut he missed in his first 6 appearances in the season, Smalley has finished within the Top-21 on the leaderboard. His best performance came at the 2025 Mexico Open at VidantaWorld, where he finished at T11 with a 14-under par 270.

Despite not winning a single PGA Tour title, Smalley is making a lot of waves in the community. More and more fans want to get to know the 28-year-old and learn about his upbringing. So let’s get to know Alex Smalley’s family background and childhood.

Alex Smalley’s family history

Alex Smalley was born in Rochester, New York on October 21, 1996. His parents, Terry and Maria Smalley, have always encouraged him to follow his dream. They gave Smalley access to golf at a very young age, when he used to play with a rubber ball in his parents’ backyard. Throughout the years, as he continued practicing golf, he also got enrolled at Duke University, the same college where his mother, Maria, also got her Ph.D in 1995. In fact, Smalley’s sister, Katie, also completed her undergrads from the same university.

Book: Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan based on the film by John Waters

Songs: David Javerbaum & Adam Schlesinger

Director: Mehmet Ergen

The doyen of perverse, John Waters, is probably not top of one’s list when it comes to fodder for musical theatre. Yet, as Hairspray has shown, Waters’ knack for deft storytelling with engaging characters provides a perfect foil for musical treatment. Cry-Baby is another glorious example of this transformation.

Set in 1950s Baltimore (the home of most of Waters’ work), Cry-Baby is an oil-and-water story of two groups of high school kids: the strait-laced, butter-wouldn’t-melt, well-to-do set, and the significantly less well-off, rebellious roughnecks.

The groups are deliberately clichéd. The “squares,” centred around the orphaned Alison (Lulu-Mae Pears), are a whiter-than-white, all-American, polo-shirt-and-chino-wearing bunch. The “drapes,” led by the also-orphaned Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker (Adam Davidson), are a leather-wearing, foul-mouthed, gum-chewing, knife-wielding collection. But this being a John Waters concoction, things aren’t as they seem, and these clichés are deliberately exaggerated to spotlight deeper political and social injustices.

The two groups meet at Baltimore’s Anti-Polio picnic where, much to everyone’s surprise, an intense attraction emerges between Cry-Baby and Alison, dismaying her supposed boyfriend Baldwin Blandish (Elliot Allinson). As the attraction blossoms into romance, tensions between the groups escalate, with both running at odds with their expected societal norms.

The path of love is far from smooth, especially with a jealous ex-boyfriend and a gaping social chasm to navigate. The story unfolds through fights, an arson attack, a court case, jail sentences, a fake pregnancy, and even an engagement.

True to Waters’ form, the seemingly simple story of mismatched love hides significantly deeper messaging about society. In Cry-Baby, the “not one of us” narrative feels uncomfortably reminiscent of today’s political battles around immigration and national identity.

The transition to musical is triumphant. Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan’s script is a great adaptation, keeping the core narrative while giving room for the songs to drive much of the story. David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger’s songs fit perfectly, anchored in 1950s music that shifts between established crooner styles and vocal harmonies to the emerging, blues-tinged Rock ‘n’ Roll.

This musical contrast effectively conveys how society was shifting and how Rock became such a powerful vehicle in creating youth culture. The lyrical content adds another dimension of joy, not only expanding the narrative but also leveraging Waters’ dark, incisive comedy and love of alliteration.

Mehmet Ergen’s direction, coupled with Chris Whittaker’s choreography, crams a remarkably physical production into a relatively small space. There’s exciting energy and momentum throughout, never at the expense of story or performance. In what is ultimately a very well-executed ensemble piece, both Davidson and Pears delight as Cry-Baby and Allison, but the standout performances come from Shirley Jameson as Allison’s grandmother and Chad Saint Lois as Dupree, Cry-Baby’s best friend.

Cry-Baby, The Musical is a joy and a hoot to watch—musically infectious, narratively relevant, inventively staged, and very, very funny. While the love-from-different-sides-of-the-tracks story reminds one of another 50s-based musical, Grease, this has more bite, more heart, and many more laughs. This should be a show that runs and runs, but as it stands, it’s only on until mid-April, so see it while you can.

