Latest news with #Gilbert
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Newsweek
Kayaker Puts Camera in Water—Horror As She Sees What's Lurking Beneath Her
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A couple believed they were on a "normal" kayaking trip, until they realized what was lurking just below their boat. Megan Gilbert, 30, is a travel blogger, writer and photographer who shares her adventures to her blog, Megan The Traveling Writer. Gilbert is originally from the United States, and now lives in Cape Town, South Africa—but as she told Newsweek, she spends most of the year traveling to different places. Recently, Gilbert had an incredible experience with nature without having to travel too far, as what she assumed was "a normal kayaking trip" in Cape Town turned into an experience she described as "incredibly special and rare." "We've kayaked here before and saw penguins and dolphins," Gilbert told Newsweek. This time, however, they saw jellyfish—at first, she said, "we were excited to see one or two jellyfish, until we started seeing massive pods of them floating at the surface, called a 'super bloom'. "It looked like thousands." Megan Gilbert captures "thousands" of jellyfish on camera just beneath the surface of the water. Megan Gilbert captures "thousands" of jellyfish on camera just beneath the surface of the water. Instagram @meganthetravelingwriter Jellyfish blooms is the term given to a substantial but temporary growth in the population of jellyfish, and are a natural phenomenon though in some cases can be exacerbated by human disruption to the environment, according to marine biologist Dr David Shiffman, writing for Scuba Diving Magazine. "A 'super bloom' like this is rare," Gilbert said. "All the kayaking guides said they'd never seen one like this before, but smaller blooms have happened this year in Cape Town." The couple and their guide attempted to kayak around the jellyfish, and while the guide warned the Starlight Jellyfish species stings, Gilbert took the opportunity to capture an underwater shot of the creatures when they came across a gap in the water. "I had no idea how many there really were until I put my GoPro in the water," she said. "When I checked my footage later, I was shocked. We were kayaking right above thousands of stinging jellyfish!" She shared the footage to her Instagram account @meganthetravelingwriter on May 6, where it has racked up more than 1.4 million likes. It began with Gilbert smiling on the kayak in what appeared to be clear, smooth water—but when she put the camera down, it revealed thousands of the stinging jellyfish floating just beneath the surface and into the deep beyond. She joked: "Who wants to go swimming?" Left, Gilbert on the Kayak, and right, what the water looks like from above. Left, Gilbert on the Kayak, and right, what the water looks like from above. Instagram @meganthetravelingwriter Gilbert told Newsweek: "I'd never seen anything like this before. It was eerie, beautiful, and scary all at the same time. Instagram commenters flocked to the post, one writing: "I freaked out on a kayak in the calm Mediterranean Sea when I saw one single jellyfish. I would meet my end this day by panicking, falling off the boat and getting stung!" "I didn't know I was afraid of jellyfish until I just saw this," another admitted, as another said they would "shut down instantly" if they saw it—and plenty compared the stunning shot to a famous scene in Disney's Finding Nemo. Gilbert returned the next evening to capture more footage, but says by that time "most of the jellyfish were gone because of the waves and Sunfish," a foraging predator that eats jellyfish. "Seeing the super bloom was over just showed me even more how wonderful the ocean is, and how unexpected," she said. "You never know what's down there and what you'll see." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures you want to share? Send them to life@ with some extra details, and they could appear on our website.
