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  • Ceasefire unravels: Gaza sees deadly strikes; aid flows suspended

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    JERUSALEM  — Israel launched airstrikes Sunday in Gaza after what it said was a Hamas attack on its forces, adding to the two-year-old war’s death toll and rattling a delicate U.S.-brokered ceasefire that had brought a measure of relief to the beleaguered enclave.

    The day descended into finger-pointing as each side accused the other of violating the pact that President Trump, just six days earlier, had said would usher in “a golden age” of peace for the Middle East.

    The ceasefire compelled Israel to end its months-long blockade of the enclave, but Israel said Sunday that it once again halted aid flows, potentially plunging Gaza once more into famine even as aid groups were clamoring for additional supplies to be trucked in.

    Sunday’s strikes constituted the strongest challenge yet to an uneasy truce that came into place Oct. 10 after intense diplomacy — and no little pressure on the belligerents — from Trump and a raft of Arabic and Islamic nations to stop fighting and bring an end to a war that has killed tens of thousands and all but flattened much of Gaza.

    War!

    — Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli finance minister

    Live broadcasts Sunday showed blooms of smoke rising across the Gaza Strip, as Israeli warplanes hit multiple areas in Rafah, Khan Yunis and Deir al Balah, killing at least 15 people, Palestinian health officials said. The Israeli military said one one soldier and one officer were killed.

    In a statement, the Israeli military accused the militant group Hamas of firing an anti-tank missile at troops in southern Gaza, calling the attack “a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.” The military added that it responded “to eliminate the threat and dismantle tunnel shafts and military structures used for terrorist activity.”

    Later, reports of dozens of attacks by Hamas came in from local media.

    A wounded Palestinian child is brought to Nasser Hospital after an Israeli bombardment in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on Oct. 19, 2025.

    (Jehad Alshrafi / Associated Press)

    “Hamas will pay a heavy price for every shot and every breach of the ceasefire,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. “If the message is not understood, our response will become increasingly severe.”

    The Israel Defense Forces said targets included “weapons storage facilities, infrastructure used for terrorist activity, firing posts, terrorist cells, and additional terrorist infrastructure sites. The IDF also struck and dismantled [nearly 4 miles] of underground terrorist infrastructure, using over 120 munitions.”

    Flimsy pretexts to justify its crimes

    — Izzat al-Risheq, senior Hamas official, on Israeli strikes

    Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, denied any connection to the violence in Rafah, saying that it was “unaware of any events or clashes taking place in the Rafah area” and that it hadn’t had contact with any of its fighters since March, when Israel broke an earlier ceasefire.

    Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq insisted that it was Israel — and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — that was continuing to violate the agreement and fabricating “flimsy pretexts to justify its crimes.”

    “Netanyahu’s attempts to evade and disavow his commitments come under pressure from his extremist terrorist coalition, in an attempt to evade his responsibilities to the mediators and guarantors,” Al-Risheq wrote on his Telegram messaging app channel.

    Hamas says Israel has violated the ceasefire 47 times, killing 38 Palestinians and injuring 143 since the truce began Oct. 10.

    Two men with dark beards, with hands raised as they lean out of a rear vehicle window, are greeted by a crowd of people

    Israeli twins Gali and Ziv Berman, who were recently released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, are welcomed home as they return from the hospital to Beit Guvrin, Israel, on Oct. 19, 2025.

    (Ariel Schalit / Associated Press)

    In the days since, Hamas has handed over 20 living hostages kidnapped in its operation on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered the war; in exchange, Israel released more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Hamas also returned the bodies of 12 other hostages who died in captivity, and said it was still searching for the remains of 16 others.

    The Qassam Brigades said in a later statement Sunday that it had recovered another body and that it would deliver it to Israel that day “if field conditions permit.” It added that any escalation “will hinder the search, excavation, and recovery of the bodies.”

    Israel still controls just over half of Gaza’s territory.

    The violence Sunday sparked calls from Israeli leaders across the political spectrum for a return to the fight against Hamas. A Netanyahu rival — Israeli politician Benny Gantz — said that “all options must be on the table.”

    Itamar Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist minister in Netanyahu’s government who was against any truce with Hamas, said fighting should resume “with maximum force.” His right-wing ally, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, tweeted a single word: “War!”

    Details on what had prompted the Israeli onslaught remained scant. The Israeli daily newspaper Yediot Aharonot reported the incident began at 10 a.m., when Hamas fighters emerged from a tunnel and fired an anti-tank missile at an engineering vehicle. That was followed by sniper fire at another vehicle.

    But one Palestinian channel on Telegram seen as close to Hamas said the target was a Palestinian militia that had worked throughout the war with Israel.

    The head of that militia, Yasser Abu Shabab, did not respond to questions sent to the militia’s email address.

    People, some kneeling, grieve before black body bags

    Relatives grieve as the bodies of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire are brought to Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al Balah, Gaza, Oct. 19, 2025.

    (Abdel Kareem Hana / Associated Press)

    The violence comes a day after the State Department said in a rare weekend statement that there were “credible reports indicating an imminent ceasefire violation by Hamas against the people of Gaza.”

    The State Department warned that “should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire.”

    In response, Hamas dismissed what it called “U.S. allegations” as “false” and said that they “fully align with the misleading Israeli propaganda.” It accused Israel of supporting “criminal gangs” that it said were assaulting Palestinian civilians.

    “Criminal gangs” was an apparent reference to militias competing with Hamas for control of Gaza. Last week, video emerged of what was said to be Hamas operatives executing accused collaborators in Gaza.

    Last week, Trump noted the internal conflicts in Gaza when he repeated his demand that Hamas abide by a key part of the 20-point peace pact: that it disarm. If not, Trump warned Hamas, “we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.”

    The war began after Hamas-led militants blitzed into southern Israel and killed about 1,200 people, two-thirds of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities, and kidnapped about 250 others.

    Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 68,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which says the majority are women and children and which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.

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    Nabih Bulos

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  • Kendama enthusiasts bring ancient game to life in Boston

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    Kendama enthusiasts bring ancient game to life in Boston

    BOSTON PUBLIC GARDEN WITHOUT STUMBLING UPON SOMETHING TRULY FASCINATING. OH YEAH, TODAY, KENDAMA. THERE ARE SEPARATE PARTS, RIGHT? THIS IS CALLED SOMETHING. IT’S THE KEN AND THE TAMA, WHICH TRANSLATES TO SWORD AND BALL. KEN. THE SWORD AND THE TAMA. THE BALL. KENDAMA MEANS BALL AND SWORD GAME. THE GAME’S ORIGINS ARE SOMEWHAT MYSTERIOUS. SOME TRACE IT TO THE FRENCH BALL AND CUP GAME POPULAR ACROSS EUROPE IN THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES. HOWEVER, IT ARRIVED, THE TOY JOURNEYED ACROSS CONTINENTS AND CENTURIES BEFORE EVOLVING INTO THE GAME. WE’RE LEARNING ABOUT TODAY. WHEN I PICK UP THIS OBJECT AND I JUST START PLAYING WITH IT, I GO, IT’S NOT LIKE SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT I’M JUST MORE KIND OF HERE. I’M JUST PLAYING WITH THE KENDAMA. THAT’S THAT’S ALL MY BRAIN IS THINKING ABOUT. I’M USING MY HANDS A LITTLE HAND-EYE. I’M THINKING ABOUT WHAT TRICKS I WANT TO DO. SOMETIMES YOU REALLY GET DOWN TO MOVE TO LIKE, CATCH SOMETHING, AND THAT FEELS GOOD TO MOVE YOUR BODY. A RARE BUT FAST GROWING PURSUIT THAT BLENDS THE PRECISION OF JUGGLING THE INTENSITY OF SWORD FIGHTING, AND THE FLAIR OF A DANCE BATTLE ALL WITHIN A POCKET SIZED TOY. BUT IS IT A GAME OR A SPORT? KENDAMA IS A VERY NEW SPORT, SO THERE AREN’T A LOT OF RULES AND REGULATIONS ON WHAT THE RIGHT WAY TO PLAY IS. AND WE KIND OF, AS A COMMUNITY, ARE FIGURING IT OUT OURSELVES. IT’S FREESTYLE WHERE PEOPLE GO HEAD TO HEAD AND THEY GET LIKE 45 SECONDS TO A MINUTE ON STAGE, AND THEN A SET OF JUDGES DETERMINES WHICH TRICKS THEY LIKED MORE. YEAH, WE MAY NOT ALL BE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE GRACEFUL FLOW OF BRANT DUFFY AND FINN POUNDS, BOTH LEADERS IN MASS KENDAMA, A GROUP THAT MEETS EVERY SUNDAY AT THE QUINCY QUARRY TO SESH. IT’S A WOODEN STICK WITH CUPS AND A SPIKE, PLUS A BALL ON A STRING. SIMPLE, RIGHT? SO YOU CAN SPIN THE BALL AND KEEP YOUR EYE RIGHT ON THAT CENTER HOLE. A NICE GRIP ON THE KEN. THE REAL MAGIC IS IN THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE BALL AND GRAVITY. DO YOU THINK I’LL EVER GET IT ON THERE, GUYS? YES. OH! MILLIMETERS. I HAVE FOUND MY KRYPTONITE. YOU SWING, YOU MISS, YOU TRY AGAIN. BUT WHEN THE BALL FINALLY LANDS IN A CUP OR SPIKES PERFECTLY, WHEN YOU GET YOUR FIRST SPIKE, YOU SEE PEOPLE’S EYES LIGHT UP IMMEDIATELY. IT’S JUST LIKE WORLD CHANGING. AT LEAST IT WAS FOR ME. AND PRACTICE, AS THEY SAY, MAKES PERFECT ISH. OH, THANK GOODNESS, THANK GOODNESS. OK

    Visitors to the Boston Public Garden are discovering the captivating world of Kendama, a centuries-old toy that combines elements of juggling, sword fighting, and dance. The origins of Kendama are somewhat mysterious, with some tracing it to the French ball-and-cup toy popular in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. It is believed to have reached Japan around the same time, possibly traveling along the Silk Road from China.”When I pick this up, I am just here, all I am thinking about is Kendama,” said one enthusiast. “Sometimes you really get down and that feels good to move the body, so it is body and mind and spirit.”Kendama is a fast-growing pursuit that blends precision, intensity, and flair within a pocket-sized toy. While some consider it a game, others view it as a sport. “Kendama is kind of a new sport, so there are not a lot of rules on how to play, so as a community we are figuring it out ourselves,” said a participant. The Kendama Boston Group meets every Sunday at the Quincy Quarry to “jam” or “sesh.”

