Suspect in custody after gunman fires from boat into restaurant, killing 3
North Carolina authorities have a “possible suspect” in custody after a gunman fired shots from a boat into a restaurant, killing three people and injuring at least six others in the Southport Yacht Basin on Saturday night.
The deadly shooting took place in Southport, North Carolina, at around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday at the American Fish Company restaurant.
Southport’s public information officer said a boat with a single occupant on the Cape Fear River paused briefly in front of the restaurant and opened fire, killing three patrons and injuring multiple others.
The boat then sped off in the direction of the Intracoastal Waterway towards neighboring Oak Island.
ACTIVE SHOOTER REPORTED ON THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA’S COLUMBIA CAMPUS
The U.S. Coast Guard observed a single individual matching the description of the shooter loading their boat at a public ramp in Oak Island shortly after 10 p.m.
The Coast Guard crew detained the suspect, who is now in the custody of the Oak Island Police Department. The suspect will be turned over to the Southport Police Department for questioning.
“We don’t feel like there’s any additional threats to the community right now,” Southport Police Chief Todd Coring told reporters during a press conference. “We’re working with neighboring Oak Island with a possible suspect.”
City officials were earlier urging residents to avoid the area, remain indoors and report suspicious activity to police.
The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office said it is assisting the City of Southport Police Department along with the FBI, ATF and the District Attorney’s Office.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Southport is approximately 30 miles south of Wilmington. The Southport Yacht Basin has several bars and restaurants.
Republican lawmaker demands action after son’s school airs ‘inappropriate’ content
A Republican lawmaker is sounding the alarm after her son’s high school aired segments on its student-run television program regarding “Bisexual Plus Awareness Week.”
Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, posted on X about the segment, saying it was “so bad and inappropriate” she refused to share it.
“As a mom and as a legislator, I am so appalled the school is promoting sexual content to minors. What administrators approved this content on the morning news program the entire student body watches every morning? Why were parents not made aware of this explicit content our children would be forced to watch? I will be calling for an investigation through the Dept. of Education and working with Governor Reynolds to ensure accountability — stay tuned,” she wrote.
TEXAS LAWMAKER SLAMS TEXAS A&M AFTER STUDENT ALLEGEDLY REMOVED FROM CLASS FOR CHALLENGING TRANSGENDER LESSON
The Sept. 25 segment began with a student saying that Spectrum, the name of the school’s student-led Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club, was nearing the end of “Bisexual Plus Awareness Week.”
“Spectrum is close to wrapping up our celebration of Bisexual Plus Awareness Week,” a student said in the segment. “Do you know what the plus stands for? It signifies inclusivity of all non-monosexual identities. What does that mean, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you. A non-monosexual identity refers to sexual orientations that are not exclusively homosexual or heterosexual. The term encompasses a range of identities including bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer and omnisexual.
“Non-monosexual identities emphasize that attraction can be complex and not limited to traditional binaries,” the student added, saying that there would be more on the subject the following day.
Linn-Mar Community School District told Fox News Digital it was aware of the segment and that it was investigating the situation.
“At this time, the district is conducting a review to determine whether any existing policies or procedures were violated during the production or airing of the segment,” the district told Fox News Digital. “We remain committed to fostering respectful dialogue and supporting all students and staff in a safe and inclusive environment in a manner that aligns with district guidelines and policies.”
PARENTS: VIRGINIA BOYS SUSPENDED AFTER QUESTIONING TRANSGENDER LOCKER ROOM POLICY WERE IGNORED BY SCHOOL
Hinson, however, is not waiting for Linn-Mar Community School District to complete its review. Instead, she sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon urging federal action on the situation.
“I write to bring attention to the egregious encroachment on parental rights at Linn-Mar High School — where my 14-year-old son attends school,” Hinson wrote. She said that, in addition to the Sept. 25 segment, there was a similar broadcast on Sept. 23 in which students were encouraged to “use terms like bisexual plus to be inclusive of all non-monosexual identities.”
“These segments were broadcast to students without parental knowledge or consent. As a parent and a legislator, I am appalled that a school would assume the role of teaching and promoting sexual identity to our children. Our schools should be educating students, not indoctrinating them,” Hinson added.
LINDA MCMAHON SENDS WARNING TO MAINE AFTER STATE’S EDUCATION CHIEF’S EMAILS UNDERMINING TRUMP SURFACE
The congresswoman noted that the school had previously “deliberately excluded parents from conversations” on related matters.
