Ku Klux Klan flyer found in Indiana promotes alleged gathering in Kentucky

CNN Newsource on August 3, 2026

By Jennifer Osting

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    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — A flyer found in Indiana claims the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is planning a gathering in Kentucky’s Daniel Boone National Forest next weekend, but federal officials say no one has requested permission to hold such an event.

Kristina Muhlenkamp, who lives in Portland, Indiana, shared a photo of the flyer on social media after reportedly finding it in front of her home.

The flyer advertises an event hosted by the Trinity White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (TWK) and says the group plans to hold a gathering in eastern Kentucky at Daniel Boone National Forest.

TWK is a white supremacist organization that promotes racist and extremist beliefs.

The group is one of several modern-day factions using the KKK name.

Although the KKK’s membership and influence have declined significantly from its peak in the early 20th century, there are still various Klan factions that continue to pass out “recruitment materials” and organize gatherings across the country.

The flyer for the alleged event states “Native, White Protestants” are welcome and that there will be a “cross lighting at dark.”

The wording on the flyer matches an announcement published by TWK, which says the event is a celebration in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.

After reviewing the flyer, WLKY reached out to the U.S. Forest Service for more information.

In a statement, officials said they became aware of the event flyers in early July.

However, the agency said no one has contacted the Forest Service to request a permit or permission to hold that type of event on National Forest System lands.

Officials noted that because the Daniel Boone National Forest includes a mix of federally managed land and privately owned property, it is possible an event could be planned on private property located within the forest without taking place on federal land.

The Forest Service said special use permits are required for noncommercial events involving more than 75 people on land within the National Forest System. Events with fewer than 75 participants generally do not require a permit.

The Forest Service also said its Law Enforcement and Investigations personnel are investigating reports of the planned event to ensure all rules and regulations are followed.

According to the agency, similar flyers circulated on social media in the spring of 2025.

No permit or permission was requested at that time either, and officials said they were unable to confirm whether that event ever took place.

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Jupiter Rescue boat operator helps save all occupants of Seaplane crash near Bahamas

CNN Newsource on August 3, 2026

By Rachel Williams, Malcolm ShieldsEmail

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    BIMINI (WPBF) — A rescue boat operator in Jupiter ensured all 10 aboard a seaplane that crashed near a resort in North Bimini, Bahamas, were safely evacuated.

A 2014 fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft was nearly overturned when officers arrived at the scene around 10 a.m. Saturday.

Nick Pavlakis, general manager of Marine Max in Jupiter and a rescue boat operator, witnessed the crash and quickly took action to help the eight passengers and two crew members on board.

“Right as I tied up from getting fuel, we heard some panicking people waving, and then we saw the seaplane drifting, so I thought, ‘Okay, the plane lost power, the plane is drifting,’ and I grabbed the four closest guys I had to me, a couple of locals, a couple of people in our group,” Pavlakis told WPBF.

Pavlakis and his team worked swiftly to evacuate everyone from the plane. He said a captain on a dinghy also assisted.

“At that point we said, ‘Okay, luggage comes off, all the passengers are safe, copilots come off, pilot is getting everything off of the plane,’ and he was filling up in the pontoons, and then it starts filling up in the cabin. He got off of the plane just as it started to roll, and it eventually rolled, sat on the bottom where it still is today,” Pavlakis said.

All passengers and crew members were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Pavlakis noted that the rescue operation was completed in a matter of minutes.

“We got everybody on the boat from leaving the dock and having people on board, minus the pilot and copilot … it must have been five minutes, ten minutes tops. But between getting the boat situated, getting all the luggage off felt like a few hours, but I think it was probably 20 or 30 minutes,” he said.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the pilot attempted to change direction when the aircraft suddenly pivoted left. Despite efforts to correct its course, the plane failed to respond and collided with a dock.

“They crashed into a seawall, which is where the pontoon on the bottom of the seaplane started taking on water and their engine stalled,” Pavlakis said. “The plane was not on fire. I thought it was on fire for a minute, and that’s when I was a little bit worried, but it was just the saltwater going on the exhaust.”

Pavlakis expressed relief that everyone was unharmed.

“It felt great, but I didn’t even think about it. I had the right people with me, it was the right place, right time, and any day out on the water, anything that we can do to make it safe… we’re going to do that,” he said.

The red 2014 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Seaplane was operated by Tropic Ocean Airways, out of Fort Lauderdale. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the plane is owned by FloatSix Leasing, LLC based in Lubbock, Texas.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force said the seaplane said all occupants were from the United States, on board.

