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Scary season: Performers at Michigan haunted house learn tricks of the terrifying trade
<p><block></p><p>PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — Grotesque makeup, menacing props and intimidating costumes are just one part of a Michigan haunted house’s 25-year-old formula to terrify guests.</p><p>It starts by educating the actors looking to provide the most horrifying experience to its visitors. At Scare School, they learn all the tricks of the trade. </p><p>Lessons begin weeks before the four-level walk-through scream factory opens to visitors, introducing fresh talent to the get-ups, face paint and unnatural body movements proven to petrify thousands of customers since the turn of the century. </p><p>The actors’ report card of sorts is the “Wimp Out Score Board” in Erebus Haunted Attraction’s ground-level lobby, tallying the numbers of visitors who flee before making it through all four levels or who join the “wetters, pukers & fainters” total. </p><p>And, yes, they really tally it.</p><p>The one-time abandoned parking structure in Pontiac consistently lands on lists of the scariest haunted houses in America. Operations managers and brothers Zac and Brad Terebus said the coaching and training performers receive isn’t just about what they wear or how loud they can shout.</p><p>“Scare School really comes down to the psychology of fear,” Zac Terebus said. “Fear is not an accident. Fear is an art.”</p><p>In the weeks before Erebus opened for the Sept. 19-Nov. 2 Halloween season, managers auditioned and hired dozens of scare actors, then coached them to be as frightening as humanly — or rather, supernaturally — possible.</p><p>In an upstairs room in early September, Erebus veterans schooled the newbies on the finer points of zombie shuffling and demon shrieking, walking on stilts and wielding a spiked (plastic) club. The new hires also learned about make-up application, costuming, how to get into their roles and personas as well as rules about interacting with the guests.</p><p>It’s all part of an effort to bring out their inner fiend, Brad Terebus said.</p><p>“Let’s say they’re a lawyer by day,” he said. “They can come here, break their shell off and just release this monster within them.”</p><p>Alan Tucker, who portrays a bloodthirsty clown, said scare acting is “therapeutic.”</p><p>“You never really think that you can be something else for a couple hours and scare people. But then when you really actually get to do that, it’s so entertaining. It’s so fulfilling,” said Tucker, who is in his second year as a scare actor.</p><p>Renee Piehl is in her third year, this time around playing Nyx, based on the Greek goddess of night, who frightens guests waiting in line to enter the haunt.</p><p>“They come here to be scared. It’s Halloween. It’s fun,” she said. “We are to be ugly and scary and bloody.” </p><p>Plus, the scarier the actors are, the bigger the numbers will get on the Wimp Out Score Board.</p><p>The board currently lists 10,711 “wimps” and 1,246 “wetters, pukers & fainters” both cumulative totals since the Terebuses’ father and uncle opened the attraction. </p><p>“What we have throughout the haunted house, we call them ‘chicken exits.’ They’re actually fire exits,” Zac Terebus said. “But, at any point in the show, if you say, ‘I want out,’ we take you out, we escort you down, you end up here in the exit lobby, you can wait for your group to come on out.</p><p>“It’s a competition among our monsters to see who can really scare the pee out of somebody.”</p><p></block></p>
A New Orleans candidate’s murder conviction was tossed but the state still challenges his past
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A down-ballot race for New Orleans clerk of criminal court has turned personal and contentious, as candidate Calvin Duncan, who spent three decades in prison before his conviction was vacated, faces attacks from Louisiana’s attorney general and the incumbent clerk over whether he was truly exonerated.Duncan, 62, taught himself law while in prison and struggled for years access his records. He says that makes his quest to be the city’s chief criminal recordkeeper personal.“I do
Sherrill, Ciattarelli to meet in final debate in New Jersey governor’s race
(AP) — Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli will go head-to-head Wednesday in their final debate for New Jersey governor, as the federal government shutdown, Sherrill’s military records and the high cost of living have become major issues in the closely watched race. New Jersey is one of two states, along with Virginia, electing governors this fall — contests that are being viewed as a measure of how voters feel about President Donald Trump’s second term and how De
A veteran defense lawyer turned judge will oversee the case against ex-FBI director James Comey
