Chi Chi Rodriguez, Hall of Fame golfer known for antics on the greens, dies at 88
Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, a Hall of Fame golfer whose antics on the greens and inspiring life story made him among the sport’s most popular players during a long professional career, died Thursday. He was 88. Rodriguez’s death was announced by Carmelo Javier RĂos, a senator in Rodriguez’s native Puerto Rico. Rodriguez said he learned to play golf by hitting tin cans with a guava tree stick and then found work as a caddie. He He served in the U.S. Army from 1955-57 and joined the PGA Tour in 1960 and won eight times during his 21-year career, playing on one Ryder Cup team.
COVID-stricken Noah Lyles collapses after getting bronze, one of 8 US medals at Olympic track
SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Noah Lyles lost the Olympic 200 meters, falling to Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, then collapsing on the track and being carted off in a wheelchair. Later, wearing a mask, Lyles told reporters he had COVID. After crossing the line third, Lyles fell to his back and writhed around in pain, staying down for nearly 30 seconds before getting up, asking for water and getting to the wheelchair. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke her own record and won gold again in the women’s 400 hurdles; Grant Holloway and Daniel Roberts went 1-2 for the U.S. in the 110 hurdles. Tara Davis-Woohall of the U.S. won gold in the long jump.
Meet America’s newest giant pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The two giant pandas sent from China to the United States earlier this year are making their public debut at the San Diego Zoo. California Governor Gavin Newsom and local officials have rolled out the red carpet Thursday for Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, the two young bears that have been acclimating to their new “Panda Ridge” habitat since arriving at the Zoo in June. They are the first pandas that have been sent from China in two decades since the country reignited its panda diplomacy efforts after a brief hiatus.
MrBeast wants ‘full assessment’ of internal culture amid allegations of impropriety and unsafe sets
NEW YORK (AP) — A confidential memo shows that MrBeast has ordered a full assessment of the internal culture in his YouTube empire and an investigation into “allegations of inappropriate behavior by people in the company.” The Wednesday message obtained by The Associated Press outlines infrastructure changes including plans to hire a chief human resources officer and require company-wide sensitivity training. The expanded probe signals that troubles inside YouTube’s biggest channel could go deeper than the “serious allegations” facing a longtime collaborator acknowledged last month by MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson. Recent controversies also include clips showing past racist and homophobic language, as well as safety concerns from an early production of his Amazon Prime reality game show.
Taylor Swift fans are devastated by canceled Eras Tour shows in Austria over apparent attack plot
VIENNA (AP) — Taylor Swift fans are devastated by the cancellations of three sold-out Eras Tour shows in Austria after authorities foiled an apparent plot for an attack in Vienna. Swifties took to social media to express their desolation at missing out on one of the superstar’s shows. Some who posted on the social platform X lamented months of now-wasted efforts to make friendship bracelets and pick out fashionable outfits for the performance. Many spent thousands of euros on travel, hotels and food in one of the most expensive European capitals. Authorities say they’ve arrested two suspected extremists, one of whom allegedly pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group.
A Serbian competitor in the CrossFit Games dies during a swimming event at a Texas lake
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A Serbian competitor in the CrossFit Games has died while competing in a swimming event at a Texas lake. CrossFit CEO Don Faul said during a news conference that they were “deeply saddened” by the death Thursday morning of one of their athletes. An official with the Fort Worth Fire Department said they got called out to assist police because there was “a participant in the water that was down and hadn’t been seen in some point in time.” Officials identified the athlete as 28-year-old Lazar Dukic. Dukic’s biography on the CrossFit website says he was the third-ranked CrossFit athlete in Serbia and the 88th-ranked worldwide.
Sighting of alligator swimming off shore of Lake Erie prompts Pennsylvania search
ERIE, Pa. (AP) — The search is on for a small alligator in Erie, Pennsylvania, after it was caught on video last weekend swimming just off the shore of Lake Erie. Animal rescue specialists have been scouring the area since the first sighting on Sunday. There are reports of possible footprints and other sightings in recent days. It is unclear how the gator ended up in the freshwater lake, but officials suspect it may have been a pet. Authorities say that releasing an alligator, a nonnative species, into the wild is a violation of Pennsylvania law.
Florida sheriff’s deputy rescues missing 5-year-old autistic boy from pond
DELTONA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida sheriff’s deputy ran through the woods, ripped off his bulletproof vest and waded into a pond after hearing the cries of a missing 5-year-old autistic boy. Volusia County Sheriff’s Deputy Wes Brough scooped up the boy, who wrapped his arms tightly around the deputy’s neck as they trudged back to dry land on Tuesday evening in Deltona. Sheriff’s officials say the family called 911 after they noticed the boy was missing. Deputies learned the boy is attracted to water, so they ran to a nearby pond. Brough heard the boy’s cries and grabbed him.
NYC driver charged with throwing a lit firework into a utility truck and injuring 2 workers
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City driver has been arrested and charged with tossing a lit firework into a Verizon utility truck and injuring two workers in an apparent act of road rage. Federal prosecutors say Kevindale Nurse was driving in Brooklyn on Jan. 31 when authorities say he cut off the Verizon truck. They say Nurse’s 4-year-old son was with him when he pulled up next to the truck and tossed the explosive device inside, causing multiple injuries to the workers and extensive damage to the truck. Nurse pleaded not guilty and was ordered detained at a hearing in Brooklyn federal court Thursday. His lawyer declined to comment.
Samsung is recalling more than 1 million electric ranges after numerous fire and injury reports
NEW YORK (AP) — Samsung is recalling more than 1.12 million electric ranges used for stovetops after reports of 250 fires and dozens of injuries. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, these slide-in ranges have front-mounted knobs that can be activated by accident if humans or pets unintentionally contact or bump into them. That poses a fire hazard. The recalled ranges were sold between May 2013 and August 2024 online at Samsung.com as well as in retailers nationwide — including Best Buy, Costco, Home Depot and Lowe’s. Consumers in possession of a recalled range are urged to contact Samsung Electronics America for a free set of knob locks or covers compatible with their model.
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