An initial report by the Police Force indicates that while attempting to depart, the aircraft encountered heavy vessel traffic in its intended path.

As a precaution, the pilot diverted northward in search of a safer route for take-off.

However, while taxiing on the water, the aircraft reportedly began pulling to the left. Despite efforts to correct the seaplane’s course, the aircraft failed to respond and collided with a dock. After impact, nearby boaters immediately rendered assistance, helping the 10 occupants safely exit the seaplane, which later sank in 100 feet of water.

The Police Force said an investigation into the incident is ongoing and government agencies were notified of the incident.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Woman says cameras caught Rover sitter neglecting dogs, stealing belongings

CNN Newsource on August 3, 2026

By Natacha Casal

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    ENGLEWOOD, Florida (WBBH) — An Englewood woman is warning pet owners after she says her dogs were neglected and her belongings stolen by a sitter she hired through the Rover app during her trip abroad in early July.

Natalie Jones said her heart broke after witnessing her dogs, Harry and Buddy, being mistreated.

“Just, you know, it was breaking my heart. You know, they would come in and the big dogs, very friendly, goes to welcome you. And they would be screaming at him, kicking him, using their arms to get him away from. And I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ I was like, ‘Why? Why would you do that?'” Jones said.

Jones decided to use the Rover app, which connects pet owners with sitters and walkers in their area, for the first time. She selected Sara Bettencourt, who had 39 recent reviews and appeared qualified as a vet tech and owner of a dog grooming and nail trimming business.

“This lady in particular had 39 recent reviews. So I felt pretty good and she came for a meet-and-greet. She was a vet tech, and she owns her own business that, you know, is dog grooming and nail trimming and stuff. So I thought, well, this sounds pretty good,” Jones said.

However, upon returning from her vacation, Jones reviewed footage from her home cameras and discovered troubling behavior.

During the time Bettencourt cared for the dogs, Jones said they were neglected. According to an arrest report, Bettencourt and another person were seen on video carrying trash bags filled with Jones’ belongings and loading them into a car before leaving the home.

“And then, you see them just going through the cabinets, the refrigerator. You hear him talking about doing coke constantly. You see him sniffing, washing, flushing their nose out in the sink, and I was just like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is like a nightmare.’ So as soon as we walked in the door, first thing I wanted to make sure the dogs were OK,” Jones said.

Jones said her dogs have not been the same since the incident.

Bettencourt was arrested by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office for grand theft and has since been released.

Jones is now warning other pet owners to take precautions when leaving their pets in someone else’s care.

“My best advice to someone is get a picture of their ID and get a camera. If they won’t agree to those two things, they’re not the sitter for you, because anyone who loves dogs who isn’t doing anything wrong isn’t going to have any problem with that,” Jones said.

Rover has been contacted to determine whether Bettencourt is still listed as a sitter on the app. They shared a statement saying:

“The safety of our community is a top priority and we take allegations of theft, illicit drug use, and animal mistreatment extremely seriously.

Upon learning of this incident, our 24/7 Trust & Safety team launched a thorough investigation. The account of the sitter involved has been deactivated without the option to appeal, meaning they cannot communicate or book new stays with pet parents via Rover. We have also refunded Ms. Jones’s stay and offered to cover the costs of a house cleaning.

All sitters joining Rover must pass an enhanced background check through an industry leading third-party, which scans federal, state, and county databases for criminal behavior like theft. Any sitter who violates our policies or community standards will face swift action up to permanent removal from the platform. Rover stands ready to assist law enforcement in their investigation should they reach out.”

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Bystanders, firefighters rescue driver seconds before train hits truck

CNN Newsource on August 3, 2026

By AJ Sisson

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    RICHLAND, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — Two firefighters and a bystander rescued a driver from a construction truck moments before it was struck by a freight train in Lebanon County, according to the Neptune Fire Company.

The incident happened shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday in Richland Borough.

The fire company said the construction truck collided with another vehicle, struck a railroad gate and protective barrier, and then rolled onto the tracks, where it stopped.

It happened as the railroad gates began lowering as a train approached.

Just 16 seconds before the train arrived, firefighters Kevin Kepley and Daulton Faust, along with bystander Rory Righter, immediately rushed to help and pulled the driver from the truck, according to the company.

“Due to the actions of our firemen and the bystander who all just happened to be at the right place at the right time, the single occupant of the vehicle escaped uninjured,” the Neptune Fire Department wrote in a social media post. “We are certain that if these people did not step in to render aid, the outcome would have been much worse.”

