Elmo’s X Account ‘Secured’ After Hacking; ‘Sesame Street’ Says ‘Unknown Hacker Posted Disgusting Messages, Including Antisemitic and Racist Posts’

Elmo's X Account 'Secured' After Hacking; 'Sesame Street' Says 'Unknown Hacker Posted Disgusting Messages, Including Antisemitic and Racist Posts'

A spokesperson for "Sesame Street" confirmed toVarietythat Elmo's official X account was "compromised by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts." The tweets, a vile departure from Elmo's often inspiring and motivational social media cadence, were sent on July 13 and promptly taken down. Asreported by CNN:"The posts have since been deleted, but widely circulated screenshots showed Elmo apparently calling for violence against Jews and calling for the release of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case." More from Variety 'Laid Off' Elmo Is Back on a New Site Soliciting PBS Donations Amid Trump's Defunding Push Netflix Gets Serious About Kids Gaming With 'Peppa Pig,' 'Sesame Street' and Big Plans for Original IP Netflix Picks Up 'Sesame Street' Worldwide Streaming Rights After Max Deal Ends "The account has since been secured," the spokesperson shared withVariety. The Elmo hack occurred exactly a week after another antisemitism controversy on X. Elon Musk's artificial intelligence chatbot Grokspread antisemitic postson the social media platform. In several posts and replies, Grok was seen attaching stereotypes to users with Jewish surnames, glorifying Hitler and spreading conspiracies about the over-involvement of Jewish people in government, commerce and Hollywood. In one example, Grok replied to an account that called the victims of the Camp Mystic flood "future fascists," writing that Hitler would quickly deal "with such vile anti-white hate." Musksaid amid backlashthat changes his xAI company made to Grok to be less politically correct had resulted in the chatbot being "too eager to please" and susceptible to being "manipulated." That apparently led it to begin spewing out antisemitic and pro-Hitler comments on X. "Grok was too compliant to user prompts," Musk wrote in apostabout the controversy. "Too eager to please and be manipulated, essentially. That is being addressed." TheGrok accountaddressed the controversy in its own post by writing: "We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts. Since being made aware of the content, xAI has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X. xAI is training only truth-seeking and thanks to the millions of users on X, we are able to quickly identify and update the model where training could be improved." Varietyhas reached out X for comment on the Elmo hacking. Best of Variety Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

byMario Satorik

in

July 14, 2025

Elmo’s X Account ‘Secured’ After Hacking; ‘Sesame Street’ Says ‘Unknown Hacker Posted Disgusting Messages, Including Antisemitic and Racist Posts’

Elmo's X Account 'Secured' After Hacking; 'Sesame Street' Says 'Unknown Hacker Posted Disgusting Messages, Including...

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Jenn Tran on why a 'Love Island' star's slur 'struck a nerve' with Asian Americans

Jenn Tran on why a 'Love Island' star's slur 'struck a nerve' with Asian Americans

