In a modest Eau Claire living room, two friends are giving small-town queer life a big, bold platform. Small Town, Big Gays, a Wisconsin-based podcast hosted by Travis Gorell and Chance Smith, is building a space for LGBTQ+ voices often unheard in rural America. With new episodes every Friday, the podcast brings heart, humor, and honesty to a landscape still learning to embrace its diversity. What started as casual conversations quickly evolved into a platform challenging stereotypes and lifting queer voices beyond city borders. Gorell, who performs in drag under the name Khloe Wold, teams up with Smith, a native of New Lisbon, Wisconsin, to record weekly episodes full of laughter, stories, and candid takes on everything from dating apps to drag shows. Why Their Podcast Matters Th...

A Des Moines man will not face criminal charges after a fatal incident in which a pedestrian was struck and killed along Interstate 35 in November 2024, according to Clear Lake Police. The victim, 59-year-old Michelle Schutz of Mason City, was walking in the southbound lane of I-35 near Clear Lake during the early hours of November 2, 2024, when she was struck by a vehicle. The driver was later identified as 60-year-old Henry Moss Jr. of Des Moines. According to police reports, Moss did not remain at the scene of the crash but was later located by law enforcement. After months of investigation, Clear Lake Police Chief Mike Colby announced on May 28, 2025, that Moss will not be charged in connection with the fatal crash. Police Findings and Legal Reasoning Investigators determin...

Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn is taking a strong stand against food assistance fraud, calling for urgent reforms to prevent vulnerable families from losing vital benefits due to theft. At the center of this push is a proposed law that would ensure victims of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud are reimbursed quickly and fairly — without being penalized for a crime they didn’t commit. The urgency for reform became clear after multiple Iowa families, including a 65-year-old Army veteran and a refugee household, lost their SNAP benefits due to electronic theft. Their stories reflect a growing issue nationwide, where outdated EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card systems have made recipients easy targets for fraudsters using skimming devices. Veteran’s SNAP Benefits Spen...

A Budd Lake man was arrested Tuesday night after allegedly causing a disturbance by repeatedly driving through the restricted parking lot of the Mount Olive Township Police Department, honking his horn and yelling out of his vehicle. The incident took place on May 27, 2025, around 8:11 p.m., when officers observed a car entering the secure area of the department's lot. The driver, later identified as 21-year-old Zachary Petzinger, reportedly made several passes through the lot while loudly honking and shouting, drawing attention from on-duty officers. According to police, the area Petzinger entered is clearly marked as restricted, intended only for authorized personnel. Despite the signage and secure nature of the lot, Petzinger ignored warnings and continued to loop through the spac...

A quiet morning walk turned into a tragic scene on Friday, May 23, when authorities discovered the body of a 63-year-old woman near a wooded trail in Frank Donio Memorial Park, located in the Sicklerville section of Winslow Township, Camden County. According to a statement released by the Winslow Township Police Department, officers were called to the park after someone spotted a body in a wooded area adjacent to the walking trail. The location is part of a local recreational park that includes paved paths winding through a mix of open spaces and wooded sections, making it a popular spot for local residents. After arriving at the scene, law enforcement confirmed the woman was deceased. Following an initial investigation conducted jointly by the Winslow Township Police Department, the...

A devastating early morning fire tore through a residence in Hammonton on Thursday, May 29, 2025, leaving a well-known local family without a home. The blaze erupted around 3 a.m. near the intersection of Columbia and Middle Roads, destroying the two-story house. The home belonged to the Digiovannangelo family, including Domenick Digiovannangelo, a former chief of the Hammonton Volunteer Fire Department. Although all occupants managed to evacuate safely, the structure and all personal belongings were declared a total loss. Firefighters Respond in the Dark Hours According to reports from BreakingAC, Hammonton firefighters were among the first on scene, quickly calling for mutual aid due to the intensity of the flames. Laureldale Fire Rescue's Tanker 39 was dispatched at approximate...

After nearly 180 years, the mystery of human bones that repeatedly washed up along New Jersey’s shoreline has finally been solved, thanks to groundbreaking genetic technology and the determination of student researchers. The remains, long referred to by authorities as “Scattered Man John Doe,” have been officially identified as belonging to Captain Henry Goodsell, who perished in the 1844 sinking of the schooner Oriental off the coast of Brigantine Shoal. A Mystery That Spanned Decades The bones first appeared in 1995, when a human skull washed ashore in Longport, New Jersey. Over the next two decades, more bones followed: a leg bone in Margate in 1999 and additional remains discovered in Ocean City in 2013. Despite numerous forensic examinations over the years, authorities were u...