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Projected Western Conference Finish for Lakers and Warriors

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Projected Western Conference Finish for Lakers and Warriors

California’s two flagship NBA franchises took sharply different paths during the offseason.

The Lakers reshaped their supporting cast around Luka Dončić, bringing in Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ziaire Williams, Jaden Hardy and Cameron Carr.

Golden State, by contrast, made few meaningful changes and largely returned the same group.

Still, the two rivals shared one notable offseason disappointment.

Neither landed LeBron James, who departed the Lakers following eight seasons and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.

After winning their first title in a decade in 2020, the Lakers are aiming to return to the NBA’s summit. Their hopes now rest heavily on Dončić, acquired in a blockbuster trade in February 2025.

The Warriors, meanwhile, are attempting to extend the relevance of their modern dynasty. Having captured four championships in an eight-year span from 2015 through 2022, Golden State is focused on giving Steph Curry meaningful games as his career enters its later stages and the NBA grows younger, quicker and increasingly difficult to keep up with.

With the Western Conference as deep as ever, where do the Lakers and Warriors stand heading into next season?

Here are our predictions:

The Lakers have Luka Doncic as their centerpiece now. Corey Sipkin / NY Post

Lakers: No. 3

The Thunder and Spurs sit clearly ahead of the Lakers.

Those teams have no obvious weaknesses. They have youth. They have superstars. They have depth. They have incredible defense. And they’ve proven they have the chemistry and mental fortitude to go deep in the playoffs. 

After revamping their team to get younger and deeper, the Lakers are on their way to being able to compete with the creme de la creme of the West, but they’re not there yet. 

They need an elite perimeter defender. They need time to jell. They’re a few tweaks away from being considered real contenders. 

Could the Lakers finish higher than Nikola Jokic and his Nuggets? Yes. The Nuggets had a disappointing offseason following a first-round playoff exit in April, including losing Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown. 

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As for the Timberwolves? They could give the Lakers fits behind perennial All-Star Anthony Edwards and four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. The Timberwolves added LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga to their roster and could be a fringe contender. 

The Rockets are also a team to watch. Sure, the Lakers jumped to a 3-0 series lead over them last postseason without Doncic and Austin Reaves, but both teams are going to look completely different in October. Kevin Durant is expected to be healthy, and Fred VanVleet is returning from injury. As for the Lakers, they’re only returning two starters from last season in Doncic and Reaves.

If the Lakers finish third in the West over the Timberwolves and Rockets that would be an incredible showing for Doncic, who’s eager to prove he can be the Lakers’ next superstar. He wants to win his first championship. He wants to prove his detractors wrong. And now he’s backed by a 17-time championship organization that views anything short of a title as a failure. 

Here’s to betting Doncic is able to carry the Lakers to a third-place finish in the highly competitive West. 

Steph Curry in a white Golden State Warriors jersey gives a thumbs up.

Steph Curry and his Warriors teammates might surprise but won’t dominate the Western Conference. Getty Images

Warriors: No. 8

We held our breath when the Warriors were pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo. Bust. 

We were on the edge of our seat when they were pursuing James in an attempt to pair him with the team he faced in four straight NBA Finals from 2015-2018. Slump. 

The league is more fun when the Warriors are good. Curry is the greatest shooter ever. Draymond Green is a fiery defender who’s endlessly exciting to watch. Warriors coach Steve Kerr is brilliant. 

But alas, all of the Warriors’ attempts to become contenders flatlined. 

So, as of now, the Warriors are a fringe playoff team. It’s a shame for Curry, who’s turning 39 next season and is still one of the NBA’s top players. Last season, he became the oldest point guard in NBA history to be named a starter on the All-Star team. 

The Warriors are expected to try to work some magic ahead of the trade deadline to breathe some life into Curry’s 18th season.

But until then, with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody set to miss the start of the season due to injuries, the Warriors aren’t expected to make much noise. 

That said, if Curry, Green and Kristaps Porzingis are healthy, this team can’t be counted out. Remember what they did in their first play-in game against the Clippers, when Curry went unconscious finishing with 35 points (27 of which he scored in the second half), Green bottled up Kawhi Leonard (holding him to just two points in the fourth quarter) and Porzingis had 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. 

If you add Butler and Moody to that mix, the Warriors could be tough.

But as of now, too many questions surround their health and durability and too many teams with fresh legs are looking to sprint past them, including the Thunder, Spurs, Lakers, Timberwolves, Rockets, Nuggets and Mavericks.

