A brave 14-year-old girl who inspired millions by sharing her near-lifelong battle with cancer has died, her heartbroken family announced on her social media pages.

Zuza Beine, who gained millions of followers by documenting her pain and struggles with leukemia over the final years of her life on Instagram and TikTok, died on Monday morning.

“She lived 11 of her 14 years with a relentless cancer, yet lived more fully and gratefully than most. Her being changed us forever, and her dying will too,” her family wrote with a photo of the smiling teenager.

 

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☻︎ zuza beine ☻︎ (@zuzas_way_to_healing) • Instagram photos and videos

@zuzas.healing0 I am constantly in pain. #childhoodcancerawarenessmonth #fyp #cancersucks #cancerawareness #viral ♬ original sound – zuza 🐆🎗️💓

“More than anything, she wanted to be a normal, healthy kid. But what made her life so beautiful was how she learned to face the hardest circumstances, like her disease, and still live fully,” they added.

Zuza, a Wisconsin native, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia — a type of blood cancer that stems from bone marrow — when she was just 3 years old, according to her posts.

She appeared to have beaten the cancer five times, just for it to keep coming back

She spent more than a decade undergoing often painful treatments, including three bone marrow transplants and rounds of chemotherapy.

She racked up millions of followers on social media when she decided to share her journey, often showing her sobbing through the pain.

Just days before she died, Zuza revealed that she had been feeling particularly sick, having just returned from a two-day hospital stay.

“Lately, my health has not been the best physically and mentally. I’ve been in so much pain lately. I’m constantly on pain medicine because my body hurts so, so so bad.”

Her family said they think her attitude was best captured in her final post, where she shared what she was thankful for.

“Being diagnosed with cancer has made me deeply grateful for the everyday things that many people often take for granted,” she wrote, listing her joy at being able to eat delicious food, try out different hairstyles and her relationships with family, friends and pets.

The 12-year-old girl who had a bullet lodged in her brain during the deadly shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church is making a “miraculous” recovery, her family said.

Seventh grader Sophia Forchas was the most seriously wounded of the children who survived the massacre at the Church of the Annunciation on Aug. 27, with the child suffering a shot to the head that left her on the brink of death.

“Sophia is strong, brave, and unwavering in her fight toward healing,” her family said in a statement, revealing that she has been moved to an inpatient rehabilitation program and showing signs of neurological recovery.

“Sophia surviving this horrific attack is a miracle,” they added. “Her healing progress is nothing short of miraculous.”

In the aftermath of the horrific shooting, which left two children dead and 18 others injured, Sophia’s chances of survival were slim, doctors said.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Walt Galicich told reporters earlier this month that the bullet that was lodged in her brain was in a critical area that left experts wary of removing it, even 10 days after the shooting.

Galicich warned that he would have to “go through the normal brain” to get the bullet out, which could cause more damage with a low chance of survival.

The surgeons had to remove the left half of Sophia’s skull to relieve the pressure inside her head.

Despite the low chances, Sophia managed to make it out of the procedure alive, with her neurological functions slowly returning in recent weeks.

The family said that she is now showing signs of progress and even able to breath on her own.

The hospital has now cleared the 12-year-old to leave an acute care ward and join an inpatient rehab program to monitor her recovery.

“Though she still has a long journey ahead, filled with extensive therapy, her resilience continues to inspire hope at every step,” her family said.

“Sophia is winning! Your Prayers are working,” they added, thanking their supporters.

The recovery marked a small sigh of relief for the Forchas family, whose 9-year-old son was also inside the church at the time of the shooting but was able to avoid injury.

Sophia’s mother was a nurse at Hennepin Healthcare, which is treating her daughter, and was working on the day of the shooting not knowing that her own child was among the victims.

On Monday, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyers asked a New York federal judge to sentence Combs early to 14 months, facilitating his immediate release.

Combs’ attorneys wrote that Combs had to fire 100 employees from his businesses, and that many of them have had trouble finding new jobs due to their ties to him. His lawyers said Combs has been on suicide watch — meaning he is required to show guards his identification every two hours and is woken up by a guard to ensure he is alive, according to CBS.

“Mr. Combs’s career and reputation have been destroyed. His life outside of jail has been systematically dismantled,” his lawyers also wrote.

Combs’ attorneys also cited an instance in which an inmate approached Combs with a makeshift shiv, accusing him of sitting in a chair the inmate wanted. Combs reportedly calmed down the inmate and got him to put down the weapon.

