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Illinois man stuck waist-deep in Alaska mud flats drowns as tide comes in: 'Mother Nature has no mercy'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A man who was walking on tidal mud flats with friends in an Alaska estuary got stuck up to his waist in the quicksand-like silt and drowned as the tide came in before frantic rescuers could extract him, authorities said.Zachary Porter, 20, of Lake Bluff, Illinois, was submerged Sunday evening as the tide came in, and his body was recovered Monday morning, Alaska State Troopers spokesperson Austin McDaniel told The Associated Press. A member of Porter's group called 911 when they couldn't get him out, but it was too late, authorities said.The accident was the latest tragedy at Turnagain Arm, a 48-mile-long (77-kilometer-long) estuary carved out long ago by glaciers that travels southeast from the Anchorage area and parallels a major highway. At low tide, the estuary is known for its dangerous mud flats made of silt created by glacier-pulverized rocks. At least three other people have gotten stuck and drowned there over the years. Many more have been rescued, ...

Man dies in St. Louis after gunshot to the head

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- A man was found with a gunshot wound to the head in the 4800 block of Margaretta in the Penrose neighborhood Thursday morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene.Homicide detectives have been called to investigate the death. A FOX 2 photographer is headed to the scene. More details will be posted here as they come into our newsroom.

Raging Rivers WaterPark opening this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

GRAFTON, Ill. - Raging Rivers WaterPark is set to reopen this weekend. On Saturday, May 27, anyone can enjoy the park's family interactive play area, the "Lazy River," and the Mississippi Monster. One-day admission tickets start at $21.99 and can be purchased online. Trending -- Former ‘Basketball Wives’ star from St. Louis admits multiple frauds Raging Rivers is also planning to celebrate school teachers and staff with their 'School Staff & Teacher Appreciation Days.' From May 27 to 29, all school staff are open to free admission. On Independence Day, free admission will also become available for active and retired military members. For more information about the park, click here.

Charges against Aurora parents in co-sleeping death of 2-day-old baby draws condemnation from pregnancy justice groups

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

The criminal case of an Aurora couple charged in the co-sleeping death of their 2-day-old baby has spurred outcry from state reproductive justice groups who describe the prosecution as part of a growing trend across the country in which pregnant and postpartum people are facing more criminalization.Brittany Diekneit, 27, and her husband Sean Byrne, 26, are each facing a felony charge of child abuse resulting in death. Diekneit and baby Walker returned home from the hospital on Sept. 22, and Walker died sometime that night or early morning. In April, three months after the autopsy was completed, arrest warrants were issued for the pair. The Aurora police arrest affidavits allege that the couple was drinking alcohol before sharing a bed with the baby and “ignored the substantial and unjustifiable risk of co-sleeping with Walker while being incapacitated and they were thus unable to check on him.”The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office also upped the detective...

Boat ramp at Cherry Creek Reservoir to reopen in time for Memorial Day weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

One boat ramp at the Cherry Creek reservoir will open before the Memorial Day weekend, state officials announced Thursday.The west boat ramp will be open ahead of the weekend, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said in a posting on Twitter. The east boat ramp at the reservoir remains closed, officials said.Opening the ramp required the removal of debris and cleanup that developed after the recent storm event in early May.The six inches of rain that fell on the park raised the reservoir level by 10 feet, prompting the closure of both boat ramps, the swim beach, and some other park areas, and washed out some park roads.*airhorn noises*Cherry Creek west boat ramp will be open in time for Memorial Day weekend. The East boat ramp remains closed. Hats off to park staff for working hard on debris removal and cleanup!— CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) May 25, 2023Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Adventurist, to get outdoors news sent straight to your inbox.

14 places to see outdoor movies in Denver and the Front Range this summer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

Outdoor summer movies have lots in common with other types of warm-weather fun — namely, that all you need is a blanket, a beverage and a couple of hours to fully enjoy them.Related ArticlesThings To Do | Live-action “Little Mermaid” largely sticks to what worked in the 1989 animated version Things To Do | Summer movie guide: Every highly-anticipated release now through Labor Day Things To Do | A fleshing out of familiar villain helps give “Peter Pan & Wendy” new life | Movie review Things To Do | “Wild Life,” from “Free Solo”‘s Jimmy Chin is a rickety helicopter tour of a fascinating marriage As usual, many of the films on this annual roundup are all-ages appropriate, with new and classic animation and comedy and romance — but also kinetic genre flicks and crowd pleasers.Most are free or cheap, and start around dusk (8:30 p.m.). Some offer family-fri...

