Kratom is a legal $13 ‘natural’ high that’s led to addiction and 91 deaths: ‘Soccer moms are on it’

Kratom is a legal  ‘natural’ high that’s led to addiction and 91 deaths: ‘Soccer moms are on it’

Stay-at-home mom Bari Sinoyannis thought she was buying a natural, plant-based alternative to pain relievers when she picked up kratom powder at a North Carolina smoke shop in 2022. “The fact that it’s labeled as a natural alternative to pain medication was why I fell for it. I was like, you know what? I’m gonna … Read more

Scary Mommy founder dies at 48 of brain cancer she once described as ‘octopus with tentacles’

Scary Mommy founder dies at 48 of brain cancer she once described as ‘octopus with tentacles’

New York Times bestselling author and founder of the popular Scary Mommy blog Jill Smokler died Monday of brain cancer. Smokler, a mom of three, was 48. She made a name for herself with unflinching honesty about the realities of marriage and parenting, and developed one of the biggest parenting blogs as the genre was … Read more

Wealthy San Francisco arts donors found dead in running car near Redding

Wealthy San Francisco arts donors found dead in running car near Redding

A prominent San Francisco arts patron and her husband were found mysteriously dead in a running car on Monday evening, the California Highway Patrol said. Judith Sheldon, 84, daughter of filmmaker William Wyler, and her husband Wylie Sheldon, 86, were found inside of a red Jeep Compass stopped at the shoulder of Interstate 5 near … Read more

Lethal injection: Inside the rare complication of cosmetic fillers that killed Estée Lauder VP

Lethal injection: Inside the rare complication of cosmetic fillers that killed Estée Lauder VP

A senior Estée Lauder executive died suddenly in February after cosmetic filler triggered a pulmonary embolism, the New York City medical examiner announced this week. A pulmonary embolism happens when an object, in this case filler, blocks an artery in the lungs. This blocks blood flow, starving the entire body of oxygen. Kendal Ascher, 56, died … Read more

American travelers warned to avoid jet ski rentals on paradise island after rapes, deaths, and injuries

American travelers warned to avoid jet ski rentals on paradise island after rapes, deaths, and injuries

Americans are being urged to steer clear of jet ski rentals in the Bahamas as U.S. officials warn of sketchy operators linked to deaths, injuries and reported sexual assaults. In a Monday statement, the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas said that “rogue operators” are soliciting tourists on Nassau’s most popular beaches, including Cabbage Beach, Junkanoo … Read more

Teen ‘fighting for his life’ after contracting flesh-eating bacteria from swimming in Florida park

Teen ‘fighting for his life’ after contracting flesh-eating bacteria from swimming in Florida park

What started as a simple scrape has turned into a medical nightmare for one Florida teen. After swimming at a park in Niceville, Florida, 17-year-old Joziah Thompson got what was initially a minor scratch on his leg. Only two days later, he was rushed to the hospital with a red, swollen leg, where doctors confirmed … Read more

5-year-old dies of common infection after hospital said there was ‘nothing they could do’

5-year-old dies of common infection after hospital said there was ‘nothing they could do’

A 5-year-old boy from the UK died barely one day after being sent home from the hospital. Before going to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, Jax Jefferys was coughing and drowsy, and then developed a fever and red rash a couple of days later. Doctors initially diagnosed Jax with the flu and sent him home … Read more

The super common disease that keeps killing your favorite stars — as Buffy’s Anthony Head dies at 72

The super common disease that keeps killing your favorite stars — as Buffy’s Anthony Head dies at 72

Anthony Head — best known for his roles in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Ted Lasso” — has died at the age of 72. “He passed away peacefully of complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family,” the British actor’s daughters, Emily and Daisy Head, said in a statement on Friday. “We know how dearly … Read more

Death, illicit affairs and love scams: The sinking truths about life on a cruise ship revealed

Death, illicit affairs and love scams: The sinking truths about life on a cruise ship revealed

When the ship hits the fan, vacationers might be dead in the water — quite literally.  No sleep, lifeless bodies and horny cheaters hunting for green cards. That’s life at sea — or so warns cruise ship crew member, Raye, and her colleague, virally unveiling the unpleasant underbelly of luxury liners.  “Things about working on a cruise … Read more

ESPN reporter Marty Smith got very emotional delivering Kyle Busch death news

ESPN reporter Marty Smith got very emotional delivering Kyle Busch death news

ESPN reporter Marty Smith was visibly emotional while speaking on Kyle Busch’s NASCAR legacy after the two-time Cup Series champion died at 41 on Thursday, hours after being hospitalized for a “severe illness.” During a “SportsCenter” appearance, Smith, one of ESPN’s lead NASCAR reporters, appeared to have tears in his eyes as he shared that he is … Read more