Combs, who has spent nearly 13 months in jail, was convicted in July of transportation to engage in prostitution. Immediately upon Combs’ conviction, his lawyers sought to have him released on a $1 million bond.

Judge Arun Subramanian denied that request, citing their own words about Combs’ violent behavior towards his former girlfriends. He also noted that Combs’ violence and illegal activity continued even as a federal investigation ensued.

During the trial, jurors heard testimony from three women who accused Combs of physical or sexual abuse. Cassie Ventura, who dated Combs from 2007 to 2018, testified that Combs “stifled” her music career while forcing her to participate in “freak offs,” which often entailed her having sex with other men in Combs’ presence.

Ventura said the drug-fueled ordeals left her sleep-deprived and dehydrated, as they would last for days on end.

Another victim, who used the alias “Mia,” worked as Combs’ assistant for eight years. She accused Combs of forcing her to perform oral sex and sneaking into her bed to penetrate her without her consent. She also claimed Combs hurled objects at her and threw her against a wall.

A third woman, who used the pseudonym “Jane,” dated Combs from 2021 to 2024. She testified about “hotel nights,” which allegedly were sexual rendezvous arranged by Combs. Combs reportedly watched these encounters, which Jane said she had to be under the influence of drugs to participate.

The man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump while he was playing a round of golf has been found guilty.

Ryan Routh, 59, was arrested after security spotted a rifle sticking out of bushes at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course in Florida, on September 15, 2024.

The terrifying incident came just weeks after Trump was left with a grazed ear when a bullet narrowly missed him during another assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Despite pleading not guilty to all five charges and choosing to represent himself in court, Routh was convicted on every count following a trial in Florida, according to NBC News.

He now faces the possibility of life behind bars.

The Secret Service said that its agents, who were accompanying the 45th US president around the course, were making sure the holes were safe to play when they spotted Routh in some bushes near the property line.

When it was spotted, multiple agents began firing at the alleged gunman and are believed to have unloaded at least four rounds.

The suspect then dropped his AK-47 style rifle, along with two backpacks, a GoPro and fled in a black Nissan car, law enforcement said.

Multiple agents engaged the gunman and fired at least four rounds at him.

Following the incident, Trump issued a welfare update to his supporters through his campaign, which released the following statement: “There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear this first: I AM SAFE AND WELL!

“Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again.”

Of course, Trump went on to win the US presidential election on November 5… and the rest is history.

With friends like these …

Ex-Astronomer CEO Andy Bryon and his former HR mistress Kristin Cabot were just friends when they were caught canoodling on a Coldplay concert kiss cam — with the former chief people officer’s husband on a date nearby as the viral moment unfolded, a bizarre new report claims.

“Kristin and Andy had an excellent working relationship, a great friendship,” a source close to Cabot told People Tuesday.

“There was no affair.”

The two-timing co-workers’ — who were married to other people at the time — supposed tryst was put on blast on July 16 when the jumbotron at Gillette Stadium suddenly panned to them — prompting the cuddling pair to awkwardly duck out of view as they scrambled to hide their faces.

“Oh, what?” lead singer Chris Martin said after catching the embarrassing viral moment.

Nationwide — Michael A. Deblois, a 44-year-old man from Independence, Missouri, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for leaving racist and threatening voicemails aimed at Judge Kenneth R. Garrett III. Prosecutors said the calls were filled with slurs, vulgar language, and violent threats.

Deblois, who is white, was convicted in July of tampering with a judicial officer and harassment motivated by discrimination. Police arrested him on March 26 after he repeatedly called Garrett, a Black judge with the 16th Circuit Court, over two days in March.

According to the Kansas City Star, investigators said Deblois left more than a dozen voicemails during that time. In those messages, he used the N-word, accused the government of corruption, and complained about “reverse discrimination” and a dispute with his homeowners’ association. He also mentioned foreclosure and claimed he was being mistreated.

One recording cited in court showed Deblois warning of an “eye for an eye” and hinting at future actions. Prosecutors said he openly identified himself in the calls, leaving both his name and phone number while making the threats.

At sentencing, Judge Garrett said threats against public officials undermine the justice system and weaken trust in government. He stressed that grievances must be raised respectfully, not through intimidation or violence.

“Without confidence in our system of government, our republic will fail and chaos will ensue,” Garrett said. He added that public servants should be able to perform their duties without fear.

Deblois will serve his 11-year sentence in state prison.

7:21 AM PT — Cops tell TMZ Sports … Rudi Johnson died by suicide in Florida just after midnight on Tuesday.

Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson has died.

He was 45 years old.