Police Find Possible Human Ashes and Photos of 7 Missing Women

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Police Find Possible Human Ashes and Photos of 7 Missing Women

Philadelphia police said they uncovered images of seven missing women while reviewing more than 1 million files seized from a home. Two of the women appear to be unconscious and injured, and investigators also found five urns believed to hold human ashes, authorities said Wednesday.

An initial review of the images identified two missing women — 27-year-old Gabrielle Armando and 26-year-old Marabel Fresses — lying unconscious inside the Chew Avenue residence with what appeared to be injuries, Philadelphia Police Department Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said during a news conference.

Image metadata indicates the photographs were taken in 2017. “Both women remain missing and have not been seen,” Vanore said, adding that “to date, neither their bodies nor any DNA evidence have been recovered.”

The Chew Avenue home belonged to the late pornographer Raymond “R.C.” Horsch and was occupied by his son, Eugene Horsch, whose arrest in June prompted the investigation.

RC Horsch 1999 mugshot

R.C. Horsch in a 1999 mugshot. (S. E. Stokowski/Wikimedia Creative Commons)

Vanore said a Federal Park Ranger arrested 44-year-old Eugene Horsch on June 19 after investigating him and a female passenger who were sitting in a BMW near Philadelphia’s Independence Mall.

“During the course of that investigation, officers recovered two firearms, narcotics, and identification impersonating a federal law enforcement officer, and he was charged. Task force officers from the DEA were able to develop probable cause that same day and serve a warrant on Mr. Horsch’s residence,” Vanore said.

The woman riding with Horsch gave police false identification in the name of Blair Tonzelli, who has been missing since 2023, a Philadelphia Police Department spokesperson confirmed to News Media.

A photo of Blair Tonzelli, who went missing in February 2023.

A photo of Blair Tonzelli, who disappeared in February 2023. (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS))

Police have not released the actual identity of the woman found in the vehicle. Tonzelli’s whereabouts remain unknown.

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After obtaining a warrant, investigators found “a homemade laboratory of some kind in the basement area, five urns believed to contain human ashes, and a large amount of digital evidence — including computers, hard drives, flash drives, DVRs, cameras, and phones,” Vanore said during the press conference.

Investigators have identified 58 total people in the videos and images they found in the home. Vanore said “four of those identified appear lifeless, with video depicting what may have happened to one of them.”

Eugene Horsch's mugshot.

Eugene Horsch’s mugshot. (FOX 29 Philadelphia)

One video shows R.C. Horsch handcuffing a woman to a bed and zip-tying her neck until she became unconscious. Police identified this woman as Nicole Fusaro, according to FOX 29 Philadelphia.

Another missing woman connected to the home is R.C. Horsch’s ex-wife, Amy McHale, who has been missing since 2016, FOX 29 reported.

Two other missing women have been connected to the home. Police identified one as a 25-year-old woman but did not name her, and the other has yet to be identified, according to FOX 29.

Image of Marabel Fresses, who went missing in 2018

Image of Marabel Fresses, who went missing in 2018. (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS))

“We have only processed a small fraction of the total media. Thousands of videos remain to be analyzed. We are working to corroborate what we see and gather physical evidence to prove our findings, supported throughout by the FBI as we determine our next steps,” Vanore concluded Wednesday.

Alan Carr’s £3m Castle Renovation Plans Threatened by Roosting Bats

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Alan Carr’s £3m Castle Renovation Plans Threatened by Roosting Bats

Alan Carr’s proposal to turn part of his newly acquired Scottish castle into a community café and estate shop may face an unexpected obstacle: bats.

The Celebrity Traitors champion has been carrying out renovations at Ayton Castle after purchasing the extensive Scottish Borders estate for £3.25million earlier this year.

However, plans to repurpose a former potting shed and other ancillary structures on the historic grounds could be delayed amid concerns that the buildings may contain bat roosts.

Council planning officers have requested a detailed ecological assessment before the application can move forward.

Malcolm Ginns, ecology officer for Scottish Borders Council, said: ‘There is potential for the potting shed to host roosting bats and a daytime bat assessment should be undertaken.

‘This may require follow-up bat activity surveys, which would need to take place between May and September and cannot begin later than August.’

Carr’s scheme would restore a group of derelict traditional estate buildings, creating a café and shop intended for the local community while safeguarding the site’s original historic features through repair and conservation work.

Located near the English-Scottish border, Ayton Castle includes 17 bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a five-storey Great Tower, turrets, a private chapel and 106 acres of listed gardens.

