McDonald's posts better-than-expected sales as chicken strips, Minecraft meal drive traffic

Hot products like a “Minecraft”-themed meal helped McDonald’s turn around its sagging sales in the second quarter. The Chicago burger giant said Wednesday its revenue rose 5% to $6.8 billion in the April-June period. That was higher than the $6.7 billion Wall Street forecast. Same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, jumped nearly 4%. Analysts had predicted a 1% decline. New McCrispy chicken strips also helped drive customer traffic after a sluggish first quarter. McDonald’s shares rose 3% in premarket trading Wednesday.

A former Rolling Stone says the Met has his stolen guitar. The museum disputes it

LONDON (AP) — A guitar once played by two Rolling Stones members is at the center of a dispute between former guitarist Mick Taylor and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The 1959 Gibson Les Paul was donated to the Met as part of a significant collection. Taylor claims it was stolen from a French villa during the recording of “Exile on Main St.” in 1971. The museum denies the claim, citing provenance records that do not record Taylor as ever owning the instrument. Taylor's team wants an independent expert to verify the guitar's history. The guitar, known as the “Keithburst,” was also played by Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. The Met says it hasn't been contacted by Taylor.

Ozzy Osbourne died of a heart attack, report says, citing death certificate

LONDON (AP) — A death certificate filed at a register office in London revealed that Ozzy Osbourne's cause of death was a heart attack. The New York Times obtained the document on Tuesday. The lead singer of heavy metal's pioneering band Black Sabbath and somewhat unexpected reality TV star died on July 22. He was 76. The certificate was submitted by one of Osbourne's daughters and states the singer had suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease. The Associated Press could not immediately independently confirm the death certificate.

Confederate statues in DC area to be restored and replaced in line with Trump's executive order

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two Washington, D.C.-area statues commemorating the Confederacy will be restored and replaced, in line with President Donald Trump’s pushback on recent efforts to reframe America’s historical narrative. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that a statue commemorating the Confederacy would be returned to Arlington National Cemetery. The statue, which Hegseth referred to as “The Reconciliation Monument,” was removed in 2023. The National Park Service announced Monday that the statue of Albert Pike, a Confederate brigadier general and a revered figure among Freemasons, would resume its previous position in Washington’s Judiciary Square, a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol.

Second earthquake hits New York City region within several days

HILLSDALE, N.J. (AP) — A second minor earthquake has rattled the New York metropolitan area within several days. The 2.7 magnitude quake struck Tuesday afternoon near Hillsdale, New Jersey, northwest of the Bronx. There were no initial reports of damages or injuries. The tremor was felt in New York City and Connecticut. It follows a 3.0 magnitude earthquake that hit nearby Hasbrouck Heights on Saturday night. Experts say it's unclear if this latest quake is an aftershock or a separate event. Earthquakes are relatively rare in the New York City area.

Raw milk sickens 21 people in Florida including 6 children

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Public health officials in Florida are reporting 21 cases of campylobacter and E. coli infections linked to drinking raw milk, all from the same farm. As of Monday, six children under the age of 10 were among those infected, according to the Florida Department of Health. Seven people have been hospitalized, with at least two cases leading to severe complications. Raw milk seems to be gaining in popularity, despite years of warnings about the health risks of unpasteurized products. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say raw milk is one of the riskiest foods people can consume.

Palantir books its first $1 billion in quarterly sales and dodges DOGE axe

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of Palantir Technologies sailed past previous record highs Tuesday after booking its first $1 billion sales quarter and raising its performance expectations for the year. The stock rose above $170 Tuesday after breaking previous records four times this year in the global artificial intelligence race. The previous closing high for the stock was set this week at $160.66. Since going public in 2020 when it posted a $1.17 billion annual loss, the artificial intelligence software company has swung swiftly to a profit and sales are booming. Profit rose 33% to $327 million in the second quarter.

An Australian artist is painting huge murals on silos in the US Midwest

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — A huge grain elevator and silo in North Dakota are the site of a massive mural by an Australian artist. Guido van Helten has been working on the project in Minot for over a year, and when it's finished, it will be visible across town. He has painted similar murals in the U.S. Midwest as well as in other countries around the world. The artist says that when he creates murals on large, old structures, “it becomes part of the landscape.” The mural will cost about $350,000 and will be covered through donations.

Hank Hill returns to a changed world in new 'King of the Hill' episodes

NEW YORK (AP) — Hank Hill is back in a new season of “King of the Hill,” this time streaming on Hulu after a 15-year break. The show follows Hank and Peggy as they return to Arlen, Texas, adjusting to a world of boba tea, ridesharing and Wi-Fi-enabled grills. Their son Bobby, now 21, runs a German-Asian fusion restaurant. Familiar characters like Dale, Bill, and Boomhauer also return, navigating modern life with their classic quirks. Executive producer Saladin K. Patterson says the show balances nostalgia with fresh humor, avoiding politics while exploring relatable changes in culture and relationships. Fans can expect 10 new episodes.

A bird dropped a fish on power lines and sparked a brush fire in Canada, firefighters say

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Firefighters say a brush fire in the Canadian province of British Columbia was caused when a bird dropped a fish on power lines. Ashcroft Fire Rescue say in social media post that the fire happened on Aug. 1 about six kilometers (four miles)  south of the town, sharing photos that include a charred fish on the blackened ground. The post says investigators found the fish that “had been dropped by a local osprey onto hydro lines,” with the resulting embers starting the fire on dry grass below.