Columbus, OH

Los Angeles, CA

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Herbie J Pilato

It's been more than four decades since former child star William “Billie” Thomas Jr. died in Los Angeles of a heart attack at only 49 on October 10, 1980. Best known as "Buckwheat," the character he portrayed in the original Hal Roach-ignited Our Gang/Little Rascals classic film shorts from 1934 to 1944, Thomas faced similar challenges and misfortunes of several of his co-stars and other former child actors. This is his story.

Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas - 'Little Rascals'/'Our Gang' Child Star: 44 Years After His Tragic Death

It's been eight years since former TV child star Sawyer Sweeten, best known from Everybody Loves Raymond, died tragically by suicide at only 19 years old. Sawyer Sweeten, his twin brother Sullivan Sweeten, and their older sister Madylin, played Ray Romano's TV children on Everybody Loves Raymond, the Emmy-winning sitcom that originally aired on CBS 1996 to 2005.

The Tragic Suicide of Former TV Child Star Sawyer Sweeten ('Everybody Loves Raymond'): 9 Years Later

Georgia State

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Atlanta, GA

Daily Coffee Press

A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to over 28 years in prison for distributing significant amounts of fentanyl and other controlled substances to dealers in the Middle Georgia region. Authorities revealed that investigators uncovered evidence linking the drugs provided by the defendant, 40-year-old Lagary Williams, also known as "Frog," from Atlanta, to a fatal overdose.

Atlanta Man Sentenced to 28 Years for Supplying Deadly Fentanyl Linked to Fatal Overdose

Crisp County, GA

On Wednesday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of 24 individuals following Operation Shyne Down. The GBI and other agencies served a total of 120 warrants on the suspects involved in the investigation, which targeted the criminal street gang G-Shyne Bloods and their involvement in criminal activities in Crisp County, Georgia.

Operation Results in More than 20 Charged with Gang Offenses, RICO, and more

Writers represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. Writers are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

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Alamogordo Conservative Daily

Command Sgt. Maj. Harold “Ed” Jarrell has been relieved as the senior enlisted for the Army’s 1st Information Operations Command, an Army spokesperson confirmed, marking the third time within a month and the second within a week, that the Army has fired a command sergeant major of a brigade or larger unit as per Task and Purpose.

The Army Fires 3rd Command Sergeant Major in a Month: Command Sgt. Maj. Harold "Ed" Jarrel

Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Today

A historic marker could be erected to honor the victims of the racist mass shooting at the Dollar General store in Jacksonville’s New Town neighborhood nearly a year ago. If approved by the Jacksonville City Council, a marker would be installed at Kings Road and Canal Street on Aug. 25, a day before the first anniversary of the shooting, when a white gunman took the lives of three Black people.

Memorial considered to honor Dollar General victims

Massachusetts State

Dianna Carney

Sandy Paws Rescue Inc., a foster-based rescue in Massachusetts, has recently introduced a tiny six-pound dog named Alistair who is looking for his forever home. At only one year old, this little boy is a sweet dog who is thought to be a Maltese, "but we can’t make any guarantees that he would be suitable for those with allergies," explains the nonprofit animal rescue.

Meet The Tiny 6lb Dog Looking For Love

Three families who were joined through tragedy grieved differently on Monday – the first anniversary of the afternoon when a shooting rampage targeted Black people at a Jacksonville dollar store.

New lawsuits and a scholarship: Families reflect one year after Dollar General shooting

According to officials with the Southern District of Georgia, two recently unsealed federal indictments have charged 23 defendants in a series of broad conspiracies involving the use of drones to smuggle methamphetamine, marijuana, and cell phones into state prisons in Georgia.

23 Defendants Charged in Federal Indictments for Drone-Smuggling Drug Operation in Georgia

Iowa State

Iowa Storm Center

(IowaStormCenter.com) -- A strong pacific storm system will get underway later tonight with severe thunderstorms and heavy rain. The first round of the one-two punch event is hitting across western Iowa this morning. Then the focus will be across southwest Iowa for severe thunderstorm development by this evening with threats for hail, damaging winds, heavy rainfall and a couple of isolated tornadoes.

Severe Thunderstorm/Heavy Rainfall Threat Tonight.

