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Climbing Star, 23, Falls to His Death From Yosemite’s El Capitan

Climbing Star, 23, Falls to His Death From Yosemite’s El Capitan

Climber ​​Balin Miller has died on El Capitan while 500 people watched in a live stream. The 23-year-old was near the top of Sea of Dreams, a notoriously treacherous route up the 3,000-foot granite monolith in Yosemite National Park. Miller rose to fame within the climbing community this summer following a solo ascent of the 9,000-foot Slovak Direct in his home state, Alaska. Photographer Tom Evans was documenting Miller’s Yosemite climb and was watching as the tragedy unfolded. He noted that a bag got stuck. “His rope didn’t reach the bag’s location by many feet, but he seemed unaware of the fact,” he said. “On the way down, he rappelled off the end of the rope.” Authorities have launched an investigation into the fall, which is the third death in the park this year, Associated Press reported. His mother Jeanine Girard-Moorman said, “His heart and soul was truly to just climb. He loved to climb, and it was never about money and fame.” The incident was livestreamed through a telescope by an enthusiast whose name is being reported only as Eric. Five hundred people were watching when he fell, News.com.au reports.
The night sky over Los Angeles was lit up by a huge blaze at a Chevron oil refinery that choked parts of the city with clouds of acrid smoke. Firefighters responded to reports of a blast at the El Segundo facility, just south of Los Angeles International Airport, at around 9.30 p.m. on Thursday. No one was reported injured, although a shelter-in-place order was issued for parts of Manhattan Beach. According to LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, via KCAL/KCBS, a coalition of responders managed to contain the fire to just one part of the 1,000-acre site. The El Segundo refinery, said to be the largest on the West Coast, can handle up to 290,000 barrels of crude a day, with a total storage capacity of 12.5 million tons. Flights from LAX were operating as usual, although there were concerns for air quality given the smoke and fumes emitted by the blaze. Mark Rogers, 34, was playing in an adult soccer league in nearby Aviation Park when the blast happened, and thick smoke forced the referee to cancel the game. “I thought we got nuked or something,” he told the Los Angeles Times. El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel said, “Obviously, we are very concerned, and there is a lot of investigative work to be done to see what has happened.”
With Thanksgiving and the holidays just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to invest in cookware essentials so you can whip up delicious meals that keep your guests coming back for seconds (and thirds). Currently on sale, these curated picks from QVC are must-have pieces for every level of home chef.
6.5-qt Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven
Originally $364
Buy At QVC$ 320
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This cast-iron Dutch oven from Le Creuset is ideal for slow cooking, roasting, braising, and frying. Its enameled interior resists staining and prevents food from sticking. Thanks to the cast-iron construction, this Dutch oven heats evenly, and its depth reduces boil-overs and messy splatters.
Cast Iron 2.75-qt Traditional Saucepan
Originally $268
Buy At QVC$ 225
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Picture this: it’s a Saturday afternoon, and you’re laughing with friends while the rich aroma of a hearty Bolognese sauce fills your home. This Le Creuset saucepan can make moments like that—and more—a reality. The saucepan’s curved interior and rounded base make stirring effortless, while the extended helper handles make it a breeze to transfer from stovetop to table.
Avobagel Garlic Peeler And Ratchet Chopper
Originally $24
Preparing ingredients like garlic, ginger, and shallots is important but tedious. That’s where this clever peeler and chopper set comes in. It easily peels tough skins and the ratchet chopper finely dices ingredients in no time.
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The Bachelor star Melissa Rycroft’s lawyer released a statement underlining the “fundamental principle” that every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty after she was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Rycroft, 42, was booked into the Tarrant County Jail, where she remained for eight hours before posting a $1,000 bond and promising to appear in court. “My client was arrested on the allegation of driving while intoxicated. An arrest is no indication of guilt,” Rycroft’s lawyer Bret Martin told TMZ, which also published her police mugshot. “It is imperative that we closely examine the circumstances of this case, including the conduct of law enforcement, the toxicology results, and the facts surrounding her arrest, before any conclusions are drawn.” She was arrested on Sept. 23 in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Rycroft, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, appeared on The Bachelor in 2009, competing for the affection of Jason Mesnick, who went on to marry another contestant, Molly Malaney. Rycroft, who also appeared on Dancing With the Stars, is now married to Tye Strickland.
