CHEAT SHEET

01

CLOSE CALL

Hiker Takes Horrific Plunge Down 11,700-Foot Mountain Summit

A helicopter team rescued the woman from a small ledge.

Newly released helicopter footage shows the moment a woman was rescued after sliding hundreds of feet down Utah’s Mount Timpanogos last month. The hiker was climbing the 11,700-foot peak on October 26 when she tumbled down the steep slope and landed on a narrow cliff ledge, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. A helicopter team was called to hoist the woman off the mountain and bring her to an ambulance. “We have heard that the hiker is recovering well from her injuries and we wish her a full and speedy recovery,” the sheriff’s office said in a post on Facebook. “This incident is a stark reminder of how fast a fun outing can turn into a life-or-death situation. We here at the UCSO are grateful for the outcome of that rescue.” About 50 miles south of Salt Lake City, Mount Timpanogos is one of Utah’s most popular hiking destinations.

02

GIANT FALLS

Rockefeller Dynasty Heir and Former Senator Dies at 89

Rockefeller worked fiercely to fight poverty and support coal miners and military veterans.

John D. “Jay” Rockefeller IV—heir to his family dynasty, one of America’s wealthiest families—died Friday at age 89. He died in his home in Washington, D.C., and is survived by former television executive Sharon Percy Rockefeller, 81, and their four children. The family hasn’t released further details of his death. As the great-grandson of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, America’s richest man, and the nephew of New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, Jay was part of his family’s political dynasty. He graduated from Harvard University and served for two years in a national service program in impoverished rural West Virginia. After serving two terms as Governor of West Virginia, he went on to serve the poor coal-mining state as a senator for three decades from 1984 to 2015. Described as soft-spoken, he worked fiercely to fight poverty and support coal miners and military veterans. He backed former President Bill Clinton’s failed near-universal healthcare bill, and later did the same for Barack Obama’s much more successful attempt. “Championing those most in need has been my life’s calling, and I will never stop fighting to make a difference,” Rockefeller said during his announcement that he would not seek a sixth Senate term in 2013.

03

END OF THE ROAD

Musk Kills Off Cybertruck After Embarrassing Sales Flop

The world’s richest man appears to be feeling a little light in his pockets after pouring millions into trying and failing to save MAGA.

Elon Musk has announced plans to wind down production of his Tesla Cybertruck at the company’s plant in Austin, Texas. The announcement, expected to take effect in the middle of next year, comes with his companies on track to lose roughly $370 billion in value by the end of the week. Investors are fleeing partly over fears Musk could be about to lose the political benefits his relationship with the second Trump has afforded him, after the hundreds of millions he poured into Tuesday’s midterms failed to save the Republican Party from an electoral wipeout. Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck to tepid reception in 2023 but enjoyed a surge of interest from MAGA supporters when Musk switched political allegiances the following year, though sales have since returned to their pre-surge levels. The company’s billionaire CEO said in an X statement that the decision to wind down on manufacturing in Texas was “to make room for increased Cybercab production,” but did not clarify whether the output would be picked up elsewhere or if he plans to discontinue the model altogether.

04

SNOW WAY

Man Arrested After Leaving Girl, 17, Stranded on Mountain

They became separated in bad weather.

A 21-year-old man is being investigated after allegedly leaving a 17-year-old woman on Germany’s tallest mountain in freezing conditions. Police in Austria are investigating the German man on suspicion of endangering public safety after the teenager became stranded on Zugspitze in freezing temperatures on Sunday. She called emergency services, who reached her at an altitude of around 8,200 feet, before rushing her to the hospital in Garmisch-Partenkirchen by helicopter and ambulance. She was suffering from hypothermia when the group of seven rescuers found her. Endangering other people’s safety can land individuals in prison for up to three months in Austria. They had set off from Ehrwald in the Austrian Tyrol. The BBC reports that they set off early to see sunrise from Zugspitze’s peak, but conditions deteriorated and they were soon up to their knees in snow. They became separated, at which point the man allegedly descended the mountain on his own.

05

ANCIENT AFFRONT

Tourists Unknowingly Scrawled Graffiti Over Ice Age Treasure

The caves contain at least 280 ancient engravings.

Researchers believe tourists may have unwittingly defaced cave drawings, not realizing they were prehistoric treasures. A new study published this week details the astonishing discovery of at least 280 engravings dating back to the Paleolithic era in a cave in northeastern Spain. The space was first excavated in 1957, and thousands of people are believed to have visited and passed through it since. Many of those tourists left their own markings and likely didn’t realize they were disturbing Ice Age art, researchers say. The cave was shut to tourists in 2019 as part of an effort to prevent further damage to the relics. This week’s study in the journal Antiquity marks the most comprehensive catalog of its contents since that closure and found that the collection includes at least 55 different animal carvings, including deer, horses, and a bear. Researchers now speculate that while prehistoric rock carvings were originally considered rare in the region, more may be hidden in other caves that have yet to be explored.

