A ring before a playoff win for Justin Herbert, who gets engaged to singer Madison Beer
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Justin Herbert has his first ring, and it's not on the football field. The Los Angeles Chargers quarterback and singer-songwriter Madison Beer have announced their engagement in an Instagram post. It included a photo of Herbert proposing to Beer. The couple was first seen together last August. Beer attended some Chargers games last season, and they were spotted at Dodgers and Lakers games. Herbert appeared in Beer's “lovergirl” video this spring. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has been supportive of their relationship. Herbert begins training camp Wednesday for his seventh season with the Chargers.
Trump says he wants to honor California lifeguard who rescued boy from pounding surf
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A Northern California lifeguard is being hailed as a hero after saving a boy from pounding surf. The dramatic rescue at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz caught the attention of President Donald Trump. The president said Tuesday that he would invite the lifeguard and possibly the boy to the White House. A witness captured video of the rescue, showing the lifeguard rushing into the water and diving into a wave while holding the boy. Several adults tried to help but retreated due to the powerful surf. Eventually the lifeguard and a colleague brought the boy safely ashore.
KFC founder Colonel Sanders' signature bow tie and personal planner sell at auction
SHELBYVILLE, Ky. (AP) — KFC founder Harland Sanders’ signature black bow tie and dozens of his personal items were up for public auction. The family who bought his dinner house and residence in Kentucky also is auctioning off those properties this week. The Claudia Sanders Dinner House was established after the colonel sold his iconic restaurant chain. Sanders’ personal 1964 planner with a handwritten herbs and spices recipe that was the subject of an early 2000s privacy lawsuit sold for $30,000. KFC later dropped the legal action, saying after reviewing the planner the ingredients didn’t match Sanders’ secret blend of 11 herbs and spices.
Teleprompter operator accused of betting on Trump speeches is out of a job
WASHINGTON (AP) — A White House teleprompter operator accused of using inside knowledge to make bets about President Donald Trump’s speeches on the online prediction market Kalshi is no longer in his post. That's according to a White House official who was not authorized to comment publicly about the personnel matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. The official on Tuesday confirmed that teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez “no longer works in the federal government" but would not say whether he resigned or was fired. The White House said earlier this month that Perez was on unpaid leave after ABC News reported he used inside knowledge to win more than $100,000 betting on what Trump would say in speeches.
Artist Betye Saar, whose work reflects Black identity, dies at 99
Artist Betye Saar has died in Los Angeles at 99. Saar’s death on Sunday was confirmed by relatives Monday. She would have turned 100 this week. Saar's work explored Black identity, culture and spirituality, and she was a central figure in the 1960s Black Art Movement. She began her art career at age 35 and continued creating works through her 90s. Roberts Projects gallery says Saar's “appropriation of Black collectibles, heirlooms, and utilitarian objects are transformed through subversion” and that “among the older generation of Black American artists, Saar is without reproach.” Saar’s artwork incorporated painting, printmaking, sculpture and found objects including dolls, washboards and other antiques.
103-year-old Omaha man discovers passion for golf late in life, still chases birdies and beats pals
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Bob Walls is still impressing on the golf course at 103 years old. Walls looks decades younger and credits his longevity to good genes and staying active. Born in Kansas in 1923, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska, in 1947 after serving in World War II. He took up golf at 74 and now volunteers at the Steve Hogan Golf Course. He fills divots, picks up trash and sometimes plays a hole or two. Walls regularly shoots in the low 30s and continues to work on his game every day.
Carly Simon has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, treated for skin cancer
NEW YORK (AP) — Carly Simon, the singer known for “Nobody Does It Better” and other hits, has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In a statement to The Associated Press on Monday, the eighty-three-year-old Simon shared her journey of learning to live with the condition. She had experienced arthritis and underwent joint replacement surgeries, but her mobility continued to decline. After an evaluation at the Mayo Clinic, she received the Parkinson's diagnosis. Simon also revealed she was treated for basal cell carcinoma on her face. Despite health challenges, music has been a solace. She will release “Comes in Waves,” her first album of original songs since 2008, in August.
Cracker Barrel CEO steps down a year after logo debacle
Cracker Barrel’s CEO is stepping down nearly a year after an attempted rebrand of the chain led to fierce customer backlash. Lebanon, Tennessee-based Cracker Barrel said Monday that CEO Julie Masino will step down next month but remain with the company until Oct. 9 in an advisory capacity. David Deno will succeed Masino on Aug. 10 as CEO. Deno served as the CEO of Bloomin’ Brands, which owns Outback Steakhouse and other chains, from 2019 to 2024. The move comes a year after Cracker Barrel announced a simplified logo and other changes that angered longtime fans.
‘The Odyssey’ earns $87M in its second weekend, Christopher Nolan’s best second weekend yet
“The Odyssey” continues to captivate audiences in its second weekend, raking in $87 million in North American theaters. This marks a modest 30% drop from its opening weekend, making it filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s best second weekend ever. Globally, the film has earned an estimated $639.6 million. IMAX screens alone contributed $48 million to the global earnings this weekend. The film faces no significant competition yet, but “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is set to release soon. Meanwhile, Disney's “Moana” and “Toy Story 5" secured second and third place, with “Toy Story 5" surpassing $1 billion globally.
America In Focus: New tariffs, soaring gas, mortgages and a down week for Wall Street
President Donald Trump is going ahead with new double-digit tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners just as the clock ran out Friday on stopgap levies he imposed after a stinging defeat at the Supreme Court. Gas prices soared above $4 this week as the U.S. and Iran launched more attacks. And U.S. applications for jobless benefits tumbled to the lowest level in more than five decades last week. The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits in the week ending July 18 declined by 22,000 to 187,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s the fewest number of weekly applications since the week ending Sept. 6, 1969.
