NASA's Mars Perseverance snaps a selfie as a Martian dust devil blows by

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The latest selfie by NASA's Perseverance rover at Mars has captured an unexpected guest: a Martian dust devil. The twirling dust devil popped up a few miles behind the rover during this month's photo shoot. The selfie was released Wednesday. It's a composite of 59 images taken by the camera on the end of the rover's arm. Perseverance is covered with red dust in the picture, the result of drilling into dozens of rocks over the past four years. It's collecting samples at an ancient lakebed and river delta for eventual return to Earth.

UK court frees singer Chris Brown freed on $6.7 million bail in assault case

LONDON (AP) — Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown has been released on $6.7 million bail while facing allegations he beat and seriously injured a music producer in a London nightclub in 2023. A judge in Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday allowed Brown's release, which will allow him to start his world tour next month. His performances were cast in doubt when a different judge last week ordered him held without bail after he was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Brown would have missed at least two dates on his upcoming tour starting in Amsterdam if he had been held until a June 13 hearing.

Former New York state trooper pleads guilty to faking his own shooting

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — A former New York state trooper has pleaded guilty to charges that he shot himself then falsely claimed he was wounded by an unknown gunman on a Long Island highway. Thomas Mascia formally changed his plea during a court appearance Wednesday in Mineola. He had been charged with official misconduct, tampering with evidence and falsifying documents. Mascia’s parents also pleaded guilty Wednesday to firearms charges. Prosecutors say Mascia shot himself in a park, stashed the gun, drove to the highway and called for backup. His lawyer has said Mascia suffers from untreated mental health issues.

George Wendt, who played beloved barfly Norm on 'Cheers' and found another home onstage, dies at 76

NEW YORK (AP) — George Wendt, an actor with an Everyman charm who played the affable, beer-loving barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy “Cheers,” has died. He was 76. Wendt in later life crafted a stage career that took him to Broadway in “Art,” “Hairspray” and “Elf.” Despite a long career of roles onstage and on TV, it was as gentle and henpecked Norm Peterson on “Cheers” that he was most associated, earning six straight Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series from 1984-89. The series was centered on lovable losers in a Boston bar and starred Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, Kirstie Alley and Woody Harrelson.

Southwest Airlines will require chargers be kept out while in use because of battery fire concerns

Passengers on Southwest Airlines flights will soon be required to keep their portable chargers in plain sight while using them because of concerns about the growing number of lithium battery fires. Southwest announced the new policy that will go into effect on May 28. The airline says passengers may have already seen notifications about the industry-leading rule when using the airline’s app. There is growing concern about lithium-ion battery fires on planes because the number continues to grow annually and devices powered by those batteries are ubiquitous. There have already been 19 incidents this year following last year’s record high of 89. Other airlines may copy Southwest's new policy.

On 'World Bee Day,' the bees did not seem bothered. They should be

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) — Tuesday was the eighth annual “World Bee Day.” Bees and other pollinators have been on the decline for years. Experts blame a combination of factors. They include insecticides, parasites, disease, climate change and lack of a diverse food supply. A significant part of the human diet comes from plants pollinated by bees. And not just honeybees but hundreds of species of lesser-known wild bees. Many of them are endangered. The U.N. General Assembly sponsored the first “World Bee Day” in 2018 to bring attention to the bees’ plight. Steps as small as planting a pollinator garden or buying raw honey from local farmers were encouraged.

Levi Strauss agrees to sell Casual Friday staple Dockers for up to $391 million

NEW YORK (AP) — Levi Strauss is set to finally part ways with Dockers — inking a deal to sell its brand once credited with propelling the popularity of “Casual Fridays” to Authentic Brands Group. In an announcement Tuesday, the denim giant said it had agreed to sell Dockers to Authentic for up to $391 million. The transaction will start at an initial value of $311 million, with the potential of adding another $80 million to the price tag based on business performance under the new ownership. The sale arrives as San Francisco-based Levi Strauss boosts its focus on the chain’s core Levi’s brand — as well as Beyond Yoga, which the company acquired in 2021, as more and more consumers continue to cozy up to athleisure wear.

Home Depot says it doesn't expect to boost prices because of tariffs

Home Depot doesn’t expect to raise prices because of tariffs, saying it has spent years diversifying the sources for the goods on its shelves. Other companies, domestic and foreign, have warned customers that price hikes are on the way. Walmart said last week that it has already raised prices and will have to do so again in the near future. Late Monday, Subaru of America said it would raise prices on some of its most popular models by as much as $2,000. Home Depot says it doesn't expect any single country outside of the U.S. will represent more than 10% of its purchases 12 months from now.

Passenger jet had to abort takeoff to avoid runway collision at New York's LaGuardia Airport

Federal officials are investigating why two planes got dangerously close on a runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport earlier this month despite the airport being equipped with an advanced surface radar system that's designed to help prevent such close calls. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board said Monday they are investigating the May 6 incident. A Republic Airways jet had to abort takeoff because a United Airlines plane was still taxiing across the runway. Renee Hoffer said she and the other passengers were thrown forward so hard when the plane abruptly stopped that she wound up in the emergency room the next day with a pinched nerve.

Trump administration agrees to pay nearly $5M to settle suit over Ashli Babbitt shooting in Capitol

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has agreed to pay just under $5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit that Ashli Babbitt’s family filed over her shooting by an officer during the U.S. Capitol riot. That's according to a person with knowledge of the settlement who insisted on anonymity to discuss terms of a deal that have not been made public. The settlement will resolve the $30 million federal lawsuit that Babbitt’s estate filed last year in Washington. On Jan. 6, 2021, a Capitol police officer shot Babbitt as she tried to climb through the broken window of a barricaded door.