Hunter, 23, Dies After Trying to Save Dog That Fell Through Ice. First Responders Spent Hours Looking for His Body

A 23-year-old hunter fell into an icy Illinois pond while trying to save his dog on Jan. 26

NEED TO KNOW

• Following an extensive search operation, his body was found the next day

• The dog was safely pulled from the water and into a canoe

A 23-year-old hunter died while trying to save his dog from an icy pond in southern Illinois, authorities said.

On Monday, Jan. 26, the man fell through the ice at a pond in Clinton County, but his body wasn't located until the next day, following an extensive search operation, NBC affiliateKSDK, theBelleville-News Democratand Fox affiliateKTVIreported. The victim has since been identified as 23-year-old Luke Kitterman, St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye confirms to PEOPLE.

That Monday afternoon, Kitterman was goose hunting in the area with five friends, KSDK reported. After a successful shot, tragedy struck.

"The dog that retrieves the geese had gone out onto the ice and had fallen through," Peyton Matthews, who works with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police, told the outlet.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Kitterman, the owner of the dog, immediately went to help save his beloved pet.

The young man belly-crawled on the ice to reach the panicked dog and pulled the animal out of the water, according to the outlet. Unfortunately, the dog went in again.

"He was able to pull the dog back onto the ice, but the dog went in again after his owner," Matthews told KSDK. "And then after that, that is when the owner of the dog went underwater."

At that point, Kitterman's friends tried to retrieve them both.

Advertisement

"His friends did try to get out there to help him out," the official told the outlet. "They were able to pull the dog out of the water and into a canoe, just unfortunately lost sight of their friend."

On Monday, around 3:15 p.m. local time, first responders rushed to the area near Clinton County Line Road and Renth Road in New Baden following a report of a man who fell through ice on a pond and didn't resurface, the New Baden Fire Department said in astatement.

KSDK News/YouTube

"After several hours of search operations, due to extreme cold temperatures, the incident was transitioned from a rescue to a recovery," officials said.

On the first day of the search, 75 first responders were at the pond to help search for the 23-year-old man, but the situation became treacherous because of the cold temperatures, KSDK reported. There was a danger that the hole the divers went through would start to freeze over.

By around 8:40 p.m., the search was suspended and began again on Tuesday, Jan. 27, officials said. That day, 30 search and rescue crew members searched for Kitterman with the help of sonar equipment, while his friends remained at the scene, according to KSDK.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

First responders and loved ones were determined to find Kitterman — and were eventually successful after hours of search efforts.

"We're all out here to make sure that he is returned home," Matthews told the outlet.

Read the original article onPeople

byAdministrator

in

January 29, 2026

Hunter, 23, Dies After Trying to Save Dog That Fell Through Ice. First Responders Spent Hours Looking for His Body

A 23-year-old hunter fell into an icy Illinois pond while trying to save his dog on Jan. 26 NEED TO KNOW Follow...

Read More

Man who squirted apple cider vinegar on Omar is charged with assaulting and intimidating her

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Justice Department has charged a man who squirted apple cider vinegar on Democratic U.S. Rep.Ilhan Omarat an event in Minneapolis, according to court papers made public Thursday.

The manarrested for Tuesday's attack, Anthony Kazmierczak, faces a charge of forcibly assaulting, opposing, impeding and intimidating Omar, according to a complaint filed in federal court.

Authorities determined that the substance was water and apple cider vinegar, according to an affidavit. After Kazmierczak sprayed Omar with the liquid, he appeared to say, "She's not resigning. You're splitting Minnesotans apart," the affidavit says. Authorities also say that Kazmierczak told a close associate several years ago that "somebody should kill" Omar, court documents say.

Kazmierczak appeared briefly in federal court Thursday afternoon. His attorney, Jean Brandl, told the judge her client was unmedicated at the time of the incident and has not had access to the medications he needs to treat Parkinson's disease and other serious conditions he suffers from.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Dulce Foster ordered that Kazmierczak remain in custody and told officials he needs to see a nurse when he is transferred to the Sherburne County Jail.

Kazmierczak also faces state charges in Hennepin County for terroristic threats and fifth-degree assault, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Thursday.