The Golden Globes will start giving out an award for Best Podcast beginning next year, and among the podcasts deemed eligible for nomination is The Joe Rogan Experience. Launched in 2009, the comedian and TV host’s podcast has grown to be one of the world’s most popular, with more than 2,300 episodes already produced. In the lead-up to last year’s presidential election, Donald Trump was Rogan’s guest, and Rogan later endorsed him. Also in contention for the newly created award are The Tucker Carlson Show, Pod Save America, and Call Her Daddy. Eligible podcasts were selected from the 25 most-streamed podcasts. “As the world of entertainment continues to evolve, we are excited to recognize new forms of storytelling,” Helen Hoehne, president of the Golden Globes organization, said in a statement announcing the category. “Podcasts have emerged as a profound medium for sharing narratives and building communities across global borders and generations. By celebrating achievements in both audio and visual podcasts, we aim to honor our heritage categories while making room for new voices and formats to be heard.” The awards show is set for Jan. 11, with comedian Nikki Glaser hosting.
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Getting enough protein can be tricky—especially if you rely on solid food alone. If you’re on a hunt for a quick, convenient, and energizing solution for meeting your macros, Bulletproof‘s new High Protein Iced Coffee gives you the ultimate boost. The iced coffee has 12 grams of fast-digesting whey isolate and slower-digesting whey concentrate to support muscle recovery, energy, and satiety. Plus, it’s also supercharged with twice the caffeine of a typical eight-ounce cup of joe. Mix it with water or milk for a frothy, creamy at-home latte that fuels both body and mind—no chalky texture or weird flavor.
High Protein Iced Coffee
BOGO 50% off sitewide with code BOGO50 through 9/28
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The new iced coffee mix is available in original and mocha flavors and has only 110 calories per serving. As with all of Bulletproof’s coffees, this High Protein Iced Coffee is checked for toxins caused by mold, so you can be sure you’re getting a clean cup every time. The best part? Right now, you can score 50 percent off your second bag with code BOGO50. Or, if you’re looking to pick up something for the warm coffee drinker in your house, the BOGO is applicable site-wide until Sept. 28.
Riley Gaines, the former swimmer turned right-wing commentator, has welcomed her first child. The 25-year-old OutKick contributor and anti-trans activist shared photos Thursday showing her cradling her newborn alongside her husband Louis Barker, 26. “There’s nothing that could’ve prepared me for a love like this,” Gaines wrote. “God has blessed us beyond belief. Welcome to the world, sweet Margot🎀🧸🩷” The photos are dated Sept. 29. Gaines became a MAGA star after she used her NCAA race against trans athlete Lia Thomas in 2022 to launch a career as an activist against trans women competing in women’s sports. She announced her pregnancy at a Turning Point USA event in June while taking a dig at Olympian Simone Biles, who had called her out as a “bully” for her transphobic comments on social media. “I think the funniest thing about this to me [is] [Biles] saying, ‘Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a man.’ How many men do you know that have this?” Gaines said, showing off her bump.
The family of a gunman who killed four Mormons at church in Michigan, will receive an extraordinary donation from other Mormons. Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, opened fire inside the Church of the Latter Day Saints in Grand Blanc, MI, last Sunday as about 100 people worshipped. He then burned the building down and died in an exchange of fire with law enforcement. Sanford, a Marine combat veteran, had become obsessed with hatred of Mormons after a relationship with a member of the church failed. But in a display of extraordinary generosity, David Butler, an LDS member set up a GiveSendGo page and asked for donations, saying, “One of the families that suffered a terrible loss on that day was the family of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the shooter. Sanford leaves behind a wife and children who must be grieving.” He specified that Sanford left behind a son who suffers from medical challenges, for whom the family tried to raise funds in the past with limited success. So far $293,707 has been raised. “It took my breath away, that this church is so forgiving, and understanding, and caring, and their first thing was to worry about the family that was left behind,” Katie Hamilton, Sanford’s sister, told the Detroit Free Press.
Chris Dreja, one of the original members of British rock band The Yardbirds, has died at 79. Dreja’s sister-in-law, Muriel Levy, confirmed his death on Threads, explaining the star “passed away after years of health problems.” Dreja was one of the founding members of the band after his brother introduced him to guitarist Top Topham, and the two formed the Metropolitan Blues Quartet. Lead vocalist Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, and bassist Paul Samwell-Smith later joined the duo and renamed to The Yardbirds in 1963. Samwell-Smith left the band and was replaced by Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page. When Page switched to lead guitar, Dreja moved to bass. Other notable band members over the years include Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. After playing for the spin-off band Box of Frogs in the 80s, The Yardbirds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. In 2010, the band made Rolling Stone’s list of “100 Greatest Artists of All Time.” Dreja left the band in 2013 after suffering a series of strokes in the past year.