Alan Carr’s plans to renovate Ayton Castle in the Scottish Borders could face delays because of concerns that bats may be roosting in the historic buildings

Alan Carr’s renovation plans for Ayton Castle in the Scottish Borders could be held up by concerns over bats roosting in its historic buildings.

Scottish Borders Council ecology officer has requested a full bat assessment before the planning application can proceed

A Scottish Borders Council ecology officer has called for a comprehensive bat survey before the planning application can advance.

Carr has previously revealed that he intends to relocate permanently to the estate, with his renovation being filmed for a Disney+ documentary.

In response to the bat concerns, Carr’s representatives said a full ecological survey was already under way and that a report would be submitted once it had been completed.

They said: ‘Full awareness of the existing building’s historical significance is addressed and maintained and the adaptive use proposal sits well within the guidance issued by HES, allowing a long–term sustainable purpose for these estate buildings.

‘The proposal halts the further decay of these buildings and promotes a well–suited option for adaptive reuse.’

They added: ‘It is recognised that the building location presents potential for habitation by a potential variety of species.

‘To address this, an ecological study has been commissioned to determine the presence of any species within or adjacent to the buildings.

‘Tweed Ecology are currently undertaking a three–stage survey and their full report will be submitted shortly after the last stage survey has been concluded.’

No public comments have so far been submitted as part of the application.

Carr’s representatives have also acknowledged that some work was previously carried out by the former owners without consent, potentially requiring retrospective applications.

They said no recent applications had been submitted for work to the main castle, but some previous repair work had not been carried out or reinstated in the appropriate manner.

They said: ‘Some essential repairs have been undertaken which in some cases may not have seen full reinstatement by the previous owners.

‘Whilst this has no direct bearing on the potting shed application, the new owner and applicant is aware of these instances and is keen to work with SBC to ensure all permissions are retrospectively in place and work undertaken to fully reinstate significant features.’

The potting shed is currently described as being in a ‘general state of disrepair with severe dilapidation’, with missing doors and windows leaving parts of the building exposed to the elements.

A design and access statement from Lorn Macneal Architects Ltd, acting for Carr, said the plans form part of a wider effort to improve the estate and its visitor experience.

It states: ‘As part of a wider desire to enhance and improve the visitor experience to the estate and in tandem with a wish to properly manage and maintain the full range of estate properties, the applicant seeks to convert the potting sheds into a community cafe and estate shop.’

Carr bought the castle for £3.25 million and wants to convert its derelict former potting sheds into a community café and estate shop, Pictured is the Potting shed at the castle

Carr bought the castle for £3.25 million and wants to convert its derelict former potting sheds into a community café and estate shop, Pictured is the Potting shed at the castle

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Pictures are plans to develop the potting shed and ancillary buildings into a community cafe and estate shop at Carr's Ayton Castle

Pictures are plans to develop the potting shed and ancillary buildings into a community cafe and estate shop at Carr’s Ayton Castle

The potting sheds comprise four separate single-storey buildings, approximately 4m wide and 40m long, running north-east to south-west along the northern edge of a former walled garden.

The buildings are B-listed and are currently partially derelict and partially roofed, but are described as being in an overall dilapidated state.

The architects said the café would occupy the eastern end of the buildings, with the shop next door.

They added: ‘Ideally the cafe serves as a stopping point for dog walkers and estate ramblers but it is recognised that with no such facilities within the village of Ayton itself, there will ideally be a draw for local people to walk and cycle onto the estate to enjoy the nature and visit the cafe.

‘It is also anticipated that when the railway is operational, the cafe and shop will form a natural addition to this attraction, creating a small destination for narrow gauge railway enthusiasts.’

As part of his ongoing regeneration of the estate, Carr recently held an auction of around 400 unwanted items from the castle, offering buyers ‘the chance to acquire items from one of the Borders’ most distinctive country houses.’

Ayton Castle has a long and turbulent history as the site was originally associated with a medieval fortified tower, or peel, linked to the powerful Home family.

Its position close to the English border made it strategically important and, in the late 15th century, it was regarded as one of the strongest places between Berwick and Edinburgh.

In 1497, the castle was captured by the English, while the nearby village of Ayton gave its name to the Treaty of Ayton, signed that same year.

The medieval stronghold was later replaced by a more classical country house, which was destroyed by fire in 1834.

The estate was subsequently bought by William Mitchell-Innes, a banker connected with the Bank of Scotland, who commissioned the present castle.

The building seen today was constructed between 1845 and 1851 by architect James Gillespie Graham, with later additions by David Bryce and James Maitland Wardrop.

Carr’s purchase also sparked controversy after he initially said he would become a baron and have his own tartan.

