Here are the stories for today...
Of note, a sad yet maddening story from Chief Goldfeder's "The Secret List" regarding one of our Brothers in the Fire Service, retired San Francisco Firefighter Ken Jones, who died at age 71 after being diagnosed with firefighting occupational lung cancer in March 2025. In summary, he was pretty much told to "just go ahead and die..." Read it!
Be safe out there!
Tom
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Just Go Ahead and Die (The Secret List)
All,
Hopefully, you know who retired San Francisco Firefighter Ken Jones is. Or who he was. Beyond sad, he died from Firefighting Occupational Cancer late last month. He died at age 71 after being diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in March 2025. In summary, he was pretty much told to "just go ahead and die..." 
Before his death, he had required a specific course of treatment that included chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, his insurance provider, Blue Shield of California, reportedly denied coverage, as well as denied an appeal filed by Jones'Â oncologists. According to a denial letter, Blue Shield denied coverage repeatedly after determining that Jones was ineligible because he had already undergone other types of treatments for his cancer.
JUST GO AHEAD AND DIE...
And heartbreakingly, he did.
Below are links to details about his battle and the fact that his family and friends did a GoFundMe to help pay for what Blue Shield denied.
NO SHORTAGE OF THINGS TO GET MAD AT
These days it seems there is no shortage of things to get mad or po'ed at. But let's focus on what's usually known as customer service, taking care of people, doing as-advertised stuff like that.
Ken was denied insurance coverage for his stage 4 lung cancer treatment and died from the disease. Denied coverage. The city. His family. San Francisco Firefighters IAFF L-798 ... all gave it their all in fighting, pleading, begging — whatever it would take for Blue Shield to pretty much do what they advertise. Provide health insurance. Please.
While I could rant about this for hours, I promised myself I would get to the point. While in my heart, I really feel like tossing a huge FU to those at Blue Shield for their heartless actions toward Ken, and no doubt so many others, but not now.
UNDERCOVER BOSS
The TV show where high-level corporate execs leave the comfort of their offices, their soft shoes, and their beck-and-call aides, and they secretly take low-level jobs within their companies to find out how things really work, how "their" company deals with the customer, and what their employees truly think of them.
Every CEO should regularly experience their own customer service. Mr. Hampton should stay in Hampton Inn's. Mr. Holiday should stay in a Holiday Inn. Ronald should eat at McDonald's. GM CEO Mary Barra should secretly drive her GM car to a local dealer.
And then there is Mike Stewart, President and CEO of Blue Shield of California, who should literally lie along the side of his stage 4 "cancer customers" after grueling treatments, throwing up, and sickness, only to find out that further treatment, even though urged by doctors, is denied. He should be there, watching and listening when the family decides they have to do a f*ckin' GoFundMe to try and save their loved one.
... and on and on.
THE PUBLISHED MISSION STATEMENT OF BLUE SHIELD OF CALIFORNIA
Our mission
To ensure all Californians have access to high-quality health care at an affordable price.
Our values
Human
Honest
Courageous
A CHANCE TO RESCUE. BLOWN.
Every one of us in this business has been directly or indirectly involved in saving a life. There is really no greater honor or privilege than when we can "detour" the end for someone ... if it had not been for you/we/us/our actions. And when we do, it is ALWAYS where we do everything humanly possible to save that life. We know no other way. Some of our own have given their lives to save the life of another.
We are in the business of helping people on a bad day. Sometimes horrible, their worst day. We put our entire heart and soul into it, and it is very personal to us. And we never, ever give up until every possible chance is clearly gone.
Blue Cross of California had a chance to "give it their all" when it came to helping Ken, but it seems like — by all accounts — they blew it. For whatever bureaucratic, heartless reasons you or they can think of. And their mission statement, like so many, is just words.
Blue Shield of California. B.S.
NOW is probably a good time to check out your own programs and policies. Ask your retirees how their treatments and general healthcare are. And those who have had serious issues, such as cancer, how are they being taken care of? Find out. Run some "what if" scenarios.
