Trump extends red snapper fishing in 4 states, including GA. How long?

Georgiawas already going to see plenty of anglers thissummer, but now they have even more reason to go fishing this season.

On Friday, President Donald Trump announced onTruth Socialthat his administration approved state permits for the 2026 red snapper season with much larger windows for fishing.

"For years, our Great Fishermen have been punished with very short federal fishing seasons despite record high fish populations and the states begging to oversee these permits," Trump wrote. "We love and respect our fishermen and, unlike the Democrats, will only do good for them."

When is Georgia red snapper season 2026?

Georgia anglers will be able to fish for red snapper from July 1 through Aug. 31. The state's department of natural resources said vianews releasethat, traditionally, the season has been limited to just a few days due to data uncertainty. But, if Georgia can show proficiency in data collection, the longer season could be extended for two more years.

Red snapper fishing laws

Anglers may keep only one red snapper per day. They must register their trips prior to departure using the Georgia DNR app, which will be released at a later date. They must also report their catch within 24 hours.

Georgia DNR coastal resources director Doug Haymans said "This is a major step forward for Georgia anglers....If anglers want longer, more reliable seasons, we need better data—and that comes directly from them. Reporting through the app is how anglers can help shape the future of red snapper fishing in Georgia."

Reactions to expanded red snapper fishing season

Gov. Brian Kemp said on his social media platforms "Thank you to President Trump for putting the power to conserve and manage this key fish population back where it belongs - in the hands of those who know the region best. Looking forward to Red Snapper season opening soon!"

Florida and the Carolinas' governors have shared similar statements of excitement and praise.

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However, when these moves were being considered in February, the US-based advocacy groupOcean Conservancyput out a statement of opposition, writing as a group "Overfishing drove the red snapper population to just 11% of its historical abundance; in response, seasons were reduced as part of a rebuilding plan set to last through 2044. These new exemptions risk undermining the progress made to restore this stock and allow sustainable fishing opportunities."

Where are red snapper in Georgia?

According toNOAA, red snapper are generally found 30-620 feet deep in the Gulf of America and along the east coast. They are rare north of the Carolinas.

Larval red snapper swim freely within the water column. Juveniles live in shallow waters over sandy or muddy bottom habitat. Adults live on the bottom, usually near hard structures on continental shelf that have moderate to high relief (rocks, ledges, reefs, etc), sloping soft-bottom areas, and limestone deposits.

What do red snapper eat?

Red snapper eat fish, shrimp, crab, worms, cephalopods (octopus or squid), and some plankton (tiny floating plants and animals).

Best way to cook red snapper

Chef and host of Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods" Andrew Zimmern posted a video on TikTok of a recipe idea using red snapper:

How big are red snapper?

Red snapper may grow up to 40 inches long and weighing up to 50 pounds.

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email atmlegoas@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News:Red snapper fishing 2026 season in Georgia expanded by Trump. Why?

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Trump extends red snapper fishing in 4 states, including GA. How long?

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Tina Knowles Shares the Biggest Lessons She Learned After Her Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Tina Knowles revealed the lessons she learned after her 2024 breast cancer diagnosis

NEED TO KNOW

• She shared how she's since embraced slowing down and focusing more on self-care

• Tina updated her 2025 memoir, Matriarch, to include more about her journey and inspire others to prioritize their health

Tina Knowleslearned an important lesson after herbreast cancer diagnosis.

While appearing on a panel at the 2026 L.A. Times Festival of Books on April 18, Tina, 72, encouraged those in the audience to "get your mammograms" as she acknowledged that she "missed two" screenings before receiving her diagnosis in July 2024.

She explained it was a "miracle" that doctors were able to find it at an early stage. "So go and get your mammograms — it is so important to take care of yourself," she urged.

Tina also said that surrounding yourself with an "inner circle" — whether "they're related to you by blood or if they're friends" — is so important.

"When you hear the word cancer, it is the most frightening thing that you can ever go through, and you need people around you that are gonna support you and get you through it," she shared.

She added, "I had plenty of people that helped me get through it, but some people are not that fortunate."

As for other lessons that Tina took away from her cancer journey, she said she learned that she had to "slow down" and "stop being so codependent."

Now, she explained, "I just really take care of myself and take time to enjoy my life and not be so stressed all the time."

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"That was the biggest lesson that came from this," Tina continued. "It's still hard because, you know, I'm getting on a plane tonight and then I'll get on a plane in two days for one day, and I still fall short sometimes in taking the best care of myself. At least I'm conscious of it now because, you know, you can give and give and give, but you're not gonna be there to give to those people one day if you don't take care of yourself. So that's really important."

