U.S. Marine, 26, killed in training exercise

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Jerry Betzold, 26, died on Sunday from injuries he suffered when a high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle rolled over. (Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center)

Twentynine Palms, Calif.

A Marine died last weekend in California after a vehicle rolled over during a military training exercise.

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Jerry Betzold, 26, died on Sunday from injuries he suffered when a Humvee rolled over.

According to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Betzold was severely injured in the rollover that involved a high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle.

He was transported to a hospital in Palm Springs, but he did not survive.

“Staff Sergeant Jerry Betzold represents all that is good and pure in our nation and Corps,” Col. David Hart shared. “He tragically lost his life while working to ensure our combat formations remain ready when the nation needs them.”

Military officials said Betzold joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2016 and was promoted to staff sergeant in March.

His decorations included earning the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and a National Defense Service Medal.

“His loss is deeply felt across our Marine Corps family. Our hearts and full support will remain with his family and friends as we all navigate this extremely difficult time,” Hart said.

Aerosmith is retiring from touring due to Steven Tyler’s vocal injury, band announces

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during night one of their "Peace Out: The Farewell Tour" on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Aerosmith is officially retiring from touring, the band announced on Friday.

According to a statement released on social media, the group has decided to cancel the rest of their touring dates as Steven Tyler continues to try and recover from a vocal injury he suffered last year.

“Steven’s voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury,” the band shared. “We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible.”

The band members went on to say they had made the tough decision to retire from touring.

“We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision — as a band of brothers — to retire from the touring stage,” the statement read.

The band said fans who have purchased tickets for upcoming shows through Ticketmaster would be automatically refunded. Fans who purchased tickets through other sites are instructed to contact those companies directly.

Aerosmith began in 1970. The band was formed by frontman Tyler, guitarists Joe Perry and Ray Tabano, bassist Tom Hamilton and drummer Joey Kramer.

Aerosmith announced its latest tour -- Peace Out: The Farewell Tour -- in May of 2023 but has played just three shows before pushing dates back since Tyler’s injury.

Last September, the band shared Tyler, now 76, had fractured his larynx, causing the band to postpone the rest of the year’s dates.

In April, the band announced rescheduled tour dates, which were scheduled to begin in September and run through February 2025.

“We are grateful beyond words for everyone who was pumped to get on the road with us one last time,” Aerosmith shared. “A final thank you to you - the best fans on planet Earth. Play our music loud, now and always. Dream On. You’ve made our dreams come true.”

USA makes history with first team gold medal win in women’s fencing at Olympic Games

United States' Lee Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs, Jaqueline Dubrovich and Maia mei Weintraub celebrate after winning the women's team foil semifinal match. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Paris

Team USA took home its first-ever gold medal in the final round of the women’s fencing foil match on Thursday.

Team USA – which includes Laureen Scruggs, Lee Kiefer, Jackie Dubrovich and Maia Weintraub – held on for a 45-39 win over Italy in the final.

The team advanced to the gold medal round after beating Canada 45-31.

Kiefer won a gold medal already during the women’s foil and Scruggs earned a silver medal for their individual performances.

Now, they have gold together at the Paris Olympics.

Kiefer became the first American fencer to win three Olympic gold medals.

The U.S. has four fencing medals at the Paris Olympics and two gold medals in fencing at the same Olympics for the first time, as well as a first-ever team gold for the U.S.

1 in 100 million: Rare ‘cotton candy’ lobster caught off the coast of New Hampshire

A lobster company recently caught an extremely rare lobster off the coast of New Hampshire. (Seacoast Science Center, Rye, NH)

Rye. N.H.

A lobster company recently caught a rare shellfish off the coast of New Hampshire.

According to the Seacoast Science Center, workers with the Atlantic Lobster Company reeled in a “cotton candy” lobster on one of their recent fishing trips.

A spokesperson for the nonprofit organization said the odds of catching such a lobster, known for its cotton candy-like colors, are about 1 in 100 million.

Earlier this month, a general manager of a Red Lobster in Colorado said one of her workers discovered a rare orange lobster.

Orange lobsters turn up in 1 out of every 30 million lobsters.

“Lobsters come in a few color descriptions from orange, yellow, red, blues, and cotton candy -- which is a mixture of pinks and purples on a blue backdrop resembling cotton candy. So, this is where the name comes from,” Seacoast Science Center Aquarist II Sam Rutka shared.

The orange lobster will be spending the rest of its life at the Denver Aquarium while the cotton candy shellfish has found a permanent home at the science center in New Hampshire.

Former contestant on ‘The Bachelor’ dies at 31

Hailey Merkt, a former contestant on "The Bachelor," has died after a battle with cancer. (GoFundMe)

A former contestant on “The Bachelor” has died after a battle with cancer at the age of 31.

Hailey Merkt died after battling leukemia, according to her friends and family.

“It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life,” an Instagram message posted on Tuesday read.

Merkt appeared on the 21st season of the ABC reality series in 2017.

The former reality TV contestant began sharing updates on social media following her leukemia diagnosis years after appearing on the show.

In April, she announced that she was “leukemia-free” after an experimental treatment that had just a 2% chance of working.

“This test took weeks to get back. The suspense was killing us all! But then I got the call that I was cancer-free,” Merkt wrote. “I still have a ton of healing. My immunity will be the same as a newborn until 12 months post-transplant. So, I’ll be slowly and carefully getting better day by day.”

This week, her loved ones sadly shared the update on Merkt’s behalf regarding her death last Friday.

They said after the bone marrow transplant had occurred, Merkt was told she had nine months to not think about cancer, but it turned out she had just six weeks before she got the news that leukemia cells were back and moving fast.

“Hailey faced this journey with unimaginable strength, grace, and selflessness,” the Instagram message continued. “Her determination, courage, and will to live surpassed every timeline the doctors gave her, and she chose to spend her final moments surrounded by loved ones and doing what she cherished most with no regrets. “

Several of Merkt’s friends and family have shared their condolences and memories on social media.