Magpie News Collector

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

odd_fun

Watch: Cat lost in California reunited with Georgia family 7 years later

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/28/2026 12:13 PM

A Georgia family was reunited with their pet cat seven years after the feline vanished during a move in California. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Ohio woman wins total $150,000 with three identical lottery tickets

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/28/2026 12:04 PM

An Ohio woman bought three identical tickets for the same lottery drawing and ended up winning a trio of $50,000 prizes. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Donkey named Miss Kitty rescued from deep mud in North Carolina

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/28/2026 11:52 AM

Firefighters and animal rescuers in North Carolina got some help from a towing company to hoist a donkey stuck in the deep mud near a pond. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Woman rescued from hole outside Manitoba home

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/28/2026 11:45 AM

A Manitoba woman stepped out of her friend's car outside her Winnipeg home and plunged up to her arms into a hole in the ground. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: 2,082 participate in Wisconsin clean-up project, break world record

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/28/2026 10:01 AM

A group of 2,082 volunteers participated in a clean-up project around the Milwaukee area and broke a Guinness World Record in the process. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Animal services officers revive baby turkey with CPR

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/28/2026 9:06 AM

Animal services officers in California came to the rescue of baby turkeys trapped in a pipe -- and they revived one of the birds with CPR. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Working overtime leads Maryland man to $100,000 lottery prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/27/2026 3:22 PM

A Maryland man said he has working an overtime shift at his job to thank for leading him a $100,000 lottery prize. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: World's longest tiramisu assembled in London

By United Press International, Inc. | | 4/27/2026 3:11 PM

A team of 100 Italian chefs gathered in London to cook and assemble a record-breaking tiramisu measuring 1,445 feet long. ... Read full Story

animal

Singing mice puff up air sacs to make their sweet songs

by Science News | May 05 2026

book

The allure of the paranormal prevails

by BookPage | May 06 2026

entertainment

Zoë Kravitz, Gracie Abrams, and More It-Girls Have the Cleo Tee on Repeat: Designer Cleo Camp Shares Why

by ET Online | May 05 2026

golf

Saudi Fund to Back Away From LIV Golf Under Mounting Financial Pressures

by NY Times | Apr 15 2026

how_to

Forgot Your Wi-Fi Password? Here's How to Find It on Mac and Windows

by CNET | May 05 2026

knowledge

Patricia McCormick Wrote the Most-Challenged Book in America. Here’s What She Says Everyone Should Know About Book Banning

by Reader's Digest | May 05 2026

lifestyle

Barack Obama sets the record straight on ‘aliens are real’ with unexpected response

by Hello! Magazine | May 06 2026

long_island

Long Island University hit with 3-year NCAA probation for widespread eligibility violations

by greaterlongisland.com | May 05 2026

mental

10 Signs You’re More Resilient Than You Think, According to Experts

by thehealthy.com | May 03 2026

metro

Health officials warn NYC Italian eatery patrons of possible exposure to measles by infected diner

by New York Post | May 06 2026

odd_fun

Boston bakery pleads for return of giant ice cream cone mascot

by United Press International, Inc. | May 05 2026

politics

Key takeaways from Tuesday's primary elections in Indiana, Ohio

by The Hill | May 05 2026

real_estate

California dominates top 10 priciest U.S. cities for homeowners — here’s what you need to earn

by NY Post | May 05 2026

science

Small talk shapes big trends: Physics predicts how language patterns spread

by phys.org | May 05 2026

world

Trump pauses Project Freedom less than two days after launch

by United Press International, Inc. | May 06 2026

Word of the Day

flamboyant

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 6, 2026 is:

flamboyant • \flam-BOY-ant\ • adjective

Someone or something described as flamboyant has a very noticeable quality that attracts a lot of attention. Such a person or thing is often strikingly elaborate or colorful in their behavior or display.

// Reality television attracts millions of viewers for its depictions of flamboyant, larger-than-life personalities living equally flamboyant lifestyles.

See the entry >

Examples:

“[Helen] McCrory’s flamboyant and perfectly drawn portrayal of Polly was the show’s real treasure, a steel-willed matriarch unusually attuned to the mysticism of the Shelby family’s Romani roots who also served as a ruthlessly pragmatic consigliere. ... McCrory’s Polly was so electric that the show remained totally riveting any time she was onscreen.” — Jack Hamilton, Slate, 20 Mar. 2026

Did you know?

Associate the word flamboyant with bananas flambé and the word’s fiery etymology will be seared in your mind. Flamboyant, which was borrowed into English from French in the 19th century, can be traced back to the Old French word flambe, meaning “flame.” In its earliest uses flamboyant referred to an ornate style of Gothic architecture popular in France and Spain, which featured waving curves suggestive of flames. Eventually, the word developed a more general second sense for anything eye-catching or showy. And of course, flambe is also the origin of the English adjective flambé, which describes food flamboyantly dressed or served with flaming liquor.

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

Watch: Cat lost in California reunited with Georgia family 7 years later

Ohio woman wins total $150,000 with three identical lottery tickets

Watch: Donkey named Miss Kitty rescued from deep mud in North Carolina

Watch: Woman rescued from hole outside Manitoba home

Look: 2,082 participate in Wisconsin clean-up project, break world record

Look: Animal services officers revive baby turkey with CPR

Working overtime leads Maryland man to $100,000 lottery prize

Watch: World's longest tiramisu assembled in London

Singing mice puff up air sacs to make their sweet songs

The allure of the paranormal prevails

Zoë Kravitz, Gracie Abrams, and More It-Girls Have the Cleo Tee on Repeat: Designer Cleo Camp Shares Why

Saudi Fund to Back Away From LIV Golf Under Mounting Financial Pressures

Forgot Your Wi-Fi Password? Here's How to Find It on Mac and Windows

Patricia McCormick Wrote the Most-Challenged Book in America. Here’s What She Says Everyone Should Know About Book Banning

Barack Obama sets the record straight on ‘aliens are real’ with unexpected response

Long Island University hit with 3-year NCAA probation for widespread eligibility violations

10 Signs You’re More Resilient Than You Think, According to Experts

Health officials warn NYC Italian eatery patrons of possible exposure to measles by infected diner

Boston bakery pleads for return of giant ice cream cone mascot

Key takeaways from Tuesday's primary elections in Indiana, Ohio

California dominates top 10 priciest U.S. cities for homeowners — here’s what you need to earn

Small talk shapes big trends: Physics predicts how language patterns spread

Trump pauses Project Freedom less than two days after launch

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Boston bakery pleads for return of giant ice cream cone mascot

2.Maryland man collects his second $50,000 lottery prize in two weeks

3.Watch: Tranquilized bear passes out atop brick wall in Los Angeles

4.Loose dog joins runners in Indianapolis mini-marathon

5.Watch: Loose goat moves into Massachusetts woman's yard

6.Wallaby captured after escape from New Jersey zoo

7.Watch: Large python found perched on AC unit inside home

8.Virginia Lottery player wins wife a $986,399 birthday gift

9.Watch: California man does 12,412 pull-ups in 24 hours

10.Watch: Robot passenger causes flight delay in California