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Ralph Lee, the celebrated puppeteer and theater artist who masterminded the Land Shark character on Saturday Night Live, has died at age 87 following a monthslong illness. The Westbeth Artists Housing and Center for the Arts, where Lee lived, shared the news in a statement. "Ralph Lee, Westbeth Master Puppeteer and founder of the Village Halloween Parade and the Mettawee River Theater Company, among many other accomplishments, passed away on May 12, 2023," the organization wrote. "He was a gentle, beloved figure of immense creative vision in the Westbeth community and the world — which is now a lonelier place...

A new species of shark that "walks" along the seabed using its fins as tiny legs has been discovered in eastern Indonesia, an environmental group said Friday. The brown and white bamboo shark pushes itself along the ocean floor as it forages for small fish and crustaceans at night, said Conservation International, whose scientists were involved in its discovery. The shark, which grows to a maximum length of just 80 centimetres (30 inches) and is harmless to humans, was discovered off Halmahera, one of the Maluku Islands that lie west of New Guinea. Bamboo sharks, also known as longtail carpet...

A seven-year-old boy has died four days after being savaged by two pit bull mix dogs belonging to his neighbour. Tyler Jett was dragged from his bike as he cycled home from school. He was just yards from his home in Calaway, Florida, when the two dogs, an Alapha blood bulldog and brindle bulldog, escaped and pounced on him. Family members hearing his screams ran from their home and managed to pull the dogs off him.

New Hampshire police are investigating the discovery of a blue shark that was found in the woods in the small town of Milton. Police say they found the 6-to 8-foot shark in a wooded area Thursday night after a resident reported smelling something decomposing.

A distraught mother has told how her two terrified children cowered in terror as their family pet was mauled to death by two dogs that forced their way into their home. Mother-of-four Sam Thomas, 34, said she barricaded herself and two of her children in their lounge because the rampaging animals were threatening Harmony, 12, Vanessa, 9. The attack left their nine-month-old Borzoi dog, Mika, dead and a police dog handler with a dislocated shoulder. ..............'They became aggressive towards the children so I got the kids in through the back door. 'But the dogs followed them and forced their way...

Have you heard? The Democratic National Committee Services Corporation (DNC Services Corporation or, Corporation) is “considering” revising its Presidential nominating rules. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/12/05/democrats-consider-new-presidential-nominating-process/ ... “We need to improve a little bit in spite of the fact that we got a great candidate out of the process,” Clyburn said Saturday at a meeting of a DNC working group tasked with drafting a new plan. “It was not very comfortable at various points along the way.” (Emphasis added by jbjd.) Ya think? ... Both the movie “Jaws” and the television show “Saturday Night Live” debuted in 1975. The hysteria – which Merriem-Webster defines...

71-Year-Old Mauled To Death While Gardening Neighbor's Dog Jumps FencePOSTED: 7:10 am EDT July 28, 2006 UPDATED: 7:28 am EDT July 28, 2006 KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- A 71-year-old woman died Thursday when she was attacked by a pit bull in Kansas City, Kan., officials said. Jimmie May McConnell was in her garden about 11:30 a.m. when the dog jumped the fence and attacked her. Firefighters had to hit the dog with an ax and a pole to get it off McConnell, officials said. "The dog was still on the victim," Assistant Fire Chief Craig Duke said. McConnell was taken...

A rampaging Rottweiler fatally mauled two tiny, trembling pooches — one a champion show dog — in Central Park as their terrified owner watched helplessly. The grim episode unfolded late Thursday, as Melanie Coronetz, an Upper East Side author, walked her purebreds, Argo, 10, and his half-sister Monkey, 11, and a third mixed-breed dog just inside the park near 101st Street. As the dogs did their business, Coronetz said the hulking Rottweiler bounded out of the bushes and sank its teeth into them.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - A pit bull that had once bitten a person fatally mauled a young girl before being subdued by firefighters using a fire extinguisher, officials said. The girl, who was 2 or 3 years old, was pronounced dead at a hospital following the attack Tuesday at the dog owner's home, police Sgt. Dan Underwood said. Her name was not released. "The girl, her mother and at least two other people were apparently hanging out on the house's porch," Underwood said. "The homeowner apparently told them all to stay out of the house where the dog was." It was...

The flight subsequently lost TCAS , both ATC transponders and a VHF/VOR receiver.

