Mealworms may have been dropped on a table in a Chicago hotel where delegates to the Democratic National Convention had breakfast.
CHICAGO (AP) — Mealworms may have been the culprit behind guests falling ill while dining at a Chicago hotel during the Democratic National Convention earlier this week, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said Thursday when asked for an update on Wednesday's incident. Police said multiple suspects entered the Fairmont Chicago, which was hosting a breakfast for Democratic National Convention delegates, and began placing “unidentified objects” on food tables before leaving just before 7 a.m. Wednesday. One person who ingested the food was treated by medical staff and released at the scene, Chicago police said.
Cruise plans to bring some of its troubled robotaxis into Uber's ride-hailing service.
Cruise's troubled robotaxi plans to enter Uber's ride-hailing service next year as part of a multi-year partnership that combines two companies that once seemed set to compete for passengers. The partnership marks the latest about-face for Cruise since its license to provide driverless rides was suspended in October 2023 after a Cruise robotaxi dragged a pedestrian who had been hit by a human-driven vehicle on a dark San Francisco street. Cruise robotaxi are not yet operating in California, but in Phoenix and Dallas, there are a few Chevrolet Bolts that offer self-driving rides with humans taking over if something goes wrong.
Girl already a victim when assaulted by police receives $1 million verdict
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal jury has decided that the city of New Orleans should pay $1 million to a teenage sexual assault victim who became close with a city police officer and was subsequently abused. New Orleans news outlets reported the verdict in the officer's case on Wednesday. Authorities say the officer posed as the girl's friend and mentor but ultimately assaulted her. Attorneys for the victim and her family said in the lawsuit that Officer Rodney Vicknair was instructed to transport the victim to the hospital despite his history of alleged misconduct, including predatory behavior toward women. Vicknair had pleaded guilty in federal court to deprivation of rights by authority of law. Records show he died in January.
The largest diamond in over a century has been discovered in Botswana – weighing in at a whopping 2,492 carats.
GABORONE, Botswana (AP) — A Botswana mine has unearthed its first large diamond in more than a century. The country's president unveiled the fist-sized rough at a public ceremony Thursday. The Botswana government said the 2,492-carat stone is the second-largest rough ever found at the mine. It is the largest diamond found since 1905 and weighs about 500 grams. Officials say it's too early to determine its value or decide how to sell it. Botswana, a southern African nation of 2.6 million people, is the second-largest producer of natural diamonds after Russia, and all of the world's largest rough stones have been unearthed in recent years. The Karowe mine has produced four diamonds over 1,000 carats in the past decade.
“Saddle Horse Man” Steven Nedorosik to appear on “Dancing with the Stars”
NEW YORK (AP) — Fresh from the Olympics, rising U.S. star and medalist Steven Nedorosik will compete on the next season of “Dancing with the Stars.” The online celebrity, better known as “Pommel Horse Man,” announced Thursday on ABC's “Good Morning America.” He's the first celebrity contestant named for the season that premieres Sept. 17 and the first male gymnast to compete. The rest of the cast will be announced at a later date, the show said. The 25-year-old gymnast won two bronze medals in Paris and became an overnight star, thanks in part to his preparation and his glasses.
A sword and bullhorn were stolen from Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Pitino's office at St. John's University.
NEW YORK (AP) — Two thieves stole a ceremonial sword and a bullhorn from St. John's University coach Rick Pitino's office. The theft happened Tuesday night, said Brian Brown, a spokesman for the Catholic school in New York City. He said it wasn't immediately clear whether other items were taken from the Hall of Fame coach's office or elsewhere in the building. The athletics office sits on the hardwood at Carneseca Arena, where Pitino's Red Storm play. Surveillance footage released by police Thursday shows two suspects carrying the sword and bullhorn walking down the building's hallway.
Australian penguin Sphene, one half of famous same-sex couple, dies at age 11
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An 11-year-old member of a world-famous same-sex penguin couple has died at a Sydney aquarium. SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium announced Thursday that Sphen, a gentoo penguin, died this month. He and his 8-year-old partner, Magic, attracted international attention in 2018 when they built a nest of pebbles together and tried to raise a chick in the enclosure. International attention grew when they successfully adopted and raised two chicks in 2018 and 2020. Their union was celebrated with a float at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, featured in the Netflix series “Atypical” and incorporated into the Sydney-based New South Wales education curriculum.
Naming two baby giraffes is a big job for Berlin Zoo
BERLIN (AP) — Naming two baby giraffes this summer was a tall order for the Berlin Zoo. After the half-brothers were born June 24 and Aug. 11 at Tierpark, one of the city's two zoos, officials turned to a school class and the zoo director's 18-year-old daughter for inspiration. The class shared the name of the mascot giraffe, Gisbert, and shortened it to Berti for the new male. And because the zoo director's teenage daughter, Emily, is about 1.80 meters (5.91 feet) tall, almost the same height as the newborn giraffe, the female baby was named after her. The names were officially announced Thursday.
German warship blasts Darth Vader's national anthem in central London: 'No deeper message', Navy says
BERLIN (AP) — The German Navy says there was “no deeper message” in its choice to play “The Imperial March,” the theme song made famous by Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” series, from a warship as it sailed down the River Thames in London. A passerby captured the spectacle on video Monday, and the video quickly went viral on social media. The song choice caused a stir across Europe. The warship Braunschweig is named after a city in the German state of Lower Saxony, far from London. The German embassy in London said the ship's commander is a big “Star Wars” fan. It's unclear whether Anakin Skywalker was on board.
Taylor Swift says Vienna show cancellation is 'devastating', explains silence
LONDON (AP) — Two weeks after organizers canceled Taylor Swift's Vienna show after a thwarted terror plot, Swift has issued her first statement about the cancellation. She called the cancellation devastating, saying it filled her with “a renewed sense of fear” and “tremendous guilt because so many people were planning to come to the show.” She thanked authorities and said she was holding off on speaking out until after the end of her European Eras tour to prioritize safety. Following the cancellation, Swift's representatives did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Associated Press and other news organizations, and her social media pages have been dormant.
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