Stateline Report 24

Happy to write that — I just need the topic of video #24 (what's it covering — a specific game, news event, or story)? If you paste the script or key details, I'll turn it into a full YouTube description with SEO tags in your usual Stateline Report style.

[statelinereport24]

[statelinereport24]

Ms. Rachel Is Going From YouTube to Music Albums — ‘I’m So Happy’

If you have a toddler in your life, there is a very good chance you already know Ms. Rachel.

Now, the beloved YouTube educator and entertainer is taking her music beyond the screen.

Ms. Rachel has officially announced her first-ever album, titled “I’m So Happy,” and she’s making it a family project with her husband and musical collaborator, Aron Accurso — better known to fans as Mr. Aron.

The album is scheduled to arrive September 25, and it could give families a brand-new way to enjoy some of the songs they already know and love.

The announcement marks an important new chapter for Rachel Griffin Accurso, the creator known worldwide as Ms. Rachel.

Her YouTube series has become a major destination for young children and parents, combining songs, movement, language development and early-learning concepts.

But this time, families won't need a screen to enjoy the music.

“I’m So Happy” is being designed as a full-length musical experience that can live outside the videos.

The project is set to be released through Magic Star, the children's and family entertainment division associated with The Orchard.

And there is one detail that immediately stands out:

The album will contain 23 tracks.

So what exactly will fans hear?

The album brings together familiar songs from the Ms. Rachel universe while giving them expanded musical arrangements.

Among the songs are fan favorites such as “Hop Little Bunnies” and “Icky Sticky Bubblegum.”

But the project isn't simply a collection of old recordings.

It also introduces original material, including “I’m So Happy” and “Big Feelings.”

Another song, “I Could Be Your Friend,” focuses on social skills and positive interaction. Read More

[statelinereport24]

Tommy Detamore Dies at 70: The Texas Country Music Legend Behind the Sound

The Texas country music community is mourning the loss of a musician whose name may not have been familiar to everyone — but whose sound was heard by generations of country music fans. Tommy Detamore, a respected pedal-steel guitarist, producer, recording engineer, and mentor, has died at the age of 70. Detamore passed away on August 5, 2026. His wife, Sandra Detamore, confirmed the news, describing the loss as sudden. And while he often worked behind the scenes, his influence reached far beyond the recording studio.

Tommy Detamore built a remarkable career around one of country music's most distinctive instruments: the pedal steel guitar. He grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia, and began playing guitar while he was still in high school. Eventually, his interest turned toward pedal steel, an instrument known for its expressive bends, sustained notes, and unmistakable country sound. Detamore studied with steel-guitar master Buddy Charleton, developing the skills that would eventually take him from Virginia to the heart of Texas country music. In 1981, he moved to Texas to work with Darrell McCall. Just one year later, he joined Moe Bandy's band. For approximately seven years, he toured extensively across the United States and Europe.

Those years on the road gave Detamore experience that went far beyond simply playing an instrument. He performed on major stages and appeared on programs including the Grand Ole Opry, Hee Haw, and Nashville Now. He also worked with artists such as Johnny Bush, Ronnie Milsap, and Clay Blaker. But Detamore's career was never limited to performing. Over time, he became equally important behind the mixing console and inside the recording studio. That combination — musician, producer, engineer, and teacher — became the foundation of his legacy. Read More

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Perez Hilton's family just broke their silence with a new update on his condition — and it's a lot to take in.

Let's walk through exactly what they said, what's confirmed, and what his family is asking from the public right now.

Over the weekend, Hilton's family posted a statement directly to his official website, confirming that he remains hospitalized and that his condition is, in their words, "serious but stable."

According to the family, he experienced significant blood loss and sustained injuries that will require surgery in the coming days. They were direct about what's ahead too, saying his treatment and recovery will be a long process.

There was also a small piece of good news in the statement — the family said they were grateful Hilton had recently been able to spend time with his mother and sister.

The family's statement also confirmed that Hilton remains hospitalized under Florida's Baker Act.

For anyone unfamiliar, that's a state law that allows family members, doctors, or law enforcement to arrange emergency mental health care and a temporary hold for someone when there's serious concern for their safety. It's a legal process built specifically around getting someone urgent psychiatric and medical support.

The family said his communication right now is extremely limited, and confined only to immediate family, medical providers, and others directly involved in his care. They were clear that he has not spoken with media or issued any public statements himself.

Alongside the health update, Hilton's family used the statement to push back on what they called false and inaccurate reports circulating in the media, saying that any official updates will only come through his official website going forward.

