Joey Chestnut wins Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest 2026, Miki Sudo is women’s champion

CNN Newsource on July 4, 2026

By Alexa Herrera

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    New York (WCBS, WLNY) — Joey Chestnut defended his title and relished a victory as the winner of the 2026 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Chestnut dominated the competition, eating a whopping 66 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes to win the coveted Mustard Belt.

He captured his 18th win this year. Chestnut reclaimed the Mustard Belt in 2025 after being absent from the competition in 2024. He ate 70.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in 2025.

He holds the all-time record of 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, which he set in 2021.

“Eating here on the Fourth of July is a dream; it’s electric. There’s no place better on earth,” he said.

Patrick Bertoletti from Chicago took the No. 2 spot with 51 dogs.

The American tradition was held at the Nathan’s Famous flagship restaurant at Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island, Brooklyn. A huge crowd showed up despite the sweltering heat. They were heard chanting Chestnut’s name when he hit 50 dogs.

The participants brought their appetites to compete for the $10,000 cash prize and belt.

Miki Sudo wins women’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Miki Sudo won the pink belt for the 12th time. She ate 38 3/4 hot dogs and buns. Her record is 51.

In 2025, she ate 33 hot dogs and buns to win the Nathan’s contest.

“I’m just glad I could celebrate America 250 in this way,” she said.

Michelle Lesco, the 2021 winner, came in second place, eating 22 hot dogs and buns.

Who else competed? Other than the reigning champions, a host of international competitors and other Americans participated.

They were certified at the weigh-in Friday at Hudson Yards in New York City.

Men

Joey Chestnut from Indianapolis, Indiana Patrick Bertoletti from Chicago, Illinois James Webb from Sydney, Australia Nick Wehry from Tampa, Florida Max Stanford from London, England Gideon Oji from Stockbridge, Georgia Derek Hendrickson from Las Vegas, Nevada Radim Dvoracek from Ostrava, Czech Republic George Chiger from Pocono Pines, Pennsylvania Cameron Meade from Valparaiso, Indiana Tanner Gray from Fort Mill, South Carolina Jerome Burns from Danbury, Connecticut Crazy Legs Conti from New York, New York Ynho Choi from Seoul, South Korea

Women

Miki Sudo from Tampa, Florida Domenica Dee from Seattle, Washington Tandra Childress from San Francisco, California Katie Prettyman from Marysville, Washington Rene Rovtar from Basking Ridge, New Jersey Cherish Brown from Eden, Ohio Camille O’Brien from Jeffersonville, New York Semora Kludy from Charlotte, Michigan Lainey Eaton from San Diego, California Michelle Lesco from Tucson, Arizona

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.

Georgia lifeguard called a hero after saving young boy from drowning at waterpark

CNN Newsource on July 4, 2026

By Rashad Williams

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    Georgia (WUPA) — A lifeguard in Bartow County is being hailed as a hero after quick thinking helped save a child’s life.

Splashville Water Park has quickly become a major attraction in north Georgia, drawing in thousands of people daily from all over the state. Since the park opened at Hamilton Crossing in May, lifeguards have had to stay vigilant to ensure visitors are safe.

On June 13, less than a month since the park opened, head lifeguard Benjamin Key said he was walking a radio to a colleague when he noticed something out of the ordinary. Key said he wasn’t on post that day, but his eight years of training kicked in after a child under 5 wandered from the splash zone for kids over to the main pool.

“I was walking by and scanning as I go, just to scan and look and see if anybody needs help or anybody needs anything. I just happened to look over and see the little boy right there underwater,” Key recalled. “He was probably about an inch or two just under the surface of the water. He was so little he couldn’t touch the bottom or anything. I could see his arms moving a little bit, but he was not able to come up for air on his own.”

Key said instead of jumping in, he knew to slide in to avoid splashing or creating any other abrupt movements that would’ve impacted the child and the people around in the pool.