Johnson created his foundation after turning pro … which focused on helping children and families through community programs.

James Van Der Beek has left fans feeling concerned after he looked frail during a virtual appearance at the Dawson’s Creek reunion.

The 48-year-old actor, who is currently battling colon cancer, made a surprise cameo at the charity event in a pre-recorded video after he was forced to cancel his in-person visit due to illness.

In his message, James explained that he had been excited for the reunion, which marked the first time in 22 years that the entire Dawson’s Creek cast had come together.

However, he revealed he had to pull out at the last minute due to suffering two stomach viruses.

Worried fans expressed their heartache after seeing James, with many noting that he did ‘not look well.’

In a thread on Reddit, one commented: ‘The poor man, he does not look well at all. He has got such a young family as well.’

Another said: ‘Omg I didn’t realize he’s lost that much weight from cancer, that’s scary.’

‘I’m not a particular fan but it makes me very sad to see him so frail and ill and so failed by our healthcare system,’ a third continued. ‘F**k cancer. I wish him and his family the best.’

‘Seeing how frail he is really broke me this morning,’ added a fourth. ‘I thought he was getting better based on recent updates. I hope his treatment is working.’

‘Seeing these photos made me genuinely emotional,’ another said.

A sixth penned: ‘This breaks my heart, he probably would have wanted to be there in person but with his immunity. I’m glad he stayed back. Sending him healing light.’

On Monday night, Dawson’s Creek stars Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and Michelle Williams joined forces for a live reading of the show’s pilot episode to benefit F Cancer held at the Richard Rogers Theatre in New York City.

Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Philipps were also present.

Despite cancelling his in-person appearance, James still showed up at the charity event virtually.

In his message to fans, James said: ‘I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together.

‘I can’t believe I’m not there. I can’t believe I don’t get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person.

‘And just I want to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theater for being here tonight.

‘From the cast to the crew to everybody who’s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world.

‘Thank you for coming. It’s just absolutely humbling just how much you did for this night, and I just want to say thank you. Thank you to every single person here.’

Monday’s event raised money for F Cancer in honor of James, who is currently battling stage three colon cancer.

His cancer was discovered after undergoing a colonoscopy in August 2023. He did not reveal his diagnosis until November 2024.

Although he was unable to attend, James’s wife Kimberly and their six kids showed up to the event in his place.

The couple share daughters Olivia, 14, Annabel, 10, Emilia, eight, and Gwendolyn, six, and sons Joshua, 12, and Jeremiah, three.

Throughout the evening, Kimberly posted videos and pictures from behind the scenes.

After the fundraiser had wrapped, she thanked fans for coming together to show their support for James.

Speaking in a video from her hotel bed, she said: ‘This night was so special to the whole family and more importantly just feeling my husband fill the entire theatre and the love for him.

‘We will be unwinding this one for a while but thank you for the love and support and for the prayers because right here, front and center is my husband on my heart.

‘It was a beautiful night, and I miss my husband. I can’t wait to go and see him tomorrow.’

The mother of a Michigan elementary school student is speaking out after her son was expelled for taking a gun away from a classmate.

Lansing mom Savitra McClurkin told local outlet WILX in a Sept. 19 interview that her 11-year-old son was expelled from Dwight Rich School of the Arts back in May after his classmate brought a gun to campus.

According to McClurkin, her child is being punished for something she considers heroic, as he believed he was helping the other students around him.

“I’m frustrated. I’m at my wits’ end. I don’t know what to do,” McClurkin told WILX.

Back in May, WLNS and the Lansing State Journal reported that a disassembled, unloaded weapon was found inside the school. Police later arrested a 12-year-old boy, whose name has not been made public.

McClurkin told WILX that her son allegedly spotted his classmate carrying the gun, and he used his hunting knowledge to disarm and disassemble the weapon before throwing away the bullets.

“He didn’t want to implicate himself in it, nor did he want to tell on the person that actually brought the firearm,” she told the outlet. “Because he knows firearms aren’t supposed to be in school.”

In a GoFundMe established to help pay for the preteen’s homeschooling, a family friend wrote that the 11-year-old’s first instinct was not “to run away — it was to protect his classmates.”

“On what could have been a tragic and devastating day … [he] acted out of courage and compassion,” the fundraiser message reads.

When school administrators eventually learned that the 11-year-old had handled the weapon, they expelled him for possessing a gun, removing him from school for one year, his mother said.