Bill to legalize 'magic mushrooms,' other psychedelics in California advances

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

A bill that would decriminalize the possession of some psychedelic substances passed the California State Senate Wednesday and now heads to the State Assembly. Senate Bill 58, which was introduced by Senator Scott Weiner, would allow people age 21 or older to own or prepare "certain hallucinogenic substances," including psilocybin, psilocyn, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ibogaine, and mescaline.Psilocybin is often referred to as "magic mushrooms."The bill would also repeal laws that prohibit growing "spores or mycelium capable of producing mushrooms or other material which contain psilocybin or psilocyn."SB 58's decriminalization of mescaline specifically excludes peyote derivatives.The bill's author states that peyote use and cultivation will remain a crime because the plant is "nearly endangered" and because of its historical spiritual use by Native Americans.In this Aug. 3, 2007, file photo magic mushrooms are seen in a grow room at the Procare farm in Hazerswoude, central Netherland...

Florencio Lagara-Perez Pronounced Dead in Rollover Crash on Fairview Avenue [Goleta, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

Single-Truck Accident near Highway 101 Left 55-Year-Old Santa Barbara Man DeadGOLETA, CA (May 25, 2023) – Early Tuesday morning, a rollover accident involving a single pickup truck left Florencio Lagara-Perez fatally injured.The deadly crash happened around 5:15 a.m. on the Fairview Avenue onramp to Highway 101 in the city of Goleta.According to CHP, a blue 1999 Ford Ranger driven by a 64-year-old Santa Barbara man, entered Fairview Avenue before spinning out of control.Subsequently, the pickup rolled over and landed on its roof on the right shoulder of the roadway.Reports showed several responders arrived at the scene, including CHP officers and paramedics, Santa Barbara County Fire, and American Medical Response.Unfortunately, the first responders declared the passenger dead at the scene. Meanwhile, the Ford driver was transported to a hospital with minor injuries.Later, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s-Coroner’s Office identified the deceased passenger as 55-year-old Flor...

Interesting Facts About Tina Turner: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Legendary Rock Icon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner passed away at the age of 83. She died on May 24, 2023, in Küsnacht, Switzerland. Being one of the most recognizable voices and iconic figures in the ‘80s music scene, one of the many indisputable facts about Tina Turner is she left a legacy that many would like to remember and honor.10 Interesting Facts About Tina Turner1. Tina Turner was not her real name.Tina Turner was born on November 26, 1939, in Brownsville Tennessee. Her birth name was Anna Mae Bullock.2. Her mother abandoned herWhen Tina Turner was 11, her mother abandoned her and her sisters. Her mother allegedly did this because of her abusive relationship with her husband — or Tina Turner’s father. She spent the majority of her childhood in Nutbush and Knoxville, Tennessee.3. Tina Turner played basketball.One of the surprising facts about Tina Turner was she used to be a member of the Carver High School basketball team in Brownsville, Tennessee.4. She met her first husband when she...

The Voltaggio Brothers Go Retro In Las Vegas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:54 GMT

When celebrity chef Michael Voltaggio was a kid, he was such a picky eater that his mom Sharon had to bribe him with a “Champion Eater” trophy to get him to finish his dinner. His older brother, Top Chef alumnus Bryan, was an athlete who wrangled his own trophies. Both have fond memories of getting home as the streetlights went on and sitting down to a pot roast dinner after a day of skateboarding and riding bikes.Their new Las Vegas restaurant that has taken up a year-long residency at the Mandalay Bay resort, Retro by Voltaggio, is a culmination of those childhood memories and the brothers’ professional careers, a nostalgic nod to simpler times.Entrance to the massive 9,000-square-foot space is at the casino level, and descends two floors down to the dining room either via a telephone booth elevator or via the staircase of the retro tower that feels like you’re walking into an ‘80s and ‘90s vintage store.  There are blockbuster videos, nintendos, bikes, skateboards, original mobil...