His comments on a podcast prompted a backlash from some locals, who accused him of ‘cultural appropriation’ and called him an ‘invader’.

Carr later clarified that he had turned down the opportunity to buy the title.

A Disney+ spokesperson confirmed that the option to purchase the Baron title came with the castle but said Carr had opted not to take it.

The spokesperson also said the estate’s gates would remain open to dog walkers and ramblers.

They said at the time: ‘Alan Carr is very much looking forward to making Ayton his home and getting to know the local community.

‘The gates will remain open for the dog walkers and ramblers to continue enjoying the estate grounds.

‘Alan hopes to host a few events at the castle to help cover the running costs, showcasing Ayton’s stunning backdrop and the surrounding area, with as little disruption as possible.’

Carr previously said on the podcast: ‘It is my home, I have bought it, and I’m selling up and moving up there. I’m 50, I want a change.

‘I’ve got the survey now, and I’m waiting for the keys to come. It’s a lovely community, really small, and I want it to be magical.

‘I’ll be a baron, and I get my own tartan.’

British Millionaire Businessman Killed in Swiss Alps Plane Crash

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British Millionaire Businessman Killed in Swiss Alps Plane Crash

British businessman Owain Davies has died after a light aircraft crashed in the Swiss Alps, killing all three people on board.

Mr Davies, 55, was travelling in a propeller-driven Cirrus SR22T when it crashed close to the mountain resort of Leukerbad in Valais, southern Switzerland, on Tuesday. Two other people were killed, including another British national.

The father of two was remembered by his company, Amcanu, as an “unstoppable force” and a cherished friend.

Davies had led the Burry Port, South Wales-based engineering business since 2000, taking charge 25 years after it was established by his father, Spencer Davies OBE.

In a moving tribute, the company said: “He was a familiar face on the factory floor, an unstoppable force, a mentor and, for many people who have spent a significant part of their working lives at Amcanu, a very good friend.

“Above everything else, he was a husband, father and grandfather.”

Amcanu said Davies was “a real character” — determined, strong-willed and spirited, while also reflective and immensely proud.

Engineering boss Owain Davies died when the Cirrus SR22T plane he was travelling in crashed  in the Swiss Alps

Engineering company boss Owain Davies was among three people killed when the Cirrus SR22T aircraft crashed in the Swiss Alps.

The father-of-two was described by his heartbroken firm Amcanu as an 'unstoppable force' and a 'very good friend'

Amcanu paid tribute to the father of two, describing him as an “unstoppable force” and a “very good friend”.

Three people, including two Britons, died on Tuesday after a propeller-powered aircraft crashed in the Alps in southwest Switzerland

Three people, including two British nationals, died when the propeller aircraft came down in the Alps of southwest Switzerland on Tuesday.

It continued: ‘There was another side of Owain that not everybody knew about. He loved flying.

‘Owain was an experienced pilot and aviation was a genuine passion – technically, socially and simply for the freedom and enjoyment it gave him.

‘He had a large circle of friends within the aviation community and would fly his helicopter whenever the opportunity arose.

‘He didn’t make a great show of it. In fact, many people who knew him professionally may never have known how important aviation was to him.

‘At the time of the accident, Owain was travelling as a passenger, alongside two of his closest friends.

‘The circumstances of his death are devastating, but flying was something that brought Owain enormous happiness throughout his life.

‘Owain was admired. He was respected. He was sometimes formidable. He was enormously caring.

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‘He was a husband, a dad, a grandad, a son, a mentor, a leader and a friend… And he will be missed more than we can possibly express.’

Amcanu added that Mr Davies was ‘a proud Welshman and Welsh speaker’ and had been a trustee of Wales Air Ambulance Charity since 2017.

The charity’s chair of trustees, Dr Kyle Jacques, said he had made a ‘significant contribution to the Wales Air Ambulance and the vital service we provide’.

‘Owain was a valued colleague and friend, whose loyalty and generosity of spirit meant so much to us. He will be greatly missed,’ he added.

Mr Davies previously worked  as a helmsman with Burry Port Lifeboat for nearly 25 years, the firm said. 

Officials say the plane took off from Sion airport in the Rhône Valley and crashed into a mountain slope around ten minutes later.

Firefighters, police and rescue teams in helicopters attended the scene but the cause of the crash is unknown.

A probe is underway by the Swiss Transportation Safety Board and Valais Police and the Office of the Attorney General are also investigating.

The Foreign Office has said it is ‘providing support to the families of two British nationals who died in Switzerland’.

‘Our thoughts remain with the families during this difficult time,’ it added.