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Tina, who is the mom toBeyoncéandSolange Knowles, was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer after doctors found it in her left breast. At the time, she was in the middle of writing herMatriarchmemoir.

"I struggled with whether I would share that journey [in the book] because I'm very private," she told PEOPLE in April 2025 of her cancer diagnosis. "But I decided to share it because I think there are a lot of lessons in it for other women."

She added, "And I think as women, sometimes we get so busy and we get so wrapped up and running around, but you must go get your test. Because if I had not gotten my test early, I mean, I shudder to think what could have happened to me."

In the book, Tina wrote that Beyoncé, 44, “took it well, staying positive, and I could already feel her mind racing, focusing on this as a task to tackle with precision.” Solange, 39, told her, “Mom, we are going to take care of this.”

For the new paperback version ofMatriarch, Tina added another chapter to share more of her journey. “I end the book with finding out I have breast cancer and going through surgery, just a little bit about it,” she said at the festival panel. “I've had so many people ask me, ‘Well, what did you do? How did you take care of yourself? You know, how was your mental state?' And all of that."

“I just thought that would be a good idea to update it and just put a paperback out because you reach a different audience with paperbacks,” she explained. “And I love the idea of that because I wanted that to happen, but I also wanted to catch people up on what happened since that time and all the lessons that I learned from having that experience because it was a tough ordeal.”

Tina underwent surgery to remove the tumor in late 2024. She also had a breast reduction — and was given the all-clear as of April 2025.

“I'm doing great,” she told PEOPLE previously. “Cancer-free and incredibly blessed that God allowed me to find it early."

"I want to give people hope," she added of sharing her personal story. "What scares me now is not making the best of every day that I have left in this life."

Matriarch: A Memoiris out now.

Read the original article onPeople

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Tina Knowles Shares the Biggest Lessons She Learned After Her Breast Cancer Diagnosis

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Blake Lively enlisted 'gorgeous' cousin to help hold her dress on the Met steps

Blake Lively gave her cousin, William Blake McAlpin, a special shout-out for helping hold her dress at the Met Gala on Monday evening.

Key Points

• The actress wore a dreamy archival Atelier Versace gown from 2006, featuring an elaborate train that required the help of several people scaling the Met Museum steps.

• Lively's appearance comes four years after she last attended the Met Gala — and hours after settling her legal battle with Justin Baldoni.

Good looks must run inBlake Lively's family.

TheGossip Girlalum had some help at the2026 Met Galawhile walking the red carpet in an elaborate archival Atelier Versace gown from spring 2006, perVogue. The dress and its billowing 13-foot-long train contained pastel shades of lavender, butter yellow, and pink.

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Lively also gave credit to one of the people helping her on the steps of the Met Museum. "My sweet angel gorgeous cousin," Lively wrote on her Instagram Stories with an arrow pointing towardWilliam Blake McAlpin.

Lively last attended the Met Gala in 2022alongside husbandRyan Reynolds, with both serving as co-chairs at the event, themed "In America: An Anthology of Fashion." LivelytoldVogueon Monday, “It’s an honor to attend withDonatella [Versace], one that I don’t take lightly. I haven’t been since giving birth to my fourth child."

"Every year I am a different version of myself than the last, so to be able to stand in the version of myself that I am today — and all the experiences I‘ve had — in strength and confidence is important to me. So is staying home on the couch with my kids in pajamas. Getting to do both is an honor I will never stop being grateful for," Lively added.

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The excitement over Lively's 11th Met Gala appearance was felt by Versace as well. "Blake looks stunning in archive Atelier Versace... She has had so many iconic Versace moments at the Met, and tonight is no exception," Versace gushed toVogue.

Lively's appearance came hours after it was announced that herlengthy legal battlewithJustin Baldonisurrounding the filmIt Ends With Ushad come to an end. In December 2024,Lively filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoniof sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign related to the Baldoni-directed movie in which they both starred, whileBaldoni filed a countersuit againstLively and Reynolds, alleging defamation and extortion.

Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement two weeks before the case was supposed to go to trial. The terms of the settlement weren't made public.

"The end product — the movieIt Ends With Us— is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life. Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind," the parties said in a joint statement released on behalf of their attorneys on Monday afternoon.

"We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard," the statement continued.

"We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments. It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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Blake Lively enlisted 'gorgeous' cousin to help hold her dress on the Met steps

Blake Lively gave her cousin, William Blake McAlpin, a special shout-out for helping hold her dress at the Met Gala on Monday evening. ...

