A former AT&T worker used employee access for SIM swaps; prosecutors say the conspiracy tried to steal nearly $600,000 from victims’ bank accounts

A cellphone number can appear to be a simple way to reach someone, but it is also often tied to bank accounts, password resets and two factor authentication. Federal prosecutors say a former AT&T retail employee exploited that connection by helping a hacker transfer customers’ phone numbers to devices controlled by criminals. The scheme allegedly…

Read More

In the 1950s, Hugo Meyer began buying abandoned Vermont farmland to grow timber; his family has now helped permanently protect more than 18,000 acres from development

Growing up in Hardwick on a dairy farm, woods were a major part of Andrew Meyer’s life. He would often spend time camping and hiking around East Long Pond and as a kid, he visited logging jobs in the area of the Worcester Range with his grandfather or uncle. A history of sustainable timber management…

Read More

Dating to 1898, Nipomo’s oldest church served the California town for over a century; 128 years later, its owners donated it to become a museum, event venue and visitor center

Part of the church will be used as a historical museum, while the church and its side yard will also serve as a venue for different events. Dating back to 1898, Nipomo’s oldest church has been part of the California town’s community life for more than a century. Now, 128 years after it first opened,…

Read More

Las Vegas developers bought 940 acres of former federal desert for $94 million; the site is set to become a 6,000-home community with first homes expected in 2028

For years, nearly 940 acres on the northern edge of Las Vegas sat as open federal desert, surrounded by some of Southern Nevada’s most striking landscapes. Now, the vast stretch of undeveloped land is set to become a new city-within-a-city, with plans for as many as 6,000 homes, schools, parks, commercial areas and dedicated housing…

Read More

Kansas student lost his class ring during a snowball fight with his future wife: 53 years later, when campus workers dug it out, the couple happened to be passing through the city

Kansas student lost his class ring during a snowball fight with his future wife: 53 years later, when campus workers dug it out, the couple happened to be passing through the cityWhat are the odds of finding something lost for 53 years? Very slim. Now imagine it being discovered when its owner was driving through…

Read More

Around 1,700 passengers boarded a Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise and waited on the ship in Vancouver; two days later, the entire sailing was canceled

The company didn’t offer any information about what the technical issue entailed Around 1,700 passengers who had boarded Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas in Vancouver for an Alaska cruise were left without a voyage after the entire sailing was cancelled because of ongoing maintenance work. The passengers had already spent time on the ship…

Read More

In 1976, a Vermont town buried a time capsule that included a joint, a garter belt and birth-control packaging; 50 years later, it opened it and plans a new one for 2076

In 1976, as the United States celebrated its bicentennial, residents of Warren, Vermont, decided to leave a message for the future. They filled a time capsule with objects that reflected everyday life, local humour and the era’s changing culture, then buried it beneath the town. Among the contents were a joint, a garter belt and…

Read More

In 1976, a Texas Czech festival began as a fundraiser; 50 years later, couples married that year returned to its parade as grandparents with their children and grandchildren

Representative image from Canva In the small city of West, Texas, a annual celebration of Czech heritage began in 1976 as a modest fundraiser to support the local community. What started as a single day of polka music, kolaches and a hometown parade has grown over five decades into one of the state’s most beloved…

Read More

Meet Eric Thompson, the 39-year-old Texas engineer who has collected 5,000 condiment packets, including nearly 400 Taco Bell designs and a toothpaste sachet from 1950

Eric Thompson’s collection spans ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish, barbecue sauce, honey, jelly, seafood sauces, vinegar and numerous Asian condiments. Most people tear open a condiment packet, squeeze out the last drop and toss the wrapper without a second thought. Eric Thompson sees something beyond: a tiny piece of design, advertising and everyday history. Across his…

Read More