Magpie News Collector

N.C. man's son's birthday numbers deliver big lottery jackpot

By United Press International, Inc. | | 5/1/2026 1:18 PM

A North Carolina man who always uses his son's birthday to play the Cash 5 lottery drawing ended up scoring a $341,844 jackpot. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Crying kitten rescued from Texas storm drain

By United Press International, Inc. | | 5/1/2026 12:59 PM

Animal services officers in Texas teamed up with public works personnel to rescue a kitten heard crying from inside a storm drain. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: 7-foot alligator caught trying to cross Florida highway

By United Press International, Inc. | | 5/1/2026 12:44 PM

Sheriff's deputies in Florida helped wrangle a 7-foot alligator found jaywalking across a busy highway in Hillsborough County. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

'Escaped zebra' in Armenia was a painted donkey

By United Press International, Inc. | | 5/1/2026 11:27 AM

Officials at a zoo in Armenia said reports of an escaped zebra were the result of a donkey that had been painted black and white as a prank. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Baby eagle returns to nest after surgery to remove fish hook

By United Press International, Inc. | | 5/1/2026 11:05 AM

A 2-week-old baby bald eagle is back in a Pennsylvania nest with its family after undergoing surgery to remove a fish hook from its stomach. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

19 Screenshots Of Helicopter Parents Who Desperately Need To Loosen Their Grip

By BuzzFeed, Inc. | | 5/1/2026 12:25 AM

"I would rather die than play with my kids. It's boring beyond acceptability."View Entire Post › ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Passengers pulled from water after learner driver crashes bus into major European river

By Sky News | | 4/30/2026 4:38 PM

Four people have been rescued from the River Seine in Paris after a trainee bus driver crashed through a barrier and into the water. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: San Diego Zoo launches Elephant Valley live camera

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/30/2026 2:00 PM

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is giving the entire Internet the chance to visit its new elephant habitat with a live camera on its website. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Helicopter complicates morning drop-off at Tennessee school

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/30/2026 1:49 PM

Buses and cars arriving at a Tennessee elementary school Thursday morning had to work around an unusual obstacle in the parking lot -- a helicopter. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Ohio woman's mistaken lottery purchase wins seven-figure jackpot

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/30/2026 1:40 PM

An Ohio woman bought the wrong lottery ticket by mistake and ended up winning a $1,852,212 jackpot. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Firefighters rescue chameleon named Mr. Peeps from house fire

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/30/2026 1:17 PM

Firefighters in England responded to a house fire sparked by an unattended candle and ended up rescued a chameleon named Mr. Peeps. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Massive sea lion 'Chonkers' drawing crowds in San Francisco

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/30/2026 1:08 PM

Crowds are flocking to San Francisco's Pier 39 to catch a glimpse of a rare visitor to the city: a massive sea lion. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Connecticut farm owner searching for escaped peacock

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/30/2026 10:44 AM

A Connecticut woman is searching for a peacock that escaped from her farm more than a week ago and has since been spotted around town. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Escaped cow wanders University of Illinois campus

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/30/2026 10:29 AM

A cow escaped at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and went for a self-guided tour of the campus and a neighboring cemetery. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: 'Zonked out and stuck' bear rescued from tree in Colorado

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/29/2026 12:15 PM

Firefighters in Colorado responded to an unusual late-night call involving a black bear that was "zonked out in a tree and stuck." ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Family member's zip code delivers $50,000 lottery prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/29/2026 12:05 PM

A Maryland woman used a family member's zip code to play a Pick 5 lottery drawing and ended up winning a $50,000 prize. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Deputy responding to animal call finds entire escaped farm

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/29/2026 11:31 AM

An Indiana sheriff's deputy responded to a call about an animal in a road found animals including chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and goats. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Wisconsin recycling center posts 17.3 mph speed limit sign

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/29/2026 11:21 AM

A new speed limit sign posted outside a recycling center in Wisconsin is drawing attention for its oddly specific number -- 17.3 mph. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: YouTuber breaks Rubik's cube record while skydiving

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/29/2026 10:43 AM

A 23-year-old German YouTuber broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to solve a rotating puzzle cube while in freefall. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Dashboard warning lights lead to baby squirrel discovery

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/29/2026 9:40 AM

A Virginia man opened the hood of his car to find out what was causing his dashboard warning lights and discovered a nest of baby squirrels. ... Read full Story

animal

Cows’ methane burps may be fueled by a newfound organelle in gut microbes

by Science News | Apr 30 2026

connecticut

Bill limiting federal immigration actions gets final passage in CT House

by CT Mirror | May 01 2026

entertainment

Skincare Meets Sweat: Why Sofia Richie, Kate Hudson, and Adriana Lima Are Working Out at BURN

by ET Online | May 01 2026

game

Star Fox For Switch 2 Is Still Coming Despite No Announcement, Leaker Claims

by GameSpot | May 01 2026

how_to

Can AI Actually Help You Manage Your Study Time Effectively?