Mr Davies’s son, Aron, said the family had ‘suffered an unimaginable loss’, describing his father as ‘driven, determined and someone who simply didn’t accept that a problem was too big to solve’.

Formal identification of the other victims is under way. 

An image of the crash site shared by local police showed the wreckage of the plane on a mountainside.

In a statement, the force said: ‘Shortly after 4pm, for reasons yet to be determined, the aircraft collided with the northern slope of a mountain in the Fluhalp area of ​​Leukerbad. 

‘Signs of smoke were subsequently reported in the region.’

This is a breaking news story. More to follow. 

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Dolly Parton Video Debunks False Claims of Her Death

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Dolly Parton Video Debunks False Claims of Her Death

Dolly Parton made a posthumous appearance at the Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville on Wednesday, where a video recorded before her death showed the beloved performer thanking fans.

Parton died of cancer on August 25. It is not known when she recorded the acceptance message that was played during the ceremony.

“Hey, it’s Dolly, and I am so honored to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association,” she says at the start of the video.

“Roots music, or what is now called Americana music, is what I grew up playing back in the Smoky Mountains.”

In the pre-recorded clip, the country music legend wore a shirt embellished in gold and styled her hair in a voluminous wavy updo.

Dolly Parton made an appearance at the Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville on Wednesday, thanking fans in a video recorded before her death

Dolly Parton made an appearance at the Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville on Wednesday, thanking fans in a video recorded before her death

Dolly Parton appeared in a video at Wednesday’s Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville, thanking supporters in a message recorded before her death

Sporting a pink manicure and seated before a fresh arrangement of hydrangeas, Parton delivered her remarks with her trademark warmth.

“It’s that same music that drew me back to East Tennessee back in 1997 to write and record my album Hungry Again,” the singer explains.

“And that project really opened the door to a series of bluegrass and acoustic albums that changed the course of my career in so many ways.”

Parton discovered her love of music early in life, regularly singing on local radio and appearing on East Tennessee television as a child. She released her first single, Puppy Love, when she was 13.

The Queen of Country enjoyed an illustrious music career that spanned an incredible six decades and was best known for hits Jolene and 9 to 5.

‘New fans discovered these albums, new Americana music communities embraced them and now looking back at it all I see this era of my career as a musical renaissance of sorts,’ Parton continues in the video.

‘I want to thank everyone at the AMA for recognizing me with this award. It’s a great honor, truly, and just know that I will always love you.’

Her singer-songwriter friend Emmylou Harris delivered the opening remarks, calling Parton ‘one of our all-time greatest songwriters.’

‘But she shined just as brightly on stage,’ Harris, 79, said of the 9 To 5 star. ‘She lit up the TV screen and then she, she lit up the movie screen.’

Harris added that Parton’s ‘stunningly beautiful, pure mountain voice could make us cry and then crack us up with a well-aimed, sometimes body joke.

‘There was nothing Dolly couldn’t do, and so she did it.’

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Brandi Carlile and I’m With Her performed Coat of Many Colors after the audience watched the surprise video.

Her singer-songwriter friend Emmylou Harris delivered the opening remarks, calling Parton ¿one of our all-time greatest songwriters¿

Her singer-songwriter friend Emmylou Harris delivered the opening remarks, calling Parton ‘one of our all-time greatest songwriters’

Singers Linda Ronstadt, from left, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris pose in New York on Feb. 11, 1999

Singers Linda Ronstadt, from left, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris pose in New York on Feb. 11, 1999

Parton’s death shocked the world and came after months of health woes that saw her pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling fan fears for her wellbeing.

Those close to the singer said she had both become increasingly reclusive and secretive about her own ill health in recent months.

Her death was announced in a video recorded by her nephew Bryan Seaver and later posted to social media. It’s something the singer asked him years ago.

Her passing took place after being admitted to Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.

Parton’s representatives soon revealed she died following a ‘brief battle with cancer’ in a statement to People.

‘Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,’ the statement read.

‘After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.’

Her representatives also highlighted the extraordinary reach of Parton’s ‘unmatched generosity,’ noting she touched the lives of countless people she would never meet and was always ready to ‘offer a helping hand.’

‘Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact.’

Despite her cancer battle, Parton remained optimistic and leaned on her deep Christian faith for strength in the last few months.

‘From the time that Dolly Parton was born, she was surrounded by faith, by God, by Jesus. Her grandfather was a preacher. Even in her Broadway show, she shows how much faith means to her,’ a source told People.

