Elon Musk's X follower count bloated by millions of new, inactive accounts (mashable.com)
We took a close look at Elon Musk's more than 150 million followers on X aka Twitter. What we found is…concerning.
Zapata resident files lawsuit against sheriff’s office claiming excessive force [to the point of requiring amputation] (www.kgns.tv)
“His leg bent backwards in the opposite direction that your knee is supposed to bend, so forcefully, that his leg, you can hear it on the video, it makes a horrible crunching popping sound, and it just splits the leg all the way off, except for just a little tissue in the front,” said Barrientos. “The deputies had to apply...
Antioch and Pittsburg police officers arrested by FBI (www.kron4.com)
A sweeping investigation began in early 2022 as a narrow probe into officers who allegedly cheated on college tests to obtain salary raises. FBI agents dug into the cheating scandal and opened a “Pandora’s Box” of unethical and criminal behavior among officers, a source told KRON4.
Invasive yellow-legged hornet, which ‘poses a threat to honeybees,’ detected in the wild for the first time in the United States (www.cnn.com)
The first live specimen of a yellow-legged hornet, which “poses a threat to honeybees and other pollinators,” has been detected in the wild in the United States, according to a release from the Georgia Department of Agriculture....
‘Coral are going to die’: Maui wildfires take toxic toll on marine ecology (www.theguardian.com)
Contaminants from the fires could damage marine life, and hardy non-native grasses might grow and kindle the next fire
US, Japan and South Korea condemn 'dangerous and aggressive actions' by China (www.reuters.com)
The United States prevailed on Japan and South Korea on Friday to use their strongest language yet in a joint statement to condemn China’s “dangerous and aggressive actions” in the South China Sea.
Troop Deaths and Injuries in Ukraine War Near 500,000, U.S. Officials Say (www.nytimes.com)
The total number of Ukrainian and Russian troops killed or wounded since the war in Ukraine began 18 months ago is nearing 500,000, U.S. officials said, a staggering toll as Russia assaults its next-door neighbor and tries to seize more territory....
Marijuana and hallucinogen use, binge drinking reached record highs in middle-aged adults, survey finds (www.cnn.com)
Last year, more middle-aged adults were binge drinking, using marijuana or consuming hallucinogens than ever before, according to a new report. Cannabis use surged among young adults under 30, alongside historic rates of vaping, as well.
Space race 2.0: Russia, India, China and the U.S. are heading for the lunar south pole (www.nbcnews.com)
Uncrewed Russian and Indian spacecraft could land in the area next week, while the U.S. is trying to land astronauts there by 2025.
Proud Boy disappears ahead of sentencing in Capitol riot case (thehill.com)
A member of the Proud Boys has disappeared ahead of his sentencing on charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, according to an arrest warrant unsealed on Friday....
Spam donates 5 truckloads of beloved canned meat in response to Maui fire (www.cnn.com)
The makers of Spam, saying that their “special relationship with the Hawaiian community spans decades,” have donated over 264,000 cans to aid the disaster-relief efforts on Maui, the company said in a press release.
After 19 years, the Tuohys say they plan to terminate Michael Oher's conservatorship (www.npr.org)
Lawyers for Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy say the couple intends to end their conservatorship for Oher, a former NFL offensive lineman and the inspiration behind the 2009 film, The Blind Side.
"Sound of Freedom" creators pay funder accused in child kidnapping (www.newsweek.com)
Insight: Conservative think tank emerges as force behind DeSantis campaign (www.reuters.com)
Little Rock schools will allow African American class to count for graduation, in break from Arkansas state officials (www.cnn.com)
In a sharp break from Arkansas education officials, the Little Rock School District said in a news release it will offer AP African American Studies for credit.
Fulton County Sheriff's Office investigating threats to grand jurors who voted on Trump indictment (www.cbsnews.com)
Law enforcement in Fulton County, Georgia, are investigating threats to members of the grand jury that returned the indictment against former President Donald Trump and 18 other associates after the grand jurors’ personal information was shared online, the sheriff’s office said Thursday.
Nurse Lucy Letby guilty of murdering seven babies on neonatal unit (www.bbc.com)
Belarus would use nuclear weapons in the event of 'aggression,' Lukashenko says | CNN (www.cnn.com)
Board votes to change Concord High School's mascot to be more inclusive (abc7news.com)
The cost to change the mascot is estimated to be around $200,000.
Police who fatally shot a pregnant woman are sued by her family in Colorado (apnews.com)
Destinee Thompson was supposed to be on her way to lunch with her stepmother in August 2021 when Colorado police, mistaking her for a robbery suspect, fatally shot the pregnant mother as she fled in her minivan.
Lyft and Uber say they will leave Minneapolis if the mayor signs a minimum wage bill for drivers (www.cnn.com)
Lyft and Uber threatened to stop doing business in Minneapolis after the city council adopted a new rule Thursday that would set a minimum wage for rideshare drivers.
Kelowna declares state of emergency after wildfire jumps Okanagan Lake, prompting more evacuations (www.cbc.ca)
Georgia school board fires teacher for reading a book to students about gender identity (apnews.com)
A Georgia school board voted along party lines Thursday to fire a teacher after officials said she improperly read a book on gender fluidity to her fifth grade class.
FBI arrest California police officers involved in racist text messages scandal (www.theguardian.com)
A grand jury had indicted officers from Antioch and Pittsburg for a wide range of offenses, including criminal conspiracy.
Moderna says new Covid vaccine was effective against Eris variant in early trial (www.cnbc.com)
Moderna’s new Covid vaccine generated a robust immune response against the now-dominant Eris variant and another rapidly spreading strain of the virus in an early clinical trial, the biotech company said Thursday.