They also made a direct, pointed request — asking members of the media to leave the family's home and the surrounding area alone, to stop following family members, and specifically to stop photographing Hilton's children. They also asked photo agencies not to purchase, publish, or distribute any images of the kids.

That's a request worth respecting, and it's part of why we're keeping this update focused strictly on what the family has chosen to share publicly. Read More

[statelinereport24]

Mountain Dew's New Baja Leo Flavor Is About to Sell Out Fast

There's a soda flavor out there with such a devoted fan base that people genuinely get excited every time it comes back around. And now, for its 22nd birthday, that flavor is getting a gift of its own.

We're talking about Baja Blast — and Mountain Dew just announced something pretty wild to celebrate.

Let's rewind for a second, because Baja Blast's story is actually pretty wild on its own.

Twenty-two years ago, this tropical lime soda showed up exclusively at Taco Bell, and it didn't take long before it quietly became one of the most beloved flavors in Mountain Dew's entire history. It started as a fast food exclusive, but the fan demand just kept building over the years.

Eventually, Baja Blast expanded beyond Taco Bell into year-round retail shelves, spawned a whole family of Baja spinoff flavors, and even landed a partnership with Major League Baseball. For a soda that started as a limited menu item, that's a genuinely impressive run.

So how do you celebrate a flavor with that kind of legacy turning 22? Mountain Dew's answer is Zero Sugar Baja Leo.

This is a brand new, limited-edition soda that blends spiced mango, chili lime, and black pepper. And the name isn't random — it's actually a clever nod to Baja Blast's zodiac sign. Since the original flavor debuted back on July 29th, 2004, that technically makes it a Leo. Read More

[statelinereport24]

LAFC Steal It Late — Toluca Dominates But Falls 1-0 in Leagues Cup Thriller

Sometimes the team that dominates the whole match isn't the team that wins it. And that's exactly the story from BMO Stadium, where Toluca controlled long stretches of play against LAFC — and still walked away with nothing to show for it.

Let's break down how this Leagues Cup showdown actually played out.

This wasn't just another group-stage matchup. Toluca and LAFC have history this year — this was actually their third meeting of 2026, following a Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal earlier in the season that Toluca eventually won on their way to lifting that trophy.

Both clubs came into this one in good form. Toluca had just steamrolled the Seattle Sounders 3-0 in their tournament opener, while LAFC needed a penalty shootout just to get past Chivas de Guadalajara in a 1-1 draw. So there was a clear sense heading in that LAFC needed a real result here to keep pace, while Toluca wanted to make it two dominant performances in a row.

Once the match kicked off, it quickly became clear which team was dictating the tempo.

Toluca, led by their talisman Alexis Vega, took control of the ball and the rhythm of the game. Vega was constantly a threat, getting into dangerous areas, forcing saves, and generally giving LAFC's backline problems all night. LAFC's goalkeeper had to stay sharp, coming up with the saves needed to keep his team in it, because for long stretches, Toluca was the side creating the better, more frequent chances. Read More

[statelinereport24]

1.5 Million Egg Cartons Recalled — Check Your Fridge Right Now

Before you crack open your next carton of eggs, you might want to check something first.

Health officials are tracking a growing salmonella outbreak tied directly to eggs — and it's already sent nearly a hundred people to the doctor, with two dozen ending up in the hospital. If you've bought eggs recently, this next part matters.

Let's start with what's actually happening. The CDC is currently investigating a multistate salmonella outbreak connected to eggs, and so far, 98 people across 17 states have gotten sick. Twenty-six of them needed hospital care.

No deaths have been reported, which is genuinely good news, but health officials are still urging caution — especially because case counts for salmonella tend to be undercounted. A lot of people who get sick just assume it's food poisoning and ride it out at home without ever getting officially diagnosed.

Investigators traced the source back to a Texas-based producer, and once testing raised red flags, a recall was issued covering more than 1.5 million dozen eggs.

So here's the part you actually need for your fridge.

The recalled eggs were produced by Midwest Poultry Services out of Texas, and they were sold under a handful of familiar store brands — including Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire's, Cal-Maine, and Country Morning. These weren't just small cartons either — the recall covers everything from 6-count cartons all the way up to 60-egg bulk packs, and it hit both retail shelves and foodservice suppliers.

Geographically, this recall touches Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, and New Mexico.

As for how to actually identify them — look for a "best by" date somewhere between July 20th and August 17th, 2026, along with a carton code of either P-1950 or 0840962. If your eggs match that description, the advice from health officials is straightforward: don't eat them. Either toss them out or take them back to the store for a refund.

Now let's talk about why this matters on a health level, not just a "check your fridge" level.

