Still finding trouble in the woods: 'Blair Witch Project' star at center of Maine road dispute

FREEDOM, Maine (AP) — Heather Donahue starred in the low-budget hit movie “The Blair Witch Project” and has been embroiled in a spat with locals in her tiny Maine town after she started marking trees to help people find their way in the dense forests. It's a twist of fate harkening back to her long ago movie career. Donahue had been a member of the town’s governing board but lost a recall election recently after a controversy about whether a rural road was public or private. She says she is putting the saga behind her and getting back to enjoying a quiet life in Maine.

Sailing from Oregon to Hawaii after quitting his job turns a man with a cat into social media star

HONOLULU (AP) — A 29-year-old former tire shop manager who quit his job and cashed in his retirement savings to buy a sailboat has become a social media sensation as he sails from Oregon to Hawaii with his cat, Phoenix. Oliver Widger says he decided to chase his sailing dream after being diagnosed with a neck issue that could ultimately paralyze him. His posts about stunning sunsets and  harrowing rudder failures as he crosses the Pacific Ocean have attracted more than 1 million followers on TikTok and Instagram. He tells The Associated Press that he is harnessing the power of social media to fund his round-the-world trip.

Harvard thought it had a cheap copy of the Magna Carta. It turned out to be extremely rare

BOSTON (AP) — Harvard University for decades assumed it had a cheap copy of the Magna Carta in its collection, a stained and faded document it had purchased for less than $30. But two researchers have concluded it has something much more valuable — a rare version from 1300 issued by Britain’s King Edward I. The original Magna Carta established in 1215 the principle that the king is subject to law, and it has formed the basis of constitutions globally. There are four copies of the original and, until now, there were believed to be only six copies of the 1300 version. Harvard's copy of the Magna Carta is worth millions of dollars, but Harvard has no plans to sell it.

Pope meets Sinner: No. 1 player gives tennis fan Pope Leo XIV racket on Italian Open off day

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has apparently made peace with Jannik Sinner. The top-ranked tennis player visited the new pope on Wednesday, gave him a tennis racket and offered to play, during an off day for Sinner at the Italian Open. Leo, the first American pope, is an avid tennis player and fan and had said earlier this week that he would be up for a charity match when it was suggested by a journalist. But at the time, Leo joked "we can’t invite Sinner,” an apparent reference to the English meaning of Sinner’s last name. Sinner said it was “a good thing for us tennis players” that the new pope likes to play the sport.

Cannes makes it official: No nudity on the red carpet

CANNES, France (AP) — The Cannes Film Festival red carpet is perhaps the most rigidly controlled red carpet in the world. Now, the festival has added a new stipulation. No nudity. While nudity was never previously endorsed at the festival, Cannes updated its dress policy on the eve of its 78th edition to read that “nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival.” While a no-shirt-no-service policy is standard in places far less glamorous than Cannes, the policy tweak sparked widespread attention Monday because of the recent trend of sheer and “nude dresses” in some fashion circles.

An Alaska Mother's Day tradition: Mingling with ice age survivors on a farm

PALMER, Alaska (AP) — It is one of Alaska’s favorite Mother’s Day traditions, getting up close and personal with animals that have survived the ice age. All moms get a flower and free admission Sunday at the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, about an hour’s drive north of Anchorage. Once inside, they will have the chance to view more than 70 members of the musk ox herd, including babies who have just been born. Mother’s Day is the busiest day of the year, attracting over 1,500 visitors. It is a tradition that now stretches over three generations. Executive director Mark Austin says there would be a riot if they ever didn't have the traditional opening of the summer season on Mother's Day.

Chimpanzees drum with regular rhythm when they beat on tree trunks, a form of ancient communication

A new study shows that chimpanzees drum with regular rhythm when they beat on tree trunks. Previous research has shown that chimps have their own signature drumming style. A new analysis of 371 bouts of chimpanzee drumming demonstrates that the chimps clearly play their instruments -- the tree trunks -- with regular rhythms. This suggests that the ability to produce rhythm predates the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees, dating back more than 6 million years. Scientists believe that the drumming is a form of long-distance communication. The research was published Friday in the journal Current Biology.

Paul Pierce says he walked 20 miles to work in a robe as punishment for guaranteeing a Celtics' win

Former Celtics great Paul Pierce was so confident in his team in Game 2 against the Knicks, he said he would walk to work barefoot “in my robe” if they lost for a second straight game in the second-round series. That didn’t turn out so great. The Celtics blew a 20-point lead in Game 2, as they did in Game 1, and lost 91-90 on Wednesday night. Pierce appeared to honor his vow the next morning, saying he set out before the sun rose for what he said was a 20.2-mile commute to work in the Los Angeles area. He posted updates on Instagram Live.

Yes, New Zealand still has more sheep than people. But humans are catching up

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand is still one of a few countries in the world where sheep outnumber people. But the human population is catching up, according to official figures. With an economy driven by agricultural exports, the country is particularly known for its sheep numbers -- which have long been the subject of jokes faced by New Zealanders abroad. Tuesday’s figures show the gap has narrowed. In the 1980s, there was a flock of 22 sheep for each New Zealander but that’s shrunk to 4.5 sheep per person. Farmers say cratering wool prices and the conversion of grasslands to pine forests are behind the shift.