state fair

20 Stories

Couple Who Won Pig Wanted to Bring Her Home. The Fair: Nope

South Florida Fair insisted 'terminal' auction rules couldn't be changed to save swine from slaughter

(Newser) - When Meg and Eric Weinberger recently attended the South Florida Fair in West Palm Beach, they had their eyes open for a pig to bring home to their animal sanctuary, Rescue Life in nearby Palm Beach Gardens. They became enamored with one pig in particular named Bella B Swine, and...

Maker Explains Ride's 'Catastrophic Failure'

Corrosion ate away at beam for 18 years

(Newser) - The deadly accident at the Ohio State Fair last month was caused by "excessive corrosion" over the 18 years the Fireball ride had been in operation, according to ride maker KMG. Investigators in Columbus found that corrosion "on the interior of the gondola support beam dangerously reduced the...

Teen Killed in 'Thrill Ride' Had Just Joined Marines

Maker wants Fire Ball rides worldwide shut down

(Newser) - The teenager killed in a horrific accident at the Ohio State Fair planned a future of serving his country and had enlisted in the Marine Corps just days earlier. Tyler Jarrell, 18, signed up for the Marines on Friday, with training to begin after he graduated from high school next...

Death at Ohio State Fair as 'Thrill Ride' Malfunctions

Victims were hurled from Fire Ball

(Newser) - A man was killed and at least seven other people were injured in a horrific ride malfunction on the opening day of the Ohio State Fair. Officials say the 18-year-old man was killed after being thrown in the air from the Fire Ball ride Wednesday evening and landing around 50...

Vandal Doesn't Like Justin Bieber Sand Sculpture

Damages part of 200-ton piece at New York State Fair

(Newser) - Police are looking for the vandal who defaced a sand sculpture of Justin Bieber at the New York State Fair, reports the AP . State police tell the Syracuse Post-Standard that the sculpture apparently was vandalized Thursday night; cops say they have a partial description of the perp. Bieber's likeness...

Girl's Steer Sells for $100K
 Girl's Steer Sells for $100K 
Aug 13, 2014 5:25 PM CDT

Girl's Steer Sells for $100K

Illinois 12-year-old breaks state record

(Newser) - Not a bad payday for a 12-year-old: Shaelye Varner showed off her grand champion steer at the Illinois State Fair this week, then sold it at auction for a whopping $100,000—shattering last year's fair record of $62,000. AT&T, Monsanto, and DeKalb Asgrow combined to bid...

Cops: Operator Turned NC Ride Into 'Deadly Weapon'

NC man charged with assault after 5 injured

(Newser) - The carnage at the North Carolina State Fair last week was caused by tampering with safety features on the Vortex ride, investigators believe. Arrest warrants state that Timothy Tutterrow, the ride operator, turned the ride into a "deadly weapon" by interfering with the technology, causing it to start again...

5 Hurt by NC State Fair Ride

Ride operator among those hospitalized

(Newser) - Five people, ages 14 to 39, were hospitalized following injuries caused by a ride at the North Carolina State Fair, WRAL reports. The ride operator was among the injured. Two were critically hurt, and some of those hurt were members of the same family, says the Wake County sheriff, per...

Obama Rodeo Clown Banned From State Fair

Performance slammed by politicians, fair commission

(Newser) - The Missouri State Fair Commission has banned a rodeo clown who came dressed in an Obama mask on the weekend from ever performing there again, KDSK reports. The clown appeared during a bull riding event. Another clown reportedly played with the lips of the Obama mask, and the clown eventually...

Beer Tent Owner: Obama Visit Cost Me $25K

Iowa State Fair vendor not pleased with presidential appearance

(Newser) - President Obama stopped by the Iowa State Fair last night, prompting chants of "Four more years" and "Four more beers" at the Bud Tent, where he offered to buy a round—but the owner of said tent was less than pleased with the visit. It seems the tent...

Stage Builder Cited, Fined $63K in Indiana Collapse

Mid-America Sound Corp. showed "plain indifference" to safety standards

(Newser) - The company that built the stage ahead of last summer's deadly Indiana State Fair collapse showed "plain indifference" to safety standards, according to the state Labor Department. Mid-America Sound Corp. has been cited with three major safety violations in connection with the Aug. 13 collapse that killed seven...

Woman 7th to Die in Indiana Stage Collapse

Cheerleading coach Meagan Toothman was 24

(Newser) - An Ohio cheerleading coach has become the seventh fatality in the Indiana State Fair stage collapse. Meagan Toothman, 24, died Saturday night from injuries sustained in the disaster, police said. She worked as a coach at her old high school while pursuing a master’s degree in counseling, the Indianapolis ...

6th Person Dead in Indiana Stage Collapse

College senior Jennifer Haskell dies from her injuries

(Newser) - A 22-year-old college student died today from injuries suffered in last weekend's stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair. Jennifer Haskell, a senior at Ball State University, was one of dozens injured in Saturday's disaster. Her best friend, 23-year-old Alina Bigjohny of Fort Wayne, was one of four...

Activists Hang 'Go Vegan' Sign on Iowa Butter Cow

After impressive late-night raid

(Newser) - Animal rights activists staged a daring late-night break-in Saturday night to hang a “Go vegan” sign on a butter cow at the Iowa State Fair. The activists snuck past a guard, scaled a wall in a back hallway, and broke into the refrigerated case holding the sculpture. Then they...

Did the Indiana State Fair Tragedy Have to Happen?

Officials begin probe into stage collapse that killed 5

(Newser) - State officials are investigating Saturday's Indiana State Fair stage collapse in an effort to determine if there was any way the tragedy, which killed five people, could have been avoided. "I'm not clear how anyone could have foreseen a sudden, highly localized blast of wind," said...

Fifth Person Dies in Indiana Stage Collapse

More from the mayhem at the Indiana State Fair last night

(Newser) - A stage collapsed during a powerful storm at the Indiana State Fair last night, sending steel scaffolding into the terrified crowd and killing at least five people awaiting a performance by the country band Sugarland. Indiana State Police 1st Sgt David Bursten said today that four people died when the...

4 Dead After Stage Collapses at Indiana Fair

High winds topple it just before Sugarland performs

(Newser) - At least four people were killed tonight when a stage collapsed during a storm at the Indiana State Fair, where the country group Sugarland was set to perform. The number of injured has risen to 40, with injuries ranging from mild to serious. Strong winds caused the stage rigging for...

Krispy Kreme Burger Sweeps the Nation

Wisconsin State Fair adds chocolate-covered bacon

(Newser) - Have you ever thought to yourself, “Self, you are not doing enough to ensure you die of a heart attack before you have to deal with that nasty growing old nonsense”? Then maybe you should see if your local state fair is selling the Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger. It’...

Deep-Fried Butter Awaits Texas Fair-Goers, Cardiologists

(Newser) - Warning: Just reading this article may clog your arteries. The man who brought the world such delicacies as "Texas Fried Cookie Dough" and "Fried Coke" has devised an even more over-the-top, uh, food: deep-fried butter. It’s making its debut at the State Fair of Texas as part...

Suspect Busted in Pipe Attack on Milwaukee Mayor

(Newser) - A 20-year-old man has been arrested for a pipe attack on the mayor of Milwaukee as he came to the aid of the mother of the suspect's girlfriend, reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Mayor Tom Barrett, 55, suffered a broken hand and head injuries when he confronted the attacker and...

20 Stories