"This was a disturbing assault on Rep. Omar, who is frequently the target of vilifying language by fellow elected officials and members of the public," Moriarty said. "The trust of our community in the federal government keeping politics out of public safety has been eroded by their actions. A state-level conviction is not subject to a presidential pardon now or in the future."

The attack came during a perilous political moment in Minneapolis, wheretwo people have been fatally shotby federal agents during the White House's aggressive immigration crackdown.

Kazmierczak has a criminal history and has made online posts supportive of President Donald Trump, a Republican.

Omar,a refugee from Somalia, has long been a fixture of Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric. After she was elected seven years ago, Trump said she should"go back" to her country. He recentlydescribed her as "garbage"and said she should be investigated. During a speech in Iowa earlier this week, shortly before Omar was attacked, he said immigrants need to be proud of the United States — "not like Ilhan Omar."

Omar blamed Trump on Wednesday for threats to her safety.

"Every time the president of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to talk about me and the community that I represent, my death threats skyrocket," Omar told reporters.

Trump accused Omar of staging the attack, telling ABC News, "She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a leading Muslim civil rights group, praised federal prosecutors' decision to file charges against Kazmierczak.

"We welcome these federal charges for the attack on Representative Ilhan Omar as an important step toward accountability and justice," CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a statement. "The dangerous climate of dehumanization that inevitably leads to such violent acts puts public servants and entire communities at risk."

Kazmierczak was convicted of felony auto theft in 1989, has been arrested multiple times for driving under the influence and has had numerous traffic citations, Minnesota court records show. There are also indications he has had significant financial problems, including two bankruptcy filings.

In social media posts, Kazmierczak criticized former President Joe Biden and referred to Democrats as "angry and liars." Trump "wants the US is stronger and more prosperous," he wrote. "Stop other countries from stealing from us."

In another post, Kazmierczak asked, "When will descendants of slaves pay restitution to Union soldiers' families for freeing them/dying for them, and not sending them back to Africa?"

Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol bya mob of Trump supportersbefore dipping slightly, only to climb again, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Capitol Police.

Officials said they investigated nearly 15,000 "concerning statements, behaviors, and communications directed against Members of Congress, their families, staff, and the Capitol Complex" in 2025.

Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter R.J. Rico in Atlanta contributed.

Follow the AP's coverage of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar athttps://apnews.com/hub/ilhan-omar.

byAdministrator

in

January 29, 2026

Man who squirted apple cider vinegar on Omar is charged with assaulting and intimidating her

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Justice Department has charged a man who squirted apple cider vinegar on Democratic U.S. Rep.Ilhan...

Read More

Teen girls among 4 children killed in sledding accidents across the US

At least four children died in sledding accidents over thesnow-filled weekend.

A 17-year-old boy in Benton, Arkansas died on Jan. 24 after he collided with a tree while being pulled on a sled by an all-terrain vehicle, according to a Saline County Sheriff's Office news release obtained by USA TODAY.

The next day, two 16-year-old girls died in Frisco, Texas, a Dallas suburb, after their sled, pulled by a Jeep Wrangler, also struck a tree, according to Facebook posts made by the Frisco Police Department.

And on Jan. 27, an 11-year-old boy was reported dead after a sledding incident in Staunton, Virginia,The News Leader, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

As of Jan. 29, at least 81 deaths have been reported that are thought to be related to the winter storm or successive freezing temperatures, according to research by USA TODAY and the USA TODAY Network.

Snow, ice and freezing rain plummeted much of the country between Jan. 23 and Jan. 26. Now, meteorologists are forecastinganother winter stormto strike the East Coast on Saturday, Jan. 31, moving across the Mid-Atlantic on Sunday, Feb. 1, the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center said on Jan. 27. Meteorologists, however, do not expect the upcoming storm to be near the size of last week's.

