An afternoon swim in an Ohio river turned tragic over the weekend, claiming five lives as reported by authorities on Monday.

The incident unfolded on Sunday evening at the Scioto River located in Powell, a quaint suburb of Columbus. The gathering took a turn when one individual ventured into the river for a swim.

“That’s when the tragedy began,” Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer stated during a press conference on Monday. Concerned companions quickly jumped into the river to rescue the struggling swimmer.

“My understanding is that initially just one person entered the river and began to struggle. Two others attempted a rescue,” Balzer explained. “Then, with those rescuers in distress, two more people entered the water.”

At around 9 p.m., a “distraught” child with the group ran onto a nearby road and was spotted by a motorist who called 911. The child said his family was in the river, Balzer said.

First responders arrived and found two women, who were pronounced dead at a hospital, Balzer said.

The bodies of three men were found in the river on Monday, Tracy Whited, a spokesperson for the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department, the The Associated Press. The identities of the deceased have not been released.

No boat was at the scene and it was unclear if alcohol played a factor in the tragedy, the sheriff said.

Two children under the age of 10 that were part of the group have been placed in the care of family services, said Balzer.

The sheriff urged the public to have safety devices like life vests on hand when gathering near bodies of water.

The 230-mile Scioto River is a popular area for locals and boasts fish populations of bass, saugeye, catfish, and carp, according to publiclands.com.

The deaths happened days after five family members were killed in Utah after a flash flood swept through the region.

A formidable storm, deemed “life-threatening,” is brewing along the Gulf Coast, poised to unleash its fury on states like Florida, Louisiana, and Texas soon. Meteorologists are cautioning residents to brace for heavy flooding and intense winds beginning on Monday.

According to the National Hurricane Center, a nascent tropical depression—often the precursor to a more formidable tropical storm—has been tracked approximately 110 miles south of Panama City, Florida.

Forecasters report that this cyclone is anticipated to journey northwest through the Gulf of America, skirting along the US coastline. As it progresses, there are predictions it will gather strength and evolve into a tropical storm.

By Tuesday, storm conditions are expected to stretch from the Florida Panhandle all the way to the west near Louisiana, as forecasted by the National Weather Service in New Orleans.

From western Florida across to central Texas, flash flooding appears imminent, with the potential for catastrophic rainfall reaching up to 5 inches along the Louisiana coastline, experts warn, with these risky weather patterns projected through Friday.

They also warned of 40 mph wind gusts, and possible “life threatening” storm surge along Alabama, Mississippi, and southeastern Louisiana coasts. 

A storm surge watch is already in place from the mouth of the Mississippi River over to the Alabama-Florida border along the coast. 

A tropical storm watch is also in place from Florida’s Ochlockonee River to southeast Louisiana’s Jefferson and Plaquemines parish line. 

The terrible torrent is expected to cause storm surges of up to four feet along the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi – and forecasters even warned of possible tornadoes in the Sunshine State’s Big Bend.

In a firm vow of retribution, President Donald Trump has pledged to avenge the lives of American soldiers lost in the intensifying conflict with Iran. As U.S. missile strikes entered their tenth straight night, the President’s resolve to seek payback continues to take center stage.

The protracted Middle Eastern clash has, thus far, claimed the lives of 17 U.S. military personnel, including First Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, and Private Isabella Gonzales, 19. Both soldiers met their untimely deaths during an assault on an American air base in Jordan this past Friday.

Another tragic loss occurred in northern Iraq on Saturday, with the death of a third American soldier during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone that failed to explode as intended. The Pentagon has yet to make the soldier’s identity public.

Meanwhile, Central Command is engaged in the painstaking process of identifying remains discovered near the heavily damaged Jordan base, speculating they may belong to a fourth service member previously listed as missing.

These mounting casualties have incited President Trump’s ire, further fanning the flames of his uncompromising stance on delivering justice for those fallen in service.

‘Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over!’ he posted to his Truth Social page Monday evening. 

He added that the directive ‘has been passed on to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every Leader in the Military.’

Soon after, US Central Command announced it was conducting another wave of airstrikes on Iranian military assets in an effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil supply traverses.

It said on social media that the latest strikes ‘are designed to further degrade Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial shipping’ in the strait.

Iranian state media later reported that explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas, Chabahar and Konarak on the country’s southern coast, while air defense systems were activated near the Bushehr nuclear power plant. 

The country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard later said ti targeted a ‘US HIMARS system’ stationed at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait with ground-to-ground missiles.

In a statement, the army said the attack was part of the 18th phase of its Thunder operation, and was launched in response to the US strikes on Iran.

