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Florida Man Allegedly Stabbed 70-Year-Old Stranger Over Bizarre Dispute Linked to the 1960s

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A Florida man allegedly slashed a 70-year-old stranger with a box cutter after deciding the victim looked like someone from the 1960s—a decade he said he disliked.

Ramsey Thomas Lyons faces a charge of aggravated battery against a person aged 65 or older, according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Oxygen.

Lyons pleaded not guilty. His attorney did not immediately respond to Oxygen’s request for comment.

The alleged attack occurred Oct. 10 inside a Publix in Punta Gorda. The victim told police he was standing in a store aisle when he suddenly felt what seemed to be a punch on the left side of his face, the affidavit states.

When he turned, the man reportedly saw Lyons watching him while holding a box cutter. The victim backed away slowly before running toward the customer service counter, according to investigators.

The victim suffered a laceration measuring roughly four to six inches, stretching from his cheek to his neck, as well as a small cut on his upper chest. He was hospitalized and told police he planned to pursue charges against Lyons.

Lyons later offered police an explanation for what authorities described as an intentional attack.

He allegedly told investigators that he had considered the act for two days before gathering the courage to follow through. Lyons also said he had an undiagnosed mental illness.

According to the affidavit, Lyons said he entered the supermarket intending to kill someone and became focused on the victim because the man appeared to be from the 1960s, a period Lyons said he disliked.

After spotting the victim, Lyons said he felt like “acing him out.” When police asked what he meant, he allegedly clarified: “murder him.”

“I just pulled it out of my pocket and stuck it in his neck,” Lyons allegedly said of the box cutter. He reportedly told police he threw the weapon down the aisle afterward so officers would not feel threatened and use a Taser or firearm.

Lyons was arrested and booked into the Charlotte County Jail. Court records show that he is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 15.

Breaking Bad Star RJ Mitte’s Ex-Girlfriend Speaks Out About Death

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The former girlfriend of Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte has shared an emotional tribute following his death by suicide at the age of 34.

Mitte, best known for portraying Walter White Jr. on the AMC crime drama between 2008 and 2013, died in Texas on Monday. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

It was later confirmed that Mitte, who had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three, died by suicide.

After news of his death emerged, his former teenage girlfriend, Saint Sasha, posted a series of nostalgic photographs of the pair. In a heartfelt message, she remembered Mitte as the first person to show her what it meant for a woman to be treated with care and respect.

“I fell in love for the first time when I was 18,” she wrote. “RJ was the first person to show me how a man is supposed to treat a woman.

“He was the first partner who encouraged me, lifted me up and made me feel capable of anything. He had one of the kindest and most extraordinary hearts I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing, and he remained a friend. I can’t believe this is real.”

The heartbroken ex-girlfriend of Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte has paid tribute to the actor after he died by suicide aged 34

The former girlfriend of Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte has paid tribute to the actor following his death by suicide at 34

Mitte played Walter 'Flynn' White Jr on the Bryan Cranston–led drama Breaking Bad

Mitte portrayed Walter “Flynn” White Jr. in the Bryan Cranston-led series Breaking Bad

She continued: “There is no lifetime in which I could ever forget him or the way he made me feel. He was truly one of a kind.

“Thank you for everything, always, RJ. I love you, homie.”

Mitte’s death comes roughly a year after he became engaged to Kennedy Suarez, proposing on the occasion of her 30th birthday.

“I’m thrilled to have found my person and life partner, someone who inspires me to become better in everything we do,” Mitte told People.

He added that Suarez was his “everything” and said he was looking forward to officially beginning their life together and discovering what the future would bring.

Mitte proposed during the 56th annual Dia del Sol benefit in Carlsbad, California, a fundraising event supporting United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego, where he served as an ambassador.

After the engagement, Suarez celebrated on Instagram, writing that her 30th birthday felt like a fairytale because she was beside the man of her dreams while doing what they loved most: helping others.

From 2008 through 2013, Mitte appeared in 56 episodes of Breaking Bad as Walter White’s son. Cranston played Walter, a terminally ill high school chemistry teacher who turns to manufacturing methamphetamine with his former student, Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul.

