Life news summaries — Page 4
Essential facts and source links for recent life stories.
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Adam Levine uses The Voice’s First-In button to secure Amanda Mikkel
Adam Levine became Amanda Mikkel’s coach on The Voice’s Sept. 23 episode after all four coaches turned for her “Moon River” audition; his First-In button automatically assigned her to his team. Lexi Stephens also chose Levine after receiving a four-chair turn. -
Equine veterinarian Cierra Cadena dies months after graduating
Dr. Cierra Cadena, who graduated from Texas A&M University’s veterinary program in May and recently began an equine internship in Ocala, Florida, died on Sept. 21, 2026. Tributes have renewed discussion of mental health and well-being in veterinary work. -
Colorado rescuer cuts bullsnake free as bird netting tightens
Colorado rescuer Seth Baker cut a bullsnake free from bird netting that tightened as it struggled. He warns entangled wildlife can be seriously injured or killed, and advises keeping netting taut and off the ground if used, or avoiding it when possible. -
Western Narrows earns first passing grade in 2026 Long Island Sound report
Save the Sound’s 2026 report card says water quality improved or stayed stable in all five open-water regions of Long Island Sound. The Western Narrows received a D, its first passing grade since grading began in 2008; the other regions earned A-range or B grades. -
Riot Fest ends Saturday early as storm threat cuts sets across the bill
With storms threatening, Riot Fest cut Saturday sets and ended day two several hours early. Most acts played 20–45 minutes; Afroman’s evening set was canceled. Morrissey played 45 minutes, alongside SUGAR, Angine de Poitrine and Public Image Ltd. -
PETA urges NYC kitten rescue to end disputed adoption policy after anti-MAGA post
NYC rescue Itty Bitty City Kitties defended a post saying MAGA supporters, conservatives and apolitical applicants need not apply. Its director says screening weighs conduct and values, not party affiliation, but did not say whether MAGA or conservative applicants could adopt. -
Mike Tindall says father Phil died last week at age 80
Mike Tindall said on his Sept. 23 podcast that his father, Phil, died last week at 80. Phil, a former Otley Rugby Club captain, was honored with a minute of silence at a match last weekend. Tindall had spoken publicly about his father's long battle with Parkinson's disease. -
Barr calls Michael Fishman a “brainwashed bigot” after he backs ‘Roseanne’ cancellation
Roseanne Barr called former co-star Michael Fishman a “brainwashed bigot” on Can't Be Censored after he said the show was “rightfully canceled” in 2018 following Barr’s racist post about Valerie Jarrett. Barr accused Fishman of misunderstanding her remarks. -
Two olive ridley turtles make California’s first documented West Coast nests
Two different olive ridley sea turtles laid eggs at Seal Beach and Huntington Beach in Orange County within a week, marking the first documented nesting on the US West Coast. Scientists say it is too soon to know whether the sightings signal a northward shift. -
Review: Pasadena Playhouse’s ‘The Visit’ is lively but ultimately predictable
Variety’s review calls Pasadena Playhouse’s “The Visit” lively but predictable. Melinda Page Hamilton captivates as Claire, who offers the town one billion in unspecified currency if residents kill her former lover; Jefferson Mays makes Anton compelling. -
Karen Eubanks Jackson founded Sisters Network after finding no breast cancer helpline for Black women
While undergoing breast cancer treatment in 1993, Karen Eubanks Jackson found no national helpline for Black women and created one. Sisters Network became a national organization in 1994 and now has more than 25 survivor-run chapters. -
Brad Bird’s decades-in-the-making ‘Ray Gunn’ premieres on Netflix Dec. 18
Brad Bird’s animated sci-fi noir “Ray Gunn” premieres on Netflix Dec. 18. In futuristic Metropia, human detective Ray Gunn and alien partner Eyera take a case involving pop star Venus Nova. Bird said he had developed the idea for more than 30 years. -
Melania Trump recalls a happy childhood in communist-led Yugoslavia
