A Northern California animal rescue that billed itself as a safe haven for unwanted dogs is now at the center of a disturbing investigation after authorities say several dogs transferred there from Bay Area shelters were found shot and buried on the property.

The allegations, outlined in a Humboldt County search warrant affidavit, have prompted both Oakland Animal Services and Berkeley Animal Care Services to sever ties with the rescue as investigators work to determine what happened to hundreds of dogs sent there over the years.

Investigators recovered eight dead dogs from the rescue property in Humboldt County, about 4.5 hours north of San Francisco, according to the affidavit obtained by ABC7. At least one of those dogs had recently been transferred from the Bay Area.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release on Wednesday that the Major Crimes Division is investigating Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna, California, over “credible allegations of felony animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud and conspiracy.”

As of Friday, neither the owner of the rescue nor any employees had been charged.

The investigation began on April 22 after two women contacted the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, claiming the rescue was taking in dogs primarily for financial gain.

One of the women, Jennifer Raymond, who owns a spay-and-neuter clinic in Humboldt County, said she had been concerned about the rescue for years and that she bought property next door to monitor the operation.

Raymond and the other woman had obtained trail camera footage that appeared to show dead dogs being dumped in a field. After noticing a mound of dirt on the property, the women entered the property at night and began digging, she told investigators, according to the affidavit.

“I began digging, and I continued, and I uncovered a dog,” Raymond said. “Its muzzle was covered in dried blood. Their bodies were still warm.”

“It was gruesome. I will never forget the sight of those dogs with blood dripping out of their noses, out of their mouths, out of their ears,” she added.

Eight dogs were recovered and several appeared to have bullet holes in their heads, according to the affidavit. Raymond acknowledged she trespassed onto the property and said she is prepared to face the consequences.

Deputies executed a search warrant on May 1 seeking records, contracts, financial documents and other evidence. At the time of the search, the rescue was already over capacity.

Investigators said six of the eight recovered dogs had microchips. One was identified as Zora, a dog transferred from Oakland Animal Services less than a month earlier. The affidavit states the rescue owner previously sent Oakland Animal Services a photo of Zora on a leash alongside the message, “Zora adopted,” before the dog was later identified among the dead animals.

According to the affidavit, the rescue owner denied killing and dumping the dogs, but later told investigators he was not operating a no-kill shelter and had done the best he could with limited resources. He added that animals were typically euthanized by a veterinarian, though he sometimes shot animals himself when immediate action was necessary to prevent suffering.

In a Facebook post that has since been deleted, the owner allegedly wrote: “Many of you, like me, have been appalled by the allegations we’ve read in the media and online. Not everything we’re seeing is true. A legal process is now underway to sort the facts from the lies. I have cared for thousands of animals and devoted 31 years of my life to the rescue. I intend to vigorously defend myself and continue this important work.”

Authorities allege the rescue received more than 600 dogs from shelters over the past year, along with an estimated $510,000 in funding.

Oakland Animal Services transferred 445 animals to the rescue between 2023 and 2025, according to the affidavit. Investigators estimate those transfers generated roughly $178,000 in payments at about $400 per dog.

“It is my belief that (the rescue) murdered these dogs so that he could accept more from Oakland Animal Services for financial gain,” a Humboldt County investigator wrote in the affidavit.

Oakland and Berkeley officials said they will no longer transfer dogs to the rescue. Berkeley officials said at least 22 dogs had been sent there since the start of 2025, and the city is still trying to determine what happened to those animals.

“Just sick to my stomach. There’s been a lot of tears shed here at the shelter,” said Joe DeVries, director of Oakland Animal Services. “When we see a partner, and we see hope, we put our hope and our trust in them, and to see it violated like that, it’s just devastating.”

The animals living at the property are being monitored by Humboldt County Animal Control, and the rescue appears to remain operational, officials said. No arrests have been made but authorities say the investigation is ongoing.

UFC president Dana White says that there is no way that Donald Trump is racist – because the president was friends with Michael Jackson.

White, 56, who has been one of Trump’s most vocal supporters and has frequently appeared alongside him at UFC events and political rallies, defended his friend during an interview on The New Yorker Radio Hour with editor David Remnick on May 22.

“These things that he’s a racist and he’s a Nazi and he’s this and that – I mean, Donald Trump, all this stuff’s coming out now,” White said.