In the wake of his death, his former teenage girlfriend, Saint Sasha, shared poignant throwback snaps of the young couple, saying he was 'the first person to show me how a man is supposed to treat a woman'

Saint Sasha shared emotional throwback images of the couple, remembering Mitte as the first man to show her how a woman should be treated

Mitte's shock death comes a year after the actor got engaged to his girlfriend Kennedy Suarez on her 30th birthday

The actor’s death was reported about a year after he became engaged to Kennedy Suarez on her 30th birthday

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at three, Mitte later became a prominent advocate for performers and entertainment professionals with disabilities.

In a statement issued Monday, Mitte’s representative told TMZ: “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte.”

‘RJ Mitte was best known for his role as Walter “Flynn” White Jr on AMC’s critically acclaimed, award-winning series Breaking Bad.

‘Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion.

‘Beyond entertaining friends and family around the world, he served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s.’

CP is a group of disorders that affect movement, posture and balance due to abnormal brain development or damage.

Symptoms range from muscle stiffness and poor motor control to difficulties with balance and coordination.

During his life, Mitte called for larger representation of disabled actors on television. 

‘Representation is everything, as we’ve seen over the last ten years with the growth of representation on television,’ he told WUWF in 2023. 

The actor's representative said in a statement: 'It is with profound sadness we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte

The actor’s representative said in a statement: ‘It is with profound sadness we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte

Mitte, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three, appeared in 56 episodes of Breaking Bad from 2008 to 2013. Above, with series star Cranston at the Emmys in 2012

Mitte, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three, appeared in 56 episodes of Breaking Bad from 2008 to 2013. Above, with series star Cranston at the Emmys in 2012

During his life, Mitte called for larger representation of disabled actors on television and said he 'utilized everything' he knew about his disability for Breaking Bad; pictured in the 2023 film The Unseen

During his life, Mitte called for larger representation of disabled actors on television and said he ‘utilized everything’ he knew about his disability for Breaking Bad; pictured in the 2023 film The Unseen

‘Having positive influences of individuals with disabilities, not just cerebral palsy, but all of them, changes the mindset. TV is something that we all share; we all watch. TV really brings communities together in a way that you might not realize through social outlet. 

‘I think that can really inspire individuals, and that can do wonders for confidence and self-esteem. If you see a character that’s going through the same struggle as you, and they’re succeeding, and in your life you may not be, it can help inspire you to get that extra push,’ he added.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org 

Kips Bay AMC Responds to NYU Langone Plans: ‘To Be Clear, We Want to Stay’

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The curtain has not fallen yet.

After weeks of tension with NYU Langone, the Kips Bay AMC has broken its silence, saying it wants to remain at its longtime Manhattan location but is being forced out to make room for the medical university.

The Second Avenue theater accused NYU Langone of portraying itself as a savior after the healthcare giant publicly claimed AMC had been seeking to leave the property for years.

“To be clear, we want to stay. Under the terms of our current lease, the theatre is operating successfully, and we would like to continue serving moviegoers for years to come. We believe keeping this theatre open would be the best outcome for our guests and for the Kips Bay community,” Ryan Noonan, a spokesperson for AMC Theatres, said in a statement.

“The decision about whether AMC can continue operating at Kips Bay is ultimately not ours to make. While the landlord has exercised its contractual right to terminate the lease, and we must prepare accordingly, the theatre remains open and operating as usual.”

AMC said it was “incredibly grateful” for the support of elected officials and moviegoers, thousands of whom signed a petition urging the theater to remain. The cinema is scheduled to continue showing films through Jan. 3, 2027.

The statement marked AMC’s first detailed response to the dispute since its initial announcement in the spring that the theater would close “following the property owner’s decision to exercise its contractual right to terminate the theatre’s lease before its scheduled expiration.”

AMC’s comments came one day after NYU Langone told The Post that the cinema had been considering an exit years before the university became interested in the property.

NYU Langone said the consortium that owns the Second Avenue property approached the medical university about taking over the site.

“Years before our involvement, AMC expressed interest in leaving,” said Steve Ritea of NYU Langone Health.

“They worked with the landlord to reach an agreement that substantially reduced AMC’s rent in exchange for a mutual right for either party to terminate at any time, reflecting the flexibility that both the landlord and AMC wanted going forward.”

Representatives for the apparent property landlord previously declined to answer The Post’s questions.

Residents have made their opposition to NYU Langone’s plans clear, arguing that the university should find another location in the neighborhood. NYU Langone’s location directory lists 56 other sites and three hospitals in Kips Bay.

Tensions between local residents and NYU Langone intensified after the hospital agreed to attend a Community Board meeting on the issue last week, then withdrew just 24 hours before the gathering.