When evidence of a "Love Island USA" cast memberusing a racist slur against Asian peoplestarted circulating on social media, it reopened old wounds forJenn Tran. Tran, a 27-year-old physician assistant student who is also themost recent "Bachelorette,"quickly took to TikTokto explainwhy the word was "demeaning and demoralizing." Tran's video has since accumulated 1.8 million views. Cierra Ortega, 25, afrontrunnerremoved from the show, had used the epithet as recently as 2024 to describe the shape of her eyes – a look she had gone to a medical spa to fix with "a mini brow lift to open up my eyes." "For me, it was more upsetting in which the context (the word) was used," Tran tells USA TODAY in a conversation about her reaction to Ortega's post. "For someone to be using that word and being like, 'I am doing this to my eyes because I don't like the way that it looks' and the word that she used (refers to) Asian people – that struck a nerve with me because growing up, it was really, really hard to learn to love my features." Tran, who is Vietnamese American, is outspoken about how a lack of Asian American representation affected her childhood. "A lot of people made fun of me, the way that I looked, the way my eyes are, the way I brought smelly lunches to school, the way I speak a different language. So obviously that led into a bit of an identity crisis," she says. She internalized this messaging and briefly considered blepharoplasty,one of the most commoncosmetic procedures in the U.S. Among East Asian people, the so-called "double eyelid surgery" creates a crease in the upper lid and achieves the appearance of wider eyes. "I definitely Googled getting that eye surgery. I definitely boughtdouble-sided tapeto give myself more of a double eyelid," Tran says. "When everyone around you has big eyes ... you start thinking, 'Oh, I'm not beautiful. My eyes aren't beautiful,' " she says. How Jenn Tran's season ended:A franchise empowered its Asian American lead — then tore her down To see this message perpetuated decades later appalled Tran. "I mean, these are my eyes. And I was born with them, and I shouldn't have to fix them. There's nothing to be fixed," she says. "That's not the message we should be telling people – to go fix themselves." Most of the comments on Tran's video are supportive. But a scroll through the remarks also reveals many people weren't familiar with the slur prior to the controversy. Ortega herself said ina video apologythat she "had no idea." 'Incredibly offensive':Cierra Ortega opens up about slur use after 'Love Island USA' exit The slur seemingly originated around 150 years ago and is believed to have originally been used in the 1800s in relation to Chinese immigrants, whowere systemically excludedby thePage ActandChinese Exclusion Act. Tran is "very familiar" with the offensive word. "I've been called it on my social media recently. So, yeah, it's still out there," she says. In numerous TikTok videos about Ortega's controversy, there are comments from users who say the outcry is an overreaction by people who are "too sensitive." Any time Tran speaks up about racism she encounters online, commenters dismiss her with statements like, "Why are you making everything about race? It's not that serious. Shut up," according to Tran. The solution, she believes, is a willingness to learn "about our cultures" and "open your heart" to others' experiences. She also clarifies that her video is intended to raise awareness about the harm the slur can inflict, rather than "perpetuate this cyber-bullying" of Ortega, which she describes as having "gotten out of hand." For Tran, this conversation aboutanti-Asian racismhas arrived during an era of self-acceptance. "I've definitely been through that journey and thankful to be on the other side of it," she says. "I very much love all my features now." She doesn't attribute the mindset to a singular reason. But "I grew up, and I realized rather than hating myself and getting a surgery to change myself, I just decided to accept myself," Tran says. "And there's also a lot more Asian representation now and more people that look like me that I'm like, 'No,theyare beautiful, and so am I.' " This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Jenn Tran addresses Cierra Ortega's Asian slur: 'Struck a nerve'

byMario Satorik

in

July 14, 2025

Jenn Tran on why a 'Love Island' star's slur 'struck a nerve' with Asian Americans

Jenn Tran on why a 'Love Island' star's slur 'struck a nerve' with Asian Americans When evidence of a "Love Island ...

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Israeli strikes kill at least 31 in Gaza as UN agencies warn of fuel crisis

Israeli strikes kill at least 31 in Gaza as UN agencies warn of fuel crisis

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnightkilled at least 31 people, according to local hospitals, as United Nations agencies warned that critical fuel shortages put hospitals and other critical infrastructure at risk. The latest attacks came after U.S. PresidentDonald Trumpand Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held two days of talks last week that endedwith no sign of a breakthroughin negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage release. Twelve people were killed by strikes in southern Gaza, including three who were waiting at an aid distribution point, according to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which received the bodies.Shifa Hospital in Gaza Cityalso received 12 bodies, including three children and two women, after a series of strikes in the north, according to the hospital's director, Dr. Mohammed Abu Selmia. Al-Awda Hospital reported seven killed and 11 wounded in strikes in central Gaza. The Israeli military says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians. It blames civilian deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in densely populated areas. Fuel crisis warning U.N. agencies, including those providing food and health care, reiterated a warning made at the weekend that without adequate fuel, they "will likely be forced to stop their operations entirely." In a joint statement, they said that hospitals are already going dark and ambulances can no longer move. Without fuel, transport, water production, sanitation and telecommunications will shut down and bakeries and community kitchens cannot operate, they said. The agencies confirmed that some 150,000 liters of fuel entered Gaza last week — the first delivery in 130 days. But they said it is "a small fraction of what is needed each day to keep daily life and critical aid operations running." "The United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners cannot overstate the urgency of this moment: fuel must be allowed into Gaza in sufficient quantities and consistently to sustain life-saving operations," they said. The agencies signing the statement were the U.N. humanitarian office OCHA, food agency WFP, health organization WHO, children's agency UNICEF, the agency helping Palestinian refugees UNRWA, population agency UNFPA, development agency UNDP, and UNOPS which oversees procurement and provides management services. Strike kills Hamas militant who held hostage Israel's military said a June 19 strike killed Muhammad Nasr Ali Quneita, a senior Hamas militant who it said had taken part in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and held hostageEmily Damari, a dual Israeli-British citizen, in his home at the start of the war. There was no comment from Hamas and no independent confirmation. Thousands of Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel that day, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 people, most of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. The militants are still holding 50 hostages, less than half of them believed to be alive. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 58,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up more than half of the dead. It does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its tally. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and is led by medical professionals. The United Nations and other experts consider its figures to bethe most reliable count of war casualties. Israel's air and ground war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and driven some 90% of the population from their homes. Aid groups say they have struggled to bring in food and other assistance because of Israeli military restrictions and the breakdown of law and order, andexperts have warned of famine. ___ Khaled reported from Cairo and AlJoud from Beirut. Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed. ___ Follow AP's war coverage athttps://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