“I urge the Department of Education to launch a full investigation into this conduct at Linn-Mar High School and ensure that parents are making decisions about their children’s education and how to address matters of sexual identity,” Hinson added.
While the Department of Education has yet to comment on this specific situation, it has taken a harsh approach to conversations about sexuality and identity under President Donald Trump.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
On Jan. 29, Trump issued an order titled, “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling.” Additionally, in March, he issued an order directing the secretary of education to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the states.” As of September 2025, the department is still up and running.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Education for comment on Hinson’s allegations.
Texas cowboy hat maker swamped with orders after TV show sparks nationwide craze
Business has reportedly been booming for American Hat Company – a Texas-based cowboy hat manufacturer – since the 2018 launch of the hit Western TV series “Yellowstone.”
Founded in 1915 and headquartered in Bowie, Texas, the company specializes in handmade felt and straw cowboy hats offered in a range of trims, colors and shapes. Demand has soared so high that the business is now years out on orders, according to company president Keith Mundee.
FRUIT TREE GIFTING COMPANY HAS HUMBLE ROOTS: ‘GRIT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM’
“People were clamoring for something that was truly American or kind of going back to their roots,” Mundee told FOX Business. “… The Western lifestyle became very popular.”
The company follows an approximately 18-step process to transform raw materials like straw and fur into even a basic cowboy hat, he said.
AMERICAN-MADE CARS PERFECT FOR SUMMER ROAD TRIPS
While the business does source some of its materials from locations outside the country, its hats are majority American-made. They “live up to the standard of style, quality and durability” that can be expected from a product made in the U.S., according to the company’s website.
“It just doesn’t make sense to import any finished goods,” Mundee said. “… We will import raw material, but it’s not something anybody could wear or use.”
American Hat Company sells its cowboy hats to retailers across the nation like Cavender’s, National Roper’s Supply and The Best Hat Store. Its products can also be found in stores in Canada, Australia and Germany, according to the company’s website.
FATHER-DAUGHTER DUO SELLS AMERICAN-GROWN COFFEE USING ‘INNOVATIVE’ TECHNIQUE
The retail manufacturer’s most popular cowboy hat is called the 40X. Made from 40% beaver and 60% hare, the 40X comes in 14 different colors, and has a self-band and buckle set as its trim. However, the “best” hat the company makes, Mundee said, is called 1,000X. It’s made from the underfur of a beaver blended with mink, comes in four different colors, and its trim is also a self-band and buckle set.
“That [1,000X] hat in a silver belly color is going to retail for about $4,800,” Mundee said.
While American Hat Company’s primary focus is creating quality products using traditional crafting methods, what drives its staff is its commitment to patriotism, faith, honoring the military, and upholding the “spirit of the American West,” according to its website. Each hat also dons an American flag regardless of its trim.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
“I’m really not selling cowboy hats as much as I’m selling the national anthem, the opening prayer, respect for our military, respect for first responders,” Mundee said. ” … It’s important to bring up the younger generation and have them have a reverence for our country, our flag.”
Aspiring Olympian lost after deadly tumble into foam pit, officials confirm
A rising gymnast who hoped to represent his homeland in the Olympics died Thursday after suffering a severe injury during a training accident in Russia.
The Indonesian Gymnastics Federation confirmed the death of Naufal Takdir Al Bari, 19, which occurred following a 12-day stay in intensive care.
“The Indonesian Gymnastics Federation is in mourning, male athlete Naufal Takdir Al Bari has passed away,” the organization wrote on Instagram. “The 19-year-old gymnast breathed his last after undergoing intensive care for 12 days at GA Zakharyin Hospital.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Al Bari reportedly sustained a serious neck injury after he fell into a foam pit while training on the high bar, according to the Russian Gymnastics Federation’s social media post.
Al Bari was eyeing qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
However, leading up to the Summer Games, Al Bari had his sights set on this year’s Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Indonesia. The championships are scheduled to begin in October.
SUNI LEE DISCUSSES OLYMPIC RETURN AFTER KIDNEY DISEASE DIAGNOSIS, ESPYS COMEBACK ATHLETE NOMINATION
In a statement, Indonesian Gymnastics chairperson Ita Yuliati described Al Bari as “a talented young athlete, and a good figure.”
“Indonesian Gymnastics has lost the nation’s best,” the statement continued, adding: “This is a deep blow and sorrow for us. May the family be given strength.”
