Oregon zoo owner is arrested on drug charges following police raid
The Coos County Sheriff's Office said Brian Tenney was arrested Tuesday on charges of methamphetamine possession, manufacturing and attempted distribution. He was released later Tuesday as the district attorney's office awaited more information, a Coos County Jail staff member said when reached by phone Wednesday morning.
On May 15, authorities served multiple search warrants at West Coast Game Park Safari, near the small town of Bandon on the southern Oregon coast. The action followed an investigation into the facility, including inquiries into the animals' welfare, Oregon State Police said.
Police said they found 80 grams of methamphetamine, 44 firearms, roughly 8 grams of cocaine and $1.6 million in cash, cashier's checks, bonds and certificates.
Veterinarians and staff with the Oregon Humane Society and the state Departments of Wildlife and Agriculture responded to the scene to assess the animals' health, food quality, water supply, sanitation and enclosure conditions, authorities said.
Police said 310 animals were relocated to animal sanctuaries or rescue facilities. After being evaluated by veterinarians, a camel, a chicken and a kinkajou were euthanized.
The investigation is ongoing.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
9/11 victims' fund architect slams changes to New Hampshire abuse settlement program
An attorney who helped design and implement the 9/11 victims' compensation fund says New Hampshire lawmakers have eroded the fairness of a settlement program for those who were abused at the state's youth detention center. Deborah Greenspan, who served as deputy special master of the fund created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, recently submitted an affidavit in a class-action lawsuit seeking to block changes to New Hampshire's out-of-court settlement fund for abuse victims. She's among those expected to testify Wednesday at a hearing on the state's request to dismiss the case and other matters. More than 1,300 people have sued the state since 2020 alleging that they were physically or sexually abused as children while in state custody, mostly at the Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester. Most of them put their lawsuits on hold after lawmakers created a settlement fund in 2022 that was pitched as a 'victim-centered' and 'trauma-informed' alternative to litigation run by a neutral administrator appointed by the state Supreme Court. But the Republican-led Legislature changed that process through last-minute additions to the state budget Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed in June. The amended law gives the governor authority to hire and fire the fund's administrator and gives the attorney general — also a political appointee — veto power over settlement awards. That stands in stark contrast to other victim compensation funds, said Greenspan, who currently serves as a court-appointed special master for lawsuits related to lead-tainted water in Flint, Michigan. She said it 'strains credulity' to believe that anyone would file a claim knowing that 'the persons ultimately deciding the claim were those responsible for the claimant's injuries.' 'Such a construct would go beyond the appearance of impropriety and create a clear conflict of interest, undermining the fairness and legitimacy of the settlement process," she wrote. Ayotte and Attorney General John Formella responded by asking a judge to bar Greenspan's testimony, saying she offered 'policy preferences masquerading as expert opinions' without explaining the principles beyond her conclusions. 'Her affidavit is instead a series of non sequiturs that move from her experience to her conclusions without any of the necessary connective tissue,' they wrote. The defendants argue that the law still requires the administrator to be 'an independent, neutral attorney' and point out that the same appointment process is used for the state's judges. They said giving the attorney general the authority to accept or reject settlements is necessary to give the public a voice and ensure that the responsibility for spending millions of dollars in public funds rests with the executive branch. As of June 30, nearly 2,000 people had filed claims with the settlement fund, which caps payouts at $2.5 million. A total of 386 had been settled, with an average award of $545,000. One of the claimants says he was awarded $1.5 million award in late July, but the state hasn't finalized it yet, leaving him worried that Formella will veto it. 'I feel like the state has tricked us,' he said in an interview this week. 'We've had the rug pulled right out from underneath us.' The Associated Press does not name those who say they were sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly. The claimant, now 39, said the two years he spent at the facility as a teenager were the hardest times of his life. 'I lost my childhood. I lost things that I can't get back,' he said. 'I was broken.' Though the settlement process was overwhelming and scary at times, the assistant administrator who heard his case was kind and understanding, he said. That meeting alone was enough to lift a huge burden, he said. 'I was treated with a lot of love,' he said. 'I felt really appreciated as a victim and like I was speaking to somebody who would listen and believe my story.' Separate from the fund, the state has settled two lawsuits by agreeing to pay victims $10 million and $4.5 million. Only one lawsuit has gone to trial, resulting in a $38 million verdict, though the state is trying to slash it to $475,000. The state has also brought criminal charges against former workers, with two convictions and two mistrials so far. The 39-year-old claimant who fears his award offer will be retracted said he doesn't know if he could face testifying at a public trial. 'It's basically allowing the same people who hurt us to hurt us all over again,' he said.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Tear-jerking moment 11-year-old calls her father with news she's getting a donor heart after 300 days on waitlist