“I slid in, grabbed him up, put him right on the side of the water,” Key said. As soon as he came out of the water, his face was just purple and blue. He wasn’t moving. He wasn’t breathing. He wasn’t making any sounds.”

Key was ultimately able to save the child’s life. After pulling the child out of the water and positioning the child properly, Key said that’s when the child started to cough up water and cry; a sign of life again.

Drownings are usually silent and quick, according to Ivy Whitmore, a swim instructor and co-owner of Surf’s Up ISR in Dallas.

“Kids are very quick around the water, and they gravitate to the water very quickly,” Whitmore said. “The leading cause of death of children 1 to 4 is drownings, so it’s a very common thing, and most people don’t know that until it happens close to home.”

Whitmore recommends parents or guardians keep their kids within an arm’s length and respect the water as well. She said it’s important for kids who may fall into water to roll over and attempt to float on their back. She also said kids should never wear floaties around their arms. Instead, they should have on a life jacket.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 29 drowning deaths have happened in the state of Georgia in 2026 so far.

CBS News Atlanta was told that the child was with his grandmother, who was not aware that the child wandered off, but we’re told the child is doing ok.

Key and another lifeguard were recently honored by Bartow County for their acts of heroism.

He said he’s thankful he was in the right place at the right time to help save a life.

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Solo female rower completes historic trek from California to Hawaii

CNN Newsource on July 4, 2026

By Jeremiah Estrada

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    HONOLULU (KITV) — One woman has completed her goal to become the first American woman and the youngest woman to row from California to Hawaii solo on Friday night.

Kelsey Pfendler docked in the Ala Wai Harbor on Friday night, July 3, 2026, after her more than 2,400-mile trek from Monterey, California to Oahu, Hawaii.

To complete her journey, she rowed a total of 43 days, 17 hours and 55 minutes across the Pacific.

After docking in the Ala Wai, Pfendler was greeted on land with cheers from the excited crowd and several flower leis.

See more of her journey on her Instagram @yourowkelsey and on her online journey tracker.

The current world record, 86 days, 10 hours and 5 minutes, is held by Lia Ditton. Before Pfendler, only two women have ever completed a solo row to Hawaii.

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Many California drivers to retake written DMV test after receiving letter that stated “irregularities”

CNN Newsource on July 4, 2026

By Steve Large

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    California (KMAX, KOVR) — Thousands of California licensed drivers who already passed their tests are receiving letters from the DMV stating their licenses are about to be cancelled.

The DMV confirms 11,000 drivers have received the letter, saying the written test results from these drivers showed “irregularities.”

Recipients of the letter are warned that they must retake the written test within 30 days or they will lose their license.

Sacramento’s David Specht received the DMV warning letter, stating his “written driver’s license test results indicate non-compliance with the driver testing criteria required by state law.”

“I know I didn’t cheat,” Specht said. “And I presume many of the other 11,000 residents of California who received the letter also didn’t cheat.”

The DMV confirmed 11,000 people who took written driver’s license tests between July 2025 and April 2026 have been identified as needing to retake the tests within 30 days, or have their licenses canceled.

“Ensuring the integrity of our testing process is essential,” the DMV said in a statement. “Knowledge tests play a critical role in confirming that drivers understand the rules of the road before they are licensed to drive in California.”

Specht called the DMV to ask what the irregularities on his test were.

“And they said a lot of people received it, we don’t really have an answer for you,” Specht said. “They didn’t accuse me of cheating directly.”

“But you’re inferring that they’re saying you cheated?” CBS Sacramento reporter Steve Large asked.

“I would imagine so, I mean, my other thought is that something is wrong with their system on the back end. Maybe they botched some data and now they can’t tell who passed, who failed,” he said.

Now thousands are forced to retake their written tests or lose their license to drive.

The 11,000 licensed drivers will have to make an appointment to retake their written tests within 30 days. The paperwork also said no walk-ins, there must be an appointment and they must show up with the letter.