The US and Iran have been volleying missiles at each other for more than a week, after the US accused Iran of violating a Memorandum of Understanding to end the war by attacking oil tankers passing through the Persian Gulf.

American forces are now seeking to cripple Tehran’s ability to strike commercial shipping tanks while the US Navy reimposed a blockade on all of the Iranian regime’s ports and seized several of its ships.

‘The US is planning for a wider war,’ said one American official familiar to the Washington Post, noting that the Pentagon was boosting the number of aircraft in the region.

The official cautioned that the expanded operation would be limited because US stocks of air-defense and long-range weapons are running low, and battle damage was restricting how many extra troops and warplanes can be funneled into the region. 

Previous strikes overnight on Sunday had also targeted Iranian command centers, air defenses, naval assets, coastal surveillance posts and missile, drone and communications sites. 

At least one person was killed around Tabiz, a northwestern city about 325 miles from Tehran that is believed to host underground missile bases run by the Islamic Regime’s Revolutionary Guard. 

But Iran had also launched explosive-laden suicide drones at critical infrastructure in Kuwait on Monday morning, the Kuwaiti military said. 

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center also announced Monday evening that a second ship had been attacked on Sunday in the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

The vessel caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by a projectile near the coastline of Oman. The crew abandoned the vessel, which was adrift and still ablaze hours later, the UKMTO said.

The route around Oman has been the one the US military has encouraged ships to travel to avoid Iran’s control. The Guard later claimed it was targeting tankers in the strait. 

Tensions may now escalate even further as Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened on Monday to prevent Saudi Arabia from shipping in the Red Sea, an alternate route for oil exports during the war. 

The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, said they would block shipping between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in response to an attack on Sanaa International Airport last week that they blamed on Saudi Arabia.

With the Strait of Hormuz blocked up, Saudi Arabia has been relying on a pipeline to the Red Sea to get millions of barrels of oil out to market.

But the ongoing strikes have already pushed oil prices higher across the world.

Benchmark Brent crude traded Monday above $88 a barrel and regular gasoline in the US climbed to an average of $4 a gallon, keeping pressure on Americans’ wallets ahead of midterm elections this fall.

Yet there was a glimmer of hope as Pakistan intensifies its diplomatic efforts to resuscitate the interim ceasefire reached last month, which called for resolving remaining issued ties to the war within 60 days.

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Islamabad on Monday for two days of talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and others. Momeni’s counterpart, Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, expressed optimism.

‘God willing, we will have good news,’ Naqvi said.

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also told reporters that the country is still open to negotiating with Iran but that ‘it has to be real.’

‘If the door opens to diplomacy – if the guys that want to do something productive for Iran win and take control of that system, or take control of the negotiations – that´ll be a very positive development,’ Rubio said. 

‘That´s not where we are tonight, unfortunately.’

A 21-year-old has been charged following a shooting incident in Tucson’s bustling downtown nightlife area that left nine people injured. The incident occurred early Sunday before police subdued the suspect.

Identified as David Leroy French, the suspect faces multiple charges including nine counts of aggravated assault using a deadly weapon, nine counts of inflicting serious physical injury through aggravated assault, and a single count of firing at a structure, according to a statement from the Tucson Police Department.

While currently hospitalized, French was formally charged in absentia. Upon his recovery, he will be transferred to the Pima County Adult Detention Complex, as per police reports.

Authorities have indicated that more charges could be brought against French as the investigation continues.

The shooting erupted around 2 a.m. in the 100 block of East Congress Street, a busy area lined with bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

An interim complaint said the gunfire followed a verbal altercation. Investigators identified French as the shooter after reviewing surveillance footage, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

Officers patrolling nearby heard the shots and rushed to the scene on foot, police said.

Police said officers saw the suspect running from the area and repeatedly ordered him to stop. 

After he allegedly ignored their commands, a uniformed officer fired his weapon and struck him.

The suspect was taken into custody and given first aid before being transported to a hospital in life-threatening condition.

Nine other people were shot and taken to local hospitals.

Police said most were wounded in the arms or legs. No deaths were reported, and no officers were injured.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department told News Media that it is not releasing French’s mugshot at this time, citing a ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

A self-proclaimed fitness influencer faces charges after a booze-fueled crash on Long Island. The incident, which unfolded with her two young children in tow, marks not her first bout with drinking and driving, according to revelations from prosecutors made on Monday.

Jesher Rivera-Barreto, 31, appeared in Suffolk County court donning a wheelchair as she confronted new DUI allegations stemming from a chaotic Saturday night incident on Montauk Highway. This reckless crash resulted in minor injuries for her and her children, stirring memories of a prior 2020 DWI conviction that has come back to haunt her.