byMario Satorik

in

July 14, 2025

Israeli strikes kill at least 31 in Gaza as UN agencies warn of fuel crisis

Israeli strikes kill at least 31 in Gaza as UN agencies warn of fuel crisis DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli strikes across the Gaza...

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'A tragedy': 9 killed in fire at senior living facility in Massachusetts

'A tragedy': 9 killed in fire at senior living facility in Massachusetts

FALL RIVER, MA – A blaze at an assisted living facility in Massachusetts killed at least nine people and injured over 30 others after it trapped residents inside, forcing first responders to kick down doors and pull screaming people out through windows. Firefighters responded Sunday around 9:50 p.m. to Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility in Fall River, about 50 miles south of Boston. Upon arrival, they saw the front of the building engulfed in flames and smoke, and began rescuing people while trying to quell the blaze. Multiple people were declared dead at the scene while over 30 were rushed to area hospitals, including at least five firefighters with minor injuries. As of Monday morning, nine people were dead and one person was in critical condition, said Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon. Approximately 70 people were living in the building when the fire broke out. Bacon described the chaotic scene that saw residents begging for help and "hanging out of windows looking to be rescued." He said firefighters and police pulled dozens of people to safety, squeezing them through small windows or breaking down doors and carrying residents – some of whom were in wheelchairs – out of the building. The cause of the incident remains unclear and is under investigation. Officials said the building owner has been cooperative and the facility will soon be boarded up. "The fire at Gabriel House in Fall River is a tragedy," said Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey in a statement. "My heart goes out to those who are waking up to the most horrific news imaginable about their loved ones this morning." More news:2 women dead after Kentucky church shooting; suspect killed by police While inspectors worked to pinpoint what led to the fire, officials have begun describing potential hazards in the building when the blaze broke out. At a news conference, Bacon noted the presence of "several" oxygen tanks, which are commonly used by elderly residents and can be fire hazards. However, the chief said they were "irrelevant to the fire at this time" and cited an ongoing investigation headed by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. The Gabriel House assisted living facility opened in 1999 and is made up of 100 units, according to theMassachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence. Gabriel House's website says is meant for people 55 and older, and that it provides a range of care for residents with diseases such as diabetes or those who struggle to control their bodily functions. It remains unknown if Gabriel House had and followed an evacuation plan. The building's owner Dennis Etzkorn has not responded to multiple requests for comment from the Herald News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan said Gabriel House – like all the city's nursing facilities – are on the city's radar for health and safety inspections, but he did not describe what recent inspections showed. "We know this building," Coogan said. "We know it well. We work with the staff here and the management to try to make sure if they need help, we're here for them." More than half the facility's 70 residents had to be evacuated either through windows or out various doors, Bacon said. Many were physically carried out because of mobility issues. Bacon said the number of window air conditioning units made rescues difficult and forced first responders to use smaller windows to pull people out."The windows that would have affected the best rescues had the ACs in them, so rescues had to be done through smaller windows," Bacon said. The chief added that the fire damage was limited to one wing of the building, but that smoke had engulfed the facility's interior, likely leading to deaths and dozens of injuries. "The fire attack was very quick, it was just a very smokey fire," said Bacon. The building's many evacuees were taken to the city's homeless overflow shelter, where city staff and others were assisting them with getting medicine, clothes and other belongings they had to leave behind in the frantic evacuation. Coogan, the mayor of Fall City, said all the assisted living facility's medical records were in file folders that survived the blaze."We just carried out a bunch of medical records," Bacon told reporters. "The room they were stored in was salvaged, so we were able to get all those records down so they can get medications for all the displaced people." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:9 dead after fire engulfs senior living facility in Massachusetts

byMario Satorik

in

July 14, 2025

'A tragedy': 9 killed in fire at senior living facility in Massachusetts

'A tragedy': 9 killed in fire at senior living facility in Massachusetts FALL RIVER, MA – A blaze at an assisted living facility in ...