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Residents used rat poison to deter dogs from peeing on their property, AG suit says

CNN Newsource on July 4, 2026

By WCCO Staff, Frankie McLister

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    Minnesota (WCCO) — The Minnesota attorney general said he is suing two Mankato residents after they allegedly put rat poison outside their home in an effort to stop dogs from urinating on their lawn.

According to the lawsuit, at least one dog ingested the rat poison blocks while on a walk and the owner had to induce vomiting.

Amber Massaglia, whose Husky Tikka ingested the poison said her dog had to undergo lab testing and will be on vitamins twice a day for the next 30 days. The ordeal cost her over $1,000, she said.

“He didn’t just poison my dog, he poisoned this neighborhood a little bit because I lived here as a kid, it’s always been a magical place and now I don’t know if I can walk in my neighborhood,” said Massaglia

Pictures included in the lawsuit show bait blocks next to the sidewalk and a large sign stating “no dog piss” on a fence outside the home. Another sign underneath a camera indicated that anyone walking by was being livestreamed.

It points to a website that people can access to “see yourself and your dog invading private property,” but it appears that someone is using the domain to advocate against the homeowner.

The lawsuit states that a Department of Agriculture investigator tried to speak to the residents, but they refused to talk to him. The inspector however noticed blocks of rodenticide on the inside of the fence in the front yard.

The two residents are charged with failing to use rat poison in a manner consistent with Environmental Protection Agency regulations. The attorney general’s office says the EPA prohibits the use of bait blocks outside and above ground, unless they’re placed in a container that can’t be opened by pets or children.

The lawsuit also asks the court to impose a civil penalty of $7,500 for each day of the alleged violation.

The court granted a temporary restraining order on Thursday requiring the residents to remove the rat poison and ordering them to allow a Department of Agriculture investigator to inspect the property.

Stephanie Scharbach, who lives across the street and owns a dog, said the couple “don’t like dogs, so I’m worried they’re now going to throw rat poison over here.”

A neighbor who didn’t want to go on camera told WCCO the couple who lives in the home are “nice enough” and was surprised they’d do something like this.

According to the online pet supply store Chewy, if you suspect your dog ingested poison, “call a pet poison hotline or go to an emergency vet rather than ‘waiting to see.'”

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Georgia teacher disciplined over Charlie Kirk posts and school district reach settlement in federal lawsuit

CNN Newsource on July 4, 2026

By Dan Raby

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    Georgia (WUPA) — A former Georgia Teacher of the Year finalist has reached a settlement with her school district after she claimed she was punished for making social media comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

English teacher Michelle Mickens had sued the Oglethorpe County School District in 2025, claiming she was placed on leave and asked to either resign or be terminated because she discussed Kirk’s political positions on her private Facebook page.

On Friday, the Southern Poverty Law Center and it co-counsel announced that Mickens and the school district have reached a settlement.

Teacher claims Charlie Kirk post led to punishment

According to the complaint, Mickens posted a direct quote from Kirk hours after his assassination on her private account, which she claims was only viewable by close friends.

“I think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.- Charlie Kirk,” the post read.

The next day, Mickens says she was called to the office, where she was informed the school has received a complaint from someone over the post. She later learned from a friend that a former classmate had taken a screenshot of her post and shared it publicly on X, calling on readers to contact the principal at her school.

When she later spoke to the principal and the school superintendent, Mickens says they suggested she delete the post and issue an apology, but she told them that she wanted to consult her attorney before responding. The next school week, she was asked to remain home and found out her access to school emails had been removed.

Mickens had worked in Georgia high schools for 24 years and had been a finalist for the 2022 Georgia Teacher of the Year. The complaint says that she had never received a formal complaint about her professional conduct before this incident.

When reached for comment at the time of the lawsuit’s filing, a spokesperson for the school district said that some of the facts in the case were “inaccurate or incomplete” but chose not to give specifics due to the pending litigation.

A confidential settlement is reached

In her lawsuit, Mickens had asked the court to restore her job and remove any reference to policy violations. The settlement that was reached remains confidential, and it is not clear whether Mickens will return to work at her former school.

