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By Trip Payne
Answer: HOAX
One word in each clue must have its first letter changed to an H for the clue to work properly. Once the grid is filled, the two unclued entries are FRIENDS STAR / HOLDS A CABLE, which is a cryptic clue for CO(A)X. Changing the first letter of that answer to an H gives the solution, HOAX.
ACROSS
  • 1 [heart] T + rUSh + KisS
  • 4 [hack] gazpaCHO Periodically
  • 6 [heave] E + JE(C)T
  • 8 [hoops] ARE + N/A
  • 10 [has] CHAISE (anagram)
  • 16 [hopping] T + O + AD
  • 17 [hollow] TerI + LE
  • 21 [heard] ALLEGE (“a ledge” homonym)
  • 22 [hoard] S(T)ORE
  • 23 [Hades] vioLET HEather
  • 24 [hit] RA(M)P
  • 25 [hogs] O + INKS
DOWN
  • 1 [half] T + W + ELF + THe
  • 2 [hurt] SPECIAL (anagram)
  • 3 [Hell] SAT + A + N
  • 4 [home] uCLA’S Schedule
  • 5 [Hornets] PI(NBA)LL
  • 7 [hides] wretCHED DARjeeling
  • 9 [housing] R(E + ST.)AGE
  • 11 [hands] I + DEAL
  • 13 [hen’s] R(O)OSTER
  • 14 [Homer] TI(BETA)N
  • 15 [high] R(E)EFER’S
  • 19 [hiking] SLEEP (peels reversal)
  • 20 [hi] C + hELLO