Author: Darren Smith

A goldendoodle named Rocco has died after allegedly being left chained outside in sweltering Texas heat without water, prompting a police investigation in DeSoto and a Change.org petition that has now gathered more than 15,900 signatures calling for animal cruelty charges against his owners. A goldendoodle named Rocco reportedly died after being left outside in extreme Texas heat without access to water. The case first came to public attention after neighbour Jaida Grace shared videos and photos of the dog on the Public Accountability for Animal Welfare (PAWW) Facebook page, calling on her community to hold the animal’s owners accountable.…

A 19-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly stabbing a colleague to death near Washington DC, with police documents now revealing that the killing came hours after the victim reportedly sent screenshots exposing their affair to his girlfriend. An illegal immigrant has been charged with murdering a colleague after she allegedly exposed their affair to his girlfriend. Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos, 19, was arrested in connection with the stabbing death of 42-year-old Carmen Lizet Puch, whose body was found roughly 15 miles outside Washington DC. Fairfax County prosecutors told the court on Monday that…

Britain’s Matthew Brennan claimed his third stage victory at the 2026 Vuelta a España with a late sprint into Lorca, becoming the first rider since Tadej Pogačar in 2019 to win three stages on his debut Grand Tour, as Enric Mas retained the overall race lead. Britain’s Matthew Brennan sprinted to his third win at the 2026 Vuelta a España on Wednesday, powering to victory on stage 11 to complete a remarkable hat-trick on his Grand Tour debut. The 21-year-old Visma-Lease a Bike rider held off France’s Bryan Coquard and Belgium’s Jordi Meeus at the finish of the 153.8km route…

MSPs have heard that prisoners held in segregation units at Scottish jails have been left in cells with human excrement smeared across the walls for up to three days, with the Scottish Prison Service’s own chief executive confirming the practice complies with current prison rules despite acknowledging the service should “always seek to do that better.” Prisoners held in segregation units across Scotland’s prisons are being left in cells with “human excrement” smeared across the walls for up to three days at a time, MSPs have heard. The claim was raised by David Linden MSP, deputy convener of Holyrood’s Criminal…

A reported shooting at Westwood Hills Elementary School in Waynesboro, Virginia, has been declared “contained” by the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office, after a major emergency response involving police, state troopers and a SWAT team saw students evacuated to a nearby church while surrounding schools were placed on precautionary lockdown. A reported shooting at Westwood Hills Elementary School in Waynesboro, Virginia, has been “contained,” according to the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office. The first emergency calls came in at around 9.30am local time, prompting a large-scale response from Waynesboro Police, Augusta County Sheriff’s deputies, Virginia State Police and a SWAT team. Witnesses…

Former footballer Joey Barton could remain behind bars until next year after his trial over an alleged attack on a man outside a Merseyside golf club was pushed back to March 2027, extending a period in custody that began in March this year. Former Premier League footballer Joey Barton could remain in prison until next year after his trial over an alleged attack outside a golf club was delayed. The 44-year-old ex-England international denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Kevin Lynch, 51, at Fairway golf club in Huyton on 8 March. Barton had been due to face trial…

Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has issued an emotional statement after a judge ruled there was sufficient evidence for Tyler Robinson to stand trial for her husband’s murder, with prosecutors now able to pursue the death penalty against the 23-year-old, who has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges against him. Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, has issued a heartbreaking statement after a judge ruled that Tyler Robinson will stand trial for her husband’s murder. Robinson, 23, is accused of firing a single shot into Kirk’s neck, killing the 31-year-old father-of-two during a Turning Point USA event at…

More than 20 hikers and backpackers remain unaccounted for after significant flash flooding struck popular trails in Arizona’s Grand Canyon, with authorities confirming that 62 people were evacuated from the area and all footbridges over Bright Angel Creek destroyed. More than 20 hikers and backpackers making their way through Arizona’s Grand Canyon have been declared missing following flash floods that struck parts of the scenic canyon on Saturday afternoon. Authorities are searching for at least 20 unaccounted people, believed to have been trekking on routes near Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area of the national park. More than…

A murder investigation has been launched in Sheffield after a newborn baby girl was found dead at a property in the Wincobank area, with South Yorkshire Police confirming seven people have been arrested on suspicion of murder as detectives work to establish the circumstances surrounding her death. A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a newborn baby in South Yorkshire. Police were called to an address in the Wincobank area of Sheffield just before 6am on Sunday over concerns for the safety of an infant. Officers searched a property on Holywell Heights, where the baby was found…

At least six people have been injured after a large metal support beam collapsed onto a crowd at the Big Church Festival in West Sussex, prompting a full site lockdown as emergency services, including an air ambulance, respond to the scene. At least six people have been hurt after a large metal support beam collapsed onto a crowd at the Big Church Festival on the Wiston Estate in West Sussex. The incident occurred at around 3.30pm this afternoon, prompting a swift response from emergency services and forcing organisers to place the entire site on lockdown, with all performances halted while…