Authorities said the driver is okay.

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Racehorses get water workouts to protect joints, beat the heat at farm

CNN Newsource on August 3, 2026

By Jennifer Franciotti

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    REISTERSTOWN, Maryland (WBAL) — A private farm in Reisterstown has a unique approach to exercise steeplechase race horses.

Two horses took a gallop Friday morning on the turf, on their way to see some friends for an unexpected form of exercise. But no saddle was necessary because the horses went for a swim in the farm’s pond.

“We currently have five horses here that are regularly swimming, maybe not every day, but at least two or three times a week, and it offsets having to gallop every day,” said trainer Cyrill Murphy.

Murphy told WBAL-TV 11 News that McTigue and Gold Charm are fresh from two big wins: McTigue at Saratoga and Gold Charm at Colonial Downs. Part of their recipe to help them win those races is their unconventional swimming routine.

“I don’t know if it’s the secret recipe, but it certainly helps us, and the horses enjoy it,” Murphy told WBAL-TV 11 News.

Murphy said the pond exercise also becomes a mechanism to combat the drought, which can cause the ground to get too hard and negatively impact the horses’ joints.

“It’s good for his cardio, gets his airway working, good for all his muscles without putting any stress on any bones or joints,” Murphy told WBAL-TV 11 News. “We do not have an artificial track. We literally train on the natural turf every day of the week.”

Murphy said the water exercises also help with the cooling process.

“You cannot make a horse fit, get a horse fit purely by swimming them, but you can help maintain their fitness once they reach a certain level,” Murphy told WBAL-TV 11 News.

He told WBAL-TV 11 News the results speak for themselves.

“It’s a big advantage to us. Is it an overall advantage compared to everyone else? I don’t know, but our results say it’s working for us at the moment,” Murphy told WBAL-TV 11 News.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Remains of WWII soldier from Minnesota found more than 80 years after he went missing

CNN Newsource on August 3, 2026

By John Lauritsen

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    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — More than eight decades after a Minnesota soldier went missing during World War II, his remains have been found.

In May 1944, Harlan Melinsky went missing in Italy after he and his fellow soldiers came under attack from Germans.

During an interview five years ago, one of his nieces talked about the attack.

“They went out on patrol, and he was the first man out. When they all came back, he never came back,” said Mary Holm, niece.

Still, his Howard Lake, Minnesota, family never lost hope. In 2021, a farmer in Itri, Italy, found Melinsky’s dog tags on his property.

“Disbelief, I mean after all that time,” said Verla Olson, niece.

Olson said the discovery gave her family renewed optimism that her uncle’s remains would finally be recovered. She and one of her sisters even made a trip to Italy to see what they could find.

“Just seeing where that dog tag had been found was just kind of overwhelming,” said Olson.

But there were still no answers. Then, this summer, Olson got a phone call from her brother.

“The first thing he said was, ‘Are you sitting down?’ I always think there’s bad news,” said Olson.

It turned out to be good news. Thanks to help from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, her uncle’s body had been found and genetic testing confirmed his identity.

“Just that it’s positive now, it’s pretty amazing to us,” said Olson.

The next step now is to bring Melinsky home. That should happen soon, and when it does, they are hoping he’ll be buried at the family’s cemetery plot in Howard Lake.

“He has a marker there, and the marker is by his parents and then his brother, Grant,” said Olson.

When Melinsky is finally put to rest, Olson believes her family will have the closure they’ve been waiting for, for more than 80 years.

“Just hope. There’s always, always hope,” said Olson.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Houston Theater Week 2026 Raises the Curtain on BOGO Deals—Use Promo Code HTW26

CNN Newsource on August 3, 2026

By Francis Page Jr.

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    August 3, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston, get ready to trade streaming from the sofa for applause from a real audience. Houston Theater Week Presented by Huntington Bank returns August 24–30, 2026, with its crowd-pleasing Buy One, Get One Free ticket offer—and the special promotional code HTW26 is the key that opens the curtain.

Now celebrating its fifth year, Houston Theater Week has grown from a post-pandemic effort to welcome audiences back into performance venues into one of the city’s most successful cultural traditions. Since launching in 2022, the promotion has sold more than 118,000 tickets and generated nearly $5 million for local performing arts organizations. That is not merely a good run; it is a Houston-sized standing ovation for artists, musicians, dancers, actors, stagehands, designers and the nonprofit institutions that keep the Bayou City’s creative heartbeat strong.

