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Time of India
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Man picks up a 3.81-carat diamond, thinking it was a candy wrapper, while on a trip with his family
Some say luck is just a preparation that meets opportunity, while others call it fate. But sometimes, someone comes across something so precious and completely unexpected that it reminds us all of how surprising life can be. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Be it people finding million-dollar paintings in thrift stores or ancient coins buried in their backyard, these moments of accidental fortune seem to make one's day. There's something magical about discovering hidden treasure in the most unlikely places, and similar is the story of a man who recently had such a moment, where a simple family outing turned into a story to remember. This man was on an outing with his family While on a family vacation in Arkansas, , a farmer from Minnesota and amateur rock collector, made an unforgettable discovery where he found a 3.81-carat brown diamond. This took place on April 21 at the , a public site known for allowing visitors to search for real gems. According to a press release from Arkansas State Parks, DeCook had been exploring the area when he spotted something shiny on the ground. 'DeCook calmly walked over to where he had seen the diamond, picked it up and inspected it before calling to his brother,' the release stated. ''Oh, you're going to be mad once you see what I found!'' he jokingly told him. DeCook later told FOX 9 Minneapolis that the diamond had an unusual yet familiar appearance. 'Kind of looks like a candy wrapper. Real shiny looking, kind of like a Werther's candy wrapper… As you get closer to it, you can tell it's a diamond pretty quickly,' he said. Named the diamond after his dog The Minnesota resident returned to the park a few days later to have the gem officially registered. He named it 'The Duke Diamond' in honor of his dog. 'You just never know what you're gonna find. It's a chance of a lifetime,' DeCook said. Assistant park superintendent Waymon Cox noted that the recent rainy weather helped unearth the diamond. 'April has been a very wet month at the park, with more than 12 inches of rain,' Cox said. 'As rain falls in the search area, it washes away the dirt and uncovers heavy rocks, minerals, and diamonds near the surface.' DeCook's discovery marks the largest diamond found at the park so far in 2025. Before this the most significant discovery of a diamond in the park was a 7.46-carat gem that was found by a French tourist in January 2024.
Fox News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Man finds 'candy-like' diamond while exploring Arkansas state park: 'Chance of a lifetime'
An amateur rock collector recently hit the jackpot while exploring a state park in Arkansas. David DeCook, a Minnesota resident, unearthed a stunning 3.81-carat brown diamond at the Crater of Diamonds State Park on April 21. The diamond is the largest that has been found in the park in 2025 so far, according to Arkansas State Parks. In a press release, the government organization said that DeCook was on a family trip to the park when he found the gem. "DeCook calmly walked over to where he had seen the diamond, picked it up and inspected it before calling to his brother," the press release noted. "Stirring up some natural sibling rivalry, David told Derek, '"Oh, you're going to be mad once you see what I found!'" The Minnesota resident returned to the park a few days later to register the diamond. DeCook decided to name his discovery "the Duke Diamond" after his dog. "You just never know what you're gonna find. It's a chance of a lifetime." DeCook identified himself as a farmer to FOX 9 Minneapolis and told the outlet that the diamond "kind of looks like a candy wrapper." "Real shiny looking, kind of like a Werther's candy wrapper… As you get closer to it, you can tell it's a diamond pretty quick," he said. DeCook added, "I was very surprised, I guess, and never thought I'd find one that big." "You just never know what you're gonna find. It's a chance of a lifetime." Arkansas State Parks also noted that after DeCook found the gem, a heavy amount of rain covered the area – a good omen for diamond hunters. "April has been a very wet month at the park, with more than 12 inches of rain," assistant park superintendent Waymon Cox said in a statement. "Many of the park's largest diamonds are found on top of the ground," he added. "As rain falls in the search area, it washes away the dirt and uncovers heavy rocks, minerals and diamonds near the surface." The Duke Diamond is the largest find at the Crater of Diamonds State Park since a French visitor found a 7.46-carat diamond in Jan. 2024. The tourist, Julien Navas, named the gem after his fiancée, Carine.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Minnesota lawmakers propose controversial medically-assisted suicide bill
