• I became close friends with a woman 40 years older than me.
• She taught me about aging, resilience, and finding humor in life.
• Our unlikely friendship became one of the most meaningful in my life.

I met Marlee in a writing group. At the time, I was in my 30s with two young kids living in a starter house. She had responded to an ad that another writer friend and I had posted. We were looking to expand our critique group. Marlee’s response was something along the lines of, “If you don’t mind an old lady showing up, I’d love to join you.”

I wasn’t sure what to expect. When Marlee walked in, she sat down and, in her blunt way, which I would come to grow to love over the next decade plus, said, “I told you I was old.”

She completed our small group, which also consisted of two men and my original writer friend. We met a few times a month at local coffee shops and restaurants. We sent pages from whatever we were working on. I wrote absurd, sometimes scary, short stories. Marlee wanted to write a memoir about her life.

We could not have been more different, at least in terms of our lives. Her kids were grown and had kids of their own. I was raising a young family. She was a retiree living in an in-law apartment within her son’s family home. She had been married for decades. I had two kids and a husband and was still trying to figure out who (and what) I wanted to be when I grew up.

We had a 40-year age difference

Despite a 40-year age difference, our friendship thrived. We met for our group and for fun. Marlee invited another writing group member and me to her home for wine and appetizers. The two male members of our writing group dropped out. The three of us, Marlee, E.J., and I, remained. We met the orange cat with the big personality, whom Marlee often spoke of in the group. Peaches welcomed us, purring and head bumping us as we talked.

I invited Marlee to visit when we purchased our forever home. We ate cheese and crackers while we laughed about raising kids and marriage. She sent a present to the baby shower I had for my third child. It was a funny children’s book that matched her own sense of humor. When Marlee’s husband died, I attended the funeral. We became part of each other’s lives, even beyond our writing group. We were friends, no matter our age difference.

She taught me important life lessons

Marlee taught me some important lessons, including the importance of finding humor even in the most difficult times, as she had. She wrote about it often in the pages she shared with our writing group. I also learned another invaluable lesson from Marlee, that life goes on no matter what. She was a shining example of that. After the death of her husband, Marlee not only adjusted to life without him but thrived in so many ways. I think she even surprised herself and her kids.

Marlee also taught me that age is literally just a number. Her wit and playful outlook were those of someone young, full of life and promise. She also shared the dark parts of aging, the invisibility she felt.

We also became each other’s biggest cheerleaders when it came to our writing. She would jot notes on the pages I sent to her for each group. I still have them even now. I look at them for inspiration and encouragement. She enjoyed my wit and imagination, and I marveled at her gift for writing with honesty and humor, and for making her life story truly come alive.

I miss the bond we had

I think what really created a unique bond between us was the life details we shared in both our writing and our many conversations. I had seen snippets of her past from her childhood to her life as a mother and grandmother. She traveled, married a military man, and landed where I hoped I would one day end up — retired and having the privilege of watching her children parent their own children. I envied the life she’d made and the journey it took her to get there.

Over the past several years, we have maintained contact. It’s been hard. We are still friends on Facebook and have occasionally connected. I miss her and the bond we had. No matter where we end up, though, I will always be grateful for the things she’s taught me and for our unique friendship.

• A court has put a temporary block on the merger of Nexstar and Tegna.
• The local TV rivals are barred from combining operations until an antitrust lawsuit is settled.
• California AG Rob Bonta is among politicians opposing the merger, which he called “illegal.”

A federal judge in California has blocked the merger of local TV giant Nexstar and its rival, Tegna, until an antitrust lawsuit is settled.

US District Court Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley on Friday issued a preliminary injunction that forbids Nexstar and Tegna from combining operations during the legal dispute with California Attorney General Rob Bonta and seven other state attorneys general.

The companies had previously received approval for the merger, reportedly worth $6.2 billion, from the Federal Communications Commission and the US Department of Justice last month. Nexstar and Tegna closed the deal on March 19, immediately after the DOJ announced early termination of its antitrust review.

Friday’s preliminary injunction follows a temporary restraining order granted last month in a challenge brought by satellite TV company DirecTV.