Winter weather:US cities face dangerous temps, prolonged outages

Drivers navigate icy conditions on Briley Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. A winter storm brought snow and ice to Middle Tennessee starting on Saturday.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A major winter storm is forecast to spread heavy snow, sleet and dangerous ice to tens of millions of Americans across two dozen states starting on Friday and continuing into the weekend.
See here, Keith Wilson, of Milwaukee, walks with frozen eyelashes down East State Street in Milwaukee on Jan. 23, 2026. The National Weather Service issued an extreme cold watch across Wisconsin with windchills between 30 and 40 below zero.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Joe Gegelbach loads his trunk with ice melt at the Home Depot as he potential winter storm Evansville, Ind., Jan. 23, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Orangetown Highway Department crews load salt on snow plows in preparation for the snow storm at their facility in Orangeburg, N.Y., Jan. 23, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Massive winter storm blankets nation. See photos

Drivers navigate icy conditions on Briley Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. Awinter stormbrought snow and ice to Middle Tennessee starting on Saturday.

Two similar sledding incidents in one weekend

On Saturday, Jan. 24, Saline County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a serious injury involving a 17-year-old boy who had struck a tree while being pulled on a sled by an ATV, the news release states. Emergency responders provided immediate medical assistance, however the boy succumbed to his injuries on site. The incident remains under investigation by the Saline County Sheriff's Office.

Advertisement

A similar incident happened a day later in Texas.

At around 2:26 p.m. local time on Jan. 25, the Frisco Police Department responded to a call involving a sledding crash. The 16-year-old girls were transported to local hospitals following the incident, and both succumbed to their injuries, the department shared in a series of Facebook posts.

In aFacebook postmade on Jan. 28, the Frisco Police Department clarified that there has been no indication of alcohol involvement by the involved teens.

The incident remains an open investigation with assistance from the Denton County District Attorney's Office. The Frisco Police Department cannot share the girls' names because they are minors.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Frisco Police Department at 972-292-6010. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by texting FRISCOPD to 847411 or via the Frisco PD mobile app.

How to stay safe while sledding this winter

TheNational Safety CouncilandNationwide Children's Hospitaloffer the following advice for staying safe while sledding this winter:

• Make sure all sledding equipment is in good condition, without sharp edges and cracks.

• Ideally, sleds with steering and hand brake features are best, as they allow for more control than flat sheets, snow discs or innertubes.

• For extra protection, wear a snow sports, multi-sport or bicycle helmet.

• Sled on spacious, gently-slopped hills with a level run-off so the sled can easily stop.

• Check slopes for bare spots, holes and obstructions, like rocks, fences or poles.

• Do not sled on or around frozen lakes, streams or ponds.

• Sit on top of the sled with feet pointing downhill. Never sled head first.

Contributing: Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her atgcross@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Sledding accidents lead to 4 children dying, authorities say

byAdministrator

in

January 29, 2026

Teen girls among 4 children killed in sledding accidents across the US

At least four children died in sledding accidents over thesnow-filled weekend. A 17-year-old boy in Benton, Ar...

Read More

Mauricio Pochettino signals the USMNT's search is over, with form and fitness now shaping World Cup decisions

With time running short until he must select hisWorld Cup squad, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said Thursday that, after assessing some 70 players over almost 16 months, the door is all but closed to new candidates. But paring down the list to 26 for this summer's soccer festival in North America remains very much a work in progress.

His final opportunity to see players together in person will come the last week of March for heavyweight friendlies againstBelgium and Portugal in Atlanta.

Then comes his much-anticipated World Cup announcement in late May. Certainly, the March roster will tell a lot — but not everything, he cautioned — about what to expect.

"It's true that now we are close to the World Cup," Pochettino said Thursday on a video call with reporters. "It's true it's going to be difficult to bring some new players, because I think we don't have time. But already we had time to assess all the players in a year and a half. I think we have a very good idea. Now it's about [wishing] our players will be fit and in very good form for us to select the right players."

Pochettino plans to name his roster for the next camp on March 17, six days before workouts begin in suburban Atlanta. Though most selections seem obvious, Pochettino has left high-profile players out of camps at times the past year.

Then there is the matter of injuries. Most of his regulars are healthy, but some are recuperating from setbacks. Most notably,Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams is sidelined with a knee ailmentand in a race against time to be ready for the March camp. Even if absent, though, he would remain high on the list for a World Cup slot.

With more to prove than Adams,striker Ricardo Pepi hopes to return soon from a broken forearm this monththat interrupted a fantastic run of success with PSV Eindhoven. Pepi is also reportedly a transfer target in England.

"We'll see how he's going to come back and start to play and to perform," Pochettino said of Pepi, who is among several strikers vying for probably three World Cup slots. "Of course, he's a player that is [on] our radar. Hope he can be fit."

