Apartment owners at a luxury New York skyscraper are suing the building’s developers over a “far-reaching fraud” in which they allegedly hid structurally significant defects — including “thousands” of severe cracks on the tower’s facade. The condo board at 432 Park Avenue, a super-skinny high-rise on Manhattan’s Billionaire’s Row, claims that real estate firm CIM Group failed to disclose the extent of damage that has resulted in flooding and impacted the value of their multimillion-dollar properties. Filed at the state court in New York in late April, the lawsuit also names architecture and engineering companies involved in the project. Condo owners are collectively seeking more than $165 million in damages, according to the complaint. Completed in 2015, the slender 1,396-foot-tall skyscraper has a 15:1 height-to-width ratio, putting it among the so-called “pencil towers” now dotting midtown Manhattan’s skyline. To protect against high winds, the building was designed with unoccupied floors that encourage airflow, anchors drilled deep into the bedrock and “tuned mass dampers” that act like pendulums to counteract swaying. Property developer Harry Macklowe — whose firm McGraw Hudson Construction Corp is also named in the suit — compared the tower to the Empire State Building, telling the New York Times in 2013 that it was “the building of the 21st century.” Pop star Jennifer Lopez and Chinese businessman Ye Jianming are among those reported to have purchased units there for eight-figure sums. But owners and residents have since complained of numerous construction issues, including more than 20 water leaks since 2017, according to the complaint. In 2021, the condo board filed a lawsuit alleging a range of defects, from malfunctioning elevators and poor energy efficiency to a trash chute that sounds “like a bomb” when used. The new lawsuit meanwhile claims that the tower’s facade is “plagued with thousands of severe cracks, spalling, and other forms of deterioration,” including a 10-inch-deep crack in the building’s core. As well as causing flooding, the damage has corroded some of the steel in the tower’s reinforced concrete columns, the complaint alleges. While the 2021 complaint also detailed “substantial cracking,” the condo board said it filed its most recent action after claiming it uncovered evidence that defendants had “conspired” to conceal the extent and seriousness of the defects. In statements provided to CNN, both CIM Group and SLCE Architects, the project’s architect of record, said they “vehemently” deny the claims and are moving to have the complaint dismissed. Engineering firm WSP declined to comment. McGraw Hudson Construction Corp did not respond to CNN’s inquiries. The lawsuit attributes cracking to the building’s “experimental” facade, which is made from white concrete. The material is, it says, “typically used for aesthetic purposes” and had to be strengthened to withstand the supertall building’s structural load — especially during high winds. Among the suit’s allegations are claims that CIM Group ignored concerns raised by various concrete consultants, as well as the project’s late architect Rafael Viñoly about the strength of the concrete mix. The condo board claims that mockup tests showed the material’s use would result in cracking. But CIM Group and its contractors “bulled forward” with “complete disregard for… the inevitable problems it would cause for the building and its future residents,” the suit adds. The condo board alleges that, despite having knowledge of the facade’s defects, SLCE Architects deceived condo owners by making “materially false” claims in its offering plan, a document disclosing important information to potential buyers. (The lawsuit cites an alleged change in the document’s wording, which went from claiming the concrete “will” prevent water penetration to saying that it was only “designed to” do so.) Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that McGraw Hudson and WSP misled New York City Department of Buildings in a letter that “misrepresented the nature, extent, and type of cracking.” It claims the letter failed to disclose the full findings of a survey that had discovered 1,893 defects. The complaint claims that developers then “repeatedly rejected” recommendations on how to address issues that arose. A suggestion that an opaque elastomeric covering could be applied to the facade to prevent air and water infiltration, for instance, was ignored because it would “significantly alter” the building’s appearance and make it less appealing to “the world’s billionaires,” the lawsuit alleges.

