
Nova Newsletter
November 28, 2025
☕ Good morning. 1,784 words for you today - 9 minute read.
The Spotlight
1. Campbell’s Fires Executive After Recorded Remarks on Soup Ingredients

Cans of Campbell's soup are displayed in a supermarket, March 25, 2021, in New York. Mark Lennihan/AP, FILE
Campbell’s fired a vice president after a recording surfaced of him allegedly calling the company’s soup “highly processed food for poor people” and claiming it contains “bioengineered meat.”
Takeaways
The executive, Martin Bally, was terminated Tuesday after Campbell reviewed the tape.
Campbell called the alleged remarks false, inaccurate, and absurd, denying any use of bioengineered chicken.
The whistleblower, Robert Garza, says he was fired after trying to report Bally to HR.
Garza is now suing for retaliation, hostile work environment, and damages.
Garza recorded Bally during a 2024 salary discussion, capturing comments about Campbell’s products and claims about “3D-printed” chicken. Campbell says Bally worked in IT and had no role in food production.
The company insists its soups use 100% real, no-antibiotics chicken from USDA-approved suppliers.
The lawsuit is now moving forward as Campbell’s continues its internal review. Read More
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2. Florida Driver Accused of Targeting LGBTQ Running Club
A Florida man was arrested after allegedly trying to strike members of an LGBTQ running club with his SUV at a West Palm Beach park.
Takeaways
Police say Ihab Mustafa El Mahmoud, 43, made multiple attempts to hit runners with a Ford Bronco.
Witnesses report he drove on sidewalks, grass, and an embankment before fleeing.
Charges include aggravated assault and reckless driving, with a possible hate crime enhancement under review.
The club involved is Night Runners WPB, which hosts twice-weekly community runs.
Police say El Mahmoud became agitated after a perceived comment from a club member. Witnesses described him accelerating toward the group at what felt like 60 to 80 mph, prompting runners to scatter behind trees.
Officers later found him in a parking garage allegedly removing his license plate before arresting him.
The case now moves to court as authorities weigh potential hate crime charges. Read More
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3. Dominican Republic Opens Restricted Sites to Aid US Drug Ops

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference after a meeting with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader at the National Palace in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Ricardo Hernadez)
The Dominican Republic will allow the United States to operate inside restricted military and airport zones as Washington intensifies its regional fight against drug-smuggling networks.
Takeaways
President Luis Abinader approved temporary U.S. access to parts of San Isidro Air Base and Las Américas International Airport.
KC-135 tankers and C-130 aircraft will expand refueling, patrol, and disaster-response capabilities.
At least 83 people have been killed since U.S. strikes on suspected smuggling boats began in September.
It is the first major public Caribbean agreement supporting the U.S. campaign.
Abinader said the deal is technical, limited, and temporary, designed to reinforce air and maritime defenses. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. would operate within Dominican laws as forces deploy.
Officials credit tighter U.S. coordination with tenfold increases in drug seizures in recent years.
More regional governments may face similar pressure as Washington expands its footprint. Read More
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Quick Headlines

A fire can be seen at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong’s New Territories, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
Firefighters battled a massive blaze at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong, for a second day, leaving at least 75 dead, 70 injured, and hundreds missing as authorities investigate construction negligence. Read More
A judge dismissed the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump after special prosecutor Pete Skandalakis declined to pursue charges, ending the last state-level effort to punish the former president over his 2020 election actions. The case included 18 co-defendants and stemmed from Trump’s Jan. 2, 2021, call pressuring Georgia officials. Read More
Thirty-seven babies across 17 states have been hospitalized with suspected or confirmed infant botulism linked to ByHeart Whole Nutrition powdered formula, prompting a nationwide voluntary recall. The CDC and FDA continue investigating contamination after Clostridium botulinum was detected in multiple product lots. Read More
Bruna Ferreira, former fiancée of Karoline Leavitt’s brother, remains in ICE custody two weeks after being pulled over in Massachusetts while en route to pick up her 11-year-old son, despite no clear charges and a pending green card application. She has been transferred across multiple states, highlighting tensions in DACA enforcement. Read More
Four Marion County fire and rescue employees, including three men and a female paramedic, were arrested for kidnapping, battery, and robbery after allegedly grease-smearing, waterboarding, and beating a 19-year-old firefighter over his viral TikTok video. All suspects have been fired, and the department vows retraining and zero tolerance for hazing. Read More
President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned Donald Trump’s decision to bar South Africa from the 2026 G20 in Florida, calling it “regrettable” and based on misinformation. Trump cited a disputed white-minority victim narrative, while South Africa says the US skipped the Johannesburg summit of its own volition. Read More
Deep Dive
4. Trump Administration Excludes Nursing from “Professional Degree”

