A Cirque du Soleil aerial acrobat is suing the world-famous circus group following a horrific fall that resulted in her breaking 11 bones. Russian performer Mariia Konfektova filed a $16.75 million lawsuit, claiming Cirque du Soleil failed to provide safety mats or nets while she performed a stunt in Portland, Oregon, in August 2024. Konfektova fell 15 feet during one of the circus’s Kooza performances, leaving her with multiple broken bones, a concussion, double vision, and fractures to her lower back, wrist, and skull. Video of the incident shows Konfektova falling to the ground after slipping from a hoop that was circling the stage several feet in the air. Konfektova claims in the lawsuit that she had raised safety concerns to Cirque du Soleil before the incident, while noting at least three people have died and more than a dozen have been injured while performing for the traveling company. Cirque du Soleil was fined $8,070 for safety violations by Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Konfektova has also set up a GoFundMe to raise money for her recovery from the “life-changing accident.” The GoFundMe has raised more than $3,400 so far.

Ousted Miss North Carolina USA 2026, Brittany Boltinhouse, 27, has filed a defamation lawsuit against the show’s production company, A-Blaize Productions and Miss USA president Thom Brodeur. The lawsuit, published on Sunday night, accuses them of “maliciously coordinating to publish a false public narrative portraying [her] as a racist, homophobe, and intolerable bigot to be shunned from public life.” Boltinhouse lost her title weeks after winning the beauty pageant, following the resurfacing of social media posts that contain racial slurs. Boltinhouse and her lawyers have previously said the 27-year-old was targeted for her political and religious beliefs, which they doubled down on in the lawsuit. “[Pageant organizers] hid from the public the real reason they dethroned Brittany: she is a conservative Christian.” A-Blaize Productions has pushed back on this accusation, saying the decision “was not based on Brittany Boltinhouse’s political views, religious beliefs, or protected personal viewpoints. Our organization includes people from various backgrounds, political views, personal beliefs and values. We welcome and celebrate that.”

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Fall is officially around the corner, which means shorter days, cooler weather, and criminally overrated pumpkin spice everything is on the agenda in the coming month. As we inch closer to the dreaded end of daylight saving time and the beginning of SAD season (or “cuffing season,” if you’re a glass-half-full person), the good news is that it’s the perfect time to cozy up with a new blanket. Lola Blankets are indisputably the best on the market—they’re designed from the softest faux fur fabric we’ve ever felt and are actually machine-washable. Right now, the brand is offering a very generous 50 percent-off deal to help us quell our post-summer blues during its annual Christmas in August sale.

Lola Blanket Christmas in August Sale

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In addition to this unheard-of deal, the brand is also offering free shipping on orders over $250 and a $50 gift card with every order. It’s a great opportunity to treat yourself and save one for holiday gifting... or not. If you’re new to Lola Blankets, you cannot go wrong with the Original Lola, but we also love the XL size (it fits over a queen-size bed) and the weighted versions. Either way, it’s one of (if not *the*) biggest deals of the year, so if you’re looking for a luxury blanket for snuggle season, now’s the time to treat yourself. Use the code AUG50 at checkout to unlock the savings.

A 38-year-old serial fraudster has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after successfully convincing a couple she was a 12-year-old girl seeking refuge. Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira tricked her hosts in southern Brazil for over a year, living in a toy-filled bedroom, drinking from baby bottles, and celebrating a fake 12th birthday. To justify her adult appearance, she claimed her father forced her to take hormonal supplements. Police reported the evangelical couple was “emotionally kidnapped” before a visiting relative discovered online reports revealing Oliveira’s long history of pulling similar age-defying schemes across multiple states. When officers raided her room, Oliveira immediately dropped her high-pitched act and spoke in a normal voice, later admitting she had pulled the fraud for 15 years. “It is clear that I deceived people; I lied. But I did not intend to scam anyone,” she told police. Rejecting her defense that she was mentally ill, the judge convicted her of fraud. Her lawyers are appealing.

