The square was built where Sojourner Truth gave her “Am I Not a Woman?” speech in 1851.
AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Hundreds of people gathered in an Ohio city to unveil a plaza and statue dedicated to abolitionist Sojourner Truth at the exact spot where she delivered her iconic 1851 speech known as “Ain’t I a Woman?” Truth spoke to a crowd gathered at Akron’s Universalist Old Stone Church for the Ohio Women’s Rights Conference. The statue was unveiled Wednesday where the church once stood. In her speech, Truth spoke of the hardships she faced as a slave and asked the audience why her and other enslaved African Americans were not seen as human in the same way as white Americans.
Medline has recalled 1.5 million adult bed rails after two reports of entrapment deaths.
NEW YORK (AP) — Medical supplies maker Medline Industries is recalling approximately 1.5 million portable adult bed rails in the U.S. and Canada after two reported fatal entrapment cases linked to the products. The recall affects two models of Medline’s Bed Assist Bars. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, using the bed rails can cause people to become trapped in the bed rail itself or between the product attached to the bed and the side of the mattress, posing a serious entrapment and suffocation hazard. The CPSC and Health Canada are urging consumers who own these products to immediately stop using them and contact Medline for a refund.
Court clerk for Alex Murdaugh spent thousands on bonuses, meals and gifts, according to ethics allegations
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina authorities have filed 76 ethics charges against the court clerk who presided over the Alex Murdaugh murder trial. The 25-page complaint alleges that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill allowed photos of Murdaugh in jail to be taken to promote a book about the trial. Hill also allegedly gave herself a nearly $10,000 bonus and used county funds to buy dozens of lunches for staff, prosecutors and vendors, as well as Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gifts for employees and jurors. Hill will have to reimburse expenses and could be fined thousands of dollars or more.
Post-divorce gift registries offer new ways to support loved ones
NEW YORK (AP) — For people trying to put their lives back together after a divorce, mundane household items can be painful reminders of their marriage. And indeed, many of the items may have left with their ex-spouse. Divorce gift registries are a new way for loved ones to reach out, especially when they’re not sure how else to help. Fresh Start, a rare divorce-specific registry, allows recipients to request items they need. Users say receiving gifts after a divorce is a positive way to rebuild. It also allows friends and family to be present, at least vocally, without taking sides. Fresh Start has between 50,000 and 70,000 users per month. Divorce registries, along with divorce parties and formal divorce announcements, are part of a trend to break the stigma of broken marriages.
Usher and Victoria Monet receive prestigious award from music industry group ASCAP
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Usher will add another prestigious award to his trophy case. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers announced Thursday that Usher will receive its Voice of the Culture award. He will be honored June 27 at ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul Music Songwriters and Publishers event. The R&B superstar is an eight-time Grammy Award winner who recently completed a two-year run in Las Vegas. Singer Victoria Monet will also receive the Vanguard Award for her contributions to shaping the future of music. Monet won three Grammys earlier this year for “Jaguar II,” including best new artist and best R&B album.
Mets waive relief pitcher Jorge Lopez after throwing glove into stands after being ejected from game
NEW YORK (AP) — The struggling New York Mets announced they were waiving relief pitcher Jorge Lopez for throwing his glove into the stands after being ejected from a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called the abuse “unacceptable” and said it would be addressed internally. Lopez expressed no remorse for his actions and said he had no regrets. The Mets then began the process of granting him a draft pick. The Mets have seven days to choose whether to trade or release Lopez or send him to the minor leagues if another team does not claim him on waivers.
Major leaguers praise Negro league statistics for inclusion in major league records
CHICAGO (AP) — Baseball players and fans are getting to know the Negro Leagues better after the statistics of more than 2,300 historic players, including Josh Gibson, Oscar Charleston, Satchel Paige and Mule Suttles, are incorporated into the MLB record book following a three-year research project. A 17-person committee chaired by MLB’s official historian, John Thorn, has met six times as part of a painstaking review of statistics from the seven Negro leagues from 1920 to 1948. Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene called the move “long overdue.” Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen said he’s “digging around” on Negro League players he’s never heard of before.
Tech Tip: Want to turn off Meta AI? You can’t, but there are some workarounds
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — If you use Facebook, WhatsApp or Instagram, you may have noticed a new character popping up: answering search queries, joining group chats and eagerly contributing information to your feed. That’s Meta AI, and it’s there to help, at least according to Meta. The company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, calls Meta AI “the smartest AI assistant at your disposal.” There’s no button to turn off Meta AI on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger or WhatsApp. But if you want to limit it, there are a few (imperfect) workarounds.
The panda party is back on as giant pandas return to Washington’s National Zoo by the end of the year.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Six months after the nation’s capital said an emotional farewell to its giant pandas, the National Zoo is anticipating a renewed surge in panda mania as it announces that two more furry black-and-white icons will return to Washington. The zoo said Wednesday that a new agreement has been reached with the Chinese government that will see two adult pandas arrive by the end of the year. The two arrivals are Bao Li and Qin Bao, according to the zoo. Giant pandas are an icon of Washington and beloved around the country and around the world. They have been a symbol of U.S.-China friendship since Beijing sent two to the National Zoo in 1972.
Iceland volcano spews red lava flow towards evacuated town
GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano in southwest Iceland is erupting again, spewing red lava flows and forcing the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Wednesday’s eruption occurred north of Grindavik, a coastal town where most of the residents were evacuated after a December eruption that ended centuries of dormancy. This is the fifth eruption and is estimated to be the most active yet. Lava has spewed about 165 feet into the air from a fissure stretching more than two miles and is flowing toward Grindavik, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. Everyone in the town has been ordered to evacuate.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