    Visitors to the Boston Public Garden are discovering the captivating world of Kendama, a centuries-old toy that combines elements of juggling, sword fighting, and dance. The origins of Kendama are somewhat mysterious, with some tracing it to the French ball-and-cup toy popular in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. It is believed to have reached Japan around the same time, possibly traveling along the Silk Road from China.

    “When I pick this up, I am just here, all I am thinking about is Kendama,” said one enthusiast. “Sometimes you really get down and that feels good to move the body, so it is body and mind and spirit.”

    Kendama is a fast-growing pursuit that blends precision, intensity, and flair within a pocket-sized toy. While some consider it a game, others view it as a sport. “Kendama is kind of a new sport, so there are not a lot of rules on how to play, so as a community we are figuring it out ourselves,” said a participant.

    The Kendama Boston Group meets every Sunday at the Quincy Quarry to “jam” or “sesh.”

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  • There may soon be a new approach to treat hard-to-control high blood pressure

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    Doctors may soon have a new way to treat high blood pressure, even among people for whom medicines haven’t worked well in the past.Baxdrostat, an experimental medicine made by AstraZeneca, showed promise in treating people with uncontrolled or resistant high blood pressure in a recent trial. If the medicine gets approved by regulatory authorities, it will be one of the first new approaches to treating high blood pressure in decades, researchers say.Scientists presented the trial results Saturday at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2025 in Madrid and simultaneously published them in the New England Journal of Medicine.For the study, researchers enrolled 800 adults who still had high blood pressure after taking two or more medications for at least four weeks. To qualify for the study, patients’ systolic blood pressure had to be between 140 and 170.Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury, which is abbreviated as mm Hg. The measurement has an upper number, or systolic reading, and a lower number, a diastolic reading. Systolic pressure measures the force of blood as it pumps out of the heart into the arteries; diastolic is the pressure created as the heart rests between beats.Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg, and elevated blood pressure is considered to be from 120 to 129/80 mm Hg. At 130/80 mmHg or higher, according to new U.S. guidelines, a person’s medical provider will want them to take a blood pressure medication if lifestyle changes — including eating healthier, reducing salt in the diet and exercising more — don’t work first.The researchers on the new trial placed the participants into three groups. One received 1 milligram of baxdrostat, another got 2 mg, and another got a placebo, which does nothing. Participants took their dose in addition to medicines they were already taking.At 12 weeks, about 4 in 10 patients taking baxdrostat reached healthy blood pressure levels, compared with less than 2 in 10 who got a placebo.Specifically, participants who got 1 or 2 mg of baxdrostat daily saw their systolic blood pressure – the upper number in the reading – fall around 9 to 10 mm Hg more than those taking a placebo. This reduction, studies show, is large enough to cut cardiovascular risk.When blood pressure is high, the force of the blood pushes against the walls of their blood vessels, making the heart less efficient: Both the vessels and the heart must work harder, and it’s more difficult to get blood to essential organs and cells. Without treatment, high blood pressure will eventually damage the arteries, raising the risk of conditions like a heart attack, stroke, coronary disease, vascular dementia and cognitive problems.Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the world. Lowering blood pressure is the most modifiable way to avoid such a death.Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have higher than normal blood pressure, and 1 in 10 people have what doctors call resistant hypertension: Despite being on three or more medications, they are not meeting the goal for blood pressure control.When a patient has high blood pressure, doctors may need to try a variety of medications to see what works best.Adding baxdrostat to the list of options could be a big help for patients, according to Dr. Stacey E. Rosen, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, who was not involved with the new research.“What’s interesting about this medication is that they can really be a wonderful partner, so to speak, with some of the more classically recommended anti-hypertensive medications,” said Rosen, who is also a senior vice president of women’s health and executive director of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health of Northwell Health in New York City.Medication options now on the market control blood pressure in a variety of ways. Some, such as vasodilators, relax and widen arteries and veins to allow blood to get through easier and increase flow. Diuretics primarily work by removing excess fluid and salt from the body by increasing urine production. Centrally acting alpha agonists help prevent the nervous system from responding to stress. ACE inhibitors keep the body from producing angiotensin II, a hormone that makes blood vessels constrict. ARBs, or angiotensin II receptor blockers, help reduce the production of aldosterone, a hormone that promotes salt and water retention. Calcium channel blockers can keep calcium away from the cells of the heart and arteries so they don’t have to work as hard.Each can have different side effects, including dizziness, rapid or slower heart rate, exhaustion, upset stomach and swelling in the legs.Baxdrostat’s side effects, the study showed, were mild overall. The most common problem was abnormalities in potassium and sodium levels, but this was rare.Baxdrostat takes a new approach to managing high blood pressure. It focuses on blocking aldosterone, a hormone created by the adrenal glands that helps kidneys regulate salt and maintain the body’s water balance. Some people produce too much aldosterone, leading their body to retain too much water and salt, pushing up blood pressure.“We’ve also known for a while now that most of us eat too much salt and in doing that, it raises blood pressure. But we’re also increasingly recognizing that aldosterone may have a direct impact on causing damage to the blood vessels, to the heart, to the kidneys,” said Dr. Jenifer Brown, one of the lead investigators and co-author of the published study.Brown said she often sees cardiology patients at Brigham and Women’s who may have had a heart event, so she needs to be aggressive in getting their blood pressure under control to prevent another. Some patients may have trouble tolerating other blood pressure medications. For others, the standard medicines just don’t work well. Baxdrostat could be a good complement, she said.“We really have had the same tools as clinicians for many years,” Brown said. “I would be excited to have an option like this.”In an editorial accompanying the publication, Dr. Tomasz Guzik, a cardiovascular scientist at the University of Edinburgh, and Dr. Maciej Tomaszewski, a cardiovascular expert at the University of Manchester, write that next steps should be to figure out which patients would best respond to this new medicine and provide longer-term data. If the medication works long-term, they wrote, it could become a “central piller of therapy for difficult-to-control hypertension.”AstraZeneca said it plans to submit its data to regulatory agencies before the end of 2025.

    Doctors may soon have a new way to treat high blood pressure, even among people for whom medicines haven’t worked well in the past.

    Baxdrostat, an experimental medicine made by AstraZeneca, showed promise in treating people with uncontrolled or resistant high blood pressure in a recent trial. If the medicine gets approved by regulatory authorities, it will be one of the first new approaches to treating high blood pressure in decades, researchers say.

    Scientists presented the trial results Saturday at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2025 in Madrid and simultaneously published them in the New England Journal of Medicine.

    For the study, researchers enrolled 800 adults who still had high blood pressure after taking two or more medications for at least four weeks. To qualify for the study, patients’ systolic blood pressure had to be between 140 and 170.

    Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury, which is abbreviated as mm Hg. The measurement has an upper number, or systolic reading, and a lower number, a diastolic reading. Systolic pressure measures the force of blood as it pumps out of the heart into the arteries; diastolic is the pressure created as the heart rests between beats.

    Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg, and elevated blood pressure is considered to be from 120 to 129/80 mm Hg. At 130/80 mmHg or higher, according to new U.S. guidelines, a person’s medical provider will want them to take a blood pressure medication if lifestyle changes — including eating healthier, reducing salt in the diet and exercising more — don’t work first.

    The researchers on the new trial placed the participants into three groups. One received 1 milligram of baxdrostat, another got 2 mg, and another got a placebo, which does nothing. Participants took their dose in addition to medicines they were already taking.

    At 12 weeks, about 4 in 10 patients taking baxdrostat reached healthy blood pressure levels, compared with less than 2 in 10 who got a placebo.

    Specifically, participants who got 1 or 2 mg of baxdrostat daily saw their systolic blood pressure – the upper number in the reading – fall around 9 to 10 mm Hg more than those taking a placebo. This reduction, studies show, is large enough to cut cardiovascular risk.

    When blood pressure is high, the force of the blood pushes against the walls of their blood vessels, making the heart less efficient: Both the vessels and the heart must work harder, and it’s more difficult to get blood to essential organs and cells. Without treatment, high blood pressure will eventually damage the arteries, raising the risk of conditions like a heart attack, stroke, coronary disease, vascular dementia and cognitive problems.

    Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the world. Lowering blood pressure is the most modifiable way to avoid such a death.

    Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have higher than normal blood pressure, and 1 in 10 people have what doctors call resistant hypertension: Despite being on three or more medications, they are not meeting the goal for blood pressure control.

    When a patient has high blood pressure, doctors may need to try a variety of medications to see what works best.

    Adding baxdrostat to the list of options could be a big help for patients, according to Dr. Stacey E. Rosen, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, who was not involved with the new research.

    “What’s interesting about this medication is that they can really be a wonderful partner, so to speak, with some of the more classically recommended anti-hypertensive medications,” said Rosen, who is also a senior vice president of women’s health and executive director of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health of Northwell Health in New York City.

    Medication options now on the market control blood pressure in a variety of ways. Some, such as vasodilators, relax and widen arteries and veins to allow blood to get through easier and increase flow. Diuretics primarily work by removing excess fluid and salt from the body by increasing urine production. Centrally acting alpha agonists help prevent the nervous system from responding to stress. ACE inhibitors keep the body from producing angiotensin II, a hormone that makes blood vessels constrict. ARBs, or angiotensin II receptor blockers, help reduce the production of aldosterone, a hormone that promotes salt and water retention. Calcium channel blockers can keep calcium away from the cells of the heart and arteries so they don’t have to work as hard.

    Each can have different side effects, including dizziness, rapid or slower heart rate, exhaustion, upset stomach and swelling in the legs.

    Baxdrostat’s side effects, the study showed, were mild overall. The most common problem was abnormalities in potassium and sodium levels, but this was rare.

    Baxdrostat takes a new approach to managing high blood pressure. It focuses on blocking aldosterone, a hormone created by the adrenal glands that helps kidneys regulate salt and maintain the body’s water balance. Some people produce too much aldosterone, leading their body to retain too much water and salt, pushing up blood pressure.

    “We’ve also known for a while now that most of us eat too much salt and in doing that, it raises blood pressure. But we’re also increasingly recognizing that aldosterone may have a direct impact on causing damage to the blood vessels, to the heart, to the kidneys,” said Dr. Jenifer Brown, one of the lead investigators and co-author of the published study.

    Brown said she often sees cardiology patients at Brigham and Women’s who may have had a heart event, so she needs to be aggressive in getting their blood pressure under control to prevent another. Some patients may have trouble tolerating other blood pressure medications. For others, the standard medicines just don’t work well. Baxdrostat could be a good complement, she said.

    “We really have had the same tools as clinicians for many years,” Brown said. “I would be excited to have an option like this.”

    In an editorial accompanying the publication, Dr. Tomasz Guzik, a cardiovascular scientist at the University of Edinburgh, and Dr. Maciej Tomaszewski, a cardiovascular expert at the University of Manchester, write that next steps should be to figure out which patients would best respond to this new medicine and provide longer-term data. If the medication works long-term, they wrote, it could become a “central piller of therapy for difficult-to-control hypertension.”