Salmonella is a bacteria that lives in the intestines of people and animals, and most people pick it up through contaminated food. Once it's in your system, symptoms usually show up somewhere between half a day and three days later, and typically include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.

For most healthy adults, it runs its course in about four to seven days. But for young children, adults over 65, and anyone with a weakened immune system, it can turn into something a lot more serious — sometimes serious enough to require hospitalization.

Doctors say you should seek medical care if you're dealing with a high fever, diarrhea that isn't improving after a couple of days, blood in your stool, or signs that you're becoming dehydrated.

So beyond checking for this specific recall, there are some everyday habits that lower your salmonella risk across the board.

Refrigerate eggs and leftovers promptly — don't let them sit out, especially in the summer heat. Cook eggs and poultry until they hit 165 degrees Fahrenheit internally, and if you're not sure, a simple food thermometer takes the guesswork out completely. Wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw eggs or poultry, sanitize any countertops or surfaces that came into contact with them, and rinse fresh produce before you eat it too.

And of course — keep an eye on recall announcements, because this isn't the only one making headlines lately. Health officials have also flagged a separate, possible salmonella link tied to jalapeños that's affected more than a hundred people in Minnesota.

Bottom line — if you've got eggs at home, take two minutes right now to check the carton against what we just covered. It's a small step that could save you a very unpleasant week.

This investigation is still active, so we'll keep bringing you updates as health officials learn more. If this was helpful, hit subscribe so you don't miss the next one, and drop a comment if you've ever dealt with a food recall in your own kitchen.

Stay safe, and we'll see you in the next post.

[statelinereport24]

Alright, fall lovers — put down that pumpkin spice latte for just one second, because Dairy Queen just made a move that's about to change your entire August. That's right. DQ isn't waiting for September to bring the cozy vibes. They've already unveiled their first fall flavor of the year, and they're pairing it with a buy-one-get-one-for-99-cents deal that is honestly one of the best fast-food steals we've seen this summer. But here's the catch — this deal is app-only, it's running for a limited time, and there are two MORE flavors dropping later this month that nobody's talking about yet. So if you're a Blizzard fan, you are going to want to watch this entire video. Let's get into it.

So let's start with the star of the show — the brand new Caramel Apple Cheesecake Blizzard. And no, this isn't some basic apple-cinnamon situation. DQ went all out on this one. Picture this: real cheesecake pieces, chunks of caramel apple, all blended into that thick, creamy, world-famous DQ soft serve. It's basically autumn in a cup. Now, DQ is calling this their August Blizzard of the Month, but let's be real — caramel, apple, and cheesecake? That's fall flavor territory, and they're absolutely not hiding it. This treat is already available at participating locations nationwide, but like every good thing at DQ, it's only here for a limited time. So if you've been craving that perfect mix of tart apple, sweet caramel, and rich cheesecake, this is your moment.

Now, here's where things get really interesting. DQ isn't just dropping a new flavor and calling it a day. They're also running a massive BOGO deal — and this one is legit. From August 3rd all the way through August 30th, DQ Rewards members can buy one Blizzard Treat and get a second one for just 99 cents. Let me say that again. Two Blizzards. One full price. The second one? Less than a dollar. That's basically a date night, a family treat, or just a very greedy solo snack session — no judgment here. The deal is officially called the 'Blizzard Double Flip,' and yes, you can use it once per day. So theoretically, you could grab this deal every single day in August. But — and this is important — you HAVE to go through the DQ mobile app. This is not an in-store coupon. You can't just walk up to the counter and ask for it. You need to be a DQ Rewards member, and you need to order through the app.

Alright, so how do you actually get this deal? Let me walk you through it step by step. First, download the DQ mobile app if you don't already have it. Second, sign up for a free DQ Rewards account — again, completely free, takes two minutes. Third, tap on the Deals tab inside the app. The BOGO offer should show up there. Now, fair warning: DQ says the deal may take up to 24 hours to appear after you sign up, so don't panic if you don't see it immediately. Once it's there, tap 'Use in Mobile Order,' add two Blizzard Treats to your cart, apply the deal, and checkout. You can either pick it up in-store or get it delivered, depending on your location. And pro tip — the second Blizzard has to be of equal or lesser value, so maybe don't order a mini and a large and expect the large to be 99 cents. Use your brain on that one. Read More

[statelinereport24]

Diamondbacks vs Padres: Tawa's Blast and Pfaadt's Gem Open Huge Series

One swing. One dominant arm on the mound. And a whole lot riding on the outcome.

Monday night at Chase Field, the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres kicked off a four-game series that could end up shaping who plays in October — and it didn't take long for the fireworks to start.

Let's talk stakes for a second, because this isn't just another midseason matchup.

