FOLLOWING years of controversy, the iconic Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders secured a historic pay rise in 2025.

Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts revealed the world’s wealthiest sports franchise paid their dedicated team of dancers inadequately, but thankfully they have secured a 400 per cent pay rise.

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Members of the squad put in up to 40 hours a week practicing[/caption]

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Previously the squad was paid just $400 per game[/caption]

In June 2025, it was announced on Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders that the squad would receive a 400 per cent pay increase for the 2025 NFL season.

This marks a significant shift from previous years, when their pay was widely criticized as inadequate given the demanding nature and visibility of their role.

During the show’s first series, Charlotte Jones — daughter of franchise owner Jerry Jones — admitted their was an issue with their pay, saying: “There’s a lot of cynicism around pay for NFL cheerleaders — as it should be. They’re not paid a lot.”

Previously, the squad was paid $400 per game — a figure that itself was the result of a 2019 settlement that doubled their earlier $200 per game rate.

And now the Cowboys have reportedly multiplied the squad’s pay by four, which would take it up to somewhere in the region of $1,600.

When season two of America’s Sweethearts dropped on June 18, 2025, one of the Cowboy’s cheerleaders revealed that the franchise had finally addressed this issue.

Megan McElaney said: “We ended up getting a 400 per cent increase, which is like, life-changing.”

She said they would now earn around $75 per hour, compared to about $15 per hour from the previous season for most cheerleaders.

And former Cowboys dancer Jada McLean added: “Happy isn’t even the right word for it.

“I think I was just … a relief, like everything had paid off… Finally, we were done fighting.”

Former Cowboys cheerleader Jada reportedly earned between $15,000 and $22,000 annually during her time with the squad, a figure that includes game-day pay, rehearsals and paid appearances. 

She also told the New York Times that the new contract does not include health insurance.

Cheerleaders typically spend 30 to 40 hours per week on training, performances, and preparations, and many still work additional jobs to make ends meet.

The pay raise comes after years of internal discussions, media coverage, and legal action.

In 2018, former cheerleader Erica Wilkins filed a lawsuit alleging unfair pay practices, claiming she earned about $7 an hour plus a flat $200 per game. 

The lawsuit was settled in 2019, doubling the per-game rate at the time.

Although the Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise in the world, topping Forbes’ sporting wealth list with a valuation of $10.1billion, their cheerleaders’ pay has historically lagged behind the team’s financial stature.

The recent raise is seen by many as long-overdue, bringing the cheerleaders’ pay more in line with the squad’s prominence, commitment and workload.

A Thai couple accused a former police officer of raping and accused another officer of extorting 15,000 baht, but a lawyer later discovered that the pair withheld significant information about the case. The couple, known as Em and Bee, sought assistance from well-known lawyer Paisarn Rueangrit. They claimed to have filed complaints with local police, but …

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National Department of Health invites South African unemployed graduates to apply for the Graduate Internship Programme 2025–2027. Internship Application Closing Date: 07 July 2025Internship Location:...

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A PAIR of Strictly Come Dancing stars have signed up for Celebrity Gogglebox.

The starry eyed spin-off of the Channel 4 programme has been adding a variety of huge names for its current run.

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Craig and Anton have joined Celebrity Gogglebox[/caption]

Tom Farmer

The two became pals throughout their time on Strictly Come Dancing[/caption]

Now, the show has revealed that Strictly Come Dancing judges Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood will be appearing on the sofa tonight.

The popular pair have both been a part of Strictly since its inception in 2004 with Anton originally appearing as a pro with Craig being the only judge to have remained on the panel since the first series.

Revealing the news, an Instagram post from the official Gogglebox account said: “10s all round!

“Welcome to the #CelebrityGogglebox family.”

A video clip to confirm their appearance saw Craig say: “Yes, it’s me, Craig Revel Horwood.”

Anton then chipped in to add: “And me, Anton Du Beke, my loves. Join us!”

