Influencer pleads guilty to criminal impersonation for viral pranks at Arizona businesses
PHOENIX (AP) — An influencer known for posting viral prank videos has pleaded guilty to criminal impersonation in Arizona for posing as an employee of businesses in a Phoenix suburb and orchestrating brief but chaotic takeover attempts. Heston James Cobb was arrested in July 2025. Police in Tempe say he and others went into businesses posing as workers, entered employee-only areas and refused to leave when asked to do so. He entered his plea Friday. Cobb’s attorney declined to comment. Observers say they hope the case serves as a warning to influencers who create prank or satirical content that online conduct can have real-world ramifications.
'RIP King': Fans pay respect to Tupac Shakur, hope for justice as murder trial nears the end
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Rapper Tupac Shakur has been dead for nearly 30 years, but fans say they see signs that his spirit wants justice as the trial is coming to a close for Duane “Keffe D” Davis, who is accused of orchestrating the shooting of the rapper in Las Vegas. Fans pay their respects to the artist at an unofficial memorial near where he was shot, sometimes leaving behind his favorite kind of brandy. They say the rapper has played a significant role in their own lives, through inspiring them in their own songwriting or providing comfort during hard times.
Push to rename Nashville airport for Dolly Parton gets a boost from Tennessee's governor
A push by fans to rename Nashville’s airport for Dolly Parton appears to be taking flight just days after the country music icon’s death. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and the CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority both came out in favor of the name change Friday. It’s expected to come up at the authority’s meeting next month. Long before Parton died Tuesday, fans in January 2025 started an online petition calling for officials to rename Nashville International Airport in her honor. As of Friday it had more than 155,000 signatures. The authority might have to revisit a policy that says airport property should be named only for someone dead for more than two years.
Dolly Parton streams skyrocket after her death, making her the most streamed artist globally
NEW YORK (AP) — Streams of Dolly Parton's music have skyrocketed since the country legend died on Tuesday. She was 80. According to evolving data released early Friday afternoon by the industry data and analytics company Luminate, audio and video streams of Parton’s discography jumped 2,458% on the day of her death compared to Monday in the U.S., climbing from 1.2 million to 30.5 million in the U.S. And by Wednesday, that number rose to 46.3 million. Worldwide, her streams jumped 1,549%, from 2.5 million on Monday to 41.8 million Tuesday. And on Wednesday, her on-demand audio streams jumped to 79.7 million, making her the most streamed artist, globally, on that date.
Was Dolly Parton a feminist? She wouldn’t say it, but fans heard it — in her life and her lyrics
Dolly Parton never embraced the feminist label, but her actions and lyrics spoke volumes. Fans like author Lynn Melnick, who wrote a book about Parton's impact on her own life, say the legendary singer exemplified feminist ideals in the way she lived her life and set her own terms. Parton's feminist ideals were also evident in her lyrics, in which she explored things like double standards against women, workplace equality and teen pregnancy. When Parton was honored in 1987 as a woman of the year by Ms. Magazine. Gloria Steinem wrote that Parton exemplified feminism by finding her own power and helping other women do the same.
Tom Cruise announces a follow-up film to 'Days of Thunder' to hit theaters in 2028
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Tom Cruise will reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle in a follow-up to “Days of Thunder.” Cruise made the announcement from Daytona International Speedway hours before NASCAR’s regular-season finale. Anne Hathaway will play a team owner and engineer in the film, which is scheduled to be released by Paramount Pictures on June 2, 2028. The original 1990 NASCAR racing film was a critically panned summer blockbuster that was largely lampooned throughout the NASCAR industry for its exaggeration and overindulgence. It has since become a cult favorite in NASCAR circles and is still quoted by race fans to this day.
Emily Wilson's 'Odyssey' became a cultural flashpoint. Now, she's retranslating the whole thing
NEW YORK (AP) — Emily Wilson's 2017 translation of “The Odyssey” is a million-seller. It's also not the end of the story. Wilson has decided to go back to Homer's ancient epic and translate it again. A leading official of the American Translators Association says she can't think of another time a translator has completely revised an early edition. Wilson's comments came as she was promoting her new book, “Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea.” She was already in the news this summer for her strong criticism of Christopher Nolan's adaptation of “The Odyssey.” Wilson has called it superficial and even incoherent.
Dolly Parton's love of the Great Smoky Mountains helped transform her hometown
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dolly Parton didn’t just sing about her Tennessee mountain home. She helped transform it. Her deep devotion to rural Sevier County inspired her music and sparked a tourism boom. News of Parton's death has been profoundly personal for her neighbors. Parton was a beloved country music star and Tennessee's favorite daughter. She co-owned Dollywood, Tennessee’s most visited tourist attraction, and founded The Dollywood Foundation, which helped reduce high school dropout rates in Sevier County. Her Imagination Library has distributed over 330 million books worldwide. Parton's generosity, especially after the 2016 wildfire, changed lives and shattered Appalachian stereotypes.
Celine Dion is back in Paris, but her first song remains 'a big secret'
PARIS (AP) — Celine Dion has arrived in Paris for her first concerts since revealing her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis. Eager fans greeted her outside a hotel on Friday as she prepared for her residency at the Plenitude Arena. The 16 shows will run in September and October, with opening night on September 12. Dion, wearing a beige trench coat and dark shades, expressed excitement and some nervousness to French broadcaster BFMTV. The concerts mark a milestone return for the 58-year-old singer, who has sold nearly 260 million albums worldwide. Dion has largely stepped back from performing since canceling her Courage World Tour.
Peter Cullen, prolific voice actor who gave Optimus Prime his authoritative baritone, has died
NEW YORK (AP) — Peter Cullen, the iconic voice actor behind Optimus Prime and Eeyore, has died at 85. His agent announced Cullen died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home. Cullen's career spanned decades, starting with “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” and including roles in “The Smurfs” and “G.I. Joe.” He became a cultural icon as Optimus Prime in “Transformers,” inspired by his brother, a Vietnam War veteran. Cullen's voice resonated in numerous films, including “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” in 2023. Known for his emotional fan interactions, Cullen is survived by four children. His family encourages honoring his legacy with compassion and integrity.
