A monkey dressed in a pink tutu, which had escaped from a home in Missouri, was captured just before a winter storm approached the area.The spider monkey was seen on Friday afternoon near the intersection of two highways, close to Otto, a town south of St Louis. It had been living at a nearby residence when it managed to slip out after opening a door.

Describing the capture as “bananas,” the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office shared the news on Facebook.

“Shortly before 4 PM on 1/3/25, deputies responded to the area of Highways 21 & M for reports of a subject monkeying around. When they arrived, first-responding units found the subject was naked except for what appeared to be a tutu. After careful negotiations and some coaxing, deputies were able to get close enough to go “hands-on” with the subject and bring this bananas situation under control without incident,” the sheriff’s office wrote on Facebook.

“In all seriousness, this is a great example of law enforcement officers never knowing what they’ll face on any given call and having to be prepared to handle whatever the job throws at them. This spider monkey was staying at a nearby home when it managed to open a door and get outside. Deputies surrounded the animal and eventually got it back to its caretaker. Nice work by everyone involved.”

This incident happened at a very fortunate time. Roads were closed and temperatures dropped as a result of a winter storm that brought snow and ice to the area on Saturday.

A teenager is showing signs of “significant cognitive impairment” after a fight near her high school last month. Kaylee Gain was critically injured after she was brutally bashed into the pavement during the fight on March 8, leading to skull fracture and brain bleed. Ms Gain, from Missouri, was attacked by a 15-year-old from her school, who was arrested and charged with assault. The attacked repeatedly knocked her head onto the concrete blocks near Hazelwood East High School in Spanish Lake, according to New York Post.

Ms Gain, 16, is repeating herself again and again after waking up from coma, according to her lawyer Bryan Kaemmerer. The teen’s ability to walk is improving but her speech is still limited, he added.

“Kaylee’s ability to walk has slightly improved but she is still unable to do so without the assistance of hospital staff,” Mr Kaemmerer told the Post.

“However, Kaylee is still showing signs of significant cognitive impairment during the limited conversations that she is able to have, and she tends to reiterate the same short sentences over and over,” he said.

Her family said she has “no recollection of the altercation that led to her hospitalisation”.

Talking about the social media posts, Ms Gain’s lawyer said they showed “complete disregard for the well-being of a fellow human being” and argued that the teen, whose identity has not been shared due to her age, should “be tried as an adult”.

New York Post said the attacker is now looking to apologise.

The family had launched a GoFundMe page and raised $440,000 for her through campaign.

Ms Gain’s mother April thanked those who supported the family during difficult times. “She still has an incredibly long journey ahead of her but she is strong. We will update Kaylee’s gofundme’s when we can as changes continue to happen. Thank you again to everybody for your support we are so grateful!” she said in a statement carried by People Magazine.

Hundreds of schools across the United States are set to close on April 8th due to a total solar eclipse. The eclipse will plunge several states into darkness as the moon covers the sun completely, according to Newsweek.

The path of totality will start in Mexico and move across parts of the United States, casting a complete shadow. This comes just a few months after the “ring of fire” eclipse in October 2023. Millions are expected to witness this astronomical event, with astronomy enthusiasts traveling to states in the path of totality, as per the news report.

However, safety concerns are emerging amid the excitement. Authorities warn that looking directly at the sun can cause permanent eye damage. There are also concerns about traffic disruptions and strain on local resources due to the large crowds expected.

The eclipse will be visible in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience totality. The eclipse will then move to Canada before exiting North America on the Atlantic coast.

Many schools in affected states have already announced closures. Parents are advised to check with their schools and stay updated with local news reports.

Texas has been proactive, with several counties issuing disaster declarations and advising residents to stock up on supplies. Some school districts, which initially planned eclipse-related activities, have reversed course due to safety concerns. Students will be given special eclipse glasses to take home and use for independent activities.

Schools in Indiana are also closing or switching to e-learning on the day of the eclipse.