Magpie News Collector

Last-minute lottery decision earns Michigan man $500,000

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/18/2026 2:08 PM

A Michigan man's last-minute decision to buy a scratch-off lottery ticket ended up earning him a $500,000 prize. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

World's largest and smallest penny farthings unveiled in London

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/18/2026 1:57 PM

An Australian man teamed up with cyclists in Britain to break the Guinness World Records for the largest and smallest penny farthings. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Beavers solve flooding problem at London Underground station

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/18/2026 12:34 PM

A London Underground station once plagued by constant flooding is now staying dry thanks to some recent arrivals in the neighborhood: beavers. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Bighorn sheep briefly escapes enclosure at Buffalo Zoo in New York

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/18/2026 11:21 AM

A bighorn sheep at New York's Buffalo Zoo had a brief taste of freedom when he escaped from his habitat while the facility was closed to the public. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Alligator found 'posted up right at the front door' of S.C. home

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/17/2026 3:15 PM

Animal control responded to the front porch of a South Carolina home where a resident found an alligator "posted up right at the front door." ... Read full Story

odd_fun

$1 million lottery ticket nearly thrown out by N.C. woman

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/17/2026 3:07 PM

A North Carolina woman said she was preparing to throw out a lottery ticket when she decided to scan it and discovered it was a $1 million winner. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Kangaroo gets new home after several days on the loose in Quebec

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/17/2026 2:07 PM

A kangaroo on the loose for several days in Quebec was captured by provincial officials and taken to a new permanent home at a zoo. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Boston bars say Scottish soccer fans are drinking them dry

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/17/2026 1:47 PM

Scottish soccer fans are being credited with a boom in Boston beer sales that caused some bars in the city to run dry. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

World's oldest living land animal extends record to 194 years

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/17/2026 11:29 AM

The world's oldest living land animal, Jonathan the tortoise, extended his record to 194 years and was officially named a Guinness World Records Icon. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Australian zoo's escaped Tasmanian devil safely captured

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/17/2026 10:21 AM

A Tasmanian devil that escaped from a Queensland zoo was located about a mile from the park more than two weeks later. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: San Diego Zoo fills bear habitat with man-made snow

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/16/2026 1:08 PM

There was some unseasonable snow in San Diego when the zoo transformed its grizzly bear habitat into a winter wonderland with man-made powder. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Lottery player's forgetfulness leads to $1.05M jackpot

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/16/2026 12:56 PM

A Michigan man who forgot to give a store clerk his usual instructions ended up winning a $1.05 million jackpot thanks to his accidental omission. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: Loose emu's origins a mystery in New Jersey

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/16/2026 12:38 PM

Authorities in New Jersey are trying to identify the owner of an emu that has been on the loose in the northern part of the state for several days. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: German man assembles world's largest Lego sausage

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/16/2026 12:26 PM

A German man assembled 65,000 Lego bricks into the shape of a bratwurst and bun to break the Guinness World Record for the largest Lego brick sausage. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Look: What 'sounded like a dog' in Conn. storm drain was a baby raccoon

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/16/2026 11:42 AM

Animal control and firefighters in Connecticut responded to a call about an animal trapped in a storm drain and wound up rescuing a baby raccoon. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Cat wanders onto stage during 'Romeo and Juliet' ballet performance

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/16/2026 11:29 AM

A ballet performance of "Romeo and Juliet" in Turkey went off-script when a cat wandered onto stage and interacted with the performance. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

$100 lottery win leads Va. man to $100,000 prize

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/15/2026 12:10 PM

A Virginia man won $100 from a lottery ticket and used $5 of his winnings to buy a scratch-off ticket that earned him a $100,000 prize. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Fireball lights the night sky over 15 U.S. states

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/15/2026 12:00 PM

A bright fireball illuminated the night sky over several states, including Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, South Carolina and Texas. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Real estate agent finds Arkansas house overrun with snakes

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/15/2026 11:24 AM

An Arkansas real estate agent arrived to a scheduled showing of a home for sale and ended up capturing video of squatters -- a large number of snakes. ... Read full Story

odd_fun

Watch: Kangaroo on the loose in field near Montreal

By United Press International, Inc. | | 6/15/2026 10:39 AM

Animal rescuers in Quebec are asking the public to keep an eye out for a juvenile kangaroo on the loose along Montreal's South Shore. ... Read full Story

art

Surreal Figures Step from Leonora Carrington’s Paintings into ‘Shape of Dreams’

by Colossal | Jun 18 2026

connecticut

100GirlsLeading summit looks to empower Bridgeport’s young female leaders

by CT Mirror | Jun 18 2026

entertainment

Celeb Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Layke Shares the Sneaky Summer Skincare Mistakes You Might Be Making

by ET Online | Jun 15 2026

FFNEWS

Teamsters to fight UPS over alleged use of nonunion drivers

by FreightWaves | Jun 18 2026

finance

This AI company wants to replace MRIs with a 60-second dip in the spa. Can that really work?