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Influencer Reveals 'Someone Faked My Death on TikTok,' Says, 'It's Just Disgusting'

Influencer Reveals 'Someone Faked My Death on TikTok,' Says, 'It's Just Disgusting'

Grace Wolstenholme/Instagram TikTok creator Grace Wolstenholme addressed a video someone else posted that falsely implied she had died The video has since been removed, and the TikTok account has been deactivated "People were commenting saying, 'Rest in peace, Grace,' " Wolstenholem recalled about the death hoax, which she described as being "just disgusting" A British influencer spoke out after becoming the victim of a viral death hoax. Content creator Grace Wolstenholme was featured in a video on the social media platform, which falsely implied she had died. "It has come to my attention that someone has put on TikTok saying that they're my brother and that I'm dead. Well, excuse me if I'm mistaken, I've not just risen from the f------ dead, have I? I'm obviously still here," the 22-year-old said ina video response,which was initially posted in May 2025. Wolstenholme shared a brief screen recording of the hoax, which featured an old clip of her falling over in the gym that was originally posted on her page in 2021. It was followed by a video of casket being lowered into the ground. "I lost my autistic sister today so I bought this pillow to imitate cuddling her," text over the video read. Wolstenholme, who has amassed 1.3 million TikTok followers for her videos about living with cerebral palsy, called the hoax "sickening" and accused the user of using her and pretending to have cerebral palsy to promote his business. Wolstenholme learned about the death hoax video after someone reached out to her mother to pass on their condolences, she toldBBC. "People were commenting saying, 'Rest in peace, Grace.' [They] were severely devastated," she explained. The creator hadn't been active on social media at the time due to feeling ill, BBC reported. In her video addressing the hoax, Wolstenholme said, "I've been very ill lately, so him posting this false information and claiming I'm dead is very serious." At the time, she said that the video had reached 41,000 views. The BBC reported that after the video, Wolstenholme "lost thousands of followers" after the video went viral, which has diminished her income on the platform. While the video was removed from the app after Wolstenholme reached out to someone on Instagram who had the same username, the outlet reported that it reappeared days later. Additionally, Wolstenholme allegedly received "offensive messages" from the user. Grace Wolstenholme/Instagram 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. TikTok eventually removed the video, and all social media accounts associated with the username have been deactivated, BBC reported. "It's just disgusting how he can make out I'm [dead] to get views and to pretend he's got cerebral palsy. I cannot tell you how angry this video has made me," Wolstenholme said on TikTok. The Metropolitan Police were notified of the harassment, per BBC. A police spokeswoman told the outlet, "The victim continues to be supported by officers. At this stage no arrests have been made." Read the original article onPeople

byMario Satorik

in

July 14, 2025

Influencer Reveals 'Someone Faked My Death on TikTok,' Says, 'It's Just Disgusting'

Influencer Reveals 'Someone Faked My Death on TikTok,' Says, 'It's Just Disgusting' Grace Wolstenholme/Instagram TikTok ...

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Beyoncé stuns at third Atlanta concert: Jay-Z surprise, viral dances and more highlights

Beyoncé stuns at third Atlanta concert: Jay-Z surprise, viral dances and more highlights