Coming into Monday, the Diamondbacks sat at 59 and 53, holding a National League wild card spot after an absolutely blistering stretch of baseball since early July. The Padres weren't far behind at 58 and 54, riding a three-game winning streak of their own into hostile territory.

One game separated these two teams in the standings. That's the kind of margin where literally every single game swings the picture for October.

On the mound for Arizona was right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, and he picked a great night to look sharp.

Pfaadt worked through five scoreless innings against a Padres lineup that's been one of the hotter offenses in baseball lately. It was exactly the kind of outing Arizona has come to expect from him since he returned from a stint in the minors earlier this summer — he'd been nearly unhittable in his last several starts before this one.

On the other side, Padres starter Michael King came in with one of the better track records in baseball against Arizona specifically, but Monday night, the Diamondbacks had other plans for him.

And that brings us to the moment that really flipped the momentum.

In the fourth inning, Tim Tawa stepped up with runners on base and connected for a three-run home run off King. That swing alone gave Arizona a commanding lead and completely changed the energy of the ballpark.

It wasn't an isolated flash either — Tawa's been showing up in big spots against the Padres all season, and Monday night was just the latest example of him delivering when his team needed it most.

By the sixth inning, Arizona was firmly in control, with Pfaadt still dealing and the offense doing exactly what it needed to do against a Padres pitching staff that had been rolling coming into the night.

Zoom out for a second, and this game is really a snapshot of where both of these teams are right now.

Arizona has been the hottest team in the National League since the start of July, and their manager has talked about how this stretch of the season is where contenders really separate themselves from everybody else. San Diego, meanwhile, has answered every step of the way, refusing to let the Diamondbacks pull away in the standings.

With this being the opener of a four-game set, both teams know there's a lot more baseball left to play in this series — and every single game is going to matter for the wild card race down the stretch.

So that's where things stood as this series opener unfolded — Pfaadt dealing, Tawa delivering the big blow, and two playoff hopefuls just getting started in a series that's going to matter a lot more than one box score.

We'll keep bringing you the latest as this series plays out, so make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss it.

Drop a comment and let us know — do you think the Diamondbacks can hold onto that wild card spot? See you in the next one.

[statelinereport24]

She Texted "Mommy, I'm Alive" — Inside the In-N-Out Shooting Scare

Imagine getting a breaking news alert on your phone, and somewhere in the back of your mind, a cold thought hits you — my daughter is there right now.

That's exactly what happened to one family in West Covina, California, over the weekend. And what followed was some of the most terrifying, uncertain minutes of their lives.

Let's set the scene first. On Saturday afternoon, around 2:30 local time, a gunman walked into an In-N-Out restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho and opened fire.

Police later identified the shooter as 24-year-old Chad Williams. By the time it was over, three people were dead and seven more were injured. Williams then turned the gun on himself.

In-N-Out's president, Lynsi Snyder, confirmed that one of the employees killed that day was a woman working at the restaurant.

It's the kind of story that, for most people watching from far away, feels distant. But for one Southern California family, it hit a lot closer to home than they ever expected.

That's because their 24-year-old daughter had traveled to Twin Falls as part of what was described as an "all-star team" — a group of experienced employees sent out to help train new staff for the restaurant's brand-new location.

She was working inside that In-N-Out when the shooting began.

Her parents, Nikki and Micheal, learned about the shooting the same way a lot of people did — through a phone alert, this one from the Citizen safety app. And almost immediately, the panic set in, because they knew exactly where their daughter was supposed to be that day.

Here's where it gets really hard to sit with. While the shooting was still unfolding, their daughter ran from the building — and in the chaos, she left her cell phone behind.

That meant there was no way for her to call home right away. And for her parents, the silence was unbearable.

Eventually, she managed to borrow a friend's phone to call her parents. Her mother recalled that in that first call, her daughter could barely speak through the tears, repeating that she was alive.

Her father asked if police had arrived and if she was safe. She said yes — but she also told him that a coworker had been shot.

Even from hundreds of miles away in California, that family felt every second of the uncertainty coming out of a small city in southern Idaho.

Once the fear started to settle, a new frustration set in. The parents say In-N-Out never reached out to them directly during the emergency, and they felt left in the dark by the company their daughter was working for that day.

Their point was simple — if a company sends employees somewhere for work, shouldn't there be a system in place to contact families the moment something like this happens?

CBS Los Angeles reached out to In-N-Out for comment on their emergency protocols, but as of publishing, the company had not responded. Read More

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19 MILLION Eggs Recalled: 7 Sick in Louisiana, 3 Hospitalized — Is Your Fridge Safe?

