October 6 top stories
It is October 6. Here are today’s top stories.
Footprints in New Mexico may be oldest sign of humans in Americas
AP News said new research on fossil human footprints at the White Sands National Park in New Mexico shows that they are likely the oldest direct evidence of human presence in the Americas. The footprints date back to between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago.
AP News explained that scientists dated the footprints through looking at seeds of aquatic plants, ancient conifer (tree) pollen, and quartz grains. The materials were on the same sedimentary (rock) layer as the footprints.
The area at White Sands National Park used to be populated with now extinct animals such as mammoths, ground sloths, or saber-toothed cats.
Brooklyn subway shooter gets life in prison
Frank James, the man who set smoke bombs in a crowded New York City subway before shooting 10 people in April 2022, was sentenced to life in prison.
James, who is 64, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of terrorism and weapons charges in January and now he is sentenced to 10 life terms plus 10 years.
Biden’s dog removed from White House for biting
President Biden’s 2-year-old German shepherd dog Commander has been removed from the White House because it bit White House staff and U.S. Secret Service officers 11 times since 2021.
First Lady Jill Biden said she and Joe “care deeply about the safety of those who work at the White House…”
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More details on grizzly bear attack
Here is more information on the couple that was killed by a grizzly bear when camping in the Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada.
Their names are Doug Inglis and Jenny Gusse. Both were 62. Doug’s nephew said they regularly checked in with him to update on where they were and what they were doing.
On September 29, the couple told the nephew that they were setting up camp. Later that evening, they sent a message through their GPS device that read, “Bear attack bad.” The nephew said getting that message meant that there is something bad that is happening but you don’t have a lot of information.
Park workers arrived at the site where the couple were camping around 1 a.m. and found the couple dead. Their tent was crushed. The nephew said he believes the couple were using their e-readers when the attack happened as their devices were found inside the tent.
The nephew said there was an empty bear spray canister, which showed that they tried to scare off the bear. He said there was a struggle and the struggle did not stay in one place. The couple had a dog with them, a border collie, and it was also killed.
When park workers were at the site, they were charged by a grizzly bear and they shot and killed it. The bear was estimated to be about 25 years old.
The couple is said to be experienced hikers and had hung their food cache safely at a distance from their tent. Park officials said they wouldn’t speculate on what caused the attack because it happened in a remote wilderness location and there were no witnesses.
Dick Butkus dies at 80
Dick Butkus, the famed Chicago Bears linebacker who played in nine NFL seasons in the 1960s and 1970s, has passed away at the age of 80. His family said he died peacefully in his sleep at home in Malibu, California.
Butkus was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. He was known for being a very aggressive and intimidating player.
After his retirement from football, he found a new career in acting — appearing in many television shows and movies.
Jailed Iranian activist wins Nobel Peace prize
Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian human rights activist who is currently serving a 10-year jail sentence for “spreading propaganda,” was honored with the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize.
The prize committee said she won the award for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.”
Narges previously said in a book that she will not stop campaigning for human rights even if it means she will be put in jail again and again.
That is all the top stories for this week. Have a nice weekend and stay with the light.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/05/bear-attack-bad-canadian-hikers-grizzly-banff
https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/05/sport/dick-butkus-death-illinois-bears/index.html