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Heroic fan tackles deadly shooter at victory parade

<p>Three people have been taken into custody after a deadly shooting at a Super Bowl victory parade, where one person has died. </p> <p>At least 21 people have suffered injuries, nine of which being children, at the parade in Kansas City, following the Kansas Chiefs victory over the San Francisco 49ers.</p> <p>As one of the shooters opened fire in the crowd, one heroic football fan was captured on video tackling the gunman to the ground. </p> <p>The video also shows panicked crowds fleeing the sounds of the gunfire, as police ran towards the commotion.</p> <p>Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves confirmed in a second update to media that one person had died after 22 people had been shot.</p> <p>“We have three persons detained and under investigation,” she said.</p> <p>“We are working to determine if one of the three is the one that was in that video where fans assisted police.”</p> <p>She added that “right now we do not have a motive, but we are asking those who may potentially have any kind of information, a witness or video, to contact police”.</p> <p>At an earlier briefing, Ms Graves said she was “angry at what happened today”.</p> <p>Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said, “The celebration was marred by a shooting. This is absolutely a tragedy.” </p> <p>Witness Kade Collins, who attending the parade with his dad, described the ordeal to local news station Fox 4 KC.</p> <p>“We heard 10 to 12 gunshots, but we thought they were fireworks, so we didn’t really panic at first or get too worked up. But then everyone started screaming and took off running,” Mr Collins said.</p> <p>Mr Collins said his dad saw police tackle a suspect after the crowd saw the gunman. </p> <p>“When we were walking out, there was someone pointing and saying, ‘He’s right there, he’s right there’, and police ran to the guy the crowd was pointing at and tackled him and put him in handcuffs,” he said. “Everyone took off running and screaming.”</p> <p>The Kansas City Chiefs said in a statement that all players, coaches, staff and their families were “safe and accounted for”, while sharing their condolences for those who were impacted by the shooting. </p> <p>“We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally,” the team said.</p> <p>"Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all of Kansas City ... We thank the local law enforcement officers and first responders who were on-scene to assist.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Caring

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Meghan and Lilibet spotted in rare outing

<p dir="ltr">There has been a rare sighting of Meghan Markle and her daughter, Princess Lilibet, in California.</p> <p dir="ltr">The royal mother-daughter duo were spotted close to their home in Montecito, California, as they joined revellers to celebrate the Fourth of July in a parade.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prince Harry and Prince Archie, four, were also in attendance but in the short clip shared on social media, they are obscured by other members of the crowd watching the event.</p> <p dir="ltr">The video of the royal sighting was posted by a local hotel, which shows an Independence Day parade featuring a display of vintage and modern cars, along with local ambulances and fire trucks, making its way from the San Ysidro Road towards East Valley.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuSz3y2g1Ok/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuSz3y2g1Ok/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rosewood Miramar Beach (@rosewoodmiramarbeach)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Meghan can be seen crouching on the ground with her arms around Lilibet, who is waving an American flag pinwheel, as they both wave to the people in the parade.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prince Harry was also spotted, dressed in casual wear, carrying Lilibet through the crowd.</p> <p dir="ltr">The rare sighting comes just days after the Sussexes continue to sit out official royal events, as King Charles celebrated his <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-trouble/not-my-king-second-coronation-marred-by-protestors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second coronation</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">King Charles celebrated his coronation a second time during a ceremony in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, just two months after being crowned King in London.</p> <p dir="ltr">The monarch was joined by Queen Camilla, and Prince and Princess of Wales, who are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, for a Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication held in his honour.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite the grand and emotional service, the ceremony was slightly marred by anti-monarch protestors outside.</p> <p dir="ltr">The protestors stood chanting "not my King" for hours on end so loudly, that the voices could be heard from inside the church during the quieter moments of the ceremony.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Why the penguins are out in record-breaking numbers

