Mexican man pleads guilty to impersonating Border Patrol agent to 'disrupt deportation missions'
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A Mexican man in the United States has pleaded guilty to impersonating a Border Patrol agent and following federal immigration officers to divert them while they were out on immigration enforcement missions in Southern California. Jamie Ernesto Alvarez-Gonzalez admitted Tuesday to following a Border Patrol agent on Jan. 8 while he was driving in a neighborhood in San Diego, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. He drove a black Ford F-150 truck, a model also used by undercover federal officers. The agent aborted his mission when he saw Alvarez-Gonzalez following him, falsely believing other agents were responding.
Farmers in Vermont expected a sheep to have twins. She ended up having rare sextuplets
UNDERHILL, Vt. (AP) — A sheep at Clover & Bee Farm in Underhill, Vermont, gave birth to a rare batch of six lambs earlier this month. The sextuplets and their mother are all doing well, making the lamb windfall even more remarkable. The mother previously had quadruplets, and while a recent checkup indicated she would have two lambs this time, the farm's owners suspected more. When the big day came, the baby lambs seemed to keep coming and coming. Agricultural websites say the sextuplets are very rare.
Rare two-colored lobster caught by fishermen off Cape Cod donated to aquarium
A Cape Cod seafood company has donated a rare two-colored lobster to a science center, sparing the critter from the kettle because of its remarkable coloration. The lobster is the typical brown color on one side and bright orange on the other. The two-toned pattern goes all the way from its head to its tail. Representatives for Wellfleet Shellfish Company in Eastham, Massachusetts, said Monday they have been fielding inquiries about the crustacean for days. The company gifted the lobster to Woods Hole Science Aquarium in Falmouth, Massachusetts.
He laughed so hard at Koo's botched NFL kick that he had a seizure. It may have saved his life
When New York Giants kicker Younghoe Koo botched a field goal attempt during a Monday night game this past season, Mark Toothaker laughed so hard he had a seizure and tests revealed he had a benign tumor in his head. It was surgically removed and he was home from the hospital that week with no lasting permanent damage. The stallion season manager at Spendthrift Farm believes it happening at home instead of when he was traveling saved his life. He will be at the Kentucky Derby this week with Further Ado, thankful for what he considers a miracle.
Meet the baby koala hiding in its mom’s pouch at a Florida zoo’s new Outback habitat
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Palm Beach Zoo in Florida has two reasons to celebrate. They have welcomed their first koala birth and are opening a newly renovated habitat for the cuddly creatures on Saturday. Amarylis Celestina, who oversees the koalas, says the birth is crucial for genetic diversity in the U.S. The joey, born last fall, is just starting to emerge from its mother's pouch. Meanwhile, the koalas enjoy a revamped habitat with more greenery and natural light. The changes aim to mimic the Australian outback and support the koalas' natural behaviors. Koalas in the U.S. are on loan from Australia for conservation.
How 2 men claimed an absurd record by driving an old 3-wheel car the length of Africa
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Two friends have claimed a bizarre record by driving a decades-old British three-wheel car about 14,000 miles from the U.K. to the southern tip of Africa for the longest trip by a three-wheel vehicle. Englishman Ollie Jenks and Canadian Seth Scott took the Reliant Robin they named Sheila on the four-and-a-half month journey through 22 countries. Jenks says the adventure cost about $40,000 to $50,000. There were countless breakdowns and brushes with danger, but the tenacious pair and Sheila made it to Cape Town, South Africa, last month. Jenks says the plan pitched by Scott was “so ridiculous I couldn’t say no.”
Robot dogs with Musk and Zuckerberg heads roam around Berlin museum in Beeple's new exhibit
BERLIN (AP) — Robot dogs with hyper-realistic silicone heads modeled after famous figures like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are roaming a Berlin museum. They occasionally “poo” printed images of their surroundings, captured with integrated cameras. This interactive installation by American artist Beeple is at Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie. Each image reflects the personality of the dog’s human figure, like Picasso's Cubist style. The exhibition comments on how algorithms shape our perceptions. Beeple, a prominent digital artist, is known for his “everyday” movement in 3D graphics. His work has sold for millions, marking significant milestones in digital art.
Buenos Aires bans stadium confetti after fire sparks panic at River vs Boca
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Soccer fans in Argentina's capital city Buenos Aires can no longer throw confetti from the stands. The Buenos Aires Sports Security Committee has issued a ban after a fire broke out during last Sunday's match between rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors. Firefighters had to extinguish the flames, which damaged stadium seats and caused spectators to flee. City authorities said the incident showed the potential ignition risk of confetti in crowded areas. River Plate fans had been encouraged to cut thousands of confetti pieces for the game. The tradition became popular during the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.
Mind if we drop in? Hot air balloon with 13 aboard makes emergency landing in California backyard
A balloon landed in a Southern California backyard over the weekend. A balloon with 13 people. The enormous hot air balloon descended perfectly Saturday on a narrow plot of grass at a home in Temecula. Hunter Perrin said he had no idea that he had drop-in visitors until a neighbor alerted him to the balloon emblazoned with gold stars and a crescent moon towering over his home. Brianna Avalos says the pilot told passengers he had to make an emergency landing because of low fuel and shifting winds. She and her husband were riding in the balloon to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. Avalos says everyone was OK.
A humanoid robot sprints past the human half-marathon world record in Beijing race
BEIJING (AP) — A humanoid robot has won a half-marathon race for robots in Beijing, running faster than the human record. The robot from the Honor team completed the 13-mile race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, surpassing Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo's human record of about 57 minutes. The event took place Sunday, with the robot using autonomous navigation to secure the win. This year's race featured over 300 robots from more than 100 teams, including international participants. The competition highlights China's advancements in a technological competition with the U.S. Speeding up the development of products like humanoid robots and their applications is part of the 2026-2030 plan by Beijing for the world’s second-largest economy.