Just in case.
Our hearts go out to Ken's family, their friends, the Firefighters of SFFD, and IAFF Local 798 for their extraordinary efforts in what they did to try and help, and what they are doing to ensure this doesn't happen to anyone else again.
Rest In Peace, Brother Ken.
Take Care. Be Careful. Pass It On.
BillyG
The Secret List 6/10/2026-1830 Hours
RELATED LINKS:
BS CALIF MISSION:
https://www.blueshieldca.com/en/home/about-blue-shield/corporate-information/mission-and-values
PEOPLE MAGAZINE ARTICLE
https://people.com/firefighter-dies-of-lung-cancer-after-being-denied-insurance-coverage-11993508
SFFD FIREFIGHTERS CLASH WITH BLUE SHIELD OVER KEN JONES' DEATH
Northern California ultralight plane crashes into Lake Shasta; pilot rescued
By Darrell Smith
A pilot of an ultralight airplane who crashed into Lake Shasta early Wednesday after losing control of the aircraft 200 feet above the water was rescued without serious injuries, said Shasta County Sheriff’s Office. 
The pilot of the amphibious Explorer 103 crashed in shallow water just before 6:30 a.m. in the Hirz Bay area of the lake, sheriff’s office said in a news release. The man, who was wearing a flotation device at the time of the crash, was found safe by sheriff’s office rescuers while sitting atop one of the plane’s pontoons.
The man told rescuers that his plane had just taken off and reached a height of about 200 feet when he lost control of the aircraft and it plunged into the lake. The Explorer 103 is a gas-powered personal aircraft that can land on water with pontoons or on land using retractable wheels.
The pilot freed himself after impact and floated to the surface, where he awaited sheriff’s deputies. A family member heard the crash and called emergency dispatchers.
Rescuers and medical personnel arrived by boat and took the man ashore. He suffered minor injuries and transported himself to a nearby hospital.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article316081471.html
South Fork Fire Rescue Responds to Small Plane Crash East of South Fork
South Fork Fire Rescue and Rio Grande County Sheriff's Department responded to a small plane crash mid-morning on June 10, 2026. Both passengers sustained minor injuries.
Photo by Linette Nye-Schmidt
CONTRIBUTED
SOUTH FORK, Colo. — At 9:54 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 2026, South Fork Fire Rescue received a report of a plane crash outside South Fork near Shoshone Trail. 
Crews arrived to find a small single-engine airplane on fire in the middle of a field south of Shoshone Trail, east of South Fork. The crash had ignited the surrounding vegetation, resulting in a weed and grass fire that was extinguished by responding crews.
The fire occurred during a Red Flag Warning issued for the San Luis Valley, with southwest winds gusting up to 50 mph and relative humidity as low as 11 percent. Those conditions allow fire to catch and spread rapidly, and the quick work of responding crews kept the grass fire from growing into a larger incident.
Both occupants had self-extricated prior to the arrival of fire and EMS personnel and sustained minor injuries. One patient was transported to Rio Grande Hospital.
The aircraft had taken off from a private airstrip near South Fork. After experiencing engine power issues, the occupants were attempting to land at Chapman Field when the crash occurred.
South Fork Fire Rescue and the Rio Grande County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been notified and will be conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Small plane crashes near airport in the interior of São Paulo state, killing two people.
Aircraft crashed in a rural area during approach to landing in MarÃlia; causes of the accident will be investigated.
PutCamilla Alcântara,Danilo PerellóandFilipe Vidon - São Paulo
A small plane crashed this Wednesday morning near the airport in MarÃlia, in the interior of São Paulo state. The pilot and co-pilot died at the scene, and one person was rescued alive and taken for medical treatment. The accident occurred during the approach for landing. 
