It has been widely claimed that in 1969, a group of engineers made a disturbing discovery after completely shutting down the water flow at Niagara Falls.
While the waterfall, which is located in both the US and Canada, was indeed drained by the Army Corps of Engineers, there is very little information known about this reported incident.
Snopes, a website that regularly fact-checks myths on social media, confirmed that the engineers did drain the water from the American Falls side to the Canadian side for several months to examine erosion.
They also revealed that the group recovered two unidentified dead bodies from the bottom of the falls.
This discovery made headlines on June 13, 1969, in The Vancouver Sun. The article reportedly read: “The bodies of an unidentified man and woman have been found here in a grisly beginning to a major engineering feat that has all but halted flow of the Niagara River over the American Falls.”
“Police said today the decomposed body of the woman was discovered Wednesday while they searched for the man, who was seen leaping over the precipice. His body was found Thursday,” it continued.
“The water was shunted to the channel flowing over the Horseshoe Falls so engineers can study the face of the American Falls in an attempt to halt erosion,” they added.
It has not been disclosed whether the two individuals were ever identified or when, how, or where the bodies ended up in the water.
In addition to this, the engineers also found something else when Niagara Falls was dewatered: millions of coins, per a report by Wired.com.
“When crews shut down the falls in 1969, they found two bodies and millions of coins, most of which were removed. (As were the human remains, of course.),” the publication penned.
They added that as tourism at Falls has grown wildly in the last 50 years, many more items have been recovered including “cell phones, cameras, baby strollers, errant drones, and whatever else could be thrown or dropped by careless, thoughtless, or mischievous visitors”.
“There is, of course, the possibility of human remains being discovered again — though there are no individuals known to have jumped or fallen in who haven’t been recovered,” they concluded.
In other news, police confirmed last week that a 33-year-old mom Chianti Means “intentionally” jumped from Niagara Falls with her two children: nine-year-old Roman Rossman and five-month-old Mecca Means.
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Diddy’s birthday prison meal revealed as he turns 55 behind bars
By stefan armitage
Sean “Diddy” Combs – who has made headlines for his infamous parties – is marking his 55th birthday in a significantly less glamorous fashion this year.
Monday (November 4) marks the 55th birthday of the now-disgraced rapper and music mogul.
The music mogul, usually found surrounded by champagne and caviar at the swankiest venues, will instead be spending his “double nickel” birthday in federal lockup at MDC Brooklyn, where he has been since his arrest on September 16.
Diddy, the founder of Bad Boy Records, was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations at a New York City hotel.
Per BBC News, Diddy – real name Sean Combs – is currently facing federal criminal charges in an alleged sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
The rapper has been denied bail multiple times, awaiting his trial scheduled for May 5, 2025.
Additionally, as well as his arrest, more than two dozen lawsuits have been brought against Diddy over the last few months – detailing allegations of rape, underage assaults, intimidation, sexual extortion, and more.
Diddy vehemently denies any allegations against him and has pleaded not guilty. His reps have said that the rapper and his legal team “have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process”.
The New York Post has exclusively learned that Diddy’s birthday menu starts with a simple breakfast of biscuits and gravy, “oven-browned potatoes”, oatmeal, and bread, as well as spreads like jelly and margarine, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ national menu.
Coffee is only served on the weekend.
Lunch brings a small upgrade with cheese pizza, Italian pasta salad, and green beans on the tray. PEOPLE reports that inmates also have access to several sides with the mains, such as green beans, rice, salsa, or coleslaw.
On some days, lunch comes with dessert. Monday is not one of those days.
Dinner offers a choice of turkey roast, rice, green peas, gravy, whole wheat bread and chicken or tofu fried rice, black beans, and carrots.
There is no dessert served with dinner.
PEOPLE adds that Combs could treat himself to a snack like Nutella, Snickers, macaroni and cheese, and hot chocolate if he has enough in his commissary account.
A far cry from his usual birthday meals, one has to believe.
While it’s a far cry from his usual star-studded bash, it’s a day marked by better food than usual in the mess hall of MDC Brooklyn.
If found guilty of racketeering, the rapper could face life in prison.
Prosecutors claim the rapper forced his alleged victims – some of whom were allegedly drugged and/or threatened with firearms – to participate in so-called “Freak Offs”, described as: “Elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded.”
Diddy is then accused of using this footage as “collateral” for blackmail, per The Post.
