Another PlayStation price hike means the gaming console will cost 30% more than it did last year
The price of a PlayStation is going up by another $100, the second time in less than a year that Sony has upped the price tag on its popular gaming console. Global trade has been upended by U.S. tariffs imposed on all of the nation’s trading partners and Sony bumped up the price for the PlayStation by $50 just last August. The war in Iran has created a massive bottleneck of energy and manufacturing supplies, creating more price pressures for everyday goods, including electronics. By the end of next week, the cost of a Sony PlayStation will be about about 30% more than it was at this time last year.
Secret Service agent assigned to Jill Biden accidentally shoots himself in leg at airport
Authorities say a U.S. Secret Service agent assigned to protect former first lady Jill Biden accidentally shot himself in the leg at Philadelphia International Airport. A spokesman for the Secret Service says Biden was not in the area when the agent was injured during a “negligent discharge” of his gun. A police spokeswoman says initial reports indicate the agent was traveling in an unmarked car when he accidentally fired his gun shortly before 9 a.m. He was hospitalized in stable condition. Airport operations were not affected.
A 14-year-old running for governor is the first teen to get on Vermont's general election ballot
STOWE, Vt. (AP) — Another teen is running for governor of Vermont, and this time, he'll be on the general election ballot. In 2018, an eighth-grader sought the Democratic nomination for governor but finished last in a four-way primary. Now, 14-year-old Dean Roy is the candidate, and he secured his spot on the ballot by creating the Freedom and Unity Party. Both were able to run because the state constitution sets no minimum age for gubernatorial candidates. Roy says he doesn't expect to win but he wants to start a movement and get more young people involved in changing the world.
March Madness: An eighth grader from Pittsburgh is all alone with a perfect women's NCAA bracket
The only person left out of millions who entered men's and women's NCAA tournament brackets in ESPN's competition is an eighth-grader from suburban Pittsburgh. His name is Otto Schellhammer, and you can bet the 14-year-old is enjoying his one shining moment. He is 48-0 through the first weekend of the women's tournament, and he'll try to push it to 56-0 when the Sweet 16 takes place on Friday and Saturday. The record for ESPN's competition is 57-0. The exact odds of a perfect bracket are steep: Most mathematicians put the number at around 1 in 28 billion.
Bill Maher will win the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain humor prize following White House denial
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Kennedy Center says Bill Maher will win the prestigious Mark Twain humor prize. The center made the announcement Thursday, less than a week after the White House forcefully denied the award would go to the comedian, who has had a hot-and-cold relationship with President Donald Trump. A Trump administration official says the situation changed after further conversations between the Kennedy Center and event organizers. Maher says he just had the award explained to him and it’s like an Emmy, except he wins. The Kennedy Center has presented the award since 1998 to recognize those who've made significant contributions to humor and commentary. Conan O’Brien won last year.
In the wake of US social media verdicts, a look at what limits other countries have imposed for kids
Dual jury verdicts this week have validated longstanding concerns about the dangers of social media for young people. But the U.S. lacks federal regulation that meaningfully addresses these harms. Other countries, meanwhile, have implemented a bevy of restrictions on children’s online activities, ranging from outright social media bans to to requiring younger teens to link their accounts to a parent’s. In 2024, Australia became the first country to kick kids under 16 off social media and other countries have followed suit.
Washington’s cherry blossoms hit peak bloom, sending a fleeting burst of pink across the capital
Washington’s cherry blossoms have reached peak bloom, and the city’s spring rush is in full swing. The National Park Service says the flowering blooms hit their peak on Thursday, meaning 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open. The park service says this timing is typical for late March and early April. The blooms last only a few days. Cool, calm weather helps them stay, but rain, wind or heat can strip petals fast. The National Cherry Blossom Festival runs for four weeks, with music and Japanese cultural events. The Tidal Basin is where most of the trees are located, but parts of it are fenced off for seawall repairs.
Italy traces stolen Bond girl fortune to Tuscan vineyards and villas
MILAN (AP) — Italian police say they have seized about 20 million euros in property and assets linked to money stolen from Swiss actor and original Bond girl Ursula Andress. Financial police said Thursday that the haul includes property, land, artworks, along with financial holdings in Florence and the Tuscan countryside. Investigators opened the case after Andress reported fraud to Swiss authorities. She says advisers swindled her over the course of eight years. Italian authorities said the stolen funds moved through foreign companies and deals meant to hide their origin. Police do not say if anyone has been arrested.
A 3-limbed Kemp's ridley sea turtle is now being tracked at sea by satellite
JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A Florida sea turtle hospital is getting help from space to monitor animals they've rehabilitated. The scientists are particularly interested in amputees. Using satellite tracking devices in collaboration with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, the Loggerhead Marinelife Center released Amelie on Wednesday. The Kemp’s ridley turtle lost her right forelimb, probably to a shark bite. The center's staff glued a tracking tag to her shell before returning her to the Atlantic Ocean. They also used ultrasound to see that she's developing eggs. The center is now tracking four amputee turtles. Another one released in January has traveled nearly 700 miles.
Silver insists NBA will 'fix' tanking issue before next season, says he likes 65-game rule
NEW YORK (AP) — Tanking is going to be addressed. The 65-game rule might remain. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver insisted Wednesday that the league will change its draft process and address its tanking problem before the start of next season. And he pointed to the league’s player participation policy as proof of how the league can make effective fixes. The league’s board of governors discussed tanking — the issue of teams trying not to win in order to enhance their odds of landing the best possible draft pick — at its two-day meeting that ended Wednesday. Silver says votes were taken and no fingers were pointed at any specific teams.