Right now, there could be something dangerous sitting in your refrigerator — and you might not even know it. Nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs, that's roughly 19 million individual eggs, have been recalled across America due to Salmonella contamination. And Louisiana has already been hit hard. Seven people in the state have been confirmed sick. Three of them were so severely ill, they had to be hospitalized. This isn't just a local problem — it's a multi-state outbreak stretching across 17 states, with nearly 100 confirmed infections nationwide. So if you've bought eggs recently from Kroger, Brookshire's, or even the organic Simple Truth brand — you need to watch this video until the end. Because what I'm about to tell you could keep you and your family out of the hospital

Here's what we know so far. The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed that seven residents have been infected with Salmonella in connection with this outbreak. Three of those cases were serious enough to require hospitalization. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported — at least not yet. But this is part of a much bigger picture. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the Food and Drug Administration, are tracking this outbreak nationwide. As of late July, 98 people across 17 states have been sickened by the same strain of Salmonella Enteritidis. Out of those, 26 people have been hospitalized. The illnesses started as far back as November of last year and continued through June 30th of this year. But here's the critical part — officials say this one egg producer doesn't account for all the illnesses. That means the investigation is still ongoing, and more products could be added to the recall list. So even if you don't eat the brands I'm about to mention, this story isn't over.

Let's talk about the company behind this recall. It's called Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. — a family-owned business that produces and distributes eggs from farms in Texas. On July 22nd, 2026, the company voluntarily recalled nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs. These are white shell eggs and brown cage-free eggs, sold in cartons of 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, and even 60 eggs. The sell-by or best-by dates fall between July 20th and August 17th, 2026. But here's what you really need to check: the plant code and Julian date printed on the side of your carton. Look for code P-1950 or 0840962, combined with a Julian date between 157 and 184. If you see those numbers — do not eat those eggs. The recalled eggs were sold under several brand names: Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire's, Country Morning, and Sunups. Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana carried them. Brookshire Grocery stores in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Mississippi had them too. And they were also shipped to foodservice customers and smaller retail outlets across the region. So if you eat at restaurants or buy from local grocers, the risk isn't just at the big chains. Read More

[statelinereport24]

A Deadly Tick Virus Just Reached New York — What You Need to Know

A tick bite. That's how it starts. No warning, no signs, nothing you'd even notice until the fever hits.

Doctors on Long Island, New York just confirmed something they hoped they wouldn't see this far east — a virus called Bourbon virus. It's rare. It's poorly understood. There's no commercial test for it. And in this specific case, the patient ended up hospitalized with severe symptoms.

This is the first confirmed case of its kind in New York state. And researchers say it might not be the last.

Let's rewind for a second, because most people have never even heard of this virus.

Bourbon virus was first identified back in 2014, in Bourbon County, Kansas — which is actually where it gets its name. It's part of a group of viruses called thogotoviruses, and it's transmitted to humans through tick bites, most commonly from the lone star tick.

Since its discovery, Bourbon virus has stayed relatively rare and mostly limited to the central and southern United States. A handful of cases have popped up over the years, mostly in Missouri, Kansas, and a few neighboring states.

What makes it dangerous isn't how common it is — it's how hard it is to catch. There is currently no commercially available diagnostic test for Bourbon virus. That means doctors can't just run a standard panel and get an answer. Diagnosing it requires specialized antibody testing, usually only available through research labs and state health departments.

Now here's why this story matters today.

Researchers at Stony Brook University's Renaissance School of Medicine ran a multi-year study, looking at patients who came in with fever and other symptoms consistent with tick-borne illness. Between 2019 and 2024, they analyzed 107 individuals and sent blood samples to the New York State Department of Health for testing.

Out of all those patients, two showed neutralizing antibodies for Bourbon virus. One of them also had antibodies for a related virus called Heartland virus. But one case stood out — a patient with a four-fold rise in Bourbon virus antibody levels, which researchers say points to an acute or recent infection.

Dr. Luis Marcos, the lead author of the study and director of the Tick-borne Disease Clinic at Stony Brook, described what happened. Over just one month, that patient's antibody levels rose eight-fold. The illness was severe enough that the patient had to be hospitalized.

This is the first time Bourbon virus has been confirmed in New York — meaning the range of this disease may be expanding well beyond where doctors expected to find it.

So what does Bourbon virus actually feel like?

According to researchers, symptoms typically include fever, fatigue, rash, headache, body aches, and nausea. On the surface, that sounds like the flu, or honestly, like a dozen other things. And that's exactly the problem.

Because there's no simple, widely available test, cases can easily be missed or misdiagnosed. A patient could come in with these symptoms and be sent home with a diagnosis of a common viral illness, when the real cause is something doctors aren't even testing for.