The 2026 edition offers deals connected to nearly 400 live performances from 21 participating organizations. Houston First Corporation says the initiative is the only program of its kind in the nation to combine theater, music and dance within such an extensive lineup of BOGO offers. In practical terms, that means date night can cost less, family outings can stretch further and first-time patrons can sample something adventurous without asking their wallets to perform a tragedy.

The choices are as diverse as Houston itself. Audiences can explore classics such as Alley Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet, Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance from 4th Wall Theatre Company and The Ensemble Theatre’s A Raisin in the Sun. Music lovers can consider Houston Symphony’s Handel’s Messiah, Houston Grand Opera’s Faust, DACAMERA’s Stewart Goodyear piano program or Mozart and Haydn from Mercury Chamber Orchestra.

Dance and family audiences are also invited into the spotlight. Houston Ballet is offering Pecos Bill, Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre presents The Nutcracker, and Main Street Theater brings the beloved If You Give a Mouse a Cookie to life. Theatre Under The Stars adds Disney’s The Little Mermaid, while Performing Arts Houston highlights Harrison Guy’s Dear Prairie View—a title with special resonance for generations connected to Prairie View A&M University and Texas history.

Houston Theater Week’s growth proves that access matters. When tickets become more affordable, the arts become less like an exclusive invitation and more like a citywide conversation. A discounted seat can become a child’s first ballet, a senior couple’s long-overdue night out, a student’s introduction to Shakespeare or a family’s new holiday tradition.

It can also support nearby restaurants, parking operations, hospitality workers and downtown businesses before and after the performance. Every curtain call represents a larger creative ecosystem working behind the scenes.

Houston First President and CEO Michael Heckman described the program as a win for the public, the performing arts community and the city. Houston Theater District Board Chair Meg Booth emphasized that the heart of Theater Week is giving people an affordable opportunity to try something new. After nearly $5 million in ticket sales, the history is clear: Houstonians will show up when the arts reach out.

Tickets go on sale Monday, August 24, 2026, beginning at 12:00 a.m. The BOGO promotion continues through Sunday, August 30. Use promotional code HTW26 when purchasing eligible tickets, and carefully review each organization’s performance dates, seating levels, availability and restrictions. Offers are limited, may vary by production and generally cannot be combined with other discounts.

Explore the complete and evolving lineup through the official Houston Theater Week website. Choose your show, invite someone special and let Houston remind you why nothing—not even the best screen—can replace the electricity of live performance. photo

Special Offer Promotional Code: HTW26

A complete list of this year’s shows is available at HoustonTheaterWeek.com.

Tickets can be purchased starting August 24.

The special offer promo code for Houston Theater Week is HTW26.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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Mother says she’s grateful to be alive after spider bite

CNN Newsource on August 3, 2026

By Hannah Moore

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    WICHITA, Kansas (KAKE) — A Goddard mother is fighting for her life after a spider bite at Cheney Lake turned into a life-changing medical emergency.

On May 28, Britagne Miller said she and her family were at the lake enjoying a campfire when multiple spiders crawled all over her, leaving bites all over her body. After four days, Miller said a painful bruise appeared near a bite on her calf that led her to the hospital.

“This one kept swelling and swelling, and it was like, you know, a fire stir that’s metal,” Miller said. “It was like shooting down my leg into my foot, and it felt like it was being stabbed.”

Prior to the spider bite, Miller said when she was pregnant with her daughter, she was diagnosed with two blood clotting disorders. Over the years, she developed a compromised liver and allergies to food and medications. With these diagnoses, Miller said the idea of surgery was scary and was not a part of her plan.

“I’m terrified of surgery, that I’m going to go to sleep and not wake up, or that I’m going to bleed out,” Miller said. “They came at 9 o’clock in the morning, and they’re like, we need you to sign this paper. We’re going into surgery.”

During this surgery, Miller said doctors removed almost 300 milliliters of blood clots and put in a drain to heal the wound. After five days in recovery, Miller said her wound became infected with a staph and gram-negative S-type infection. Further adding, the doctors believed she was in end-stage liver failure, with only days to a month left to live.

“They couldn’t keep my levels above even critical,” Miller said. “They gave me three days up to a month to live, so that was scary. “

Miller said she only remembers glimpses while in the medical and cardio intensive care unit, after denying hospice. After weeks of recovery, on July 11, Miller said she was able to leave the hospital and enroll in at-home care, with only family on her mind.

“I was like, I give up,” Miller said. “I’m done being cut open. I’m done being poked and prodded. I’m done hurting. Then I thought about all of them.”

