Humpty Dumpty caper at New Jersey mini-golf course sparks police investigation
CAPE MAY, N.J. (AP) — Humpty Dumpty took a big fall, and now police are hoping to crack the case. A colorful statue of the nursery rhyme icon was forcibly removed from a structure at a miniature golf course in Cape May, New Jersey, on Sunday and dumped down the street. Police say they’re looking for two men who are seen on video stopping at Ocean Putt Golf at around 4 a.m. Video shows one of them grabbing and rocking the statue back and forth and pulling it off its foundation before walking off with it. Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the two men.
Matthew Dowd's firing begins flood of people facing consequences for their comments on Kirk's death
NEW YORK (AP) — Former MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd opened a floodgate of people who faced consequences for statements in the media — social or otherwise — in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination. Dowd lost his job after commentary in which he said “hateful words” lead to “hateful actions." He and MSNBC's president apologized. But the list of others quickly grew long, some through instances that came to light in a campaign to shame launched by right-wing activists. College educators in Mississippi and Tennessee were fired. A Florida political reporter was suspended and CBS News' Nate Burleson faced heat for a question. The feminist website Jezebel took down a satirical piece — published two days before Kirk's death — that called on witches to put a curse on him.
Former NBA player Jason Collins undergoing treatment for brain tumor
NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player who now serves as an ambassador for the league, is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor, his family says. Collins came out in 2013, becoming the first publicly gay athlete in the four main North American sports leagues. He retired in 2014 after a 13-year career with several teams, including the New Jersey Nets and Boston. His family sent a statement to the NBA, asking for privacy and welcoming support and prayers. Collins averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds during his career, with his best season in 2004-05 for the then-New Jersey Nets.
Polly Holliday, theater star famous as the tart waitress Flo on sitcom 'Alice,' dies at 88
NEW YORK (AP) — Polly Holliday, known for her role in the CBS sitcom “Alice,” has died at 88. Her agent said she passed away Tuesday at her New York home. Holliday became famous for her catchphrase “Kiss my grits!” on the show, which ran from 1976 to 1985. She earned four Golden Globe nominations, winning one in 1980, and received four Emmy nominations. Holliday's career spanned Broadway, film and TV, including roles in “Golden Girls” and “Gremlins.” She was the last surviving member of the principal cast of “Alice.”
Prince Harry has tea with his father, King Charles III, in their first meeting in over a year
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Prince Prince Harry has joined his father, King Charles III, for tea at his Clarence House home in London, the first time they’ve met in well over a year. The two have been distant since Harry and his wife, Meghan, left royal life and moved to California in 2020 and then publicly aired grievances about the royal family. Harry was driven through the gates Charles’ London home following an earlier engagement at the Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London. There had been speculation that Harry might meet his father after he arrived Monday in the U.K. to visit several charities.
Musk loses crown as the world's richest person to Larry Ellison and then snatches it back
NEW YORK (AP) — The battle among billionaires for bragging rights as the world’s richest person got heated Wednesday with the surprising surge of an old contender: Larry Ellison. In a stunning few minutes of trading early in the day, stock in Oracle, the software giant that the college dropout co-founded, rocketed more than a third, enough to temporarily wrest the title from its longtime holder Elon Musk. But the stock market is fickle, and by the end of the day Musk was back on top, at least according to wealth tracker Bloomberg, as Oracle gave a bit of its gains. Musk is now worth $384.2 billion versus $383.2 billion for Ellison.
The newest Bachelorette is 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' star Taylor Frankie Paul
There’s a new Bachelorette in town, and we’ve met her before. “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Taylor Frankie Paul will be the lead on Season 22 of “The Bachelorette.” She broke the news herself Wednesday on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. ABC confirmed the season would air next year. Paul became known as an influencer in the #MomTok community. She told “Call Her Daddy” host Alex Cooper she at first wondered if she could manage the show as a single mom. She's also returning to the third season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” on Hulu in November. Hulu and ABC are both owned by Disney.
Amazon's Zoox launches its robotaxi service in Las Vegas
Amazon’s Zoox on Wednesday launched its robotaxi service in Las Vegas, offering free rides through parts of the entertainment mecca for anyone willing to gamble on the safety of a driverless vehicle. The Las Vegas debut of Zoox’s long-planned ride-hailing service reflects Amazon-owned robotaxi maker’s confidence in the safety of its boxy vehicles after two years of testing them in the city. Zoox's robotaxis will pick up and drop off passengers at five designated locations, and the rides will be free for a few months.
Eagles' Jalen Carter loses $57,222 for spitting on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott
Jalen Carter’s penalty for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott sends a message to the rest of the league. Carter is losing $57,222 for the infraction, the equivalent of his game check for Week 1 because the NFL considers the punishment a one-game suspension with time served. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle didn’t play a snap after he was ejected from Philadelphia’s 24-20 victory over Dallas on Thursday. Carter is expected to be on the field when the Eagles face the Kansas City Chiefs in a Super Bowl rematch on Sunday. The team could impose its own discipline such as benching Carter for the first play, the first series or longer.
Alex Jones asks US Supreme Court to hear appeal of $1.4 billion Sandy Hook judgment
Far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear his appeal of the $1.4 billion judgment a Connecticut jury and judge issued against him for calling the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting a hoax. The Infowars host argues in a filing to the court that the judgment for defamation and infliction of emotional distress violates his constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and protections against excessive punishment. The shooting killed 20 children and six adults in Newtown, Connecticut. The legal judgment came in lawsuits filed by some of the shooting victims' relatives, whose lawyers dispute Jones' claims to the Supreme Court.