No matter who is in camp in March, Pochettino wants his team to begin pivoting toward the World Cup.

"It's a great opportunity in March," he said. "The idea is that the World Cup will start in March, when we [are] all together, because it's time to show like we were showing in the last camp [in the fall] — our identity, our way to play in the way we want to perform in the World Cup."

The Americans hit their stride late in the year, defeating four World Cup-bound teams (Japan, Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay) and tying another (Ecuador). The final match of 2025 was its best under Pochettino,a 5-1 rout of Uruguay in Tampa.

The four-month pause until the next international window fell at an inopportune time.

"How we finished 2025, you want to play the next week again to take advantage of the form and the belief and the energy from the group," Pochettino said. "It's really tough to spend all this time watching football, assessing players, having meetings, doing different things but no coaching. That is the most tough situation because we love to coach. We love to be on the grass."

Without any camps, Pochettino and his staff have closely monitored players in the thick of European club seasons. His Major League Soccer candidates, however, are just getting back up to speed in preseason.

Such players are not necessarily at a disadvantage for the March call-up, Pochettino said. "Maybe without games, you compensate with energy," he said. "They came from a period that they rest, they recover, and now they are charging the batteries to be full."

The MLS regular season won't begin until Feb. 21, though some teams will get started earlier as part of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

One key MLS-based player is reportedly leaving for the European circuit soon: right back Alex Freeman, who is expected to join Villarreal in Spain's La Liga from Orlando City. Such a move so close to the World Cup comes with some risk, because without regular playing time with a new club in midseason, Freeman could lose his grip on a U.S. roster slot.

Pochettino said Freeman called him to ask his opinion about the impending move.

"I am not concerned if some players are going to move in that transfer window," Pochettino said. "It's important the player feels happy, feels comfortable. … They want to improve. They want to grow. It's an amazing challenge we need to support, and help [him] into adapting the best possible way and to not lose focus."

byAdministrator

in

January 29, 2026

Mauricio Pochettino signals the USMNT's search is over, with form and fitness now shaping World Cup decisions

With time running short until he must select hisWorld Cup squad, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said Thursday that, after...

Read More

Ranking 2026 NBA trade deadline candidates with Giannis, Towns, Davis

Giannis Antetokounmpo and theMilwaukee Bucksare on the verge of a breakup after months of intense speculation about his future, and it is the potential move that looms over the entire NBA trade deadline this year.The Bucks are finally listening to offers for the two-time MVP, according to multiple reports, as the team's hopes of being an Eastern Conference contender again dwindle and Antetokounmpo is on the shelf with a calf injury.

Teams are lining up their best assets to try to pry Antetokounmpo away from Milwaukee beforethe Feb. 4 NBA trade deadline, with front offices willing to part with players and assets not previously mentioned as available with a superstar still in the back-end of his prime on the market.But that could also slow trade talks for other playersover the next week, as everybody holds off until Antetokounmpo's situation is resolved. The Bucks also may wait until the offseason to move Antetokounmpo, when draft picks are settled.

It nonetheless adds another layer to this year's NBA trade deadline and the list of notable players who could be on the move keeps growing. What happens in the coming days may shake up the playoff race and, in Antetokounmpo's case, change the trajectory ofthe only NBA franchise he's called home.

Here's a breakdown of the top candidates potentially available at the 2026 NBA trade deadline and how they rank:

Eastern Conference Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (second All-Star selection)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Western Conference Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (12th All-Star selection)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Giannis, Curry, Doncic highlight 2026 NBA All-Star Game starters

GIANNIS LANDING SPOTS:Best trade partners for Bucks

Other players to monitor:Ochai Agbaji,Jose Alvarado,Lonzo Ball,Nic Claxton,DeMar DeRozan,Ayo Dosunmu,Keon Ellis,Daniel Gafford,Jerami Grant,Jrue Holiday,De'Andre Hunter,Tyus Jones,Kyle Kuzma,Zach LaVine,Naji Marshall,Bennedict Mathurin,Khris Middleton,Malik Monk,Jusuf Nurkic,Immanuel Quickley,Chris Paul,Jakob Poeltl,Jordan Poole,Bobby Portis,Kristaps Porzingis,Collin Sexton,Dennis Schroder,Anfernee Simons,Jeremy Sochan,Nikola Vucevic,Coby White,Guerschon Yabusele

10.Jonathan Kuminga,Golden State Warriors

Golden State's situation at the NBA trade deadline changed whenJimmy Butler suffered a season-ending knee injury, but Kuminga is still a player who could be traded. He filled in well for Butler in one game before suffering his own knee injury that has him currently sidelined. Now, with Antetokounmpo talks heating up, the Warriors are being mentioned as a prime candidate to land the Bucks' superstar. That potential deal would likely include Kuminga's contract, which has a team option for next season.

