Keanu Reeves spins out at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in pro auto racing debut
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Hollywood star Keanu Reeves made his professional auto racing debut in an event in which "The Matrix" star spun out at famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Reeves spun into the grass Saturday without a collision on the exit of Turn 9 a little more than halfway through the 45-minute race. He re-entered and continued driving, signaling he was uninjured. Reeves, who is 60 years old, is competing at Indianapolis in Toyota GR Cup, a Toyota spec-racing series and a support series for this weekend's Indy 8 Hour sports car event. He has a second race Sunday.
'Magical' flotilla of hot air balloons take flight at international fiesta amid warm temperatures
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- A flotilla of hot air balloons ascended into a clear desert sky on Saturday to kick off a colorful mass ascension at the 52nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The nine-day gathering draws hundreds of thousands of spectators and pilots to New Mexico each fall for the rare opportunity to be within arm's reach as giant balloons are unpacked and inflated. Balloons took flight to screams of delight after a brief weather delay and were spirited away by a gentle breeze. Propane burners roared and hundreds of balloons -- from traditional globes to cartoonish figures -- speckled the sky with color.
Mimis Plessas, a mild-mannered giant of modern Greek music, dies at 99
ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Renowned Greek musician and composer Mimis Plessas has died just a week before his 100th birthday. Plessas' prolific career spanned film, television, and theater and involved collaborations with prominent Greek singers over generations. Greece's prime minister said Plessas had given the country a unique musical contribution that became ingrained in Greek culture
Storm brewing in Gulf of Mexico could intensify into a hurricane, threatening Florida
MIAMI (AP) -- Forecasters say a storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico that is likely to become a tropical storm could intensify into a hurricane that could impact parts of Florida in the coming days. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says tropical depression 14 is currently about 210 miles north-northeast of Veracruz, Mexico. The system is expected to become a tropical storm later Saturday. It is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane and bring the risk of life-threatening impacts to portions of Florida's West Coast next week. Hurricane and storm surge watches are likely be issued Sunday.
Solar flares may cause faint auroras across top of Northern Hemisphere
NEW YORK (AP) -- Solar storms may cause faint auroras across fringes of the northern United States this weekend. Forecasters are also monitoring for possible disruptions to power and communications. The sun's magnetic field is currently at the peak of its 11-year cycle, making solar storms and northern lights more frequent. The sun shot out two strong flares earlier this week, including one Thursday that was the biggest since 2017. Faint auroras may be visible as far south as South Dakota, Iowa and New York -- but the storms could still intensify or weaken over the weekend.
Civilization 7 makers work with Shawnee to bring sincere representation of the tribe to the game
MIAMI, Okla. (AP) -- The chief of the Shawnee Tribe grew up playing video games, including hundreds of hours colonizing a distant planet in the 1999 title Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. So when that same game studio approached the tribal nation with a proposal to make a playable character out of their historical leader Tecumseh in the upcoming game Civilization 7, Chief Ben Barnes felt a rush of excitement. Meier's Civilization series remains the bestselling franchise in a strategy genre it helped launch in 1991. But society's understanding of cultural appropriation and the importance of accurate historical framing has changed. To properly represent the Shawnee leader, game developers looked for the input and blessing of the Shawnee people.
Karen Read seeks delay in wrongful death lawsuit until her trial on murder and other charges is done
BOSTON (AP) -- Karen Read is seeking to delay a wrongful death lawsuit until her criminal trial in connection with the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend is done. The lawsuit filed last month by the family of John O'Keefe blames his death on Read, and also on what the lawsuit describes as negligence by bars that continued to serve drinks to her despite signs she was drunk. It says the first bar served her seven alcoholic drinks in about 90 minutes the night of Jan. 28, 2022, and that Read carried the last drink into the second bar, where she was served more alcohol.
Garth Brooks accused of rape in lawsuit from hair-and-makeup artist
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A woman who says she worked as a hair-and-makeup artist for Garth Brooks alleges in a lawsuit that the country music star raped and sexually assaulted her in a Los Angeles hotel in 2019. The woman is not named and goes by Jane Roe in the lawsuit filed in LA Superior Court on Thursday. She alleges that Brooks booked only one hotel suite for the two of them on the trip from Nashville to California, and raped her in the suite. Brooks forcefully denied the allegations in a statement and acknowledged he tried to get a court to stop Thursday's lawsuit from being filed.
Eminem is going to be a grandfather, he reveals in 'Temporary' music video
Rapper Eminem has announced his daughter Hailie Jade is pregnant through a touching music video that is a tribute to their relationship. The "Temporary" music video shows his daughter handing Eminem a jersey with the name "Grandpa" emblazoned on the back and ultrasound photos. The social media influencer confirmed the news of her pregnancy in an Instagram post. The video also features photos and clips of home videos from his daughter's childhood that date back to 1999. The "Lose Yourself" artist has always had a soft spot for his daughter, frequently mentioning her in songs like "Hailie's Song" and "Mockingbird."
Cincinnati Reds hire Terry Francona as manager a year after he left Cleveland
Terry Francona has been hired to manage the Cincinnati Reds, returning to the major leagues a year after he stepped down in Cleveland because of health reasons. The team announced the hire Friday. Francona received a three-year contract. Francona is replacing David Bell, who was fired by Cincinnati in the final days of his sixth season. Bell had a 409-456 record with the Reds. Francona, who turns 66 in April, played for Cincinnati in 1987. He hit .227 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 102 games. Francona spent 11 seasons in Cleveland, where he led the Guardians to one World Series appearance and became the club's all-time winningest manager.