Erik Menendez, 54, was transported to a medical facility outside of the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego to undergo surgery for kidney stones. Menendez and older brother Lyle were sentenced to life without parole in 1996 for killing their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Erik’s wife, Tammi, replied to a comment on TikTok asking how her husband was doing by saying, “He just had another surgery but is recovering. He is doing okay.” Erik is back at the San Diego correctional facility recovering from his procedure. TMZ reported, Erik was previously hospitalized in July for his persistent issue with kidney stones. After his first reported visit, Mark Geragos, Menendez’s attorney, asked Governor Gavin Newsom to release Menendez before his parole hearing due to his illness. Both Erik and his brother Lyle were denied parole at their respective hearings.
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With fall on the horizon, it’s time to get back into jackets. There’s truly nothing like a good jacket worn on a crisp autumn day, but finding the right one is actually harder than it seems. I’ve never been much of a jacket kind of guy, but then I came across a really special jacket from Huckberry, and now I understand why it’s a bestseller. Flint & Tinder’s Waxed Trucker Jacket is the best jacket in my closet—and frankly, the best thing I own at this point. This lightweight yet rugged jacket has only gotten better and better the more I’ve worn it, and I’ve owned it for a few years now. The waxed canvas feels soft and supple to the touch, and when I throw it on, it isn’t restricting at all.
Flint & Tinder’s Waxed Trucker Jacket
See At Huckberry$ 298
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What’s cool is with every movement, I can feel myself making a mark on the jacket—whether I’m leaning over to tie my shoes or hopping on my bike—I can feel the jacket getting more and more comfortable and broken in. The exterior is made with a weather-resistant waxed Martexin sailcloth; the interior is fully lined with a blanket-worthy lining, so you get the best of both worlds. It’s extremely stylish and goes with anything I wear it over, like sweaters, tees, and even button-downs. Right now, it comes in several different colors, but personally, I’m partial to the Havana brown. Slowly, this isn’t just becoming the best jacket in my closet, but it’s the only one I ever want to wear—that’s how good it is.
One Battle After Another star Chase Infiniti has revealed got her unique name from Nicole Kidman’s character in the Batman Forever movie. Infiniti, 25, shared that her parents were watching Batman Forever when they decided on her name. The actress revealed in a Vanity Fair interview that the film became one of her favorite movies after watching the film recently. “They were obsessed with Nicole Kidman as Chase Meridian,” she said in an interview on the Today Show. The naming process did not stop there. After her parents watched 1995’s Toy Story, Infiniti shared: “My parents were like, Oh my gosh, ‘To infinity and beyond,’” the animated toy Buzz Lightyear’s catchphrase in the film. The Today Show host pointed out Infiniti’s name was inspired by cinema and now she’s an actress. “I know, it’s really crazy.” she said.
Christina Haack credits a familiar face with supporting her through her tumultuous third divorce: her first husband, Tarek El Moussa. Haack, 42, told People that she ended her three-year marriage to Josh Hall, 45, last summer after a “blow-up” argument made her realize she and her children were uncomfortable around him. El Moussa, 44, was immediately supportive. “I called Tarek, and I said, ‘I’m worried right now. I feel uncomfortable.’ And he said, ‘Leave,’” Haack told People. She says he even took charge of firing Hall from their HGTV series, The Flip Off, which had just started filming its first season. “Tarek told our attorney and told the network for me that Josh would no longer be a part of the show,” she explained. The Christina on the Coast star says the network quickly agreed, but stipulated that Haack and El Moussa must film an episode discussing her divorce. The former couple, who rose to fame on the HGTV series Flip or Flop, were married from 2009 to 2018 and share daughter Taylor, 14, and son Brayden, 10. Haack remarried in 2018 to TV presenter Ant Anstead, with whom she shares a son, Hudson, 6. The pair divorced in 2021, and she married Hall later that year. After separating from Hall in July 2024, Haack is now in a relationship with Network Connex CEO Christopher Larocca. Meanwhile, El Moussa married Selling Sunset star Heather Rae Young, 38, in 2021, and the pair share a son, Tristan, 2. The Flip Off initially followed the El Moussas as they competed against Haack and Hall to flip houses for the largest profit, but Haack now competes solo. In a January 2025 episode, the mom-of-three revealed that her close co-parenting relationship with El Moussa brought out “insecurities” in Hall that contributed to the breakdown of their marriage.