Instead, the university submitted the same statement it had given The Post, reiterating that AMC had been looking to leave.

“It is unfortunate for the main event to decide not to show up simply even just to answer questions or provide us a little more context. And I think in this particular example, we have seen a complete lack of community, engagement or dialogue, unwillingness to answer some basic questions from us,” Assemblymember Keith Powers said angrily at Thursday’s meeting.

In a call with The Post, Powers described NYU Langone’s decision to distance itself from the landlord as “wildly disingenuous.”

Powers is among several elected officials seeking to keep both the AMC and the neighborhood Fairway Supermarket at the site. However, he acknowledged at the meeting that he has little confidence NYU Langone will honor either request.

Last week, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal pledged to block any rezoning applications submitted by NYU Langone unless they include a “cinema.”

Mom Accused of Driving Off Cliff With Kids Faces DUI, Neglect Charges

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A Tennessee mother is facing multiple charges after investigators said she drove her vehicle off a cliff with her two young children inside.

Chase Ryan Klinedinst, 30, was driving a Honda CR-V near Coffey’s Cliff in Chattanooga when she reached the end of a road and continued forward, according to investigators.

The Honda first dropped approximately 25 feet before plunging from the cliff and landing upside down near railroad tracks, an affidavit states.

image shows mugshot

Chase Ryan Klinedinst, 30, is charged after investigators said she drove off a cliff with her children inside the vehicle. (Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office)

Both children were secured in safety seats inside the vehicle and were taken to a hospital following the crash.

One child suffered a broken arm and a bruised lung, while the other was treated and released from the hospital.

image shows dirt road

Reports say Klinedinst drove down a dirt road before the vehicle ultimately plunged from Coffey’s Cliff. (Google Maps)

Investigators said Klinedinst had slurred speech, acted combatively toward medics and smelled strongly of alcohol.

image shows aerial view of Chattanooga

A Tennessee mother is facing charges after investigators said she drove off a cliff with her children inside. (Getty Images: halbergman)

Investigators also found two bottles of wine inside the vehicle, including one that was empty.

Tennessee state trooper

Tennessee state trooper. (Getty Images)

Klinedinst faces two counts of child neglect, driving under the influence and vehicular assault. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is the charging agency.

She is scheduled to appear in court on November 17.

Wandsworth Prison Nurse Pleads Guilty Over Affair With Killer

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A prison nurse who became romantically involved with a convicted killer and drug dealer has admitted misconduct in public office.

Stephanie Adair, 29, had an inappropriate relationship with 28-year-old Jahki Crosdale while working at scandal-hit HMP Wandsworth.

Adair, from Southwark, south London, pleaded guilty at Kingston Crown Court to misconduct in public office. Prosecutors said she had “wilfully misconducted herself” by pursuing an “inappropriate” relationship with Crosdale between September 1, 2023, and November 2, 2024.

The court heard that she continued contact with the convicted killer through his “illicit mobile phone”.

Adair spoke only to confirm her name and guilty plea when she appeared in the dock.

The alleged relationship came to light after Crosdale listed Adair’s address on court documents, it is understood.

The case follows a Daily Mail report that Adair had been suspended from her position at HMP Wandsworth over what was then described as an alleged relationship with Crosdale.

Stephanie Adair has pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office over an alleged relationship with an inmate at HMP Wandsworth

Stephanie Adair has pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office over her relationship with an inmate at HMP Wandsworth

Adair, 29,  pictured outside Kingston Crown Court, had an inappropriate relationship with Jahki Crosdale, 28, at scandal-hit HMP Wandsworth

Adair, 29, pictured outside Kingston Crown Court, had an inappropriate relationship with 28-year-old Jahki Crosdale at scandal-hit HMP Wandsworth

Crosdale, pictured aged 17, had previously been convicted of manslaughter following the death of Charlie Burns, 19

Crosdale, pictured at 17, was previously convicted of manslaughter after the death of 19-year-old Charlie Burns

The affair took place at the same prison where prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu was filmed having sex with an inmate

The relationship took place at the same prison where officer Linda De Sousa Abreu was filmed having sex with an inmate

Last year, the Nursing and Midwifery Council imposed a “conditions of practice” order that temporarily barred the 29-year-old from working in prisons or institutions housing anyone serving a court-imposed sentence.

Crosdale appeared by video link from HMP Manchester and admitted unlawfully transmitting images or sound from inside HMP Wandsworth and HMP Lowdham Grange between February 23 and October 23, 2024.