<p dir="ltr">Australia’s Phillip Island, home to the world’s smallest penguins, has been the site of a record-breaking “penguin parade”, with over 5,200 birds crossing the beach in a single night.</p> <p dir="ltr">Every day at dusk, some of these penguins make the trip to their nesting grounds on-shore after hunting for fish, squid, kill and small crustaceans in the ocean in an event that regularly draws large numbers of tourists.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Penguin viewing has occurred at the same location for over 50 years and the birds have been habituated to nightly activity over time,” Paula Wasiak, a Phillip Island Nature Parks field researcher, told <em><a href="https://www.livescience.com/record-breaking-penguin-parade-australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Live Science</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">On May 3, 5,219 of the 40-centimetre-tall penguins stormed the beach toward their burrows in less than an hour.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We couldn’t believe our eyes when more than 5,000 penguins came out of the water in less than an hour,” Wasiak said in a <a href="https://www.penguins.org.au/about/media/latest-news/new-news-page-36/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The penguin extravaganza comes just a week after the record for the island’s largest penguin parade was broken, when 4,592 penguins came ashore all at one on April 29 according to Wasiak.</p> <p dir="ltr">Overall, May has seen multiple parades with surprisingly high numbers, with 3,000 to 5,000 birds marching each night.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s been a penguin party night after night, which is unusual for this time of year, let alone in record numbers like we are seeing now,” Wasiak said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Historically, the larger parades tend to take place in November and December during peak breeding season, according to the Penguin Foundation.</p> <p dir="ltr">As for why they’re coming together in such large numbers lately, it might be to do with this year’s La Niña event.</p> <p dir="ltr">Little penguins primarily eat small fish, such as anchovies, which can only live in a narrow temperature range, according to Wasiak.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It suggests that during La Niña years, the ocean conditions around Phillip Island are often ideal for an abundant supply of fish/food close to shore,” she told Live Science.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, Wasiak said the turnout could also be related to another phenomenon called the “autumn breeding attempt”, where older penguins attempt to breed outside of mating season and results in more penguins heading out to forage, or improvements in the island’s habitat.</p> <p dir="ltr">“One of the main areas we’re seeing an increase in penguin attendance is to the east of the colony. In the past, poor habitat erosion in this area meant penguins had difficulty accessing and nesting there,” she explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A lot of work has gone into improving dune structure, creating penguin pathways and restoring habitat, which is now paying off.”</p> <p dir="ltr">If you can’t make it to the island for the nightly parades, you can also watch livestreams on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/phillipislandnatureparks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/pipenguinparade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouTube</a>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-34818260-7fff-38dc-9520-442a4219e3ca"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Phillip Island Nature Parks</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Man charged after ramming Christmas parade

<p dir="ltr">A man has been charged after driving his SUV through a<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/22/us/waukesha-car-parade-crowd-monday/index.html" target="_blank">Christmas parade in Waukesha</a>, Wisconsin, with police saying the act was intentional.</p> <p dir="ltr">39-year-old Milwaukee resident Darrell E. Brooks has been charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide after his actions resulted in the deaths of at least five adults and injuries to more than 40 others, including over a dozen children, with 18 children requiring hospitalisation. Those killed range in age from 52 to 81.</p> <p dir="ltr">Victims included members of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, a group that performs regularly in parades around Wisconsin. In a statement posted on Facebook, the group said, “Those who died were extremely passionate Grannies. Their eyes gleamed.....joy of being a Grannie. They were the glue....held us together.”</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMilwaukeedancingrannies%2Fposts%2F4575369009199545&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="294" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p> <p dir="ltr">Brooks drove his SUV through barricades, ignoring warnings from police officers stationed to protect the parade, minutes after leaving the scene of a “domestic disturbance”, according to Dan Thompson, chief of the Waukesha Police Department. According to a livestream of the event, Brooks drove his car into the crowd just as a marching band had started to play ‘Jingle Bells’.</p> <p dir="ltr">Of the incident, Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly said, “Today our community faced horror and tragedy in what should have been a community celebration.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m deeply saddened to know that so many in our community went to a parade but ended up dealing with injury and heartache.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Brooks was out on $1000 bail in relation to domestic abuse charges, where he was again accused of using a car to cause injury. In a statement released on Monday, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office said that the bail had been set “ridiculously low”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Brooks’ initial court appearance will take place on Tuesday at 4 pm CT, and it will be available via livestream for the public.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>

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WWII veteran granted his own Anzac day parade

