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Lionel Rosenblatt, whose advocacy for refugees began with derring-do in Vietnam, dies at 82

BANGKOK (AP) — Lionel Rosenblatt, who as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer carried out an unauthorized evacuation of hundreds of Vietnamese citizens before the 1975fall of Saigon, has died at age 82.

Associated Press FILE - South Vietnamese refugees, foreground, who arrived on Friday, March 28, 1975 at the port city of Da Nang, South Vietnam, watch hopefully, as a boat loaded with refugees approaches the dock. The helter Skelter flight from advancing North Vietnamese resulted in the separation of navy families. Refugees already in the city Jam docks looking for their relatives to arrive. (AP Photo, File) FILE - General view of a refugee camp located about 25 miles from Nan, Thailand, near the Laos border, about 500 kilometers north of Bangkok, April 20, 1979. There are 11,000 refugees in this camp - ninety percent of them are Hmong people. (AP Photo/Eddie Adams, File) FILE - Fleeing Cambodians encamp on a scorching hot Thai farm field at Kud Pai Village near the countries' common border on April 27, 1979 in Thailand. Tens of thousands of Khmers, many of them soldiers loyal to be the government of ousted Premier Pol Pot, fled into Thailand recently to escape advancing Vietnamese forces. They were later forced to return to Cambodia. (AP Photo, File)

Obit Lionel Rosenblatt

The episode set off a career as a high-profile advocate for refugee rights. Rosenblatt was president of the Washington-based Refugees International from 1990 to 2001, and he lobbied for more active humanitarian intervention in crisis spots such asBosniaandRwanda.

Rosenblatt died Saturday in the Washington area after a battle with cancer.

Refugees International President Jeremy Konyndyk recalled Rosenblatt as a “fierce, creative, passionate champion for refugees" who “helped to shape a generation of humanitarian leaders.”

Rosenblatt was especially devoted to helping refugees in Southeast Asia.

He served in Bangkok as the U.S. Embassy’s refugee coordinator in 1976-1981, dealing with Vietnamese “boat people” andCambodiansescaping famine after Vietnam ousted the murderous Khmer Rouge from power in 1979.

Born in New York in 1943, Rosenblatt joined the State Department in 1966 and had early postings in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand and Washington.

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As communist forces swept toward South Vietnam’s capital Saigon in early 1975, Rosenblatt was among several State Department officials concerned about safely evacuating Vietnamese who had ties to the U.S. government and military.

Stymied by U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin’s reluctance to act decisively, Rosenblatt and colleague Craig Johnstone defied regulations to launch a rescue mission, taking personal leave and traveling privately to Saigon. They arranged flights out of the country for 200–400 at-risk Vietnamese.

According to Rosenblatt, on their return to Washington, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger gave them an in-person pro-forma scolding accompanied by warm personal compliments, and they suffered no official consequences.

Rosenblatt displayed special empathy for ethnic minorities whose fates were largely regarded as collateral damage.

These included theHmong hill-tribe minorityin Laos, who served as proxy soldiers for the U.S. in its "Secret War” to support a pro-Western government against the communist Pathet Lao.

Expecting retribution after the Pathet Lao triumphed in 1975, tens of thousands of Hmong fled to Thailand. Recognizing that the tribal Hmong faced significant prejudice and poor resettlement prospects in the U.S., Rosenblatt and his team obscured their ethnic status on official paperwork to ensure their acceptance.

“It was always a mystery to me why they were good enough to fight for us but not good enough to consider for resettlement," Rosenblatt said in a2022 television interview.

Lionel Rosenblatt, whose advocacy for refugees began with derring-do in Vietnam, dies at 82

BANGKOK (AP) — Lionel Rosenblatt, who as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer carried out an unauthorized evacuation of hundreds of Vietnames...
China Evergrande's billionaire boss falls from circles of power to fraud plea

By Clare Jim

Reuters

HONG KONG, April 14 (Reuters) - Mingling with power brokers at centenary celebrations of the Chinese Communist Party on July 1, 2021, a beaming Hui Ka Yan betrayed no sign of the pressure mounting on his property company, China Evergrande Group, the world's most indebted.

Hui ‌looked relaxed in navy-blue suit and open-necked shirt as he stood on a podium overlooking the festivities in Tiananmen Square, an invitation many considered ‌an official show of support for the billionaire businessman.