Crosdale was 17 when he was convicted in March 2015 of manslaughtering trainee plumber Charlie Burns. He was sentenced to six years after stabbing Burns to death over a £150 cannabis debt.

In 2018, he was caught with £2,000 worth of class A drugs, including heroin and cocaine, while travelling from London to Aberdeen. He pleaded guilty to supplying class A drugs and was jailed for a year.

Crosdale was later imprisoned for firearms and further drug offences before being sent to HMP Wandsworth.

Adair’s father, David, previously told the Daily Mail that the family was “very upset about the allegations against Stephanie”. He said: “We are very polite, decent people. We are both teachers.”

In August 2024, the Howard League for Penal Reform branded HMP Wandsworth “England’s worst jail”, citing overcrowding, self-harm, violence and seven self-inflicted deaths during the previous 12 months.

It is also the prison where officer Linda De Sousa Abreu was filmed having sex with inmate Linton Weirich.

Adair and Crosdale, who is on recall until 2029, were granted unconditional bail ahead of sentencing on February 9, 2027.

Dad Levitated, Bled and Fell to His Death From Roller Coaster

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A father who fell to his death from a roller coaster briefly appeared to lift out of his seat before making eye contact with fellow riders. Witnesses said other passengers were struck by his blood as he plunged from the ride and landed on the roof of a haunted house.

The man was killed on Monday at Six Flags Over Georgia in suburban Atlanta while riding the Goliath roller coaster.

Images shared on social media appeared to show the victim falling headfirst over other passengers and out of the roller coaster as families and young children reacted in horror.

First responders were called to the theme park at about 4 p.m. local time. Authorities have since launched an investigation into how the man fell from the ride.

Witnesses told WXIA that the man suddenly plunged from the roller coaster and struck parts of the attraction several times before reaching the ground.

“The man started levitating in the air sideways,” witness Logan Conner said. “We made direct eye contact with him.”

Goliath reaches speeds of up to 70 mph and climbs more than 200 feet above the ground. Six Flags said the ride has been temporarily closed while the incident is investigated.

Officials said the victim had been riding with his son. Other passengers told reporters that his blood “splattered over everybody” when he collided with the high-speed attraction.

A father who tragically fell to his death from a rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia flew over other riders and landed on a haunted house during the fatal fall, witnesses say

A father who fell to his death from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia flew over other riders and landed on a haunted house during the fatal incident, witnesses said

The victim died and several others were injured during an incident on the 200-foot-tall Goliath rollercoaster (above) at the theme park in Cobb County, Georgia on Monday

The victim died and several other people were injured during an incident involving the 200-foot-tall Goliath roller coaster, pictured, at the theme park in Cobb County, Georgia, on Monday

“He hit a girl two rows in front of us on the Goliath ride, right where the pictures are taken,” one woman told 11Alive.

Unverified images circulating online were reportedly captured by the roller coaster’s camera and are said to show the man’s final moments.

The witness said the man struck the ride at least three times during the fall before landing behind one of the haunted attractions at the Six Flags park, which was hosting Halloween events.

Another rider said the victim fell from his seat shortly after the roller coaster began “ascending up.” A scream followed as the man plunged toward the ground.

“We looked down, and we saw people running and panicking,” the rider said.

“So as soon as that happened, as we were ascending, we got stuck, and we didn’t know if it was a problem with our ride or something else. Maybe it was something else, but that was before we heard the news that everyone else has heard.”

Another witness described the moment the roller coaster struck the victim, saying: “The ride hit him, and then he flew back up again. It hit him again, and that’s when he was, I guess, flung from the ride.”

“It went from having a great time to just screaming, ‘Oh my God, what is happening?’” the witness added.

“You don’t see things like this happen. It should never happen.”

Riders were left 'screaming' on the towering rollercoaster after the man fell to his death

Riders were left screaming aboard the towering roller coaster after the man fell to his death

Witnesses said the victim fell on a haunted house exhibition at the Six Flags resort for Halloween

Witnesses said the victim fell on a haunted house exhibition at the Six Flags resort for Halloween 

The Goliath rollercoaster reaches top speeds of 70mph and climbs over 200 feet in the air, making it the tallest rollercoaster in Georgia

The Goliath rollercoaster reaches top speeds of 70mph and climbs over 200 feet in the air, making it the tallest rollercoaster in Georgia 

Following the tragedy, a Six Flags spokesperson said in a statement: ‘We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones.’