Dr. Marcos put it simply — without identifying the actual cause of an infection, it's extremely difficult to build accurate diagnostic tests or effective treatments. And that starts with understanding how widespread the virus actually is in high-risk areas.

The common thread in all of this is one tick species — the lone star tick.

This tick is already notorious for something else you may have heard of: alpha-gal syndrome, sometimes called red meat allergy. That's a condition where a tick bite can actually trigger a lifelong allergic reaction to red meat. It's one of the strangest and most talked-about tick-related conditions to emerge in recent years.

Now add Bourbon virus to the list of things this tick can carry, along with Heartland virus. Researchers warn that if Bourbon virus becomes more common in the lone star tick population, it could start complicating an already difficult diagnostic picture for doctors treating tick-borne illness.

And it's not just Bourbon virus. Health officials in New York City have also reported a steady rise in Lyme disease cases over the past decade, adding to a broader pattern — tick populations are expanding, and so is the range of diseases they carry.

Here's the bigger picture. Tick-borne diseases have been steadily expanding across the United States for years, and researchers increasingly point to shifting climate patterns and changing land use as key drivers behind ticks moving into new regions.

What used to be a Midwest problem is now showing up on Long Island. And when a virus with no commercial test and no established treatment starts appearing in new states, it puts pressure on the entire public health system — more surveillance, more specialized testing, and more awareness needed from the doctors who are often the first line of defense.

The research team at Stony Brook is now calling for exactly that: expanded viral surveillance, better clinical testing tools, and stronger tick population management in high-risk areas.

So what can you actually do with this information?

If you spend time outdoors — hiking, gardening, or just walking through tall grass — a few simple habits go a long way. Wear long sleeves and pants when you're in tick-prone areas. Use an EPA-registered tick repellent. Check your body thoroughly after being outdoors, especially areas like the scalp, behind the knees, and around the waistband. And if you find a tick, remove it properly and promptly — the longer it stays attached, the higher the risk of transmission.

If you develop a fever, rash, or flu-like symptoms after a tick bite, especially in a region known for lone star ticks, it's worth mentioning that exposure to your doctor directly. Given how hard Bourbon virus is to test for, that detail could make a real difference in getting the right diagnosis.

This is still a rare disease. But rare doesn't mean irrelevant — especially when it's showing up somewhere it's never been confirmed before.

That's the story of Bourbon virus's arrival in New York — a small case with big implications for how we track and understand tick-borne disease in the U.S.

If you found this useful, hit subscribe for more health and science stories that actually affect your daily life, and drop a comment letting us know if you've ever dealt with a tick-borne illness yourself.

Stay safe out there, and we'll see you in the next one.

[statelinereport24]

Spokane Burns: Thousands Flee as Old Trails Fire Explodes Across Washington

Imagine getting a knock on your door in the middle of a Saturday afternoon, and the person on the other side tells you — you have minutes to leave, or you might not make it out alive. That was the reality for thousands of families in Spokane, Washington, on August 1st, 2026. A wildfire that started on the West Plains didn't just grow — it exploded. Driven by wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour, the Old Trails Fire roared across rivers, through state parks, and straight into residential neighborhoods. And for the people caught in its path, there was no time to think — only time to run

The Old Trails Fire was first reported near Old Trails Road and Euclid Avenue, on the West Plains just outside Spokane. At first, it was just another brush fire in a region all too familiar with dry summers. But this was not a normal day. The National Weather Service had already issued a historic warning — one step above the typical red flag alert. They called it 'particularly dangerous weather,' and they weren't exaggerating. By early afternoon, winds were gusting between 35 and 45 miles per hour, pushing the fire faster than anyone could have predicted. Within hours, the blaze had grown to over 3,500 acres. It tore through Riverside State Park, jumped the Spokane River — yes, an entire river — and slammed into neighborhoods like Indian Trail and Westgate Park. And by the time many residents realized what was happening, the flames were already at their back door.

At around 3:30 in the afternoon, Level 3 evacuation orders went out. That's the highest level — it means 'go now, don't pack, just leave.' And thousands did. But leaving wasn't easy. Roads like North Indian Trail and Strong Road turned into parking lots. Some drivers sat trapped for 30 minutes or more. Others began driving on the wrong side of the road just to escape. Police had to step in and convert both lanes into one-way evacuation routes. Monica Opfer, who lives near Indian Trail Elementary, watched the fire get so close she could feel the heat on her face. She grabbed her dog, Mabel, and her medication, and ran. 'I think I lost my home,' she told reporters. 'I don't know where I'm going to go.' Then there's Kayla Sharp — she's 19 years old, and she was at the Spokane Convention Center shelter with her husband and their six-month-old baby, just trying to find a changing table. 'This one's different,' she said, 'because I have a child now.' And for 76-year-old Darrell Wagner and his wife Nancy, who'd lived in their Indian Trail home for 31 years, the evacuation was something they never thought they'd have to do. They grabbed their dog, Fritz, and little else. 'Well,' Nancy said quietly, 'if it's still standing.