CBS News
19 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Service dog training organization flooded with donations following fatal shooting of Rep. Melissa Hortman
Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, who were killed Saturday morning in what Gov. Tim Walz called a politically motivated attack, trained service dogs in their spare time with a working group called Helping Paws. The Hortmans ended up keeping the last dog they trained, Gilbert, after he flunked out because he was too friendly. Gilbert was shot multiple times by the man who is accused of killing the Hortmans. He was injured so severely that the Hortmans' adult children had to put him to sleep. Rep. Melissa Hortman with a golden retriever. Helping Paws, Inc. Gilbert and the Hortmans' story has nearly 400,000 likes on the "We Rate Dogs" Instagram, and Helping Paws has been flooded with unsolicited donations. The organization reached out to the family and got a call back from the Hortman's adult children Sophie and Collin. "They gave us their blessing, and they said, This is what our mom would want, if something good to come out of this. And we love your organization so much, and Gilbert was such a big part of all of our lives for four years. And my mom would bless this. Our mom would bless this," said the Executive Director of Helping Paws Alyssa Golob. At a candlelight vigil for the Hortmans, Helping Paws dogs were out in full force. "A woman came up and said, 'You know, I made a donation to your organization,' and she's like, 'I just needed to put my rage somewhere'," said Golob. Golob says the organization usually gets 50-100 contributions a month. Since the tragedy they have gotten 5,700 individual donations in just days — so many they have not yet totaled the dollar amount. Helping Paws says it wants to work with the family to set up an appropriate memorial to Gilbert and the Hortmans.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Tough, whip-smart and selfless: Melissa Hortman, ‘singular force for democracy', remembered
A group of white male lawmakers were playing cards in a back room while their female colleagues gave speeches on the Minnesota house floor. They weren't paying attention, and Melissa Hortman had had enough. 'I hate to break up the 100 percent white male card game in the retiring room,' Hortman said in 2017. 'But I think this is an important debate.' The comment upset some Republicans, who said it was racist for her to call them white men and wanted her to apologize. Her response: 'I'm really tired of watching women of color, in particular, being ignored. So I'm not sorry.' The moment went viral - people made shirts and rallied in support of her comments. The Republican men knew that they had lost, Minnesota senator Tina Smith said about the incident. 'Melissa won the day.' 'I think you have to call bullshit when you see bullshit,' Hortman said at the time. 'And we see plenty of it.' It was one of many moments Hortman's friends and colleagues have shared since the 55-year-old longtime legislator and her husband were murdered in what appears to be a politically motivated shooting spree in suburban Minnesota on Saturday. Her friends and colleagues have remembered her legislative accomplishments – an ability to bring people together, stay organized, find common ground and, perhaps most of all, actually get things done. She injected humor and levity into her work. She was whip-smart. She raised two kids and had a beloved rescue dog, Gilbert. 'She demonstrates how being a steely negotiator and showing toughness isn't in tension with being human and warm and likable,' said Steve Simon, the Democratic secretary of state who knew Hortman for three decades, since the two were in law school together. Governor Tim Walz, an ally and friend of Hortman's, called her 'the most consequential speaker in state history'. Democrats held a trifecta in 2023 – controlling both chambers of the legislature and the governor's mansion – which allowed the left to achieve a host of its longstanding priorities, including protecting abortion access, universal school meals, childcare assistance and paid family leave, and felony voting rights restoration. The list was long, and Hortman held together her caucus through it all, gaining national attention for the 'Minnesota miracle'. Those gains are Hortman's legacy, the result of many years of laying the groundwork so that when Democrats had power, they could move quickly, Smith said. Walz, in an interview after her assassination with Minnesota Public Radio, said Hortman understood procedure, policy and people, and she had an incredible work ethic. He puts Hortman high on the list of consequential politicians in Minnesota history and counts her as one of the people who have impacted him most. She didn't seek credit, but if things got done, it was because of her, he said. 'Melissa was a singular force of understanding how democracy worked in getting things done,' Walz said. 