‘The park team and local authorities responded immediately, and we are cooperating fully with local authorities as they complete their investigation.’ 

The spokesperson said the park was providing support for anyone affected, and would not be immediately commenting further ‘out of respect for the family’s privacy.’

In a separate statement, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation said it has also closed similar rides at other parks ‘out of an abundance of caution.’

‘The safety of our guests and team members remains one of our highest priorities,’ the statement read. 

Cobb County Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid also called it a ‘terrible tragedy’ as she announced that the man’s next of kin have been notified about his untimely passing.

‘I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one,’ she said, asking the public to ‘please keep in your thoughts the family of the deceased, those who were injured, the employees and leadership of Six Flags and our community.

‘We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories,’ Cupid said.

It remains unclear what may have caused the tragedy.

The Goliath, which was manufactured by Switzerland-based Bolliger & Mabillard, opened at the park in 2006, and its 200-foot top altitude makes it the tallest rollercoaster in Georgia. 

During about 3 1/2 minutes, riders ‘navigate through razor-sharp turns and soar over colossal hills,’ the website says.

It comes just one month after Six Flags Magic Mountain in California announced it was demolishing its notorious X2 rollercoaster, following a series of lawsuits alleging it had caused severe injuries to riders.  

Six Flags Magic Mountain in California announced last month it was demolishing its notorious X2 rollercoaster following a series of lawsuits alleging it had caused severe injuries to riders

Six Flags Magic Mountain in California announced last month it was demolishing its notorious X2 rollercoaster following a series of lawsuits alleging it had caused severe injuries to riders

Christopher Hawley (center), 22, died after riding the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Mountain Magic with his brother and cousin in 2022.

Christopher Hawley (center), 22, died after riding the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Mountain Magic with his brother and cousin in 2022

Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, collapsed after riding the X2 only six days after Guillen, according to reports. Doctors saved her life with emergency brain surgery but she remains in a coma

Pamela Guillen, 40, suffered severe brain hemorrhages after riding the X2 at Six Flags in Valencia, California. Her daughter, Camille Marquez, told CNN: 'We got off the cart and we saw my mom. She looked lifeless. Not a thought behind her eyes, nothing'

Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25, seen left, collapsed after the ride and had massive brain bleeding, while Pamela Guillen, 40, seen right suffered severe brain hemorrhages after riding the X2

The theme park had settled a wrongful-death lawsuit from the family of 22-year-old Christopher Hawley, who died after riding the coaster in 2022, and three other lawsuits alleging traumatic brain injuries were filed.

The ride had then been closed since the evening of July 12, after two women who rode the coaster less than a week apart needed to be rushed to the hospital.

One of them, 25-year-old Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, collapsed shortly after the ride ended and was found to have massive brain bleeding inside the skull that required emergency brain surgery.

She now remains in a vegetative state in the hospital, unable to speak or move and dependent on a ventilator.

Her family has filed a lawsuit against Six Flags on her behalf, with her attorneys saying that more than 100 people have claimed they suffered brain injuries from the roller coaster over the past two years.

Another woman, 40-year-old Pamela Guillen, suffered severe brain hemorrhages after riding the X2 at Six Flags in Valencia, California.

Her daughter, Camille Marquez, told CNN: ‘We got off the cart and we saw my mom. She looked lifeless. Not a thought behind her eyes, nothing.’

More lawsuits would be filed in the coming weeks, the lawyers then vowed.

Six Flags Closes 10 Rides at 7 Parks After Georgia Fatality

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Six Flags temporarily shut down 10 roller coasters at seven theme parks Monday after a fatal incident at its Georgia location left one person dead and several others injured.

ATLANTA — Six Flags paused operations on 10 roller coasters across seven amusement parks on Monday, Oct. 12, following a deadly incident involving a ride at Six Flags Over Georgia.

Officials have not said how the man died, how the other riders were hurt or what their medical conditions were after the incident at the park, located roughly 15 miles northwest of Atlanta. Witnesses told Atlanta television station WXIA that a man appeared to be thrown from the Goliath roller coaster and struck the ride three times.

“He was in our pictures,” one witness told WXIA, referring to the ride’s souvenir photos. The witness said the man fell into the coaster car multiple times, struck other passengers and ultimately landed on the roof of a haunted house attraction below.

In an update issued around 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, the Cobb County Police Department identified the victim as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta.

