World’s top golfer Scottie Scheffler arrested outside PGA Championship, charges dropped
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Criminal charges against Scottie Scheffler have been dropped, ending a legal battle that began with video footage of the world’s top golfer being arrested and handcuffed in Louisville during the PGA Championship. The local prosecutor, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell, asked a judge Wednesday afternoon to dismiss four charges against Scheffler. Scheffler was not due to appear in court Wednesday. Scheffler is charged with one felony and three misdemeanor counts of assaulting a police officer with his vehicle. Scheffler says he simply misunderstood the traffic officer’s instructions.
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.
McDonald’s says the $18 Big Mac meal was an “exception” and that news reports had exaggerated the price increase.
McDonald’s is fighting back against media reports that it says exaggerate its price hikes. In a post on the company’s website on Wednesday, McDonald’s U.S. president said reports that the price of an average Big Mac has doubled since 2019 are false. McDonald’s said the average Big Mac costs $5.29, 20.5% more than five years ago. Still, the company said the prices of some items, such as fries, increased due to rising labor, paper and ingredient costs. McDonald’s saw slowing traffic earlier this year as inflation-weary consumers dined out less. The company plans to double down on specials this summer.
Nissan is warning owners of older cars not to drive them because of the risk of airbag inflators exploding.
DETROIT (AP) — Nissan is urging owners of about 84,000 older vehicles not to drive them because of the high risk of Takata airbag inflators exploding in a crash and sending metal fragments flying. The emergency call comes after one Nissan occupant was killed and 58 injured after an inflator explosion, Nissan said. The “do not drive” warning applies to some 2002-2006 Sentra compact cars, some 2002-2004 Pathfinder SUVs and 2002 and 2003 Infiniti QX4 SUVs. The company is urging owners to contact their dealers to make appointments to have the inflators replaced free of charge.
Iceland volcano erupts again, spewing lava into the sky
GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano in southwest Iceland has erupted, spewing streams of red lava and triggering the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal hot springs. The eruption began in the early afternoon north of Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 people that was largely evacuated when the volcano erupted in December. The lava has spewed about 165 feet into the air from a fissure more than two miles long and is flowing toward Grindavik, which was evacuated in December, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
The fifth grade fundraiser paid off his school lunch debt, and he was presented with a prize.
A Missouri fifth-grader has been honored for raising more than $7,000 to wipe out his district’s school lunch debt, and now has an award named after him. Daken Kramer posted a video last month calling on friends, family, strangers and businesses to help pay off the school lunch debt at Thomas Artican Elementary School in Blue Springs. He raised enough money to help not only students at his school, but also those at his high school. Going forward, the Daken Kramer Legacy Award will be presented to honor students like him who go above and beyond what is expected of them.
Record-holding Sherpa guide concerned about rubbish at Everest high camps
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — One of Everest’s top guides is concerned about the growing piles of trash on the mountain’s summit. Kami Rita, a Sherpa guide who has summited Everest a record 30 times, says the trash is coming to the surface as ice and snow melts on the mountain’s peak. He says the situation is especially bad at two camps close to the peak, and cleanup efforts are underway at camps further down. Kami Rita Sherpa, a record 30-time Everest summiteer, was honored Wednesday by Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on the anniversary of the first summit of Everest by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953.
Towns, Edwards lead Timberwolves to 105-100 win over Mavs to avoid West Finals sweep
DALLAS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half and the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the Dallas Mavericks 105-100 to avoid a sweep in the Western Conference finals. Anthony Edwards had 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. The Timberwolves survived their first conference finals appearance in 20 years and just the second time in the franchise’s 35 seasons. Now No. 3 seed Minnesota will try to make their series against No. 5 seed Dallas more interesting when they play Game 5 at home on Thursday night. Luka Doncic recorded his sixth triple-double of the playoffs with 28 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. But he and co-star Kyrie Irving shot just 13 of 39 from the field.
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