Winder, GA

A 50-year-old former jailer has been charged by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) with cruelty to inmates and violation of oath of office. On Sunday, July 21, the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI to investigate an incident involving one of their jailers, Lolita Lightner of Winder, Georgia.

Former Jailer at Georgia County Jail Arrested

Wyoming State

WyoFile

Don Hall is an avid snowmobiler, but instead of heading for the hills each winter in search of deep powder, he takes an older snowmachine to lower elevations nearer the snow line. There’s a reason the Riverton resident prefers the lower zones despite the rocks, fences and sage most riders avoid: That’s where the coyotes are.

Wyoming allows snowmobilers to run down wildlife. Despite global outrage, it may stay legal.

Los Angeles County, CA

It's been two decades since beloved actor Brian Kelly died of pneumonia at 73 in 2005. Best known as Porter Ricks in the classic TV family show Flipper(NBC, 1964-1967), Kelly had once suffered a paralyzing motorcycle accident that ended his acting career. However, he rechanneld his creative talent and became a producer. This is his story.

The Paralyzing Accident & Tragic Death of TV's 'Flipper' Father Brian Kelly: Two Decades Later

Two men, Alvin Demar and Joshua Carter, have been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking firearms, with some later recovered at crime scenes across multiple states and Canada. A third man, Jamal Plunkett, was sentenced for possessing one of these trafficked weapons.

Georgia Men Sentenced in Multi-State Firearms Trafficking Operation Tied to Violent Crime

Cheyenne, WY

WHITE MOUNTAIN—“That’s a lot of horses,” lamented Cheyenne resident Robyn Smith from a high-desert ridgeline. It wasn’t her first exasperated exclamation. “Argh, oh crap,” was her immediate reaction to learning a federal judge had given the Bureau of Land Management the OK to proceed with plans to fully remove two wild horse herds from the landscape in southwest Wyoming.

BLM wins two lawsuits, clearing way for elimination of two Wyoming wild horse herds

Denver, CO

Aurora, CO

David Heitz

Aurora, Colo. -- Angry Aurorans on social media poked fun at the local news media Friday as more information came out about Venezuelan gangs on the Front Range. Mike Coffman, Aurora mayor, posted on Facebook that the city will use court orders to shut down additional apartment complexes that have been infiltrated by the gangs. It contradicted comments made by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who told the New York Post the gang problem was a figment of Aurora council member Danielle Jurinsky’s imagination.

Migrant gang crisis underrated? Denver media criticized

Apache Junction, AZ

Suzy Jacobson Cherry

When I studied Anthropology in college, I learned that teeth have been indicators of economic status just about forever. Archaeologists look at the teeth in ancient skeletons and know who the rich were based on their tooth decay. During the Renaissance period, it became fashionable for women to blacken their teeth to look like they were better off than they were, because the royals and aristocrats, who could afford sugar and sweets, had more rotten and missing teeth than the poor.

Opinion: Stop Stereotyping Bad Teeth as a Sign of Drug Addiction

It's been decades since actor/stuntman Scott Newman died of a drug overdose onNovember 20, 1978. He was the only son and the eldest child of actor Paul Newman. Here's what happened.

In Memory of Scott Newman (Son of Hollywood Icon Paul Newman): Decades After His Tragic Death

Sandy Paws Rescue Inc., a foster-based rescue in Massachusetts, has revealed they are still looking for a forever home for an adorable six to seven-year-old French bulldog named Joannie. The local animal rescue explains, "We have received so many applications for identical but much younger Frenchie, Lillian, but no one for Joannie yet."

Meet Joannie: The "Extreme Snuggler" French Bulldog Still Looking For Love

DeanLand

Three earthquakes were recorded in Georgia during August, the strongest a 2.4 magnitude which occured far outside of the area where Georgia earthquakes most often occur. The quakes were recorded and reported by the US Geological Survey, which maintains seismograph stations throughout the US.

Rare SE Georgia Earthquake Recorded in August, State's Farthest South in 10 Years

NewsBreak

Yuma area high school baseball stars given a day to remember by the Diamondbacks

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Five of Yuma County's best high school baseball players got a day they'll never forget in Phoenix on Thursday. The five...

Yuma area high school baseball stars given a day to remember by the Diamondbacks

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