    AstraZeneca said it plans to submit its data to regulatory agencies before the end of 2025.

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  • Body pulled from American River in Rancho Cordova

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    Body pulled from American River in Rancho Cordova

    COMES FIRST. THIS IS KCRA THREE NEWS AT FIVE. A COMMUNITY IS IN MOURNING OF THE LOSS OF A MOTHER AND CHILD. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE VICTIMS AND THE EFFORTS NOW BEING MADE TO HELP THEIR PEERS COPE. CALLS FOR PEACE. AS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED TO CELEBRATE UKRAINE’S INDEPENDENCE DAY. WHILE IT WAS MORE THAN JUST A CELEBRATION AS THEIR COUNTRY REMAINS AT WAR. IT IS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY OF DAVIS. WE’LL LET YOU KNOW ABOUT FIVE OF THE SCHOOLS WITHIN THE DISTRICT THAT ARE CELEBRATING SOMETHING NEW THIS YEAR. THAT’S COMING UP IN A LIVE REPORT. GOOD MORNING. IT IS 5 A.M. IT’S MONDAY DEIRDRE FITZPATRICK, AND I’M TEO TORRES. I’M BETTING YOU PROBABLY DID YOUR RUNS IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS THIS WEEKEND. YEAH, I MEAN, IT GOT WARM VERY, VERY QUICKLY. LET’S GO AHEAD AND GO OVER TO METEOROLOGIST TAMARA BERG WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A COOLDOWN THIS WEEK. YEAH. TEMPERATURES WILL BE TRENDING DOWNWARD AT LEAST AS WE GET INTO THE MIDDLE PART OF THE WEEK. OUT THE DOOR THIS MORNING. WE’VE GOT A COMFORTABLE STRETCH TO GREET YOU IN THIS 5:00 HOUR AS WE AWAIT SUNRISE, PLAN FOR A COMFORTABLE KICKOFF TO THE DAY WITH WIDESPREAD, MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES AND ALSO ENJOYING MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES. ONCE. OF COURSE, THE SUN DOES COME UP. AFTERNOON IS GOING TO BE FILLED WITH THUNDERSTORMS. THUNDERSTORMS ONCE AGAIN, PRIMARILY OVER THE SIERRA. RIGHT NOW IT’S A QUIET MORNING IN THE MOUNTAINS AT 50 DEGREES IN TRUCKEE. IT’S 47 RIGHT NOW IN LAKE TAHOE. 79 THE NUMBER RIGHT NOW AT PLACERVILLE AIRPORT. WE’RE DOWN TO THE LOWER 70S AROUND AUBURN, UPPER 60S IN YUBA CITY TO THE LOWER 60S IN SACRAMENTO, FAIRFIELD IN STOCKTON. AND GOOD MORNING, MODESTO. YOU’RE WAKING UP TO A PAIR OF SIXES ON THIS EARLY MONDAY MORNING SATELLITE SWEEP SHOWING OFF AGAIN. YOU CAN SEE SOME CLOUD COVER EXTENDING HERE ACROSS PARTS OF TRUCKEE AND TAHOE MAY EVEN SEE A FEW PATCHES OF FOG THERE RIGHT AROUND THE TRUCKEE AREA, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE AIRPORT. YOU GET INTO THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY. THE SKIES IN GENERAL MAINLY CLEAR, AND THEN ONCE YOU START TO TRAVEL TOWARDS THE COAST, YOU START TO HEAD INTO SOME OF THAT MARINE LAYER. WE HAVE SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS RIGHT NOW, 22, IN FAIRFIELD, SOUTH WIND GOING AT FIVE IN SACRAMENTO. SO THAT BREEZE HELPING VERY LIMITEDLY THIS MORNING. WE’RE LOOKING AT UPPER 90S IN THE VALLEY MID 90S FOOTHILLS MID 70S IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH A CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS. CLOSER LOOK WHERE THOSE STORMS MAY FIRE UP THIS AFTERNOON. COMING UP IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES. RIGHT NOW IT IS ALMOST 502 BRIAN GOOD MORNING TO YOU. IT’S MONDAY. HOW ARE FOLKS MOVING. GOOD MORNING. WE’RE TAKING A LOOK HERE ALONG INTERSTATE 80 HEADING OUT THROUGH THE CAPITOL TOWARDS DAVIS. THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS EAST OR WESTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 80. AS YOU COME IN FROM ROSEVILLE OVER THE TOP AND OUT ONTO THE CAUSEWAY, AS YOU SAW ON THE CAMERA, WHICH IS LOCATED RIGHT ABOUT THERE. HIGHWAY 50 ALSO CLEAR OUT OF THE ROSEVILLE OR FOLSOM AREA THERE, AND THEN 599 COMING UP FROM ELK GROVE, ALL CLEAR ON THE NORTHBOUND SIDE AND COMING IN THROUGH STOCKTON. NO ISSUES TO REPORT HERE. HIGHWAY FOUR AND 12 CLEARED OUT 205 THOUGH ACROSS THE TOP OF THE TRACY TRIANGLE DID JUMP UP TO AN EARLY DELAY. JUST CHECKED IN AND SO FAR NO CRASHES REPORTED, BUT WE’RE ALREADY AT 29 MINUTES ACROSS THE TOP OF 2055 80. 26 MINUTES OVER THE ALTAMONT PASS 99 A 12 MINUTE RIDE BETWEEN MODESTO AND MANTECA, NINE MINUTES OUT OF ROSEVILLE ON INTERSTATE 80 HIGHWAY 50, A 14 MINUTE RIDE. 99. WE’RE LOOKING AT TEN MINUTES I-5 AS WELL, COMING IN FROM ELK GROVE BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW DEVELOPING NEWS, A DOUBLE HOMICIDE CASE INVOLVING A WOMAN AND HER CHILD IN CAMERON PARK, A CAL FIRE CAPTAIN ARRESTED AND CHARGED IN BOTH OF THOSE MURDERS. THE COUNTY CORONER IDENTIFIED THE WOMAN AS A 29 YEAR OLD. MARISSA LESSA OF SHINGLE SPRINGS. THE FAMILY HAS IDENTIFIED THE SECOND VICTIM AS HER SON, JOSIAH. HE WAS A SECOND GRADER AT BLUE OAK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE TWO WERE SHOT AND KILLED ON THURSDAY. TODAY, COUNSELORS ARE GOING TO BE AT THE BOYS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUPPORTING STUDENTS, PARENTS AND STAFF AS THEY NAVIGATE THE LOSS. THE 47 YEAR-OLD CAL FIRE CAPTAIN DARREN MCFARLAND, IS UNDER ARREST, AND HE’S NOW FACING TWO COUNTS OF HOMICIDE AND IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND. HE’S EXPECTED TO BE IN COURT THIS WEEK. FAMILY SAYS MARISSA AND MCFARLAND HAD BEEN DATING. A GOFUNDME FOR FINAL COSTS HAVE BEEN SET UP BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. A BUSY STREET IN CITRUS HEIGHTS IS BACK OPEN AFTER A DEADLY CRASH. IT HAPPENED AROUND 815 LAST NIGHT ON MADISON AVENUE. WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED, THEY TRIED TO SAVE ONE OF THE DRIVERS, BUT THAT PERSON DIED AT THE SCENE. SAC METRO FIRE SAYS THE OTHER DRIVER WAS NOT HURT, EVEN THOUGH THEIR PICKUP TRUCK ROLLED OVER. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT ALCOHOL DOES APPEAR TO BE A FACTOR IN THIS CRASH. ANYONE WHO WITNESSED IT IS URGED TO PLEASE CONTACT CITRUS HEIGHTS PD. LET’S TURN NOW TO WILDFIRE COVERAGE IN THIS MORNING. THOUSANDS OF FIREFIGHTERS ARE TRYING TO GAIN CONTAINMENT ON THE PICKETT FIRE. THIS IS THE ONE IN NAPA COUNTY. THAT FIRE HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 6800 ACRES SINCE IT SPARKED LAST THURSDAY. SINCE THAT TIME, CREWS HAVE WORKED DAY AND NIGHT TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL. IT’S BURNING IN STEEP, RUGGED TERRAIN AND IT’S MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR CREWS TO GET THERE. CONTAINMENT IS AT 11%. EVACUATION ORDERS AND WARNINGS ARE STILL IN EFFECT. FIREFIGHTING CREWS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED ACROSS THE STATE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE HOT, DRY CONDITIONS AND THE CHANCE OF DRY LIGHTNING ON FRIDAY. GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM DIRECTED THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES TO DEPLOY MORE RESOURCES TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AFTER ALREADY SENDING RESOURCES TO LA KERN, VENTURA, SANTA BARBARA AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES EARLIER IN THE WEEK. AND OVER THE WEEKEND. HE ALSO ORDERED OAS TO DEPLOY THE EXTRA RESOURCES TO PLACER, SIERRA AND NEVADA COUNTIES. 64 FIRE ENGINES, 17 WATER TENDERS, NINE BULLDOZERS, FIVE HELICOPTERS, TEN HAND CREWS AND TWO INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAMS ARE NOW STATIONED IN THOSE COUNTIES. ON TOP OF THE CREWS AND THE EQUIPMENT THAT ARE WORKING THERE. WE ARE FOLLOWING BREAKING NEWS OUT OF NORTH SACRAMENTO RIGHT NOW. CREWS ARE BATTLING A BUILDING FIRE. THIS IS ON DIXON AVENUE, JUST OFF DEL PASO. KCRA 3’S MIKE TESELLE IS AT THE SCENE. SO, MIKE, WHAT’S HAPPENED OUT THERE? YEAH, AND A VERY ACTIVE SCENE AT THIS MOMENT. WE JUST PULLED UP, JUST WALKED UP HERE AND YOU CAN SEE FIRE CREWS IN THE SMOKE. THEY’RE DEALING WITH A FIRE THAT IS HERE ALONG DEL PASO INVOLVING WHAT I’M TOLD IS A BUTLER STYLE BUILDING, WHICH MEANS THERE’S A LOT OF METAL EXTERIOR. BUT WHAT THEY’RE DEALING WITH HERE IS THEY HAD A PARTIAL ROOF COLLAPSE. SO CREWS HAVING TO GO DEFENSIVE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND THEN JUST GOT DONE TALKING TO AN INFORMATION OFFICER WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO SAID THERE’S A NEARBY APARTMENT COMPLEX, AN ADJACENT APARTMENT COMPLEX WHERE THEY’RE GOING TO BE EVACUATING SOME OF THE UNITS JUST SO THAT THEY CAN POSITION SOME OF THEIR FIRE EQUIPMENT THERE, AS THAT’S MORE OF A PRECAUTION, MORE THAN A THREAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME. DON’T SEE ANY VISIBLE FLAMES AT THIS POINT COMING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THAT BUILDING. SO THEY ARE POURING A LOT OF WATER ON THIS FROM THE TOP OF THE LADDER TRUCK DOWN INTO THIS BUILDING WHERE THAT ROOF COLLAPSE WAS. SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THEY ARE IN A DEFENSIVE STANCE. BUT FIRE CREWS SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, NO REPORTS AT THIS POINT OF ANY INJURIES OR ANY PEOPLE WHO WERE INSIDE THIS COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE HERE ALONG DEL PASO BOULEVARD. SO WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS SITUATION, BRING YOU THE LATEST DETAILS AS WE GET THEM. I KNOW AS WE SPEAK, THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE SACRAMENTO FIRE DEPARTMENT TRYING TO GET UP TO DATE ON MORE DETAILS THAN WHAT I JUST GAVE YOU. THAT’S EVERYTHING THAT HE KNEW UP TO THIS POINT. BUT AN ACTIVE SCENE THAT IS DEFINITELY IMPACTING EL PASO BOULEVARD. IN FACT, JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE, THIS IS DEL PASO BOULEVARD AND YOU CAN SEE THE AMOUNT OF FIRE APPARATUS THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS ROADWAY. SO IF YOU’RE COMING OUT OF DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO, JUST BE AWARE, EL PASO BOULEVARD RIGHT NOW, BLOCKED BY A WHOLE LOT OF FIRE ACTIVITY FOR THIS ONGOING BREAKING NEWS LIVE IN SACRAMENTO, MIKE TESELLE KCRA 3 NEWS. ALL RIGHT, MIKE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS BREAKING NEWS ON AIR AND ONLINE. BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD OUR KCRA THREE APP, TURN ON PUSH NOTIFICATIONS TO GET ALERTS SENT TO YOUR SMARTPHONE. NOW TO OUR BACK TO SCHOOL COVERAGE. AND TODAY, DAVIS JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT MARKS ITS FIRST DAY. KCRA 3’S MELANIE WINGO JOINING US NOW LIVE IN DAVIS, WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE HEADING BACK TO CLASS. WE’RE AT KOREMATSU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHERE WE’RE SORT OF WITNESSING THE CALM BEFORE WHAT WE KNOW WILL BE THE BUZZ AND EXCITEMENT OF THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. AND THIS SCHOOL, ALONG WITH A FEW OTHERS WITHIN DAVIS JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, HAVE SOME NEW FACILITIES THAT THEY WILL BE CELEBRATING TODAY. DAVIS JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNOUNCING ON ITS WEBSITE THAT THIS SCHOOL IS JUST ONE OF FIVE THAT CONSTRUCTED BRAND NEW EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FACILITIES, AND HERE ARE THE SCHOOLS WHERE THOSE FACILITIES WENT IN KOREMATSU, WHERE WE ARE THIS MORNING. ALSO, MONTGOMERY, NORTH DAVIS, PIONEER AND WILLETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE DISTRICT SAYING THOSE FACILITIES WERE BUILT ON TIME AND ON BUDGET, ALWAYS IMPORTANT AND THAT NOW THEY’RE READY TO WELCOME THE DISTRICT’S YOUNGEST LEARNERS FOR THEIR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, ACCORDING TO ITS WEBSITE, DAVIS JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HOME TO TEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, FIVE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS, FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND ONE ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER. ALL OF THOSE KIDS AND ADULTS HEADED BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. AS FOR THE CHILDREN WHO ATTEND THIS SCHOOL. SCHOOL GETS UNDERWAY AT 830 THIS MORNING, REPORTING LIVE IN DAVIS, MELANIE WINGO KCRA THREE NEWS. ALL RIGHT, MELANIE THANK YOU. 509 NOW AS WE GET ANOTHER CHECK ON KCRA THREE WEATHER AND TRAFFIC EVERY TEN MINUTES ON THIS MONDAY MORNING, HERE’S TAMARA. AND FOR THOSE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL IN THE DAVIS JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, A PLAN FOR A COMFORTABLE KICKOFF TO THE DAY. TEMPERATURES RIGHT AROUND THE LOWER TO MID 60S. SO DEPENDING ON YOUR TEMPERATURE AND COMFORTABLE COMFORT LEVEL IN THE MORNING, SOME OF THE LITTLE KIDDOS MAY JUST WANT A LONG SLEEVE LAYER. GOODBYE. BUT BY THE TIME LEAVING THE CLASSROOMS LATER THIS AFTERNOON, IT’S GOING TO BE PLENTY WARM WITH THOSE TEMPERATURES RIGHT INTO THE MID 90S THERE AROUND THE DAVIS AREA. RIGHT NOW I’VE GOT 60 DEGREES OUT THE DOOR IN FAIRFIELD, 62 IN SACRAMENTO AND 79 CHECKING IN WITH PLACERVILLE THIS MORNING. YOUR SIERRA FORECAST COULD SEE SOME IMPACTFUL WEATHER IN THE AFTERNOON, ESPECIALLY WITH THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE FROM QUINCY INTO TRUCKEE AND SOUTH LAKE TAHOE. PLAN FOR THOSE THUNDERSTORMS TO POP UP, ESPECIALLY FROM NOON AND THROUGH 8:00 THIS EVENING. EVEN YOSEMITE MAY HEAR A RUMBLE OF THUNDER INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS AS THOSE STORMS AND THE MOISTURE KIND OF WORK UP FROM THE SOUTH. TODAY IN ANGELS CAMP, LOOKING AT A HIGH OF 96. SUN AND CLOUDS AND 96 FOR PLACERVILLE. IT’S GOING TO BE A WARM SUMMER FIELD DAY AGAIN IN AUBURN, WITH HIGHS IN THE UPPER 90S. TODAY IN LAKEPORT WE’RE GOING TO DO MID 90S WITH SUN AND CLOUDS ABOUT 93 THIS AFTERNOON IN FAIRFIELD, AND SUN AND CLOUDS AND 70 FOR SAN FRANCISCO IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. MONDAY DOES INCLUDE MAINLY SUNNY CONDITIONS 96 IN LODI WE’LL TOP OUT AT 98 IN STOCKTON AND POTENTIALLY AS HOT AS 100 FOR YOU IN TURLOCK, CERES AND KEYS NEIGHBORHOOD. WE’RE THE UPPER 90S AROUND VACAVILLE TO HIS WARMEST 96 IN DAVIS, 98 TODAY IN ROSEVILLE AND ROCKLIN COMING UP IN TEN MINUTES. I’LL TALK ABOUT THE DROP IN TEMPERATURES EXPECTED, ESPECIALLY AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WORK AND SCHOOL WEEK. RIGHT NOW IS 510. BRIAN, WHAT ARE YOU TRACKING FOR OUR COMMUTERS? WE’RE GOING TO START HERE ALONG INTERSTATE 80, COMING IN THROUGH GREENBACK THERE. AND YOU CAN SEE TRAFFIC IS MODERATE THROUGH THE AREA. NO DELAYS ALONG THE 80 CORRIDOR OVER THE TOP AND OUT ONTO THE CAUSEWAY. 50 IS ALSO CLEAR FROM FOLSOM AS WE CONTINUE TO CHECK IN ON THE FIVE AND 99 COMMUTE COMING IN FROM ELK GROVE, YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF GREEN ACROSS THE MAP. WE’RE STARTING MONDAY OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT HERE IN SACRAMENTO STOCKTON. SAME STORY FOR YOU. ALL CLEAR. AND IF YOU’RE HEADING OUT THROUGH THE DELTA, NO PROBLEMS ON FOUR OR HIGHWAY 12. 205 THOUGH. DID JUMP UP TO AN EARLY START EVEN PAST 11TH STREET. WE’RE ALREADY SEEING SLOW TRAFFIC THERE ON THE SPEED SENSORS. WE’RE LOOKING AT A 39 OR 29 MINUTE RIDE ACROSS 205 FROM I 5 TO 580. THAT PUTS IT IN THE RED. 580 28 MINUTES OVER THE ALTAMONT PASS AND 99 CURRENTLY AT 12 MINUTES BETWEEN MODESTO AND MANTECA. NO DELAYS THERE. 89 MINUTES OUT OF ROSEVILLE 50 IS A 15 MINUTE RIDE FROM FOLSOM INTO DOWNTOWN, 99 AT NINE MINUTES FROM ELK GROVE AND I5. A TEN MINUTE RIDE. ALL RIGHT, BRIAN, APPRECIATE IT. WELL, THE PRESIDENT IS THREATENING TO EXPAND THE NATIONAL GUARD’S DEPLOYMENT ACROSS SEVERAL MAJOR CITIES. MORE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS COULD BE COMING TO STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I’M RACHEL HERSHEIMMER AT UNION STATION WITH WHERE WE COULD SEE THE EXPANSION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S CRAC

