Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, has pleaded guilty in a sports betting case
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has admitted guilt in a case involving bank and tax fraud related to sports betting. Ippei Mizuhara confessed to stealing nearly $17 million from the Japanese baseball player to settle his debts. Mizuhara entered his plea on Tuesday in federal court in Santa Ana, California, shocking baseball fans from the U.S. to Japan. Initially charged with bank fraud, Mizuhara accepted a plea deal. Authorities have clarified that there is no evidence linking Ohtani to Mizuhara’s gambling activities, and the player is cooperating with investigators.
Alec and Hilaria Baldwin announce a TLC family reality series
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria are preparing to star in their own reality series on TLC. The actor and producer, who have seven children under the age of 10, revealed plans for a show titled “The Baldwins” that will offer a glimpse into their life as a family of nine. The series is set to premiere in 2025. In an Instagram video posted on Tuesday, Alec Baldwin invited viewers to witness “the ups and downs, the good, the bad, the wild and the crazy” of their family. This announcement comes as Baldwin readies for trial on an involuntary manslaughter charge related to the fatal shooting on the set of the film “Rust” in 2021.
Nebraska funeral home discovers hospice patient was still alive after being declared dead
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska funeral home recently discovered that a 74-year-old hospice patient, who had been declared dead by her nursing home, was actually still alive. Following this surprising revelation on Monday, funeral home workers initiated CPR and called 911. The woman was rushed to a Lincoln hospital, where she passed away hours later. Chief Deputy Ben Houchin expressed disbelief at the discovery, stating that investigators are examining the incident but have not found evidence of any laws being broken. Similar cases have occurred at funeral homes in New York and Iowa over the past year and a half.
Muhammad Ali’s childhood home is up for sale in Kentucky after being converted into a museum
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The pink house where Muhammad Ali spent his childhood dreaming of boxing fame is now on the market for sale. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Louisville, Kentucky, was transformed into a museum that offered insights into Ali’s early years. It was listed for sale on Tuesday along with two adjacent properties. One of the neighboring homes was turned into a welcome center and gift shop, while the other was intended for short-term rental. Ali’s childhood residence gained attention when hundreds of fans gathered to pay their respects as his funeral procession passed by in 2016. The owners are asking $1.5 million for all three properties.
Craft unfurls China’s flag on the far side of the moon and collects lunar rocks for return to Earth
BEIJING (AP) — China’s spacecraft successfully unfurled the country’s flag on the far side of the moon before collecting rock and soil samples to bring back to Earth. The mission, which included the Chang’e-6 probe, was celebrated in China as a triumph for the nation’s thriving space program. The probe’s lander touched down on the far side of the moon last Sunday. China’s space agency announced on Tuesday that the probe’s ascender carrying the lunar samples entered a predefined orbit around the moon. The collected samples are expected to be transferred to a reentry capsule that is scheduled to return to Earth around June 25.
Service dogs help alleviate PTSD symptoms in U.S. military veterans, researchers report
In a small study, specially trained service dogs were shown to help reduce PTSD symptoms in U.S. military veterans, offering hope for expanding treatment options. The study, published on Tuesday in JAMA Network Open, highlighted the dogs’ ability to detect a veteran’s physical signs of distress and provide support by interrupting panic attacks and nightmares. Over a period of three months, PTSD symptoms improved in both groups, with veterans paired with dogs experiencing a greater average improvement compared to those on a waiting list.
In Indonesia, female ranger teams patrol to combat deforestation
DAMARAN BARU, Indonesia (AP) — A group of female forest rangers in Indonesia is challenging societal norms by leading patrols in the jungle to address deforestation. Initiated by a woman who witnessed the harmful effects of deforestation in her local village in Aceh province, the ranger team spends extended periods in the jungle monitoring wildlife, detecting deforestation, and engaging with farmers and poachers encountered in the forest. The group has observed a significant reduction in deforestation in their region and is sharing their strategies with other women-led teams to safeguard forests across Indonesia.
Canadian Olympians bond over ski racing, maintaining a friendship for nearly 80 years
Two Canadian Olympic ski racers, who first met in 1945, have remained close friends for almost 80 years. Rhoda Wurtele Eaves, aged 102, and Lucile Wheeler, aged 89, reunited in person last November at the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame banquet, exchanging stories and memories. Wurtele Eaves and her sister, known as the “Flying Twins,” were pioneers of women’s skiing in Canada and inspired racers like Wheeler. The sisters took Wheeler under their wing in 1945, leading to a lifelong friendship filled with ski gatherings and golf outings. Wheeler and Wurtele Eaves shared a room at the 1952 Winter Games.
Amanda Knox to defend herself in Italian court against a 16-year-old slander charge
MILAN (AP) — Amanda Knox is scheduled to appear in an Italian courtroom this week to challenge a 16-year-old slander conviction, aiming to clear her name once and for all. This opportunity arose after a European court ruled that Italy violated her human rights during a lengthy interrogation following the murder of her British roommate in November 2007. The slander charge, stemming from accusing a Congolese bar owner in the killing, remains the only conviction against her following five court rulings that ultimately acquitted her in the brutal murder of her 21-year-old roommate, Meredith Kercher, in Perugia.
Judge denies request to immediately shut down Alex Jones’ Infowars in bankruptcy dispute
A federal judge has dismissed a plea to instantly shutter conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ media company amid escalating disputes in his bankruptcy proceedings. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez rejected the plea on Monday, allowing Jones’ company, Free Speech Systems, to continue operations until June 14. A decision is expected on that date regarding whether Jones’ bankruptcy reorganization will transition into a liquidation that would sell off his assets. Jones filed for bankruptcy reorganization after losing two lawsuits and being mandated to pay $1.5 billion to Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims’ families. The families filed an emergency motion seeking liquidation of Jones’ assets.
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