The addition of the pair comes after The Sun exclusively revealed a slew of names for the series including the show’s biggest signing to date.

The Sun were the first to reveal last week that Darts superstar Luke Littler had agreed to join the show.

The 18-year-old paired up with his close pal and popular internet personality, AngryGinge, for their debut last Friday.

Yesterday, we also told how popstar Rag’n’Bone Man had joined the show and will also make his debut tonight.

It will be the Human singer’s first ever foray into reality TV after a series of years topping the charts.

Rag’n’Bone Man – whose real name is Rory Graham – will be accompanied by a popular comedian and TV host on the show.

Romesh Ranganathan will be his TV partner in crime and is best known for hosting the revival of The Weakest Link as well as his shows on BBC Radio 2 and his partnership with Rob Beckett.

Confirming their appearance on the show in a light-hearted clip, a deadpan Romesh said to the camera: “Hello I’m Romesh and this is Rory [Rag’n’Bone Man].

“We are gonna be on Celebrity Gogglebox, aren’t we?”

Rag’n’Bone Man, dressed in a pink T-shirt, then added: “Yes we are, this Friday at 9pm.”

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Rag’n’Bone Man and Romesh Ranganathan are also on the show[/caption]

WHEN five-year-old Lila Marsland started complaining of neck pain, a headache and vomiting, mum Rachael Mincherton took her to hospital.

After being diagnosed with tonsillitis, the “adorable” youngster was discharged – but just hours later was found dead.

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Lila Marsland was told her headache, neck pain and vomiting was caused by tonsillitis[/caption]

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Her mum Rachael Mincherton slept with Lila that night, but when she woke up, her daughter was unresponsive[/caption]

Lila, who also had a fever and lethargy, was seen at Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester, and Rachael, who was a nurse at the time, asked hospital staff if her daughter could have meningitis – inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

After being seen by “a range of healthcare professionals”, the primary school pupil was deemed to have viral tonsillitis and was sent home with oral antibiotics and a throat spray.

Just six and a half hours later on December 28, 2023, Rachael woke up at around 9am to find that Lila was unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at 9.19am.

Speaking before the inquest, which was heard between May 27 and June 5, 2025, Rachael, 36, said: “When we arrived home from hospital, I slept with Lila that night and when I woke she was unresponsive.

“The paramedics arrived in minutes and did everything they could, but it was too late.

“At that moment our family changed forever.”

Rachael, of Hyde, Greater Manchester, described Lila as “the most amazing and adorable little girl” who had a “zest for life.”

“She was a gentle soul who had many friends and all the teachers at school thought the world of her,” she added.

“I’d pick Lila up and it would take half an hour to leave as she would be hugging all of the teachers.

“Lila played with her friends, loved dancing, cheerleading and Rainbows.

“She had a zest for life and her entire future ahead of her.

“It breaks our hearts that she’ll never get to make the most of life and fulfil her potential.”

An initial investigation into the youngster’s death indicated that Lila had signs of meningitis bacteria in fluid surrounding her brain.

The inquest at Manchester South Coroner’s Court in Stockport concluded she died as a result of pneumococcal meningitis, which was preventable and “contributed to by neglect”.

“Had Lila been admitted to hospital and given broad spectrum antibiotics within the first hour of being triaged, this would have prevented Lila’s death,” the jury said.

In a prevention of future deaths report, Coroner Chris Morris raised concerns that there seems to be no record of Lila being examined at the hospital.

Addressing Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the chief executive of Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, he said: “It is a matter of concern that the locum consultant in emergency medicine who completed a form indicating Lila was ‘safe to transfer’ to the paediatric emergency department did so without undertaking any examination or direct assessment of her.

“The doctor had previously filed a statement at court indicating he had undertaken a ‘preliminary visual assessment’ of Lila, but accepted in oral evidence that this was not, in fact, the case.