<p><block></p><p>ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Michael Nachmanoff has built a quiet reputation in the federal courthouse in northern Virginia — a onetime public defender turned judge known for methodical preparation and a cool temperament. On Wednesday, he’ll find himself at the center of a political storm: presiding over the Justice Department’s prosecution of former FBI director James Comey.</p><p>Confirmed to the bench by President Joe Biden in 2021, Nachmanoff was randomly assigned to the case after a Virginia grand jury indicted Comey last month on charges including obstruction of a congressional proceeding. The assignment instantly drew Donald Trump’s attention. The president, long fixated on Comey, blasted him as a “Dirty Cop” and derided Nachmanoff as a “Crooked Joe Biden appointed Judge” while celebrating the charges as “JUSTICE FOR AMERICA!”</p><p>Despite the political noise, lawyers who know Nachmanoff say he is unlikely to be swayed. </p><p>“Whatever his personal politics are, I do not think that they will enter the courtroom,” said longtime Virginia defense attorney Nina Ginsberg, who has tried cases before him. “He’s confident enough in his ability to judge fairly that I don’t think he’s going to be influenced by politics or the media coverage.”</p><p>Nachmanoff, 57, came to the bench after more than a decade as the Eastern District of Virginia’s top federal public defender, where he argued and won a Supreme Court case that helped reduce racial disparities in crack cocaine sentencing. He served six years as a magistrate judge, handling some politically tinged cases. In 2019 he oversaw the first appearances of Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, associates of Trump ally Rudy Giuliani, releasing them on $1 million bonds. More recently, he refused to block the CIA from firing Dr. Terry Adirim, a Pentagon physician <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.vaed.573607/gov.uscourts.vaed.573607.4.0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">targeted by Trump allies</a> over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.</p><p>“He was an aggressive advocate, the kind of lawyer who left no stones unturned,” Ginsberg said of the judge. She said he conducts his courtroom in an even-handed, respectful manner.</p><p>Timothy Belevetz, a defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, said Nachmanoff was “always a worthy adversary.”</p><p>“He’s been around the courthouse for years and years and years,” Belevetz said. “He’s very well-respected. He’s very smart, he’ll give parties a fair shake, he listens to the arguments.”</p><p>Comey was charged late last month with lying to Congress. Days earlier, Trump appeared to urge Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute the former FBI director and other political enemies. </p><p>Comey himself has acknowledged the political backdrop but expressed confidence in the court system. In a video after his indictment, he said: “My heart is broken for the Department of Justice but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I’m innocent. So let’s have a trial.”</p><p>The clash between Trump and Comey has been building for years. Trump fired the FBI director in 2017, just months into his first term, as the bureau investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election. Since then, the former president has repeatedly called for Comey’s prosecution and, in the days before the indictment, publicly pressed Bondi to act.</p><p>For lawyers who’ve worked with Nachmanoff, that kind of political noise is unlikely to matter. They point to his long record of independence and constitutional rigor. “Federal public defenders are renowned for their fidelity to the Constitution and due process,” said Lisa Wayne, executive director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. </p><p>She said the White House should welcome Nachmanoff’s involvement as a safeguard “against the appearance of partisan political attacks.”</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Eric Tucker and Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report.</p><p></block></p>
Comey to make first court appearance in Justice Department case accusing him of lying to Congress
Trump also asked Comey to publicly reveal that Trump himself was not under investigation as part of the broader inquiry into Russian election interference, something Comey opted not to do.Comey was abruptly fired in May 2017 while at an event in Los Angeles, with Trump later saying that he was thinking about “this Russia thing” when he decided to terminate him. The firing was investigated by Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller as an act of potential obstruction of justice.Comey in
Florida county battered by 2024 hurricanes spends $125M on beach restoration
(AP) — The white sandy beaches along a swath of Florida’s Gulf Coast were battered by three hurricanes last year, leading to a multimillion-dollar effort to repair a coastline that is the region’s economic engine.Crews are working with dredges, trucks and pipelines along the 35-mile (56-kilometer) stretch of beach in Pinellas County that includes cities such as Clearwater Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Belleair Beach and Redington Beach. It’s a prime tourist destination that is sti
Robert Roberson remains hopeful as he faces another execution date in shaken baby syndrome case
And then when they accused me of it, I couldn’t believe it,” Roberson said.In a press release issued after Roberson’s execution was delayed last year as well as in recent court filings, Paxton’s office has stressed that “this was no mere shaken baby case but involved a child who was beaten and received multiple blows to the head.” Paxton’s office said the jury “did not convict Roberson on the basis of ‘Shaken Baby Syndrome.’”Yet one of the jurors who convicted Roberson, Terre Compton, told lawma
