Fisherman, 71, attacked and killed by 12-foot alligator alongside Florida lake
A 71-year-old man fishing near the shore of a Florida lake has been attacked and killed by a 12-foot alligator. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that Steven Hamilton of Winter Garden was standing near the shoreline of Lake Apopka in Dr. Bradford Memorial Park, northwest of Orlando, when the reptile struck at around 5 p.m. Winter Garden Fire Chief Jose Gainza told FOX35 that the presence of other active alligators complicated any chance of rescuing Hamilton, whose body was recovered around 7 p.m. The 11.8-foot alligator was captured and killed by state wildlife officials.
WATCH LIVE: New England's having an 'elite' year, but there's fall foliage elsewhere, too
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Leaf-peeping season is underway, but some areas of the U.S. are seeing lots more color than others. Kyle Cotner, who owns The Foliage Report website, tracks fall foliage across the U.S. He says New England is having an elite year, thanks to adequate spring and summer rain, plus warm days and cool nights heading into fall. Colorado, meanwhile, is having a lackluster foliage season because of extreme droughts. Fall foliage happens when leaves stop making the green pigment chlorophyll, allowing orange and yellow pigments that have been there all along to be unmasked. When sunny days are followed by cold nights, sugars get trapped in leaves, producing red pigments.
Norwegian teen sentenced to 20 years in prison for plotting murder in UK for Iran-linked gang
LONDON (AP) — A Norwegian teenager has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for traveling to Britain to carry out a contract killing for an international crime gang linked to Iran. The 19-year-old Johannes Kongsnes Natland was found guilty in July of conspiracy to murder for agreeing to shoot an unknown target for 25,000 euros last year. He was arrested at a hotel in northern England with two guns and ammunition two days after arriving in the U.K. Natland was recruited by a Swedish organized crime group known as the Foxtrot Network while playing a game online. The U.K. government has sanctioned it for violence against Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe. Natland was sentenced on Friday.
Good grief, Charlie Brown! Giant inflatable pumpkin takes pre-Halloween flight
CARY, N.C. (AP) — The Great Pumpkin made an early visit to Cary, North Carolina, this year. It happened as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias passed through. Officials still had a tornado warning in effect Sunday afternoon and a twister even touched down near Phillips Farms. Then the sun peeked out and the farm staff decided to inflate their two-story-high lawn ornament. Just then, the wind picked up and the giant jack-o'-lantern started to tumble. Videos of the Great Pumpkin escape went viral. Farm owner Michael Phillips says it's the best free advertising he's ever had.
Jalen Hurts sidelined by a blood clot, the latest bad news in a rough season for the Eagles
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles have ruled out quarterback Jalen Hurts for Sunday's game against Carolina because of a superficial blood clot. Hurts was injured two weeks ago against the Los Angeles Rams when he took a cleat to his calf. He traveled with the team to London for their game against Jacksonville and was cleared to play against the Jaguars. Hurts received treatment Monday and Tuesday this week when he returned to Philadelphia and was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. An ultrasound on Wednesday revealed movement in the clot. The Eagles said they would determine the appropriate course of treatment.
Fight over evidence in Alex Murdaugh retrial turns to DNA and missing murder weapons
LEXINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Prosecutors and lawyers for Alex Murdaugh have returned to court amid disputes over evidence for his retrial next year on charges he killed his wife and son. A judge ruled defense attorneys can test a small amount of DNA from an unknown male found under the fingernails of Murdaugh's wife. Investigators have not found a match. The judge refused to let the defense test every casing and bullet found in shootings for the past five years involving the same type of gun as one of the weapons used in the killings. The judge admonished both sides to remain professional and not turn the trial into a circus.
Burly men in Gaza pull trucks and flip tires in competition of strength
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Burly men in Gaza pulled trucks with ropes and flipped massive tires as part of a strength competition that drew cheers from Palestinian onlookers. The organizer of the Palestine Strongman Championship, Waleed Owda, said the event held Friday had been postponed for years due to the war. He said the competition demonstrated Gaza's resilience and spirit. Children watched from the rubble of war-destroyed buildings. Participants expressed joy at returning to such an atmosphere after years of hardship and destruction.
Bird flu caused the death of Jackie, a California bald eagle who captured hearts
BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (AP) — Officials say bird flu caused the death of a bald eagle named Jackie who had become an internet sensation and a symbol of the species’ recovery in California. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a news release Wednesday that a necropsy and additional testing found that the primary underlying cause of Jackie’s death in August was highly pathogenic avian influenza. In the weeks leading up to her death she was being treated at the Ojai Raptor Center for a variety of ailments including anemia. Chris Eksteen, the center’s director, said in the news release that the necropsy results “have helped connect many of the findings” they saw throughout her hospitalization.
Florida man killed ex-fiancee hours after their 'People's Court' episode aired, police say
Authorities say a Florida man whose former fiancee went missing nearly 15 years ago, just hours after they appeared together on a pretaped episode of “The People’s Court,” has been charged with her murder. Orlando police announced the arrest on Wednesday of Dale Smith Jr. on a charge of second-degree murder. The body of Michelle Parker has not recovered, but police say all evidence leads to Smith as the person responsible for her death. Smith’s attorney said during a hearing Thursday afternoon that he didn’t believe the state could meet its burden of proof to convict Smith based on the information presented in the criminal complaint. A judge ordered Smith to be held without bond pending a detention hearing, which wasn’t immediately scheduled.
Luna, a small dog missing for over a month in Yellowstone, is reunited with her owners
A small dog named Luna has been found after more than a month on the loose in Yellowstone National Park. Despite frequent sightings, the Jack Russell terrier evaded capture since early September amid mounting fears for her survival and the approach of winter weather. Volunteers were able to catch the dog Wednesday in a live trap baited with a T-shirt and pillowcase carrying her owner's scent. The California family that lost Luna believes a housekeeper accidentally let her out of a cabin they were staying in while they explored the park on Sept. 10. The search for Luna had rallied locals and tourists alike.