Describing the injunction as “a critical win in our case,” Bonta said: “This merger is illegal, plain and simple. The federal government may have thrown in the towel, but we’ll keep fighting for consumers, for workers, for affordability, and for our local news.”

Nexstar, the largest owner of local broadcast television stations in the country, said it would appeal the decision.

“This pro-competitive transaction will make local stations stronger and support continued investment in local journalism and fact-based news. We will appeal today’s decision and look forward to presenting our case on its merits before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals,” it said in a statement.

• Sarah Hayles developed a facial injury following a routine surgery when she was 26.
• She had five years of traumatic testing before a doctor helped her “move on” with her life.
• The mom of two is raising awareness that appearances don’t — and shouldn’t — matter.

This interview is based on a conversation with Sarah Hayles, 44, a mining engineer from Queensland, Australia. It has been edited for length and clarity.

In August 2008, at 26, I had routine surgery to remove a pterygium. It’s a tiny, non-cancerous growth on your eye, sometimes known as “surfer’s eye,” which, if left unchecked, could have affected my vision.

As soon as I woke up from the anesthesia, I knew that something wasn’t right. It was incredibly painful, but there was also a dullness in the area, and my eyeball seemed to move more slowly.

At first, it wasn’t too noticeable. But, as the weeks and months went by, my eyelid started to droop, and the eye began to turn.

I had an emergency MRI

I had repeated checkups that turned up nothing and was eventually referred to a top eye specialist in Brisbane, about 600 miles from my home in the Australian outback. He finally saw me in April 2010.

Within 15 minutes, he arranged an MRI for that same night. I asked what he thought could be wrong, and he said it could be something as serious as a brain tumor or multiple sclerosis.

It was absolutely terrifying, but they found no evidence of a tumor and, after two years of testing, ruled out MS. To this day, I still haven’t been diagnosed with anything.

All I know is that I’ve been poked and prodded by doctors and consultants who have performed every test under the sun. Some were traumatic, such as being zapped with electricity to check for nerve damage and a lumbar puncture to analyze my spinal fluid.

The appearance of my eye deteriorated over time. I used to look in the mirror as a 30-something and think it was very noticeable. Still, compared to how it appears now, it wasn’t.

A kind doctor gave me good advice

The experience put me through the wringer. I refused to have my photo taken and thought nobody would want to date or marry me.

Then, in 2013, I saw a kind, grandfatherly doctor who all but held my hand during the appointment. He said that I was beautiful, healthy, and strong, and I needed to find a way to be OK with it.

His advice put an end to all the onerous testing and waiting for definitive results that never came. “I can do this and move on,” I thought to myself.

I had no psychotherapy or counseling, but I did my own research by reading books about having a positive mindset. Slowly, I became more confident.

I met my husband, Brian, 45, a diesel fitter, through mutual friends on Facebook in 2015. It was a whirlwind romance, and we got engaged and married in less than a year.

I’m so glad I have children

Our relationship taught me so much. Focusing on appearances is BS. If you do, you can easily miss the person within.

I’d always wanted to have kids, but in the years immediately following my injury, I changed my mind. I didn’t think I’d have the strength to deal with their school friends pointing at me.

Now that Brian and I have Jack, 8, and Astrid, 6, I can’t imagine life without them. In fact, I think they’ve indirectly benefited from what happened to me.

I’ve raised them not to judge people by the way they look. “It’s all about how someone behaves and how they make you feel,” I say.

Yes, I do get the occasional stare, especially from young children. Sometimes it’s awkward as their parents don’t know what to say, but I give them grace. Nobody is being malicious.

I want to normalize facial injuries

These days, I do a lot of keynote speaking about resilience and how I regained my confidence. I launched my Instagram account to help normalize issues like mine.

I know I could have allowed this facial injury to be something awful that ruined my life, or turned it into a positive. I’m glad I chose the latter.

• Social data shows more positive online sentiment toward Alix Earle than toward Alex Cooper.
• The social media stars have captivated the internet with their public feud for the past week.
• Neither star is really “winning” the spat, however.

Two of the biggest personalities in digital media, Alex Cooper and Alix Earle, are feuding, and the internet has a favorite.

Data from two social listening firms, Muck Rack and Sprout Social, showed higher negative sentiment toward Cooper than toward Earle since the public feud kicked off late last week.