    A person pulled out of a river Monday morning in Rancho Cordova was pronounced dead at the scene, the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said. First responders were dispatched around 6:41 a.m. to a water rescue on the American River. A person was discovered in the water between the Sunrise Bridge and the Jim Jones Bridge.The Sacramento County Park Rangers will be handling the investigation, the district said. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. —

    A person pulled out of a river Monday morning in Rancho Cordova was pronounced dead at the scene, the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said.

    First responders were dispatched around 6:41 a.m. to a water rescue on the American River. A person was discovered in the water between the Sunrise Bridge and the Jim Jones Bridge.

    The Sacramento County Park Rangers will be handling the investigation, the district said.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Slain couple found under neighbor’s home died from blunt force trauma to head, coroner says

    Slain couple found under neighbor’s home died from blunt force trauma to head, coroner says

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    A Southern California couple whose bodies were found under their neighbor’s home after being reported missing died from “blunt force trauma to the head,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.

    Daniel Menard, 79, and his wife, Stehanie Menard, 73, had been reported missing in late August from their home on a nudist ranch in Redlands, sparking a search by police and concerns by their friends and family.

    Less than a week later, police were tipped off that their neighbor, Michael Royce Sparks, 62, in Olive Dell Ranch had admitted killing the couple to a family member and was threatening to harm himself. Police surrounded the home and took him into custody Aug. 29 and discovered the couple’s bodies in a concrete bunker under the home.

    Sparks was charged with two counts of murder Sept. 3. The couple’s cause of death was confirmed this week by the county coroner.

    The Menards and their pet shih tzu, Cuddles, were reported missing by a friend after the couple missed a church service. Their car was found unlocked down the road from their home, and Stephanie Menard’s purse and their cellphones were found inside their home.