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OT Layton von Brandt set official visit date with Florida football

Floridafootball was included on a list of four official visits set for four-star offensive tackle Layton von Brandt, who announced his itinerary on Sunday.

The 6-foot-6.5-inch, 281-pound lineman out of Middletown (Delaware) Appoquinimink in the 2027 cycle named the Gators, along with theNotre Dame Fighting Irish,Penn State Nittany LionsandAuburn Tigersas his OV destinations this summer. He is expected to be in Gainesville from May 28-30 to kick off the schedule.

Von Brandt will then travel for a midweek visit with the Nittany Lions from June 2-4, followed by weekend visits with the Tigers from June 12-14, and the Fighting Irish from June 19-21 to wrap things up. He aims to make his commitment decision sometime around July 1.

The First State product's connection to the Orange and Blue stems from his relationship with offensive line coach Phil Trautwein, who recruited him and earned his commitment at Penn State — a school he decommitted from last October. Von Brandt's first visit to the Swamp back on March 24 came with high expectations that the Gators appear to have fulfilled.

“Florida is a great school with great coaches,"von Brandt told Gators Online. “They already have a great culture. There is just nothing bad to say about Florida.”

Von Brandt was also impressed by Florida's player development resources.

“The developmental aspect at Florida with Coach Traut is still a huge factor for me. Now that I’ve visited, I know I like the culture that Coach (Jon) Sumrall is building. I also like the scheme Coach (Buster) Faulkner runs offensively," he noted.

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"Florida is really laid out as a place that has everything there to help you be a pro," von Brandt continued. "Their weight room is awesome. I talked to their nutritionist and had a great conversation. They can offer success with life after football. I think about the degree that you can get from a top-five public school from Florida. There’s a lot of pro-ready stuff at Florida.”

The rising high school senior also appreciated Sumrall's authenticity toward him and his family.

"The way he spoke with me and my family, the way he interacted with the players and the type of guy he is, it's a guy you want to play for,"von Brandt told Swamp247. "It was awesome."

Von Brandt recently listed Florida among his top four schools. "They're definitely one of my top schools right now," he said.

Layton von Brandt's recruitingsummary

Von Brandt is ranked No. 64 overall and No. 5 at his position nationally according to the247Sports composite,while theRivals industry rankinghas him at Nos. 75 and 5, respectively. He has 22 total offers, including five other SEC schools, along with theFlorida State Seminoles.

Notre Dame currently leads the race for the offensive tackle's talents, having earned a crystal ball prediction from 247Sports while holding an 89.5% chance of signing him according to Rivals. Other schools in the mix on Rivals' list are Penn State (5.5%), Auburn (1.3%) and Florida (1.1%).

Follow us@GatorsWireon X, formerly known as Twitter, as well asBluesky, and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage ofFlorida Gatorsnews, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire:Florida football recruiting official visit date for Layton von Brandt

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OT Layton von Brandt set official visit date with Florida football

Floridafootball was included on a list of four official visits set for four-star offensive tackle Layton von Brandt, who announced his ...

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Associated Press global investigation into government surveillance efforts wins Pulitzer Prize

NEW YORK (AP) — The expansion of government surveillance efforts in China — and the role that U.S. tech firms played in it — was the foundation ofinvestigative stories from The Associated Pressthatwon a Pulitzer Prize Mondayfor international reporting.

The Pulitzer board recognized AP journalists Dake Kang, Garance Burke, Byron Tau and Aniruddha Ghosal, along with contributor and independent journalist Yael Grauer, for what it called “an astonishing global investigation into state-of-the-art tools of mass surveillance” that also included a story about the expansion of license plate surveillance of drivers in United States by the U.S. Border Patrol.

AP Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Julie Pace said “this complex and difficult reporting, done by journalists across several continents, embodies the true spirit of the AP: leveraging our global footprint and deep expertise to tell important, impactful stories. It comes at a critical time when the immense and growing power of U.S. tech companies — and their increasingly complex relationship with governments — is in the spotlight and of immense public interest.”

The AP's investigationspanned three years, thousands of pages of documents and numerous interviews. It found that the foundations of the system used by the Chinese government to monitor and police its citizens over recent decades was laid down with the help of American companies. Some of the companies went so far as to use their tech's surveillance capabilities as a selling point.

“This was sweeping and deeply impactful reporting, the kind of work that highlights the unique strengths of AP’s global, multiformat newsroom,” Pace said in an email to staffers. She is among the Pulitzer Board’snew members.

