Feds move to dismiss charges against Army veteran who burned American flag near White House
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has moved to dismiss charges against an Army veteran who set fire to an American flag near the White House last year to protest President Donald Trump’s executive order on flag burning. Jay Carey of Arden, North Carolina, was arrested in August after he set fire to a flag in Lafayette Park. Earlier that day, Trump signed an executive order requiring the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute people for burning the American flag. Carey was charged with two misdemeanors that aren’t focused on the act of burning a flag and pleaded not guilty. Carey says he hopes the victory "can help the next person who takes a stand.”
Sinema admits a romance with her security guard as she fights ex-wife’s lawsuit
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Kyrsten Sinema says in a legal document that she had a romantic relationship with a member of her security detail, but her lawyer argues a lawsuit seeking damages against her should be dismissed. The guard's ex-wife is suing the former Arizona senator in North Carolina federal court for what's called “alienation of affection” by breaking up their marriage. Sinema says her relationship with Matthew Ammel ”became romantic and intimate" in May 2024. Sinema denies knowledge of contacting him while he was in North Carolina where the couple lived while the marriage was still intact. Her lawyer says her conduct doesn't connect her to the state in a meaningful way.
Jürgen Habermas, influential German philosopher, dies at 96
BERLIN (AP) — German philosopher Jürgen Habermas has died at age 96. Habermas' work on communication, rationality and sociology made him one of the world’s most influential philosophers and a key intellectual figure in his native Germany. Habermas’ publisher Suhrkamp said that he died on Saturday in Starnberg near Munich. Habermas frequently weighed in on political matters over several decades. Habermas’ extensive writing crossed the boundaries of academic and philosophical disciplines. It provided a vision of modern society and social interaction. His best-known works included the two-volume “Theory of Communicative Action.”
From rockets to cancer research, here's how the number pi is embedded in our lives
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Every year, math nerds and dessert enthusiasts unite to celebrate Pi Day on March 14, a date whose digits represent the first three digits of the mathematical constant pi. The holiday was created in 1988 by Larry Shaw, a physicist at the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco. In school, you might have used it to calculate the area of a circle or the volume of a cylinder, but the applications of pi are endless and part of every corner of our world. Pi is involved in every step of aerospace engineering and is also on the cutting edge of medical research.
Friday the 13th: Paralympics snowboarder suffers string of errors and bad luck
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — It was one of those days for Para snowboarding veteran Cécile Hernandez — one of those Friday the 13th kind of days. The 51-year-old Frenchwoman was among the favorites to win the gold medal in the banked slalom race at the Milan Cortina Paralympics. But when she just missed the podium by finishing fourth it was the last straw. Her day started with losing her mouthguard, then spilling coffee, forgetting her board then collecting the wrong one. Hernandez appeared to be crying while she passed through the media area after her race. She gestured as if not understanding what happened during her run. She says "It’s Friday the 13th.”
Two long-lost episodes of 'Doctor Who' have been found. Fans will soon be able to watch them
LONDON (AP) — A film charity has uncovered two episodes of sci-fi series “Doctor Who” that were long believed lost. The charity Film is Fabulous found the 1960s episodes in the belongings of a deceased collector. “Doctor Who” first aired in 1963 and is now a much-loved classic. But scores of episodes were lost because the broadcaster wiped the tapes for re-use. The BBC has restored the two rediscovered episodes and plans to release them next month on its streaming service. The episodes come from 1965 and star William Hartnell as intergalactic adventurer the Doctor in a storyline involving iconic villains the Daleks. Ninety-five episodes still remain missing.
Raucous bird tornado touches down as snow geese make annual flight to Arctic
KLEINFELTERSVILLE, Pa. (AP) — Thousands of snow geese touch down at a Pennsylvania reservoir each spring, turning sunrise into a loud, swirling liftoff that draws big crowds. A few dozen birdwatchers gather before dawn at the Middle Creek wildlife preserve to catch the moment. After sunrise, the flock suddenly rises from the water's surface, circles and then heads to nearby fields to feed. The state Game Commission says Middle Creek has hosted huge groups of 100,000 or more in recent years. Scientists warn that the geese have grown so abundant that their numbers have damaged breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic. There are also concerns about avian influenza.
A new exhibit shows plaster casts of Pompeii victims frozen at the time of death
POMPEII, Italy (AP) — A new permanent exhibition has opened in Pompeii that shows plaster casts of people killed in the Mount Vesuvius eruption, frozen in their final moments. On Thursday, curators put 22 casts on public display for the first time. Experts call them “imprints of pain.” They were created by pouring plaster into spaces left in hardened ash. Director Gabriel Zuchtriegel says the goal is dignity and understanding. Archaeologist Silvia Martina Bertesago says modern tests reveal age, sex, disease, and diet.
Celebrity chef René Redzepi resigns from iconic Danish restaurant Noma after abuse allegations
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — René Redzepi has stepped down from his post at the iconic Danish restaurant Noma following allegations of abuse and assault at the Copenhagen landmark. The restaurant founder and celebrity chef has been dogged for years by reports of staff mistreatment and yearslong use of unpaid interns to fuel the pricy restaurant. Noma has been ranked first on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List five times. The criticism came to a head recently on social media and in the New York Times. Sponsors have pulled funding for the Southern California residency. The chef did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
That purple Hawaii vacation lei likely came from Thailand, and some lawmakers want to change that
HONOLULU (AP) — Flower garlands are synonymous with Hawaii. But the purple orchid lei that adorn the necks of tourists often aren't made in the Aloha State. Instead, they are imported from Thailand. Some Hawaii lawmakers think the state should be doing more to help the producers of lei made with locally grown, fragrant flowers. Ideas include labeling requirements that would identify Hawaii-made lei and a prohibition on state agencies buying imported ones. Some lei-sellers worry that the restrictions could boost prices to the point that Hawaii residents can't afford the lei that are so important to the state's culture.