Runs until 12 Apr 2025

A UK court on Thursday upheld lengthy prison terms handed to the father and stepmother of a 10-year-old British-Pakistani girl who was killed after suffering years of torture and abuse.

The trial of Urfan Sharif and his wife, Beinash Batool, caused waves of revulsion in the UK at the horrific way they had treated Sara Sharif.

There was anger, too, at how the bright, bubbly youngster had been failed by the authorities supposed to be in charge of her care.

Sharif, 43, Batool, 30, and her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, all lost bids on Thursday to appeal against their sentences.

The court also refused a plea by the solicitor general’s office to impose a stiffer, whole-life sentence on Sharif.

Sara’s father was sentenced in December to 40 years in prison for her murder, while her stepmother was ordered to remain in jail for at least 33 years.

Her uncle was sentenced to 16 years after being found guilty of causing or allowing her death.

Sara’s body was found in bed at the family home in August 2023, covered in bites and bruises, with broken bones and burns inflicted by an electric iron and boiling water.

Also, read this

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UK MPs back tougher safeguards for children following Sarah Sharif murder

UK aims to boost homeschooling safety after Sara Sharif murder

Seeking to reduce Sharif’s term, lawyer Naeem Majid Mian argued that although Sara’s treatment had been “horrendous” it did not merit his 40-year sentence.

“There was no intention to kill… and (the death) was not premeditated,” he added.

But documents submitted to the court on behalf of the solicitor general, one of the government’s top legal officers, called for Sharif to have an indefinite sentence imposed.

“It is submitted that the judge was wrong not to impose a whole life order on the offender,” said lawyer Tom Little in a text submission.

A lawyer for Sara’s stepmother also told the court that her sentence of 33 years was too long and did not “justly reflect her role”.

Dismissing Sharif’s appeal, Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr, the highest-ranking judge in England and Wales, said, “We can see no arguable basis to challenge the conclusion of the trial judge.”

Passing sentence in December after the trial, Judge John Cavanagh said Sara had been subjected to “acts of extreme cruelty” but that Sharif and Batool had not shown “a shred of remorse”.

They had treated Sara as “worthless” and as “a skivvy” because she was a girl. And because she was not Batool’s child by birth, the stepmother had failed to protect her, he said.

“This poor child was battered with great force again and again.”

‘Most distressing case’

A post-mortem examination of Sara’s body revealed she had 71 fresh injuries and at least 25 broken bones.

She had been beaten with a metal pole and cricket bat and “trussed up” with a “grotesque combination of parcel tape, a rope and a plastic bag” over her head.

A hole was cut in the bag so she could breathe, and she was left to soil herself in nappies as she was prevented from using the bathroom.

Police called the case “one of the most difficult and distressing” they had ever dealt with.

The day after Sara died, the three adults fled their home in Woking, southwest of London, and flew to Pakistan with five other children.

Her father, a taxi driver, left behind a handwritten note saying he had not meant to kill his daughter.

After a month on the run, the three returned to the UK and were arrested after they landed. The five other children remain in Pakistan.

There has been anger in the UK that Sara’s brutal treatment was missed by social services after her father withdrew her from school four months before she died.

Sharif and his first wife, Olga, were well known to social services.

In 2019, a judge decided to award the care of Sara and an older brother to Sharif, despite his history of abuse.

The school had three times raised the alarm about Sara’s case, notably after she arrived in class wearing a hijab, which she used to try to cover marks on her body that she refused to explain.

Rick Ross did not hold back in his latest rant against 50 Cent. In a clip shared to his Instagram story, the Florida rapper had a special message for his Queens-bred opp, adding 50 Cent’s late mother and rapper Tony Yayo to the mix.