9.RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are reportedly looking to upgrade their roster after a strong start to the 2025-26 season and their No. 3 overall pick from the 2019 NBA Draft could be the piece Toronto is willing to part with to find another player to team with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. Jakob Poeltl and Ochai Agbaji have also been mentioned as possible trade chips.

8.Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

Sabonis has returned from a knee injury just as the Kings appear ready to move on from most of the veterans on their roster, including Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan. Sabonis is more intriguing because he's younger and more accomplished. But he has two more years left on his contract and serious defensive limitations that have muted his effectiveness in the playoffs. Sabonis is just a year removed from consecutive all-NBA nods and could help a playoff contender with a need at center. A trade involving Barrett has been mentioned as a possibility.

7.Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are listening to trade offers for Morant, though it's unclear exactly what his trade value is after several years marred by durability issues, off-court concerns and declining production. Morant indicated publicly he wants to remain in Memphis.He's injured againand unlikely to return before the trade deadline, complicating any potential deal. When properly motivated, the 26-year-old point guard can still impact NBA games in a major way.

6.Tyler Herro,Miami Heat

Herro is having an injury-riddled season, but he was an all-star last season and continues to be an effective offensive threat from multiple levels when he does play. The Heat have long been rumored as a team that would go all-in to get Antetokounmpo if he were made available, and they would certainly part with Herro to get a deal done.

5.Julius Randle,Minnesota Timberwolves

Randle has performed well with the Timberwolves since coming over in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade before the 2024-25 season and agreed to a 3-year, $100-million extension with Minnesota less than a year ago. But like Herro, Randle is on this list now because of recent developments surrounding Antetokounmpo. The Timberwolves are among the teams pursuing the Bucks' star and Randle (and perhaps Naz Reid and/or Jaden McDaniels) would likely have to be part of a potential deal to make it work.

4.Michael Porter, Jr., Brooklyn Nets

Porter has turned into a potential trade-deadline asset after taking on a leading role and producing a career year in Brooklyn following an offseason trade from the Nuggets. Porter's combination of size and shooting would help any contender, much like he did as a role player in Denver during its 2023 NBA title run.

3.Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks

Trading Davis is complicated due to his ongoing hand injury, but he could be available for the postseason and remains a dominant two-way player when he's available. His lengthy injury history and contract, with two years and more than $120 million remaining after this season, will limit his options. But he could nonetheless alter the postseason picture if he goes to the right contender.

2.Karl-Anthony Towns,New York Knicks

There have been conflicting reports about Towns' potential availability at the NBA trade deadline over the past week, but Antetokounmpo's status change in Milwaukee means speculation about Towns' future with the Knicks will persist. If New York were to pull off an Antetokounmpo trade ‒ the Knicks reportedly held trade talks with the Bucks this past offseason – Towns would likely be the major salary in the deal. His transition under new Knicks coach Mike Brown hasn't gone as smoothly as hoped.

1.Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

There is little doubt at this point that Antetokounmpo is the biggest prize at this trade deadline and reports this week suggest he and the team have reached a breaking point after 13 seasons together. But it still remains to be seen if the Bucks can get the kind of haul they want, like a young star and a plethora of first-round picks. The Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors are considered serious suitors, according to ESPN, but the Bucks might be able to extract more by waiting to trade Antetokounmpo.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NBA trade deadline power rankings 2026: Ranking best players available

byAdministrator

in

January 29, 2026

Ranking 2026 NBA trade deadline candidates with Giannis, Towns, Davis

Giannis Antetokounmpo and theMilwaukee Bucksare on the verge of a breakup after months of intense speculation about his f...

Read More