“You know, the Michael movie just came out, and you see all these videos now popping up of Trump defending Michael Jackson and the type of person that he was and that Michael Jackson was around his children and around his family a lot.”

Remnick appeared stunned by White’s example and pushed back.

“But wait a minute, Dana – Michael Jackson – as talented as he was, as brilliant as he was, was a deeply, deeply flawed human being, to say the least,” Remnick said. “And was abusive [from] everything we know about him.”

White acknowledged Jackson was flawed before asking: “He was abusive?”

“To kids, yes. It’s terrible,” Remnick responded.

Jackson faced multiple allegations of child sexual abuse during his lifetime, including accusations in 1993 and a criminal trial in 2005. The pop star was acquitted on all counts in the later case.

“I don’t know if that’s true, but I can tell you the president had a very good relationship with Michael Jackson and had Michael Jackson around his kids all the time,” White said. “And you know, defended him when that stuff was going down. So to call the guy a racist is crazy. He’s not a racist.”

During the interview, Remnick also brought up a controversial Truth Social post Trump shared earlier this year depicting former President Barack Obama as an ape, asking White if the post gave him “the willies.”

“If he was that type of person, I never would associate with that type of a person, no matter who he was,” White said.

“But if he does that, how is he not that kind of person?” Remnick asked.

“He’s not,” White replied.

“I don’t know about the Obama thing, to speak on that,” White added. “I’ve never seen it. I didn’t know that. But I can tell you this: He’s not a racist. He’s not a fascist. He loves this country. And if you’re an American – race, religion, whatever it is – President Trump is on your team. That I guarantee you.”

The three-day festival is taking place across 300 acres at Stoneleigh Park, in Warwickshire, and has been billed as a celebration of the skills and produce of British farmers

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Some traders have opted to pack up and leave Jeremy Clarkson’s Farm-Fest ahead of schedule, claiming they were failing to make any money.

The three-day festival is taking place over the bank holiday weekend across 300 acres at Stoneleigh Park, in Warwickshire, where adult tickets cost £35 for a half-day or £60 for an all-day admission, reports the Mirror.

The event celebrates the skills and produce of Britain’s farmers, combining “the traditional joy of a large country fair with the excitement and energy of a modern music festival”, according to the venue.

Reports suggest that the music festival and country fair drew 20,000 visitors on Saturday alone, with 55,000 attendees expected across the entire weekend.

There are 12 arenas spread across the site, ranging from talks and displays featuring Clarkson and Kaleb Cooper to live music from Alex James from Blur, 10cc, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and a DJ set by Groove Armada.

It is estimated that more than 400 stalls were confirmed for the bank holiday event, yet a number of stallholders have voiced their dismay at being forced to depart early. Business owners have posted tearful videos on social media, with one trader titling hers ‘what a shambles’.

Korrine Pallas, who owns pet product firm Phoenix Equestrian and Pet Supplies, was amongst those who departed the festival prematurely. She described Friday as ‘the worst day’s trading we have ever had’. In a video uploaded to the company’s TikTok account, she said: ‘It has been darn right awful at Farm-Fest.’ “When I say it’s not worth getting out of bed for, it’s an understatement. It has been horrific, and I know everyone else is feeling the same and is in the same boat as us.”

Korrine updated her followers yesterday in a tearful message in which she announced she was departing a day early — something the company had never previously done at a trade show. Fighting back tears, she said: “It has been catastrophic for us, and when you are already a small family business in hard times it is heart-wrenching.”

She revealed they were a ‘few grand down’ and that it would cost her £400 to attend on Sunday ‘and I haven’t even come near that in the last couple of days’.

Emma, who co-founded pet brand Pops and Coco, described the event as a shambles in a TikTok video today. She said: “There have been a lot of traders who have gone home – lots of traders left last night, particularly dog traders.

“I would say 90 per cent of traders across the whole showground, whatever they are selling, have either made a loss and they haven’t made their costs back or they are only just making some money now.”

A spokesman for Jeremy Clarkson’s Great British Farm-Fest said: “We have been working closely with traders at The Great British Farm-Fest to provide support during our inaugural weekend. We are surprised that a handful of exhibitors, out of the 400 who attended, left the show within a few hours of the first day without experiencing an event that has attracted over 50,000 visitors.” The Mirror has reached out for comment.