Federal government shutdown grinds into a second week, but quiet talks emerging
Doubts are high and trust is lowBut Democrats argue that Republicans failed to address the expiring health care subsidies this summer when they approved Trump’s signature bill into law, commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.Democrats doubt that with Johnson keeping the House out of legislative session, and sending lawmakers home to work in their districts, the Republicans will quickly come back to work on resolving the health care problem.“Tens of millions of people are ab
Photos of the mixed reactions to Trump’s bid to deploy troops to more US cities
<p><block></p><p>PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s bid to deploy the National Guard in cities like Portland, Oregon, and Chicago is bringing out both supporters and detractors of the administration’s immigration policies.</p><p>This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.</p><p></block></p>
New toll rules announced for SR 167
motorcycle pass to use the lanes for free.“The updated rules will provide a more streamlined and predictable experience for drivers across the region, making them more consistent with the I-405 express toll lanes,” WSDOT stated in its news release.However, the new rules will not be implemented in the construction zone where workers are fixing the SR 167 bridge over Third Avenue Southwest.RELATED STORIESWSDOT plans repairs for SR 167 bridge, will open 2 lanes temporarilyBlewett Pass r
AI-generated homeless man prank causes false alarm at Oak Harbor High School
A social media post circulating on the Oak Harbor High School campus falsely claimed a homeless person was on campus on Monday.The Oak Harbor Police Department (OHPD) issued a press release Monday to dispel rumors of a homeless person being present on the Oak Harbor school campus.“The Oak Harbor Police Department is aware of a social media post that circulated this morning among parents and community members, falsely claiming that a homeless individual was present on the Oak Harbor High Sc
Pierce County man arrested after using fake police lights to pull drivers over
A man in Pierce County attempted to impersonate a police officer by using flashing blue lights attached to his vehicle to pull people over.A Pierce County deputy witnessed the individual using these lights to pull someone over, prompting the officer to intervene. The same deputy had pulled the suspect over earlier in the day, warning the driver that he could be arrested for impersonation if he used the flashing blue lights to stop people.“It ruins the trust that we’ve worked really h
Spike O’Neill drinks Mariners field dirt after fan’s good mojo trick worked
A Mariners fan ate dirt as a way to change the mojo for the Seattle Mariners, and it ended up working.KIRO host Spike O’Neill thought: Why not give it a try?“The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio asked the Mariners if they could have some dirt from the field.“We asked for permission to go up and scoop some dirt out of the infield. And the Mariners were like, ‘Well, we don’t want to tell anybody to eat dirt. Maybe there’s a liability issue here,'R
‘Who is he saying that to?’ Curley questions Harrell’s ‘extremely left’ response to public safety
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell made a comment that caught national attention in the latest mayoral debate against Katie Wilson.Harrell was asked his stance on repeat offenders.“If somebody has offended six, seven, eight times, even if it’s a minor offense, but they continue to fail to turn their life around—at what point do you balance public safety, to giving this person some accountability?” the moderator asked.KIRO host John Curley thought Harrell would take the opportunity to
Michigan creates additional marijuana tax to fund Whitmer’s plan to ‘fix the damn roads’
Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday signed into law a new 24% tax on marijuana sales between producers and dispensaries, creating revenue to partially fund her long-promised effort to improve the state’s roads.Whitmer made road repairs her priority this year. The Legislature’s fiscal agencies estimate the wholesale tax will generate $420 million in new revenue to go towards the annual $1.8 billion road funding plan. But analysts predict the additional tax will inevitably lead to a drop in sales.“W
Prolific graffiti tagger arrested twice last year faces charges
He was arrested twice last year.His tags can be seen all over—on private property, on public property, along roads and highways, all over Pierce County.His name is Tony Lim, 46, and following his arrest last weekend, he’s expected to face misdemeanor and felony charges, including malicious mischief.RELATED STORIESWoman walking service dog robbed at gunpoint in Seattle17-year-old girl arrested for strangling woman to death in VancouverSuspect accused of vandalizing WA State Capitol, damagin
What to know about former LSU receiver Kyren Lacy and new video of a fatal highway crash
(AP) — Louisiana state police have released video evidence in a deadly 2024 car crash that authorities contend was caused by reckless driving by Kyren Lacy, a former Louisiana State University football star who took his own life days before a grand jury was convened to review the case.The 11-minute video released Tuesday came in response to other footage given to a Louisiana TV station by Matthew Ory, Lacy’s defense attorney, who said it showed the former wide receiver couldn’t have
