Chonkers the sea lion draws crowds to San Francisco's Pier 39
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A massive sea lion nicknamed Chonkers is charming tourists and locals at San Francisco's Pier 39. On Thursday morning, visitors snapped photos of the Steller sea lion as he flopped on the pier among much smaller California sea lions. Chonkers is estimated to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds. He likely came from waters off Washington or Oregon. Laura Gill from The Marine Mammal Center says the pier offers protection from predators and plenty of food. Sea lions have gathered at the pier since after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, becoming a tourist attraction.
Banksy confirms a new statue in central London of a man blinded by a flag is his work
LONDON (AP) — Elusive street artist Banksy has claimed responsibility for a new sculpture in central London. The statue features a man striding off a plinth with his face covered by a flag. Banksy posted a video on his Instagram account Thursday showing snippets of how it was installed in the dead of night. Before Banksy's confirmation, locals and tourists speculated the sculpture near Buckingham Palace was his work due to his signature at the base. Known for spray-painting buildings, Banksy's street art has gained global fame, often selling for millions. Despite his success, Banksy has never publicly revealed his identity.
Man charged with possessing meth lab chemicals in Michigan State building
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State University scrambled to relocate some final exams after police said they discovered a man inside an academic building with household substances that could make methamphetamine. The 31-year-old man was charged Wednesday with malicious destruction of property and possessing substances to operate a meth lab. Wells Hall has been closed since Monday. Police did not explicitly say they discovered a meth operation inside Wells Hall. But the substances destroyed doors and flooring. Michigan State in East Lansing is holding final exams this week followed by graduation events.
Walmart breaks its no-frills mold with in-store beauty experts and personalized advice
NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart customers may find something new the next time they’re looking for makeup and skin care products: in-store advisers offering personalized tips and recommendations. The massive retail chain is breaking out of its no-frills service model by staffing its beauty aisles with trained specialists who will suggest foundation shades to match a shopper’s skin tone or knows about a moisturizer trending on TikTok. Walmart expects to have the roles filled in more than 400 of the U.S. 4,600 stores it operates by year-end. The addition of “beauty experts” comes as Walmart, Target, specialty chains like Sephora and department stores are vying for a bigger slice of the $129 billion U.S. beauty and personal care market.
Far from the original in Philadelphia, these fans hunt for the Liberty Bell replica in each state
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — If you can't visit the original Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, you might find a dead ringer nearby. For a 1950 bond drive, the Treasury Department commissioned replicas for each U.S. state and several territories. These replicas have become a fascination for “bell hunters” like Tom Campbell from Colorado. Campbell stumbled upon his first replica in Denver in the late 1990s, sparking a quest to visit them all. The replicas, cast in France, weigh the same as the original and even have faux cracks, but differ in metallurgical makeup. Many have suffered from neglect, but some are being restored as the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary.
A barge carrying Timmy the humpback whale journeys to the North Sea
BERLIN (AP) — A barge carrying a stranded humpback whale nicknamed Timmy has begun its journey toward the North Sea. The whale was spotted near Germany's Baltic Sea coast in March, far from its Atlantic Ocean habitat. Its health deteriorated as it repeatedly became stranded in shallow waters. Rescuers used a flooded barge and a dredged channel to move the whale. The barge is expected to travel around Denmark's northern tip. German officials describe the operation as unprecedented and successful. The whale's condition has sparked debate, with some experts concerned about stress, while others believe it is fit for transport.
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.
WNBA star Caitlin Clark to publish a children's book based on her life
NEW YORK (AP) — Caitlin Clark is releasing a picture book this fall based on her life. Random House Books for Young Readers has announced Tuesday that “EXTRAordinary! A Little EXTRA to Reach BIG Dreams” will be published in November. The WNBA star shares a message about the importance of effort and support through rhyming verse. Clark was inspired by a quote from her childhood mirror that read: “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the little EXTRA.” She hopes the book reminds children that they’re never alone in chasing their dreams. The 24-year-old Indiana Fever guard recently returned to playing after injuries limited her in 2025.
Sickness, cold killed nearly 30 sloths at a Florida import warehouse in 2024 and 2025
Disease and cold temperatures killed nearly 30 sloths at a Florida import warehouse in 2024 and 2025, according to a state report. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission inspection report from August states that a wildlife facility called Sanctuary World Imports in Orlando ordered 21 sloths from Guyana. They died after overnight temperatures in the warehouse fell to 46 degrees in late December 2024. The business ordered another 10 sloths from Peru. Two sloths were dead when they arrived and the other eight succumbed to what the report called “poor health issues.” Peter Bandre, listed in the report as the business' licensee, told inspectors that the warehouse was not ready to receive sloths during cold weather and that he would be looking for a new veterinarian.
Inside the world’s largest art heist when over $500M of paintings were stolen from a Boston museum
BOSTON (AP) — A former FBI agent is offering the first detailed account of how investigators identified the people believed to have carried out the 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist. In a new book, Geoffrey Kelly argues the theft was the work of a loose network of Boston-area criminals, not international masterminds, and traces how the stolen art moved through violent criminal circles. His account sheds light on key suspects, investigative missteps and lingering questions, including the actions of a security guard that night. More than three decades later, the paintings remain missing — artworks Kelly calls the “perfect fugitives.”