Longtime NHL broadcaster Bill Davidge dead at 72

Longtime NHL broadcaster Bill Davidge dead at 72

Bill Davidge, a staple in the Ohio hockey community who was a longtime broadcaster for the Columbus Blue Jackets, died on Tuesday, the team announced Wednesday. He was 72. Nicknamed “Dapper” by his colleagues for always showing up with his hair perfectly done while wearing a suit, Davidge made his presence felt almost everywhere in … Read more

Woman who inspired name for rock band Greta Van Fleet dead at 95

Woman who inspired name for rock band Greta Van Fleet dead at 95

Gretna Van Fleet didn’t play music with Greta Van Fleet. But maybe she got the next best thing: The Grammy-winning rock band uses her name. The 95-year-old Michigan woman died Monday at a senior living center in Frankenmuth, according to her obituary, the same community where the band was formed in 2012 when Van Fleet … Read more

What is oxygen toxicity? The scuba diving risk that may have caused 5 tourists deaths in the Maldives

What is oxygen toxicity? The scuba diving risk that may have caused 5 tourists deaths in the Maldives

What began as a daring scuba adventure in the Maldives ended in horror this week after five Italian tourists never resurfaced from a deep-water cave expedition. Officials are scrambling to determine what went wrong during the 160-foot dive, as theories swirl over whether powerful currents, rough weather, panic or even the terrifying effects of oxygen … Read more

Boneheaded boss asks employee to ‘adjust’ dad’s funeral date and prioritize work: ‘Crazy audacity’

Boneheaded boss asks employee to ‘adjust’ dad’s funeral date and prioritize work: ‘Crazy audacity’

This boss was dead serious when she asked an employee to “adjust” the date of his father’s funeral for the sake of the job.  A bereaved breadwinner is blowing the whistle on his unsympathetic manager after she allegedly requested he reschedule his dearly departed dad’s memorial “because other teammates took leave at the same time.” “She is … Read more

‘Population autopsy’ finds Americans are dying younger than other wealthy countries — the worst 2 culprits

‘Population autopsy’ finds Americans are dying younger than other wealthy countries — the worst 2 culprits

The US longevity gap is becoming a chasm. For decades, life expectancy in the States has lagged behind wealthy nations like Japan, Switzerland and Australia, with Americans consistently dying younger than their peers abroad. Now, a landmark “population autopsy” analyzing more than 63 million deaths has identified two key factors fueling shorter lifespans nationwide, as … Read more

Babies are bleeding to death internally from a preventable condition — a troubling trend is to blame

Babies are bleeding to death internally from a preventable condition — a troubling trend is to blame

Doctors across the country are seeing an alarming rise in newborns bleeding to death — and a concerning trend by parents is the culprit. While all initially healthy at birth, a 7-week-old boy from Maryland experienced sudden seizures, a Kentucky newborn threw up before becoming lethargic and a girl in Alabama stopped breathing for several … Read more

Dear Abby: How do I move on after my boyfriend died?

Dear Abby: How do I move on after my boyfriend died?

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend passed away 15 months ago. I have been devastated ever since. He was my best friend, and I’m having a hard time letting go. He said he would love me even in death, and when he died, he took a large piece of my heart with him. I know I’m depressed. … Read more

The ‘Sandwich Gap’ generation lacks estate planning, is least prepared for death, survey suggests

The ‘Sandwich Gap’ generation lacks estate planning, is least prepared for death, survey suggests

More than half of American adults (56%) don’t have any estate planning documents — despite 73% saying it’s important. That’s according to a survey of 5,000 people conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Trust & Will. Results showed that, while the majority of adults (73%) say estate planning is important to them, just 26% … Read more

Barrie Tomlinson, editor of famed British comic Roy of the Rover, dies at 88

Barrie Tomlinson, editor of famed British comic Roy of the Rover, dies at 88

Tributes have been paid to the influential editor of classic British football comic Roy of the Rovers following his death. Barrie Tomlinson died aged 88 on Tuesday, earlier this week, his daughter Jennifer confirmed. Posting from legendary comics X account, she said: “Hi everyone, this is Jen, Barrie’s daughter. “I’m very sorry to share the … Read more

Concerning rise in colon cancer deaths is almost entirely among key demographic

Concerning rise in colon cancer deaths is almost entirely among key demographic

Researchers are finally getting to the bottom of a troubling trend. Once considered a disease of older adults, colorectal cancer has now overtaken breast and brain cancers to become the leading cause of cancer deaths among Americans under 50. But a new study suggests that the burden isn’t spread evenly, finding that deaths among younger … Read more