Bradley Johnson, who plays Mandy Dingle’s adopted son Vinny, is set to exit due to budget cuts at ITV.

Recently, Emmerdale has seen several characters axed, including Jimmy King and Dawn Taylor.

Now, Vinny is set to be the next member of the soap to exit Emmerdale.

Emmerdale star axed from ITV soap

Reports that Johnson will be leaving the ITV soap come from a source at The Sun, who shared, “Bradley is a very popular member of the cast and especially close with his on-screen Dingle family.

“Everyone is shocked that bosses decided to axe him but it’s all part of the ITV cuts and they still need to trim back the cast.

“They are making less episodes so don’t need as many characters.”

Johnson first arrived in the village in 2019 when Emmerdale brought back Mandy, played by Lisa Riley.

According to the source, Riley has been left upset by the decision to axe Johnson, adding, “Lisa is devastated.

“She adores Bradley and they have such a close bond. It just shows that no-one is safe.”

Reports suggest that Emmerdale bosses want a big stunt that could kill off a larger number of stars.

Back in 2022, Johnson discussed what working on Emmerdale meant for him, sharing, “I’m just loving my time on Emmerdale, as long as the writing is great, as it is, I’m just grateful to be here.”

Emmerdale’s Jimmy King to be ‘killed off’ after 22 years

Nick Miles, who has played Jimmy King since 2004, is reportedly being killed off later this year.

Jimmy first arrived alongside his dad and brothers and has undergone many storylines during his time on the ITV soap.

His exit is rumoured to coincide with the return of ex-wife Sadie King (Patsy Kensit), whose return was announced earlier this week.

According to reports, actor Miles is still filming scenes on the soap and will be on screen until the autumn.

His death will see a “jaw-dropping stunt” that will have a “far-reaching impact on the village”, Radio Times reports.

The news of Jimmy’s exit was first reported by The Sun.

A source told the publisher: “Once the decision was made that Nick would be leaving, the writers quickly realised his character wouldn’t abandon his wife and children so they had to kill him off.

“That’s what made them approach Patsy about returning.”

Do you watch Emmerdale? Let us know in the comments.

You can explore Northern Ireland’s most “hidden gem” which features breathtaking views and a heart-wrenching story. American influencer Miranda previously stumbled on the location

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Spring bank holiday is finally here and if you’re looking for things to do, this place is well worth a visit. Whether you love exploring abandoned villages or hitting the pubs, a location with breathtaking views is just 45 minutes from Belfast and it’s truly amazing.

One American who lives in Northern Ireland embarked on a journey to Glenarm when she stumbled on this “hidden gem”. Miranda said it can be easily missed as it’s just a rest stop along the way. But be sure to visit as not only does it offer jaw-dropping views, there’s also a tale behind why the location is well-known.

Sharing details about Madman’s Window, Miranda told her 28,000 followers on TikTok: “This might be Northern Ireland’s most hidden gem, here’s how to get there.”

Be sure to look out for the car park on the right hand side before a five-minute walk to the window. Showing fans the trial, she claimed if you see this path then you’re in the right place.

She added: “So what is the mystical tale behind this window? The story goes many years ago when a man lost his loved one in Glenarm Bay, leading him to spend the rest of his life waiting at this window for his loved one to return home.

“This is one of the only rock formations in Ireland that creates a window not only to the sea but on a clear day you can also see Scotland.”

Miranda couldn’t believe the unexpected sight she came across while visiting Madman’s Window.

She continued: “What I didn’t expect to see is a pebble beach on the far right and I can’t even over exaggerate it had some of the blue-st waters, highly recommend this location.”

What to do at Madman’s Window:

You can enjoy a peaceful coastal walk and look at the striking natural rock formation. When you find the natural “window” looking out towards the sea and Scotland, be sure to take some photos.

Also you can spend a moment reflecting on the heart-wrenching tale of the man who spent the end of his life at this exact spot, staring out to the sea where his lost loved supposedly drowned.

Finally, you can wander down to the rocky pebbled beach below or dip your toes into the turquoise waters.

Glenarm Castle is also a short distance north of the site where you can explore the gardens and then grab a bite to eat at the tea room.