“I didn’t know that they said I was the only person that f**ked 50 Cent up. I ain’t know that,” exclaimed the 49-year-old as the rant begins. “I’ma be honest. Tony Yayo told 50 Cent himself. Y’all can Google it. Tony Yayo said, ‘I wouldn’t do that if I was [him] because Tony Yayo know them ni**as ain’t got no money. Come on, man,”

He continued to quip, “Look at Tony Yayo and Auntie Murda. Them ni**as need facials. Old ni**as whose skin ain’t even right, boy.”

As the video continues, the “Money In The Grave” rapper took jabs at one of 50 Cent’s business ventures, alleging the G-Unit mogul is struggling to finish a television and film studio in Louisiana.

“Boy, I see you struggling making that G-Unit film studio out there in Louisiana, where that cheapest land at,” said Rick Ross. “You thought you was gonna be able to do it. You thought you was gonna be able to get them loans — what’s wrong? What’s taking so long?”

He continued to bring 50 Cent’s late mother into the tirade.

“I know you wanna make your momma one of them walking stars they put down there. F**k how your momma live, ni**a. Make her her own walking star,” he trolled. “Come on, don’t leave Louisiana. Don’t quit like that because you show ni**as the picture of how you wanted it to look. We call it renderings. You had the renderings, then you tried to go get them loans and ain’t nobody loan you that money. You ain’t even built the G-Unit studio yet.”

According to previous reports, the studio was opened in Shreveport, La., in April 2024.

Rick Ross continued to threaten, “Fifty, who own your masters? I’ll buy your masters. You better shut up. I will buy your masters.”

The Instagram upload comes after 50 Cent took aim at Rick Ross for performing as an opening act on Bow Wow and Omarion’s Millennium tour earlier this week.

“[Ninja emoji]’s get quiet when they gotta open for Bow Wow, (BOSS),” boasted the “Many Men (Wish Death)” rapper. “HE not a surprise guest he can’t sell a ticket. LOL.”

He continued to share a clip from a 2021 Verzus where Bow Wow faced off against Soulja Boy writing, “Bow Wow like I didn’t ask for this [ninja emoji] to be on this tour 5!” adding, “I know live nation just threw that bi**h In. LOL.”

When Chahanler Marks moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee for a job in 2021, his parents purchased a downtown condo for him.

“I was looking at apartments, but rent prices kept climbing, and it started making less sense to throw money away on something that wouldn’t build equity,” Marks says. Under the arrangement with his parents, he pays the homeowner’s association fees and utilities and has the option to sell the condo or rent it out should he move. The strategy also allowed him to jump into a fast-appreciating market before amassing a downpayment savings fund.

Family gifts have long been a common source of down payments. A couple of years ago, a Redfin survey found that 38% of first-time buyers under the age of 30 received family money or an inheritance to help cover their down payments. But as the real estate landscape becomes even more challenging for first-time buyers who face record-high home prices and interest rates linger in the upper 6% range, real estate professionals say they’re notice a new trend: Parents aren’t just chipping in to help pay for down payments—they’re picking up the entire tab.

According to a Redfin survey, 38% of first-time buyers under the age of 30 received family money or an inheritance to help cover their down payments.

Many homebuyers have been sidelined in recent years, and, in fact, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that the share of first-time buyers dropped to just 24% in 2024, down from 32% in 2023. It’s the lowest proportion on record since NAR began tracking the data in 1982.

Subsequently, home equity share companies are tiptoeing into the first-time buyer market, offering to help cover down payments for a future stake in the home’s equity. But for families that can swing it, purchasing starter homes for their children can help build generational wealth.

In high-interest rate environments, parents with cash reserves can buy the home outright and allow their child to repay them at a much lower rate, saving thousands in interest.

Marks, for example, says his parents have always told him he’d be getting money in their will. But having ownership of the condo now instead of inheriting the money that went into it eventually can help him grow his financial portfolio and set him up for success early on.

“I know not everyone has this opportunity, and I don’t take it for granted,” says Marks, who works in tech.