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. Minnesota state lawmakers are re-introducing a bill to legalize medically-assisted in dying, which is legal in 10 states and Washington, D.C. The controversial bill would allow Minnesotans with terminal illnesses to self-administer a prescription medication that would kill them over a period of time — a practice that some argue is an ethical way to end suffering while others argue that it is a dangerous slippery slope for those in a vulnerable mental state. "I'm proud to carry the Minnesota End-of-Life Options Act once again at the legislature. Over the past several years, I've heard countless stories from Minnesotans who want the ability to decide, with their doctors and loved ones, how they spend their final days," State Rep. Mike Freiberg said during a Thursday press conference, as FOX 9 Minneapolis first reported. "Their message is clear: They want compassion, autonomy and peace at the end of life." The Minnesota legislation is modeled on Oregon's 1997 Death with Dignity Act. Minnesota Lawmakers Initiate Debate On Physician-assisted Suicide Bill Read On The Fox News App "The person has to be an adult with a terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less to live. They must be mentally capable of making decisions, and they must be able to self-ingest the medication," Freiberg said during the Thursday press conference. The state representative told Fox News Digital in a statement that the bill "is about trusting Minnesotans to make personal medical decisions with their doctors and families." "The End-of-Life Options Act has been working safely and compassionately elsewhere for more than 25 years—we can bring that same peace of mind to people in Minnesota," he said. Freiberg noted during the press conference that two medical clinicians must be able to confirm the person's diagnosis and consent, and the person undergoing medically-assisted death must also take a mental health examination. Legalized Assisted Suicide Push In Us Alarms Doctors, Disability Advocates: 'Where Do You Draw The Line?' The legislation is aimed at alleviating suffering for those with terminal, life-altering illnesses that impact physical and mental capability, such as ALS. Tom Albin, who has ALS, spoke during the Thursday presser, as Fox 9 first reported. "I am not suicidal, I love my life and the people in it," Albin said. "With my medical team, I've done things to extend my life with a feeding tube and a non-invasive ventilator. But ALS is cruel. It will eventually trap me in a body that can't move. But I'll be fully aware of it the whole time. And there's no escape." Assisted Deaths May Soon Be A Reality For Those Suffering From Mental Illness In Canada Gina Schneider, regional campaign and advocacy manager for Compassion & Choices Action Network, told Fox News Digital that the organization is "so grateful for lead sponsor Rep. Mike Freiberg's dedication to bringing the compassionate option of medical aid in dying to Minnesota by reintroducing the End-of-Life Options Act" "All Minnesotans deserve a full range of end-of-life care options," Schneider said. "We hope the legislature will honor the will of 73.2% of Minnesota voters who support this option for terminally ill adults in their final six months or less of life by getting HF 2998 to Governor Walz so he can make it law in 2025." The Minnesota Alliance for Ethical Healthcare is taking a different stance, with spokesperson Nancy Utoft highlighting the potential dangers of such legislation in a news release shared with FOX 9. "Physician-assisted suicide is often framed as a compassionate option, but the reality is that it deepens existing inequities in our healthcare system and places vulnerable individuals—especially those with disabilities, limited financial resources, and communities of color—at greater risk," Utoft said. "We should be saying yes to better care, not legalizing an option that pressures people into ending their lives prematurely." Canada legalized medical assistance in dying (MAID) in 2017, and the nationwide law has prompted arguments about how medically-assisted suicide may prompt those suffering from mental health disorders to end their lives prematurely. Minnesota state senators are expected to introduce the bill article source: Minnesota lawmakers propose controversial medically-assisted suicide bill
Fox News
03-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Minnesota lawmakers propose controversial medically-assisted suicide bill
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. Minnesota state lawmakers are re-introducing a bill to legalize medically-assisted in dying, which is legal in 10 states and Washington, D.C. The controversial bill would allow Minnesotans with terminal illnesses to self-administer a prescription medication that would kill them over a period of time — a practice that some argue is an ethical way to end suffering while others argue that it is a dangerous slippery slope for those in a vulnerable mental state. "I'm proud to carry the Minnesota End-of-Life Options Act once again at the legislature. Over the past several years, I've heard countless stories from Minnesotans who want the ability to decide, with their doctors and loved ones, how they spend their final days," State Rep. Mike Freiberg said during a Thursday press conference, as FOX 9 Minneapolis first