Born in the Italian town of Brescia, Roberto Beltrami grew up just a few hours’ drive from Venice and the island of Murano, world-famous for producing beautiful glassware. But it was nearly 4,000 miles away in Boston, Massachusetts, that he first came across the art of glassblowing. “I was just so struck by this material, the colors, the transparency, the shapes,” recalled Beltrami. It was 2011, and Beltrami, then a sophomore physics student at Boston University, was captivated by an exhibition of the work of American artist Dale Chihuly. Known for pushing the boundaries of contemporary glassblowing, Chihuly’s pursuit of his craft has taken him around the globe, including a stint in Murano in the 1960s. Beltrami visited the island on his summer break, taking up a class in glass blowing. That class turned into an apprenticeship, and the summer turned into a year. Beltrami quit university, trading lecture halls for roaring furnaces, sweating it out in centuries-old workshops, and studying under some of the world’s most renowned glassblowing masters. At one time, Murano was the global leader in glassmaking, renowned for unparalleled quality, style, and innovation, including the invention of “cristallo,” clear glass. But over its 700-year glassblowing history, Murano has faced numerous challenges, and in recent years, the number of factories has plummeted. While many in the industry say that young people are disinterested in pursuing hot, hard manual labor, Beltrami has a different perspective. With a long legacy of closely guarding their trade secrets, workshops in Murano are reluctant to welcome newcomers, said Beltrami, 34. “Everybody was afraid you were going to steal their job, and nobody wanted to teach you anything.” “It was really nightmarish, having this passion for this material, and then you can’t really learn anything,” he added. Frustrated by the lack of opportunities, Beltrami decided to strike out on his own. In 2017, the then-25-year-old started his own workshop, Wave Murano Glass. Now with a team of 20, many of them in their twenties and thirties, Beltrami — believed to be the youngest glass master in Murano — is ushering in a new generation of artisans. “We’re not all under the age of 35 but the average age is definitely under 35 — which is unheard of in Murano,” said Beltrami. Glass is formed by melting sand, soda ash and limestone at temperatures of up to 1,600 degrees Celsius (2,912 degrees Fahrenheit). With a texture similar to treacle, the molten glass mixture is held on the end of a hollow pipe, inflated with air, and then shaped swiftly by swinging, blowing, and rolling while the material is still hot and pliable. Once cooled, it takes on a hard, transparent form. In Venice, glass has been manufactured for over 1,000 years. To prevent fires from the hot furnaces and keep trade secrets from escaping the city, all the glass factories were moved to Murano in 1291, where they’ve remained since. In addition to the invention of cristallo, Murano became well-known for its ability to add vibrant color to clear glass. “It’s not so easy to have different colors of glass together and have them match chemically,” said Beltrami, explaining that each shade uses a unique element — such as cobalt for purple-blue, lead for pale yellow, or tellurium for a pink tint — which expand and contract at different rates when they heat and cool. “Being able to melt all these colors and have them match chemically so a piece doesn’t break at the end was one of the biggest strengths of Murano glass,” Beltrami added. A self-confessed pyromaniac who unwittingly torched a sofa before he could walk, Beltrami says glass blowing combines his love of fire with his passion for making things and working with people. “Glass blowing is kind of like a team sport, because it’s very physical, very intense. You need to work in a team because you can barely do anything by yourself,” he said. The size and weight of many of the glass objects require at least one person to hold the pipe and turn the molten glass, while another shapes it, and another person may be required to torch the glass to keep it pliable, or add embellishments. “It’s like a choreography,” Beltrami added. Making waves At its peak in the 16th century, more than 30,000 people were living on the 1.7-square-mile (4.6-square-kilometer) island of Murano. Now, it is home to around 4,000 people. According to Consorzio Promovetro Murano, a trade consortium that promotes and protects Murano glass, less than a third of them work at the island’s 105 glass-making workshops. The small factories struggle to compete on large-scale industrial orders, said Beltrami. Murano instead focuses on luxury and artistic glassware, although that too has been threatened by an influx of counterfeit goods: according to Consorzio Promovetro Murano, cheap imitation products are common in