Blewett Pass reopens amid Labor Mountain Fire
It was last reported at 37,843 acres, but was only 7% contained on Monday.RELATED STORIES$23M overhaul planned for Seattle’s aging monorail stationWSDOT plans repairs for SR 167 bridge, will open 2 lanes temporarily10 years in the making: New I-5/SR 529 interchange now openDrivers should plan for delays on Blewett PassAlthough the pass is open, drivers should plan for delays and longer-than-normal travel time, WSDOT stated.There will be a reduced speed zone between Upper Tronson Creek Road and I
Woman walking service dog robbed at gunpoint in Seattle
<p>A woman walking her service dog was robbed at gunpoint early Tuesday morning, according to the<a href="https://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2025/10/07/tuesday-october-7-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Seattle Police Department</a>.</p><p>The incident occurred just before 2 a.m. near 11th Ave. and E. Fir Street. According to police, a man approached the woman from behind, pushed her down, and put a gun to her head, demanding she empty her pockets.</p><p>The woman complied and gave the suspect $50 in cash. After that, the man ran away and has not been caught as of Tuesday afternoon.</p><p>“We consider this a very heinous and very disturbing armed robbery,” Seattle Police Detective Eric Muñoz told KIRO Newsradio. “The fact of the matter is this is one of our community members with a service dog that was doing nothing more than enjoying her time in the city, so this absolutely should not have happened.”</p><div class="related alignright"><div class="col_label"><h2>RELATED STORIES</h2></div><ul><li><a class="related-link" href="https://mynorthwest.com/crime-blotter/17-year-old-girl-vancouver/4140257" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','article','related links','4140257'])"><img decoding="async" width="719" height="404" src="https://mynorthwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Clark-County-Sheriff-420x236.jpg" class="sub_art" alt="17-year-old girl arrested for strangling woman to death in Vancouver" loading="lazy"></a><div class="sub_story"><h3><a class="related-link" href="https://mynorthwest.com/crime-blotter/17-year-old-girl-vancouver/4140257" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','article','related links','4140257'])">17-year-old girl arrested for strangling woman to death in Vancouver</a></h3></div></li><li><a class="related-link" href="https://mynorthwest.com/crime-blotter/pierce-county-fake-police/4140238" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','article','related links','4140238'])"><img decoding="async" width="719" height="404" src="https://mynorthwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Police-lights-2-420x236.jpg" class="sub_art" alt="Pierce County man arrested after using fake police lights to pull drivers over" loading="lazy"></a><div class="sub_story"><h3><a class="related-link" href="https://mynorthwest.com/crime-blotter/pierce-county-fake-police/4140238" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','article','related links','4140238'])">Pierce County man arrested after using fake police lights to pull drivers over</a></h3></div></li><li><a class="related-link" href="https://mynorthwest.com/crime-blotter/cross-country-truck-puyallup/4140227" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','article','related links','4140227'])"><img decoding="async" width="719" height="404" src="https://mynorthwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Untitled-design-2025-10-07T055011.484-420x236.jpg" class="sub_art" alt="High school cross-country runner hit by truck in Puyallup" loading="lazy"></a><div class="sub_story"><h3><a class="related-link" href="https://mynorthwest.com/crime-blotter/cross-country-truck-puyallup/4140227" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','article','related links','4140227'])">High school cross-country runner hit by truck in Puyallup</a></h3></div></li></ul></div><h2>Description of the robbery suspect</h2><p>The suspect is described as being between 21 and 50 years old, light-skinned, with a thin build. The woman told police the suspect had what sounded like a Hispanic accent.</p><p>The victim was not seriously injured, and her service dog was also unharmed when she fell on it during the incident.</p><p><em>Frank Lenzi is the News Director for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories <a href="https://mynorthwest.com/author/flenzi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</em></p><p><a class="twitter-follow-button" href="https://twitter.com/gotfederer" data-show-count="false" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Follow @gotfederer</a><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
Seattle mayor claims 70% of city’s homeless come from outside Seattle
Wilson earned nearly 51% of the vote in the August primary, compared to Harrell’s 43%.Harrell claimed that, despite Seattle not being where a majority of its homeless population comes from, the city still provides more than 60% of the region’s shelter beds and 85% of the region’s tiny homes.RELATED STORIESSeattle plans 2 more tiny home villages to house homelessLow-barrier homeless shelter in Seattle shut down, community claimed it led to crimeUS homelessness rises 18%, hits over 31K in WA as af