“I am concerned that no medical record appears to exist of the examination of Lila, which resulted was discharged from hospital.

“The absence of this key piece of evidence serves to limit the ability of the Trust to derive all possible learning from Lila’s death.”

We wouldn’t wish what we’re having to go through on anyone

Rachael MinchertonMum

The court heard evidence that, over the course of almost 10 hours in hospital, Lila’s history and details of examinations and assessments undertaken were recorded on a mixture of various analogue and digital systems in operation in different parts of the Trust.

“This led to a risk of vital clinical information being lost in the system,” Mr Morris said.

“I am concerned that this, and other hospitals elsewhere in the country, continue to operate with information being stored and shared between professionals in a fragmented and disjointed way.

“In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and your organisation have the power to take such action.”

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‘Lila was the most amazing and adorable little girl,’ said Rachael[/caption]

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Lila’s family family have set up a charity in her memory[/caption]

Since Lila’s death, Rachael and her scaffolder partner Darren Marsland, 42, have set up a charity called Lila’s Light – where they raise money to provide hospitals with bereavement bags for siblings who have lost a brother or sister.

They have raised thousands of pounds so far, through a variety of fundraisers, including a family fun day and charity football match.

Rachael, who also has a 15-year-old daughter Ava, said: “No family thinks they’ll ever find themselves in this position.

“It’s almost impossible to put into words the feeling of loss our family faces every day and how Lila’s death will remain with us forever.

“Hearing the word ‘neglect’ is something a parent should never have to hear and we are now left with the devastating loss of our daughter for the rest of our lives.

“We wouldn’t wish what we’re having to go through on anyone.

“However, fundraising is our way of trying to keep Lila’s memory alive while also giving something back and helping other families who may need support.”

Jack Bookey, the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, said: “Rachael and Darren remain devastated at losing their little girl so suddenly and tragically.

“Understandably they have a number of questions and concerns over what happened to Lila and the events leading up to her death.

“It’s vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety.”

A spokesperson for Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said: “We want to express our sincere condolences to Lila’s family for this tragic loss.

“It is clear from the independent investigation that there were missed opportunities in Lila’s care.

“We accept the coroner’s findings and apologise unreservedly for this.

“As a Trust, we have made and will continue to make improvements to ensure we learn from this case.”

DUNNES Stores fans are set to love a new sleeveless jacket that’s perfect for warmer weather after it landed on racks.

The Gallery Cornelli Sleeveless Jacket is a bargain at just €25.

And shoppers can choose between two colours – baby blue and navy.

It is available in sizes XS to XXL.

Dunnes said: “From Gallery, this sleeveless jacket features a floral lace underlay with embroidered details.

“It fastens with five hook-and-loop closures and has a ribbed neckline and hem. 

“Gallery is available exclusively at Dunnes Stores.”

The retailer has paired the jacket with a basic white t-shirt and blue jeans for a casual day look.

Meanwhile, a fashion fan has tried on a stunning new outfit from Dunnes Stores that’s perfect for a wedding and can be styled in two ways.

One Irish shopper gave fans three fun outfits to try on Instagram using the Savida Bella sequin skirt.

Yvonne O’Connor, who uploads under the user @stridetostyle, shared how she styled the €30 sparkly item.

Wearing a size 12 in the set, she said “It’s much better than I thought it was going to be and perfect for anyone who likes their arms out.”

The fashion fan switched it up with an oversized white T-shirt and some low-top trainers for a more chic day-to-day look.

And finally, Yvonne is stunning in a pink blazer and kitten heels for a “beautiful look” – for a unique outfit this wedding season.

Many of her followers rushed to the comments to compliment her style, calling her new looks “Gorgeous” and “Beautiful”.

Shop the look as the top costs just €30 with the matching skirt retailing for €35.

Sizes range from XXS and go up to XXL, so everyone can shine this summer.

Both items are available online and in stores.

And shoppers can get a more elegant look this wedding season.