Flanked by the business elite, the founder of Evergrande, started in 1996 in the southern city of Guangzhou, spoke of his debt deleveraging goals, just ​a month after having outlined them in a rare meeting with more than 1,000 suppliers.

Now, nearly five years later, with Evergrande in liquidation over total liabilities of more than $300 billion, roughly the equivalent of Finland's gross domestic product, Hui, 67, has pleaded guilty to charges such as fundraising fraud and bribery.

His plea, after three years spent in detention, draws a line under the collapse of an empire that thrust China's property sector into the glare of global investors.

The liquidators of Evergrande, appointed by a Hong Kong court, ‌declined to comment. Reuters was unable to seek comment ⁠from Hui. The municipal government of the southern hub of Shenzhen did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Hui, a former steel technician, raised by his grandmother in a rural village in the central province of Henan, built his fortune on the ⁠back of low-priced homes.

Under him, the property developer expanded aggressively by raising loans to support its land-buying sprees and selling homes at lower margins for quick turnover.

Evergrande grew to achieve 700 billion yuan ($103 billion) in annual sales by 2020.

In 2017, Hui was Asia's richest man, with a net worth of $45.3 billion, according to Forbes. By 2023, his net worth was ​estimated ​at $3 billion.

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Hui was known for keeping a low public profile and being a workaholic, who at ​times demanded that others followed his work style, three employees ‌told Reuters.

He also set ambitious targets; when questioned by investors and reporters in the past decade about his highly leveraged projects, Hui said Evergrande's high turnover and asset value were sufficient to cover its debts.

POKER PALS Hui did not shy away from new ventures, especially in support of China's larger goals. He dabbled in electric cars and soccer, both passions of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Outside mainland China, Hui mixed with Hong Kong tycoons, becoming a core member of the "poker club", a tight-knit circle that often did investment deals together, said three people familiar with it.

"He was very composed when he was first brought to the club; he knowingly lost a lot of ‌money in the games and gained the fondness of Cheng," said one of the sources, ​referring to Cheng Yu Tung, the late founder of the New World Development group.

Cheng injected $150 million ​into Evergrande a year before its Hong Kong IPO in 2009, according ​to Evergrande's listing prospectus, helping it through a crunch during the financial crisis in the wake of its aggressive expansion.

Hui's debt-laden businesses ‌worried regulators who had warned Evergrande to get its house in ​order for fear of contagion.

Speaking at the ​2018 China Charity Awards as a winner for an eighth consecutive year, Hui said Evergrande had paid tax totalling 185 billion yuan in the past 22 years and donated more than 10 billion yuan.

"Without the country's policy to reform higher education, I could not have left the village. Without the ​country giving me a scholarship of 14 yuan every ‌month, I could not have completed university," Hui said.

"Without the country's good policy to reform and open up, Evergrande would not have become ​what it has today. Therefore, everything that Evergrande and I have, they are all given by the Party, by the country, and by ​society."

($1=6.8171 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Clare Jim; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Clarence Fernandez)

China Evergrande's billionaire boss falls from circles of power to fraud plea

By Clare Jim HONG KONG, April 14 (Reuters) - Mingling with power brokers at centenary celebrations of the Chinese Communist Party...
Man drowns in Colorado River trying to retrieve hat that blew away

A 26-year-old man drowned while trying to get a hat from theColorado Riverin Arizona, officials say.

USA TODAY

The man, identified as Kristopher Nathaniel Logan, drowned the morning of Monday, April 13, in the Colorado River near Davis Camp, theBullhead City Police Departmentshared in a news release.

Mohave County Parks Park Administrator Bo Hellams told USA TODAY on April 14 that the drowning happened in front of Davis Camp property. Although Logan was rescued in the area, he launched his boat elsewhere.

"They rented the boat to fish," Hellams said. "His hat fell off and he jumped in after it."

Logan was in a pontoon boat around 11:15 a.m. that day when he tried to get the hat, police said. He fell into the water and didn’t resurface.

The Bullhead City Fire Department dive team recovered his body, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Logan is from San Marcos, California, about 39 miles northeast of San Diego, police said. He was not wearing a life jacket, and his drowning appears to be an accident, they added.

USA TODAY has contacted the Bullhead City Police Department and the Bullhead City Fire Department to get more details surrounding the drowning.