‘And so it’s natural for people of faith to believe that God is in control. It doesn’t matter what doctors may say, people may say. It’s not over until God says it’s over. I think she lived every day working and as long as God hadn’t called her home, she was here and she had more work to do.’

Trump Calls Canada-EU Alliance ‘Laughable,’ Threatens Heavy Tariffs in Video

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Trump Calls Canada-EU Alliance ‘Laughable,’ Threatens Heavy Tariffs in Video

President Trump dismissed the Canada-European Union alliance as “laughable” and warned that he could impose steep tariffs, escalating his criticism of the trade relationship in the video.


Missing Hiker Found Dead in Olympic National Park After Key Clue Leads Searchers to Body

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Missing Hiker Found Dead in Olympic National Park After Key Clue Leads Searchers to Body

The body of a 26-year-old hiker reported missing in Washington’s Olympic National Park has been recovered, nearly two weeks after he began a planned backcountry trek, officials said. A key development in the search helped crews locate him.

National Park Service officials said searchers found Neil Gehring on the northwest slope of Mount Appleton after obtaining and analyzing additional cellphone location data.

Search-and-rescue personnel recovered Gehring’s body Sunday evening. He was transported to the Clallam County Coroner’s Office at about 8 p.m. on Sept. 13.

Neil Gehring smiling in a photo

Neil Gehring, 26, left the Madison Falls Trailhead in Olympic National Park on Aug. 31 for an overnight trip and was expected back Sept. 1. After he did not return, he was reported overdue on Sept. 2. Search teams recovered his body on Sept. 13. (National Park Service)

Authorities did not disclose further information about the cellphone data or the circumstances surrounding Gehring’s death.

Gehring began his trip from the Madison Falls Trailhead on Aug. 31, planning to spend one night in Olympic National Park’s backcountry.

His permit indicated he intended to travel cross-country from Boulder Lake to Appleton Pass, then return to the trailhead by Sept. 1.

When Gehring did not return as planned, he was reported overdue at 6:30 a.m. the following morning, launching an immediate search operation.

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Neil Gehring smiling in a photo

Search crews found Gehring after receiving and reviewing additional cellphone location data. The National Park Service did not immediately release details about that data or identify a cause of death. (National Park Service)

Over the next 10 days, search teams combed his anticipated route by air and on the ground, deploying drones and dogs in the effort to find the missing Olympic National Park hiker.

By Sept. 11, the park announced it was changing tactics after the searches failed to locate Gehring. Teams would instead focus on finding new clues that could help narrow the search.

Investigators also asked anyone who had been in the area or had information about Gehring’s whereabouts to come forward.

Two days later, searchers found Gehring after receiving and analyzing the additional cellphone location data.

A view of Oyster Lake below Mt. Appleton

Gehring’s body was recovered from the northwest slope of Mount Appleton on Sept. 13, officials said. (NPS Pablo McLoud)

Olympic National Park thanked the search-and-rescue teams that volunteered to help with the effort.

NPS said no additional information was available at this time.

Florida Man Smiles While Seeking Death Penalty in Teen Dismemberment Murder

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Florida Man Smiles While Seeking Death Penalty in Teen Dismemberment Murder

A Florida man smiled in court while explaining why he wants to receive the death penalty for his role in the killing of a teenage girl.

“I would prefer the death penalty,” Steven Gress said as he addressed a Pinellas County judge with a grin. “Life or death is a lose-lose. If I went to trial, I believed that I would be convicted. I wouldn’t want to waste the court’s time…this is what I want to do.”

Gress, 37, entered guilty pleas to charges connected to the kidnapping and murder of 16-year-old Miranda Corsette, while maintaining that he did not personally cause her death.

“I did not kill Miranda,” Gress said, according to CourtTV. “But I was involved in certain things that led to her death.”

The case dates back to Feb. 15, 2025, when Corsette went to Gress’ home in St. Petersburg after the two connected on the dating app Grindr.

Gress told detectives that he believed Corsette had taken his ring and then subjected her to a 24-hour interrogation, according to a sworn witness affidavit obtained by Oxygen. He said that after she did not return the ring and mocked him, he contacted his roommate, Michelle Brandes, for assistance.

Investigators said Gress and Brandes kept Corsette captive for several days, during which she was repeatedly beaten and tortured, according to the affidavit.

After Corsette died, Gress and Brandes each blamed the other for her death.

“This was never supposed to happen,” Gress told police, according to the affidavit. Although he admitted sexually assaulting and beating Corsette, he claimed he made regular CVS trips to get her medication, including sore throat spray after Brandes allegedly “choked her out.”