Melania Trump said Wednesday she had a “very beautiful childhood” in communist-led Slovenia, then part of Yugoslavia. She said she lacked for nothing, though people had to watch what they did, and life was less free than in the United States today. -
Redditors recall childhood meals with fewer snacks and more home cooking
People responding to an r/AskOldPeople question recalled childhood food habits in a BuzzFeed roundup of 16 posts: snacks and eating out were less routine, portions and soft-drink servings were smaller, and many families ate home-cooked dinners together. -
AGT winners took varied paths, from Vegas residencies to film roles
The 20 acts crowned on America’s Got Talent from 2006 through 2025 have followed varied paths: Terry Fator and Shin Lim performed Las Vegas residencies, while Richard Goodall released a single in 2025 and left his janitorial job in 2026 to pursue music. -
Let's Build a Dungeon enters Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview Feb. 11, 2027
Springloaded's Let's Build a Dungeon will launch in Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview on February 11, 2027, with 195,000 wishlists. A demo is available now on Steam and the Windows Store in more than 10 languages. -
Brady, Cannon and Mandel appear as hologram hosts in Netflix’s Wonka contest
Netflix’s nine-episode “Wonka’s The Golden Ticket,” released Wednesday, features hologram hosts Wayne Brady, Nick Cannon and Howie Mandel. Twelve golden-ticket holders, each with a partner of their choice, compete in factory-themed challenges for $3 million. -
Make Polluters Pay coalition submits UN petitions with 2 million-plus combined signatures
At the U.N. in New York, the Make Polluters Pay coalition handed U.N. climate official Selwin Hart petitions with more than 2 million signatures combined; 350.org says the total may include duplicates. It seeks enforceable rules to shift climate-damage costs to fossil fuel firms. -
Last Ditch apologizes after backlash over a mask-optional Saturday night
Last Ditch Bar and Arts Venue, a lesbian bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, drew online backlash after announcing a mask-optional Saturday night for full-capacity club events. It previously required KN-95 masks or better throughout visits and later apologized for its tone. -
Warmer freshwater may favor Naegleria behind a nearly always-fatal brain infection
Warmer freshwater could favor Naegleria fowleri, researchers say, though fewer than 10 U.S. cases of its nearly always-fatal brain infection are diagnosed each year. The amoeba has recently been detected farther north, including in Nebraska and Iowa. -
Sunny Hostin recalls holding out for insanity verdict in 1991 Rakowitz trial
Sunny Hostin said on “The View” she was the holdout juror in Daniel Rakowitz’s 1991 trial. After nine days, the jury unanimously found him not criminally responsible by reason of insanity; she disclosed it while discussing Lindsay Clancy’s 11-1 mistrial. -
Randy Travis praises Stella Lefty after she references him in unreleased track
Randy Travis praised Stella Lefty on TikTok after her Sept. 22 video of unreleased song “Raised by the Radio,” which mentions him. He wrote that the country singer could stand “toe-to-toe with the very best in Nashville” and urged her to keep believing. -
Virginia woman claims $2 million lottery prize anonymously after lunch-break win
An anonymous Virginia woman won a lottery game's $2 million top prize on her lunch break, then returned to work without sharing the news. She chose a $952,000 lump sum before taxes; a law that took effect over the summer let her claim anonymously. -
Ed Boon denies NetherRealm is testing Injustice 3, MK9 or MK13
Ed Boon says NetherRealm is not currently testing Injustice 3, Mortal Kombat 9 or Mortal Kombat 13, rejecting those fan claims on X. The studio’s next game remains unconfirmed; Boon said a game not being externally tested could still be in development. -
Alkermes reports dose-linked ADHD symptom declines with ALKS 7290
Alkermes reported dose-dependent reductions in ADHD symptom scores with investigational ALKS 7290 in a 14-day Phase 1b trial of 50 adults; median declines from baseline were 14 points at 20 mg and 19 at 50 mg. The drug was generally well tolerated.