Police said the preliminary findings indicate that Kariem was “ejected from the ride,” hit other riders and fell beneath the roller coaster.

Kariem’s family told WXIA reporter Chase Houle that he was a dedicated Atlanta educator who cared deeply about the city. Relatives also said he was passionate about helping bring families closer together.

Six Flags closed attractions resembling the Georgia coaster “out of an abundance of caution,” a spokesperson for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation said. Employees and local authorities responded immediately, and the company is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today,” the spokesperson said, adding that Six Flags is supporting guests and employees affected by the event.

Neither authorities nor Six Flags specified which roller coaster was involved. Local television footage, however, showed passengers being evacuated from Goliath.

A Six Flags spokesperson issued the following statement to TEGNA:

“Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed similar attractions across our parks. The safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority.”

Rides closed following Monday’s roller coaster death in Georgia:

  • Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario, Canada — Behemoth and The Leviathan
  • Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina — Fury 325 and Thunder Striker
  • Kings Island in Mason, Ohio — Diamondback and Orion
  • Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey — Nitro
  • Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois — Raging Bull
  • Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles County, California — Goliath
  • Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, Georgia — Goliath

The company said it had not established a schedule for reopening the suspended rides and had no additional information to release at that time.

Bolliger & Mabillard INC., the Switzerland-based manufacturer associated with the roller coaster, expressed condolences to those affected and said it was reviewing what happened.

“We are actively investigating the incident and have no further comment until we have a better understanding of what transpired,” the company said in a statement.

According to the park’s website, Goliath opened in 2006 and climbs 200 feet before reaching speeds of up to 70 mph.

The approximately three-and-a-half-minute ride takes passengers through sharp turns and over towering hills, the website says.

Lisa Cupid, chairwoman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, said the victim’s next of kin had been notified.

“I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one,” Cupid said. “We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories.”

Cupid said the park plays an important role in Cobb County’s tourism industry, drawing visitors from throughout the Southeast.

The death would be at least the seventh at the Georgia park, including one in 2006 in which a man had a likely heart attack on the Goliath coaster, according to the Doan Law Firm, which tallies amusement park accidents and represents victims.

It also comes less than two weeks after Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California announced the retirement of its famous X2 roller coaster following lawsuits alleging serious brain injury caused by the ride. The park settled one wrongful-death lawsuit from the family of a 22-year-old man who died after riding the coaster in 2022.

In 2025, a 32-year-old man died from blunt impact injuries after riding a high-speed roller coaster at the Universal Epic Universe theme park in Florida. His death was ruled accidental.

Cornell Halts Fraternity Parties Amid Jane Doe Rape Allegations

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Cornell University has suspended all fraternity parties following serious gang-rape allegations made by a former female student.

The ban applies to parties at fraternity houses affiliated with the Ivy League university and will remain in effect until the end of the academic year, Cornell announced Tuesday.

The decision follows a civil lawsuit filed by a former student known as Jane Doe, who accused seven Chi Phi members of raping her and pressuring her to take drugs during a Hawaiian-themed party in 2024.

Doe alleges that the sexual assault continued for seven hours, beginning at about 11 p.m. and lasting until approximately 5:45 a.m. the following morning.

Cornell President Michael I. Kotlikoff said: “We must meet this moment by acknowledging where we have fallen short and taking meaningful action.

“Cornell must be a place where safety is not an open question.”

In addition to suspending fraternity parties, Cornell said it would add experienced sexual assault investigators to its police force. The move comes amid growing scrutiny over whether the university’s internal investigation into the alleged assault was sufficiently thorough.

After the alleged gang rape at the Chi Phi house in 2024, District Attorney Matthew Van Houten declined to bring criminal charges against any of the seven men.

Cornell’s Title IX office later carried out an extensive investigation in 2025. Its findings led to a combination of expulsions and suspensions for some of the men.

The ban on parties at frat houses affiliated with the Ivy League college will be in place until the end of the academic year, Cornell announced on Tuesday

Cornell’s ban on parties at fraternity houses affiliated with the Ivy League university will remain in place until the end of the academic year, officials announced Tuesday

Matthew Ingalls

Jonathan Newell

The evening began with Jane Doe having a threesome with Matthew Ingalls (left) and Jonathan Newell (right)

Doe said the evening changed after Newell allegedly posted in a fraternity Snapchat group that there was “free p***y” upstairs

Doe filed the civil lawsuit in September, publicly detailing the alleged events of that night in a case that has shocked the Cornell campus and drawn wider attention.

