New York school pauses plan to deploy humanlike AI robot teacher after backlash
NEW YORK (AP) — A school district in a rural corner of upstate New York is hitting pause on plans to deploy an AI-powered, humanoid robot in the classroom. Salamanca City Central School District had purchased the female-looking robot to enhance the education of high school students studying robotics and technology fields starting this fall. But state education officials and local residents raised concerns about how students' personal information would be used and what data privacy and security protections would be in place. Unionized teachers also criticized the robot maker’s ties to a company that produces hyper realistic sex robots.
Circus performer accidentally shot in neck with arrow at New York county fair
MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. (AP) — A circus performer was accidentally shot in the neck by an arrow during a performance in upstate New York. It happened Friday night at the Orange County Fair in Middletown. State police say Ana Daza Tavera and Edwin Cuervo Rangel had been performing their crossbow sharpshooting demonstration when she accidentally struck him in the neck as he held up a foam target. The ringmaster says the arrow luckily hit soft tissue and missed major blood vessels. He compared it to getting your ear pierced. Cuervo Rangel was airlifted to a hospital where the arrow was removed and his wound was stitched up.
Seattle police are searching for two men who parachuted from the Space Needle
Police say two men climbed over the glass wall of Seattle’s iconic Space Needle on Friday, flipped over the edge and parachuted down from the 605-foot structure. A report provided Saturday says the Seattle Police Department is searching for the jumpers, who face trespassing charges. Police say the men purchased tickets and entered the Space Needle at about 8:50 p.m. Friday. The popular attraction has a round observation deck surrounded by high glass windows that are open to the sky above. Police say the men put helmets on in a restroom then ran to the glass window, climbed over to the other side, and jumped off.
Japan's monkey sensation Punch gets thousands of birthday messages as he turns 1 on Sunday
ICHIKAWA, Japan (AP) — Punch, the orphaned monkey at a Japanese zoo that stole many people’s hearts by clinging to an orangutan plushie, is marking his first birthday Sunday. The zoo has been flooded by well-wishing messages from his fans around the world — even though he now has friends and is no longer holding on to the toy. Punch still attracts big crowds, and has received some 2,500 birthday cards from around the world, said Takashi Yasunaga, head of the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden.
'Spider-Man' superhero jumps to the aid of a man using wheelchair to cross several lanes of traffic
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A man using a wheelchair was struggling to get across six lanes of traffic on an Arkansas roadway when help came in an unexpected way — from a spidery superhero in a Jeep. Christopher Hellenthal was still wearing a Spider-Man costume from a superhero-themed event at the trampoline park where he works when he saw the person in need Tuesday. Stopped at a light in his red Jeep, Hellenthal jumped out and swiftly rolled the man in the wheelchair across the crosswalk to safety before the light changed in seconds. The moment was captured by a street security camera and shared on social media by police in Jonesboro, who thanked Hellenthal for getting the man safely across.
With swords, axes and shields, fighters go head-to-head in medieval combat world championship
SPØTTRUP, Denmark (AP) — With swords, axes and shields, competitors from 30 countries are going head-to-head in the grounds of a Danish fortress in a modern version of old-fashioned battle. The International Medieval Combat Federation’s annual world championship roared into gear in northern Denmark this week. First staged in Spain in 2014, it features armor-clad competitors fighting with 14th-century medieval weapons. But it’s also a modern combat sport with safety rules and sporting conventions. The sport, an unflinching blend of mixed martial arts, fencing, and historical reenactment, has been growing in popularity.
A Minnesota town now boasts the world's tallest nutcracker
LUVERNE, Minn. (AP) — Luverne, Minnesota, now boasts the world's tallest nutcracker, Verne the Patriot, standing at over 65 feet. The quirky landmark, located off Interstate 90, was unveiled in a weekend event at a rock shop called Those Blasted Things. The town has more nutcrackers than people, and Verne has already boosted local tourism since he was completed three weeks ago. Luverne's nutcracker theme began with resident Betty Mann, who donated her collection of over 2,500 nutcrackers to the town's historical society. Verne's construction cost around $600,000, funded by donations and grants, and has been submitted for a Guinness World Record.
3 women's world records set at the annual Lumberjack World Championships in Wisconsin
HAYWARD, Wis. (AP) — Three new women's world records have been set at the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin. The event, filled with sawing, chopping, logrolling and cheers of “Yo-Ho!” ended Saturday. Karolina Urbanová from the Czech Republic set records in the Women's Underhand Chop and Women's Standing Chop. Meredith Ingbretson of Hayward set a record in the Women's Boom Run, sprinting across the water and back over eight red cedar logs in 13.78 seconds. This year, 66 men and 40 women from 16 states and nine countries competed. The competition also features wood-carving, live music and axe-themed activities.
George Santos' next gig? Reality TV show contestant
NEW YORK (AP) — George Santos has worn many hats: Serial swindler, congressman, expelled congressman, federal prison inmate, clemency recipient, podcast host, online betting influencer under investigation by the federal government. The obvious next gig? Reality TV show contestant. In September, Santos will appear on the fifth season of Fox’s “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” a grueling contest where participants will be subjected to chemical gassing and other military themed challenges in a Malaysian jungle. The network on Wednesday said he will go up against more than a dozen other contestants — including former NBA player Matt Barnes and actor Ruby Rose.
'I'm Joe Lombardo': Nevada governor not ticketed after being pulled over in a traffic stop
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo was pulled over in a May traffic stop in Las Vegas and wasn't ticketed. He immediately identified himself as Joe Lombardo at the time, and the interaction with the police officer who stopped him lasted about 15 seconds. The governor's campaign says he was briefly stopped over a question about whether he had come to a full stop before turning right on red, and says the governor fully complied with all instructions. The president of a police union that endorsed the governor says it is common practice to let a driver go without a citation. Lombardo’s campaign said the governor and his wife were headed to the airport when they were pulled over.