A young girl from Ohio wasted no time calling her father just seconds after learning she would be receiving a new heart. Ava Cooper, 11, has battled multiple serious heart defects since she was just six days old - including a hole in her heart, a heart positioned on the opposite side of her chest, reversed pumping chambers, and a missing or blocked pulmonary valve, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Despite undergoing multiple open-heart surgeries by the age of five, Ava's health began to rapidly decline in the summer of 2024 - prompting doctors to conclude that a heart transplant was her best chance for survival. After spending nearly 300 days at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, the moment Ava and her family had been waiting for finally arrived - a donor heart had become available. Ava was sitting on her hospital bed, unaware that the life-changing news she was about to receive - and her emotional reaction - was about to be lovingly captured on video. In the clip, Ava appears to be on a video chat with her father when a nurse approaches her bedside, smiling brightly as she leans in to whisper something in her ear. Immediately, Ava's hands flew to her mouth in disbelief, her eyes widening as she quickly scanned the room, searching for confirmation of what she was hearing. 'Daddy,' she said into her iPad, her voice trembling with excitement. 'I'm getting a heart.' Her father, clearly as stunned as Ava, responded, 'What?!' 'I'm getting a heart!' she exclaimed, beaming from ear to ear as someone else in the room let out tears of joy. 'I was so excited and couldn't believe it was actually happening,' Ava told the Cleveland Clinic after hearing the news. Dr. Madeleine Townsend, part of Ava's care team, said she wanted to let Ava be the one to share the news herself. 'I whispered it to Ava because I really wanted her to be the one to tell her parents,' she said. 'Getting to see Ava's smile that day is one of the best parts of my job.' Sean Cooper, Ava's father, shared in the excitement during the call, his voice breaking with emotion as tears welled up upon hearing that his daughter would have a new lease on life. 'The hospital had become our second home, so hearing Ava say those words, "I'm getting a heart," was overwhelming,' Sean told Cleveland Clinic. 'After everything she'd been through, we were finally one step closer to coming home for good.' Ava's health journey began almost from the moment she was born, undergoing her first heart surgery just days after entering the world. 'After she was born, Ava had to be immediately flown to another hospital,' Jamie Cooper, her mother, told the outlet. 'I didn't even get the chance to spend time with her,' she added. Although a total of four open-heart surgeries seemed to stabilize her condition by the time she was five, Ava only remained symptom-free until the summer of last year. 'Ava started getting sick. I was noticing her waking up with facial swelling, not able to lay flat all the way, having a hard time breathing,' Jamie said. 'Her doctors at the time determined she was in heart failure.' It was at this point that Ava was transferred to Cleveland Clinic Children's, where a specialized team - including two pediatric heart function and transplant cardiologists - took over her care. They quickly determined that a heart transplant was the best option, concluding that further surgeries would no longer improve her long-term quality of life. In September 2024, at just 10 years old, Ava was officially placed on the heart transplant waiting list. While in the hospital, her health had its ups and downs - she needed oxygen to breathe, a feeding tube for nutrition, and a Berlin Heart device to help her heart pump blood. 'We had Sunday dinners, threw a birthday party for Ava's sister in her hospital room and even brought up presents to open on Christmas morning. We were still trying to find ways to create memories together,' Jamie recalled. One of Ava's most treasured memories came in February 2025, when hospital staff transformed her room into a special father-daughter dance venue, knowing she would miss the one she usually attends at that time of year. 'It's now one of the best memories I have with Ava, and I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who came together to make it possible,' Sean said. Less than a month after what Ava called her 'magical and cool' father-daughter dance, the hospital received a heart that would soon be hers. On March 6, Ava underwent the transplant surgery and emerged with a brand-new heart. She spent the next month in the hospital recovering. Her doctor explained that because she had been in heart failure for almost a year, her body needed time to heal. 'I was so excited to be back in my own bedroom and be able to see my dog Rocky again,' Ava told Cleveland Clinic. By April 10, Ava was finally able to go home for the first time in months. 'Even though I missed my whole fourth-grade class, I'm excited I'm able to see my friends, go on field trips and do art projects again,' Ava said.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Fury as school boys who confronted trans student using their bathroom are suspended for sexual harassment