How to get to Madman’s Window:

The trip to Madman’s Window from Belfast is about 45 minutes, covering around 30 miles in the car.

Taking public transport is also another alternative, with a train taking 40 minutes and a bus around 35 minutes.

Russia used the powerful hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile during a mass drone and missile attack on Kyiv on Sunday that killed at least two people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, marking its third use in the war.

The company, based in Northern Ireland, is a commercial boiler specialist that has been running for nearly half a century before plummeting into liquidation this month

A UK plumbing company has plunged into liquidation after nearly half a century.

G.W. Monsons & Sons Limited is based in Newtownards, Northern Ireland and the winding down process began on May 16.

The commercial boiler specialist will hold a final annual meeting at 10am on June 23.

The meeting will be held at the offices of Lecale Corporate Finance & Restructuring Limited, 50 Stranmillis Embankment, Belfast.

The commercial boiler specialist was incorporated on March 18, 1977 and the period of winding up is anticipated to take around three months.

According to The Gazette, the meeting will either see the liquidator’s final report and receipts and payments account be approved or the liquidator be granted his release.

It is unclear how many employees are at the company and will be impacted by the collapse.

Several businesses are suffering at present, with another plumbing company also entering liquidation due to cashflow pressures.

Centurion Plumbing Services Ltd, based in Muir of Ord in the Scottish Highlands, reportedly stopped trading on March 31.

As a result of the closure of Centurion at least ten people are thought to have lost their jobs.

CAST your mind back to March 2020. Faced with the prospect of an indeterminate government-imposed period of solitary confinement due to Covid, you did one of two things – you either bought a dog or a jigsaw.

The result of this is that half the population now own a dog and charity shops experienced a boom in the sale and return of jigsaws.

As I had no desire to turn out in the rain and cold to swing a bag of poo from my arm on a half hour walk, I turned to little pieces of funny- shaped printed card which all fit together to eventually create a lovely picture.

Although the rising costs of jigsaws has its own parallels with the rising costs of owning a pet, eventually you become what my wife and I have become – addicts. Yes I admit it – I’m a jigsaw freak with one in various stages of completeness on our dining table every day of the week.

Jigsaws have been around in one form or another since 1760, offering countless generations a way of relaxing the mind and filling their leisure time.

Invented by John Spilsbury in London, the first puzzle was a map glued to a flat piece of wood and then cut up so it could be reassembled as a teaching aid.

And I remember one of the first jigsaws I ever did in the sixties was a picture of the British Isles with little lozenge-shaped gaps where you inserted the names of towns and cities.

In the 21st century puzzles have been developed into an art form. You can get circular jigsaws, ones with specially shaped pieces resembling cats and dogs, 3D jigsaws which enable you to build an object such as Big Ben, jigsaw programmes on your computer or smartphone, and they have even strayed into the rock and pop world with a 3D world globe featuring on the cover of The Seahorses No 2 album, created by the guitarist John Squire. However there seems to be a big gap in the market as not many jigsaw designs appeal to young people, although a quick trawl on Google and Ebay reveal quite a few Taylor Swift designs.!

It’s certainly true that the older generation tend to drive the sales of jigsaws. With more time on their hands and a need to keep their minds active, plus a winter pastime which doesn’t involve much movement, jigsaws are ideal. But there is much more to it than that! There is a whole science and psychological background to puzzling and just “doing a jigsaw” doesn’t even scratch the surface!

Take my own experience. Good jigsaws now cost upwards of £15, so it’s no surprise to find that second-hand puzzles are flourishing in charity shops, or that places like The Works are shifting cut-price versions by the bag-load.

Everyone has their own way of doing them and my wife and I extract maximum value from each thousand piece one by dividing the picture in half and effectively completing a five hundred piece puzzle each day. And our brains are wired differently – some people separate all the different colours, some the different shapes, some the straight edges and some just connect random areas – the beauty of a puzzle is that there is no set procedure or right and wrong way.

You can hunt for used Jigsaw puzzles in charity shops

In our house, here’s how it works. First you buy your nice new puzzle or your charity shop bargain. Most charity shops now have their own quality control and tattered faded unsealed boxes with dubious chances of being complete usually don’t make it to the shelves.