Per Reuters, one of the may lawsuits recently filed against Diddy claims he assaulted a child who was just 10 years old at the time back in 2005.
Combs has received support from his children, who have collectively labeled the allegations “conspiracy theories” and declared: “We stand united.”
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New York City school will allow ‘distressed’ students to stay home following Election Day
By stefan armitage
With the US presidential election just around the corner, one school has caused a stir on social media for allowing “distressed” students to take the day off amid the fallout.
In a rather unconventional move, the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York City has decided that students can skip classes the day after the presidential election if they’re feeling too “emotionally distressed” by the results, per NBC15.
This decision was revealed through an email sent to families, as reported by The New York Times.
The school recognizes that the election period may be a highly charged emotional time, allowing students from pre-K through twelfth grade who feel unable to “fully engage” in classwork to take the day off without penalty.
To further support its students, the school will not assign homework on Election Day and plans to have psychologists available for counseling.
Addressing the mental health of students around such a contentious event, the school aims to provide a supportive environment, regardless of the election’s outcome, as stated by principal Stacey Bobo.
The initiative also includes educational resources on discussing the election with children and managing election-related anxiety.
This sentiment is echoed in a recent poll by the American Psychological Association, which found that nearly 70% of adults consider the election a significant source of stress.
Arthur Evans Jr., APA CEO, highlighted the need for hope and unity in these divisive times.
“Stress surrounding the upcoming election seems overwhelming,” Evans Jr. said. “But despite concerns about a nation divided across cultural identities and political parties, it’s encouraging that hope could be the catalyst, where people can come together and have a stake in deciding their future.”
However, not everybody has looked at the school’s decision favorably.
A trending social media post sharing the news amassed thousands of comments from critics, with many people criticizing the younger generation.
“Y’all all creating the weakest generation since the dawn of men,” one person commented on the post.
“Teaching kids to be hella soft,” a second person added. “Keep moving and bettering your life no matter who wins. Control what you can control.”
A third bluntly typed: “Soft a** generation”.
Meanwhile, a fourth harshly wrote: “Enabling students to melt down and cry when they don’t get their way makes weak gutless adults.”
As the debate over the best way to handle election stress in schools continues, Fieldston’s policy stands as a testament to the growing recognition of mental health needs in educational settings.
But what are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know in the comments.
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Dodgers fan blows up hands with firework as World Series celebration backfires horrifically
By Asiya Ali
On Thursday (October 31) night, the baseball team became the 2024 World Series champions after beating the New York Yankees 7-6, securing their eighth world championship.
Shocking footage has emerged online showing many fans, including an unnamed 25-year-old man, celebrating the victory on the streets of Los Angeles.
In the clip, the man, who is seen sporting a Clayton Kershaw No. 22 jersey, runs into the road to pick up a lit firework from the ground.
However, the sparks quickly turn into a bright orange blaze and blow up in his hands before he can safely place it on the ground and walk away.
Watch the video below:
After emerging from the smoke, the man rocks back to the sidewalk, appearing to be dazed, while blood pours from his left hand.
Several stunned onlookers came to the unnamed man’s aid and called the authorities, with one screaming: “Oh f***…Call 911!”
According to TMZ, first responders found the 25-year-old and placed tourniquets on both of his arms before rushing him to a nearby hospital.
He was conscious and alert but suffered bilateral hand wounds which were described by authorities as “debilitating,” per the outlet.
The incident was one of several chaotic scenes in downtown Los Angeles that night as thousands of fans celebrated the franchise’s win by setting cars on fire and looting shops wearing clown masks.
As per The New York Post, the Los Angeles Police Department disclosed that a “hostile crowd” of 200 to 300 people – mostly donning Dodgers jerseys – covered a bus with graffiti and then ignited it on fire about a mile from Dodger Stadium.
“Metro is disappointed and angered by the senseless act of vandalism on one of our buses following the Dodgers World Series Win earlier this evening,” the transportation agency said in a statement, cited by ESPN.
The department revealed that it had made 12 arrests linked to the disruption the previous night, The Guardian. Several dispersal orders were also given.
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Quincy Jones has died aged 91
By stefan armitage
The world has lost a colossal figure in the realm of music and culture.
Quincy Jones, the legendary musician and producer who shaped the careers of icons like Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, has died at the age of 91.
His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed that Jones passed away peacefully on Sunday night at his home in Bel Air, BBC News reports.
