Knewz (UK)

Beware: Federal Officials Warn Reports From Victims of Cash Bond Scams and Jury Scams Are Increasing

Federal officials are warning residents of New Hampshire about an increasing number of reports from victims of two types of scams: a jury summons scam and a cash bond scam. Jane Young, the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, and U.S. Marshal William Hart issued a public alert Thursday, May 9 warning people to be wary of fraudsters posing as government officials in order to receive personal information or money. In the jury summons scam, phone fraudsters represent themselves as being a U.S. Marshal or a state or local government official, and claim to be contacting New Hampshire re...

Alligator Strolls Through Florida Starbucks Drive-Thru

First responders in Florida wrangled a wayward alligator in a Starbucks drive-thru, and released it into a nearby pond. Knewz.com has learned that North Port Fire Rescue shared photos on social media, and described the incident as "just another day on the job!" "Our team at North Port Fire Rescue had quite the surprise when we got a call about an alligator sighting at the Starbucks drive-thru," the fire department said. The fire department coordinated with North Port Police to capture the gator. Photos show a pair of police officers using a snare to capture the relatively small alligator, whic...

Missing Boater Rescued After Empty Vessel Washes Ashore in North Carolina

A missing mariner was rescued the night of May 6 after his boat washed ashore in North Carolina without him aboard, officials said. Knewz.com has learned that the man set off Monday afternoon in a small, inflatable catamaran sailboat from the Harvey public sound access at 6912 South Croatan Highway in Nags Head, N.C., according to Nags Head Fire Rescue. That evening, his boat was found washed ashore north of the access at Jockey's Ridge State Park, and multiple agencies responded shortly before 7 p.m. to search for him. "With strong west/southwest winds, two to three feet of swell, and cold wa...

30-Foot Sinkhole Swallows 2 Cars, Forces Evacuations in New Mexico Neighborhood

Residents of a New Mexico neighborhood were evacuated the night of Monday, May 6 after a large sinkhole opened up in front of a home, swallowing multiple vehicles, officials said. The City of Las Cruces said in a news release Tuesday, May 7 said firefighters were dispatched to the 1700 block of Regal Ridge Street at around 9:30 p.m. Monday, and arrived to find a sinkhole approximately 30 feet wide and 30 feet deep. Knewz.com has learned that the sinkhole was "still settling" when they arrived. The sinkhole swallowed two vehicles that were parked in a driveway, but no injuries were reported. Th...

2 Young Children Dead After Being Swept Away by River While Playing With Their Mother

Two young children died Tuesday, May 7 after being swept away by a river while playing with their mother in a California picnic area, authorities said. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, a mother took her children, ages 2 and 4, to the Thurman Flats Picnic area near Mill Creek to play at around 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Knewz.com has learned. They were playing near the creek "with rapid water moving downstream." At around 3 p.m., the mother was tending to her son, 2, when her daughter, 4, was swept downstream. The mother searched for the girl cut could not find her, and w...

Cruise Ship Worker Accused of Stabbing 3 People With Scissors Arrested in Alaska

A cruise ship worker was arrested in Alaska on Tuesday, May 7 after allegedly stabbing a passenger and two security guards with a pair of scissors while on board, authorities said. Knewz.com has learned that the cruise ship worker, 35-year-old South African man Ntando Sogoni, was arrested by the FBI after disembarking in Juneau on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska. According to an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Matthew Judy, Sogoni was a new hire who joined the ship, the Norwegian Encore, in Seattle on Sunday, May 5. That day, the ship set off on...

First Effective Treatment for African Spitting Cobra Bites Identified in New Study

For the first time, researchers have identified an effective treatment for African spitting cobra bites, which currently lead to severe injuries and disfigurements including limb loss and amputation. Knewz.com has learned spitting cobra venom rapidly causes dermonecrosis, which destroys the skin, muscle and bone near the site of the snake bite. A bite from an African spitting cobra can lead to the loss of the whole limb or necessitate amputation in extreme cases. There is currently no treatment for severe local envenoming from spitting cobras. Antivenoms only exist for other snake species, and...

Dangerous Dog Treats 'Stuffed With Fish Hooks' Found on Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania

Wildlife officials in Pennsylvania are warning hikers with pets that someone found dog treats "stuffed with fish hooks" scattered along a stretch of the Appalachian Trail. The Lehigh Gap Nature Center and, later, the Pennsylvania Game Commission shared the warning on social media on Monday, May 6 alongside photos of the potentially deadly treats, Knewz.com has learned. The state game commission said the booby-trapped treats were found over the weekend by a hiker near the North Trail Loop leading to the George W. Outerbridge shelter on the Appalachian Trail in Washington Township. "This section...

Baby Dead After Injury at UK Theme Park, Woman Arrested on Suspicion of Neglect

A 5-month-old baby who was "seriously injured" at Legoland Windsor Resort in the U.K. last week died Monday, May 6 after going into cardiac arrest, and a woman has been arrested in connection with baby's death, police said. Thames Valley Police said Tuesday, May 7 that a 27-year-old woman from Witham, Essex, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of neglecting a child to cause unnecessary injury. The suspect, who was not identified, was released on bail until a hearing on July 26, Knewz.com has learned. It's unclear what injury the baby sustained, and how neglect played a role in the injury, with ...

K-9 Locates Missing 85-Year-Old Woman 'Clinging' to a Tree Down a Steep Ravine

An 85-year-old Colorado woman who went missing last week was found by a K-9 police dog after she got stuck along the side of a "steep ravine," officials said. The City of Greenwood Village shared body-worn camera video that showed Greenwood Village Police Department Officer Austin Speer and K-9 Mercury working to track the unnamed woman, who had been missing for around two hours on Thursday, May 2, Knewz.com has learned. Within minutes of beginning the search, Mercury located the woman "clinging to a tree down a steep ravine where she could not be seen from the roadway or canal," the city wrot...