Venice’s souvenir stores. Not only do they divert profits from local glassmakers, but they also risk damaging the reputation of Murano glass. The industry has been further impacted by a series of crises, including the financial crash of 2008, the Covid-19 pandemic, and rising gas prices. But despite the challenges, Beltrami is optimistic about the future of the craft. A major problem he saw across the factories he worked in previously was antiquated equipment and inefficient processes. So, at Wave Murano Glass, he introduced a variety of modern technologies, including streamlining administrative workflows with AI-enabled software and introducing more energy-efficient furnaces. Designed in the US, these furnaces capture heat that is typically lost via exhaust fumes and reuse it to preheat the air going into the burner, reducing gas usage by 80% compared to furnaces of a similar size, said Beltrami. According to Beltrami, Murano’s factories have historically worked on small-scale industrial orders, with many rejecting commissions of less than a few hundred but unable to cater for those of a few thousand. Seeing a missed opportunity, he set up his furnaces to be flexible, allowing Wave to cover anything from one-off pieces, to a few dozen, up to 1,200 pieces. While the bulk of Wave’s output is white label products for brands, designers, and artists, up to 10% of the company’s turnover comes from classes and tours, which Beltrami hopes can share the art of glass blowing with a wider audience. His efforts have already paid off. Beltrami has made a point of offering internships to young, enthusiastic talent from around the globe, many of whom are now employed at Wave, including several women, who are underrepresented in the industry. For Beltrami, finding new talent is an essential step in preserving the craft he’s come to love — and continuing its legacy of artistry and innovation. “The craftsmanship, the tradition of over a thousand years of history, all make it very special,” he added.

A recent archaeological excavation in Switzerland turned morbid when historians came across a trove of infant burials dating back to Ancient Rome. The excavation began last May in order to make way for three new apartment buildings in the Schürmatt district of Kaiseraugst, the Canton of Aargau said in a statement. One of Switzerland's 26 administrative regions, Aargau is located in the northern region of the country and borders Germany. The excavated properties are located in the lower town of Augusta Raurica, an ancient Roman archaeological site, so a proper investigation was needed before construction began. The quarter was first inhabited at around the end of the first century A.D. before being abandoned during the third century. While excavating a roughly 19,375-square-foot area, archaeologists uncovered a Roman road "with adjacent buildings and associated backyards." The excavators also found a large Roman building complete with a stone cellar. Another building with a cellar was partially uncovered, and archaeologists described the structures as "particularly well-preserved." "[They] yielded numerous finds," said the press release, which was translated from German to English. "Surprisingly, simpler post constructions were identified on some plots, indicating that not all plots were built with stone structures." "Based on the elongated rectangular layout, internal division and backyards, all buildings are interpreted as strip houses," the statement added. Unfortunately, the buildings and the backyards also hosted "several infant burials," marking a grim discovery for the archaeologists. "It was common in Roman times for deceased infants to be buried in homes and backyards rather than cemeteries," the statement read. "The graves reflect care for the dead and provide clues about high infant mortality during this period." Other stone shafts and pits were found, though archaeologists are still unsure what they were used for. "Several dry stone shafts and pits were uncovered in the backyards," the press release read. "The function of these shafts, possibly used as latrines or storage shafts, requires further investigation." Archaeologists also came across "numerous" late Roman coins and other discoveries. "Among the numerous finds were some special objects: a small bronze panther statuette, a tuff stone altar, and a spindle whorl made of mosaic glass," the statement said. "Such finds are rare." The Canton of Aargau concluded that the excavation "significantly expanded knowledge about the lower town of ancient Augusta Raurica." "This provided valuable insights into the urban structure and parceling of this quarter," the press release read. "The Roman road was renewed multiple times and was almost four meters wide at its last stage. It was flanked on both sides by roadside ditches and so-called porticos (columned halls)."