'You didn't have to agree with her politics to know that she was effective. She was decent when it came time, and if her point did not win out, she accepted it, shook hands and signed it.' The 2025 legislative session started acrimoniously. The House was tied at 67-67, but Republicans tried to press a temporary advantage into leadership power, leading Hortman and Democrats to boycott the session until Republicans would agree to a power-sharing agreement. Hortman gave up the speaker title, becoming speaker emerita, and got to work governing the tied chamber. The session proved difficult – Hortman described, with emotion, how hard it was to be the lone Democratic vote to repeal healthcare coverage for undocumented adults, but that she had agreed to it so the state could have a bipartisan budget and prevent a shutdown. Her Republican colleagues said they liked and respected her, despite their political differences. Lisa Demuth, the Republican house speaker, said she looked at Hortman as a mentor. They could disagree politically without being cruel, in public or in private, she said. 'I think that is really an important thing to recognize that you don't have to align exactly politically to learn from another leader,' Demuth told Minnesota Public Radio. 'And I am grateful for that.' Hortman grew up in Minnesota. She told MinnPost she decided when she was 10 years old she would be the first female president, while watching the 1980 presidential campaign. She left for college at Boston University, but returned home for law school at the University of Minnesota, then began work as a lawyer. Along the way, she interned for Al Gore and John Kerry. Keith Ellison, the Democratic attorney general, shared at a rally the day she was killed that she was a 'beautiful human being'. He met her before she was a lawmaker, when she was a lawyer for the Legal Aid Society, a nonprofit that provides legal services for people who can't afford it, when she fiercely defended tenants, he said. In a statement after her passing, legal aid noted that Hortman had secured what was then the largest jury verdict for housing discrimination in Minnesota history. 'If you did things that she did, you'd be on the right track in your life,' Ellison told the crowd. 'She fought for people, she stood with people. She was a powerful political leader, but she also was a compassionate and kind person. Melissa proved that you could be a politician and a good person, and I know some people wonder about that sometimes, but she really was both.' Her swing district was not an easy win. She ran twice, losing both times, before winning on the third attempt by a few hundred votes in 2004. She kept her seat through 11 elections, rising up the ranks in her caucus, ultimately becoming speaker in 2018. She considered a run for Congress, previously one of her childhood dreams, but decided she could make more happen as a state lawmaker, she told MinnPost. The 2017 moment when she called out white male lawmakers brought her legislative career more attention and solidified her as a voice for her caucus, but she was always tough, Smith said. When Smith was lieutenant governor and Hortman was minority leader, the men in leadership roles once met without Smith and Hortman to try to strike a deal. Hortman called Smith early in the morning and told her they were being shut out, and they raced over to the Capitol. She was determined and made clear she wouldn't be dismissed, Smith said. 'She was just so strong, like, what is going on here? This deal isn't done until we say it's done,' Smith said. 'And it was a classic moment of her not being afraid to lean in and using her power and and after it was over, we were like, can you believe those guys? I can't believe they tried that.' Hollies Winston, the mayor of Brooklyn Park, where Hortman lived and represented, said she had to balance delivering for the local community and delivering for the whole state, and she did so 'from a place of wisdom and empathy'. 'She really moved the ball in terms of education and childcare, workers rights, public safety, criminal justice,' he said. But it's the quieter moments he saw from her that truly showed her character – her willingness to serve as a mentor to youth in the area, who came to her home to learn about politics, her support for emerging voices at the statehouse. She was more interested in the work than the publicity, Simon said. She wasn't seeking to promote herself, but to deliver results that would help the most people in Minnesota. Even her opponents knew she was 'fundamentally selfless,', and it went a long way to helping her negotiate during tough moments, Simon said. 'She went into politics to do something, not to be something,' Simon said. Sophie and Colin Hortman, her two children, released a statement after her death, saying their parents' love for them was 'boundless'. Their statement was a testament to their parents, whose 'legacy of dedication to their community will live on in us, their friends, their colleagues and co-workers, and every single person who knew and loved them'. They called on people to honor their parents with a list of Hortman-approved acts of kindness: 'Plant a tree. Visit a local park and make use of their amenities, especially a bike trail. Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do. Tell your loved ones a cheesy dad joke and laugh about it. Bake something – bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa, and share it with someone. Try a new hobby and enjoy learning something. Stand up for what you believe in, especially if that thing is justice and peace.'