The pilot and co-pilot have been identified as Henrique Guariente and Gabriel Maloni. It is unknown who was piloting the aircraft at the time of the accident. Gabriel Maloni, a native of Jales (SP), was an employee of Grupo Ponzan Alimentos, a Brazilian company specializing in the manufacture of spices, sauces, flours, and preserves. In an official statement, the company expressed its condolences for the death and stated that the aircraft involved in the accident belongs to the group.
A third person who was on board, who is also a pilot, was rescued alive and taken to the Hospital das ClÃnicas in MarÃlia. The victim, identified as Pablo Portella Ilwoski, 28, remained hospitalized in serious condition at the time of the last update to this report.
The aircraft took off at approximately 11:13 AM and shortly thereafter crashed for reasons still unknown. The twin-engine plane crashed on the field of an athletic association located next to the airport runway in the municipality.
The twin-engine aircraft, registration PT-MDB, is a Beech Aircraft 58 model, manufactured in 1985, and was in normal airworthiness condition.
Videos posted on social media show the plane after the crash.
In a statement sent to GLOBO, the AABB MarÃlia club, the site of the plane crash, expressed its sorrow for the tragedy. Read the full statement below:
"AABB MarÃlia deeply regrets the accident that occurred on its premises and expresses its solidarity with the families and friends of the victims during this time of grief. The club promptly cooperated with emergency actions, demonstrating total commitment to the safety of all involved, and remains available to the authorities to assist in clarifying the circumstances of the case."
Official note from the Ponzan Alimentos Group
The Ponzan Alimentos Group announces, with deep regret, the passing of Gabriel Maloni Mendes da Cruz, a pilot who was part of the company's team and was the victim of an air accident involving an aircraft belonging to the Group, which occurred on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
At this moment of immense sadness, the entire Grupo Ponzan family stands in solidarity with Gabriel's family, friends, and colleagues, expressing our most sincere condolences in the face of this irreparable loss.
The accident also resulted in the death of another person and left one victim hospitalized. We also express our respect, solidarity, and support to the families and loved ones of all those involved.
To date, the causes of the accident have not been officially confirmed. The circumstances of the incident are being investigated by the competent authorities, and the company is monitoring developments with attention, responsibility, and full cooperation.
The Ponzan Alimentos Group is providing all necessary support to the families involved and remains available to fully assist the competent authorities during the investigation process.
In this moment of grief, we ask for respect for the memory of the victims, their families, and all those involved.
Today in History
37 Years ago today:Â On 11 June 1989 Scenic Air Tours flight 21, a Beech H18, crashed in a canyon during a sightseeing flight in Hawaii, killing all 11 on board.
| Date: | Sunday 11 June 1989 |
| Time: | 13:30 |
| Type: | Beechcraft H18 |
| Owner/operator: | Scenic Air Tours |
| Registration: | N34AP |
| MSN: | BA-746 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 19864 hours |
| Engine model: | P&W R-985-AN-14B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Waipio Valley, HI -Â Â Â Â United States of America |
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | Hilo, HI (ITO) |
| Destination airport: | Kahului, HI |
| Investigating agency:Â | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: | Â Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:
Scenic Air Tours flight 21, a Beech H18, crashed in a canyon during a sightseeing flight in Hawaii, killing all 11 on board.
Flight 21 was on an air taxi, sightseeing flight from Hilo to Kahului, Hawaii. The pilot took off at aprx 1300 HST. After takeoff, flight 21 proceeded along the coastline at an altitude of about 2000 ft. The aircraft subsequently crashed in a scenic canyon area near a waterfall in Waipio Valley, aprx 50 mi NE of Hilo. Impact occurred at an elevation of about 2800 ft, aprx 600 to 900 ft below the rim.
A passenger, who was on a previous sightseeing flight, reported the pilot had manuevered below the rim of a canyon. Company officials reported that flying below rims of canyons was against company policy; however, the operations manual did not contain any guidance or cautions about such operations.
Cause: the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision to maneuver with insufficient altitude over or in a a canyon area.
Factors related to the accident were: the terrain conditions and scenic air tour's lack of specific direction to its pilots concerning safety procedures for sightseeing flights.