The new Mia satin dress features a stunning back detail for just €40.

The midi dress is designed with a daring low cut front in a deep navy blue.

With the back of the dress featuring a striking cross over style, the latest arrival is also the perfect wedding guest fit.

It ranges in sizes from XXS-XXL, but fans will have to be quick as only smalls, mediums and larges are left online.

THE best places to take your driving test have been revealed in a new analysis of DVSA data – and it’s good news for drivers in Scotland.

There are “remarkable” differences in first-time pass rates across the UK, according to the figures.

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A town in Scotland has a staggeringly high pass rate[/caption]

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A beautiful lake district town is the best place in England to take your test[/caption]

Andrew Barr - The Sun Glasgow

Forfar in Scotland is the second-best place in the UK to take your test[/caption]

It comes after The Sun previously revealed the hardest test centres to pass at.

From three-point turns to checking blind spots, there is plenty for novice drivers to think about during their test.

And with a long wait for a slot, knowing you have a good chance of success is crucial.

The best location to take your driving test is Montrose, in Scotland, where a staggering 69.6% of drivers pass on the first attempt.

The second-best test centre is Forfar, just down the road from Montrose.

Although 69.5% of learners pass in Forfar, men have much more luck than women.

While 75.5% of men pass, only 64.2% of women will receive their licence after their first attempt.

Although the two best centres in the UK are in Scotland, English drivers shouldn’t worry.

There is only a tiny difference in the success rate between the best centre in England and Scotland.

The beautiful lake district town of Kendal, in Cumbria, has a first-time pass rate of 69.1%.

And here women are more likely to get the stamp of approval from their examiner – 71.4% pass first time compared to 66.8% of men.

The best centre in Wales rounds out the top five with a 66.9% first time pass rate.

Nervous test-takers face a much bigger challenge in other parts of the country.

Test centres in cities in the Midlands and North West are the trickiest for first timers, according to the data provided by Traffic Chart.

In Wolverhampton, over two-thirds of people will leave disappointed after the first attempt.

This makes it the worst place in the country to take your driving test.

And down the road in Featherstone, only 31.9% of first-time test takers pass.

Martijn Hulshof, founder of Traffic Chart, said: “These figures show remarkable regional variations in driving test success rates.

“Scottish test centres perform exceptionally well, possibly due to less congested roads and different driving conditions compared to major urban areas.”

When it comes to picking a place to take your test, Hulshof said: “Rural locations typically offer better odds of first-time success, but practical factors like travel distance should be weighed against the potential benefits.”

He also explained that men generally outperformed women across the country when it comes to first-time pass rates.

Hulshof said: “It suggests that factors such as anxiety and pressure may affect male and female drivers differently in testing environments.”

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Learner drivers have a much higher chance of success in some parts of the UK[/caption]

In Thailand’s dense, steaming western forests, 20 sambar deer leap into freedom — and straight into the domain of one of Asia’s most elusive predators: the Indochinese tiger. This dramatic release in Khlong Lan National Park, Kamphaeng Phet, Central Thailand, is part of an ambitious government and WWF-backed effort to revive Thailand’s wild tiger population …

The story Tiger comeback: Prey release sparks hope in Thai jungle as seen on Thaiger News.

MANILA, Philippines — The province of Capiz has recorded its first confirmed mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) case, the local government announced on Friday. The Capiz provincial government said in a statement that the patient is currently under home isolation and is “being appropriately managed by the concerned local health office.” “The patient’s skin lesions

FAT Joe has hit back at bombshell claims he had sex with underage girls in a $20 million lawsuit comparing him to Sean Combs.

The rapper’s former hypeman Terrance ‘T.A.’ Dixon made shocking allegations in the suit filed in New York on Thursday claiming Fat Joe had sexual relationships with at least three underage girls.