<p style=Sid Krofft, a puppeteer turned producer of beloved children's programs such as "H.R. Pufnstuf" and "Land of the Lost," died at 96.

Krofft died of natural causes Friday, April 10, at the home of his friend and business partner Kelly Killian, Krofft's publicist, Adam Fenton, told USA TODAY on April 13. Sid and brother Marty Krofft were the minds behind imaginative children's programs beginning in the late '60s, with "H.R. Pufnstuf" debuting on NBC in 1969. The series about a shipwrecked boy Jimmy (played by Jack Wild) was followed by other memorable series such as "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters," "Land of the Lost," and variety shows "Donny and Marie" and "Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Indian actress and singer Asha Bhosle, known for her versatile repertoire and high-energy singing in countless Bollywood movies, died on April 12 at the age of 92. Bhosle had been hospitalized in Mumbai, India, due to a chest infection and exhaustion, her granddaughter, Zanai Bhosle, said.

Over the course of her career, Bhosle was nominated for two Grammy Awards and landed the Dadasaheb Phalke award, India's top arts accolade, and also the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-highest civilian honor.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=DJ and rapper Afrika Bambaataa, who played a seminal role in shaping hip-hop, died on April 9 at age 68, Bambaataa's manager, Naf Aroug, confirmed to USA TODAY. TMZ reported that he died from complications of cancer.

The Bronx-native emcee is best known for his 1982 hit "Planet Rock." He also collaborated with many innovative funk artists, from James Brown and John Lydon to George Clinton.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Chip Taylor, the "Angel of the Morning" and "Wild Thing" songwriter whose family members include brother Jon Voight and niece Angelina Jolie, has died. He was 86. The singer – born James Wesley Voight – died Monday, March 23, according to his label, Train Wreck Records.

After British rock band The Troggs recorded his track "Wild Thing," it shot up the Billboard charts, topping the Hot 100 in 1966. In 2019, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its "lasting qualitative or historical significance." It also played a part in an iconic moment in music history when a kneeling Jimi Hendrix doused his guitar with lighter fluid and set it on fire to close out the Jimi Hendrix Experience's set at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. Merrilee Rush popularized Taylor's song "Angel In The Morning" with her 1968 recording, but it was Juice Newton's version in 1981 that entered the Billboard Hot 100.

He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2016, with his brothers accompanying Taylor at the ceremony.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Valerie Perrine, an Oscar-nominated actress who performed opposite Dustin Hoffman's Lenny Bruce in 1974's "Lenny" and starred in Christopher Reeve's "Superman" films, has died. She was 82.

Perrine "passed away peacefully at her home on March 23, 2026, surrounded by love, exactly as she had wished," according to Stacey Souther, director of the 2019 documentary short "Valerie." Perrine battled Parkinson's disease for 15 years, making her acting career "no longer possible," Souther wrote in a GoFundMe page.

Perrine's role as Honey Bruce earned her a best actress nomination at the 1975 Oscars, and she cinched the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as a BAFTA honor for most promising newcomer.

She was perhaps best known for acting alongside the late Gene Hackman, who played Superman's nemesis Lex Luthor in 1978's "Superman" and its 1980 sequel, portraying his girlfriend and assistant Miss Eve Teschmacher.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Nicholas Brendon, the actor beloved by fans as Xander Harris on seven seasons of TV’s "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," died March 20. His family said in a statement that star, 54, died in his sleep of natural causes.

“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son,” the family wrote on Brendon’s official Facebook page, asking for privacy “as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination and heart."

The actor was nominated for several Saturn Awards during his “Buffy” run and also appeared as FBI technical analyst Kevin Lynch on “Criminal Minds.”

After “Buffy,” Brendon had numerous health difficulties and struggled with substance abuse. He was in treatment to manage his diagnosis and “he was optimistic about the future,” his family wrote.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Chuck Norris, the action icon whose martial arts skills became his springboard to a Hollywood career, died March 19 at 86, his family confirmed on Instagram. No cause of death was given. To the world, he was “a symbol of strength,” the statement read. “To us, he was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, an incredible brother, and the heart of our family."

Norris, a martial arts teacher and karate champion, was cast by Bruce Lee as the villain Colt in Lee's 1972 film "The Way of the Dragon." From there, he starred in a lengthy run of box office hits, including “Missing in Action,” “Code of Silence” and “The Delta Force,” and became a huge TV star in nine seasons of “Walker, Texas Ranger” (1993 to 2001).

