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Mom dies after tree branch falls on her at daughter's softball camp, PA family says
Gendie Miller and her husband, Bill, were watching their daughter play softball at the Western Pennsylvania College Showcase Camp in McKeesport on July 24, WPXI reported.
The couple was sitting under a 'large shady tree since temperatures were in the 90s' while their daughter performed drills before a scrimmage in front of college coaches, according to a GoFundMe page.
Then, Bill Miller heard a cracking sound, WTAE reported.
'I said to my wife, 'Let's go.' I jumped out of my chair, felt a small branch of some sort that grazed my leg. And I immediately turned to my right to look back at her, and she was face down with large, multiple branches and limbs,' Bill Miller told the news outlet.
Gendie Miller was knocked unconscious. As she was being transported to a hospital, she stopped breathing and was pronounced dead on arrival, the GoFundMe said.
'It's such a crazy, freak accident,' family friend Luka Bompiani told WPXI. 'There's no weather involved, no wind. They were just sitting under a tree watching their daughter play softball.'
Nitro Fastpitch 16U Walker said in a Facebook post that the Nitro family mourns the loss of Gendie Miller as it 'is felt through waves of grief and sorrow.'
'We didn't know that could happen so soon. The next few weeks will be tough. I love you Gendie Miller. Until we meet again, I love you forever,' Brandon Bickle, who said Gendie Miller was his aunt, wrote in a Facebook post.
McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said in a statement to WTAE that the city's 'thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.'
'An evening that started like any other, with families and friends gathered in the park for a game, has ended in tragedy after this horrible accident,' Cherepko said, according to the outlet.
McKeesport is about a 15-mile drive southeast from Pittsburgh.

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Newsweek
4 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Green Card-Holder of 20 Years Detained for Citizenship Application Answer
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Hernan Rafael Castro, a green card holder living in the U.S. for two decades, was arrested in late-May over "knowingly" making a "false certification" on his naturalization application, according to court documents reviewed by Newsweek. Newsweek has reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the U.S. Marshals, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona, and an organizer on behalf of Castro via GoFundMe, via comment on Wednesday. Why It Matters President Donald Trump has pledged to launch the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history, and immigrants residing in the country illegally and legally, with valid documentation such as green cards and visas, have been detained The initiative has seen an intensification of ICE raids across the country as well as reports of people being arrested at immigration appointments. A Customs and Border Protection warning published on July 9 said, "Possessing a green card is a privilege, not a right." It added that legal residents arriving at a port of entry with prior criminal convictions may be detained in advance of removal proceeding. (L): Hernan Castro in a photo on a GoFundMe page on his behalf. (R): A federal agent wears a badge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement while standing outside an immigration courtroom at the Jacob K.... (L): Hernan Castro in a photo on a GoFundMe page on his behalf. (R): A federal agent wears a badge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement while standing outside an immigration courtroom at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. More GoFundMe/AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura What To Know Castro, who came to the U.S. more than two decades ago and has permanent legal resident status, was arrested on May 31. He reportedly did not disclose on his 2022 citizenship application a drug arrest that occurred in his teenage years, according to The Guardian. A May 28 indictment from the U.S. Attorney's office in Arizona, which was reviewed by Newsweek, stated that Castro "knowingly made a false certification on Form N-400, Application for Naturalization," in June 2022. The indictment states that Castro answered "no" to a question asking, "have you ever, sold or smuggled controlled substances, illegal drugs, or narcotics?" Providing incorrect or false information on immigration forms can lead to serious delays and consequences in the application process, including impacting one's eligibility. There have been several motions filed in his case, with his attorney noting that the "defendant, through undersigned counsel, and the Government are continuing to work in good faith to complete the disclosure process, which includes evidence that is relevant to the issue of Defendant's detention." In June, he pleaded "not guilty to all pending counts," according to the court docket. His legal status and ability to remain in the U.S. will be dependent on the case's outcome. The Guardian reported that his lawyer stated Castro is held in the custody of U.S. Marshals. In Tucson, Arizona, where Castro lives, he is known for his love of mushroom cultivation, foraging, and harvesting. He runs an online business called Desert Alchemist. A GoFundMe created on his behalf has raised over $33,000. What People Are Saying Casiana Omick, a friend of Castro, wrote in a GoFundMe for Castro: "Hernan is being unjustly punished despite going through all the legal avenues of citizenship, he has been a green card holder for over 20 years and was trying to apply for full citizenship. This case highlights a significant issue in our current immigration system, in which individuals can be unfairly torn from their families and lives even when they go through all the proper legal process of immigration, and even after living in this country legally for decades." Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) states on its website: "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement finds, prosecutes and removes convicted felons who lie on immigration forms. Everyone who applies for naturalization must truthfully answer a series of questions to show that they have the good moral character required to become a U.S. citizen. Some of the questions include: "Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?" "Have you ever been involved in any way with forcing, or trying to force, someone to have any kind of sexual contact or sexual relations?" "Have you ever sold or smuggled controlled substances, illegal drugs or narcotics?" When people lie on their immigration forms, ICE uses its authorities to find, prosecute and remove them." Linda Dakin-Grimm, an immigration attorney, told The Guardian: "Misrepresenting something, leaving something out can result in your status being taken away," What Happens Next? A detention hearing in Castro's case was originally scheduled for July 30. It has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. on August 20, according to the court docket. The hearing will take place in Tucson before Magistrate Judge James E Marner.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Co-founder of whites-only group speaks on previous homestead stabbing
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The co-founder of Return to the Land (RTTL), a whites-only private member association developing a community in northern Arkansas and expanding to Missouri, has spoken to Ozarks First regarding a stabbing incident he was involved in at a decentralized vegan community in Ecuador. Eric Orwoll, RTTL co-founder, told Ozarks First last week that a group of people is considering developing an RTTL community near Springfield. Ozarks First has discovered that one of RTTL's co-founders, Peter Csere, was once part of a vegan community in Ecuador called Fruit Haven that featured similar RTTL components, such as community land buys. According to Csere's GoFundMe that was created when he sought financial assistance for legal aid after a violent incident with miners, he was investigated by Ecuadorian authorities for attempted homicide, but Csere maintains his innocence, saying the incident was a case of self-defense. Fruit Haven's website — which Csere said isn't accurate anymore and is run by 'one person' in the United States — accuses Csere of financial misuse and violence. A Fruit Haven contact, however, said there are still 40 owners in the community. 'Prior to his departure, Csere was involved in a violent incident with Ecuadorian miners illegally operating on a then recently purchased property, FH9,' Fruit Haven's website says. Fruit Haven says that following repeated conflicts and threats, Csere — while accompanied by government officials — documented the mining activity with a drone. Fruit Haven says that during the altercation, Csere stabbed one of the miners, supposedly to defend himself, resulting in a collapsed lung to one of the Ecuadorian miners. '(Csere) subsequently faced criminal charges in Ecuador, which likely influenced his decision to leave the country,' Fruit Haven added. But, Csere says, Fruit Haven's account of the incident with the miners is 'quite inaccurate.' 'Government inspectors from the Ministry of the Environment asked me to accompany them on an inspection of an illegal operation,' Csere said. 'Miners attacked us (me and our two Ecuadorian workers and the government inspector). It was an unprovoked attack using logs, machetes, and pepper spray.' Csere said the miners threatened to kill them, and they managed to defend themselves and run away. He denounced violence but supported self-defense. 'The Bible teaches us to 'turn the other cheek' in our response to personal slights and offenses, but it also teaches us that self-defense and defense of one's family is legitimate,' Csere said. Csere said RTTL is a 'lawful organization that does not condone violence,' and if a member were to commit a serious crime, they would be expelled. The group requires a criminal background check for everyone who joins an RTTL community. State lawmaker responds to whites-only community potentially coming to Springfield Csere told Ozarks First he left Ecuador in 2023. He said that while some media reports claim he fled the country because the miners were attempting to press charges against him from an altercation, he actually left many months after the incident occurred. Additionally, he said his travel was not restricted and that there were no charges pressed against him. 'There were many reasons for leaving,' Csere said. 'The community I lived in embraced a lifestyle that I consider to be immoral and degenerate. The Ecuadorian government was incompetent and corrupt, and crime was rising every year.' Csere said he wanted to start a family and live in a community with 'wholesome, traditional values.' He met Orwoll after he saw a video Orwoll had made discussing a meetup in Missouri in 2023. That video was shared to an existing community in the Ozarks that is similar to RTTL, and at the time, Csere was already considering moving to the Ozarks to start a homestead. LOCAL LEADERS CONDEMN RTTL Several Springfield-area leaders have condemned RTTL, including the NAACP Springfield Chapter, which released a statement today on Tuesday, July 29. 