Beyoncé Knowles-Carterturned up the heat during her third"Cowboy Carter" concertin Atlanta, surprising fans with anotherJay-Z cameo, debuting red-hot new looks, hitting viral dances and letting her children steal hearts once again. The Grammy-winning singer kicked off her July 13 show atMercedes-Benz Stadiumin Atlanta around 8:29 p.m. local time. The concert marked her third of four shows at the stadium on herCowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour. She's set to hit the stage again July 14. BeforeBeyoncétook the stage, some fans in the crowd started a wave, setting the tone for the high energy that would carry through the night. "Hello!" Beyoncé said as she opened the show. "I want to say thank you for your loyalty for so many years. If this is your first time experiencing these shows, welcome." Jay-Z joins Beyoncé againduring tour at Atlanta concert: 'Give it up for my man' The ATL tour stop – Bey's last Southern stop – comes afterBeyoncédelivered two dazzling concerts atNorthwest Stadiumin Landover, Maryland, five miles east of Washington, D.C. The first show fell onthe Fourth of July, with the follow-up performance taking place July 7. Theholidayonly underscored hermessages and motifspertaining to country music, America's complex past and its ongoing cultural reckoning. Beyoncéfirstdebuted her tourat SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 28 with39 songs on the set list. Her shows have been filled with family,fashion, different music genres, and most notably country music andcultural commentary.Sunday's show delivered all of that, plus a few standout moments of its own. Beyoncéshocked the lively crowd when she welcomedhusband Jay-Zto the stage as they sang their 2003 song, "Crazy in Love." He followed it up with his 2003 anthem, "Public Service Announcement." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eden🐘🌺 (@cozycarters) The surprise appearance marked the second timeJay-Z has joined Beyoncé on her "Cowboy Carter" tour– after first making a surprise cameo in Paris on June 22 – and his first time doing so in the U.S. The couple even shared a kiss on stage. And with Jay-Z's surprise appearance came the return of two fan-favorite tracks from Beyoncé's 2013 self-titled album: "Partition" and "Drunk in Love." During her performance of "Alliigator Tears," Beyoncé debuted a brand new look: a red bedazzled mini dress, matching thigh-high, sparkly boots and a sparkling red cowboy hat. And the new cowboy couture looks didn't stop there. NEW RED ALLIGATOR TEARS LOOK CHEWS😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/2BcLBvJAYj — 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆🫧💚 (@beyoncegarden)July 14, 2025 Beyoncé also unveiled another striking ensemble during "Desert Eagle," a fresh addition to her ever-evolving cowboy couture wardrobe. The outfit featured a red furry coat layered over a bedazzled bodysuit, paired with thigh-high boots and a matching red cowboy hat. And fans were thoroughlyimpressedby all the wardrobe changes online, with one fan saying the "new red alligator tears look chews." Beyoncé and Jay-Z's 8-year-old daughter, Rumi Carter, has been a highlight of the tour. She first stole the hearts of fans with her vibrant stage presence, excitedly waving at the crowd as Beyoncé performed "Protector." Since then, fans have eagerly waited to see her take the stage each night. During Sunday's show, Rumi made sure to return the love, mouthing "I love you" to fans in the crowd. Another fun moment for fans came when Beyoncé hit the viral "innit" dance on Sunday, taking after her two daughters who took the dance moves to the stage at an earlier Atlanta show. BEYONCÉ FINALLY DID IT Y'ALL LMFAOOOOOOO ICONIC😭😭😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/CLCUDx29wp — 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆🫧💚 (@beyoncegarden)July 14, 2025 Rumi and Blue Ivy each nailed a viral dance popularized by the song "Whim Whamiee" by Atlanta artists Pluto and YKNIECEduring the first Atlanta show.The dance, which syncs with the lyrics "I'm talking about in it," features signature arm movements that had the crowd cheering. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eden🐘🌺 (@cozycarters) "I love you so much, Atlanta!" she told the crowd as she closed out the show. The nine-city tour will span the U.S. and Europe, with the grand finaletaking place in Las Vegason July 26. Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, onInstagram,TikTokandXas @cachemcclay. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Beyonce Cowboy Carter tour in Atlanta: Top moments from Night 3

byMario Satorik

in

July 14, 2025

Beyoncé stuns at third Atlanta concert: Jay-Z surprise, viral dances and more highlights

Beyoncé stuns at third Atlanta concert: Jay-Z surprise, viral dances and more highlights Beyoncé Knowles-Carterturned up the heat during her...