On his birthday – nine days before his death – he posted video of himself sparring. “I don’t age,” he wrote. “I level up.”

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Kiki Shepard, the longtime co-host of "Showtime at the Apollo," died March 16 at age 74, her representative confirmed to TMZ and Variety. No cause of death was given.

Shepard co-hosted the long-running show filmed at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem from 1987 to 2002. Known as the "Apollo Queen of Fashion," the actress and Broadway dancer flaunted her style onstage alongside hosts including Steve Harvey and Sinbad. On TV, she appeared on shows like "Baywatch," "Sirens" and "Thunder in Paradise."

In 2006, Shepard launched the KIS Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at raising awareness for sickle cell, and said she carried the gene for the disease.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell, who spent three decades in the hard rock band, died at 64, his family shared March 14 on social media accounts for his band Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons. His family said he died peacefully after "a complex major operation."

Campbell joined Motörhead in 1984 and went on to be the longest-serving member other than founder Lemmy Kilmister. He recorded 16 albums with Motörhead, including “Orgasmatron,” and the group disbanded after Kilmister’s death in 2015.

“You could not be around him without a chuckle or twenty, because quite simply, Phil loved life and lived it with great joy," his band Bastard Sons posted. "The world has just lost an enormous beam of light, and we are devastated."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rapper and longtime radio host Lord Sear has died, SiriusXM confirmed on March 11. He was 52.

"He was more than a voice on the radio — he was a force, a friend, and family to so many of us," the caption of a tribute post on Sears' Instagram page reads. "Lord Sear's legacy in hip hop runs deep."

Sear established a legacy for himself, tracing back to his involvement with the group Kurious in the 1990s and with the underground hip-hop radio show, "The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Tommy DeCarlo, a singer who made the leap from fan to touring lead vocalist for the rock band Boston, has died. He was 60.

"It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our dad, Tommy DeCarlo, on Monday, March 9th, 2026. After being diagnosed with brain cancer last September, he fought with incredible strength and courage right up until the very end," a message shared on his social media accounts — signed by Annie, Talia and Tommy DeCarlo Jr. — read.

Boston founder Tom Scholz paid homage to his bandmate in a statement shared with USA TODAY, which read, "This morning Tommy lost his fight with cancer. Everyone who has heard Tommy sing on stage, or on BOSTON albums, knows what a gifted artist he was, but few know how hard he worked to fill that role of BOSTON's lead vocalist, and to turn himself into a top-tier live performer – or more importantly, what a dedicated father he was to his children."

Scholz noted DeCarlo "appeared out of nowhere to rescue BOSTON in 2007" after singer Brad Delp's death.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style="Country Joe" McDonald, who became a Woodstock festival legend and fronted the band Country Joe and the Fish, has died at age 84.

The singer, born Joseph Allen McDonald, died March 7, in Berkeley, California, from complications from Parkinson's disease, according to a statement from the band that was shared on Facebook.

McDonald served as the lead singer and co-founder of the 1960s psychedelic folk-rock group Country Joe and the Fish, and he wrote the group's most enduring songs, including the protest song against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, titled "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag." That track became a battle cry and was immortalized, along with an infamous f-word cheer during his 1969 Woodstock performance.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Oliver "Power" Grant, a founding member of the hip-hop group the Wu-Tang Clan, died at 52. The Staten Island-based hip-hop collective confirmed his death in a Feb. 25 X post. "Rest in Power, Power," the group wrote alongside a video showing interview clips of the foundational member.

Born in Jamaica in the early 70s, Grant grew up in the Park Hill Projects in Staten Island with what would later become the Wu-Tang Clan. He was a childhood friend of Wu-Tang co-founder RZA's older brother Divine, and became a key part of the group's inception and successful run. Though Grant didn't perform in the group, he played a critical role in driving success not only in the music genre but also in transcending the culture into the world of fashion.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Katherine Hartley Short, Martin Short's eldest daughter, was found dead at her home on Feb. 23. She was 42.


The following day, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office confirmed the licensed clinical social worker's manner of death was determined to be suicide.