'The NAACP Springfield Chapter vehemently condemns the proposed expansion of RTTL, a community explicitly designated as whites-only, beyond the borders of Springfield,' the statement says. 'Such a move starkly contradicts our core values of equity, inclusion, and justice, and undermines the progress toward racial equality that our city has strived to achieve.' The NAACP said RTTL's segregationist stance perpetuates division and discrimination, and its expansion outside Springfield threatens to undermine the principles of unity and diversity that are fundamental to our community's fabric. 'We call on Springfield's leaders to publicly denounce this initiative and to stand in opposition to any efforts that promote racial segregation or exclusion,' the statement says. The NAACP extended appreciation to elected officials such as Representative Jeremy Dean, Councilwoman Monica Horton and others, who have condemned RTTL. 'There is no room in Springfield, no room in Missouri for a group to come and call home that sets us back decades and decades and allows segregation and racism and horrible, awful rhetoric to exist in our own community,' said Missouri State Representative Betsy Fogle. While no City official has been contacted regarding an alleged 'whites only' proposed development in the 'Springfield area,' City Manager David Cameron made it clear that there is no place anywhere, let alone in Springfield, Missouri, for this type of development. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


USA Today
33 minutes ago
- USA Today
Beloved lion killed by trophy hunter in alleged ‘unethical' hunt
A beloved lion named Blondie in Zimbabwe was killed by an American trophy hunter whose professional guide claims the hunt in the last week of June was "conducted legally and ethically." However, others allege the well-known lion was lured out of Hwange National Park and its protective zone where wildlife photographers helped make Blondie a household name in the park. Africa Geographic, which sponsored the GPS collar on Blondie, reported that 'despite wearing a conspicuous research collar and being younger than the recommended minimum hunting age of six years, this young lion was lured out of a photographic concession and killed in what many are calling a deeply unethical hunt.' Africa Geographic also reported that sources say the hunt took place legally with all required permitting in place, and the professional guide is allegedly a member of the Zimbabwe Professional Guides Association. One source told Africa Geographic that Blondie was 5 years, 3 months old and was the dominant male of a pride that included three adult females and 10 cubs. Zimbabwe hunting regulations mandates a minimum age of 6 years for lions trophy hunted, with hunts to focus on mature, non-pride males. 'According to reports from operators in the area, Blondie was last seen in his core range in June 2025,' Africa Geographic stated. 'Observations suggest that he was baited out of the photographic concession over a period of several weeks and lured into the hunting area, where he was subsequently shot. The entire pride reportedly followed him during this period. 'There are concerns that the Professional Hunter [i.e. the guide] involved in the hunt was aware that Blondie was collared and that he had dependent cubs. It has been reported that, two weeks prior to the hunt, the hunter confirmed seeing Blondie with cubs and lionesses. When approached by AG for his side of the story, the PH declined to comment, other than to say that the hunt was 'conducted legally and ethically.'' LionExpose, which investigates and exposes wildlife exploitation and abuse, on Facebook claimed Blondie was lured and baited intentionally. It named the hunter, the guide and guide service, and the owner of the land on which the lion was shot. 'As the sponsor of Blondie's research collar, we are dismayed and angered by this development,' Africa Geographic CEO Simon Espley said. 'That Blondie's prominent collar did not prevent him from being offered to a hunting client, confirms the stark reality that no lion is safe from trophy hunting guns. He was a breeding male in his prime, making a mockery of the ethics that ZPGA regularly espouses and the repeated claims that trophy hunters only target old, non-breeding males.' Also on FTW Outdoors: Covert operation uncovers illegal activities by fisherman The incident is reminiscent of Cecil the lion, who was said to have been lured out of the protected area of Hwange National Park and was then shot and killed with a compound bow by an American trophy hunter. Walter Palmer, a dentist, reportedly paid $50,000 to a Zimbabwean professional hunter/guide for the hunt. The hunter was never charged, but two Zimbabweans involved in the hunt were briefly arrested, though charges were eventually dismissed. Cecil, 13 years old at the time of his death in 2015, was well known in the park and generated thousands of dollars in revenue from wildlife photographers. He wore a GPS collar and was identified by his black-fringed mane. Cecil's death gained international attention, and as a result of the negative fallout, it was reported that significantly fewer hunters came to Zimbabwe in the months that followed. The Telegraph reported that the 'Cecil effect' left the park at risk of having to cull 200 lions due to an overpopulation of lions. Photos of Blondie by Owen Grobler of Searching for Spots used by permission.