Popular NYC SantaCon charity fundraiser was more con than Claus, authorities say
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal authorities say a SantaCon charity fundraiser that flooded New York City with inebriated young people in red and white Santa costumes every holiday season was a con. Authorities have charged a man who promoted the charity event with wire fraud, saying he pocketed over $1 million of nearly $3 million raised from 2019 to 2024. Stefan Pildes was arrested and charged with wire fraud in an indictment unsealed on Wednesday in Manhattan federal court. He was freed on $300,000 bail. He did not comment as he left the courthouse.
Hot dogs and steaks and bacon, oh my! Meat raffles keep a beloved Midwest tradition alive
WACONIA, Minn. (AP) — They're called meat raffles, and they're a tradition in a few pockets of the U.S. They're featured mainly at neighborhood bars or at American Legion or VFW posts in Minnesota, Wisconsin and New York state. Players enter for a chance to win a pack of ground beef, hot dogs, chicken breasts or steaks. The profits go to charity. But the games are under pressure in Minnesota due to rising meat prices. Minnesota’s prize limit was set at $70 total per event nearly 40 years ago. So there’s a move afoot at the state Capitol to raise the cap to $200.
Mount Holyoke’s corpse flower blooms again, drawing crowds to its ‘rotting flesh’ stench
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (AP) — Crowds gathered at Mount Holyoke College’s Talcott Greenhouse to witness the rare bloom of “Pangy,” a corpse flower known for its powerful odor resembling decaying flesh. The tropical plant, native to Sumatra, blooms infrequently and emits the pungent scent to attract pollinating flies and beetles. Visitors described the smell as everything from rotting eggs and compost to stinky diapers, while others traveled hours to experience the fleeting spectacle. Pangy first bloomed at the college in 2023. Botanic garden director Tom Clark said the dramatic plant offers a unique opportunity to engage the public with the diversity and adaptations of the plant world.
A Homeric hangover 'cure' — Greek claim over ancient bovine belly broth stirs feud with rival Turks
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Many people in northern Greece believe a plate of soup made of bovine bellies and legs can help with stomach ulcers and various other ailments — if you’re brave enough to try it. The owner of a restaurant in the city of Thessaloniki that specializes in “patsa” is striving to register the soup with UNESCO as a unique and traditional dish of Greece that harks back to the time of Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey.” The restaurant owner says he’s compiled a large and detailed file to incorporate the delicacy as part of Greece’s cultural heritage. That doesn't sit well with Turks who say the soup they call “iskembe” has been a cultural staple for centuries.
Fatou, the world's oldest gorilla living in captivity, celebrates her 69th birthday at Berlin Zoo
BERLIN (AP) — The world’s oldest gorilla living in captivity has celebrated her 69th birthday. Fatou spent Monday munching on cherry tomatoes, beets, leeks and lettuce at the Berlin Zoo. But no birthday cake because sugar isn’t healthy for the aging primate. Fatou is a western lowland gorilla. She arrived in what was then West Berlin in 1959. She was believed to be about 2 years old at the time. Her exact birth date isn’t known. Gorillas can live for around 35-40 years in the wild and longer in captivity. Fatou was likely born in the wild in western Africa.
Raffle winner thrilled to claim a $1 million Picasso with a $117 ticket
PARIS (AP) — A Parisian art enthusiast has won a Pablo Picasso painting with a $117 raffle ticket. Ari Hodara was thrilled to learn he won following Tuesday's draw at Christie’s auction house in Paris. The raffle offered a chance to win a $1 million Picasso portrait, with proceeds supporting Alzheimer’s research. Organizers said all 120,000 tickets were sold worldwide. The painting, “Head of a Woman,” was painted by Picasso in 1941. It is the third “1 Picasso for 100 euros” lottery, with previous raffles supporting cultural and humanitarian causes.
Philippine President Marcos does jumping jacks to disprove health rumors
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has dismissed rumors about his health by doing jumping jacks and jogging outside his office. He told journalists Monday he wanted to ease concerns, especially with ongoing global issues. The 68-year-old Marcos challenged those doubting his health to join him in the gym. Rumors about his health began after he briefly disappeared from public view in January. He later revealed he had diverticulitis but has since recovered. Marcos said he now follows a normal diet and exercises regularly. He also takes medication for gout and high blood pressure.
An underwater bus in Havana becomes the ride that matters during Cuba's fuel crisis
HAVANA (AP) — In Havana, a special underwater bus has become essential as Cuba faces its worst energy crisis in decades. Known as the Ciclobús, the big, metallic bus transports bicycles, scooters and electric motorcycles through the Havana Bay Tunnel. It accommodates around 60 travelers and their vehicles. The U.S. energy blockade has forced Cuba to ration gasoline, leaving public transportation at a standstill. Streets are now filled with bicycles and small electric motorcycles. The Ciclobús route is just 1.8 miles but offers an affordable alternative to costly taxis. The service, revived from the 1990s, is now crucial for daily commutes across the city.
Ichiro Suzuki's statue unveiling has a mishap as bat snaps during ceremony
SEATTLE (AP) — A statue has been unveiled of Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki at the Seattle Mariners' T-Mobile Park. There was just one problem at the ceremony Friday — a broken bat. As the club pulled the curtain off the statue, the bat in bronze snapped and flopped down as confetti sprouted up. Suzuki joked through an interpreter that Mariano Rivera got the best of him again. It did not take long for the Mariners to fix the statue. Suzuki’s bat was soon turned upright and reconnected at the handle. Suzuki last year became the third Mariners player to have his number retired by the franchise.
Citizen 'Frog Patrol' helps amphibians survive a dangerous road journey in Poland
OTREBUSY, Poland (AP) — Hundreds of volunteers have joined a "Frog Patrol" initiative in a forest near the Polish capital of Warsaw to help amphibians survive road crossings during their spring mating rituals. As temperatures rise, thousands of toads and frogs migrate to marshes, but a road built across their route has made the journey perilous. Volunteers, including families and children, gather on rainy spring evenings to carry the amphibians safely across. Since the initiative began, locals have saved about 18,000 amphibians. Similar efforts occur worldwide, including in the U.S., Germany, France, and Estonia, where volunteers and authorities work to protect these creatures from the perils of traffic.