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Who was Gilbert? Minnesota lawmaker's beloved golden retriever euthanized after tragic shooting, here's why
Melissa Hortman, a senator from Minnesota, was assassinated by a suspected assassin who also severely wounded her cherished golden dog, forcing his euthanasia. The Minnesota shooter identified as Vance Boelter killed the Democrat and her husband Mark. He also shot Gilbert, who was adopted by the Hortmans in 2021. State Representative Erin Koegel disclosed that the couple's kids put him down when they discovered 'Gilbert wasn't going to survive.' Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin also condemned Gilbert's demise, adding that Boelter's 'cruelty knows no bounds,' as per Daily Mail. Boelter, 57, who is accused of posing as a police officer, is also suspected of shooting and injuring state Senator John Hoffman and his spouse, Yvette, at their residence. The congressman met Gilbert while working as a foster home trainer for the neighborhood shelter Helping Paws. Also Read: US lawmaker Melissa Hortman broke down in tears hours before fatal Minnesota shooting: Watch viral video here She and Mark, 58, began training Gilbert following the successful training of another dog, Minnie, to become a service animal. Koegel clarified that Gilbert 'flunked out of school' and he instead joined the Hortman family. Boelter's motivation for shooting Gilbert is still unclear, however the dog was fatally wounded when his master was killed. After learning about Gilbert's death from Koegel, Martin slammed Boelter over the 'unspeakable' act of violence. 'Vance Boelter shot the dog while assassinating Melissa and Mark. The cruelty knows no bounds. My heart aches,' Martin wrote on social media. A criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County was released from seal on Sunday, charging Boelter with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder. Three of those offenses carry maximum 40-year prison sentences. According to jail records, his court date is set for Monday at 1:30 p.m. local time. In the early hours of June 14, Boelter visited the residences of two more congressmen with the intention of killing them, as per Acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson, who also declared six new federal charges against him for assassination stalking, and shooting offenses. If found guilty of federal murder or terrorism charges, Boelter might be put to death. In 1911, Minnesota eliminated the death penalty for state charges.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Dog shot during Minnesota lawmaker's murder put down days after attack
Only days after a gunman shot and killed Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, the family's rescue dog Gilbert had to be euthanized. Vance Boelter allegedly shot Gilbert, the family's golden retriever, during the attack at the Brooklyn Park home. Fellow Minnesota House Rep. Erin Koegel commented on social media platform X that he was put down following the murder. "Her children had to put down him after learning their parents had been murdered. Gilbert wasn't going to survive. Melissa loved that dog. She trained him as a service dog. He flunked out of school and she was so happy he failed so he could stay! She needed him in heaven with her," Koegel said. Helping Paws, a local non-profit in Eden Prairie, Minn, took to Facebook after hearing of Rep. Hortman's death to share some kind words and a photo of Gilbert and Hortman together. The group said they remembered Hortman for her kindness and compassion. They said she always strived to make the world a better place. "This morning, we learned of the tragic and senseless death of former Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark," the post began. "Melissa served her community in more ways than one. She was a Helping Paws Foster Home Trainer, a neighbor, and a friend. The Hortman family raised and trained Minnie, who is now a working service dog partnered with a Veteran. They also helped raise and train Gilbert, a service dog in training who was eventually career changed and became a cherished member of their family. At this time, we do not have confirmed information about Gilbert's condition," the nonprofit wrote Saturday, after Hortman's death. Koegel told the Minnesota Star Tribune that the House sergeant-at-arms informed members that Gilbert had to be put down. Hortman's adult children released a statement Monday night, saying that one way to keep their parent's memory alive would be to: "Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do." Vance Boelter, 57, was hit with multiple federal charges after officials captured him Sunday in what police described as the "largest manhunt" in the state's history. Police found him after the massive two-day manhunt in the woods near his home. He is charged with two counts of stalking, two counts of murder and two counts of firearm-related crimes in federal court. In addition to the federal charges, Boelter is facing second-degree murder charges filed in Hennepin County, where he is accused of killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, early Saturday morning at their Brooklyn Park home in Minneapolis, and of shooting State Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, in their nearby Champlin home in a related attack.