Prosecutors accuse Rivera-Barreto of putting not only her own life at risk but also the lives of her young ones.

“Your honor, we’d also like to note that the vehicle had overturned,” stated Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Katelynn Flynn in court, addressing Judge John Zollo. “The three occupants of the vehicle, including the defendant and the two children, needed to be extricated from the wreckage, so we are requesting that order of protection, please.”

Flynn further emphasized, “Additionally, they are keeping her medicated.”

Police said Rivera-Barreto, who fancies herself a fitness influencer with just over 2,000 Facebook followers online, posted photos of herself sipping on an espresso martini earlier on Saturday.

Around 11:30 p.m., she allegedly got behind the wheel with her 1-year-old son, who celebrated his birthday last month, and his 4-year-old brother — then lost control and smashed into a wooded area in Brookhaven — leaving all three with minor injuries.

Both children were later released from NYU Langone Hospital to their father.

Rivera-Barreto was charged under Leandra’s Law for allegedly driving drunk with children in the car, drunken driving and two counts of child endangerment.

She was cut loose on supervised release after her arraignment Monday — and later burst into tears outside the courtroom when her mother came over to hug her.

Prosecutors said she was convicted of DWI in 2020 but did not release further details.

In a strong rebuttal to criticism from a viewer, NBC News host Vicky Nguyen addressed being labeled ‘insufferable’ and ‘incredibly patronizing’ after a heated exchange with Carson Daly aired.

Nguyen, 47, graced screens on Friday’s Today show installment of the popular Best Ways segment, where she regularly contributes insightful life hacks and expert tips for everyday challenges.

During the lively segment, Nguyen and co-hosts Daly, Al Roker, Laura Jarrett, and Craig Melvin delved into the art of barbecuing, a timely topic for summer enthusiasts. Daly eagerly shared several of his prized grilling pointers with the audience.

However, the atmosphere momentarily tightened when Nguyen interjected with a sarcastic remark to Daly: ‘Thank you for mansplaining that, Carson.’

Taking the jab in good humor, Daly retorted, ‘I am just passionate about the grill,’ defusing the situation with his quick wit.

The rest of the hosts laughed while Nguyen playfully nudged the Today star, before Roker chimed in: ‘You come for the grill advice and stay for the boom.’

While the moment passed quickly, it seemed to rub one viewer the wrong way.

Nguyen revealed via Instagram on Monday that she had received an email from an outraged fan who claimed she owed Daly ‘an apology’ for the comment.

She shared a screenshot of the angry message, which read: ‘You owe Mr Daly an apology for your “mansplaining” comment. 

‘It’s actually quite ironic that you’d say that considering your pieces are incredibly patronizing.’

‘Your work treats viewers as if we’re idiots every time you’re on the screen,’ the viewer went on.

‘I wish one of your cohosts would say to you, “Thanks for the elite-splaining that to the unwashed masses” and give YOU  a phone hug.’

They then urged her to ‘get off her high horse,’ before concluding: ‘I know this is only being read by an assistant who will never pass it on, but at least I hope it gives you a smile if you find your boss as insufferable as the average viewer does.’

Nguyen captioned the screenshot with: ‘It’s hard out here for a consumer reporter.’ 

Daly made it clear there was no hard feelings as he jokingly commented: ‘I see you got my letter! Love ya, Vicky,’ to which she replied: ‘Phew, I’m glad we’re good.’

Nguyen joined NBC News in April 2019 as the Investigative and Consumer correspondent and she often appears on the Today show, NBC News Now and MSNBC.

She has become known for her Emmy-winning reporting and chic on-air looks.

Back in 2024, she went viral after she made an accidental fashion faux pas after forgetting an important component of her outfit during an appearance on the Today show.

At the time, Nguyen, who was dressed in a chic purple suit, revealed she had forgotten her shoes at home and was forced to wear UGG slippers live on air.

Colleague Peter Alexander couldn’t resist the urge to call out Nguyen for her choice of shoes, which he described as ‘Christmas slippers.’

‘Would you kick up your heels?’ he asked as the cameras panned to her neon UGGs.

‘Oh no no,’ the mother-of-three responded with a laugh as he brought attention to her wardrobe mishap. 

In response to his teasing, she explained: ‘Look, this is a day after Christmas… It was kind of like a mom brain moment when I thought I had the shoes but didn’t have the shoes.’ 

‘Listen, they’re very comfortable, I will say,’ she mused.