by MarketWatch.com | Jun 18 2026

golf

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

by NY Times | Apr 15 2026

knowledge

Could Raccoons Be America’s New Favorite Pets? It Just Might Happen—Here’s What’s Going On

by Reader's Digest | Jun 18 2026

lifestyle

Every Fox show renewed for another season — and the surprising cancellation

by Hello! Magazine | Jun 18 2026

long_island

Inside the massive operation feeding thousands at the U.S. Open

by greaterlongisland.com | Jun 17 2026

new_jersey

Seton Hall clergy sex abuse report blocked from full release

by NJ Spotlight | Jun 18 2026

people

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

by marca.com | Apr 28 2026

real_estate

LeBron James’ new mega mansion revealed in new photos — including mysterious new feature

by NY Post | Jun 18 2026

soccer

USMNT vs Australia Preview, Mark Howard Reacts to England & Canada Faces Must-Win vs Qatar

by Yahoo Sports | Jun 18 2026

sports

Pelé's life in pictures

by CNN | Apr 16 2023

travel

Experience France at its best on a journey through the Dordogne

by The Travel Magazine | Jun 17 2026

Word of the Day

acquiesce

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for June 18, 2026 is:

acquiesce • \ak-wee-ESS\ • verb

To acquiesce to something is to accept it, agree with it, or allow it to happen by staying silent or by not arguing. Acquiesce is somewhat formal, and is often used with in or to.

// Eventually, the professor acquiesced to the students’ request to have the seminar’s final class be a potluck lunch.

See the entry >

Examples:

“It may be just the right time for a chicken burger to become a significant stop on the American burger’s continual evolution—but whether beef-clinging purists will acquiesce to a poultry spin, or cry fowl, remains to be seen.” — Talib Visram, Slate, 6 Apr. 2026

Did you know?

If you’re looking to give your speech a gentle, formal flair, don’t give acquiesce the silent treatment. Essentially meaning “to comply quietly,” acquiesce has as its ultimate source the Latin verb quiēscere, “to be quiet.” (Quiet itself is also a close relation.) Quiēscere can also mean “to repose,” “to fall asleep,” or “to rest,” and when acquiesce arrived in English via French in the early 1600s, it did so with two senses: the familiar “to agree or comply” and the now-obsolete “to rest satisfied.” Herman Melville employed the former in Moby-Dick, when Ahab orders the “confounded” crew to change the Pequod’s course after a storm damages the compasses: “Meanwhile, whatever were his own secret thoughts, Starbuck said nothing, but quietly he issued all requisite orders; while Stubb and Flask—who in some small degree seemed then to be sharing his feelings—likewise unmurmuringly acquiesced.”

Last-minute lottery decision earns Michigan man $500,000

World's largest and smallest penny farthings unveiled in London

Watch: Beavers solve flooding problem at London Underground station

Bighorn sheep briefly escapes enclosure at Buffalo Zoo in New York

Look: Alligator found 'posted up right at the front door' of S.C. home

$1 million lottery ticket nearly thrown out by N.C. woman

Kangaroo gets new home after several days on the loose in Quebec

Watch: Boston bars say Scottish soccer fans are drinking them dry

World's oldest living land animal extends record to 194 years

Watch: Australian zoo's escaped Tasmanian devil safely captured

Watch: San Diego Zoo fills bear habitat with man-made snow

Lottery player's forgetfulness leads to $1.05M jackpot

Look: Loose emu's origins a mystery in New Jersey

Look: German man assembles world's largest Lego sausage

Look: What 'sounded like a dog' in Conn. storm drain was a baby raccoon

Watch: Cat wanders onto stage during 'Romeo and Juliet' ballet performance

$100 lottery win leads Va. man to $100,000 prize

Watch: Fireball lights the night sky over 15 U.S. states

Watch: Real estate agent finds Arkansas house overrun with snakes

Watch: Kangaroo on the loose in field near Montreal

Surreal Figures Step from Leonora Carrington’s Paintings into ‘Shape of Dreams’

100GirlsLeading summit looks to empower Bridgeport’s young female leaders

Celeb Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Layke Shares the Sneaky Summer Skincare Mistakes You Might Be Making

Teamsters to fight UPS over alleged use of nonunion drivers

This AI company wants to replace MRIs with a 60-second dip in the spa. Can that really work?

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

Could Raccoons Be America’s New Favorite Pets? It Just Might Happen—Here’s What’s Going On

Every Fox show renewed for another season — and the surprising cancellation

Inside the massive operation feeding thousands at the U.S. Open

Seton Hall clergy sex abuse report blocked from full release

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

LeBron James’ new mega mansion revealed in new photos — including mysterious new feature

USMNT vs Australia Preview, Mark Howard Reacts to England & Canada Faces Must-Win vs Qatar

Pelé's life in pictures

Experience France at its best on a journey through the Dordogne

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Last-minute lottery decision earns Michigan man $500,000

2.World's largest and smallest penny farthings unveiled in London

3.Watch: Beavers solve flooding problem at London Underground station

4.Bighorn sheep briefly escapes enclosure at Buffalo Zoo in New York

5.Look: Alligator found 'posted up right at the front door' of S.C. home

6.$1 million lottery ticket nearly thrown out by N.C. woman

7.Kangaroo gets new home after several days on the loose in Quebec

8.Watch: Boston bars say Scottish soccer fans are drinking them dry

9.World's oldest living land animal extends record to 194 years

10.Watch: Australian zoo's escaped Tasmanian devil safely captured