Duane Eddy, twangy guitar hero of early rock, dead at age 86
NEW YORK (AP) — Duane Eddy, a pioneering guitar hero whose reverberating electric sound on instrumentals such as “Rebel Rouser,” “Forty Miles of Bad Road" and “Cannonball” helped put the twang in early rock ‘n’ roll and influenced George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and countless other musicians, has died at age 86. With his raucous rhythms, and backing hollers and hand claps, Eddy sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and mastered a distinctive sound based on the premise that a guitar’s bass strings sounded better on tape than the high ones.
Ex-Nickelodeon producer Schneider sues 'Quiet on Set' makers for defamation, sex abuse implications
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider is suing the makers of the documentary “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" for implying that he sexually abused children. The defamation suit was filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles court aainst Warner Bros. Discovery and other companies behind the four-part documentary. The show uses cast and crew interviews to portray Schneider as creating a toxic work environment and overly sexualizing the kids on his shows including “All That” and “The Amanda Show.” But the suit says the series and its trailer unjustly suggest he actually sexually abused the actors he worked with. The defendants didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
Movie Review: In 'The Idea of You,' a boy band is center stage but Anne Hathaway steals the show
In the warmly charming rom-com “The Idea of You,” Anne Hathaway plays a 40-year-old divorcee who becomes romantically involved with a 24-year-old heartthrob in a boy band called August Moon. Solène is stylish, unimpressed by Hayes’ celebrity and has bangs so perfect they look genetically modified. And, most importantly, she’s Anne Hathaway. In the power dynamic of “The Idea of You,” Hayes may be a fictional pop star but Hathaway is a very real movie star, writes AP Film Writer Jake Coyle in his review. And you don’t forget it for a moment in Michael Showalter’s lightly appealing showcase of the actress at her resplendent best.
Man says his emotional support alligator, known for its big social media audience, has gone missing
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — A Pennsylvania man says his emotional support alligator named Wally has gone missing amid the coastal marshes of Georgia. Joie Henney's alligator has attracted thousands of social media followers over the years, with videos and photos showing people petting and cuddling the 5 1/2-foot reptile. Wally's popularity skyrocketed last year when the gator was denied entrance to a Philadelphia Phillies game. Now Henney says the alligator that has helped relieve his depression for nearly a decade vanished April 21 from an outdoor enclosure during a vacation in Brunswick, Georgia. He posted a tearful TikTok video asking people to help “bring my baby back.”
Want to spend the night in a Paris museum or a house owned by Prince? Airbnb plans to list them
Airbnb says it's going to give customers a chance at overnight stays in a Paris museum, a bedroom filled with Ferrari racing cars, and other exotic settings. It's a mix of game-show glitter and marketing. CEO Brian Chesky said Wednesday that 4,000 Airbnb users will win a chance to get one of the 11 listings that the company is calling “icons.” They include a house made to look like the one in the 2009 Pixar-Disney animated film “Up,” another featured in the Prince film “Purple Rain” and an evening hanging out with comedian Kevin Hart. The campaign seeks to promote Airbnb as a company that sells experiences and not just hotel alternatives.
George W. Bush's portraits of veterans are heading to Disney World
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Walt Disney World will host dozens of portraits of service members and veterans from the nation’s Painter-in-Chief. The George W. Bush Institute is loaning the 60 color portraits by the former U.S. president to the Florida theme park resort. The paintings of service members and veterans will be displayed for a year starting next month at Epcot’s American Adventure pavilion. Accompanying each painting is a veteran biography written by the former president. The exhibit also will include information and resources created to support veterans and their families.
Trump awarded 36 million more Trump Media shares worth $1.6 billion after hitting price benchmarks
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has secured another $1.6 billion worth of shares in Trump Media. That's according to a regulatory filing this week. Based on the company’s stock hitting certain price benchmarks, Trump was awarded an additional 36 million shares in the company that owns his social media platform Truth Social. That brings his total ownership to more than 114 million shares, which based on Tuesday's closing price, are worth $5.1 billion. For now, the value of those shares is considered “paper wealth.” Trump is prohibited from selling any shares for six months after Trump Media went public without securing a waiver from the company’s board.
Tennis legend Boris Becker discharged from bankruptcy court in England
LONDON (AP) — German tennis legend Boris Becker has been discharged from bankruptcy court in London after a judge found he had done “all that he reasonably could do” to repay his creditors. High Court Judge Nicholas Briggs said in a ruling Wednesday that it would be “perverse” not to end the case. Creditors say Becker still owed about 42 million pounds ($52.5 million) over an unpaid loan of more than 3 million pounds ($3.75 million) on his estate in Mallorca, Spain. Becker served 8 months in a London prison for illicitly transferring large amounts of money and hiding 2.5 million pounds ($3.1 million) from bankruptcy trustees.
Ford recalls Maverick pickups in US because tail lights can go dark, increasing the risk of a crash
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford is recalling nearly 243,000 Maverick small pickup trucks in the U.S. because the tail lights may not illuminate. The company says a computer can falsely detect too much current on one or both of the lights, causing them to stay dark while the trucks are moving. That can increase the risk of a crash. The recall covers certain pickups from the 2022 through 2024 model years. Ford says it has no reports of any crashes or injuries due to the problem. Dealers will update software to fix the problem at no cost to owners, who will be notified by letter starting May 20.
Over 500 baby sea turtles washed ashore in a big storm off South Africa. Here's the rescue effort
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A South African aquarium is stretched beyond capacity after more than 500 baby sea turtles were washed up on beaches by a rare and powerful storm and rescued by members of the public. The little turtles are mostly endangered loggerheads. They will spend the first few months of their lives in newly built plastic tanks at the Turtle Conservation Center at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town. The center has a normal capacity of 150 turtles. Turtles are vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change. But the storm has given conservationists a valuable insight into another increasingly common danger: plastic pollution.