I avoid puzzles that are monotonous – a three foot by two foot picture of a thousand baked beans or a geometric pattern leaves me cold. Likewise trains, planes, machinery or twee fluffy kittens although I appreciate they have their fans and everyone’s tastes are different. An incredible array of talented artists have their work turned into jigsaws and it’s rewarding to see that picture gradually appear in front of you as you complete the puzzle.

Jigsaw puzzle boom: why adults are hooked again

On getting the box home, if it is second hand, you can immediately tell if another fan has had it before you – the inner bag is sealed and intact, the pieces are broken up properly and even in some cases the straight edges have been separated and are in a bag of their own. We are lucky enough to have a large dining table, so the pieces are tipped out and the edge pieces separated first. To make things equal, we count 13 down one side and 12 down the other.

Every other piece is turned face up. Now we get to the science of brain function! I prefer to start with block colour, usually sky, working from one corner to another in a regimented way. My wife will pick a person in a blue coat or a green car or a flower bed and complete them on the side before adding them in later. She also checks each piece against its place in the picture and puts it in its approximate position on the table. It’s no secret that we race each other – however even though we do things differently we usually finish about the same time.

John Fletcher explains why he is addicted to jigsaws

But one of the biggest advantages of a jigsaw is its therapeutic value. You are totally “ in the zone” as you search for that elusive piece. You don’t think about bills, housework, that leaking tap or the fact that the grass needs cutting!

You are completely focussed on finding that small section with “a bit of green and a white patch” and there are maybe three disappointments before that tiny adrenaline rush of fitting in the correct one. You need that little rush, and you get it a thousand times by completing the picture – that’s why they are so addictive.

John Fletcher explains why he is addicted to jigsaws

There are downsides of course – having that fix nine hundred and ninety nine times and finding a piece is missing is a huge let down. All is not lost however. I keep a stock of various thicknesses of card and once a puzzle is complete I slip a paper underneath, make a pattern, cut the shape out on card with a craft knife, fit it, and then colour it in to match its surroundings. I always put a note in for the next recipient to say there is a homemade piece, but better that than the crushing disappointment of hours spent on an incomplete puzzle.

What about meal times I hear you ask? True addicts don’t let eating get in the way of puzzle completion – the plate goes on top of the pieces and we carry on. Family coming? No problem. A cloth on the top of the table does the trick, although the grandchildren wonder why their drink glasses seem to be all wobbly!

Motorist Victoria Chesworth had more than four times the legal limit of cocaine in her blood when stopped by police

A cocaine-fuelled driver has been banned from the roads after she was more than four times over the legal drug-drive limit. Victoria Chesworth was spotted “driving erratically” on London Road, in Stoke-on-Trent, on July 18.

Officers pulled over the 46-year-old and said they “smelled alcohol”. It was then they discovered a small amount of powder in the back of her car, reports StokeonTrentLive.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Chesworth was found to have 45mu g/L of cocaine in her blood, well over the legal threshold of 10mu g/L. She also had a staggering 800b ug/L of benzoylecgonine in her blood – the breakdown product of cocaine – which is 16 times the legal limit.

Prosecutor Sherrie Henry told the court: “This matter occurred shortly after 11pm. Officers saw the defendant’s red Toyota Yaris which appeared to be driving erratically along the A52. She could be seen swerving repeatedly between lanes. Officers pulled the defendant over and smelled alcohol.

“They attempted to perform a breathalyser test. They were unable to get her to complete it successfully. A small amount of powder was found in the back of the defendant’s car. She was taken back to the police station where a drug test was performed.”

Chesworth, of Swallows Nest Close, Blurton, admitted two counts of drug-driving. Representing herself in court, Chesworth told magistrates her interim driving ban has left her ‘struggling financially and with transport’, asking for leniency.

She told the court in tears: “The swerving in and out of lanes, I disagree with, because I was following the one-way system. I believed the van behind me was getting too close. I didn’t realise it was the police.

“I only learned that later after they pulled me over. They could smell wine on me because I had made a beef bourguignon earlier that evening.”

“I struggled to do the breath test because I had a stroke last year. I agreed to do the blood test. The white powder they found in the car is a drug I take to manage my stroke symptoms.”

Magistrates handed Chesworth a 17-month driving ban alongside a 12-month community order incorporating 20 rehabilitation days. She has also been ordered to pay £239 in costs.

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