The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to 182, making it the deadliest U.S. storm since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. North Carolina has been hit hardest, with 91 fatalities, while South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia also reported deaths. Among the victims are first responders, including firefighters and a sheriff’s captain, who died in flood-related incidents. Hundreds remain missing, particularly in North Carolina, … Continue reading Hurricane Helene death toll reaches 182, deadliest storm since Katrina

Arthur “Jack” Schubarth, an 81-year-old breeder in Montana, has been sentenced to six months in jail and fined $20,000 for illegally cloning a Marco Polo argali sheep and selling its offspring for trophy hunting. Schubarth imported body parts from Kyrgyzstan to create cloned embryos, resulting in a male sheep named “Montana Mountain King” (MMK). He used MMK to inseminate ewes, selling the hybrids to shooting … Continue reading US man jailed for cloning giant sheep for trophy hunting

A former Kentucky sheriff, Shawn “Mickey” Stines, appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on the murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins, who was shot in his chambers. Surveillance video, shown briefly in court, captured Stines shooting Mullins multiple times. Stines’ defense argued he was under “extreme emotional disturbance” at the time, but prosecutors presented evidence suggesting a deliberate act. Stines pleaded not guilty to … Continue reading Shocking surveillance tape of Kentucky judge’s shooting played in court as sheriff’s murder case sent to grand jury

A mule packer ranch in North Carolina is delivering supplies and first aid to mountain communities affected by Hurricane Helene. The Mountain Mule Packer Ranch, partnering with the Cajun Navy, has been transporting supplies to areas like Weaverville and Montreat, using mules to access hard-to-reach locations. One of their first successes was delivering insulin to a family in need. The group has been logging their … Continue reading Mules helping bring supplies to residents in North Carolina in wake of Hurricane Helene

Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing numerous new allegations of sexual assault in a series of lawsuits to be filed soon. Attorney Tony Buzbee, representing 120 accusers, stated that the allegations span over 20 years and include violent sexual assault, rape, and abuse of minors. Buzbee’s team claims to have collected evidence, including videos and texts, and expects more lawsuits to be filed in the coming … Continue reading Diddy hit with wave of 120 new sex assault allegations

Over 40 trillion gallons of rain drenched the Southeast U.S. last week from Hurricane Helene and another storm, leading to devastating flooding. This unprecedented amount of water is enough to fill Lake Tahoe or 60 million Olympic pools. The rain caused apocalyptic damage, with over 100 deaths reported. Experts attribute the record rainfall to a combination of multiple storm systems and the mountains amplifying the … Continue reading Helene and other storms dumped a whopping 40 trillion gallons of rain on the South

Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty to five charges in federal court in West Palm Beach. His attorney, Kristy Militello, entered the plea and requested a trial. Routh, 58, was indicted for attempted assassination, firearm possession, and other related crimes. Authorities allege Routh was spotted with a rifle near Trump while he was golfing on Sept. 15 … Continue reading Ryan Routh pleads not guilty in alleged Trump assassination attempt

A fire at the BioLab industrial plant in Conyers, Georgia, led to a chemical reaction that prompted the evacuation of around 17,000 residents on Sunday and resulted in a shelter-in-place advisory for about 90,000 people. Residents were advised to stay indoors with windows closed due to lingering chlorine in the air, which can cause respiratory issues. The fire, which broke out early Sunday and was … Continue reading Thousands told to stay home a day after bio lab fire sent a plume containing chlorine high into the air

A New Mexico judge has denied Hannah Gutierrez Reed’s request for a new trial, upholding her involuntary manslaughter conviction related to the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust.” Gutierrez Reed, who was the film’s armorer responsible for firearms, was sentenced to 18 months in custody. Her conviction stemmed from a live round fired from a prop gun held by actor … Continue reading ‘Rust’ armorer denied new trial, conviction upheld for fatal shooting

Residents in western North Carolina, cut off from power and cellular service after Hurricane Helene, lined up for fresh water and to contact loved ones on Monday. The storm has resulted in at least 121 deaths across six states, with North Carolina’s Asheville region reporting at least 35 fatalities. Government officials and aid groups are working to deliver supplies to the area by airlift and … Continue reading Helene kills over 100; Homes and memories washed away

Waylon William St. John, a resident of Farmland, was charged with two counts of Level 4 felony arson following a house fire on Windsor Road on October 25, 2023. According to court documents, St. John initially misled authorities about the presence of individuals trapped inside the home. Firefighters found no one inside, and St. John later admitted he was confused when he called 911, claiming … Continue reading Man charged with arson after setting fire to stop ‘imaginary people’

Hurricane Helene devastated Florida and the southeastern U.S., killing at least 44 people and causing widespread destruction. The Category 4 storm, with winds of 140 mph, uprooted trees, destroyed homes, and left millions without power across several states. Rescue efforts were launched to save people trapped by floodwaters, including at a hospital in Tennessee. Significant damage was reported in Georgia and the Carolinas, where two … Continue reading Hurricane Helene kills at least 44 and cuts a swath of destruction across the Southeast

