
Step into the looking-glass wonderland of civil service pensions
Act now to keep your subscription
We've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Horrific details of deadly Pitbull attack that saw man savaged by five dogs
A SWAT team and K-9 officers sent to deal with a pack of pit bulls who fatally attacked a man were forced to back away from the animals due to how aggressive they were, a new report has revealed. Chris Culbertson, 46, died from his injuries after he was gruesomely mauled for 23 minutes last November in Kansas City, Missouri, by a pack of pit bulls. He was seen on security footage riding his bike when he was approached by two dogs who started circling him. Culbertson fell to the ground and more dogs broke through a fence, taking hold of his arms, legs, feet and face with their teeth. New documents seen by The Kansas City Star reveal that despite the presence of a SWAT team, a K-9 team and workers from a nearby animal shelter, officials still couldn't get the dogs under control after the horrific attack. Even though officers have the power to destroy dangerous dogs that pose a threat to the public, officers left the animals inside the fenced yard of their owner. The next day officers returned to find that the animals had disappeared. A patrol for the dogs didn't start until four days later, the document say. In April John Thibeaux Sr. and his son John Thibeaux Jr. were charged with one count of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and second-degree assault. Animal shelter KC Pet Project, who appeared at the address alongside the SWAT and K-9 teams, released documents to the outlet about the incident. In them, they said that officers used horns, sirens and lights to spook the animals away from Culbertson. A nearby neighbor, identified in the report as Holly Lane, ran to Culbertson's aid with a golf club but was also attacked. Eventually the animals fled back into the yard via holes in the fencing large enough for them go under. After Culbertson and Lane were rushed to hospital, an animal service officer was told by cops at the scene that Thibeaux Sr arrived with a key to the padlocked enclosure. In a probable cause statement seen by the outlet, it said he arrived on the scene shortly after the first attempt to capture the dogs, telling officers he lived there. Officials say that after being informed of the attack he then recanted his original statement and said the dogs belonged to his son. His son was then called to the address, but he then told officers that only one belonged to him, the rest were strays. Officials moved into seize the animals after a warrant was issued with the SWAT team and K-9 officers attempting to bring them under control. An officer described how they managed to put one red pit bull in a waiting truck as the other animals tried to attack them through the fencing. The document says: 'Through another attempt to gain control of another Pitbull type canine, it and another Pitbull type canine forcibly grabbed my catchpole and ripped it out of my hands and into the yard.' According to the report the SWAT team then used pepper spray on the animals which forced the animals away from the fence. They left with one dog, it said. Kansas City code states that if officials deem an animal uncatchable officials can kill it by other reasonable means outside of euthanizing it humanely if it is a continued threat. Due to the aggression of the animals, the officers left with plans to return and sedate the rest of them. The next morning the animals had all disappeared. After 300 bites, 500 stiches and 100 lacerations, Culbertson went septic and died from his injuries. Lane suffered bites to her leg, and a laceration to the back of her calf. Despite being bandaged up blood continued to pour from the wound and soak the gauze. Lane told officers that two hours before they arrived on the scene the day after that she saw the owner park at the edge of the property before leaving. She suspected that they had loaded up the animals and left before cops appeared on the scene again. John Thibeaux Jr. met with officers at the property and gave them permission to inspect it for the dogs. They found two kennels in a back bedroom with nine puppies inside. No other dogs were found. After patrols were put in place to find the loose pack, several dogs matching the description were found two miles from the property and appeared to have been abandoned. The report said that they were impounded and euthanized. Detectives later said that Thibeaux Jr operated a dog breeding business, based on social media posts concerning puppies for sale. In the last update from prosecutors, both men are in custody on a $100,000 bond each. has approached the Jackson County Prosecutor for an update on the case. It is unclear at this time if they have entered a plea.