Many Americans are planning to take to the skies to get to their destinations this summer. Ahead of the season, American Airlines announced that for the period between May 16 and Sept. 2, over 715,000 flights have been booked — with July 6 predicted to be the most-traveled day. American Airlines is looking to take some of the anxiety away from some of those flights by introducing new technology for customers with connections. "If the airline determines it can delay the flight without any impact on the airline’s schedule, we will propose a short hold to get those connecting customers onboard," the airline announced in a press release. The technology will first be rolled out at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport hub in Texas to "identif[y] departing flights with connecting customers who might miss their flight." It is unclear how long planes can be held and if there will be any impact on fellow flyers. The technology "helps automate and enhance existing processes to hold certain connecting flights so the airline can help even more customers make their connections and get to their final destinations," the press release also notes. Following the first rollout, American Airlines plans to expand the test to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, followed by other hubs over the summer. Heather Garboden, chief customer officer at American Airlines, said in the press release, "Expectations are high when customers are traveling for their hard-earned summer vacations." A massive 45.1 million Americans are set to travel at least 50 miles from their home during the long weekend, AAA announced. Of the millions of Americans traveling, AAA predicts 3.61 million will be flying to their destinations. That's a 2% increase from last year. "Whether it’s our redesigned app, improvements to our boarding process or other new technology across the operation, we are excited for customers to have a new and improved experience traveling with us this summer," Garboden added.

A well-preserved Ancient Roman wooden water pipe was recently uncovered in an unexpected place: the marshlands of Belgium. The discovery was announced by the city of Leuven, a city east of Brussels in Flanders, on May 7. The pipe was uncovered during an excavation on Brusselsestraat, a street that runs through the central part of the city, in order to make room for student housing. Pictures show the proud archaeological crew beaming next to the ancient pipe which, at first glance, looks like a log. But ancient wood-workers cut a cylindrical hole through the wood to give it the function of a pipe. The pipe dates back to the second and third centuries A.D. The city said that, at the time, Leuven "was a tiny spot in the vast Roman Empire, which stretched from Great Britain to Egypt and from Gibraltar to the Caspian Sea." "In our region, Leuven likely served as a 'diverticulum,' a settlement of several houses and farms at a crossroads, near a Roman road connecting the major axis between Cologne and Boulogne," the press release also said, which was translated from Dutch to English. "The exceptional preservation of the wood makes it a unique find that contributes to the understanding of Roman presence in Leuven." Dirk Vansina, a city alderman for real estate heritage, emphasized that the discovery is highly unusual in Flanders. "At numerous locations, including in Tienen, indications of what was once a Roman wooden water pipe have been excavated before," the city official said. "But never the water pipe itself, as the wooden logs used by the Romans had rotted away over time." Vasina added that wood rot occurs when a place's groundwater level varies between wet and dry – and luckily for the wooden pipe, the groundwater levels have been stable throughout time. "It is the Dijle [River] that ensured the wooden water pipe remained exceptionally well-preserved over the centuries," the expert said. "Due to the proximity of the Dijle, the ground here was always marshy, and the passage of time has been very gentle on this water pipe." The pipe will be transferred to a conservation studio where it will continue to be studied. Once a sample is taken to determine its age, it will be freeze-dried for preservation purposes and possibly displayed in the future. Archaeologists also came across other discoveries during the excavation, such as ancient pottery shards, but the city emphasized that the water pipe "is of a different caliber." "The size of Leuven in Roman times was limited, but finds like this prove that the Roman presence was certainly not incidental and that it is worthwhile to continue digging and gradually uncover this past," Vasina said.