    A neighbor told local TV stations that Sparks hated the couple and that they feuded over a tree between their properties. The Redlands Police Department gave no comment when asked for an update on a possible motive Tuesday.

    At a candlelight vigil for the couple, friends and neighbors gathered under an Olive Dell Ranch sign with candles, flowers and music to celebrate the Menards’ lives.

    “It’s disheartening, it’s uncomfortable,” one neighbor said of the killings. “In a week, we as a community of Olive Dell Ranch lost three members of our family.” He characterized Stephanie Menard, whom he played bingo with, as a spitfire. “She knew what she wanted, she meant what she said, but she always did it caringly.”

    Olive Dell Ranch is a residential RV park and “the ideal spot to enjoy the nudist/naturist lifestyle whether visiting for a day or an overnight stay,” according to its website.

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    Sandra McDonald

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  • Woman killed in apparent dog attack in Northern California. Police find 25 Great Danes roaming the area

    Woman killed in apparent dog attack in Northern California. Police find 25 Great Danes roaming the area

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    A woman in Northern California was killed this week in what appeared to be a dog attack, and authorities are investigating whether any of the 25 Great Danes found roaming the area may be behind the fatal mauling.

    Just before 2 a.m. Thursday, a resident came across a body on Blackhawk Trail in Feather Falls, not far from Lake Oroville. He called the police, and deputies responded to the scene, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.

    The woman was later identified as Davina Corbin, 56, who lived in the area. An autopsy found numerous bite marks and other injuries that pointed to a domestic dog attack, authorities said, and the evidence indicates she was out on a walk when she was mauled.

    Sheriff’s detectives launched an investigation, but did not have to go far. Corbin’s body had been discovered directly in front of a home, and upon serving a search warrant, detectives found themselves in a startling situation that involved 25 Great Danes.

    “Deputies and detectives spent the entire day capturing the dogs, who were running loose in the area,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Friday. “To date, approximately 23 dogs have been captured and turned over to animal control. Detectives are currently attempting to capture the two outstanding dogs.”

    A lab analysis confirmed that Corbin’s clothing was covered with DNA that was consistent with at least one domestic dog, and authorities are in the process of doing additional testing to determine which dog, or dogs, might be guilty of the attack.

    Great Danes are usually known to be gentle and friendly, despite their imposing size. Once fully grown, the dogs are taller than most people when standing on their hind legs and can weigh anywhere from 110 to 175 pounds — making them one of the largest recognized dog breeds.

    According to the American Kennel Club, Great Danes were developed once upon a time by German nobles to hunt ferocious wild boars, and they later became beloved protectors of their home and loved ones.

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    Rosanna Xia

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  • If people could create a new body part, what would they choose? (20 GIFs)

    If people could create a new body part, what would they choose? (20 GIFs)

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    Bob

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  • How Death Valley National Park tries to keep visitors alive amid record heat

    How Death Valley National Park tries to keep visitors alive amid record heat

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    FURNACE CREEK, Calif. — 

    As temperatures swelled to 128 degrees, Death Valley National Park rangers got a call that a group of six motorcyclists were in distress. All available medics rushed to the scene, and rangers dispatched the park’s two ambulances.

    It was an “all-hands-on-deck call,” said Spencer Solomon, Death Valley National Park’s emergency medical coordinator. The superheated air was too thin for an emergency helicopter to respond, but the team requested mutual aid from nearby fire departments.

    They arrived Saturday to find one motorcyclist unresponsive, and medics labored unsuccessfully to resuscitate him. Another rider who had fallen unconscious was loaded into an ambulance, where emergency medical technicians attempted to rapidly cool the victim with ice as they transported him to an intensive care unit in Las Vegas. The four other motorcyclists were treated at the site and released.

    With record heat blanketing California and much of the West recently, Death Valley has hit at least 125 degrees every day since the Fourth of July, and that streak isn’t likely to change until the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

    Tourist Dave Hsu, left, feigns a chill as friend Tom Black takes a photograph at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center’s digital thermometer.

    Extreme heat is both one of Death Valley’s greatest intrigues and its most serious safety concern. It’s not uncommon for a few people to die in the park from heatstroke in any given summer.

    Located 200 feet below sea level and surrounded by steep, towering mountain ranges that trap heat, the valley is consistently among the hottest places on Earth.

    In the summer, international travelers often schedule their trips without considering the weather. (All six of the men who fell victim to extreme temperatures near Badwater Basin on Saturday were from Germany.)

    But even Southern California residents who are familiar with Death Valley’s hellish reputation will trek to the park just to experience the otherworldly heat.

    “In L.A., people said, ‘No, don’t go out there; you’re crazy,’” said Nick Van Schaick, who visited the park early this week. He had spent the night in the nearby town of Beatty, Nev., then drove into the park at the crack of dawn Tuesday. “I don’t know. … There’s something compelling about this landscape.”

    A road cuts through a desert.

    Visitors to Death Valley National Park drive in and out of the park on Highway 190 through the Panamint Valley, where temperatures were as high as 125 degrees recently.

    Virtually all heat-related deaths are preventable, experts say, but what makes heat so dangerous is that it sneaks up on its victims.

    The risk of Death Valley’s heat seems painfully obvious. It’s hard to miss the dozens of “Heat kills” signs throughout the park, and stepping out of a car there for the first time feels like sticking your face in an opened oven. Within seconds, your eyes begin to burn and your lips crack. Your skin feels completely dry — even though you’re sweating profusely, the sweat evaporates almost instantaneously.

    But one of the first symptoms people experience as their core temperature begins to rise is confusion, which can inhibit a person’s ability to recognize that something is wrong or understand how to save themselves.

    Studies have also shown that although almost everyone understands how to prevent heat illness, too few take action to protect themselves. That’s in part because many think they are uniquely able to handle the heat when in fact they are not. In 2021, a Death Valley visitor died from heat just days after another visitor had died on the same trail.

    It’s a one-two punch. Hikers ignore the symptoms of heat exhaustion because they’re excited to hike or have nowhere else to go, said Bill Hanson, an instructor for Wilderness Medical Associates International and a flight paramedic in central Texas who specializes in heat-related emergencies. Then, “when a person reaches a pretty profound state of heat exhaustion — which by itself is not a lethal condition — and they’re still in that environment, the likelihood they’ll make the right decisions and reverse the process … is reduced because they have a reduced ability to make good decisions at all.”

    One of the reasons that humans are quickly overcome by extreme heat is that there’s only one route for heat to exit the body. Blood carries heat from our core to our skin, and, when the breeze is too hot to carry heat away from us, the body can release it only through the evaporation of sweat. Any of that sweat that drips to the ground or is wiped off the face is a missed opportunity to cool down.

    People stand on a white plain.

    Visitors walk out onto the salt flats at Badwater Basin, taking advantage of cooler morning temperatures on a day when the mercury would rise as high as 125 degrees in Death Valley National Park.

    In Death Valley, the air is so dry that sweat evaporates very easily, unlike in humid climates where the atmosphere contains more moisture. With profuse sweating, however, dehydration comes quickly. The park recommends visitors do their best to replenish lost water and drink at least a gallon a day if they’re spending time doing any physical activity outside.

    But sweating and constant hydration will work only to a point.

    “A 130-degree environment … there’s going to be a limited shelf life on a human body’s ability to exist in that environment without some technological support,” Hanson said.

    Because of this, the park says to never hike after 10 a.m. during periods of extreme heat and recommends never straying more than five minutes away from the nearest air conditioning, whether it be in a car or building.

    In the heat, sticking in groups can also save lives. While it might be difficult for a confused heat illness victim to recognize the symptoms or remember how to save themselves, friends can spot problems. In general, if you struggle to do anything that is normally easy for you — physically or mentally — stop to rest and seek cooler conditions immediately.

    Muscle cramps are often the first sign the body is struggling to stay cool. They’re probably caused by a toxic concoction of dehydration, muscle fatigue and a lack of electrolytes like sodium, which are essential for chauffeuring water and nutrients throughout the body. Cramps are a sign that the body’s process for dumping heat is under stress.

    A woman take a photograph of a desert landscape.

    Death Valley National Park visitor Steffi Meister, from Switzerland, photographs the landscape at Zabriskie Point where temperatures were as high as 125 degrees recently.

    As the body struggles, heat exhaustion starts to set in. The brain, heart and other organs become tired from working to maintain the body’s typical temperature of 98 degrees. As the body passes 101 degrees, victims can start experiencing dizziness, confusion and headaches. It’s not uncommon for them to vomit, feel weak or even faint.

    As the body passes 104 degrees, the entire central nervous system — responsible for regulating heat in the first place — can no longer handle the stress of the high temperatures. It starts to shut down. The victim might get so confused and disoriented that they no longer make sense. They might not even be able to communicate. They can start to have seizures and fall into a coma.

    “To me, as a park medic, if you’re unresponsive, you’re going to the hospital,” Solomon said, “because your brain is essentially cooking.”

    At this point, the heat has done irreversible damage that can leave the victim disabled for years to come. If internal temperatures don’t fall quickly, death becomes a very real possibility. Organs can fail within hours, killing the victim, even after their temperature starts to drop.

    Heat illness can come on within just minutes or take hours to develop. “There’s kind of a weird phenomenon where there’s two times of day where we’ll get 911 calls for people who have fallen ill” due to heat sickness, Solomon said.

    One is in the middle of the afternoon, when the heat is at its worst. The other is near 11 p.m. — visitors will feel OK during the day, but get increasingly dehydrated as they continue to exert themselves. “Then, they check into their hotel room and fall ill,” Solomon said.

    In some extreme cases, heatstroke can overwhelm a person so fast that muscle cramps and other symptoms of heat exhaustion don’t have time to show. The Death Valley emergency response team typically gets about two or three heat illness calls per week in the summer, with visitors experiencing symptoms across the spectrum from mild fatigue to loss of consciousness.

    Heatstroke experts overwhelmingly agree on the most effective treatment: cooling the patient as fast as possible.

    “The key to survival is getting their body temperature under 104 within 30 minutes of the presentation of the condition,” said Douglas Casa, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut and the chief executive of the Korey Stringer Institute, a leading voice in treating heatstrokes. “It’s 100% survivability if you do that, which is amazing because there’s not too many life-threatening emergencies in the world that have 100% survivability if treated correctly.”

    The fastest way to cool a patient is a cool ice bath, experts say. Hanson said his team in Texas will fly an ice bath on a helicopter and cool the victim in the middle of the desert until their temperature stabilizes before the medics even transport them.

    However, in Death Valley, getting an ice bath to victims can be nearly impossible. The hot air is so thin that the team can’t fly helicopters. Instead, they bring a body bag and cool the victim inside with ice and cool towels as they’re transported via ambulance.