Parent-Purchased Homes Are A Workaround in High-Interest Rate Periods

Interest rates in the 6 percent range may pale in comparison to the rates that millennials’ parents were paying in the early 1980s when rates registered above 16% on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages. However, they’re considered high for this generation of homebuyers who may have missed out in 2021 when rates bottomed out, dipping below 3%, especially given that housing prices have soared, outpacing inflation.

If home prices stayed on track with overall inflation since 1963, the median American home would cost $177,511 today, which is about 2.4 times less than the actual median cost of $431,000 in the United States, according to a study from Clever Real Estate. Families with the means to do so have found a work-around for that.

“In high-interest rate environments, parents with cash reserves can buy the home outright and allow their child to repay them at a much lower rate, saving thousands in interest,” says Brian Quigley, founder at Beacon Lending.

If home prices stayed on track with overall inflation since 1963, the median American home would cost $177,511 today, which is about 2.4 times less than the actual median cost of $431,000 in the U.S.

Jen Lilienstein, a marketing professional in Santa Barbara, and her parents came up with a creative solution to help her break into the competitive California market that’s persistently been slightly out of reach for her. Her parents will use a 1031 exchange on their income property, which essentially lets them swap out one real estate investment property for another—in this case, the one that Lilienstein will be living in—and that will enable them to defer capital gains taxes.

In the deal she’s worked out with her parents, she’ll be paying back the money with 5% interest, which is below the market rate on 30-year fixed rate mortgages, but more than what her parents earn on their bond fund. She’ll also be covering other costs including home insurance and property taxes.

“We were unbelievably excited to find out about this strategy, as it put us more in the driver’s seat,” says Lilienstein, who will be using the money to purchase a home she’s been renting and that her landlord is ready to sell.

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Other Scenarios Where It Makes Sense for Parents to Purchase Homes for Their Children

Parents buying homes for their adult children is more common than people might think, especially in high-cost markets like New York City, where affordability is a challenge, says Cindy Chen, a real estate broker who brokers both sales and rentals in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

“Some parents purchase the home as a gift, while others act as co-signers or provide significant down payment assistance,” she says. “An all-cash purchase by parents can also give their child an advantage over other buyers.”

University towns are also popular locales for parents investing in homes for their kids. Students are often still financially supported by their parents while enrolled in college, and, instead of paying for rent, some parents prefer to invest in a property that’s near the university. Chen points out that this allows their child to live rent-free, and gives the parents the chance to turn the home into an income-generating rental property in the future. Some parents even buy bigger homes or apartments than their child would need with the goal of renting them out to their kid’s friends and peers.

An all-cash purchase by parents can also give their child an advantage over other buyers.

Buying a home for a child can also be an early inheritance planning strategy, allowing parents to pass down wealth without tax burdens, Chen says. Some parents will choose to buy a house under a trust for this reason.

For those who go this route, it’s important to be clear about financial boundaries. “Put everything in writing, outline repayment terms if there are any and discuss long-term plans upfront,” Quigley advises. “Otherwise, what starts as a generous gift could turn into a financial and emotional burden for both parties.”

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The exhibition aims to remember the stories of young women forced to give up their babies

A major digital exhibition showcasing the harrowing stories of young women forced to give up their babies at Northern Ireland’s mother and baby institutions will ensure that the thousands of those impacted will never be forgotten.

Professor Phil Scraton, from the Truth Recovery Design Panel which produced a report into the Mother and Baby institutions, said it was vital that the stories and experiences of those who had suffered during those terrible times were preserved and fully accessible to the public.

Speaking at the exhibition launch in Derry, he said: “The breadth and depth of testimonies received by our Truth Recovery Panel led to an Independent Panel, an eventual statutory Public Inquiry, access to personal records, and processes for redress and reparation.

“While lives and futures lost through the cruelty within these institutions cannot be recovered, the inter-generational pain and suffering inflicted on victims, survivors and families finally has been recognised. The Marian Hotel Digital Exhibition will contribute to preserving this heritage so that all those impacted will not be forgotten.”

The Marian Hotel Digital Exhibition, a creative heritage project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, brings together the real life experiences of young, unmarried mothers through oral history recordings, filmed readings of creative writing and personal photographs.