“We are pleased to reach a mutually amicable settlement of this matter,” said Sam Boyd, the SPLC’s senior supervising attorney. “As courts across the country have recognized in other cases involving firings over comments about Charlie Kirk, and many other topics, ‘public school employees, including teachers, have a constitutionally protected right to free speech.'”

After the settlement was agreed upon, a motion to dismiss the case was sent to the court on Wednesday.

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Arkansas man says puppy scam costs $16K

CNN Newsource on July 4, 2026

By Gabrielle Parish

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    SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (KTBS) — What started as a $600 dream of bringing home a new puppy turned into a $16,000 nightmare for an Arkansas man who says he never received the dog he was promised.

Grant Tomlin says he was finally ready to get another dog after losing his chocolate Labrador retriever to cancer four years ago.

“She was pretty much my best friend,” Tomlin said.

“Went with me everywhere, did everything I did. So it took me four years to get to the point where I wanted another dog,” he said Friday.

Tomlin said he started looking on TikTok and found a breeder called Prestige Retrievers in Shreveport. According to Tomlin, the breeder had a chocolate Lab puppy named Maggie available for $600.

He said he paid a deposit, but the breeder could not meet him on Father’s Day. The breeder offered to ship the puppy instead.

That’s when, Tomlin said, the fees started piling up.

“Every time I turned around, they were needing more money for this or more money for that,” he said. “And their messages were always followed up with, ‘If you pay this, the puppy is on its way.'”

Tomlin said he paid $1,000 for a crate rental, another $1,000 for paperwork, and additional fees that continued to add up. Each time, he said, he was promised Maggie was on the way and was even provided a tracking app showing the puppy en route.

But Maggie never arrived.

The excuses went on for two weeks. By then, Tomlin said he had spent more than $16,000 and still had no puppy.

KTBS 3 called the breeder but didn’t get an answer.

A visit to the breeder’s listed address on Hartman Street in Shreveport raised more questions. The house was vacant, and a man moving into the home said he had never heard of Maggie or Prestige Retrievers.

“Money is secondary. We’re upset about that, but we’re more concerned for the safety of the puppy and the welfare of the puppy,” Tomlin said.

KTBS 3 also looked into the shipping company, Laser Ship On Track. Its listed phone number does not work, and online reviews are mixed. Some people reported the company to the Better Business Bureau as a scam, while others said it is legitimate but takes a long time to ship items.

When asked how he would feel if he never gets to meet Maggie, Tomlin said he would be heartbroken.

“I would be devastated,” he said. “You know, like I said, it’s been four years. Our main concern is the safety of the puppy. I want to bring Maggie home.”

Tomlin said all communication was through WhatsApp and email, and he made payments using Cash App, Zelle, Apple Pay and an overseas bank account.

Consumer experts say if someone you’ve never met insists on those payment methods, it’s a major red flag and could indicate a scam.

Tomlin plans to file a complaint with the Shreveport Police Department and Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.

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3 children killed after boat capsizes during storm on Geneva Lake

CNN Newsource on July 4, 2026

By WDJT Staff

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    LAKE GENEVA, Wisconsin (WDJT) — Authorities have released additional details after three children were killed when a boat capsized on Geneva Lake during severe storms Friday afternoon.

According to the Lake Geneva Police Department, a privately owned recreational motorboat carrying 10 people – six adults and four children – was attempting to reach safety as weather conditions rapidly deteriorated.

Investigators say the boat was overwhelmed by strong winds and large waves, took on water, capsized and sank.

Emergency responders launched an immediate rescue operation. Six adults and one child were rescued from the water.

Authorities were then informed that three children were still missing. Following an extensive search, all three were located and recovered from the lake.

Despite lifesaving efforts at the scene, all three children were pronounced dead.

Officials confirmed all four children aboard the boat were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.

The incident remains under investigation.

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Restaurant guests restrain man accused of threatening staff with a firearm: police

CNN Newsource on July 4, 2026

By Dean Hensley & Deanna Sipe

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    BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (WLOS) — Police are thanking restaurant guests after they restrained a man who was reportedly threatening employees with a firearm in a Black Mountain restaurant on Thursday, July 2.