Gress said Brandes put a billiard ball inside a sock, forced it down Corsette’s throat and then covered her face with plastic wrap. He told investigators he instructed Brandes not to cover Corsette’s nose, but said she did so anyway. Corsette died before he could make holes in the plastic, he claimed.

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Gress said he then placed Corsette’s body in the trunk of his car and he, Brandes and a friend drove to a home in Largo, where Gress said he used a chainsaw to cut off Corsette’s head and extremities. Brandes, he claimed, placed the body parts in white trash bags.  

The friend later told police that the trio bought fried chicken at Popeyes and played putt-putt golf in Clearwater before driving to Ruskin, where Corsette’s remains were placed in a dumpster.  

Corsette was reported missing on Feb. 24, but Gress wasn’t arrested until March 5 on separate charges. While in custody, he was charged with kidnapping and murder.  

Brandes, who turned herself in on March 8, had a different story.

She told police in the affidavit that “she was a victim and had no choice but to do whatever Gress told her to do” for fear of being beaten herself. Brandes alleged that Gress wrapped the plastic around Corsette’s face while forcing Brandes to hold her down. Brandes admitted to bagging Corsette’s remains after Gress dismembered the body, the affidavit noted.  

Brandes was charged with first-degree murder. She has pleaded not guilty, court records show.  

According to the friend, Brandes said she later found Gress’ ring in the car but was too afraid to return it. As the affidavit noted, “The friend felt Brandes had the ring all along.”  

Police later identified the dumpster, but Corsette’s remains have not been located. 

Gress will next appear in court Nov. 4, court records show. Oxygen could not verify Brandes’ next court date. Attorneys for Gress and Brandes did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Oxygen. 

Rare Bats Discovery Deals Fresh Blow to Piddington Migrant Camp

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Rare Bats Discovery Deals Fresh Blow to Piddington Migrant Camp

Plans to open a migrant camp near the Oxfordshire village of Piddington have suffered a further setback after one of the world’s rarest bat species was found at the site.

Wildlife experts have detected barbastelle bats, a scarce species believed to have declined in numbers across Europe.

The discovery could cause major delays—or potentially derail—proposals to accommodate up to 1,256 asylum seekers at the Ministry of Defence’s Bicester site.

Barbastelles are listed as endangered and are so uncommon that Norfolk County Council scrapped a proposed £274million road scheme in 2025 after a colony was discovered.

The Home Office must now commission specialist surveys to determine the scale and nature of any colony on the site.

Should the bats be confirmed, the department will need to seek a licence from Natural England before building work can continue.

The bats represent the latest wildlife-related obstacle for the Home Office, after another protected species, great crested newts, was also found at the location.

The findings follow an overwhelming vote by Piddington residents this week to declare independence from Britain.

Piddington Parish Council announced the result on Wednesday morning, after residents of the quiet Oxfordshire village went to the polls earlier in the week to decide whether the settlement should secede from the UK.

Barbastelle bats, a rare species of bats whose numbers are thought to have declined across Europe, have been detected by wildlife experts at MoD Bicester

Wildlife experts have detected barbastelle bats, a rare species believed to have declined across Europe, at MoD Bicester.

The findings come after Piddington's residents voted overwhelmingly to declare their independence from Britain in a vote this week

The findings come after Piddington’s residents voted overwhelmingly to declare their independence from Britain in a vote this week

Of 312 votes there was a 92 per cent turnout, with 285 villagers backing independence with only 26 voting against it and one spoiled ballot paper.

The vote has no legal force and will not take Piddington out of the UK, but campaigners hope the gesture will send a message to Westminster over the proposed asylum accommodation at the former MoD site at Bicester.

An ecological report for the campaign group Wrong Plan, Wrong Site, which started legal proceedings on Wednesday to block the asylum plan, seen by The Daily Telegraph, said: ‘The presence of barbastelles has the specific legal weight required to entirely halt, delay or force the withdrawal of a major planning application.’

It added that the discovery could force the developer to halt any planned demolition work until ‘full multi-season dusk and dawn emergency surveys are performed specifically for this species’.

Pedro Collins, an ecologist who was a biodiversity officer with the Environment Agency for more than 20 years, claimed he was 100 per cent certain it was barbastelle bats which had been detected.

He said: ‘The presence of a barbastelle elevates the site’s importance from a standard local level to national and European importance. Barbastelles are one of the rarest mammals in the UK.’

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The Home Office has sought permission for the temporary use of the former Bicester Garrison, including accommodation, health and welfare facilities, roads, security infrastructure and recreational areas for up to 1,256 people. 