Miller said she beat the odds, surviving multiple surgeries and infections for a month, with a long journey ahead to qualify for a liver transplant.

“The plan is to get a liver transplant once they can get my hemoglobin levels up,” Miller said.

While in the hospital, Miller said there was no definitive way to confirm what spider bit her, but the area on her leg suggests it was a brown recluse spider. Dr. Raymond Cloyd, a horticultural entomologist at Kansas State, said there are numerous types of spiders in Kansas, but the two venomous ones are the black widow and brown recluse spider.

“The two venomous ones that we have in Kansas are the black widow spider, and the more numerous one is the brown recluse spider, which prevails throughout most of the Midwest to mid-central Kansas,” Cloyd said. “Those are the two poisonous ones we have overall in Kansas.”

Cloyd said the number one exclusion is a good way people can prevent any spiders or spiders’ prey like millipedes, centipedes, sow bugs, or crickets from entering a home by sealing cracks and crevices.

“If you have boxes that have been sitting there cold, you want to wear gloves,” Cloyd said. “Shake shoes or even wash them before you end up wearing them because those are areas where brown recluse and black widow are more likely to reside.”

Since Miller’s hospitalization, she said her husband lost his job due to his inability to work normal hours to take care of her and her children. The Miller family has started a GoFundMe for Miller’s hospital and ongoing medical expenses, home health care, and everyday necessities.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Dog missing for 2 years reunited with family 5 states away

CNN Newsource on August 3, 2026

By WDJT Staff

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    SAUKVILLE, Wis. (WDJT) — A dog missing for two years was reunited with her Pennsylvania family on Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Wisconsin Humane Society’s Ozaukee Campus.

Charlie Sue, a 6-year-old boxer, was found by a good Samaritan about a mile north of Harrington Beach on Saturday, July 25.

WHS says she was then taken to Cedar Grove Veterinary Services where Dr. Diane Dommer found a microchip, then brought to the humane society when the owner couldn’t be reached right away.

Staff eventually connected with Carry Ann of Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, whose dog had gone missing two years earlier. She and her family made a 12-hour, 600-mile drive through five states to pick up Charlie Sue, who reportedly leapt into their laps when brought out to meet them.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Horse rescued, airlifted during 100-mile Tevis Cup endurance ride

CNN Newsource on August 3, 2026

By Jeremiah Martinez

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    BUTTE COUNTY (KCRA) — A horse was rescued and airlifted after it became stranded during the Tevis Cup 100-mile endurance ride, according to officials.

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office HEART team said a horse and a rider became separate early in race. The rider was quickly found and uninjured, but the horse was nowhere to be found.

For over two hours, crews search through steep terrain while tracking the horse’s GPS beacon. The rugged landscape prevented crews from finding the horse, officials said.

As temperatures continued to rise and concerns about the horse’s hydration, a request for a helicopter was made.

The Butte County Sheriff’s Office said its helicopter unit responded to a request for a large animal rescue.

Within three minutes, the air crew was able to find the horse still standing. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office said the horse was stranded in the Granite Chief Wilderness, which is at an elevation of 7,200 feet and is in terrain that is not accessible by foot or vehicle.

After evaluating the terrain and elevation, officials developed a plan, establishing two sites to safely rescue the horse, Nevada County officials said.

A helicopter took a UC Davis Equine medical strike team to access the horse’s condition, administer fluids, provide sedation and prepare the animal for an airlift.

The helicopter returned to take the receiving to the secondary site, where they stood ready. The animal was then secured on the harness and was safely delivered without incident.

For over two hours, crews search through steep terrain while tracking the horse’s GPS beacon. The rugged landscape prevented crews from finding the horse, officials said.

As temperatures continued to rise and concerns about the horse’s hydration, a request for a helicopter was made.

The Butte County Sheriff’s Office said its helicopter unit responded to a request for a large animal rescue.

Within three minutes, the air crew was able to find the horse still standing. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office said the horse was stranded in the Granite Chief Wilderness, which is at an elevation of 7,200 feet and is in terrain that is not accessible by foot or vehicle.

After evaluating the terrain and elevation, officials developed a plan, establishing two sites to safely rescue the horse, Nevada County officials said.

A helicopter took a UC Davis Equine medical strike team to access the horse’s condition, administer fluids, provide sedation and prepare the animal for an airlift.

The helicopter returned to take the receiving to the secondary site, where they stood ready. The animal was then secured on the harness and was safely delivered without incident.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.