Hartley Short was a licensed clinical social worker operating a private practice in Los Angeles and specialized in adoption, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, grief and loss, suicidality, and relationship difficulties. Her mother, Short's late wife Nancy Dolman, died in August 2010 following a battle with ovarian cancer.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Neil Sedaka, the legendary singer-songwriter behind tracks like "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and "Oh! Carol," has died at 86, his representative Victoria Varela confirmed on Feb. 27.

"Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," the family said in a statement to USA TODAY.

The Brooklyn, New York, native grew up to become a beloved pop and rock musician with over 700 songwriting credits, including long-lasting, recognizable hits, such as "Laughter in the Rain" and “Calendar Girl."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style="Revenge of the Nerds" and "Lizzie McGuire" actor Robert Carradine died Monday, Feb. 23, by suicide after living for two decades with bipolar disorder, his brother Keith Carradine confirmed to Deadline. He was 71. "In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon [of] light to everyone around him," the family said in a statement.

Carradine starred as Bob Younger in "The Long Riders" alongside his actor brothers Keith and David, as Private Zab in "The Big Red One," and dorky underdog Lewis Skolnick in his breakout role, 1984's "Revenge of the Nerds," as well as its three sequels. Two decades later, he would go on to play Sam McGuire, dad to Hilary Duff in Disney Channel's "Lizzie McGuire."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style="Grey's Anatomy" and "Euphoria" star Eric Dane died 10 months after he revealed his ALS diagnosis. He was 53.

Dane's representative, Melissa Bank, confirmed the news in a statement to USA TODAY on Thursday, Feb. 19. "He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world," the statement read. "Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight."

Dane was best known for playing the charismatic and flirtatious Dr. Mark Sloan – aka "McSteamy" – on "Grey's Anatomy" from 2006 to 2012. He continued working in Hollywood after he went public with his diagnosis, playing a firefighter with ALS on NBC's "Brilliant Minds," and reprised his role of Cal Jacobs on HBO's "Euphoria" in the upcoming third season, due April 12, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Tom Noonan, the character actor known for roles in "Heat," "Manhunter" and "The Monster Squad," has died at 74, according to a social media post from Fred Dekker, Noonan's "Monster Squad" director.

Noonan became accustomed to playing antagonists on camera after his breakout role in "Manhunter," which was based on Thomas Harris' "Red Dragon," the first of his Hannibal Lecter novels. Noonan also played the main villain, Cain, in 1990's "Robocop 2" and the Ripper in 1993's "Last Action Hero."

Off-screen, Noonan was also a playwright and director who adapted his stage production, "What Happened Was…," into a 1994 indie film costarring Karen Sillas, which received acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival that year.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Frederick Wiseman, the prolific documentary filmmaker behind the controversial 1967 film "Titicut Follies" and 2017's "Ex Libris," has died. He was 96.

The director "passed away peacefully at his home" in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the morning of Feb. 16, a representative for his film distribution company Zipporah Films confirmed to USA TODAY.

Wiseman was well into his 30s when he started his filmmaking career, which kicked off with his directorial debut "Titicut Follies" and continued into his 90s. Wiseman's most recent project was 2023's "Menus-Plaisirs – Les Troisgros."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Robert Duvall, the Academy Award-winning actor known for his roles in Hollywood classics such as "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now," has died at 95.


Duvall died "peacefully" at home on Feb. 15 in Middleburg, Virginia, a representative for the actor confirmed. He was with his wife, Luciana Duvall.


During a seven-decade stage, TV and screen acting career, Duvall disappeared into a stunning range of strong-willed characters, leading to seven Oscar nominations and a best actor win for his role as a down-and-out country singer in 1983's "Tender Mercies."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Drummer Timothy Very, who performed with the Atlanta indie rock band Manchester Orchestra since 2011, has died, his bandmates shared on social media Feb. 14.

"The entire Manchester Orchestra family has been devastated by the sudden passing of our brother, Timothy Very. The most beloved human being any of us were lucky enough to know in this life. We’ve all been dreading sharing this news as we are all still in absolute disbelief," the band's post read.

"The only thing that Tim loved more than creating music was being with his family. You’d be pressed to find a more joyful dad. We love you Tim, thank you for loving us. You are a force of positivity that will be a constant presence in the rest of our days.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=James Van Der Beek, the actor known best for embodying those formative, angsty teenage years in "Dawson's Creek" and "Varsity Blues," died on Feb. 11 at age 48 following a battle with colorectal cancer.