    Although emergencies are regular, the park says they are preventable, and if people follow park guidance, they can experience the heat safely.

    “It really is a reason why some people come to visit — because this is one of the few places on Earth where you can feel what that level of heat feels like,” said supervisory park ranger Jennette Jurado. “It’s our job as park rangers to do our very best to make sure people can have these experiences and then go home safely at the end of the day and remember these experiences.”

    Four people in a pool.

    Visitors take a late-afternoon swim in the pool at Furnace Creek, where temperatures lingered in the 120s inside Death Valley National Park.

    For Jurado, a safe visit looks like taking refuge in air conditioning during the hottest parts of the day and experiencing the heat in short five-minute intervals. The vast majority of visitors take this approach. If they hike at all, it’s early in the morning, and the car never leaves their sight. The rest of the day, they spend hanging at the hotel or by the pool — or they leave the park.

    Although it might be possible for someone to — wrongly — convince themselves that a 90-degree heat wave in the city won’t affect them personally, it’s much harder to do that in a Death Valley heat wave.

    Ironically, this makes Jurado worry more about cooler days in the park, when visitors may not be most on guard. When hikers died within days of each other a few years back, it was an unseasonably cool 105 degrees in the park.

    “It’s that level of heat where people are like, ‘Oh, it’s not Death Valley hot, I can hike longer — I can take more risks,’” Jurado said.

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    Noah Haggerty

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  • Mountain lion found dead on 101, near partially built wildlife crossing in Agoura Hills

    Mountain lion found dead on 101, near partially built wildlife crossing in Agoura Hills

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    A mountain lion was found dead Saturday morning on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, not far from a wildlife crossing being built to reduce the number of cougar fatalities.

    The puma’s body was discovered about 5 a.m. in the far right lane of the freeway near Liberty Canyon Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. Troopers moved the cougar to the shoulder of the highway and enlisted the help of California Fish and Wildlife, which confirmed Saturday morning that it collected the mountain lion’s body for gathering DNA.

    The cougar, which was not wearing a monitoring collar, was killed near the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a $92-million passageway that extends over the busy 10-lane freeway, said Beth Pratt, regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation. It was likely hit by a car; she said there was fresh blood on the freeway. She said not much else is yet known about the mountain lion, including its age or sex.

    The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is under construction in Agoura Hills on June 15, 2024, the same day that another mountain lion was struck by a car less than half a mile from the crossing on the Southbound side of the 101 freeway above Liberty Canyon Road.

    (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

    “Obviously we have a solution coming, but it didn’t come soon enough for this cat,” Pratt said. “This is just another harsh reminder that this is the right place [for the crossing].”

    Construction of the wildlife passage began in 2022, and it is set to be completed in 2026. It is considered the largest wildlife crossing in the world, Pratt said, in a much-needed area where mountain lions are known to attempt to cross.

    Already, there are signs that other animals are using the crossing, and by the end of the year, officials hope to begin adding soil and plants to the crossing so that it blends into the environment and creates a safe space for the animals, Pratt said.

    The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is under construction in Agoura Hills on June 15

    The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is under construction in Agoura Hills on June 15, 2024. Another mountain lion was struck by a car less than half a mile from the crossing on the Southbound side of the 101 freeway above Liberty Canyon Road.

    (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

    In January, Uno, a female mountain lion often seen patrolling the mountains in Orange County, was killed after being struck by a vehicle on a road near the Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve. The cougar, identified as F312, had been tagged by researchers in 2021 when she was about 2 years old.

    In January 2023, mountain lion P-81 was killed on Pacific Coast Highway, probably struck by a car, the National Park Service announced. The 4-year-old male cougar’s remains were collected on PCH near Las Posas Road in Ventura County.

    In July 2022, mountain lion P-89, a 2-year-old male, was fatally struck by a car on the 101 Freeway in Woodland Hills. That death came about a month after a 5-year-old female mountain lion had been killed by a car in the Santa Monica Mountains.

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    Melissa Gomez

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  • Body of missing 14-year-old swimmer washes up on Texas beach, officials say

    Body of missing 14-year-old swimmer washes up on Texas beach, officials say

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    A 14-year-old swimmer vanished, then her body washed up on a Texas beach hours later, officials say.

    A 14-year-old swimmer vanished, then her body washed up on a Texas beach hours later, officials say.

    Getty Images/iStockphoto

    The body of a missing swimmer washed up on a Texas beach hours after the teen went missing, officials say.

    Cameron County Park Rangers got a call around 7:15 a.m. May 19 about “two swimmers in distress” on South Padre Island, according to a Facebook post.

    When rangers arrived, they were told that the younger swimmer had been rescued, but a 14-year-old girl from Harlingen was missing.

    “Park Rangers immediately notified the US Coast Guard and surrounding agencies for assistance in the search and rescue,” the post said.

    Around 11:10 p.m., the rangers learned that a body washed ashore about 2 miles north, according to an updated post.

    The missing girl’s family confirmed that it was the 14-year-old, officials said.

    Officials have not released the girl’s identity or the age of the younger swimmer.

    Harlingen is in southern Texas, near the U.S.-Mexico border. It’s about a 45-mile drive west of South Padre Island and a 135-mile drive south from Corpus Christi.

    Jennifer Rodriguez is a McClatchy National Real-Time reporter covering the Central and Midwest regions. She joined McClatchy in 2023 after covering local news in Youngstown, Ohio, for over six years. Jennifer has made several achievements in her journalism career, including receiving the Robert R. Hare Award in English, the Emerging Leader Justice and Equality Award, the Regional Edward R. Murrow Award and the Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award.

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  • Want a Streak-free Tan? This Expert Reveals How – POPSUGAR Australia

    Want a Streak-free Tan? This Expert Reveals How – POPSUGAR Australia

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    As the temperature rises and the need to show some skin increases there is only one thing on my mind – self tan. Yep, it is officially fake tan season and the time of year when I embark on a three-month constant cycle of weekly self-tan application and removal to ensure I look bronzed throughout the summer. I have to admit, before I was aware of the damage UVA and UVB can do to the skin I was quite the sun worshiper, thankfully I have now swapped trying to grab every last ray for a good SPF, but it doesn’t mean I don’t still long for a natural-looking tan. Although now I prefer to achieve summer skin with a faux glow.

    One of my personal favourite tanners has always been James Harknett, Three Warriors Global Creative Artist, he is based in the W London where he turns self-tanning into an art form. His eye for detail and quick application means he is one of London’s best-kept secrets and it is no surprise he has a celebrity fan list which includes Kylie Minogue, Kate Beckinsale and David Gandy. As it’s unfortunately not possible to have him round every Thursday night to ensure I am streak-free, I recently grilled him for all his top tanning tips at home.

    Read on to find out why the perfect application is all in the prep and why you need to apply in a cool bathroom.

    Related:

    How to Prepare For a Perfect Self-Tan Application

    Ever heard the phrase, “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail”? Well, this needs to be your mantra before you reach for the fake tan. “A few days before you plan your application of self tanner, start by smoothing out the skin with an exfoliator,” Harknett tells PS UK. “Concentrate on areas that get a build up of cells, such as under the breasts and on strap lines. These are common areas where tan often clings to heavy.”

    If you prefer a physical exfoliator you can opt for a gentle scrub like Estrid The Essential Exfoliator (£7.95) not only will this get rid of dead skin cells it will also help reduce any ingrown hairs. If chemical exfoliators are your preference then Q+A Salicylic Acid Body Wash (£6.50) is a great switch for the shower.

    It is also the time to start thinking about defuzzing: “Ensure any hair removal is done well before you tan,” says Harknett. “24 hours or more is best for shaving, for body wax then make it 48 to 72 hours. The skin can then renew evenly and the self tan has enough cells to bind with to allow the tan to react.”

    If you’re having your hair tinted or coloured, whether this is on your head or your eyebrows, it needs to be done before your tan as the chemicals in hair dye will strip your tan around the hairline. This can lead to patches and tell tale signs that your faux glow is indeed fake.

    Where Should You Fake Tan at Home?

    If like me you’ve lost a good bed spread in a self tan incident or dropped a pump of tan on the carpet then listen up. “I always recommend working in a cool bathroom, where there is no humidity,” says James. This means not after a shower or a bath. It may be best to open the windows for a bit before you settle down for a self tan session too. If you can, Harknett suggests working with a mirror so you can check to see if you have missed any areas in the back or side.

    “Before any tan hits the skin, ensure hair is tied back and remove all jewellery,” say Harknett. “And add a little Vaseline over the brows to act as a barrier.” If you’ve chosen a mist formula then it’s a good idea to throw down a towel to avoid the tan going on the floor. It can also prevent it from sticking to the souls of your feet. “Always moisturise the parts of the body that self tan can gather, such as the heels, knee caps, elbows, hands and tops of feet,” says James. “A little moisture will act like a barrier to the skin and will give the most natural results.”

    Which Areas Should You Self-Tan First?

    Always start with the legs first. “Bend the knee by lifting it, to open the creases,” says Harknett. “If you’re using a mousse, then apply in round circular motions which will allow a smooth, even and fast application.” Ankles can be one of the trickiest areas to get right so Harknett recommends approaching with caution. “As you get towards the ankles and feet try and graduate the tan gently,” he recommends. “Use less pressure or opt for a tanning brush, as this can delicately disperses your tan over around the heel and feet.”

    One of the main struggles when self-tanning at home is reaching the middle of the back. I have tried everything from tying a tanning mitt to a wooden spoon, to switching the mitt on to the back of my hand to try to reach the centre of the back. Thankfully there are now products, like Velvo Tanning Back Applicator (£5.99) made to conquer those hard to reach areas and according to Harknett it is worth purchasing. “Snap open back tanners allow you to work in a tanning mousse or liquid,” he explains. “Stand sideways in front of your mirror so you can see that you cover the whole back.”

    Another area many feel apprehensive to tan is the face, “When it comes to tanning the face I recommend a mist like Three Warriors Face Tan Aqua Mist (£32) as it has a super-light consistency which does not weigh heavily on the skin,” says Harknett. “This certified organic product from the award-winning Australian brand is packed with natural oxidants and natural oils to soothe, hydrate, and protect the skin. It is so simple to apply, with a spray-on mist you spritz straight onto the skin, lifting your face, neck and decolletage.”

    How Do You Make Your Self Tan Last Longer?

    To keep your tan lasting longer and to enable a gentle fade, moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. This will not remove your tan, and if anything it will enhance the skin to give you a healthy looking glow. “A spray on moisturiser is ideal and can be used on the go,” says Harknett. “It will help you to avoid over-rubbing the skin, which is a no no.”

    Although it may be tempting to show off your tan in your swimsuit, the chlorine will remove your tan so it’s best to avoid. “As the tan is in our skin cells, avoid hot baths too,” adds Harknett.

