Conan O’Brien speaks at Harvard commencement as Trump tightens pressure on the school
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Harvard graduates heard from comedian and television host Conan O’Brien at their commencement. The appearance Thursday of O'Brien, a Harvard alum, came during one of the most fraught periods in the Ivy League school's recent history, as it faces mounting legal and financial pressure from President Donald Trump. The administration sued Harvard in March, accusing its leadership of failing to address antisemitism on campus and creating grounds for the government to freeze existing grants and seek repayment for grants already paid. That came months after a judge sided with Harvard in another lawsuit and ordered the administration to reverse billions of dollars in cuts.
Claude Lemieux, the feisty four-time Stanley Cup champion for Avalanche, Devils and Habs, dies at 60
Four-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux has died after taking his own life, according to authorities. He was 60. The Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Office said deputies responded just after 3 a.m. to a suicide call at a furniture store showroom in Lake Park, Florida. The sheriff’s office said the victim was believed to be Lemieux. The NHL Alumni Association announced Lemieux’s death in a post on social media. Lemieux was the Montreal Canadiens' torch bearer prior to Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final on Monday night. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP with New Jersey in 1995.
Naomi Osaka's latest French Open fashion ensemble includes an ivory train and gold jacket
PARIS (AP) — Naomi Osaka keeps bringing the fashion in Paris. For her walk-on before a second-round win at the French Open the tennis star had on a metallic gold bomber jacket over her sequined gold playing dress offset by an ivory train in a look that mixes sportswear with couture. Osaka then took off the train and jacket and handed the garments to a ball kid to remove them. Osaka beat Donna Vekic 7-6 (1), 6-4 to reach the third round at Roland Garros for the first time since 2019. For her match Tuesday Osaka walked on in a ceremonial black skirt and sleeveless beaded bodice before revealing her gold dress which she said reminded her of the Eiffel Tower at night.
Caesars Entertainment, a Las Vegas Strip icon, is sold for nearly $6 billion
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Caesars Entertainment is being acquired for almost $6 billion by Fertitta, the company that owns Las Vegas’ Golden Nugget and chains like Rainforest Cafe and Morton’s. Caesars became an iconic name after the opening of Caesar’s Palace on the Las Vegas Strip in 1966. However, its roots date back to the 1930s in Reno, Nevada. Fertitta Entertainment will pay $5.7 billion and take on close to $12 billion in debt from Caesars, putting the total value of the deal at about $17.6 billion. Shares of Caesars Entertainment, which are up 15% since merger rumors emerged, rose almost 2% before the opening bell Thursday. Tilman Fertitta is a billionaire hospitality mogul who owns Fertitta Entertainment. He is also the largest shareholder in Wynn Resorts as well as DraftKings.
Happy, who taught researchers that elephants can recognize themselves, is euthanized at Bronx Zoo
NEW YORK (AP) — A Bronx Zoo elephant who gave researchers new insights and became the crux of a closely watched animal rights case has died. The zoo says 55-year-old Happy was euthanized Tuesday after a weekslong decline. The zoo says she showed signs of potential declining kidney or liver function, and a necropsy revealed several large inoperable uterine tumors and arthritis. The Asian elephant lived at the zoo since 1977. In 2005, she showed researchers that elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror. A group called the Nonhuman Rights Project sued the Bronx Zoo in 2018, seeking to have Happy declared a “person” for legal purposes and moved to a large animal sanctuary. New York’s top court ultimately rejected the activists’ claim.
Jill Biden says she feared Joe Biden was having a stroke during disastrous 2024 debate
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former first lady Jill Biden feared her husband was having a stroke as she watched him stumble through his disastrous June 2024 debate performance. Then-President Joe Biden's shaky debate against Donald Trump fueled fears among voters that he was too old for a second term and led to the end of his 2024 reelection campaign. Jill Biden tells CBS News in an interview airing Sunday that she was "frightened” while watching her husband because she “had never ever seen Joe act like that before or since.” The former first lady is promoting a book due out next week, “View from the East Wing: A Memoir.”
Introducing Argus, a robot with 20 legs and eyes built to move and see in any direction instantly
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Robots that look like dogs or people try to replicate symmetrical shapes found in nature. But engineers at Duke University are taking a different approach. They're focusing on uniformity in action or what they call “dynamic symmetry.” The result is Argus. The roly-poly robot has depth-sensing cameras attached to 20 telescoping legs radiating from a central core. With no front, back, top or bottom, it can see and move in any direction instantly. Argus can navigate sandy beaches and rough terrain. It can even climb between parallel brick walls. Researchers hope the design principles behind Argus can be used to develop other types of robots.
Travis Kelce joins Cleveland Guardians ownership group as a minority investor
CLEVELAND (AP) — Travis Kelce is a three-time Super Bowl champion, four-time All-Pro and fiance of music superstar Taylor Swift. On Wednesday he added minority investor in the Cleveland Guardians to his resumé. The Guardians announced before their game against the Washington Nationals that the Kansas City Chiefs tight end has purchased a minority share in the franchise. The Cleveland Heights native bought a small share of David Blitzer’s 35% stake. Blitzer can become the controlling owner after the 2027 season or he can wait to exercise that option later.
Former Braves slugging 3rd baseman Bob Horner, who hit 4 homers in a game, dies at 68
ATLANTA (AP) — Bob Horner, the power-hitting third baseman who was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1978 and hit a home run in his debut with the Atlanta Braves after skipping the minor leagues, has died. He was 68. The Braves say they were informed of Horner’s death in Texas by his wife, Chris. Horner hit 218 homers in his 10-year career, including nine seasons with the Braves. He joined Dale Murphy to form the heart of the Braves’ lineup through much of the 1980s. In his debut, Horner hit a homer off Bert Blyleven of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
RFK Jr. snatches snakes in viral video, the latest of his many animal encounters
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has captured the internet's attention by wrangling two snakes bare-handed. The U.S. health secretary shared a video Tuesday of himself grabbing non-venomous black racer snakes from the patio of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. Reactions to the video, shared on Kennedy's personal social media accounts, ranged from joy to concern. Experts say the snakes are harmless but warn against handling them by the tails due to potential harm. Kennedy, known for his wildlife encounters, has shared similar videos before, including one showing him handling a rattlesnake in 2024. Some of his past actions, like placing a bear carcass in Central Park as a prank in 2014, have sparked criticism.