"He met his final days with courage, faith and grace," read a post on the actor's official Instagram page. "There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Catherine O'Hara, the legendary actress known for "Home Alone," "Best in Show" and "Schitt's Creek," died on Jan. 30 at the age of 71, O'Hara's manager confirmed to People magazine. A cause of death was not given.

A veteran in the entertainment industry, O'Hara has been one of the most lauded and respected actors of her generation, winner of two career Emmy awards, a Golden Globe and two Actor Awards (formerly Screen Actors Guild Awards). She was nominated for two Emmys at the 2025 ceremony. 

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Chuck Negron, founding member of "One" and "Til the World Ends" rockers Three Dog Night, has died. He was 83.

The singer died Feb. 2 at his home in Los Angeles' Studio City neighborhood from heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complications, publicist Zach Farnum confirmed to USA TODAY.

Singers Danny Hutton and Cory Wells invited the New York City native to found Three Dog Night in 1967, going on to lead a successful run through the early '70s. Their 21 Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit singles include "Til the World Ends" and "Joy to the World." But the band is perhaps best known for their covers, popularizing Leo Sayer's "The Show Must Go On," Eric Burdon's "Mama Told Me," "Easy to Be Hard" from the musical "Hair" and Harry Nilsson's "One."

Negron embarked on a solo career, releasing the albums "Am I Still in Your Heart?," "Long Road Back" and the Christmas record "Joy to the World."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rafael Pineda, known to countless viewers as the familiar face of Univision 1, has died. He was 88.

Univision 41 announced the news with a story on its website, confirming Pineda died Jan. 25, in Florida.

Pineda anchored WXTV, or Univision 1, in New York for more than 40 years from 1972 to 2013, when he retired. When he left the network, he was the longest-serving news anchor in the New York market and a pioneering Spanish-language voice.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Kim Vō, the celebrity hair colorist behind the blond tresses of stars such as Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Pamela Anderson and Goldie Hawn, has died.

Vō died following a seven-year battle with colorectal cancer that saw him "exceeding all medical expectations," his husband, Adeel Vo-Khan, wrote in a Jan. 24 social media post.


Aside from working with celebrity clients, Vō also appeared on shows like Bravo's "Shear Genius" and the 2022 Paramount+ show "Blowing LA," which featured his flagship salon in West Hollywood, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Rob Hirst, the Australian rock drummer best known for cofounding the band Midnight Oil, has died at age 70 following a battle with pancreatic cancer, Hirst's bandmates revealed on social media on Jan. 20. Hirst had been diagnosed in 2023.

The musician released 13 studio albums with Midnight Oil from 1978-2022, including 1987's platinum-selling "Diesel and Dust." He was also a member of the bands Ghostwriters and Backsliders.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Valentino Garavani, Italian fashion designer to the stars, died at 93.

A post shared Jan. 19 on Instagram by his foundation and his own @realmrvalentino account reads, “Our founder, Valentino Garavani, passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones.” His cause of death was not given.

The founder of the eponymous brand Valentino retired from designing in 2008 after a storied career in fashion that included dressing notable figures, such as Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, Joan Collins, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Penelope Cruz and Sharon Stone. He also introduced a signature shade of crimson, with a hit of orange, known as “Valentino Red.”

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Roger Allers, the Oscar-nominated animated filmmaker who co-directed Disney's 1994 blockbuster hit "The Lion King," died on Jan. 17, the company's CEO announced. He was 76.

Allers died following "a short illness," a Walt Disney Animation Studios spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter and Animation Magazine. USA TODAY reached out to the studio and his family for additional information.

Disney CEO Bob Iger spoke about Allers' death in a Jan. 18 social media post, calling the director a "creative visionary whose many contributions to Disney will live on for generations to come."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Scott Adams, the cartoonist who created the long-running "Dilbert" comic strip, has died at 68 after a battle with prostate cancer. Adams shared his cancer diagnosis in May 2025. In 2023, numerous newspapers dropped his comic strip after he made racist comments saying that white people should "get the hell away from Black people."

