2 college students found dead after going missing during Colorado hike
Two Colorado college students have been found dead after going missing during a weekend hiking trip in the Rocky Mountains. The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office said late Wednesday that search and rescue volunteers found the bodies of Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon earlier in the day in a basin of West Apostle Mountain, where heavy snow fell last weekend. They left Colorado Mountain College Leadville’s campus Friday and were expected back by Sunday, but were reported missing on Monday morning. The causes of their deaths are under investigation. Their tent was found Tuesday collapsed under the snow with their belongings inside.
'Dixie' map that divided US into North and South is going up for auction
It’s perhaps the most consequential map in American history, and it could be yours. The hand-drawn chart of the Mason-Dixon Line that eventually divided the free and slave states is up for auction. Originally intended to settle a border dispute between the colonies of Maryland and Pennsylvania, Charles Mason's and Jeremiah Dixon's survey became synonymous with the fundamental divisions that exploded into civil war four decades later. Late publisher Malcolm Forbes outbid the Library of Congress for the map in 1982, paying $360,000. Lauren Brunk of Brunk Auctions estimates it could fetch up to $1 million at Thursday's sale.
Wendy's, struggling with beef prices and growing competition, gets a buyout offer
Shares of Wendy’s jumped after noted investor Nelson Peltz made an offer to buy the struggling burger chain. Wendy’s shares are down 25% in the past year following a yearslong decline. The chain, founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas and named after his daughter, is known for its square burgers and Frosty desserts. But its market share has been falling as burger competitors like In-N-Out and Five Guys expand and inflation made fast-food visits less affordable. Peltz’s Trian Fund Management and several partners are offering Wendy’s $7.35 per share in cash, or a premium of nearly 19% over the stock’s closing price on Tuesday.
Russell Brand denies all charges as he takes the stand at his rape and sex assault trial
LONDON (AP) — Russell Brand says allegations of sexual misconduct have had a “devastating” impact on his life. The actor and comedian testified in court Wednesday at his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault. Brand, 51, denied all charges, stating that friends and colleagues have abandoned him. He also mentioned being barred from staying with his baby son in the hospital due to the allegations. Over the past two weeks, prosecutors have presented their case, with six women accusing Brand of misconduct between 1999 and 2009. Brand insists that consent is fundamental, denying any wrongdoing.
California appeals court upholds actor Danny Masterson's rape convictions
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California appeals court has upheld actor Danny Masterson’s convictions and long prison sentence for raping two women at his home in 2003. The three-judge panel on Tuesday unanimously found that the “That ’70s Show” actor had failed to demonstrate that the lower court made errors that would warrant granting him a new trial. Masterson was convicted in 2023 of raping two women at his home two decades earlier. He was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. His attorneys said in an emailed statement Tuesday that they would seek review at the California Supreme Court.
A dinosaur fossil that looks like a mini T. rex just sold for a giant $47 million
NEW YORK (AP) — A dinosaur that looks like a miniature T. rex is now one of the world's most expensive fossils. The rare skeleton of a Nanotyrannus sold for $47.3 million to a mystery buyer at auction in New York City. Sotheby’s auction house had expected it to fetch anywhere from $6 to $9 million. The price tag for “Jodi,” as the skeleton is nicknamed, makes it the second-priciest set of dinosaur bones ever sold. This summer, a T. rex fossil known as “Gus” sold for a record $50.1 million. Some scientists have opposed such private sales, saying they should go to museums or other institutions for study and public display.
China takes Mbappé's apology 'seriously' after backlash over his ‘Chinese dictator’ comments
BANGKOK (AP) — China has acknowledged soccer star Kylian Mbappé's apology for comments seen as disrespectful to Mao Zedong, the founding leader of Communist China. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday they take his apology seriously, even as state media warned that celebrities would naturally lose business for crossing a red line. Mbappé has faced backlash since Tuesday after his remarks in an online interview, and the fallout continues, after he lost brand deals with three Chinese companies and state media suspended broadcasts of Spanish league matches. The incident was the latest in which China has used its market to compel foreign brands and individuals to apologize for perceived slights.
'Crash ur row only': United flight turned around after passenger allegedly said he'd 'hijack' plane
LAS VEGAS (AP) — An airplane passenger was arrested for allegedly writing that he was going to “hijack” the plane, forcing the United flight to be diverted back to Las Vegas shortly after takeoff. Police said they arrested the 25-year-old man on charges of making a threat or providing false information regarding an act of terrorism. The man allegedly communicated that he was “gonna hijack” the plane and “crash ur row only,” according to a copy of the criminal complaint. The man is scheduled for an initial court appearance Tuesday. An attorney listed for him did not immediately return a request for comment. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it will investigate the incident.
St. Louis Blues condemn what they called an antisemitic protest at an NHL game against Vegas
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Blues have condemned what they called an antisemitic protest during a game last week at Enterprise Center. Signs that read “Israel Kills” and “Free America from Israel” were held by fans in the stands Thursday when the Blues played the Vegas Golden Knights. In a statement on Monday, Blues owner Tom Stillman called the signs “vile messages of hate” that were “unfortunate and unforgivable.” Stillman says the fans who held the banners were ejected from the arena. The 2026 Freedom Convoy disagreed with Stillman’s characterization of the protest.
How daylight saving time changes affect you and what you can do about it
It's almost time for most Americans to set their clocks back an hour. Daylight saving time ends in the U.S. at 2 a.m. local time next Sunday. Standard time will last until March 14, when we will again “spring forward” with the return of daylight saving time. Most countries do not observe daylight saving time. For those that do — mostly in North America and Europe — the date that clocks are changed varies. In the U.S., Hawaii and most of Arizona don’t change and stay on standard time.