An investigation into Al Bari’s death concluded he was ill-prepared for the training session.
“We conducted the necessary investigation, and all the circumstances surrounding the injury have been established. Unfortunately, the athlete was not prepared to perform such a complex element,” Vice President of the Russian Gymnastics Federation, Vasily Titov, said in a Telegram post, translated from Russian.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
It remains unclear which specific stunt Al Bari performed leading up to the tragic event.
The Indonesian Gymnastics Federation did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
sports coverage on X the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter
Ex-Soros Fund manager ran ‘torture dungeon’ for Playboy models, feds say
A former Soros Fund Management portfolio manager has been indicted on charges of luring women — including former Playboy models — to his Manhattan penthouse with a room outfitted with a soundproof “dungeon,” where prosecutors say he subjected them to violent sexual abuse.
Howard Rubin, 70, a retired New York financier also known as “Howie” and “H,” has been indicted alongside Jennifer Powers, 45, his longtime assistant, on federal sex trafficking and bank fraud charges.
Prosecutors allege that between at least 2009 and 2019, Rubin ran an extensive network recruiting women to engage in sex in exchange for money, often relying on force, fraud and coercion.
ALLEGED BITCOIN TORTURER WALKS FREE ON $1M BOND AFTER TWO-MONTH RIKERS ISLAND DETENTION
Rubin is accused of using nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) and coercion to silence women who suffered violent, torture-like abuse.
FBI Assistant Director Christopher Raia alleged Rubin bankrolled an operation that left women physically and psychologically scarred. Rubin allegedly poured more than $1 million into flights, payouts to women and maintaining the Central Park Manhattan penthouse that was outfitted with restraints and shock devices.
“The defendants allegedly exploited Rubin’s status to ensnare their prospective victims and forced them to endure unthinkable physical trauma before silencing any outcries with threats of legal recourse,” Raia said in a news release announcing the charges Friday.
Rubin pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday after being arrested in Connecticut. A U.S. magistrate judge in Brooklyn ordered Rubin to be detained without bail and said he was a flight risk despite efforts by his lawyers to have him freed on $25 million bond.
Powers was arrested in Texas Friday and is scheduled to make her initial appearance on Monday in federal court in the Northern District of Texas.
EX-SOROS FINANCIER ACCUSED OF RAPING 4TH WOMAN IN PENTHOUSE SEX DUNGEON
During a three-decade career, Rubin worked at various financial firms, including Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns and Soros Fund Management. Rubin worked at Soros Fund Management from 2008 to 2015 as a portfolio manager, focusing on mortgage-backed securities, though there is no indication he had any personal connection to George Soros, the billionaire financier and philanthropist.
Now retired, Rubin built his wealth in New York City, where Powers became his personal assistant around 2011 and managed the logistical aspects of their commercial sex operation, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Rubin, with the help of Powers, abused the women after recruiting them to fly to New York to engage in sadomasochistic sex acts with Rubin in exchange for money.
The sex acts initially took place in luxury hotels, prosecutors allege, and then later in Rubin’s two-bedroom penthouse apartment in midtown Manhattan. It was there Rubin and Powers converted one of the bedrooms into what they referred to as a sex “dungeon” that was painted red, soundproofed and furnished with BDSM equipment and devices, including a device to shock or electrocute the women, prosecutors said.
The women included victims who had previously been sexually abused, were financially desperate or who suffered from addiction. Once they were in New York, the women were encouraged to use drugs or alcohol to prepare for their sexual encounters, and they sometimes engaged in conduct beyond the scope of their consent, prosecutors said.
During the encounters, the women suffered significant pain, including bruises and psychological trauma, and sometimes required medical treatment, according to prosecutors.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
After the sexual encounters, Rubin’s money was used to pay the women by wire transfer or a payment service such as PayPal or Venmo. Powers at times structured the payments to avoid sending a single transaction of $10,000 or more to avoid triggering reporting obligations by the bank.
If convicted of sex trafficking, the pair each face a minimum of 15 years to life in prison.
Rubin faces up to 30 years for bank fraud after he allegedly lied on mortgage paperwork to help Powers buy a Texas home, falsely claiming he wasn’t involved in any lawsuits.
Some of the alleged victims sued Rubin and Powers in 2017. A jury found at trial that only Rubin was liable and awarded the women $3.9 million. He is appealing the verdict.