Jones’ family released a heartfelt statement expressing their profound sense of loss but also celebrating the extraordinary life he led.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him,” the family’s statement read.
Jones, whose career spanned over 75 years, was an architect of modern music, having won a staggering 28 Grammy awards. His influence was so significant that Time magazine named him one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century.
He was pivotal in redefining how we understand music production, especially noted for producing Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the best-selling album of all time.
And Jones’ collaboration with Sinatra transformed the classic ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ from a waltz into a swinging hit that continues to stand the test of time.
Jones’ impact was not confined to music alone. He left an indelible mark on film and television as well, producing the soundtrack for over 50 projects including the iconic 1969 film, The Italian Job. He also produced The Color Purple, a film that introduced Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg to a global audience, and was one of the masterminds behind the beloved TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
In 1985, he was instrumental in creating ‘We Are the World’, a song that brought together 46 of America’s most famous singers to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. The record topped charts and became a defining moment of the decade, performed at the historic Live Aid concert that year.
Jones’ legacy highlights a man who was a trailblazer – a man who broke barriers, becoming the first Black person to be nominated for an Oscar for best score – among many other accolades across entertainment, including Emmys, Tonys, and Oscars.
Survived by three ex-wives and seven children, including music producer Quincy Jones III and actress Rashida Jones, his family remembers him as “truly one of a kind” and assures that “through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity.”
Tributes have poured in from all corners of the arts, from fans and colleagues alike.
Playwright Jeremy O’Harris took to social media to remark on Jones’ “limitless” contributions to American culture.
O’Harris wrote: “What couldn’t he do? Quincy Jones, literally born when the limits on how big a black boy could dream were unfathomably high, taught us that the limit does not exist. His contributions to American culture were limitless. First black person nominated for an Oscar for best score. First black person nominated later twice in the same year. The producer of inarguably the biggest albums of the 20th century. An EGOT.”
Quincy Jones was more than just a musician; he was a visionary. As we bid farewell to one of the greatest creative minds in the entertainment industry, it’s safe to say that his melodies will continue to echo for generations to come.
Our thoughts go out to Jones’ family, friends, and fans at this time.
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Woman mysteriously vanished after hiking partner ‘turned his back for 45 seconds’ and was never seen again
By James Kay
Mystery remains around the case of a woman who vanished while on a hike after the person she was with lost sight of her for just 45 seconds.
On July 18, 2007, Barbara Bolick was hiking with Jim Ramaker near Bear Creek Overlook outside Victor, Montana.
Ramaker reported that she was there one moment, and gone the next. In a matter of seconds, he says, Bolick vanished without a trace, per NBC Montana.
Bolick would now be 71 years old. Described as 5-feet tall and 115 pounds, with brown eyes, red or auburn hair, and pierced ears, she was last seen wearing a pastel-colored shirt, tan shorts, and a black backpack.
Despite exhaustive ground searches, including the use of police dogs, no sign of her has been found.
Bolick’s disappearance has prompted continued calls for information, with law enforcement agencies renewing efforts to understand what might have occurred.
Last year, authorities issued a fresh appeal for any information that might help reconstruct the events leading up to her sudden vanishing.
Ramaker, Bolick’s hiking partner and the last person known to have seen her, has cooperated fully with police, who do not suspect him of any wrongdoing in the case.
“They were only a short distance apart,” said Jim Harmon, a news historian and former NBC Montana news director.
“Yet in a few seconds, he looks back and she’s not there. It’s just amazing to me. How in the world did that happen? How could she not just have been a short distance down the hill? It’s absolutely a mystery.”
The search for Bolick has been costly, involving multiple agencies and substantial resources.
“You can imagine the apparatus that is involved when someone disappears,” said Jesse Laslovich, U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, in an interview with NBC Montana.
“It’s not only local and state authorities. We also have search and rescue involved with some of these volunteer organizations. We have federal authorities involved. It’s hundreds and thousands of dollars, just in hours that are put into it, that we’re paying people who are actually investigating the cases. Is it worth it? Of course.”
Laslovich also rejected theories suggesting Bolick may have chosen to disappear voluntarily, explaining that it would be nearly impossible to build a new life undetected.
“It’d be highly unlikely if someone were still alive, still able to function, especially when we have really extensive means at the federal level,” he said.
“So it just would be really difficult for someone to just disappear; to start a new life with nothing.”