That’s not to say anyone’s truly “winning” this clash. Earle has seen negative commentary about her increase since the feud began, and Cooper entered the dispute riding a prior wave of negative sentiment.

Sprout Social said negative sentiment around Cooper was already high before the spat began. The firm attributed this partly to some Hannah Montana fans being upset about the perceived quality of Cooper’s interview with Miley Cyrus, connected to the show’s 20th anniversary celebration.

“For these large female brands, there’s always going to be a lot of haters who want to pull them down,” said Jo Wang, GM of Pop Store, an AI commerce company that helps creators build online businesses.

Overall, though, it’s worth noting that the social listening firms found the sentiment for both Earle and Cooper was largely neutral.

A rep for Earle declined to comment, and reps for Cooper didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.

How the recent drama started

The recent drama began last week when Earle — who used to work with Cooper’s company — reposted a critical TikTok about Cooper that called her an “ambulance chaser” for interviewing people at vulnerable times, among other accusations.

Cooper, 31, then posted a video calling out Earle, 25. She encouraged Earle to “say what you got to say about me,” to which Earle commented, “Okay on it!!”

Internet commenters have jumped to take sides. Some on social media have criticized Cooper for building an empire on sometimes-questionable advice for young women, while others have defended her as a successful businesswoman. Earle watchers have called her passive-aggressive, while others have praised her for not directly engaging.

People are looking for an escape from the politics and war-dominated news cycle, and Cooper and Earle are delivering it, said Juda Engelmayer, a crisis PR professional whose clients include Harvey Weinstein and Diddy. He said he thought online commenters were drawn to Earle because she presents as authentic and has a younger fan base that’s quick to show their support on social media.

The dustup isn’t that serious — so far — and could even benefit both by introducing them to a wider audience, he said.

“No one’s getting canceled for this,” he said. “This is just bringing name recognition.”

The social stars have a history

The social media frenzy surrounding the two women reflects their ability to command huge audiences and cut big business deals.

Earle, with more than 8 million TikTok followers, became famous for her get-ready-with-me videos in 2022 and is known for selling out products, including her new skincare line, Reale Actives.

Cooper founded the Unwell Network of podcasts, which includes her popular “Call Her Daddy” show. She’s one of the highest-paid podcasters, with a three-year, $125 million deal with SiriusXM. She also has an electrolyte beverage with Nestlé called Unwell Hydration.

In 2023, the Unwell Network signed Earle to host her own podcast, “Hot Mess,” but it ended after less than two years.

There’s been speculation that the two don’t get along — Earle took a slight jab at the situation in a 2025 interview — but this is the first time they are openly taking shots at each other.

• A doctor said he’s seeing a growing number of patients under age 45 with colorectal cancers.
• He recently treated a 22-year-old with stomach pain. She had a tumor so big it nearly blocked her colon.
• Symptoms of colon cancer can be subtle, so it’s crucial to know the right screening options.

The patient was 22 years old and a recent college graduate, suffering from inexplicable stomach pain.

She’d had the pain off and on for about a year and assumed it was stress-related. She finished her studies and spent a busy summer working at an animal shelter, preparing to apply to veterinary school.

When she saw a doctor, she was told to wait and see if the pain resolved on its own. But when it became so severe, she went to the emergency room. Scans found a tumor large enough to cause a near blockage of her colon. She had no family history of the disease.

It was colon cancer: a growing concern for younger patients, according to Dr. Marc Greenwald, who ultimately treated the patient and wrote a case study on her care.

Greenwald, the chief of colorectal clinical services and surgeon-in-chief at North Shore University Hospital in New York, told Business Insider that while colon cancer cases are decreasing in older adults, they’re on the rise in people under 45 as a growing number of young cancer patients are showing up at his hospital.

“There’s no doubt that we’re seeing more people,” he said. “The problem is that a lot of the symptoms are somewhat subtle. If there are new symptoms for somebody, regardless of age, they should seek medical attention.”

Here’s what Greenwald said everyone should know about the symptoms and your options for cancer screening that could catch the disease in time for effective treatment.

Colon cancer symptoms that everyone should know

Decades ago, colon cancer cases in young people were rare.