    “If you’re an avid gym enthusiast, try a powder in your sports bra or active wear,” recommends Harknett. “A cooling powder or talcum powder on the skin will shield the tan from being rubbed by the friction of your sports bra – this is also a tip I give to all brides on their wedding day so it allows them the much needed movement in their dress.”

    Lauren Ezekiel is an associate editor at PS UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism and 12 years’ experience as a beauty editor at a leading Sunday supplement, she is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and is often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.

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  • Missing 2-year-old found dead in pond after extensive search, cops say. ‘So crushing’

    Missing 2-year-old found dead in pond after extensive search, cops say. ‘So crushing’

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    A 2-year-old girl went missing Saturday afternoon, Indiana cops said. Hours later, her body was pulled from a nearby pond.

    A 2-year-old girl went missing Saturday afternoon, Indiana cops said. Hours later, her body was pulled from a nearby pond.

    Photo by Indiana Metropolitan Police Department

    A 2-year-old girl’s body was pulled from an Indianapolis pond hours after she went missing, Indiana cops said.

    Anna Fabor Mandanda went missing the afternoon of May 4, launching an extensive search by police and community members around the neighborhood, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said in a May 4 Facebook post.

    She was found dead around midnight in a pond near the last place she was seen, police said.

    “I myself have a 2-year-old daughter and, for me, it’s like so crushing, and I just couldn’t imagine what they’re going through right now,” community member Ben Fox, who helped search for the missing child, told WLTX.

    The Marion County Coroner’s Ofice said the toddler drowned in the pond near her home.

    “This is a tragic loss for a family and our community,” police said.

    Police said they are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led Mandana to go missing.

    Kate Linderman covers real-time news for McClatchy. Previously, she was an audience editor at the Chicago Tribune and a freelance reporter. Kate is a graduate of DePaul University where she studied journalism and legal and public affairs communication.

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  • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – Fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation – World News Report – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – Fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation – World News Report – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    As a user, if you see something we have missed, please do bring it to our attention. Your help is welcome. EIN Presswire, Everyone’s Internet News Presswire™,
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  • Bodies found in Baja California during search for missing tourists, Mexican officials say

    Bodies found in Baja California during search for missing tourists, Mexican officials say

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    MEXICO CITY — 

    Mexican officials said three bodies have been found in the same remote stretch of Baja California where two Australian brothers and their American friend went missing last week while on a surf trip.

    The bodies were recovered south of the city of Ensenada, according to a statement from the state prosecutor’s office. The statement did not confirm the identity of the dead, but said authorities discovered the bodies while searching for the missing men.

    Three people who were being questioned in the case have been arrested and charged with kidnapping, the statement said.

    The disappearance of Callum Robinson, 33, his brother Jake, 30, and friend Carter Rhoad, 30, triggered a massive search involving local authorities, the FBI and the Mexican marines.

    The men were outdoor enthusiasts who crossed from the United States into Mexico last month to explore Baja California’s renowned surf breaks.

    Callum Robinson, a high-level lacrosse player, documented the trip on social media, showing himself, and his brother, a doctor, and their friend sipping coffee on the beach, befriending street dogs and relaxing in a hot tub. Rhoad, from Atlanta, founded an online apparel company in San Diego, according to his Facebook profile.

    According to a social media post made by the Robinsons’ mother, Debra Robinson, the group was supposed to check into an Airbnb in Rosarito Beach last weekend after camping for several days on a remote stretch of beach south of Ensenada. But they never checked in. The last time their relatives heard from the men was on April 27.

    Authorities searched near the town of Santo Tomás, where the men had been camping. They first located their tents and the burned-out remains of the white Chevrolet pickup the men were traveling in. Authorities did not provide information about where exactly they located the bodies.

    Baja California’s rugged coastline has long drawn surfers and other tourists from north of the border. But in recent years, the state has contended with some of the highest rates of violence in Mexico. In 2023, authorities recorded 2,116 homicides in the state, many of them connected to the drug trade.

    Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador vowed to reduce violence in Mexico. But while homicides have fallen slightly during his six-year term, they continue to hover near record highs.

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    Kate Linthicum

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  • Woman found dead inside Sunland trash bin identified

    Woman found dead inside Sunland trash bin identified

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    The Los Angeles County medical examiner on Friday identified a woman whose body was discovered inside a trash bin this week in Sunland.

    The woman was identified as 32-year-old Heather Hass. A cause of death has not been disclosed.

    Her body was discovered Tuesday morning in the 8500 block of Wentworth Street after officers responded to a call from a resident, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Upon arrival, the officers discovered the body inside the trash bin.

    Helicopter video from KTLA-TV at the time of the discovery showed police investigating near a closed black bin at a curb in the neighborhood.

    William Elliot, a Sunland resident, told KNBC-TV that someone dumped the trash bin onto his property. He said he moved the bin to the street without knowing what was inside it but called police when something seemed off.

    “It smells bad and it was zip-tied and very suspicious that the serial number was scratched off of it,” Elliot told the station.

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    Ruben Vives

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  • Police discover woman’s body stuffed inside Sunland trash can

    Police discover woman’s body stuffed inside Sunland trash can

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    Los Angeles police are investigating after a woman’s body was found inside a trash can in Sunland on Tuesday morning, a department spokesperson said.

    Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call from a residential neighborhood around 10:30 a.m. When they arrived, they discovered the body of what appeared to be a 30- to 40-year-old female inside the trash can.

    Helicopter video from KTLA showed police investigating near a closed black bin at a curb in the neighborhood.

    No other information was immediately provided by the police.

    LAPD Operations-Valley Bureau detectives are in charge of the investigation.

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    Andrew J. Campa

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  • Deadly drug mix blamed for NC woman’s death. Body was found in Orange County woods.

    Deadly drug mix blamed for NC woman’s death. Body was found in Orange County woods.

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    News & Observer breaking photos featuring police lights

    Sheriff’s deputies investigated in October after finding the body of a Greensboro woman in a field off Old Greensboro Road in Orange County. A man was charged with concealing her body.

    An autopsy released Saturday shows a Greensboro woman found in rural Orange County in October died from a toxic mix of cocaine and fentanyl.

    A man walking his dog on Oct. 15 found the body, later identified as Susan Margaret Horkay, 35, in a wooded area west of Chapel Hill, off Heron Pond Road, Orange County deputies have said. Her body had been dragged into the woods, they said.

    Horkay had “a history of drug abuse” and a “bindle of white powder” was found in her pants pocket, the autopsy said. Investigators suspected she overdosed at a different location before being dumped in the woods, it said.

    A Greensboro man, Randel L. Riggsbee, 46, was later charged with felony concealment of death in the case, the Sheriff’s Office said.

    Horkay, who also was known as Skylar Brooks, knew Riggsbee and had spent time at his home just before her death, investigators said. Riggsbee had “ties to Orange County” and was familiar with the area where Horkay’s body was dumped, they said.

    A GoFundMe is still actively raising money to help with funeral and other expenses.

    Horkay was “a person full of life who never came up short in giving to others,” the fundraiser said. “Someone who made friends with her demons just so she could laugh through life.”

    Fentanyl-laced cocaine killing more NC victims

    The number of suspected overdose deaths involving fentanyl exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials have said, with N.C. Department of Health and Human Services data showing a high of 3,354 deaths in 2022. There were only 1,490 deaths in 2019, data showed.

    Last year, the number dipped slightly to 3,324 overdose deaths, it showed.

    The number of people visiting a hospital emergency room for an opioid overdose also fell over the last 12 months. However, 46% of those who did die from a suspected fentanyl-laced overdose death had ingested a toxic mix of fentanyl and cocaine, data showed.

    That was followed by fentanyl-laced methamphetamine at 32% of suspected overdose deaths, and slightly fewer deaths involving fentanyl and prescription drugs (21%) and fentanyl and alcohol (20%), data showed.

    Heroin and other opioids, which were more closely associated with fentanyl a few years ago, were involved in only 13% of the fentanyl-positive overdose cases.

    Over 60% of the fentanyl-positive deaths reported involved white victims, followed by Black victims, who comprised nearly 30% of those who died, the state reported. Most victims were between the ages of 25 and 54, it said.

    The story will be updated.

    This story was originally published March 23, 2024, 9:30 AM.

    Related stories from Raleigh News & Observer

    Tammy Grubb has written about Orange County’s politics, people and government since 2010. She is a UNC-Chapel Hill alumna and has lived and worked in the Triangle for over 30 years.

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  • Unpacking the Mind-Bending Virtual Reality Game in ‘3 Body Problem’

    Unpacking the Mind-Bending Virtual Reality Game in ‘3 Body Problem’

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    Big surprise: 3 Body Problem, Netflix’s new show based on a trilogy of sci-fi novels that regularly deal with advanced quantum science theories, doesn’t offer a lot in terms of easy answers. Why did Vera Ye kill herself? What do people see when those shaky countdowns get to zero? And who, really, are the incoming aliens known as the San-Ti (Chinese for “three-body [people]”)?

    Many of the answers to the latter question revolve around a virtual reality game encased in a sleek chrome headset that resembles something Apple would sell for several thousand dollars. Early in Episode 1, Jin Cheng (Jess Hong) is given one of these devices on a visit to Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao), the mother of Jin’s recently deceased friend Vera. Wenjie claims Vera was gaming regularly in the weeks before her death, which piques Jin’s interest since her particle physicist friend would never deign to carve out time for video games.

    Headset affixed, Jin finds herself in a hyperrealistic desert landscape. The words “Level One” echo loudly. The headset is able to affect every sense, not just seeing and hearing, effectively transporting her mind to a new plane of being. Jin marvels as the wind ripples the traditional garb she’s been outfitted in, smiles and squints as a massive sun rises over a stately pyramid, and screams in terror when the wind picks up, revealing a desiccated, still-alive humanoid figure buried at her feet. I’m not a big fan of tutorial levels, either.

    Eventually, one of Jin’s friends, snack magnate Jack Rooney (John Bradley), gets his hands on her headset. But his experience playing the game is even more bonkers. When Jack first puts on Jin’s device, which was evidently intended just for her, a woman (Sea Shimooka) appears behind him and sternly observes, “You were not invited,” before cutting him down with a sword. The same thing happens when another friend, Auggie (Eiza González), tries to play. The San-Ti want only a select few people to use their tech. But with time, Jack finally makes the cut. A shiny headset of his own comes with a card that reads: “We invite you to play.”

    Initially, the VR portions of 3 Body Problem do resemble some kind of incredibly immersive game. Putting on the headset and engaging with the AI once again, Jin meets a suave NPC, the Count of the West, and another simply referred to as Follower, a young girl Jin immediately takes a shine to. The Count welcomes Jin to “Civilization 137” and tells her that this world has “chaotic” and “stable” eras. She must deduce whether an era is chaotic or stable, and if she’s wrong, the civilization is destroyed.