Parish council chairman Tim McNally said yesterday it was an ‘incredible day’. He said: ‘Yesterday was the anniversary of the Battle of Britain and for us it was the Battle for Britain. We’d been identified as Ground Zero for a whole number of issues.’

The Oxfordshire village of Piddington celebrates voting in favour of independence today. Tim McNally is pictured left

The Oxfordshire village of Piddington celebrates voting in favour of independence today

Mr McNally spoke in front of a pennant reading ‘Battle for Britain 2026’ outside the village hall, alongside another marking the date of the Battle of Britain – September 15, 1940.

Addressing politicians including Prime Minister Andy Burnham, he added: ‘This is an example of democracy in action. This is an example of a mandate of behaviour.

‘I didn’t realise what I was opening up and getting involved in. I just thought we were going to be opposing a plan. A plan that would have an impact on our village, that could turn our village upside down in a way not quite envisaged before.’

He described residents as ‘underdogs’ with a ‘plucky idea’, but said: ‘We have given an absolute message, not just to the region, not just to the country but to the world.’

Mr Burnham said that he understands the public’s ‘strength of feeling’ about migration following the vote.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said that the Government would not reconsider the migrant housing proposal and the burden of hosting asylum accommodation should not just fall on ‘poorer communities’.

She told Sky News: ‘What I would just gently say to the people of Piddington is: we inherited a massive asylum backlog. We are getting that backlog down.

‘We’re speeding up the processing of claims, and in the meantime, we don’t think it’s acceptable for all of the burden of shouldering not just asylum accommodation, but also many other forms of temporary accommodation, to fall on poorer communities.

‘That’s what we saw under the previous government. Because accommodation is cheap in many, not just towns, but in particular postcode areas, people who live in more deprived communities have had to put up with almost … every other house in some instances… turned into HMOs, and that is not OK.’

A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘Appropriate surveys have been carried out, taking into account the seasonal behaviour of different animal species. 

It has already been concluded the proposal is unlikely to have a significant impact on the environment.’

READ MORE: FRED KELLY: The ‘Principality of Piddington’ is far more than a PR stunt. Make no mistake, Middle England is on the march – and soon its furious cries will become too loud to ignore 

Grand Teton Euthanizes Bear After Visitors’ Dangerous Decisions

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Grand Teton Euthanizes Bear After Visitors’ Dangerous Decisions

A black bear was euthanized at Grand Teton National Park last week after park officials said the animal’s behavior had been shaped by visitors’ “poor decisions” around food.

“We need to be clear—this bear was lethally removed because of poor decisions made by park visitors,” the park said. “It is everyone’s responsibility to help keep bears wild: Never leave food unattended, even for a moment.”

Park staff killed the bear on Friday, Sept. 11, after witnessing what officials called a “concerning pattern of behavior” involving both the animal and park visitors. The situation worsened over several days, the park said.

The black bear had repeatedly approached people near Delta Lake, a remote area of the Wyoming park. As rangers increased their monitoring, they found the bear was “unusually difficult to haze away,” an indication that it may have been conditioned to expect food from humans.

The National Park Service says preventing bears from connecting people and human spaces with food is critical. Once a bear begins associating campgrounds, picnic areas or other heavily visited places with something to eat, reversing that behavior can be difficult. The animal may then become increasingly aggressive in pursuing food, creating a serious danger for visitors.

At Grand Teton, managers concluded that the bear’s “repeated food rewards,” combined with its growing willingness to approach visitors, matched the signs of food-conditioned behavior. Officials said the bear posed an “unacceptable safety risk” to anyone who encountered it. Staff euthanized the animal near Delta Lake, and its carcass was removed from the backcountry the next morning.

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The park urged visitors who spot an approaching bear to immediately secure and pack away all food items.

“A bear that gets a food reward can learn that approaching people pays off,” the park said. “What may seem like a small decision in the moment can have serious consequences for the bear, other visitors and park staff. Help us keep bears wild by making the right choice every time.”

Grand Teton staff had known about the bear since earlier in the year, after receiving multiple reports of a black bear approaching visitors at Delta Lake. At that point, however, officials said they did not have enough information to determine whether the encounters reflected food conditioning or were isolated incidents. Following the euthanization, the park also addressed why wildlife managers did not relocate the bear.

“Translocation is an important tool, but it isn’t always a safe or effective option,” the park said. “In this case, after considering the bear’s behavior and the circumstances, wildlife managers determined that other options had been exhausted and the bear posed a clear risk to human safety. Lethal removal is always a last resort.”

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