by CNET | May 01 2026

knowledge

Here’s Why Spring Air Smells Funkier Than You Remember

by Reader's Digest | Apr 29 2026

lifestyle

Shania Twain, 60, wows in power suit as she makes surprising revelation about getting older

by Hello! Magazine | May 01 2026

mental

These 3 Research-Based Habits Could Help You Live a More Stress-Free Life

by thehealthy.com | Apr 23 2026

metro

Average price of LA gas hits horror-show levels not seen since 2023

by New York Post | May 01 2026

music

Drake’s Rolex From the ‘Take Care’ Cover Has Reportedly Sold for $500,000

by Billboard | May 01 2026

new_jersey

Op-Ed: New Jersey’s child-care crisis rooted in low pay for educators

by NJ Spotlight | May 01 2026

nutrition

I Prioritized Protein at Every Meal for a Month—Here’s How It Affected My Body

by thehealthy.com | Apr 07 2026

people

Taylor Swift is staying one step ahead of AI by legally protecting her voice and image

by marca.com | Apr 28 2026

travel

Secret Britain: 30 little-known British places you must visit

by Wanderlust | May 01 2026

world

Colombia asks India to assess relocation of 80 hippos to avoid culling

by United Press International, Inc. | May 01 2026

Word of the Day

Beltane

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 1, 2026 is:

Beltane • \BEL-tayn\ • noun

Beltane refers to the Celtic May Day festival.

// Beltane falls each year approximately halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.

See the entry >

Examples:

“On May 1, we celebrate what began as the ancient Celtic holiday of Beltane. ... It started at sundown April 30, when, according to Celtic lore, the evil spirits that had wreaked havoc on humans since Halloween had a last fling before the dawning of May 1 cast them into their annual six-month exile. The night of April 30 is still celebrated, especially abroad, with bonfires and revelry.” — Deane Morrison, The Owatonna (Minnesota) People’s Press, 26 Mar. 2026

Did you know?

To the ancient Celts, May Day marked the start of summer, and a critical time when the boundaries between the human and supernatural worlds were removed, requiring that people take special measures to protect themselves against enchantments. The Beltane fire festival originated in a summer ritual in which cattle were herded between two huge bonfires to protect them from evil and disease. The word Beltane has been used in English since the 15th century, but the earliest known instance of the word in print—as well as the description of that summer ritual—appears in an Irish glossary commonly attributed to Cormac, a king and bishop who lived in the south of Ireland near the end of the first millennium.

N.C. man's son's birthday numbers deliver big lottery jackpot

Look: Crying kitten rescued from Texas storm drain

Watch: 7-foot alligator caught trying to cross Florida highway

'Escaped zebra' in Armenia was a painted donkey

Look: Baby eagle returns to nest after surgery to remove fish hook

19 Screenshots Of Helicopter Parents Who Desperately Need To Loosen Their Grip

Passengers pulled from water after learner driver crashes bus into major European river

Watch: San Diego Zoo launches Elephant Valley live camera

Look: Helicopter complicates morning drop-off at Tennessee school

Ohio woman's mistaken lottery purchase wins seven-figure jackpot

Look: Firefighters rescue chameleon named Mr. Peeps from house fire

Watch: Massive sea lion 'Chonkers' drawing crowds in San Francisco

Watch: Connecticut farm owner searching for escaped peacock

Watch: Escaped cow wanders University of Illinois campus

Watch: 'Zonked out and stuck' bear rescued from tree in Colorado

Family member's zip code delivers $50,000 lottery prize

Watch: Deputy responding to animal call finds entire escaped farm

Look: Wisconsin recycling center posts 17.3 mph speed limit sign

Look: YouTuber breaks Rubik's cube record while skydiving

Watch: Dashboard warning lights lead to baby squirrel discovery

Cows’ methane burps may be fueled by a newfound organelle in gut microbes

Bill limiting federal immigration actions gets final passage in CT House

Skincare Meets Sweat: Why Sofia Richie, Kate Hudson, and Adriana Lima Are Working Out at BURN

Star Fox For Switch 2 Is Still Coming Despite No Announcement, Leaker Claims

Can AI Actually Help You Manage Your Study Time Effectively?

Here’s Why Spring Air Smells Funkier Than You Remember

Shania Twain, 60, wows in power suit as she makes surprising revelation about getting older

These 3 Research-Based Habits Could Help You Live a More Stress-Free Life

Average price of LA gas hits horror-show levels not seen since 2023

Drake’s Rolex From the ‘Take Care’ Cover Has Reportedly Sold for $500,000

Op-Ed: New Jersey’s child-care crisis rooted in low pay for educators

I Prioritized Protein at Every Meal for a Month—Here’s How It Affected My Body

Taylor Swift is staying one step ahead of AI by legally protecting her voice and image

Secret Britain: 30 little-known British places you must visit

Colombia asks India to assess relocation of 80 hippos to avoid culling

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.N.C. man's son's birthday numbers deliver big lottery jackpot

2.Look: Crying kitten rescued from Texas storm drain

3.Watch: 7-foot alligator caught trying to cross Florida highway

4.'Escaped zebra' in Armenia was a painted donkey

5.Look: Baby eagle returns to nest after surgery to remove fish hook

6.19 Screenshots Of Helicopter Parents Who Desperately Need To Loosen Their Grip

7.Passengers pulled from water after learner driver crashes bus into major European river

8.Watch: San Diego Zoo launches Elephant Valley live camera

9.Look: Helicopter complicates morning drop-off at Tennessee school

10.Ohio woman's mistaken lottery purchase wins seven-figure jackpot