Former NFL QB Carson Palmer is the new head coach at Santa Margarita High School, his alma mater
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Longtime NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer is the new head coach at Santa Margarita High School, his alma mater. The school is located in Rancho Santa Margarita, a well-to-do suburb in southern Orange County. Palmer went 32-2-1 as a starter at the Catholic prep school in the late 1990s, winning back-to-back CIF Southern Section titles. He returned last year to help out informally at the school where his son, Fletch, is a quarterback in the 2028 class.
Charles Dickens' characters come alive in a Dutch town enamored with the English author
DEVENTER, Netherlands (AP) -- The Dutch city of Deventer has been transformed into a 19th-century English city where 950 people in costumes brought characters from Charles Dickens' books to life. Oliver Twist, Ebenezer Scrooge, Miss Havisham and Mr. Pickwick were among the character sightings. They were accompanied by Christmas carol singers in the narrow streets of Deventer's historic center. Merchants peddled antique wares and gingerbread. People portraying pickpockets hunted for unsuspecting targets. Onlookers bowed when Queen Victoria rode through in her carriage. It's the 32nd edition of the festival, which attracts some 100,000 visitors each year from around the Netherlands and abroad, according to the town organizers.
Former Manhattan prosecutor to represent suspect in killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO
NEW YORK (AP) -- The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has added a prominent defense lawyer to his legal team as Manhattan prosecutors work to return him from Pennsylvania to face a murder charge. Luigi Mangione will be represented by Karen Friedman Agnifilo, who was a high-ranking deputy in the Manhattan district attorney's office for years before entering private practice. Friedman Agnifilo's law firm confirmed late Friday that she had been retained to represent Mangione. Mangione was arrested Monday after a customer at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, thought he resembled the person being sought by police in the Dec. 4 killing of Brian Thompson in Manhattan.
Once taboo, more Japanese women are brewing sake
OKAYA, Japan (AP) -- Mie Takahashi is one of a small group of female toji, or master Japanese sake brewers. Only 33 female toji are registered in Japan's Toji Guild Association out of more than a thousand breweries nationwide. That's more than several decades ago. Women were largely excluded from sake production until after World War II. Sake making has a history of over a thousand years, with strong roots in Japan's traditional Shinto religion. But when the liquor began to be mass produced during the Edo period, from 1603 until 1868, an unspoken rule barring women from breweries emerged.
'Malcolm in the Middle' to offer new episodes with Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek
Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek are reuniting for a new four-episode run of "Malcolm in the Middle" for Disney+ -- 25 years after the beloved sitcom first launched. The show ran for seven seasons starting in 2000 and was hailed for looking at ordinary life through the eyes of an extraordinary youngster, now fully grown: Malcolm, played by Muniz, has a genius I.Q. The new four episodes will be crafted by original series creator Linwood Boomer. No air dates were announced. "Malcolm in the Middle" originally aired on Fox and ended its run in 2006.
Woman who falsely accused Duke lacrosse players of rape in 2006 publicly admits she lied
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The woman who in 2006 falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her has admitted publicly for the first time that she made up the story. The accusations made national headlines at the time, stirring tensions about race, class and the privilege of college athletes. Crystal Mangum, who is Black, said in an interview with the "Let's Talk with Kat" podcast that she "made up a story that wasn't true" about the white players who attended a party where she was hired to perform as a stripper "because I wanted validation from people and not from God." The former Duke players were declared innocent in 2007 after Mangum's story fell apart under legal scrutiny.
Sophia, a famous robot and global icon of AI, wins hearts at Zimbabwe's innovation fair
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Sophia, a world-renowned robot, has been the center of attention at an Artificial Intelligence and Innovation fair in Zimbabwe this week. Described as an AI global icon by the U.N., Sophia can hold human-like conversations with people and recognize their gestures. As a special guest at the week-long event at the University of Zimbabwe, she answered questions on academic topics from researchers. Children quizzed her about the bible, God and her birth. She also made clear her aversion to human food and romance. The United Nations Development Program said it brought Sophia to Zimbabwe as part of efforts to "inspire youth, policymakers, and innovators to embrace AI as a catalyst for development."
Stanley recalls millions of travel mugs over concerns the lids might fall off, causing burns
Stanley is recalling approximately 2.6 million of its switchback and trigger action stainless steel travel mugs sold in the U.S. because of a potential burn hazard. The company said that the mug's lid threads can shrink when exposed to heat and torque, causing the lid to detach during use, posing a burn hazard. Stanley has received 91 reports worldwide, including 16 in the U.S., of the recalled travel mugs' lids detaching during use, resulting in 38 burn injuries worldwide, including two burn injuries in the U.S., with 11 consumers worldwide requiring medical attention.
Miami Dolphins release veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) -- The Miami Dolphins released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Friday, ending the former Pro Bowler's short tenure with the team. Beckham had missed the past two days of practice for what the team called personal reasons. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel indicated that the decision to part ways was mutual. Beckham signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in May, but started the season on the physically unable to perform list after offseason knee surgery. Since his Dolphins debut in Week 5 against New England, Beckham had just nine catches for 55 yards in nine games.
Bird strike disables a jetliner engine and forces an emergency landing at JFK airport
NEW YORK (AP) -- Authorities say a bird strike involving an American Airlines jetliner disabled one of the plane's two engines shortly after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport. The plane was forced to turn around and land at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Airline officials say no one was injured. Flight 1722 took off from LaGuardia at 7:43 p.m. Thursday with a destination of Charlotte, North Carolina. Airport officials say it safely made an emergency landing at Kennedy at 8:03 p.m. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. The agency received reports of 19,400 strikes at 713 airports across the U.S. last year alone. Rarely do they force jetliners to make emergency landings.