Memorial Day weekend, which kicks off the summer, is set to break a new travel record this year. A massive 45.1 million Americans are set to travel at least 50 miles from their home during the long weekend, AAA announced. Of the millions of Americans traveling, AAA predicts 3.61 million will be flying to their destinations. That's a 2% increase from last year. "While this Memorial Day weekend isn’t expected to set an air travel record (that was set back in 2005 with 3.64 million travelers), this year’s numbers are projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels by 12%," states the AAA press release. Travelers should arrive a minimum of two hours before their scheduled domestic flights and three hours before scheduled international flights, the TSA advised. The AAA release said the most popular destinations are Chicago, Seattle, Orlando, Denver and New York. Those visiting the New York area may want to rethink what airport they are flying into amid recent air disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instituted yet another ground delay at EWR on Monday, just one day after the previous delay, with flyers' frustrations growing. Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert and author of the blog "View From the Wing," told Fox News Digital that passengers should avoid New York airports for connecting flights. "If you're connecting, it's often a good idea to avoid New York airports. If you originate in New York, it really depends on where in the city you're based," he said. Brandon Blewett, the Texas-based author of "How to Avoid Strangers on Airplanes," told Fox News Digital that travelers going to and from New York City should look at other airports. "I’d consider alternatives to EWR like LGA and JFK until the runway reopens and ATC staffing stabilizes," said Blewett. "It may be more of a headache in traffic, but it seems you’re less likely to be stranded for the time being." On May 7, the REAL ID requirement took effect, requiring flyers to obtain the new identification with a star in the upper right corner in order to fly. Flyers have expressed worries about possible delays during the security process if they, or fellow travelers, are unable to present the proper identification. Those who do not have a compliant ID may receive additional screening, which would take more time. A TSA spokesperson told Fox News Digital the agency continues to urge passengers to get REAL IDs or bring other acceptable forms of ID for travel. "Summer travel is upon us, and there is still time to get a REAL ID," said the spokesperson. "Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant at TSA checkpoints and who do not have another acceptable alternative form of ID will be notified of their non-compliance, may be directed to a separate area, and may receive additional screening," the spokesperson added.

In-N-Out Burger has announced a major menu switch, changing the ingredients of a few of its beverages. "As part of our ongoing commitment to providing our customers with the highest-quality ingredients, we have removed artificial coloring from our Strawberry Shakes and Signature Pink Lemonade," Patty Pena, a spokesperson for the California-based burger joint, confirmed to Fox News Digital on Wednesday. It is unclear which specific dyes have been removed by the popular fast-food restaurant or if the coloring will be replaced. Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a ban on petroleum-based synthetic dyes within the nation's food supply, citing health concerns. Petroleum-based synthetic dyes are used to add color to food and drug items. The dyes are commonly found in breakfast cereals, candy, snacks, beverages, vitamins and "other products [that are] aimed at children," according to an article titled "The Artificial Food Dye Blues," shared by the National Library of Medicine. The FDA recently announced the approval of three natural-source colors in food items: Galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract and calcium phosphate. Pena told Fox News Digital the chain will be making a major change to a staple condiment as well. "We’re also in the process of transitioning to an upgraded ketchup, which is made with real sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup," Pena said. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called out sugar during the agency's announcement on the artificial dye ban. "Sugar is poison," Kennedy said at the time. "And Americans need to know that it is poisoning us." California-based certified nutritionist Courtney Swan of Realfoodology told Fox News Digital that high-fructose corn syrup needs to be examined. High-fructose corn syrup is a processed sweetener derived from corn starch, which Swan classifies as an "ultraprocessed, refined sugar." The syrup is "so far removed from its original source that it's not even recognizable as something that would be considered food anymore," Swan said.

There's a new king in the U.S. casual dining scene. Texas Roadhouse has surpassed Olive Garden as the No. 1 casual dining destination based on systemwide sales, according to new data from Technomic on the 500 largest restaurant chains in America. The Louisville, Kentucky-based steakhouse chain overtook Olive Garden, which had held the top spot since 2018. Texas Roadhouse sales surged 14.7% last year to $5.5 billion, while Olive Garden sales rose just 0.8% to $5.2 billion in 2024, according to Technomic. Olive Garden has tried to lure more customers with its $6 take-home entrées and endless soup or salad and breadsticks. The Orlando, Florida-based Italian restaurant chain, owned by parent company Darden Restaurants, opened 15 new restaurants in 2024, compared to 26 new locations for Texas Roadhouse, Restaurant Business reported. Steakhouses represented three of the top 10 casual dining restaurants on the list. LongHorn Steakhouse, which is also owned by Darden Restaurants, jumped Tampa, Florida-based Outback Steakhouse, according to the data.