The online exhibition was launched at Derry’s Playhouse Theatre attended by an invited audience of the participants and their families, project funders, partners and local supporters, including Deputy Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Darren Guy.

 “This will provide a living resource for people who want to learn more about this terrible time in our history. It may also encourage some people who have been traumatised by their experiences in one of these institutions to come forward and tell their stories and maybe find some peace of mind,” explained Mairéad Nic Bhloscaidh, Sole Purpose Productions Development Officer, who is leading on this project since it began in July 2024.

All of the vast material compiled during the project – oral histories, creative writing, old photos of families separated and reunited, documents and letters from adoption agencies, and images of the crumbling and derelict Marianvale house in Newry – have been put together in the dedicated digital exhibition on the Sole Purpose website.                                         

The project gave mothers the courage to tell their stories, shed tears for torn apart lives and give voice to all of the women and children impacted by this cruel practice. The initiative was supported by WAVE Trauma Centre, who provided wellbeing support and safeguarding guidance throughout.

One of the project participants, Caitriona Cunningham, wrote the acclaimed play The Marian Hotel, produced by Derry theatre company Sole Purpose Productions, which had a highly successful tour, reaching out to audiences last year.

During the tour many more women from Derry, Belfast, Newry and Armagh, were encouraged to tell their stories and explore their memories of the institutions through a series of oral history recordings and creative writing workshops.

One of those who came forward, Mary Nolan, said: “I have found a lot of encouragement and support within this project. My aim is to write a book about my experience and that of the girls and women who are no longer alive. I feel I have been given a voice through the project.”

Another, Fiona O’Doherty, added: “The workshops brought up a lot of emotions that I had buried. I’m so glad they came to light as I was able to talk about my feelings. I have been able to shed my tears, and I had no fears of being judged. I felt safe and secure being honest about what I said.”

There is a resources page on the Sole Purpose website, including links and contact information for support services, as well as information on the ongoing Truth Recovery Independent Panel’s investigation into Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries, and Workhouses in Northern Ireland.

This project was made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Sole Purpose receives core funding from Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Thanks to National Lottery players. Further funding was contributed by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Stella Byrne, Head of Investment for The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Northern Ireland said: “We’ve been able to support The Marian Hotel: Memories from Northern Ireland Mother and Baby Homes heritage project thanks to National Lottery players. This exhibition creates a space to explore and understand the important stories of the birth mothers, adopted children and families affected by mother and baby homes here.

“Activities such as The Marian Hotel play and reminiscence workshops, with support from the Wave Trauma Centre have also provided the opportunity to preserve memories, gather authentic narratives and ensure that these hidden histories are recorded and archived as part of our social history.”

Lizzie Devlin, Community Arts Development Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented, “The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to support Sole Purpose, thanks to The National Lottery players. 

“National Lottery funding is a game changer in supporting their important work which demonstrates the healing power of the arts in shining a light on and creating discussion around important societal issues.”

 

The family of Sara Sharif have had their appeal bids rejected, after they were sentenced to life for the brutal torture and murder of the schoolgirl.

Her father Urfan Sharif and stepmother Beinash Batool were sentenced to 40 years and 31 years respectively, after the 10-year-old girl was repeatedly battered, scalded with water, burnt and beaten with a cricket bat.

Her uncle, Faisal Malik, was found guilty of causing or allowing her death, after he resided at the family home in Woking, Surrey, in the months leading up to her murder in August 2023.

All three sought to challenge their sentences at the Court of Appeal, while the Solicitor General had also referred Sharif’s sentence as “unduly lenient”, which was heard at the same time.

In a decision on Thursday, the Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, sitting with Mr Justice Soole and Mr Justice Goose, declined to alter the sentences.

The judge also said that Sharif would not be given a whole life order, saying it was a sentence of “last resort for cases of the most extreme gravity”.

She said: “We are not persuaded that anything less than a whole life order was unduly lenient.”