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Other stories included a look at how across presidential administrations, the U.S. government allowed tech companies and China to skirt regulations intended to bar that country from access to certain materials like advanced computer chips.

A piece looking at surveillance in the United States found that the Border Patrol was secretively using an intelligence program that used license plate information to track drivers' travel patterns, and not just for border crossings. Drivers whose patterns were deemed suspicious by an algorithm could then find themselves stopped and even arrested.

The AP highlighted the difficulty of undertaking the project, and said in its statement that journalists dealt with harassment and off-the-record pushes to keep the project from publishing.

The visually compelling project included multiple photographic and video elements, with notable contributions from AP photographer David Goldman and visual journalists Marshall Ritzel and Serginho Roosblad.

Other contributors included Michael Biesecker and Sam Mednick on a story that focused on how U.S. tech giants quietly empowered Israel to track and kill many more alleged militants more quickly in Gaza and Lebanon through a sharp spike inartificial intelligenceand computing services.

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Associated Press global investigation into government surveillance efforts wins Pulitzer Prize

NEW YORK (AP) — The expansion of government surveillance efforts in China — and the role that U.S. tech firms played in it — was the fo...

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Investors complete purchase of JW Marriott Marco Island Resort

The $835 million sale of the iconicJW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resortis complete.

Still operated by Marriott International, the resort on Marco Island's famous crescent beach is now owned by a joint venture betweenSculptor Real Estate Income StrategyandTrinity Investments. They bought the hotel from insurance companyMassMutual's $481 billion asset management armBarings LLC, which owned the property for more than 40 years.One of the few JW Marriott properties located directly on the beach, Marco Island's resort opened Dec. 18, 1971, as a Marco Beach Hotel and Villas. Built by theMackle brothersand their Deltona Corporation development company, the property was sold to Marriott in 1979. It was sold to MassMutual more than 40 years ago.

“The JW Marriott Marco Island is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to acquire one of the most iconic resorts in the United States,” said Sean Hehir, Managing Partner, President and CEO of Trinity Investments, in apress releaseissued Monday, May 4.

Hotel will remain operated as a JW Marriott

"The resort will continue to operate under the JW Marriott brand, maintaining its place within Marriott International’s global portfolio while entering a new phase of planned investment and enhancement," JW Marriott Marco Island Resort spokesperson Lorin Augeri wrote in a press release.

Situated on more than 26 acres along Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast with a quarter mile of private beachfront, the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort has 809 guestrooms and suites, meeting and event space, multiple dining and entertainment venues and access to more than 400 acres of golf and resort amenities.

Who are the companies that bought the Marco Island resort?

Sculptor and Trinity purchased not only the hotel resort on Marco Island but also its two 18-hole golf courses – Hammock Bay and Rookery in Naples. Trinity Investments has made other commitments in Florida properties including The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Grande Lakes Orlando Resort, and EAST Miami. The deal was officially made with Marco Hotel LLC and HB Naples Golf Owner LLC.

The investment companies have big plans for improvements at the resort.

Sculptor Diversified, which focuses on "differentiated, stabilized, income-producing real estate," and Trinity, a global hospitality-focused investment firm, plan renovations, mostly in year two of ownership, Sculptor said in a Feb. 27 SEC filing.

"The renovations will focus on upgrading the property’s amenities (including upgrades to the spa, pool and golf courses) and renovating the guest rooms," according to the filing.

"Planned investments will focus on elevating the guest experience across accommodations, culinary programming, and shared spaces, while preserving the character and natural setting that define the resort," according to the JW Marriott Marco Island's press release.

The resort's last major renovations – $32 million worth – came in 2015 before rebrandingas a JW Marriott. The brand operates more than 100 hotels globally, with select, dedicated luxury beach resorts in key destinations including Marco Island, Los Cabos (Mexico), and Phuket (Thailand). These properties focus on direct beach access and high-end amenities.

At that time,the hotel expandedits restaurant options to 12 restaurants and dining venues, remodeled and built a new tower with 94 adults-only suites and an adults-only bar, along with a gaming and bowling alley open to all guests and the public. The property currently has three towers – the Palms Tower (built in 1972 and renovated in 2016), the Islands Tower (built in 1982 and renovated in 2016) and the Lanai Tower (built in 2019).

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“Our resort has long been a place where guests return year after year for the world class service and sense of place that define this property,” said Sharon Lockwood, General Manager at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. “While ownership has evolved, what remains unchanged is our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for our guests, group partners, and local community."