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Grand Canyon North Rim closed amid raging wildfires

Grand Canyon North Rim closed amid raging wildfires

Firefighters in Arizona were trying to contain a pair of fast-moving wildfires thatdestroyed a historic lodge in Grand Canyon National Park, closed a section of the park for the rest of the season and promptedcalls for an investigationinto federal authorities' wildfire response. The two wildfires burning at or near the park's North Rim include the White Sage Fire and theDragon Bravo Fire. The blazes have consumed about 45,000 acres of land as of July 14, an area about the size of Washington, D.C. Park officials said the Dragon Bravo Fire, which has burned 5,000 acres within the park, destroyed dozens of structures, including the Grand Canyon Lodge, theonly hotel inside the national park at the North Rim. About 35 miles north, the White Sage Fire has torched about 62 square miles of land and triggered evacuations across communities near the Utah border and the Grand Canyon's North Rim. Lightning strikes ignited both fires, and a combination of strong winds, low humidity and high daily temperatures fueled their rapid expansion, officials said. Here's what we know about the wildfires. The National Weather Service issued an "extreme heat warning" for the Grand Canyon Village and the park's North Rim on July 14. Such warnings are reserved for the hottest days of the year and are issued only when "extremely dangerous heat conditions are expected or ongoing," according to the weather service. Daytime temperatures in the area could reach 106 to 115 degrees. The scorching heat has hampered firefighters' ability to battle the blaze on the ground in the daytime, officials said. North of the Grand Canyon, the White Sage Fire was first reported July 9 and has grown steadily, leading to evacuation orders over a vast area, from the Kaibab Plateau to the Utah-Arizona line and the North Rim. As of July 14, the wildfire had destroyed 40,186 acres of land and remains 0% contained, according to InciWeb, a federal government wildfire tracker. No injuries or damaged structures have been reported. Fire officials said they made progress over the weekend. Containment lines near the White Sage community held as firefighters suppressed growth on the fire's southern edge, according to InciWeb. To the north, however, "the fire is experiencing rapid growth," particularly in the footprint of a 2020 wildfire that temporarily closed the North Rim, officials said. "Hot, dry, and windy conditions continue to challenge firefighting efforts," InciWeb said. The Dragon Bravo Fire was ignited by a lightning strike July 4. Initially, fire officials sought to manage the blaze by setting up containment lines and halting its growth. But over the weekend, powerful wind gusts up to 40 mph led the fire to expand 500 acres overnight, swallowing dozens of structures, including historic cabins. It also threatened a water treatment facility, leading officials to evacuate some firefighting personnel and halt aerial operations because of a possible chlorine leak. No injuries or deaths were reported as staff and hikers were evacuated from the North Rim area before the blaze exploded in size. Park officials said the North Rim will remain closed for the rest of the season, which runs from May 15 to Oct. 15. Visitors to the more popular South Rim, which is open all year, were advised to stay updated on possible air quality alerts. "The fire is being managed with an aggressive full suppression strategy," the National Park Service said. "Fire behavior is still very active." The Grand Canyon Lodge sat perched on the canyon's edge and offered guests panoramic views of the natural wonder. The lodge opened in 1937 after the original building burned to the ground in a wildfire in September 1932. The new property was made up of the main lodge building, 23 deluxe cabins and more than 90 regular cabins, the park service said. The lodge building was made of a limestone facade that was sourced nearby, and massive ponderosa pine trees were turned into support beams for a sloped roof capable of withstanding heavy loads of snow. "We are devastated by the loss of Grand Canyon Lodge and historic buildings on the North Rim," read a statement from the National Park Service. Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Arizona, said onsocial mediathat the lodge's destruction was "heartbreaking news for Arizona & everyone who loves this special place." Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs questioned the federal government's handling of theDragon Bravo Fire, which destroyed numerous structureson the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge. Hobbs, a Democrat, said in a post on X that after a lightning strike started the fire, the federal government "chose to manage that fire as a controlled burn during the driest, hottest part of the Arizona summer." "I am calling on the federal government for a comprehensive and independent investigation into the management of the Fire and a report detailing the decisions that led to this devastating outcome," she wrote. "As someone who was born and raised in Arizona, I know what the Grand Canyon National Park means to so many people, not just in Arizona, but all over the world, and how devastating it is to see this damage done to one of Arizona's most cherished landmarks." Contributing: Gabe Hauari; Rey Covarrubias Jr. and Perry Vandell, Arizona Republic This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Grand Canyon wildfire: Historic lodge, cabins destroyed; evacuations

byMario Satorik

in

July 14, 2025

Grand Canyon North Rim closed amid raging wildfires

Grand Canyon North Rim closed amid raging wildfires Firefighters in Arizona were trying to contain a pair of fast-moving wildfires thatdestr...

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