reported. "Their message is clear: They want compassion, autonomy and peace at the end of life." The Minnesota legislation is modeled on Oregon's 1997 Death with Dignity Act. "The person has to be an adult with a terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less to live. They must be mentally capable of making decisions, and they must be able to self-ingest the medication," Freiberg said during the Thursday press conference. He added that two medical clinicians must be able to confirm the person's diagnosis and consent, and the person undergoing medically-assisted death must also take a mental health examination. The legislation is aimed at alleviating suffering for those with terminal, life-altering illnesses that impact physical and mental capability, such as ALS. Tom Albin, who has ALS, spoke during the Thursday presser, as FOX 9 first reported. "ALS is cruel. It will eventually trap me in a body that can't move." "I am not suicidal, I love my life and the people in it," Albin said. "With my medical team, I've done things to extend my life with a feeding tube and a non-invasive ventilator. But ALS is cruel. It will eventually trap me in a body that can't move. But I'll be fully aware of it the whole time. And there's no escape." Gina Schneider, regional campaign and advocacy manager for Compassion & Choices Action Network, told Fox News Digital that the organization is "so grateful for lead sponsor Rep. Mike Freiberg's dedication to bringing the compassionate option of medical aid in dying to Minnesota by reintroducing the End-of-Life Options Act" "All Minnesotans deserve a full range of end-of-life care options," Schneider said. "We hope the legislature will honor the will of 73.2% of Minnesota voters who support this option for terminally ill adults in their final six months or less of life by getting HF 2998 to Governor Walz so he can make it law in 2025." The Minnesota Alliance for Ethical Healthcare is taking a different stance, with spokesperson Nancy Utoft highlighting the potential dangers of such legislation in a news release shared with FOX 9. "Physician-assisted suicide is often framed as a compassionate option, but the reality is that it deepens existing inequities in our healthcare system and places vulnerable individuals—especially those with disabilities, limited financial resources, and communities of color—at greater risk," Utoft said. "We should be saying yes to better care, not legalizing an option that pressures people into ending their lives prematurely." Canada legalized medical assistance in dying (MAID) in 2017, and the nationwide law has prompted arguments about how medically-assisted suicide may prompt those suffering from mental health disorders to end their lives prematurely. Minnesota state senators are expected to introduce the bill next.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former state lawmaker Justin Eichorn released after arrest for alleged enticement of a minor
Former Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn was granted pre-trial release on Wednesday after being charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor in connection to a prostitution sting. Eichorn, 40, is accused of arranging to meet up with a 17-year-old girl for sex on March 17. On Wednesday, the Republican was granted release from jail pending trial, with requirements that he go to a halfway house once a bed is available and be monitored by GPS. Minnesota Republicans To Introduce Bill Defining 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' As Mental Illness Fox News Digital previously reported Eichorn was allegedly speaking with a girl who he was told was underage for about a week before arranging to meet on March 17 for sex. When he arrived at the meet-up, he realized the person he was talking to online was actually an undercover agent, affiliate FOX 9 Minneapolis reported. Read On The Fox News App The former senator was arrested and initially granted release at his first court appearance, but prosecutors over the weekend requested a new detention hearing, claiming he asked his wife to move a laptop from his apartment before investigators arrived, according to FOX 9. Court documents showed FBI agents, who arrived at the apartment before his wife, told her she could not take the laptop, which Eichorn's attorneys argued was for their shared real estate business. Also inside the apartment was a factory-reset cellphone and a gun Eichorn allegedly denied having when speaking with a probation officer, FOX 9 reported. Eichorn's attorneys said the gun was kept in case anyone acted on threats he received about recent legislation he authored defining "Trump derangement syndrome," or TDS, as a mental illness in Minnesota, according to the report. Sanctuary City Lawyers Plot To Help Illegal Migrants Evade Ice In Exposed Group Email Eichorn resigned on March 19 prior to a motion from Republican lawmakers to boot him from the state Senate. Court records show his wife filed for divorce this week, according to the report. Eichorn could not be reached by Fox News Digital for article source: Former state lawmaker Justin Eichorn released after arrest for alleged enticement of a minor