<p>A 100-year-old World War II veteran has gone some way towards receiving the honour that he and his comrades deserve this year, despite the global coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>Henry “Corky” Caldwell, who has not missed an Anzac Day parade in 75 years, told ABCNews that his family and an online community supported him through his journey to make sure he didn’t miss out on this year’s procession in spite of cancellations due to coronavirus restrictions.</p> <p>The decision to cancel gatherings around the country this year shocked this centenarian Digger from the New South Wales north coast, but his family and an online community rallied around him to make sure he didn't miss out.</p> <p>"It's very important. I've been going to it ever since the war finished," Corky said.</p> <p>Suzanne Lofts, Mr Caldwell's daughter, says Anzac Day means much more than just a parade for her father.</p> <p>"He does get very emotional about Anzac Day, he often has a tear when he lays his wreath because it reminds him of all his mates who have passed," Ms Lofts explained.</p> <p>"All his granddaughters and grandsons come from Sydney, Newcastle, and Brisbane to celebrate with him.</p> <p>"So, he was fairly gutted when Anzac Day wasn't going to happen this year."</p> <p>Ms Lofts took to Facebook to voice her father’s disappointment about the Anzac Day procession being cancelled – and the reaction she received was something she could not have imagined.</p> <p>Thousands of people took to the comments to thank the veteran for his service to his country and asked his family if there was anything that they could do to make the day more special for him.</p> <p>The online community sent in cards and paintings to Mr Caldwell.</p> <p>Phil Heesch from Grafton was made aware of the post from a friend who told him "that there was a very disappointed World War II Digger in Grafton who wanted a ride in a jeep because Anzac Day was cancelled.</p> <p>"Turns out that it's the same guy — Corky — who I take every year in our parade in Grafton," explained Mr Heesch.</p> <p>Mr Heesch offered to take Mr Caldwell on his own private, socially distanced parade through the streets of Grafton two weeks prior to Anzac Day, so the veteran could safely lay a wreath at the cenotaph.</p> <p><span>Ms Lofts says she grew up with an endless amount of war memorabilia and photographs of her father during the war.</span></p> <p>"He talks a lot about his war years, never the serious side of it but the funny, exciting side of it," Ms Lofts said.</p> <p>Mr Caldwell was just 21 when he enlisted in the war and was assigned to a unit of engineers who works in an Ordnance workshop near Cairo, Egypt.</p> <p>Before he shipped out, he armed himself with a then state-of-the-art Kodak pocket camera.</p> <p>The veteran worked long, tireless hours where he repaired tanks damaged in battle and ambulance.</p> <p>In 2008, Mr Caldwell was given the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community of the Clarence Valley region.</p> <p>In his 100 years of living, the war veteran admits he has lived through some difficult times, and as a child growing up through the Great Depression, his family was forced to live off rabbits and ducks.</p> <p>Food was scarce and “rationed”. Mr Caldwell says his mother "used to talk about how hard it was to buy food in the shops."</p> <p>Watching people panic-buy through the coronavirus pandemic has been a surprise for the veteran who believes “people are panicking too much.”</p> <p>"I think if they look after themselves, live quietly do the right thing, it [the virus] won't spread."</p>

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Santa parade brings Christmas cheer to Auckland

<p>Thousands of Kiwis made the annual pilgrimage to the Auckland CDB for the country's most spectacular Christmas parade.</p> <p>The 82nd instalment of the Auckland Farmers Santa Parade kicked off 1pm on Sunday and ran down Queen St.</p> <p>A few, more seasoned families staked their claim on prime parade-viewing real estate as early as 9:30am.</p> <p>Som Shah and his family have been coming to the Santa parade for 14 years and were among the earlybirds.</p> <p>"We have two family members in the parade ... We love it, what's happening in this community is awesome," he said.</p> <p>Fold-out deck chairs and picnic mats were plentiful among viewers, with crowds 10 people deep in places.</p> <p>Parade favourites were the marching bands, the 'Children of the World' float and of course, Santa himself on a Kiwiana themed float.</p> <p>One newcomer had an extra special reason for being there; Steve Thomson from Fabulous Inflatables in Canada brought his 30ft-tall Cookie Monster and a 50ft Christmas Elmo especially for the parade.</p> <p>"They're excited to be in the parade for the first time, as am I," said Thomson.</p> <p>"I love New Zealand and have always wanted to come and I've heard great things about this event for years so it's really exciting to get to participate,"</p> <p>According to Thomson, a team of about 20 people hold the giants tethered to the earth but he was confident Elmo wouldn't even be able to fly away with one average-sized male solely in charge.</p> <p>Skies were mostly overcast with temperatures around the 22 degree Celsius mark, according to MetService.</p> <p>"We do this every year and we have fun, and it's nice today being a little bit cloudy so it's not too hot" said Nicola Yelash from Henderson.</p> <p>Chairman of the Auckland Children's Christmas Parade Trust Michael Barnett said more than 4,000 volunteers give up their time to ensure the event runs smoothly.</p> <p>"Each year the Farmers Santa Parade proves itself to be New Zealand's leading Christmas event. The calibre of the floats, performers and costumers is of an international standard and we're extremely proud of how it turned out this year," said Barnett.</p> <p>Police say the parade went without a hitch and there was a reasonably good turn out.</p> <p>Written by Nicole Lawton. First appeared on <a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Stuff.co.nz</strong></span></a>.</p>

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