The Justice Department has indicted three Iranians—Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, and Yasar Balaghi—for allegedly hacking emails from Donald Trump’s campaign. The indictment claims they tried to send the stolen information to people they believed were connected to the Biden campaign, though no one responded. The three men, linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), are charged with various crimes, including computer hacking and … Continue reading Justice Department charges 3 Iranians over alleged involvement in Trump campaign emails hack

Residents downstream of two North Carolina dams were evacuated due to concerns of catastrophic failures caused by Hurricane Helene’s flooding. Cocke County, Tennessee, initially reported the failure of Waterville Dam, but this was later deemed a false alarm, though evacuations remained. In Rutherford County, North Carolina, floodwaters overtopped the Lake Lure Dam, compromising its structure. Despite some erosion, the dam was holding, the Independent has … Continue reading Hundreds evacuated as dams at risk in North Carolina following Storm Helene flooding

Over 50 people were successfully airlifted from the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in eastern Tennessee on Friday after floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Helene engulfed the facility. The Tennessee National Guard, using three Blackhawk helicopters, and Virginia State Police conducted the rescue. Patients and staff were taken to a local high school. Earlier attempts to evacuate by ambulance and boat failed due to … Continue reading Stranded patients, staff airlifted from Tennessee hospital roof amid flooding

Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, caused life-threatening and damaging impacts in the Florida Panhandle and is continuing to affect the Southeast. Heavy rain and strong winds are spreading into the southern Appalachians and Tennessee Valley. AccuWeather warns of widespread flooding and damage in Georgia, the Carolinas, and beyond. Helene, described as a “once-in-a-generation” storm, AccuWeather has reported. The storm has downed trees, caused power … Continue reading Helene triggers inland flooding, widespread power outages

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s general counsel ordered Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines to resign by Friday or face removal proceedings. Stines, accused of first-degree murder for the Sept. 19 shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins, has pleaded not guilty. Mullins, 54, was shot and killed in his chambers, and Stines, 43, surrendered without incident. Authorities have not disclosed a motive, though Stines was recently … Continue reading Kentucky governor tells sheriff accused of fatally shooting judge to resign

A Pennsylvania police officer testified before a House task force on Thursday about the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Trump. Sgt. Edward Lenz of Adams Township Police explained how a local operator fired at shooter Thomas Crooks during the incident, causing him to recoil before a Secret Service sniper delivered the fatal shot. Crooks, who had positioned himself on a nearby rooftop, killed … Continue reading Local officer’s bullet stopped Trump shooter’s gunfire before Secret Service shot, witness testifies

Alan Eugene Miller, convicted of killing three men in separate workplace shootings in 1999, was executed in Alabama using nitrogen gas on Thursday. Miller, 59, was the second person in the U.S. to be executed by this method, which causes death by depriving the body of oxygen. He was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m. after about six minutes of gasping breaths. Miller, a delivery truck … Continue reading Alabama executes inmate by nitrogen gas

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on charges of campaign finance violations, bribery, and accepting illegal foreign donations. The indictment, unsealed after an FBI raid on his residence, accuses Adams of receiving over $100,000 in illegal benefits, including luxury travel and campaign donations from Turkish officials, dating back to 2016. Adams allegedly pressured the NYC Fire Department to bypass inspections for a … Continue reading NYC Mayor Eric Adams Indicted on Bribery and Fraud Charges

Hurricane Helene, now a Category 4 storm with winds up to 140 mph, is set to make landfall near St. Marks, Florida, late Thursday night. The storm threatens life-threatening conditions, with powerful winds, storm surges up to 20 feet, and heavy rainfall. Helene is expected to cause catastrophic flooding in northern Florida, with up to 36 inches of rain possible inland, especially in the southern … Continue reading Hurricane Helene to roar ashore in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 4

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on a hazardous chemical leak from a railcar near Cincinnati, Ohio, which prompted evacuations. The leak involved styrene, a toxic, flammable chemical used in plastics and rubber, which can cause health issues. Emergency teams are on-site, conducting hazmat operations and air quality testing. Residents within a half-mile were urged to evacuate, while those nearby were … Continue reading White House urges Ohio residents near chemical leak to heed calls to evacuate

Kentucky sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting death of Judge Kevin Mullins, which shocked Letcher County. Stines, 43, remains jailed without bond, and a motive for the killing is still unclear. The arraignment was held remotely, with Stines requesting a court-appointed attorney, despite earning $115,000 annually. The preliminary hearing is set for October 1. Stines and Mullins had … Continue reading Kentucky sheriff pleads not guilty in fatal shooting of judge in his chambers

Hurricane Helene is expected to rapidly intensify into a Category 4 storm before making landfall in northern Florida late Thursday, bringing life-threatening conditions and extreme damage. It could hit the Florida Big Bend area with winds of 120-125 mph, gusts up to 160 mph, and a storm surge up to 20 feet. Torrential rain of 8-12 inches, with up to 24 inches in some areas, … Continue reading Hurricane Helene to roar ashore in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 3

Two people sustained non-life-threatening injuries from an explosion at the Santa Maria Courthouse in California, believed to be caused by an intentionally set improvised explosive device, according to authorities. A male person of interest has been detained and is being interviewed. No other suspects are believed to be at large. The courthouse and nearby city buildings are temporarily closed, and people are advised to avoid … Continue reading 2 hurt in explosion from intentionally set IED at Santa Maria Courthouse