Grammy winner says cancer battle has ‘taken a turn,’ cancels 2025 tour dates
Country star Raul Malo shared that his battle against stage 4 colon cancer has “taken a turn,” revealing he was recently diagnosed with a rare complication of the disease.
On Wednesday, the 60-year-old Mavericks frontman, who first disclosed his cancer diagnosis in June 2024, announced on social media that he has developed leptomeningeal disease (LMD). According to the Cleveland Clinic, LMD is an incurable condition in which cancer cells spread from an advanced cancer to the cerebrospinal fluid and the membranes around the brain and spinal cord.
Malo explained in an Instagram post that The Mavericks canceled their remaining 2025 tour dates, except for two December shows, so he can focus on his health.
“I want to update you all on my health, as things have taken a turn,” Malo wrote alongside a video in which he was seen sitting in a chair and playing a guitar.
COUNTRY SINGER JOSHUA RAY WALKER VOWS TO LIVE ‘LIFE TO THE FULLEST’ AS CANCER SPREADS TO HIS LUNGS
“As it goes with cancer, it’s a very unpredictable and indiscriminatory disease,” the Grammy Award winner continued. “I’ve developed something called LMD, which stands for ‘get this s— out of my head.’ Treatment for this is radiation, which I will start tomorrow.”
“We will probably jump into some chemo, and are even looking at alternative therapies,” Malo added. “But it’s time to take your words to heart of resting & recovering, so that’s what I’m going to do.”
While Malo shared that “all shows going forward are canceled,” he promised fans The Mavericks will “continue doing cool projects, releasing live recordings, merchandise, Trovador and so forth.”
APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW POST
The Mavericks have been touring with Dwight Yoakam on the country star’s Cosmic Roundup & Rodeo Tour but recently canceled or postponed several dates due to Malo’s health struggles.
“I want to thank Dwight Yoakam, his band, and crew for their kindness and understanding this year, and sorry we couldn’t finish the tour the way we planned,” Malo wrote.
However, Malo told fans to “hang on to your tickets” for the band’s two shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Dec. 5 and 6, noting they are “planning something special” and will share details soon.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
The “Dance the Night Away” hitmaker also assured fans he is “in no way alone, or scared.”
“I have an amazing wife and boys, wonderful family, team, road crew, band, friends and fans,” he wrote. “I don’t even have enough words to describe the love and support that I’m getting right now.”
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
“To my friends who have sent me texts and messages, I want you to know that I’ve read them all,” he continued. “I can’t return them all, but your love, prayers, and well wishes have not gone unnoticed.”
Malo also reflected on how he plans to approach his cancer battle moving forward and vowed to share more updates.
“We don’t know what this will look like a couple months from now, but we are going into it like we have with everything else,” he said. “Full steam ahead. Fight, recover, rest, repeat.”
“I want to thank you all for your incredible support through all this, and sorry about the cancellations but we have no choice anymore,” Malo continued. “Find kindness & empathy out there wherever you can. Humans are alright, even if you don’t believe it from what you see on TV.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Sydney Sweeney smolders in behind-the-scenes glimpse from American Eagle shoot
Sydney Sweeney is doubling down on denim.
Months after her American Eagle “Good Jeans” campaign caused a stir, the “Euphoria” star is once again turning heads, this time in a behind-the-scenes shot from the controversial photo shoot.
The photo, seemingly snapped mid-shoot, shows Sweeney standing in front of a massive mirror, in nothing but a blue denim jacket and a pair of jeans.
SYDNEY SWEENEY’S BROTHER MAKES CHEEKY ‘GOOD JEANS’ JOKE AFTER HIS AIR FORCE PROMOTION
The jacket was open with no shirt underneath, and a dog sat between her legs.
Sweeney posed with her arms overhead and gazed at her reflection in the mirror.
“The White Lotus” star reposted the photo, originally shared by her stylist, Molly Dickson.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
The actress’s behind-the-scenes photo comes after her American Eagle “Good Jeans” campaign became one of the most talked-about and controversial ads of the year.
What started as a play on words exploded into a full-blown scandal.
The commercial sparked backlash after she spoke about genes being “passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color.
SYDNEY SWEENEY CONFESSES SHE WASN’T PREPARED FOR THE EMOTIONAL TOLL OF FAME AMID POLITICAL CONTROVERSIES
“My jeans are blue,” she added as the camera closed in on her eyes.
When the campaign was released, it faced some backlash, with some suggesting it had shades of “eugenics” and “White supremacy.”