According to a July 3 news release from the Black Mountain Police Department, witnesses said guests at Trailhead Restaurant held down the man until law enforcement arrived.

Police said the man, identified as 76-year-old Charles Donald Wilson, had left the restaurant after threatening an employee earlier in the day and returned later, brandishing a firearm.

According to the release, police arrived at 5:37 p.m. on July 2 at the Trailhead Restaurant located at 207 West State Street.

Police arrested Wilson on the following charges:

Going armed to the terror of the public Brandishing a firearm Intoxicated and disruptive behavior

According to police, Wilson was reportedly asked to leave the establishment after an interaction involving inappropriate and disparaging comments made toward an employee. It was further alleged that Wilson made statements indicating he would return with a firearm and harm individuals inside the restaurant.

“While leaving, he made some comments threatening them that he would be back, possibly with a firearm,” said Chris Kuhn, deputy chief of Black Mountain Police Department.

Upon returning to the business, Wilson allegedly entered the establishment while armed and made actions and statements that caused immediate concern for the safety of those present. During the incident, several citizens acted quickly to intervene and restrain Wilson until law enforcement officers arrived and secured the scene.

Police said Wilson was taken into custody without further incident and transported to the Buncombe County Detention Facility. Wilson was issued a $20,000 secured bond. His next court hearing is set for July 6.

Kuhn says that through talking with staff from Trailhead, they were distressed by the incident.

“I also know that the staff was pretty traumatized from talking to them this morning[…] especially the young staff over there were very traumatized by this event,” Kuhn said.

News 13 reached out to the business requesting an interview, but they declined. The friend of another local business owner said he was at the scene when Wilson returned with the gun.

“He was walking out, closing the door, and heard someone walk in. He said that the gentleman bumped him and he thought, ‘That’s weird,'” said Scott Counce, co-owner of Merry Wine Bar. “He turned around and saw the guy with the gun above his head.”

“It took a split second, but someone else already jumped up, grabbed the guy, had engaged another person who had come behind, had his arm around the gunman’s neck,” said Counce.

Despite the incident, Counce says he still feels safe, saying Black Mountain is not the typical place where incidents like these occur.

“It’s never been here. This is not the place for that, and I’m sad that that’s happening here,” Counce said.

Black Mountain Police issued this statement:

“The actions displayed by members of our community exemplified extraordinary courage and selflessness under difficult circumstances. While incidents of this nature are extremely rare in Black Mountain, they are inherently dangerous and unpredictable.”

Police said the investigation remains ongoing.

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Time capsule with items from all 50 U.S. states to be buried in Philadelphia on U.S.’ 250th anniversary

CNN Newsource on July 4, 2026

By Wakisha Bailey, Joe Brandt

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — Don’t open this until 2276: a time capsule with items from all 50 U.S. states and five territories is being buried in Philadelphia on America’s 250th anniversary.

The goal is for the Americans of the future to open this capsule on the nation’s 500th anniversary — July 4, 2276.

The significance of the event, and thoughts of the nation’s distant future, drew emotion from several who attended.

“Full of emotions, really, just thinking about 250 years from now what the city’s going to look like, what Philadelphia’s going to look like,” said Johnathan Weissman, who visited the ceremony with his daughter.

“The meaning behind it, for future generations, it’s just so meaningful,” said Delsea Duffer, who was visiting from Atlanta.

The burial ceremony took place on Independence Mall and an art installation based on Ben Franklin’s “Join or Die” cartoon will be placed over top of it.

Items in the time capsule from across the country and territories include a Philadelphia Phillies lineup card, a letter from Gov. Josh Shapiro, an archival booklet of Pennsylvania’s history, a stainless steel plaque from New Jersey and handwritten notes from 12 Delaware residents about what The First State means to them.

The capsule is designed to repel water and is built to last two and a half centuries.

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