<p>ANDERSON CREEK, N.C. — A 3-year-old boy reported missing from his home was later found dead next to a pit bull (search) chained in a neighbor's back yard.</p> <p>Authorities would not confirm how the child died or that a dog attacked him, but Sheriff Larry Rollins said Wednesday that he had "trauma to the body."</p>

Larry Oliver knew something wasn't right with Roz, his daughter's pit bull. For four years Roz acted like a sweet dog, but suddenly Roz was acting bizarre. She growled for no reason, with a sneer that showed her sharp incisors. She didn't scamper around like the happy-go-lucky dog she had been. A few days after he noticed the change, on a Sunday afternoon two years ago, Roz attacked Oliver. Oliver was outside in the yard when the dog ran out, knocked him to the ground and bit him on the left leg. The puncture wounds drew blood. That's when, Oliver...

<p>A pit bull was shot, a cop and a dog walker were rushed to the hospital, and a police horse named "AAA Andy" was badly hurt but alive -- all this after a chance encounter between two animals on a crisp Sunday at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.</p>

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Will Stewart says he didn't have a choice in strangling a 6-month-old pit bull-mix puppy. The puppy that wasn't known to be aggressive suddenly turned violent last week. The dog bit or scratched four adults and two children in an Indian Trail neighborhood and was later found to be rabid. Stewart says the dog, Jake, went crazy. He says after the dog bit the children and his wife, he had to act. He called the dog, which he thinks weighed between 50 and 60 pounds, and pinned him to the ground. Stewart says he couldn't wait for...

ROXBORO -- Two people lured a Person County Animal Control officer to a rural road earlier this week and then ordered a pit bull to attack her, officials said Wednesday. The officer, Patsy Ann Bryant, was treated at Person County Memorial Hospital after the attack Tuesday and was released the same day, said Capt. Calvin B. Clayton, of the Person County Sheriff's Office. "She's pretty shaken up," Clayton said, declining to describe the severity of Bryant's wounds, except to say she received stitches. Meanwhile, sheriff's deputies arrested a man Wednesday who has one dogfighting conviction on his record and who...

No charges are likely in mauling of infant Parents' pet pit bull killed 2-week-old boy in Brooklyn rowhouse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Del Quentin Wilber Sun Staff Originally published August 10, 2003 Authorities are not expected to file charges against the parents of a 2-week-old infant who was killed by the family's pit bull Friday afternoon, according to Baltimore police officials, who said the death appears to be an accident. Terry Allen Jr. was bitten to death by his parents' pit bull, "Jigga," about 3:15 p.m. Friday in the 4200 block of Audrey Ave. in Brooklyn, police said. Terry suffered dozens of...

Brooklyn infant is killed in home by family pit bull Parents had stepped out on porch; police shoot dog -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Jessica Valdez and Alec MacGillis Sun Staff Originally published August 9, 2003 A 2-week-old Brooklyn infant was killed yesterday by his family's pit bull after the baby's parents stepped outside and left him alone in their house with the dog, police said. Responding to the incident at 3:15 p.m. in the 4200 block of Audrey Ave., police found the dog loose in the street and shot it, firing multiple times to make sure it was dead, witnesses said. The...

Hollywood actors often appear in foreign commercials, but the spot featuring Mr. Chase has the unusual twist of promoting a local cola brand, Cola Turka, over its American rivals at a politically charged moment. Attempts to reach Mr. Chase or his agent for comment were unsuccessful on Friday. 'Drinking America' "You are drinking America, you are not drinking a soda," said Serdar Erener, referring to the U.S. cola giants Coke and Pepsi. Mr. Erener is the CEO and creative director of WPP Group's Young & Rubicam, Istanbul, the advertising agency that created the spots. Mr. Erener said the brand's launch...

Boys save buddy attacked by dog outside home in the Point If you think a pit bull is tough, try three little boys playing in the Point. On Friday night, 9-year-old Natna Nega was attacked by a neighbour's pit bull in a courtyard in Point St. Charles. With sprinter-like speed, Natna's best buddies, Bobby Hosie, 9, and Anthony Gervais, 8, pounced on the dog, screaming, kicking and pulling at the animal's chain. Finally, they pried it away and an adult came to help them. "My mom said I was brave but stupid," said Bobby yesterday, a sheepish grin on his...

Girl Mauled By Dog Released From Hospital 11-Year-Old Won't Lose Arm From Pit Bull Attack Updated: 6:48 p.m. EDT May 18, 2003 DETROIT-- An 11-year-old girl who underwent surgery to save her arm after being mauled by a pit bull Friday has been released from the hospital. Officials at Detroit Children's Hospital say the surgery was successful, and Diamond Moley's arm won't be amputated. At the time of the attack, neighbors weren't so sure it could be saved. They told Local 4 that they had to use pliers to pry the black pit bull's jaws from Moley's arm. The bite...