Two teenage boys have been suspended from a Virginia high school for sexual harassment after confronting a transgender student about their presence in the male locker room. The students at Stone Bridge High School were suspended for 10 days on Friday after being found responsible for sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination on school grounds, according to ABC 7News. The controversial decision followed a months-long investigation into a video - recorded by a female student who identifies as male - that captured the boys expressing discomfort over 'a girl' being in the boys' locker room. Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) stated that the district allows students to use bathrooms and locker rooms based on their self-identified gender rather than their biological sex, and, as a result, the students were found to be in violation of rules. But the outcome shocked the boys' parents, who condemned the decision as a deeply troubling and 'concerning development.' 'We're absolutely floored that they came back and branded my son responsible for sexual harassment and sex based discrimination with no solid evidence whatsoever,' said Renae Smith, the mother of one of the suspended boys. 'We're talking about scarring him for life by a biased process that's supposed to protect fairness, but it's shocking. 'It's wrong, and it should terrify every single parent.' The district launched a Title IX investigation into two 10th grade boys in May after they were videotaped inside the building's male locker room, as previously reported by ABC 7News. Title IX investigations involve allegations of sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, and other violations. A father of one of the students said the trans student used a mobile phone to record his son and others in the locker room after a gym class in March. Despite the boys being the ones filmed, the footage became the centerpiece of the case - ultimately used to determine their suspension just months later. In the video obtained by the outlet, the trans student begins recording as they walk into the boys' locker room, where several male students already appear to be present. Although the remainder of the video is mostly dark, voices can be heard - voices the school claims were discriminatory toward the student. 'There's a girl in here?' one boy can be heard asking. 'There's a girl?' Moments later, the same boy appears to double down on his concern, saying, 'Why is there a girl? I'm so uncomfortable there is a girl.' 'A female, bro, get out of here,' another teen responds. After the district announced an investigation into the boys' behavior, parents expressed outrage, arguing that the teens were simply having a private conversation among themselves - not targeting or bullying the other student. The boys' parents also questioned why their sons were being scrutinized when they were the ones who had been recorded - a violation of school policy in itself. 'I have a daughter that's in high school as well, and if there was a male in there videotaping her in the locker room, I would have issues,' Seth Wolfe, the father of the other boy involved, told 7News back in May. 'If it's my son and there's a female in the locker room videotaping, I have issues,' he added. 'I believe that this is an invasion of their privacy.' Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin also released a statement at the time, expressing 'outrage' over the news that LCPS was investigating the male students. 'It's deeply concerning to read reports of yet another incident in Loudoun County schools where members of the opposite sex are violating the privacy of students in locker rooms,' Youngkin said. 'Even more alarming, the victims of this violation are the ones being investigated - this is beyond belief,' he added. 'I've asked Attorney General Miyares to investigate this situation immediately so that every student's privacy, dignity and safety are upheld.' Meanwhile, the investigation stretched through the summer, ultimately concluding on Friday evening when the district informed the parents of their sons' suspensions. 'What they're doing to our children is just despicable,' Smith told 7News regarding the district's decision. Josh Hetzler, an attorney representing the families, stated that the punishment includes not only a 10-day suspension, but also a no-contact order prohibiting the boys from being in any of the same classes as the trans student. The boys are also required to meet with school administrators to develop a corrective action plan, according to Hetzler. Smith, who has already withdrawn her son from the district and relocated out of state, worries that the decision will follow him, jeopardizing his chances of college admission since it will remain on his permanent academic record. She also said that if her son ever returns to the district, he will face suspension immediately upon his arrival. The school board had previously refused to comply with the US Department of Education's demands that they, along with other Northern Virginia districts, reverse bathroom and locker room policies allowing trans students to choose facilities based on their gender identity. The trans student's decision to use the boys' locker room was ultimately allowed under Loudoun County School Board's Policy 8040. However, the parents now believe the decision sends a message that anyone who disagrees with the policy will face punishment for speaking out. 'They're going to have to follow what Loudoun County says, what they believe is right, and what goes against other people's beliefs, or what we believe is right,' Wolfe told the outlet. Republican Virginia Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running for governor, also weighed in on the suspensions, calling them 'ludicrous.' 'Boys are not comfortable undressing in front of nude girls in the same locker room, in spaces that they were not normally have access to,' Earle-Sears told 7News. 'The boys are saying this, and the boys who should be applauded are not being applauded,' he added. 'Instead, they're being punished for something that's common sense. You know, for me, biological differences do matter.' 'It's not political, it's common sense. And it's parental rights, really. So, I'm speaking for parents and families all across Virginia. This is nonsense.' The Founding Freedoms Law Center, representing the families in this case, vowed to continue fighting until the suspension decision is overturned. 'Our clients have done nothing wrong and they deserve to be deemed innocent,' Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation of Virginia, told the outlet. On Friday, the Department of Education informed 7News that it had initiated the process of cutting federal funding to five school districts who refused to change their policies - a move that could cost each district tens of millions of dollars annually.