    As in any good game, you need a big end-of-level boss. Here in Level One, it’s Emperor Zhou—a real-life tyrant king from about 3,000 years ago. The Count, desperate to appease the emperor, tells Zhou that he can use divination to predict the next stable era, which just so happens to be in eight days and will last 63 years. Jin, a trained scientist rather than a mystic, disagrees with the Count’s assessment. But Zhou is on board with the Count’s prediction and dismisses Jin’s interjections about “the laws of physics: everything we know to be true about the world.”

    “Which world?” he asks her.

    The emperor moves forward with the Count’s plea to “awaken your dynasty and let it prosper.” But that decision quickly proves to be misguided, as Zhou’s civilization is completely obliterated by a massive ice storm. Nevertheless, Jin’s foresight in choosing science over mysticism results in her passing Level One. Several doomed civilizations later, Jin and Jack solve Level Two together: This world is part of, get this, a three-body star system, moving unpredictably between the gravity of three suns, causing constant ecological disasters and apocalypses. Throughout the “game,” they’re tasked with explaining complex modern physics to NPCs who are based on important figures in Earth’s history and whose temperaments range from “unimpressed” to “cartoonishly hostile.” And I mean cartoonishly. At one point, Kublai Khan tries to boil Jin and Jack in a big pot, which is something Wile E. Coyote would attempt. A series of comedic cameos adds to the heightened reality and playfulness of these scenes compared to the rest of the show, like when League of Gentlemen alum and Sherlock cocreator Mark Gatiss—in character as Isaac Newton—spits at Jin to “shut the fuck up, troll!” after she questions his (very cool) human-powered binary computer. The San-Ti are at least hip to a bit of gamer lingo, then.

    It’s a fascinating way to tell the San-Ti’s story, which becomes clearer and clearer with each progressing level. This game is not a puzzle; the three-body problem is unsolvable. Any species existing within such an unstable star system will always face eradication, eventually. It’s a demonstration by the San-Ti that they have no choice but to abandon their planet and find a new home.

    Jin and Jack are invited to Level Four, which, as it turns out, is basically an initiation. Donning the headsets one more time, they are greeted by the game’s “guide,” that mysterious woman with a sword. “There is only one solution when your world is doomed,” the woman says. “Flee,” Jin whispers in response. And so, after 9,478 total civilizations have been built, destroyed, and rebuilt, the San-Ti are accepting an invitation to Earth that—surprise—Ye Wenjie extended to them at the end of Episode 2. Wenjie, exasperated with the cruelty she experienced at the hands of her fellow human beings during the Cultural Revolution, believes the San-Ti could save humanity—even if, and perhaps explicitly because, the San-Ti warned Wenjie that her “world will be conquered” if she responded to the their messages sent decades before Jin’s VR excursions.

    Jack and Jin, as “Level Four champions,” are invited into a sect of humanity that’s led by Wenjie and is preparing to welcome the San-Ti, whom they call “Our Lord.” The game is designed not only to literalize the history of the San-Ti, but to select players who will be sympathetic and malleable to the San-Ti’s own ends. “Your cingulate cortex [an area of the brain commonly associated with emotion and empathy] activity was the highest we’ve ever recorded,” true believer Tatiana (Marlo Kelly) tells Jin.

    Inside the careful and occasionally humorous craftsmanship of the games, there are more hints to be gleaned about the nature of the San-Ti. First—and this is the one that’ll stick in most people’s minds—they have the ability to “dehydrate” themselves, essentially pausing all biological functions and flattening into a rolled-up canvas so that they can preserve themselves during the chaotic eras of their home world. When a stable era arrives, any surviving, hydrated San-Ti toss them into pools of water and they come back to life, like those compressed hand towels that start out looking like tiny pills that you sometimes get at Chinese restaurants. Though the San-Ti civilizations are based on human ones in the game, they clearly have a very different biology. “We don’t look anything like this,” the sword woman tells Jin and Thomas Wade (Liam Cunningham) in a final demonstration later on. When asked what they do look like, she calmly tells Wade he “wouldn’t like it.”

    More troublingly, the game’s design betrays the implication of the San-Ti’s authority over humanity. In each level, Jin and Jack are presenting their ideas to some of the most powerful and notably violent figures in history. This is not the San-Ti asking for help; they’re already on their way. This is them explaining how things will work once they arrive.

    By the season’s end, there’s still a lot about the headsets that remains mysterious. Why did the San-Ti, a species that takes things very literally (to the point that they’re incapable of lying or understanding the concept of a fairy tale), construct such a narratively complex fable to highlight their perspective? They clearly know the broad mechanics of a video game, but not Little Red Riding Hood?

    In the end, though, another useful purpose for the headsets emerges: outright threats. The woman with the sword is an avatar for the Sophons: four 11-dimensional supercomputers folded back into the size of a proton (seriously, don’t think too hard about this) and quantum entangled with one another on the San-Ti fleet, allowing for instantaneous communication even though they’re 400 years from reaching Earth. The Sophons can be anywhere, see and hear anything, cause mass hallucinations, and even disrupt the laws of physics, slowing down humanity’s scientific progress so that it’ll be less able to defend itself when the San-Ti arrive. They’re omnipresent gremlins designed to drive everyone employed at the United Nations insane, basically.

    By the end of the first season, humanity’s relationship with its alien counterpart, the San-Ti, has already deteriorated to the extent that they publicly announce their intention to conquer Earth. As 3 Body Problem’s first season progresses and Earth and the San-Ti fleet morph from uneasy allies into all-out belligerents, the headsets become less prominent in the story. There’s only so much you can do to recruit more pro-San-Ti influencers after you’ve called all of humanity “BUGS” on an LED display in Piccadilly Circus. But, curiously, Tatiana herself receives a headset at the end of Season 1, even though she was already all in on the San-Ti cause. “If one survives, we all survive,” the card included with her device reads. Expect to see some different tricks from the headset when Season 2 inevitably drops. For the rest of those who received them, the San-Ti’s message is clear: Play ball and help, or die with Earth Civilization no. 1.

    Tom Philip is a Scottish writer based in Brooklyn, New York. He’s written about entertainment and culture for GQ, Vulture, and The New York Times and contributed some truly awful jokes for the likes of ClickHole, The New Yorker, and CollegeHumor. You can yell at him on X here: @tommphilip.

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  • The ‘Acolyte’ Trailer Breakdown and the ‘Three-Body Problem’ Book Club

    The ‘Acolyte’ Trailer Breakdown and the ‘Three-Body Problem’ Book Club

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    It’s time for a jam-packed episode of House of R! Mal and Jo break down the electrifying trailer for the new Star Wars show, The Acolyte (06:12). Then they dive into their first episode of House of Reads as they enter da book club and talk about The Three-Body Problem (41:53). Later they bring on Zach Kram to discuss all of the spoiler-filled goodness that might come in the new TV adaptation (63:27).

    Hosts: Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson
    Guest: Zach Kram
    Senior Producer: Steve Ahlman
    Additional Production: Arjuna Ramgopal
    Social: Jomi Adeniran

    Subscribe: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Stitcher / Pandora / Google Podcasts

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    Mallory Rubin

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  • Two years after child’s body found in suitcase, mother arrested in California

    Two years after child’s body found in suitcase, mother arrested in California

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    The mother of a 5-year-old boy, who was found dead in a suitcase nearly two years ago in Indiana, was arrested in Arcadia in connection with his murder, according to authorities.

    Dejaune L. Anderson was arrested Thursday by the U.S. Marshals Service on allegations of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice, Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls told The Times.

    Authorities were tipped off by a “concerned citizen,” and Anderson was detained while attempting to board a train, Huls said. He declined to specify further how authorities were tipped off.

    On April 16, 2022, a man hunting for mushrooms in a wooded, rural area of Washington County, Indiana, found the body of a 5-year-old boy in a brightly colored suitcase, officials said. The boy was identified six months later as Cairo Jordan, an Atlanta resident.

    Dejaune Ludie Anderson in a Georgia DMV photo.

    (Indiana State Police / AP)

    An arrest warrant was issued for Anderson in October 2022, but the boy’s mother had been on the run ever since.

    Investigators from Sellersburg, Ind., were in Southern California over the weekend to try to speak to Anderson and to continue their investigation, according to Huls. Anderson has a court hearing Monday; the extradition process will depend on how she pleads. If she doesn’t fight the extradition, officials from Indiana could pick her up in the next week or two.

    “If she fights extradition, then it’ll be at the mercy of California courts for it to play out,” Huls said. “A governor’s warrant would probably be requested and court system will have to work that out. It’ll be at least a month until that process will get started.”

    Anderson is originally from the Atlanta area and is not a resident of Indiana, Huls said. She has no known connection to Southern California.

    Anderson’s friend Dawn Elaine Coleman, 41, of Shreveport, La., was sentenced to 30 years in prison with five years suspended to probation in connection with Cairo’s death after reaching a deal with prosecutors in November.

    Coleman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, aiding, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice, according to authorities.

    Coleman and Anderson had known each other for about a year and traveled together with Cairo; they had been staying in a residence in Louisville at the time of the boy’s death, according to police.

    Coleman told police that she saw Anderson smothering Cairo by sitting on top of him when he was face-down on a bed, according to court records. Coleman said “it was already done” by the time she walked into the room and that Anderson asked her to help put Cairo inside a trash bag and then a suitcase. They drove Cairo’s body to Washington County and left him there in the suitcase, she said.

    Both Coleman’s and Anderson’s fingerprints were found on the plastic bags that contained Cairo’s body inside the suitcase, investigators said.

    According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Indiana State Police for Anderson’s arrest, Anderson allegedly made references to exorcism and demonic possession regarding her 5-year-old son in Facebook posts in March 2022.

    “Can’t wait to tell my story: I had to raise my frequency, heal myself and past lives, heal my ancestors, heal s— in the universe, heal Gaia to exorcism a very powerful demonic force from within my son,” she wrote, according to the affidavit.

    Coleman posted similar messages on Facebook in April 2022, according to the affidavit:

    “Just because the avatar is of what we call a child does not mean that it is actually a child there are beings that are here that are not supposed to be here that pick avatars to hide behind to play roles to steal energy and to ruin lives you better check to see if the children that you think are children actually have souls or if they’re not melevolent [sic] beings with a soul and in a child Avatar.”

    The boy died from an electrolyte imbalance most likely due to gastroenteritis, or vomiting and diarrhea that led to dehydration, according to Indiana State Police, citing autopsy results. The boy had died a week before his body was found.

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    Summer Lin

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