Mychal Threets, the beloved host of PBS’s Reading Rainbow, made his first public comments since he checked himself into a hospital after admitting publicly that he was “not okay.” “I just wanted to apologize for worrying so many people,” Threets, 36, told followers in a video shared to Threads. “I just got back from a five-day stay at the hospital, a five-day psychiatric hold. I haven’t been OK for what feels like a very, very long time. I am not OK. But I have hope that I will get to OK.” The librarian thanked medical professionals for saving his life, and his fans for sticking around. “Thank you for being you. Thank you for staying. Maybe I’ll see you at the library. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you.” Threets first announced his mental health struggles on Threads on August 17, writing, “I am not okay. Maybe I’ll never be okay. I’m seeking help. Going to the hospital tomorrow. In this moment I am safe. By God’s grace.”

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If you’re planning to tune into the U.S. Open this year, there’s a new way to get in on the action (even if your knowledge of tennis begins and ends with Challengers). Polymarket, the popular prediction-market platform, increasingly allows users to trade on the outcomes of real-world events, ranging from politics and pop culture to sports.

Unlike a traditional sportsbook, Polymarket works more like a financial market: Users buy and sell contracts based on whether they think a particular outcome will happen, with prices fluctuating as the market’s collective expectations change. This means you can put your tennis predictions to the test while seeing what thousands of other traders think will happen in real time.

The timing is especially fitting for this year’s U.S. Open. Polymarket recently became the ATP Tour’s official prediction-market partner, expanding its presence in professional tennis and integrating real-time prediction markets with live match coverage.

With the 2026 U.S. Open kicking off Aug. 23 and the main singles draw beginning Aug. 30, users can follow the action (and the market’s shifting predictions) as some of the biggest names in tennis compete for the final Grand Slam title of the year.

Former child actress Raquel Lee is suing Disney, alleging she was sexually abused multiple times by a company employee while filming the 2001 Disney Channel movie The Poof Point. Lee was 14 when she claims a middle-aged male Disney employee supplied her with alcohol and assaulted her at a hotel in Salt Lake City and aboard a flight to California. She does not identify the employee in her lawsuit, which accuses Disney of negligence and failing to protect her. Lee also alleges the employee made inappropriate remarks to her on set in front of other adults, including, “last night was so good,” without anyone intervening. She claims production separated her from her guardian and failed to provide adequate supervision. According to the lawsuit, Lee’s behavior and performance later deteriorated, but Disney executives blamed her rather than investigating and canceled an upcoming role. Now 39, Lee is seeking damages for emotional distress and financial losses, along with punitive damages and legal costs. She continued working for Disney for years after 2001, including on The Proud Family. The Daily Beast has contacted Disney for comment.

A Southwest Airlines flight attendant has been found dead during a layover in Hawaii, leaving her family desperate for answers. Jenny Lupton, 50, of Moore, Oklahoma, was found around 6 a.m. on Thursday in Waikiki. Lupton’s family said the medical examiner told them she appeared to have fallen from the balcony of her 24th-floor room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort. A hotel employee reportedly found her body near a dumpster. Her relatives say they have been given few details and are unsure whether anyone witnessed the fall, according to The Sun. They also say hotel security told them more than 70 cameras cover the area, and police are reviewing footage. Her sister, Tresa Lupton, said the family does not believe Jenny intentionally harmed herself. “We just want to know what happened,” she told The Sun. According to Tresa, her sister had spent time with a fellow flight attendant and got a new tattoo shortly before her death. Lupton had worked as a Southwest flight attendant for 29 years and leaves behind a 15-year-old son.

A 68-year-old French tourist died in Death Valley National Park after his vehicle became stuck and he attempted to walk for help through 116-degree heat. Pierre Michel Formosa and a companion were traveling on West Side Road Monday when their vehicle became trapped in mud near Queen of Sheba Mine Road, according to the National Park Service. The men abandoned the vehicle and walked toward Badwater Road. After about 1.3 miles, Formosa could go no farther while his companion continued and eventually found a passing motorist. The companion reported the emergency at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, triggering a search involving park rangers, an Inyo County sheriff’s deputy, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter. Formosa was found approximately 1.5 miles from Badwater Road and pronounced dead. The coroner will determine the cause and manner of death. Park officials warned that extreme heat, vast distances, and limited cellphone coverage can make even experienced visitors vulnerable. Death Valley National Park ranks among the hottest places on Earth during the summer.