A nurse cares for a Covid-positive patient at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, Mass., in 2020.Allison Dinner / AFP - Getty Images file
The Trump administration’s new student loan rules would exclude nursing from the list of professional degrees, limiting federal borrowing for graduate nursing programs and raising concerns about the future health care workforce.
Takeaways
Graduate students in non-professional tracks, including advanced nursing programs, would be capped at $20,500 per year and $100,000 lifetime, starting July 2026.
Professional degrees, such as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and law, retain higher limits: $50,000 annually, $200,000 lifetime.
Experts warn the change could worsen shortages of advanced practice nurses and reduce diversity in the workforce.
Data shows average graduate nursing programs cost over $30,000 per year, exceeding the new cap for many students.
Over 200,000 nurses and patients have petitioned the Department of Education to include nursing in the professional degree category.
The Department of Education maintains that the term “professional degree” is a technical distinction and does not reflect a program’s importance. Critics, including the American Nurses Association, argue the policy will severely restrict access to funding for nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, and CRNAs.
Students like Naimah Brandy and Brad Bass say the caps could force them to rely heavily on private loans, potentially deterring talented individuals from pursuing advanced nursing careers. Brandy, a nursing student in Columbus, Ohio, said, “It kind of just makes me want to push a little harder,” reflecting both determination and concern.
Academic leaders warn the limits could exacerbate the nation’s already critical nursing shortage. Michael Relf, dean of Duke University School of Nursing, said, “Fewer graduates from advanced practice programs will ultimately delay access to care.”
The Education Department plans a public comment period before finalizing the rules, leaving the fate of advanced nursing student loans uncertain. Read More
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On Our Radar
5. Oklahoma College Basketball Player Dies After Game Injury

This undated image provided by Connors State College shows Ethan Dietz, a basketball player at Connors State College in Warner, Okla. (Connors State College via AP)
Connors State College sophomore Ethan Dietz died Tuesday following a head injury sustained during a game Saturday in Texas.
Takeaways
Dietz, a 6-foot-8 forward from Vilonia, Arkansas, averaged 11 points per game this season.
The school canceled several men’s and women’s basketball games following his death.
A vigil is scheduled for Dec. 1 on the college campus in Warner, Oklahoma.
Officials have not released further details on the exact cause of the injury.
Dietz was injured in the second half of the game, playing 20 minutes with eight points and four rebounds. Connors State College praised his dedication, calling him an example of teamwork and hard work.
The campus community is mourning the loss of the student-athlete and supporting his family. Read More
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6. Three Charged In Ambush Killing Of 22-Year-Old Singer
Three men have been charged with murder after Maria De La Rosa, a 22-year-old aspiring Latin singer, was killed in a Northridge ambush.
Takeaways
Shooting occurred Saturday around 1:25 a.m. near Bryant Street and Tampa Avenue; three people in the car were shot.
Victim De La Rosa died at the hospital; two others sustained critical injuries.
Francisco Gaytan (27), Benny LiconGomez (27), and Eduardo Lopez (21) face murder and attempted second-degree robbery charges; Lopez remains at large.
Arraignments for Gaytan and LiconGomez are set for Jan. 7 at the San Fernando Courthouse.
Authorities say the suspects approached the parked car, demanded money, and opened fire. The Los Angeles County DA called it a ruthless and targeted attack.
De La Rosa’s family mourns the loss of their daughter and rising musical star, calling the act senseless and devastating. Read More
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8. 🎉 This day in history

The winning vehicle, a Duryea Motor Wagon Company vehicle driven by Frank Duryea
On This Day — November 28
First U.S. Auto Race, 1895 – The "Chicago Times-Herald" organizes America’s inaugural automobile race from Chicago to Evanston and back, covering 55 miles, with Frank Duryea winning at an average speed of 7 mph.
Tehran Conference, 1943 – Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin meet in Iran to coordinate Allied strategy and postwar planning during World War II.
NASA Launches Mariner 4, 1964 – The U.S. sends the Mariner 4 spacecraft on a mission that becomes the first successful flyby of Mars, returning the first close-up images of the planet’s surface.
9. Poll
Life Hack of the day
🥤📿 Store necklaces through a straw to prevent tangles when traveling.

Tired of tangled necklaces while traveling? Thread each chain through a straw before packing. This keeps them straight and prevents knots, making it easy to wear your jewelry right away. It’s a simple, space-saving trick for hassle-free packing.
That’s your morning brief. Now go show someone how smart you are. 🧠
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