06

NO REMORSE

Doomsday Cult Leader Sentenced to 200 Years for 191 Murders

Cult leader Paul Mackenzie persuaded followers to starve themselves to death.

A court in Kenya has sentenced cult leader Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison for murdering hundreds of his followers. Mackenzie persuaded his followers to starve themselves to death to meet Jesus, resulting in the deaths of 191 children and 1 adult. Justice Diana Kavedza said that Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, bore the “primary criminal culpability” for persuading followers to move to a remote rural location and kill themselves through fasting. Mackenzie was found guilty alongside 28 other people who were charged with crimes including helping him enforce his starvation order and burying bodies. Kavedza said the killings were “cold and calculated” and dismissed claims from some accused that the deaths of their own children impacted their role in the killing of other children. The judge said the perpetrators had shown no remorse and were also willing to starve themselves to death. Mackenzie also faces terrorism, child abuse, and torture charges.

07

INQUEST

‘Breaking Bad’ Star’s Manner of Death Revealed

His agent had already confirmed some details.

Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte’s manner of death has been revealed as suicide by hanging. An official inquest produced by Cameron County, Texas, and obtained by Page Six revealed that he was pronounced dead at 1:32 p.m. on October 12. He was 34. The report also revealed that a toxicology test and autopsy had been carried out, but their details were not included. He died in Brownsville, Texas, near the southern border, and his agent had previously confirmed that he had taken his own life. “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte,” his agent previously told Page Six. “RJ Mitte was best known for his role as Walter ‘Flynn’ White Jr. on AMC’s critically acclaimed, award-winning series Breaking Bad. Drawing from his own experience living with cerebral palsy, Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion.”

If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing or texting 988.

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08

FRIGHT OR FLIGHT

Airport Security Make Staggering Discovery in Wriggling Luggage

Customs inspectors foiled a massive wildlife trafficking operation.

Thousands of live tarantulas have been discovered inside airport luggage bound for Europe. The staggering seizure occurred when security staff at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru, noticed suspicious movement in three suitcases during a routine baggage screening. Authorities swiftly detained two German nationals and a Polish citizen after discovering more than 3,000 tarantulas stashed inside dirty socks. “We noticed that some of them were moving. There were small ones and large ones,” recalled Cora Suarez, a wildlife control technician with the National Forestry and Wildlife Service. Officials confirmed the smuggled haul spanned every stage of development, ranging from eggs and hatchlings to full-grown adults sourced across several regions. With individual specimens fetching up to $580 on European markets, the single transport was valued at roughly $1.67 million. Authorities turned the three suspects over to environmental crime officers to face criminal proceedings. According to Interpol, the illegal wildlife trade generates approximately $20 billion globally each year and is a primary driver of worldwide biodiversity destruction.

09

CASE CLOSED

Hiker’s Belongings Left in Motel Room Lead to Grim Find

A hiker who went missing last month was identified as 49-year-old Winston Chu.

A hiker who was found dead on California’s Mount Whitney has been identified as Winston Chu, a 49-year-old man from Santa Clara, according to a statement from the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said the Inyo County Coroner’s Office determined that Chu died from “multiple traumatic injuries due to a fall.” Authorities had been searching for Chu since Oct. 19, when staff at a Lone Pine motel reported that a guest had failed to check out and had left all of his personal belongings behind. The following day, deputies found Chu’s car at Whitney Portal and learned that he had obtained a permit for the Mountaineer’s route the previous Sunday. A California Highway Patrol helicopter located Chu along the route to the mountain’s 14,505-foot peak. On Oct. 30, authorities confirmed Chu’s identity. “The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere condolences to Winston Chu’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time,” authorities said.

10

GONE TOO SOON

‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ Actress Dead at 50

Kimmarie Johnson also appeared in the 2000 stoner-comedy “Dude, Where’s My Car?”

Actress and model Kimmarie Johnson, known for her roles in Beverly Hills, 90210 and Dude, Where’s My Car?, died Wednesday afternoon after being diagnosed with a heart condition, her niece, Rhonda Scott, told TMZ. She was 50. Born in Pittsburgh in 1976, Johnson worked as a flight attendant until a modeling agency signed her. She began competing in beauty pageants and was named Miss Pennsylvania in 1992. Johnson went on to represent the state in the 1993 Miss USA pageant. She later moved to Los Angeles and landed a role as Jane in a Season 9 episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. She also appeared alongside Pamela Anderson in the action-comedy series V.I.P. In 2000, Johnson played a “Jumpsuit Chick” in Dude, Where’s My Car?, starring Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott. Her filmography also includes credits in Gang Warz, Shadow Fury, and Break a Leg.