“Instead of being recognized as a hero, [he] is now being treated like a criminal,” the GoFundMe post states of the child. “He has been expelled and barred from all school platforms, despite being an A/B student, a respectful young man, and an athlete who has been playing sports since he was 6 years old.”

The frustrated mother added that she has been trying to get in contact with the Lansing School District to discuss the matter, and even made an appearance at a recent board meeting.

“He’s 11 years old. Seventh grade. Never been in trouble before,” McClurkin said at the meeting, addressing the school board.

In a statement provided to PEOPLE, Lansing School District Director of Public Safety Dale Person and Executive Director of School Culture Cordelia Black said the expulsion was not a decision administrators took “lightly.”

“In May 2025, a serious incident involving a firearm occurred at Dwight Rich Middle School. After a thorough investigation, and in accordance with Michigan law regarding dangerous weapons on school property, the Lansing School District determined that expulsion was necessary,” the statement said.

“Expulsion is never a decision the district takes lightly. It is always considered a last resort,” the statement continued. “However, Michigan law provides very clear direction in cases involving dangerous weapons. The investigation — which included statements and video evidence — left no ambiguity and required this outcome.”

“The Lansing School District has both a legal and moral responsibility to ensure the safety of all students and staff,” the statement concluded. “While this decision is difficult, our priority remains creating and maintaining a secure environment where learning can take place without fear. Upholding these standards is essential to protecting our school community.”

According to McClurkin, her son is now enrolled in a non-accredited online program to keep him on track until another decision can be made about his future at school.

“Online schools are honoring [the school district’s] decision,” she told WILX. “Nor did they provide us a different resource or a different avenue to go.”

The GoFundMe page states that because of the “sudden expulsion, the preteen’s mother has had to take on the enormous challenge of educating him at home. This has forced her to cut back on work, creating serious financial strain on their household.”

“They are setting my child up for failure,” McClurkin told WILX. “They’re setting him up to being a statistic, and I’ve been doing everything in my will and my power to keep him from that.”

“It’s devastating because he’s a bright kid and all he wants to do is be a kid,” she added.

An actor has been accused of shooting a woman in the face during a road rage incident in New Jersey.

On Thursday, Sept. 11, Ernest W. Heinz, 46, was arrested by the Galloway Township Police Department, according to a statement shared on Facebook.

He was charged with criminal attempt homicide, aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in relation to the shooting of Maritza Arias-Galva.

According to authorities, Arias-Galva called police to report that she had been shot by a man while driving near Stockton University.

“Officers of the Galloway Township Police Department responded to a 911 call for a shooting. The Victim, Maritza Arias-Galva called 911 to report she had been shot in the face by a male subject, in another vehicle, who fled north onto Vera King Ferris Drive, on the campus of Stockton University. It was later determined the shooting was the result of an isolated road-rage incident,” the statement read.

Arias-Galva described the attacker “as a White male, with blonde hair in a ponytail” and told police that he was driving a white Honda SUV.

She received treatment at the Atlanticare Regional Medical Center, City Division, and authorities confirmed that she was “currently in stable condition and recovering from the injury.”

Using the information from the victim’s description, authorities launched a search, eventually finding Heinz “at a residence in the Blue Heron Pines Development in Galloway Township.”

He was arrested and taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

“The prompt and professional actions of our officers resulted in a quick apprehension of Mr. Heinz” Chief Eric B. Hendrickson said in the release, thanking the Stockton University Police Department, the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police and all of the Atlantic County Agencies for their support in the investigation. “We wish Ms. Arias-Galva a swift recovery, and we are here to support our community following this senseless incident.”

ABC affiliate WPVI reported that the shooting took place at around 12:50 p.m. local time, citing court documents.

Arias-Galva said that she had been cut off by Heinz, who proceeded to threaten her with death and then allegedly shot her.

“Fortunately, it didn’t look like it caught anything major and she was able to maintain consciousness and speak to our officers. We’re very grateful she’s okay,” Capt. Mark D’Esposito told the outlet, adding that the suspect only fired one shot.

On Saturday, Sept. 13, Arias-Galva spoke to The Philadelphia Inquirer while recovering at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. She told the outlet that she tried not to engage with the suspect.

“I know that kind of person, because I work customer service. I just said, ‘Thank you, sir.’ And he said he was taking my life today,” she recalled.

She added that she was “thinking about [her] kids” while calling the police. “I was thinking, I need to survive this. I’m the only family they have in New Jersey.”

According to his profile on IMDb, Heinz worked as an actor and has a handful of credits through 2014. Notably, he was involved in two Resident Evil video games and played a role in 2011’s J. Edgar.