On the front lines, firefighters were facing a nightmare. Major General Gent Welsh, Washington's adjutant general, said at a press conference that the fire conditions were the worst he'd seen in his entire 38-year career. 'When the sun sets and the sun rises,' he warned, 'we are going to be in shock.' Governor Bob Ferguson activated the National Guard to assist with the response. Fire crews from across the region — including some from neighboring Idaho — were called in to help. Aircraft dropped retardant from above while ground crews tried to protect homes, schools, and even a Catholic church near Indian Trail Road. But the wind was relentless. Smoke was so thick it blotted out the sun on streets like North Driscoll Boulevard and West Francis Avenue. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels called in every available deputy to go door-to-door, making sure no one was left behind. And with flames threatening the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, patients and staff had to be evacuated and transferred to other hospitals. Whitworth University was also emptied, with security guards going door-to-door to clear the campus.

As night fell on August 1st, the full scale of the destruction was still unknown. Officials couldn't even begin to count how many homes had been lost. Sheriff Nowels said he'd heard estimates of 50 to 100 structures burned, but stressed that those were just early guesses. 'We're not in a place right now where we can discuss the magnitude of the property destruction,' Mayor Lisa Brown said at a press conference. What we do know is this: about 40,000 Avista Utilities customers lost power, many as a preemptive safety measure. The Spokane Convention Center opened as an emergency shelter, with Red Cross volunteers rushing to set up cots and medical stations. Buses arrived carrying elderly residents from nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The Spokane County Fairgrounds opened space for evacuees with RVs and animals. And officials warned residents to prepare to stay away from their homes for at least 24 to 36 hours. But the danger isn't over. Another fire — the Fairview Fire — burned another 980 acres in the Peone Prairie area, creating a second massive evacuation zone. Washington Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove put it bluntly: 'This is an extraordinary fire season. This is not normal; this is unusual.

For the people of Spokane, this Saturday will be remembered as one of the worst days in the city's history. A fire that started on a rural road became a city-wide emergency in a matter of hours. Homes were lost. Families were displaced. And a community that has lived through wildfire seasons before was reminded that when the conditions are right, nature doesn't give warnings — it gives seconds. If you or someone you know is in the Spokane area, please follow all evacuation orders and check on your neighbors. And if you're watching from elsewhere in the country, keep these families in your thoughts. If you found this report helpful, hit that like button, subscribe for more breaking news coverage, and drop a comment below — what do you think communities can do better to prepare for fires like this? I'll be reading every single one. Stay safe out there, and thanks for watching.

[statelinereport24]

URGENT Recall: Your Child's Kitchen Stool Could Trap or Injure Them

If you have a toddler learning tower in your kitchen right now — stop. Because the federal government just recalled more than one hundred and thirty-eight thousand of them, and the reason is terrifying: kids getting trapped inside, and towers collapsing while a child is standing on top. In the next few minutes, I'm going to walk you through exactly which brands are affected, what the injuries have looked like, and the three things you need to do today if one of these is in your house.

So first — what even is a "learning tower"? If you're not a parent of a toddler, you may not have heard of these. They're also called kitchen towers or standing towers — basically a tall wooden stool with guard rails on the sides, designed to let a toddler stand safely at counter height so they can "help" mom or dad cook, bake, or wash dishes. They've become massive on Instagram and Pinterest over the last few years — the aesthetic, minimalist, Montessori-style parenting trend. Millions of these have been sold online, mostly through Amazon, mostly imported from overseas manufacturers.

But the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — the CPSC — has now recalled several waves of them in 2026 alone. And this latest batch, announced this week, is the biggest yet.

Let's break down exactly what's being recalled. This covers three separate product lines, all announced together.

Number one: Woodure Toddler Kitchen Step Stools. This is the biggest chunk — about ninety-one thousand units, across three different models. They were sold on Amazon from July 2024 all the way through June of this year, priced between sixty and a hundred dollars. The company that makes them received twenty-two separate reports of the stools becoming unstable or tipping over — and fifteen of those incidents resulted in actual injuries to kids: cuts, scrapes, and bruises.