Daily Mail
34 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Blake Shelton hits back at angry critics following backlash over his and Gwen Stefani's AMAs performance after fans claimed they were 'lied to'
Blake Shelton has hit back at angry critics on Wednesday after receiving backlash from his and wife Gwen Stefani 's pre-taped AMAs performance. Fans were left furious after discovering the couple weren't actually on stage at the American Music Awards, instead just pre-recorded their performance before Monday night's event. 'We've been lied to,' wrote a TikTok user who was apparently at the awards show and filmed Gwen and Blake's performances on a screen from a seat in the balcony. Blake has now responded to the backlash, sharing on X: 'Just now seeing these stories about Gwen and I pretaping our performances for the AMA's. 'We came and performed when the show asked us to.. Really nothing else to say.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Blake has now responded to the backlash, sharing on X: 'Just now seeing these stories about Gwen and I pretaping our performances for the AMA's. We came and performed when the show asked us to.. Really nothing else to say' Videos circulating on social media further riled up fans after it wasn't indicated to viewers at home that their performance wasn't live. The stage at the Fontainebleau was pictured in the video, but it was dark, and the actual performance from the 55-year-old No Doubt singer was instead projected on the large screen behind the stage. People appeared to be swaying and dancing on the stage, but they were turned to the screen to watch the video, rather than performing as part of a number. There also appeared to be crew members setting up the stage for the next number while her performance played. 'She's not here!' the TikTok user said at the end of the clip as she turned the camera back to herself in the audience. Gwen was performing a medley of her classic tunes to mark the 20th anniversary fo her 2004 album Love. Angel. Music. Baby., including Hollaback Girl, What You Waiting For? and Rich Girl. Blake's performance was somewhat more confusing, as he was pictured in photos taken on the red carpet in what appeared to be the same outfit that he wore for his performance, suggesting that he had arrived at the AMAs shortly before the show started. But another video from the same TikTok user also showed a pre-recorded performance from the 48-year-old country music star of his single Stay Country Or Die Tryin'. Blake's performance was somewhat more confusing, as he was pictured in photos taken on the red carpet in what appeared to be the same outfit, suggesting that he had arrived at the AMAs shortly before the show started 'The craziest part of the AMAs last night was being told "and here's Blake Shelton Live" only for them to light up the stage like he's there, and never saying to us it was pre recorded. 'THEN, doing the same thing with Gwen Stefani!' the original poster seethed in text laid over the video. 'I felt like I was in a simulation looking around for him!' One commenter joked, 'LOL even the performers didn't show up.' 'Gwen Stefani performing live! ... somewhere else!' another user joked.


The Independent
39 minutes ago
- The Independent
Actor Valerie Mahaffey, 'Northern Exposure' Emmy winner, dies after cancer battle, publicist says
Celebrated actor Valerie Mahaffey, whose stage, film and television work ranged from Shakespeare to the hit 1990s series 'Northern Exposure,' died at age 71 after a battle with cancer, according to a statement released Saturday by her publicist. Mahaffey died Friday in Los Angeles, according to publicist Jillian Roscoe. 'I have lost the love of my life, and America has lost one of its most endearing actresses. She will be missed," her husband, actor Joseph Kell, said in a statement. Survivors also include their daughter, Alice Richards. Mahaffey's stage, film and television work included the soap opera 'The Doctors' more than 45 years ago and encompassed roles in the TV series 'Young Sheldon" and 'Desperate Housewives.' She appeared in the movie 'Sully' with Tom Hanks, directed by Clint Eastwood, and played Madame Reynard in 'French Exit' with Michelle Pfeiffer. She won an outstanding supporting actress in a drama series Emmy award for her portrayal of hypochondriac Eve on 'Northern Exposure.' Mahaffey also appeared on television in 'The Powers That Be,' 'Big Sky,' 'Seinfeld,' 'Wings" and 'ER.' Her film credits include 'Jungle 2 Jungle,' 'Senior Trip' and 'Seabiscuit.' As a child, Mahaffey lived in Indonesia, Nigeria, England and Texas.