Van Houten reopened the criminal investigation after the lawsuit became public. The inquiry has since been taken over by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The men named in the lawsuit are Matthew Ingalls, Jonathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar.

None of the seven men has been criminally charged, and all deny wrongdoing.

In a written statement to Cornell police, Doe said she arrived at the fraternity house after taking several shots of alcohol with her sorority sisters and ordering a mixed drink at a bar in downtown Ithaca, New York.

Although bar staff had marked her hand to indicate that she was under 21, Doe said she was still able to order a mixed drink containing approximately two shots of alcohol. The bar has denied any wrongdoing.

Newell was listed as a sober “safety monitor” that night, as was Doe. However, Doe said her monitoring duty was ultimately transferred to another member.

Doe told police that she briefly stopped at another bar with a friend before going to the Chi Phi house after 11 p.m. She said she was “about a five out of 10 level of intoxication” at the time.

The accuser submitted a six-page written statement to campus police. Students are pictured walking past Cornell Police headquarters.

The accuser submitted a six-page written statement to campus police. Students are pictured walking past Cornell Police headquarters

The fraternity chapter has since been banned from campus following the school's investigation

The fraternity chapter has since been banned from campus following the school’s investigation

Protests swept the country after Jane Doe's allegations went public. Demonstrators are pictured at a Stop Sexual Violence protest at the Washington Monument last Thursday.

Protests swept the country after Jane Doe’s allegations went public. Demonstrators are pictured at a Stop Sexual Violence protest at the Washington Monument last Thursday

On Friday, the Cornell Concert Commission, a student-run organization, announced that it has canceled its annual homecoming concert amid the controversy

On Friday, the Cornell Concert Commission, a student-run organization, announced that it has canceled its annual homecoming concert amid the controversy

It was at the frat house that she said she started dancing with Matthew Ingalls, one of the defendants she now accuses of rape, sometime after midnight, at which point she said he proposed they have a threesome. 

Doe said she accepted because she was attracted to him.

At that point, Doe alleged that Ingalls led her to a room, where defendant Jonathan Newell was sitting. Together, she said, they took ketamine, smoked marijuana and drank liquor before engaging in a threesome.

But the interaction then spiraled as more fraternity members, the other five listed in her civil complaint, entered the room.

By 1.42am, Newell allegedly posted in a fraternity Snapchat group that there was ‘free p***y’ upstairs.

In the aftermath, Doe said she recalled two other men entering the room, grabbing and kissing her, with one of the men then also engaging in another threesome with Doe and another man.

She even eventually confided in Ingalls, ‘I don’t know who any of these people are,’ but claimed he simply laughed off her concerns and asked if she wanted to do more ketamine.

She explained in her written statement to police how she felt ‘super isolated’ and like she ‘didn’t matter as a person to these men.’

‘I had become extremely uncomfortable with how this night was turning out and so my thought was, “If I do ketamine again, maybe I will pass out,”‘ Doe confided to police in her written statement.

‘My thought was that if I passed out and these men had sex with me, then they could be charged with rape,’ she recounted in her statement.

Meanwhile, at around 2.30am, more members of the fraternity’s group chat started to question what was occurring in the room – to which Ingalls reportedly replied: ‘Boys, come whip it out.’ 

Back inside the bedroom, Doe said men started snorting drugs off of her body while she was ‘feeling extremely tired’ and covering her face with her hands.

Later, she said, one man who lived in the bedroom with another man entered and said ‘something like “OK we’re shutting down whatever the f**k this is”‘ after which ‘the group of men all began to scatter.’

Still, she said, two of the men ushered Doe upstairs to what she said she thought was the fraternity president’s office, where the three indulged in ketamine.

Doe said she then felt ‘extremely high’ as the two men ‘were asking me to have sex so many times that I finally gave in.’ 

‘To me, that felt like coercion,’ she told police. ‘Also, I felt like due to my intoxication, they should have known how intoxicated I was based on how I was slurring my words.’

The sexual encounter was said to have lasted until roughly 5.45am, when Doe went to sleep in one of the rooms at the fraternity house.

When Doe eventually returned to her sorority house, her sisters asked what had happened to her at the party – to which Doe said she uttered a one word response – ‘ketamine.’

Later that day, Doe said in her statement, she discovered that what had happened to her the night before had been broadcasted as public knowledge after members of Chi Phi bragged about having an ‘eightsome’ with her.