Number two: HARPPA's Nordi Foldable Toddler Tower. Over forty-one thousand of these were sold, both through the company's own website and on Amazon, going back to September of 2023, at a higher price point — around one hundred thirty dollars.

Number three: Mangohood Direct Kids Kitchen Standing Towers. This one's a smaller recall, just over a hundred units, sold on Amazon between last July and this past March. Comes in natural bamboo, gray, and white finishes.

Here's the part every parent needs to actually hear. The CPSC isn't just flagging a wobble or a design flaw — they're citing two very specific hazards on all three products: tip-over and entrapment. Read More

[statelinereport24]

Samara Weaving Is Marvel's Emma Frost: What This Means for X-Men

Marvel Studios just made one of its most important casting decisions in years, and it has nothing to do with the Avengers. After a search that reportedly stretched all summer, Marvel has found its Emma Frost — and the actress landing the role might surprise you. Today we're breaking down everything we know about this casting announcement, who this actress is, what it means for the future of the X-Men in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and why insiders say this was one of the hardest roles in the entire project to cast.

Let's get into it.

According to an exclusive report from Deadline, Samara Weaving has landed the role of Emma Frost in Marvel Studios' upcoming X-Men film. The trade reports that director Jake Schreier and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige met with a number of candidates throughout the summer before settling on Weaving earlier this week. Marvel itself has not officially commented on the casting, which is standard practice for the studio until it's ready to make a formal announcement, but multiple entertainment outlets have now corroborated the report.

What makes this particularly interesting is the timing. Just days earlier, Marvel Studios notably left X-Men out of its San Diego Comic-Con presentation in Hall H, leading many fans to assume news on the project was still far off. Instead, it turns out the casting process had already been quietly underway behind the scenes, and Emma Frost was reportedly one of the most competitive roles in the entire search.

Sources say Schreier and Marvel executives spent the entire summer meeting with and auditioning actors for multiple roles in the new mutant lineup, but the hunt for Emma Frost was described as especially exhaustive. The finalists reportedly tested for the role right after the Fourth of July, and in the end, insiders say Weaving's audition was, in their words, too hard to beat. Read More

[statelinereport24]

Yankees vs. Cubs: Can Aaron Judge-Less New York Survive Imanaga's Heater?

Two of baseball's most storied franchises are about to collide at one of the sport's most iconic ballparks, and this weekend series could not be more lopsided on paper. The New York Yankees roll into Wrigley Field missing two of their biggest bats, while the Chicago Cubs are riding their hottest starting pitcher of the season. Today we're breaking down Yankees versus Cubs, Will Warren against Shota Imanaga, and why oddsmakers are already leaning hard toward Chicago.

Stick around, because we're getting into the pitching matchups, the injury report, and exactly what each team needs to do to walk away with this series win.

It's a Friday matinee at Wrigley Field, first pitch scheduled for 2:20 p.m. Eastern time. The Yankees arrive in Chicago after dropping back-to-back extra-innings games on the south side against the White Sox, looking to shake off some road fatigue. The Cubs, meanwhile, enter the weekend having won back-to-back series, including their most recent set against St. Louis, and they currently hold the fifth-best record in all of Major League Baseball. Read More

[statelinereport24]

Franco Baresi Has Died: The Defender Who Never Needed to Tackle

Franco Baresi passed away on Friday, July 31, 2026, after a long private battle with illness. In August 2025, AC Milan confirmed that routine medical checks had revealed a lung nodule, which was surgically removed using a minimally invasive technique. Baresi underwent immunotherapy afterward, and for months he tried to reassure the football world that he was fighting hard.

He made one final, unforgettable public appearance earlier this year. At the opening ceremony of the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics, Baresi carried the Olympic torch into a packed San Siro, standing shoulder to shoulder with his old international rival, Beppe Bergomi. It was a quiet, dignified goodbye — though almost nobody watching realized it at the time.

In the days before his passing, false rumors of his death briefly circulated online, forcing AC Milan to issue an urgent statement denying them and asking fans to respect the family's privacy during what the club called "a delicate moment." Tragically, those rumors became reality just days later. The club confirmed the news early Friday morning with a message that read, in part, that Baresi's example would remain part of the club's DNA forever, just like his number six shirt.

To understand why this loss cuts so deep, you have to go back to where it all started. Franco Baresi was born on May 8, 1960, in Travagliato, a small town near Brescia in northern Italy. He lost his father at just fourteen years old, and the hardship of that loss shaped a toughness that would define his entire career.

He arrived at AC Milan as a slight, almost fragile-looking teenager. Teammates nicknamed him "Piscinin" — Milanese dialect for "little one." Nobody could have predicted that this undersized kid would go on to redefine what it meant to be a defender. Read More