Stomach pain and indigestion in 20- or 30-something patients would often be attributed to irritable bowel syndrome or dismissed as a minor ailment.

Today, colon cancer is the top cause of cancer-related death in people under 50, prompting doctors and patients alike to be on high alert for possible symptoms.

Most concerning is that in early-onset colon cancers, symptoms may be subtle or may not appear at all until the cancer has advanced.

Greenwald said his 22-year-old patient likely developed the tumor in her colon as a teenager, and it may have continued to grow unnoticed for years.

“The most dangerous misconception is that I have no symptoms, so I must be fine,” he said. “That is really the wrong attitude because if colorectal cancer is caught before symptoms occur, your chance of a cure is much higher than if you wait for symptoms.”

How to get tested for colon cancer

Early onset cases of colon cancer include patients in their 40s, 30s, and as young as their 20s. That’s a problem because there are currently no screening guidelines for people under 45.

Colonoscopies, recommended starting at age 45, help detect cancer and also prevent it by removing any existing polyps or abnormal growths that can develop into tumors.

If you’re too young for a regular colonoscopy, it’s even more crucial to monitor any changes in your health and seek early screening if necessary.

Greenwald said patients can sometimes postpone or avoid a colonoscopy because they’re anxious about the procedure or colonoscopy prep (although a Business Insider reporter previously shared that it’s easier than you might think).

There are also less-invasive alternatives to colonoscopies, such as stool tests that can be collected at home and mailed to a lab. Blood tests for cancer are currently under development, too, although their reliability can be mixed.

If you have symptoms, even minor ones like a change in bowel habits or digestion, it’s important to talk to your doctor as soon as possible and find a testing option to rule out cancer.

“If you’re not going to do a colonoscopy, do something to get screened,” Greenwald said.

This article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your qualified physician or healthcare provider.

• OnlyFans has an amazing business model: It sells subscriptions to user-generated porn.
• That means the company generates enormous profits.
• But those profits aren’t enough to entice mainstream investors, so OnlyFans has struggled to find a buyer.

OnlyFans is an internet business marvel: low costs, huge profits, nonstop growth. But every time it goes looking for mainstream capital, it runs into the same problem: Investors are scared of buying into a porn company.

Our newest reminder of this tension comes from the Financial Times, which reports that OnlyFans’ parent company is close to an investment deal with Architect Capital that would value it north of $3 billion — down meaningfully from previous targets.

It’s one of a series of data points about OnlyFans’ difficulty in attracting investors. In 2022, it took a run at going public via a SPAC deal that never materialized. In 2025, it was trying to sell itself for $8 billion.

Details and deal structures keep changing in all of these would-be transactions — now the company is reportedly talking about selling a minority investment instead of a controlling stake, for instance. The fact that owner Leonid Radvinsky died in March from cancer has also complicated sales talks. I’ve asked OnlyFans and Architect Capital for comment.

But the main throughline is that many mainstream investors have looked at OnlyFans’ numbers, which describe an amazing business, and concluded that they’re better off staying away. The reputational, regulatory, and legal risks of owning a user-generated porn subscription business have convinced them it’s not worth it.

And again, you can’t overstate just how impressive OnlyFans’ numbers are, which you can see for yourself in British filings. In 2024, it posted a staggering pretax profit of $684 million on revenue of $1.4 billion; people familiar with the company’s business tell me those numbers spiked again in 2025.

As I noted a couple of years ago, that performance comes because OnlyFans is built on a simple and effective business model: “It has connected one of the internet’s favorite things (porn), with one of its favorite content strategies (getting users to create all of its content, for free), and one of its favorite monetization strategies (payments and subscriptions).”

And that made OnlyFans incredibly lucrative for Radvinsky, who took out $700 million in dividend payments in a single year.

Let’s compare that to Match Group, another internet business based on subscriptions and user-generated content, minus the porn: In 2025, the company behind dating apps like Tinder and Hinge posted similar pretax profits of $746 million — albeit on revenue of $3.5 billion. But investors value the company north of $8 billion.

That gap in valuation makes for a pretty easy read: If OnlyFans weren’t a platform best-known for adult content, it could be worth much more. Instead, it looks like it will remain a hugely profitable business with meaningful porn penalty.