CNA Week 11: Unusual and Bizarre News
Story 1
Title: Hawk found grounded in Virginia driveway was ‘too darn fat to fly’
Source: UPI
Date: Nov. 2, 2026
WHO: Roanoke’s Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center, a red-shouldered hawk, and a resident of Roanoke who found the hawk
WHAT: A red-shouldered hawk was found in a Virginia driveway unable to fly. The hawk was examined for head trauma, lead poisoning, and broken bones. No problems were detected. The hawk was simply overweight from eating chickens from a neighbor.
WHEN: The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center made a post on social media. UPI published the story on Nov. 2, 2026.
WHERE: About a mile from Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center in Roanoke, Virginia — about 15 miles from Lynchburg
Why this is newsworthy: This is an unusual animal story that is found not too far from Lynchburg. The story is more humorous than initially anticipated.
Why this source is reliable: UPI has covered news for over a century. This article also used information from the wildlife center as well as veterinarians on the scene.
Summary: A red-shouldered hawk was found grounded in a driveway in Roanoke. The hawk was in good health. Veterinarians at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center determined that the hawk was just too fat to fly. The hawk weighed 2 pounds, a pound over the normal weight of a female red-shouldered hawk. The woman who found the hawk later found out that chickens from a neighbor were being eaten rapidly over the past several weeks.
Story 2
Title: Epic 28-year walk around world ends at his mother’s door. A look by the numbers
Source: NBC New York (The Associated Press)
Date: Nov. 2, 2026
WHO: Karl Bushby (57), a British veteran paratrooper, and his mother Angela.
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WHAT: Bushby completed a walk around the world without the use of vehicles to travel. Bushby traveled approximately 31,000 miles through approximately 30 countries. Bushby also swam across the English Channel and the Caspian Sea.
WHEN: Bushby completed his journey on Monday Nov. 2, 2026. Bushby started this journey Nov. 1, 1998 in Chile and completed his journey 28 years and one day later.
WHERE: Bushby started in Punta Arenas, Chile and completed his journey at his mother’s home in Hull, England.
Why this is newsworthy: No one had completed a walk around the world without the use of vehicles to move forward. This journey took 28 years rather than the 5 years Bushby had originally anticipated.
Why this is a reliable source: This article was published by NBC New York with a The Associated Press source. The article was also written by an Associated Press journalist, Brian Melley who also accompanied Bushby on the final leg of his journey.
Summary: British adventurer Karl Bushby completed a journey around the world in 31,000 miles on Monday by arriving home at his mother’s home in Hull, England. Bushby began his journey in Chile in 1998 with two rules. No vehicle could be used to help travel and one must not return home until the journey was completed on foot. Bushby also swam across the English Channel and the Caspian Sea during this trip. The journey took 10,229 days and approximately 10 years were spent in Russia.
Story 3
Title: Treasure hunter strikes gold with 1,000-year-old discovery linked to ‘Hand of God’
Source: Fox News
Date: Nov. 2, 2026
WHO: Nick Berry (58), a metal detectorist from Northampton, England, and Julian Evan-Hart from Treasure Hunting
WHAT: A small gold hand was discovered by Berry which is approximately 1,000 years old. The ‘Hand of God’ is a Christian symbol that appears on Saxon and Viking coins. The gold hand has been declared treasure and is headed to the British Museum.
WHEN: The discovery was made recently by Berry and Fox News reported this on Nov. 2, 2026.
WHERE: A field in Ashmansworth, Hampshire, England near the filming location for “Downton Abbey” — Highclere Castle
Why this is newsworthy: A hobbyist using a metal detector uncovered a nearly pristine 1,000 year old Christian gold piece in a regular field.
Why this is a reliable source: This article from Fox News is based on information provided by the British news source BNPS. Also information from both the finder as well as a named expert is provided in the article. The treasure claim is also from British authorities.
Summary: A metal detectorist in Hampshire, England has uncovered a gold hand which experts believe is linked to the Christian ‘Hand of God.’ The gold hand is approximately 1,000 years old and weighs 1.6 grams. The gold hand is also from the 9th or 10th century and was most likely worn by a wealthy person. The object has been declared as treasure and therefore Berry and the field owner may be paid the market value of the object if a museum purchases it.