‘It was now obvious that everyone knew it was me that this had happened to,’ Doe recounted in her written statement.

In the aftermath, she said she went to Cornell Health to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

At that appointment, she told her doctor she contracted a UTI in a ‘traumatic fashion.’

Yet Doe apparently downplayed the interaction in text messages to Newell and Ingalls in the days that followed.

‘At the end of the day none of the sexual stuff was illegal, and honestly i really liked being w u and matt,’ she wrote in one text message to Newell.

She penned in an additional message, ‘I don’t think we should feel any shame for the part. our body our choice asf.’

In a separate message to Ingalls, she suggested that people were expressing opinions about the incident because they were jealous.

‘But also like everyone needs to grow up cause sexuality and sex and s**t is changing and stuff like this is going to become more common,’ she wrote, before telling Ingalls: ‘I luv u king.’

This is a breaking news story. 

House Democrat Seeks to Abolish DHS After Omar Raid, ICE Shooting

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WASHINGTON — Rep. Delia Ramirez, a left-wing House Democrat, is calling for the abolition of the Department of Homeland Security after federal agents conducted a dawn raid Monday at the Washington, DC, home of “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar.

Ramirez’s “Reimagining Safety Act” would also halt all immigration detentions in the United States. The proposal follows last week’s shooting of Oscar Belgal by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the Bronx.

“Just this week, our communities were reminded that DHS is a weapon: pointed at a father shot in front of his 5-year-old and at Congresswoman Omar, who is using her voice to demand an end to fascism,” Ramirez, D-Ill., said in a statement to The Intercept.

“It is clear that now is the time to reimagine our safety, dismantle DHS, abolish ICE, and end the use of broad authorities to circumvent our rights and due process.”

The Department of Homeland Security was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as part of a sweeping overhaul intended to improve intelligence sharing and streamline the federal government’s domestic security operations.

During the 2026 midterm election cycle, Democratic candidates in primaries nationwide have advocated abolishing ICE in response to the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement efforts.

On Monday, agents with DHS’ Homeland Security Investigations agency raided Omar’s home in Washington, DC, as part of a yearslong criminal investigation into the Somalia-born congresswoman’s immigration paperwork.

Border czar Tom Homan told Fox News on Monday that federal agents presented evidence to a DC court to secure a search warrant for the sitting congresswoman’s residence. A federal judge approved the warrant, Homan said.

Omar has said she is being targeted through a politicized weaponization of the justice system. Republicans have repeatedly questioned her immigration history and her husband’s net worth.

Under the Reimagining Safety Act, DHS would be replaced by a newly named Department of Community Safety, which would finance violence-intervention programs and other public safety initiatives, according to The Intercept.

The legislation would distribute several DHS responsibilities among other federal agencies. The Justice Department would assume immigration enforcement, the Treasury Department would oversee customs enforcement, and the Department of Transportation would take charge of the Coast Guard. The measure would also restrict the secretary of state’s authority to designate foreign terrorist organizations.

“DHS is not rogue,” Ramirez said. “For 23 years, since its inception, DHS has been utilized by the government to target and persecute those they consider the public enemy — whether it is Muslim-Americans, Haitians escaping violence, Latinos yearning for a better life, or dissenting voices.”

Ramirez’s bill faces steep odds in Congress. The House and Senate are both scheduled to remain on recess until after the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

DR Congo’s Confirmed Ebola Cases Surpass 9,000 as Containment Efforts Struggle

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Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

A mobile laboratory has been deployed to screen for Ebola in Butembo, Congo, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Sebastien Kitsa Musayi)

BUNIA – Congo’s Ebola outbreak has now exceeded 9,000 confirmed infections, as public health officials struggle to slow the virus’s spread, according to health ministry figures released Tuesday.

The ministry reported 9,066 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths, meaning the fatalities represent nearly half of all confirmed infections.

The escalating death toll has heightened concern among medical workers and government officials. Many of the reported fatalities occurred outside treatment facilities, while the latest update warned that “community transmission remains a concern” after 88 additional confirmed cases were identified.

As Ebola reaches more communities, fresh outbreak hot spots are emerging. Health authorities now report infections in 65 health zones spanning seven provinces.

Regional fears intensified last week when Kenya became the first country since Uganda to report an Ebola case imported from Congo, raising concerns that the virus could spread more widely across neighboring countries.