Will Red Grooms' whimsical, wonderful Tennessee Fox Trot Carousel ride again?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee State Museum in Nashville is considering how to bring a beloved whimsical carousel back to life. The Tennessee Fox Trot Carousel was the creation of Nashville-born artist Red Grooms, featuring imaginative renderings of figures from Tennessee history including Chet Atkins and Davy Crockett. The downtown Nashville riverfront attraction, beset by financial struggles, was dismantled in 2003 and put into storage by the state museum. Museum Executive Director Ashley Howell is trying to find partners to help fund the ride's rehabilitation and admits the most common question she hears from members of the public is: “What about the Red Grooms carousel?”
A giraffe named Gracie escaped in Texas. No one can seem to find her
An escaped giraffe has managed to stay a few steps ahead of a private ranch owner and local officials in Texas Hill Country for nearly two weeks. Cedar Hollow Ranch owner Vic Jones says the 3-year-old giraffe named Gracie managed to get out of her enclosure on June 12. Gracie had just arrived at the privately owned preserve located about 100 miles west of San Antonio a month earlier and wandered into an area the other giraffes had previously avoided and ended up on the wrong said of the gate. The missing giraffe was reported to the Real County Sheriff’s Office to put residents on alert. But Jones says the search area is extremely remote, and the likelihood of Gracie encountering any humans is low.
Merlín the duck takes a trip to the stadium, but FIFA rules keep him out of Mexico match
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A viral sensation from this World Cup, Merlín the duck was at Mexico City's stadium before the national team's match against the Czech Republic. But he ultimately couldn't stay for Wednesday's game. The duck became famous after being seen in downtown Mexico City during celebrations of Mexico's opening victory. Accompanied by his owners Wednesday, Merlín traveled to the stadium under strict security. Although he couldn't stay for the match due to FIFA regulations, he filmed a segment with Televisa. Merlín has become a social media phenomenon and an unofficial mascot, even meeting President Claudia Sheinbaum. Despite not being in the stands, his owners believe Merlín brings luck to the Mexican team.
Failed robbery on small Caribbean island of Tobago spawns memes and Batman references
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — Police in Trinidad and Tobago say they are searching for a group of robbers caught on camera using a backhoe to try and steal a cash machine but bungled the movie-style heist so badly they ended up as memes. Security camera footage shows at least four suspects fumbling around the crime scene. One of them bore a striking resemblance to Batman, wearing all-black clothing, a black ski mask and what looked like a black poncho that blew in the wind like the superhero’s cape. That person is seen tripping over debris and falling on the floor as they try to direct the backhoe. The incident occurred Wednesday.
Guinness crowns Canberra town crier as the world's loudest person at 122.4 decibels
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian professional air conditioner cleaner and honorary town crier has been recognized as the world’s loudest person. Guinness World Records last week acknowledged that Joseph McGrail-Bateup recorded the loudest ever shout by an individual. He yelled “now” at 122.4 decibels. That broke the previous record of 121.7 decibels set by Northern Ireland schoolteacher Annalisa Flanagan in 1994. She had yelled an ear-piercing “quiet.” That is in the noise range of a chain saw, a jet aircraft taking off and an ambulance siren at close range. McGrail-Bateup said Tuesday the record attempt was not something he could train for.
Man arrested in Hungary for collecting human body parts taken from cemeteries, police say
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Police in Hungary have arrested a 30-year-old man for collecting human body parts. Authorities say he gathered the parts from abandoned cemeteries and his hospital workplace. The National Bureau of Investigation arrested him in Budapest on June 17. During a search of his apartment, police found skulls, bones and a heart in a jar. The man admitted to collecting and even cooking the body parts. He is being held on suspicion of illegal use of human bodies. Police suspect he obtained the parts through his work and by digging up bodies in Slovakia and Hungary.
A plan to sell artifacts from the Titanic faces US government opposition
A newly unsealed court filing shows the U.S. government opposes a plan to auction more than 100 artifacts recovered from the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic. The Georgia-based company RMS Titanic Inc. has exclusive salvage rights to the famous wreck, and has extracted dishware, gold coins and even pieces of the ship's hull. It wants to sell some of those artifacts for the first time, despite previous agreements to only display them at museums and traveling exhibitions. It proposed auctioning some artifacts and displaying them in four cities, however the details aren’t public. The U.S. government argues that plan would violate existing court orders and agreements, but the company says it would not.
An ancient oak tree said to have sheltered legendary Robin Hood has died
LONDON (AP) — The 1,200-year-old Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, linked to the legend of Robin Hood, is believed to have died. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has said Thursday that the tree failed to sprout leaves this spring. Visitors to the forest over the years have compressed the soil around it, hindering rain from reaching its roots. The Nottingham forest has faced threats for years, and climate change has also been blamed. Even in death, the tree will remain a natural monument and continue to support the forest's ecosystem.
Police rescue more than 400 cats from being eaten in Vietnam in a bust of a major animal theft ring
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Police in Vietnam have seized more than 400 cats in a major bust of an animal theft ring last week. Animal welfare groups and local media say the investigation saved hundreds of animals destined for the dinner plate. Local news reports say an investigation into a spate of pet thefts led Ho Chi Minh City police to the cat meat crime ring. Nine people have been detained. The animal groups say more than 40 cats have been reunited with their owners. They say the operation is sobering reminder of the enormous scale of Vietnam's cat meat trade. Cat lovers hope the operation will bring more attention to campaigns to end dog and cat meat consumption.