Ice cream parlors are ready to serve summer crowds as warmer days approach. One shop scooping out its ice cream is switching up the way it makes homemade sweet treats. Family-owned King Cone in Plover, Wisconsin, has announced it will be phasing out artificial food dyes. Judy Klosinski and son Ben Klosinski, owners of King Cone, told Fox News Digital the decision stemmed from inspiration they received from a family member. "The switch away from using artificial coloring came as Ben and his family started researching more about dyes and color additives in the food their family was consuming," Judy Klosinksi said. "Ben's son appeared to be having issues in the fall of 2024. We started checking into making the switch to natural dyes." The shop was unable to find healthier ingredients from existing suppliers. "Over the years, many families came in with small children [who] weren't allowed to have the brightly colored ice creams – and it was heartbreaking to watch," said Judy Klosinski. Currently, the shop's "Superdude" and "Fruity Pebbles" flavors are dye-free – and the goal is to make every flavor of ice cream completely dye-free by the end of 2025. "As our homemade ice cream is crafted by us, we found that any brightly colored ingredient usually meant it contained anywhere from one to as many as four of the dyes that are now being banned in the United States," Judy Klosinski said. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced the approval of three natural-source colors in food items: Galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract and calcium phosphate. Galdieria extract blue is a blue color derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria and is approved to be used in ice cream. "While we weren't sure how the customers would react to the change, many have said they're happy to see more options and less harmful dyes." Butterfly pea flower extract, derived from the water extraction of the dried flower petals of the butterfly pea plant, can achieve colors of blue, green and purple and is approved for use in candies. Calcium phosphate is a white color approved for candies. "While we weren't sure how the customers would react to the change, many have said they're happy to see more options and less harmful dyes," Judy Klosinski said. "As we are a family-owned business, we were overwhelmed by the positive comments and grateful that the customers were appreciative of our effort to give them a safe alternative for their kids," son Ben Klosinski added. Stella's Homemade Ice Cream in South Carolina also announced it was doing away with artificial food dyes, Fox News Digital previously reported. The South Carolina shop has been experimenting with spirulina, turmeric and purple carrot juice instead of artificial food dyes. King Cone has been in business since 1984.

The red carpet has officially been rolled out across the Promenade de Croisette, welcoming stars to the French Riviera for the annual Cannes Film Festival. Now in its 78th year, the event is a jewel in the calendar of both lofty cinephiles and polished fashionistas. Over 12 days, actors, directors, producers, influencers and the like will descend onto the carpeted steps — not just to promote their latest feature film at the high temple of world cinema, but also to turn a look. This year, the fashion stakes were upped before the festival even opened its doors — after a change in the official dress code just hours before kick-off. Nudity has been explicitly banned (presumably also prohibiting the current celebrity favorite ‘naked’ dress trend that has dominated the red carpet in recent years); as has “voluminous outfits” with large trains for the sake of traffic control. Some, like Halle Berry, dutifully obeyed the restrictions. “I had an amazing dress by (Gaurav) Gupta that I cannot wear tonight because it’s too big of a train,” the actor said at a news conference. “I’m not going to break the rules.” Others brazenly persevered with their original wardrobe plans. Heidi Klum and Wan QianHui were the first rebels of the year, arriving in high-octane frocks with defiantly cascading trains. Elsewhere at the opening ceremony, Bella Hadid wore a slinky Saint Laurent dress, debuting honey-blonde tresses. Jeremy Strong opted for a dusty rose tuxedo (the Jury photocall earlier in the day revealed he also owns a full tracksuit, and matching bucket hat, in the same color).