These five toys are regular finalists for Hall of Fame honors.Fans can now vote
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — The National Toy Hall of Fame is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and public participation in the induction process is increasing. The Hall of Fame on Tuesday announced that one additional toy of his, selected by fans, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, out of his five toys that have been finalists many times. That list includes Fisher-Price Corn Poppers, My Little Pony, PEZ, Pogo Sticks, and Transformers. Fans can vote once per day until October 24th on the National Toy Hall of Fame website. The winner and other inductees will be announced on Nov. 9 and will be on permanent display alongside past winners such as jump ropes and teddy bears.
Ariana DeBose, Brandi Carlyle, ASL and Taco Chef to appear on upcoming ‘Sesame Street’ season
NEW YORK (AP) — The next season of “Sesame Street” will feature Octopus as a chef, an exploration of American Sign Language and Quinta Branson giving Cookie Monster a little attitude. The 54th season of this iconic children’s show gently satirizes Branson’s hit mockumentary “Abbott’s Elementary,” mimicking that show’s single-camera style and confessional cutaways. Her MAX will be broadcast for the first time on November 9th. Brunson joins other celebrities during the season, including Ariana DeBose, Brandi Carlyle, Eugene Cordero, Dan Levy and Kal Penn. Other highlights include Elmo celebrating Alphabet Day with an emphasis on American Sign Language.
Rolls-Royce to cut up to 2,500 jobs in overhaul of British jet engine maker
Jet engine maker Rolls-Royce has announced it will cut up to 2,500 jobs worldwide as part of a corporate shake-up under its new CEO. The aerospace company has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has slashed demand for air travel. British-based Rolls-Royce did not say on Tuesday where the job cuts would be targeted. Around half of our 42,000 employees are based in the UK. The company said the cuts will eliminate duplication and improve cost efficiencies in the latest phase of a “multi-year transformation.” The company cut 9,000 jobs globally in 2020 as it dealt with the collapse of air travel due to the pandemic.
$25,000 lease promotion may violate sweepstakes laws
Reese’s Company may be violating state and federal laws with the sweepstakes campaign it currently advertises on Peanut Butter Cup packs. The blurb on the two-cup package says, “You could win $25,000,” and in small print, it says, “See inside for details.” But only after the consumer buys and opens the package do they find out the finer points. This means you don’t have to buy to win. Reese’s contest was first reported Monday by Edgar Dworsky, a consumer advocate and former Massachusetts assistant attorney general. Pennsylvania-based Hershey Co., which owns the Reese’s brand, said its website has full details of the promotion and that stores should have signage explaining it.
Suzanne Somers of “Three’s Company” dies at age 76
Actor Suzanne Somers, best known for her role as Chrissie Snow on the American television comedy “Three’s Company,” has died. She was 76 years old. Summers suffered from breast cancer for more than 23 years, and she passed away Sunday morning, her family said in a statement. Her immediate family was in Palm Springs, California, where they were planning to celebrate her 77th birthday on Monday. Summer’s most famous acting role came in ‘Three’s Company.’ The ABC network sitcom aired from her 1977 to her 1984, but Summers’ appearance ended in her 1981. In “Three’s Company” she played a dim-witted blonde opposite John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt.
Lawmakers and educators pay one last visit to Stoneman Douglas High School shooting site
PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) – Florida lawmakers and education leaders from several states take what is likely their final tour of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School building in Parkland. Participated. This is where a former student shot and killed 17 people and injured 17 others on Valentine’s Day 2018. The school’s 1,200 buildings are scheduled to be demolished next summer. Officials told WPLG-TV that Saturday is the last day people can tour the building, which is preserved as evidence. Max Schachter’s 14-year-old son Alex was killed in the massacre. He said he wants people to understand the lessons learned from mass shootings.
Cheers and cheers as the ‘Ring of Fire’ solar eclipse moves across the Americas
CANCUN, Mexico (AP) – Cheers and cries of joy erupted as a rare “ringfire” solar eclipse swept across the Americas. From Oregon to Brazil, millions of people waited in anticipation. Families lined up at a planetarium in the Mexican resort city of Cancun to witness a celestial event. In New Mexico, tens of thousands of people who participated in the International Balloon Fiesta received a double benefit. Unlike a total solar eclipse, in an annular solar eclipse the moon does not completely cover the sun. When the moon lines up between the Earth and the sun, it leaves a bright, fiery border. Saturday’s solar eclipse followed a narrow path from Oregon to Texas and parts of Central and South America.
Olympic champion gymnast Mary Lou Retton’s family says she is making ‘remarkable’ progress
The family of Olympic gymnastics champion Mary Lou Retton says she is making “remarkable” progress in her fight against a rare type of pneumonia. McKenna Kelly, one of Retton’s four daughters, said the 55-year-old’s breathing was getting stronger and that she was “well on her way to recovery.” Posted on Instagram. Her family said earlier this week that Retton was “fighting for her life.” Kelly said Retton is responding to her treatment and her recovery will be a “long” road. A fund set up by Retton’s daughters to help pay for her medical expenses has surpassed $400,000 in just a few days.
Montana man bitten in lower jaw by grizzly bear, released from hospital within weeks
A Montana man whose front jaw was bitten off by a grizzly bear is returning home after spending five weeks in a Utah hospital. Rudy Norlander is looking forward to enjoying root beer floats, reuniting with his Yorkshire terrier Sally and getting back outdoors. Norlander’s daughters sat on either side of him during Friday’s press conference and talked about the ups and downs of the past five weeks and the sense of humor and perspective he used to get through the ordeal. Norlander underwent a 10-hour surgery to reconstruct his jaw and lower lip, but there is still room for healing.
Joran van der Sloot expected to plead guilty in Natalie Holloway extortion case
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – Court records filed Friday show the suspect in the 2005 disappearance of Natalie Holloway intends to plead guilty in a racketeering case. Joran van der Sloot is accused of trying to extort money from the mother of a missing teenage girl. A federal judge has set an argument and sentencing hearing for van der Sloot for October 18 in Birmingham, Alabama. Emails sent to Van der Sloot’s lawyer and a spokesperson for federal prosecutors were not immediately returned Friday evening. Van der Sloot was extradited to Alabama from Peru earlier this year. Holloway confessed to killing a Peruvian woman in 2010 and is serving a 28-year sentence. Mr. Holloway went missing while traveling to Aruba with his classmates for his high school graduation trip.