Adams' ex-wife, Shelly Miles, announced his death during a Jan. 13 livestream. She also read a message from Adams, which he authored at the start of the year. "I had an amazing life," Adams wrote in his New Year's Day letter. "I gave it everything I had. If I got any benefits from my work, I'm asking that you pay it forward as best as you can. That's the legacy I want: be useful. And please know, I loved you all to the very end."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Bob Weir, a founding member of the Grateful Dead, died on Jan. 10 at age 78. Weir's death was announced in a post on Instagram, which said the cause was "underlying lung issues."

"For over sixty years, Bobby took to the road. A guitarist, vocalist, storyteller, and founding member of the Grateful Dead. Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music," the post said. "His work did more than fill rooms with music; it was warm sunlight that filled the soul, building a community, a language, and a feeling of family that generations of fans carry with them."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Actor T.K. Carter died on Jan. 9 at age 69, representatives confirmed to USA TODAY.

Born Thomas Kent Carter, the actor was known for his roles in films like "The Thing" and TV shows like "Punky Brewster." "T.K. Carter was a consummate professional and a genuine soul whose talent transcended genres," his publicist, Tony Freeman, said. "He brought laughter, truth, and humanity to every role he touched. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of artists and fans alike."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Grammy-nominated country songwriter Jim McBride, known for cowriting over a dozen Alan Jackson records, including "Chattahoochee," has died. He was 78.

Jackson confirmed McBride's death in an Instagram tribute on Jan. 8.

"Jim and I wrote some of my favorite songs together and I don't know if my career would have ended up quite the same without his help," Jackson wrote, "inspiration, and encouragement in my early years. Thank you Jim, rest in peace." The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer is also credited with helping write Conway Twitty's "A Bridge That Just Won't Burn," among other songs.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Hungarian director Béla Tarr, best known for dark dramas such as "Damnation," "Satantango" and "The Turin Horse," died on Jan. 6 following a "long and serious illness," the European Film Academy announced in a tribute to the late filmmaker.

2011's "The Turin Horse," Tarr's final feature film, won best foreign language film at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, as well as the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Passages 2026 – Sid Krofft, John Nolan, more stars we lost

Sid Krofft, a puppeteer turned producer of beloved children's programs such as "H.R. Pufnstuf" and "Land of the Lost," died at 96.Krofft died of natural causes Friday, April 10, at the home of his friend and business partner Kelly Killian, Krofft's publicist, Adam Fenton, told USA TODAY on April 13. Sid and brother Marty Krofft were the minds behind imaginative children's programs beginning in the late '60s, with "H.R. Pufnstuf" debuting on NBC in 1969. The series about a shipwrecked boy Jimmy (played by Jack Wild) was followed by other memorable series such as "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters," "Land of the Lost," and variety shows "Donny and Marie" and "Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell Sisters."

Another Colorado River drowning in 2026

There was another drowning that happened earlier this year on the Colorado River, according to aNational Park Service news release. The incident happened on Feb. 19, around 11:15 a.m., the park service said.

A group on a noncommercial river trip contacted Grand Canyon National Park and said they were near Hance Rapid on the Colorado River when the man, Aaron Benjamin, 30, of Post Falls, Idaho, fell into the water. Group members pulled him from the water, found him unresponsive, and began CPR.

Park rangers flew to the location via helicopter and tried to help, but Benjamin later died. The National Park Service said the agency and the Coconino County Medical Examiner were investigating the incident.

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Officials offer boating safety tips, tips for being on the Colorado River

Bullhead City officials haveboating safety tipson the city’s website, including requirements for life vests.

According to the city, all boats must have a personal flotation device for each person on board, children 12 and under must wear a life jacket, and everyone riding a jet ski or personal watercraft must wear a secured life jacket.

Officials also encouraged visitors to make sure they are sober while boating, keep a good amount of distance between themselves and others and slow down.

Another tip experts previously provided for those enjoying the Colorado River is being mindful of just how cold the water can be.

According to the Arizona Game & Fish Department, when people suddenly enter cold water, they have:

  • About one minute to get their breathing under control.

  • About 10 minutes before losing muscle control in their arms and legs.

  • About one hour before hypothermia shuts their bodies down.

When people suddenly enter water temperatures below 60 degrees, cold water shock can set in. They may experience an automatic gasp reflex, and if they are underwater when automatically gasping, they could drown.

"Wearing a life jacket keeps your head above water should the gasp reflex hit," theArizona Game & Fish Department said last spring.

Cold water can also lead to increased breathing rate, whichcan cause hyperventilationleading to fainting and then drowning. The coldness of the water constricts arteries, requiring the heart to work harder than normal to function.