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Fat Joe has hit back at claims he engaged in sexual relations with at least three underage girls[/caption]

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The rapper has denied all allegations against him with his lawyer saying it is all ‘fabrication’ in an attempt to intimidate him[/caption]

Joe, whose real name is Joe Cartagena, has hit back at the claims detailed in the 157-page court filing calling them “lies” and a “blatant act of retaliation”.

The lawsuit suing the rapper for damages of up to $20 million comes just two months after Joe sued Dixon for defamation.

Dixon’s court filing accused the 54-year-old of “engaging in sexual relations with children who were 15 and 16 years old” in exchange for cash and materialistic goods like clothes and phone bill payments.

One of the girls from Dominican was 16 when she performed oral sex and other sexual acts on Joe in exchange for cash, clothes, and phone bill payments, documents seen by TMZ allege.

Joe is also accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl he met at a concert abroad.

He allegedly flew the girl out to New York and Miami on several occasions and paid for her Brazilian Butt Lift because her body was “adolescent and not fully formed,” Dixon claims.

The lawsuit further accused the rapper of falling in love with a 15-year-old Latina [referred to as Minor Doe 3] who he flew out for tours, set up in a Florida condo near his family home, and considered leaving his wife for.

“The Defendant paid all Minor Doe 3’s bills and even took her overseas to his tour stops,” the lawsuit alleges.

“He brought her to Florida and would put her up in a condo he rented a few blocks from his house with his wife.

“In a recorded conversation, Minor Doe 3 and her 15-year-old cousin describe in detail to Plaintiff how ‘inappropriate’ it was for Defendant, who was in his late 30s at the time, to be fawning over children.”

Dixon also claimed Joe subjected him to “coercive labor exploitation, financial fraud, sexual manipulation, violent intimidation, and psychological coercion.”

The former hype man alleged that Joe made him perform coercive sexual acts over 4,000 times “under duress and surveillance”, threatening to abandon him abroad if he did not.

He allegedly had to perform such “humiliating” acts “to maintain his standing within the Enterprise.”

The lawsuit claims Dixon faced “a wide spectrum of sexual coercion, psychological control, forced exhibitionism, and surveillance-based humiliation, including being compelled to perform sex acts under observation, being filmed, or directed by [Fat Joe] in the presence of others — tactics designed to control Plaintiff’s body, erode his autonomy, and ensure silence.”

Dixon’s lawyer Tyrone Blackburn said Joe is “Sean Combs minus the Tusi.”

Diddy is currently on trial for sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution – all of which he has pleaded not guilty to.

“These sex-based abuses were not private, incidental, or isolated,” Blackburn, who represented Lil Rod in his lawsuit against Diddy, said of Dixon’s lawsuit.

“They were integral to the enterprise’s culture of dominance and humiliation, enforced by Defendant’s associates,” he added, naming others listed in the lawsuit against Fat Joe.

‘LIES AND THREATS’

The rapper’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, who defended A$AP Rocky in his felony gun trial, told The Independant that the claims made by Dixon are entirely “fabricated”.

“The lawsuit filed by Tyrone Blackburn and Terrance Dixon is a blatant act of retaliation,” he said, adding that it is all “lies” to destroy Joe’s reputation and “force a settlement through public pressure”.

“Mr Cartagena will not be intimidated,” he said.

“We have taken legal action to expose this fraudulent campaign and hold everyone involved accountable.”

Joe’s defamation lawsuit against Dixon accuses him and his lawyer Blackburn of attempted extortion and harassment.

Tacopina called the $20 million lawsuit “a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the civil suit we filed first, which exposed their coordinated scheme to extort Mr. Cartagena through lies, threats, and manufactured allegations.”

However, Dixon has said he will not go down without a fight, “This is the right way to fight Joe – through the system” he told Variety.

“Joe thinks he’s a god. Joe thinks he’s untouchable.”

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Fat Joe filed a defamation lawsuit against Dixon and his lawyer back in April[/caption]