Brad Matthews

Statue of Liberty crown now open to visitors for the first time since pandemic began

Visitors will now be able to climb the stairs up to the Statue of Liberty's crown, which had been closed for more than two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 12, 2022

Giants punter Jamie Gillan leaves Britain after being stranded due to visa issues

New York Giants punter Jamie Gillan has spent the days following Sunday's win over the Green Bay Packers in London dealing with a visa issue, leaving him unable to return to America.

October 12, 2022

Tree trimmer in San Francisco Bay Area dies after falling into woodchipper

A tree trimmer employed by a local branch of the F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company died in Menlo Park, California, Tuesday afternoon after falling into a woodchipper, police said.

October 12, 2022

Tom Cruise could become first civilian to take a spacewalk in planned movie

Actor Tom Cruise could go where no civilian has gone before -- on a spacewalk -- if his plans go forward to shoot an action movie on the International Space Station and in space.

October 11, 2022

Simulator hand grenades wash up on Oregon beach

Oregon beachgoers alerted police to an unexpected and explosive surprise recently -- three grenades had washed ashore, with instructions on their use printed on them.

October 11, 2022

Coast Guard rescues three fishermen fending off sharks, cold after boat sank

U.S. Coast Guard personnel rescued three fishermen, two dealing with shark-caused hand injuries and one with hypothermia symptoms, 25 miles offshore from Louisiana.

October 11, 2022

Traffic stop turns into 259-pound methamphetamine bust by San Bernardino police

A traffic stop in San Bernardino, California, turned up 259 pounds of methamphetamine worth about $802,900 in street value, police said Monday.

October 11, 2022

Conservation groups offering more than $50,000 reward for info on poisoned wolves in Washington

A coalition of conservation groups is offering a $51,400 reward for information that leads to a conviction in the case of six wolf deaths from poisoning in Stevens County, Washington.

October 11, 2022

Cankerworm caterpillars of the hackberry leafroller moth are infesting North Texas

Cankerworm caterpillars of the hackberry leafroller moth have infested North Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area, after recent rains provided conditions amenable to their life cycle.

October 8, 2022

Climate protesters urging the end of fossil fuel extraction on federal land, block morning traffic

Climate protesters from activist group Declare Emergency blocked Interstate 395 eastbound near exit 5 on Friday morning, snarling traffic for almost half an hour.

October 8, 2022

Falafel brand recalled after 20 people get sick in six states

A vegan falafel brand sold at Aldi supermarkets has been voluntarily recalled after an outbreak of Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli caused 20 people to get sick in six states, the Food and Drug Administration said.

October 8, 2022

NFL players union calls for new concussion protocol to be put in place by Sunday

The National Football League Players Association has called for an updated concussion protocol to be implemented before the start of Sunday's slate of games.

October 8, 2022

First new cobalt mine in decades opens in Idaho; key component in electric vehicle batteries

A new cobalt mine, the first in decades, opened in Idaho Friday to meet the demand for a key rare-earth mineral used in electric vehicle batteries and other military and aerospace parts.

October 8, 2022

Carnival cruises to fine, ban rowdy passengers

Carnival Cruise Line will now fine rowdy passengers $500 for disruptive behavior, or possibly even throw them off the ship and ban them from future cruises, according to the company's updated ticket contract.

October 7, 2022

Forced labor scheme in Iowa included withholding passports of meatpacking plant workers

Two Micronesian nationals have pleaded guilty to a forced labor scheme in Iowa.

October 7, 2022

Fugitive jailed after applying for a job at a New Jersey sheriff’s office

A fugitive got nabbed when she applied to be a security guard with the Hudson County Sheriff's Office in New Jersey.

October 7, 2022

Electric vehicle batteries corroded by Hurricane Ian now causing fires

Hurricane Ian has revealed a new problem for electric vehicle owners and Florida's firefighters: Corroded electric vehicle batteries have caught fire after being soaked in salt water.

October 7, 2022

Low water levels on the Mississippi prevent Viking river cruise from finishing its voyage

Low water levels on the Mississippi River caused the grounding and early cancellation of a Viking river cruise on Wednesday, and snarled river traffic in both directions.

October 7, 2022

Fire damages famed Easter Island statues; island’s mayor says the blaze was man-made

Fire swept through part of the national park on Chile's Easter Island this week and damaged the famous moai statues built by the indigenous Polynesian people.

October 7, 2022

Camp Lejeune chemical exposure claims lead to $45 million advertising offensive by law firms

Camp Lejeune chemical-exposure claims have led to a $45 million advertising blitzkrieg by law firms seeking clients for litigation of the case.

October 6, 2022