Global real estate services investment company arranged deal and financing

JLL, a global commercial real estate services and investment management company with annual revenue of $26.1 billion, arranged the sale and $690 million in financing for Sculptor and Trinity.

JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Grouprepresented the seller, Barings, in the transaction, the company said in a press release. JLL also worked on behalf of the borrowers to secure a five-year, floating-rate loan through Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase & Co., which is securitized in a stand-alone Commercial Mortgage-Backed Security (CMBS) offering. A CMBS is a fixed-rate, non-recourse loan secured by a first-position mortgage on income-producing commercial properties such as the JW Marriott Marco Island Resort.

"Luxury beachfront resorts of this caliber remain among the most sought-after assets in the hospitality sector," said JLL Americas Chief Executive Officer Kevin Davis, "particularly properties like the JW Marriott Marco Island that combine scale, irreplaceable coastal positioning, championship golf amenities and recurring membership income − attributes that generate stable cash flows and provide insulation against market volatility while offering meaningful upside potential."

MassMutual had good things to say about its successor.

“The JW Marriott Marco Island is a high‑quality investment that has delivered long‑term value for our policyowners while serving as a pillar of the Marco Island community,” said Eric Partlan, MassMutual Chief Investment Officer. “Since acquiring the resort more than four decades ago, we have worked with our global asset manager, Barings, to ensure the property’s standing as a premier destination, and believe Sculptor Real Estate and Trinity are well positioned to continue as stewards of this iconic property and members of the Marco Island community.”

The deal isexpected to add significantly to Marco Island's tax rolls.

The sale price is a lot more than the property's current assessed value of $177 million and $64 million ($244 million total) for the two parcels, said Marco Island Interim City Manager Casey Lucius. Now that the deal has closed, the properties will be reappraised.

"Currently the JW Marriott pays approximately $305,000 in taxes to the City of Marco Island," Lucius said in an interview in March. "This will increase substantially once the property is reappraised under new ownership."

Lucius estimated the JW Marriott's taxes to the city will be about $1 million total after a reappraisal.

J. Kyle Foster is a senior growth & development reporter for The News-Press & Naples Daily News. Reach her by emailing jfoster1@usatodayco.com.

Please support local community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing toThe News-PressandNaples Daily News; download the freeNews-Pressor Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newslettershereandhere.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News:Marco Island, Florida's JW Marriott sale complete, remains a Marriott

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Investors complete purchase of JW Marriott Marco Island Resort

The $835 million sale of the iconicJW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resortis complete. Still operated by Marriott International, the...

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Hailey Bieber Shows Off Son Jack’s Cute Activity Style

THE RUNDOWN

• Hailey Bieber posted a new photo of her son, Jack Blues Bieber.

• The Rhode founder was showing off Jack’s cute activity style.

• They appeared to be playing with chalk on the asphalt.

This week,Hailey Biebershared a new photo of her son,Jack Blues Bieber, during their recentplaytime together. In the picture, Jack is sitting on the asphalt in what looks like a driveway, looking up at two adults who appear to be posed on a golf cart. On the ground, the toddler’s name is written in big bubble letters.

Jack is modeling some adorable activity style. He has on a white and red striped T-shirt with a blue collar and a pair of blue pants. On his head, he has a beige baseball cap with a brown corduroy brim.

In April, while speaking toInterview, Hailey talked a bit about dressing her son.

“I find baby and kids clothes difficult,” she admitted. “A lot of it is very patterned and has a lot of little animals or figurines on it, or it’s a T-shirt that says, ‘I love my mommy.’ There’s nothing wrong with any of that, but I like dressing him more on the simple side. I like putting him in big baggy sweats or jeans and a white T-shirt or a little hoodie. Justin’s team has made him tons of custom Skylrk [Justin Bieber’s fashion brand] stuff, which is so cute. My vibe with him is cozy and yummy and cute and simple.”

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She also talked a bit more about being a mom and what her favorite part of the experience is.

“Just seeing this little human evolve before your eyes,” Hailey shared. “They grow so fast and they change so much and there’s always so much excitement. You’re watching them experience life for the first time, so you kind of feel like you’re experiencing it that way with them.”

As for having more kids, she and Justin are not sure when that will be.

“I definitely want more than one, but I’m taking it one at a time,” she said. “Some days I want two. Some days I want five.”

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Hailey Bieber Shows Off Son Jack’s Cute Activity Style

THE RUNDOWN Hailey Bieber posted a new photo of her son, Jack Blues Bieber. The Rhode founder was showing of...

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