American Eagle released a statement on its social media Aug. 1, saying, “’Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Sweeney has not publicly commented on the ad or its mixed reception.
Meanwhile, Sweeney’s family has joined in on the viral denim campaign.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Trent Sweeney, her brother and a recently promoted Air Force staff sergeant, played into the denim drama that engulfed his famous sister.
The 29-year-old proudly posted about his official promotion to staff sergeant on his Instagram story, complete with a cheeky caption aimed at the controversy.
“It’s them good jeans,” he shared with a certificate acknowledging his military promotion.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
‘We max out our credit cards’: Inside the world of childless Disney superfans
For some adults, their hobby is fantasy football. For others, it is Broadway shows, day-trading or maybe pickleball.
But for another passionate group of Americans — with or without kids of their own — it’s all about Disney.
A recent article labeled Disney enthusiasts “the most hated group online” and such criticism often comes with viral anecdotes, like a 2022 Reddit post from a couple who admitted they skipped catering their wedding to pay for a 30-minute appearance by Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
The couple may not be alone in their dedication. Roughly 1,500 couples get married at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., each year, according to wedding planners.
PARENTS ARE SPLURGING ON LUXURY VACATIONS THEIR KIDS WON’T REMEMBER
And some fans love Disney until death — literally.
In the new book “Disney Adults: Exploring (And Falling In Love With) A Magical Subculture,” author AJ Wolfe describes visitors who have scattered the ashes of loved ones on rides like the Haunted Mansion, despite repeated warnings from park staff.
“They take one last trip there before they die,” Wolfe writes. “And they even buy funeral urns etched with images of Disney World’s Cinderella Castle.”
Disney adults talk about “converting” their loved ones into fans because Disney is a kind of church for them, according to Wolfe, who is also the founder of the Disney Food Blog.
LAS VEGAS BECOMING ‘PLAYGROUND FOR THE AFFLUENT’ AS ‘EVERYDAY TRAVELER’ LEFT BEHIND
Wolfe spoke with a San Diego tattoo artist who exclusively inks Disney-related art and a couple who regularly flew from New York City to Disney World for single overnight stays.
“We max out our credit cards to go,” Wolfe wrote of her Disney community. “We count down the days until we can go again and plan obsessively about what we’re going to do, eat, wear, and experience the next time we’re there. We post on social media about how life ceases in between trips.”
Journalists covering the parks have noted more child-free millennials and Gen Xers since the pandemic, with after-hours events, food and cocktails catering to an older crowd.
WORLD’S LARGEST CRUISE SHIP DEBUTS AS INDUSTRY EXPECTS 19 MILLION TRAVELERS
In 2023, Walt Disney World drew about 48.8 million visitors, according to reports. Part of Disney’s draw lies in its unmatched reputation, said Roy Schwartz, a New York-based pop culture historian and author.
“Disney is probably the most iconic brand in entertainment,” Schwartz told Fox News Digital. “They’re the most associated with classic, timeless, innocent stories and characters. That’s very appealing to childless adults who’re looking for a way to recapture or keep alive that feeling of delight and comfort.”
COUPLE SAVES THOUSANDS MONTHLY BY TAKING EXTENDED ‘GAP YEAR’ TRAVELS WITH 6-YEAR-OLD
While Schwartz acknowledges that part of the loyalty is cultivated through savvy corporate strategy, he believes much of it is organic. Adults are searching for community, identity and simple joys, whether it be through Disney, Taylor Swift, CrossFit or political movements.
Wolfe admits that Disney adults are buying what the multibillion-dollar corporation is selling.
In her book, she describes “smellizer” machines that pump scents of apple pie, jasmine and roses into the air to entice shoppers in the parks.
“Everything at Disney is bigger, brighter, and more infused with visuals, smells, feelings, flavors and sounds,” she wrote.
Critics often dismiss Disney fans as people who refuse to grow up, but Wolfe describes Walt Disney World as a safe, predictable escape.
MORE FROM FOX NEWS LIFESTYLE
For her, Disney was still preferable to European, Alaskan or Thai vacations after she became a mother.
“They spoke English and used American dollars, transportation was simple and urgent care for my asthmatic kid was highly accessible,” she wrote.
Experts agree the appeal is about comfort, connection and fun.
“Sometimes we need to revisit childlike spaces — like Disney — in order to heal our inner child,” Dr. Robyn Koslowitz, a New Jersey-based clinical psychologist and trauma specialist, told Fox News Digital.