Speaking on behalf of the Solicitor General, Tom Little KC described it as a “truly awful case of murder of a child” and argued: “In short we say when one considers the extent, duration and nature of the offending, this case does cross that threshold of being such a rare case that a whole life order would be appropriate.”

Sara was found dead in a bunkbed at the family home during the early hours of 10 August, after her father called Surrey Police after fleeing to Pakistan.

She had suffered 71 “fresh” injuries, including 25 broken bones, iron burns on her bottom, scalding marks to her feet, and human bites.

Within hours of Sara’s death, Sharif and Batool had booked flights to Islamabad for the whole family, including her siblings, with an international manhunt launched.

The defendants returned to the UK on September 13 2023, leaving the children behind, and were detained within minutes of a flight touching down at Gatwick airport.

In a televised sentencing at the Old Bailey in December, Mr Justice Cavanagh said Sara’s death “was the culmination of years of neglect, frequent assaults and what can only be described as torture”, mainly at the hands of Sharif.

Mr Little continued: “The violence meted out to Sara was premeditated and repeated again and again even if the murder itself was not.”

The barrister told the court in London that her family caused “stress, pain and trauma” to the schoolgirl who began to vomit food or soil herself as a response to the abuse.

It emerged during the trial that Sara had endured years of horrific abuse at the hands of her relatives, which included frequent punishments for minor misbehaviours.

Trapped in the family home in Woking, she was the victim of repeated beatings and scaldings, forced to leave school and carry out laundry chores for her stepmother while wearing a hijab to obscure her growing number of bruises and wounds.

Despite the concerns of neighbours who overheard screaming and crying, and the questions raised by her primary school teachers as to the reason behind her injuries, social services were unaware of the full scale of the brutality the young girl was facing.

Naeem Mian KC, for Sharif, said that a whole life order would not be the appropriate sentence in this case.

He said: “We say, without hesitation, this is not one of those exceptional cases.”

Speaking on behalf of Batool, Caroline Carberry KC stressed that Sara’s stepmother was the “secondary party”, who only began to actively participate in the abuse during the final months.

She also added that there had been a number of mitigating factors, which had being a victim of honour-based abuse herself, being isolated and depressed upon meeting Sharif, and had expressed concern to her sisters over the violence taking place in the household.

A mother-of-two was found dead in her Swindon home with her body partially eaten by her pet dachshunds, an inquest has heard.

Jemma Hart, 45, was discovered on January 29, 2024, after concerned neighbours alerted police.

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Residents who would often see Hart walking her dogs grew concerned when she didn’t respond to text messages.

Her neighbour Lorraine told reporters she could hear the dogs barking but received no answer when knocking on the door.

“I tried the key she had given me but I couldn’t unlock the door because there was a key on the inside of the lock,” Lorraine explained.

She then requested police conduct a welfare check, leading to the discovery.

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Hart had split from her long-term boyfriend during the Christmas period in 2023, just weeks before her death

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Hart was described by her neighbour as a “troubled soul” who had “mental health problems”.

She had split from her long-term boyfriend during the Christmas period in 2023, just weeks before her death.

When officers entered the property, they found one of Hart’s dogs had also died.

The second dachshund was found in a “distressed” condition after the pair had been left without food.

At an inquest into her death, a post-mortem report by toxicologist Peter Street confirmed Hart died by suicide.

Coroner Ian Singleton concluded: “Jemma lived alone with her two dogs in Swindon and she was estranged from her family.”

“Jemma was found in her home with injuries caused by dogs after she died. Her death has been recorded as suicide.”

Hart’s two dogs, Frankie and Millie

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Hart was described by her neighbour as a ‘troubled soul’ who had ‘mental health problems’

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Hart’s son spoke at the inquest and said the dogs meant everything to her.

Hart acquired her first dachshund, Frankie, in 2022.

She added a second sausage dog, Millie, to her household the following year.

According to details shared by Coroner Ian Singleton, Hart frequently walked her beloved pets in Lydiard Park.

Her son shared a tribute on Facebook last year, stating she had passed away unexpectedly on January 29.

Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.