"This can cause cardiac arrest," the Arizona Game & Fish Department said.

This story has been updated with information.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trending team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her atsdmartin@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Man drowns trying to retrieve hat from Arizona's Colorado River

Man drowns in Colorado River trying to retrieve hat that blew away

A 26-year-old man drowned while trying to get a hat from theColorado Riverin Arizona, officials say. The man, identified as Kristo...
Dolphins not interested in trading star running back De'Von Achane, GM Jon-Eric Sullivan says

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jon-Eric Sullivan is looking for generational players to add in next week'sNFL draft.

Associated Press FILE - Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (28) escapes a tackle by New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor (1) during the first half of an NFL football game, Nov. 30, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File) Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan gestures during a pre-NFL draft football press conference Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Dolphins Achane Football

The Miami Dolphins general manager knows he already has one on his roster in De'Von Achane, and he has no interest in parting ways with the star running back.

Despite unloading the majority of Miami's core from the last few seasons, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receiversJaylen WaddleandTyreek Hill, Sullivan said Wednesday that Achane is not going anywhere amid contract negotiations.

“He is not available for trade," Sullivan said. "Things are going good. We've had some positive conversations over the last couple of days. Trending in the right direction.”

Achane is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is expected to be a key piece of Miami's rebuilt roster along with quarterback Malik Willis, whom Miami acquiredafter cutting Tagovailoain March.

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Achane rushed for at least 800 yards in each of his first three seasons, with 1,350 yards on 238 carries last season. He averaged a league-leading 5.7 yards per carry with eight rushing touchdowns, along with 488 receiving yards and four receiving scores.

The Dolphins have 11 total picks in the 2026 draft, including the 11th overall selection.

Sullivan also had had talks on potential contract extensions for center Aaron Brewer and linebacker Jordyn Brooks, though nothing is imminent for either veteran. Both were captains for the Dolphins last season.

AP NFL:https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Dolphins not interested in trading star running back De'Von Achane, GM Jon-Eric Sullivan says

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jon-Eric Sullivan is looking for generational players to add in next week'sNFL draft. Dolphins Ac...
Missing 15-Year-Old Girl Was Last Seen a Week Ago, Fla. Police Say She May Be 'in Danger'

Adriana Hernandez, 15, was last seen in Milton, Florida, on April 7 and may have traveled to Georgia, according to police

People Adriana HernandezCredit: FDLE

NEED TO KNOW

  • Authorities upgraded her case to an Amber Alert "due to an ongoing investigation"

  • The public is urged to contact law enforcement with any information about Adriana’s whereabouts

Police in Florida have issued an Amber Alert amid their search for a missing 15-year-old girl after receiving evidence that she “may be in danger.”

Adriana Hernandez has been missing since Tuesday, April 7, according to aFacebook postuploaded by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) on Monday, April 13.

The Santa Rosa teen was last seen in the area of the 6400 block of Bruce Lane in Milton, Florida, and she “may have traveled to Georgia,” according to authorities.

Adriana HernandezCredit: FDLE

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The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office said they were originally investigating Adriana’s case as a runaway child, but the department told thePensacola News Journalthat officers discovered evidence that she “may be in danger.”

Adriana is described as a “white-hispanic female, 15 years old, 5 feet 1 inch tall, 130 pounds, brown hair and brown eyes,” per the FDLE’s post, which adds that she may also have a "reddish-brown tint" to her hair.

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“Due to an ongoing investigation, this case has been upgraded to an AMBER alert,” the FDLE added.

AMBER stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, according to theDepartment of Justice. AMBER alerts are “issued for abducted children” that meet certain criteria.

“The AMBER Alert System began in 1996 when Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasters teamed with local police to develop an early warning system to help find abducted children,” it stated.

Anyone with information about Adriana or her whereabouts is urged to contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office at 850-983-1190 or 911.

The FDLE and Santa Rose County Sheriff’s Office were contacted by PEOPLE for further information, but did not immediately respond.

Read the original article onPeople

Missing 15-Year-Old Girl Was Last Seen a Week Ago, Fla. Police Say She May Be 'in Danger'

Adriana Hernandez, 15, was last seen in Milton, Florida, on April 7 and may have traveled to Georgia, according to police NEED TO...

 

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