Dr. Debra Kissen, CEO of Light On Anxiety Treatment Centers in Chicago, agreed, calling Disney a “turnkey escape.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“It offers safety, cleanliness, predictable logistics and a reliable emotional arc,” she said. “Adults often use the space more intentionally as a mood reset, a couples ritual or a hobby.”
But that fandom can tip into excess.
Kissen advises asking, “Is work, sleep or relationships suffering? Are you spending beyond your means or hiding costs? Can you skip an event without distress?
“If yes to any, it’s time to set guardrails — budgets, trip frequency, ‘no-park’ months, or diversify your hobbies,” she said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Wolfe told Fox News Digital that her interviews with Disney adults showed her that their fandom isn’t their only defining characteristic.
“It’s a hobby among many others,” she said. “Having an affinity for Disney allows people to process life with a bit more optimism — that you can be strong, grow, be the hero of your own story and that happily ever after can happen.”
‘I needed to give it all away’: Virginia woman donates entire AI-assisted lottery win
A Virginia grandmother who used ChatGPT to help pick her Powerball numbers struck it big and donated it all to charity.
Carrie Edwards of Midlothian matched four of the first five numbers, plus the Powerball, in the Sept. 8 drawing, winning $50,000. But because she purchased the Power Play option, her prize tripled to $150,000, according to the Virginia Lottery.
Edwards said she knew instantly what she wanted to do with the unexpected windfall.
AFTER HURRICANE HELENE, VIRGINIA COUPLE WELCOMES NEW HOME BUILT BY VOLUNTEERS
“I knew I needed to give it all away because I’ve been so blessed, and I want this to be an example of how other people, when they’re blessed, can bless other people,” she said during a news conference.
Her first donation went to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD), which supports research, education and family resources for those affected by the early-onset dementia.
Edwards’ late husband, Steve, a firefighter and father, died from the disease. She said she wanted the gift to shine a light on other families fighting frontotemporal degeneration and the researchers working toward a cure for it. Her donation coincided with World FTD Awareness Week Sept. 21-27.
BABY WITH FATAL BRAIN DISORDER ‘SAVED’ BY ANONYMOUS $47K DONATION
“This cause is deeply personal,” Edwards, a retired PR executive, said.
Edwards also gave to Shalom Farms, a nonprofit farm and food justice organization in Richmond that distributes over 400,000 servings of fresh produce annually.
“Her gift will ensure that families throughout Richmond continue to have access to high-quality, affordable fresh produce,” Anna Ibrahim, executive director of Shalom Farms, said in a statement.
Her third contribution went to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), which provides financial, educational and emergency assistance to active-duty service members, veterans and their families.
HOMELESS MAN WINS $1 MILLION ON LOTTERY SCRATCHER AT CALIFORNIA LIQUOR STORE: REPORT
The gift honored her father, Capt. Peter Swanson, a Navy fighter pilot remembered for his “life of service and generosity.”
“He and his wife instilled in their children the importance of giving back, making giving to NMCRS a family tradition,” the group wrote in a Facebook post.
“Now, with Carrie’s extraordinary gift, the Swanson family’s commitment grows even stronger — ensuring Sailors, Marines, and their families receive the vital support they deserve.”
Edwards said the three organizations, which she works closely with, represent healing, service and community for her.
“Shalom Farms heals through food and soil, AFTD brings hope through research and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society carries forward the tradition of supporting military families in times of need,” she said.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“All of us at the Lottery are delighted to see this prize being shared with worthy causes, due to the wonderful generosity of Carrie Edwards,” said Khalid Jones, executive director of the Virginia Lottery.
Lottery profits go toward supporting K-12 public education in the Commonwealth, Jones noted.
At the news conference, Edwards revealed that she turned to artificial intelligence for help picking her numbers.
“I’m like, ‘Hey, ChatGPT, talk to me. … Do you have numbers for me?’” she recalled.
MORE FROM FOX NEWS LIFESTYLE
It responded that it’s all about luck, but Edwards went for it anyway.
“Two days go by, and I’m sitting in a meeting. And I look at my phone, and it says, ‘Please collect your lottery winnings,'” she said.
She thought it was a scam until she logged into her online account at home.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Edwards, who said she doesn’t play lotto often, had bought her ticket online for the first time, using the Virginia Lottery’s mobile app.
“I feel blessed that this unexpected lottery win could serve a greater purpose,” she said.