A Minnesota tree trimmer has been charged with killing his co-worker after police say a workplace prank turned deadly. Christopher Boone Crimmins, 34, faces second-degree manslaughter in the death of 26-year-old Tyler Anthony Lynch in Apple Valley. According to a Dakota County criminal complaint, the men were clearing branches Thursday when they began “f---ing around” with a hydraulic, truck-mounted grapple. Crimmins allegedly moved the machine to make its shadow appear to grab Lynch, but was watching the shadows rather than Lynch himself. He reportedly failed to realize the grapple was closing on Lynch’s actual head until it was too late. Police found Lynch “with a large amount of blood around his body and a significant injury to his head,” the Dakota County Attorney’s Office said. A witness also reported seeing the grapple strike or pinch Lynch’s head. Crimmins’ bail was set at $40,000 unconditional or $20,000 with conditions. He is due in court on September 10. If convicted, Crimmins faces up to 10 years in prison.

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When it comes to liver-focused supplements, many of us assume they’re only for recovering from a hangover or for people who drink heavily (or at least frequently). But alcohol is just one small part of the equation. Your liver is responsible for hundreds of essential functions, including filtering waste products from the blood, processing nutrients, supporting metabolism, and producing bile. This digestive fluid helps break down fats and absorb fat-soluble vitamins. When bile secretion or liver function is less than optimal, digestion can suffer, possibly contributing to symptoms like bloating, gastrointestinal discomfort, and sluggishness.

In other words, whether you drink alcohol or not, your liver could probably use a little extra TLC—especially if you’re dealing with persistent digestive issues such as bloating, irregularity, or stomach discomfort. Vitamin Shoppe is celebrating Wellness Month this August, with a slew of products formulated to support your liver (along with digestion and metabolism). Still, our favorite is Dose For Your Liver’s liquid supplement.

Dose for Your Liver Daily Shot

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Dose For Your Liver has earned the nickname “liquid gold” for good reason. The daily wellness shot is formulated with science-backed ingredients traditionally associated with liver health, including turmeric, milk thistle, dandelion, and ginger. The formula also contains bioflavonoids and other plant compounds designed to support healthy liver function, digestion, and metabolism. Plus, it actually tastes good. The bright, citrusy flavor reminds me of the SunnyD “orange drink” I grew up on, minus the artificial ingredients and sugar overload. Instead, you’re getting a concentrated mixture of botanicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may help support the body’s natural detoxification processes and general digestive health.

If you’re looking to give your liver (and, by extension, your digestive system) a little extra support without adding yet another capsule to your supplement routine, Dose For Your Liver offers a convenient way to combine several popular wellness ingredients into one surprisingly delicious daily shot. Grab a bottle (or two) on sale at The Vitamin Shoppe this month.

A fast-moving wildfire tore through northwest Reno, Nevada, on Sunday, destroying homes and forcing tens of thousands to flee. The Hawk Fire grew to more than 23 square miles across the Peavine Peak area of the Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest, with zero containment. Authorities ordered about 42,000 people to evacuate as the “GO NOW” zone expanded toward the University of Nevada. Another 45,000 were under evacuation warnings. “Please get out if you can right now,” Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said. Six people, including three first responders, were injured in the blaze, which officials said was “human-caused.” It came as gusty winds fueled “extreme fire behavior” in Nevada over the weekend. On Saturday alone, 15 separate blazes were reported across the state. “The wind really blew it up,” resident Tyler Duvall told The Associated Press. More than 10,000 people were without power Sunday evening. Months of dry weather and record-low snow across the West have left conditions ripe for wildfires.

A young pilot survived a terrifying mid-air crisis by executing a controlled emergency landing just off a crowded Florida beach. Faith Tenkley, 23, was flying to the Bahamas to pick up her parents when her dual-engine plane suffered severe mechanical failure roughly 15 miles off Boca Raton. Facing a broken landing gear and an engine failure, she elected to ditch the aircraft in open water rather than risk a fire by bringing down the heavily fueled aircraft on land. She expertly guided the descending plane into shallow waters, dodging beachgoers and swimmers before paddling safely to shore as onlookers watched in awe. “After deciding a landing at Boca Raton Airport was not the safest option, I continued to the coast. During the descent, my primary focus was ensuring the safety of everyone around me,” Tenkley said. “I was able to navigate toward open water, successfully avoiding all nearby buildings, paddleboarders, and swimmers (as well as individuals using metal detectors). I am incredibly fortunate and relieved to share that I was able to swim away from this incident.” Emergency crews later retrieved the submerged aircraft, and authorities are investigating the mechanical failure.