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Associated PressPrince Philip designed his own hearse, a modified Land Rover
Prince Philip, who liked Land Rovers and drove them for much of his life, will make his last journey in one — a no-nonsense vehicle customized at his direction, down to its military green color. The modified Land Rover TD5 130 will carry Prince Philip's coffin in a procession at Windsor Castle on Saturday as the queen and other members of the royal family follow before the funeral and interment in St. George’s Chapel. Buckingham Palace said the prince's hearse was built at the Land Rover factory in Solihull in 2003, when Philip turned 82, and modified over the years with an open-top rear section to hold his coffin, with final changes being made up until 2019, the year he turned 98.
- Business Insider
The coronavirus variant first found in Brazil is developing worrying new mutations that could make vaccines less effective, experts say
The P.1 variant, first found in Brazil, may be able to evade vaccines, and can reinfect people who have had COVID-19, according to Brazilian experts.
- LA Times
L.A., you slay: Meet the local queens taking 'RuPaul's Drag Race' by storm
As they vie for the top prize on VH1's Emmy-winning reality show, Gottmik and Symone discuss what makes L.A. — and its drag scene — so distinctive.
- Business Insider
Sen. Ted Cruz no longer wears a mask at the Capitol, falsely claiming 'everybody' in the Senate has been vaccinated against COVID-19
This isn't Cruz's first time flouting public health guidance. Asked to wear a mask in March, Cruz told a reporter he was "welcome to step away."
- Associated Press
Gaetz and DeSantis: A friendship that may become a liability
When he launched his campaign to become Florida’s governor in January 2018, few expected Ron DeSantis to prevail in America’s toughest political battleground. Gaetz appeared at campaign events alongside DeSantis, played his Democratic rival Andrew Gillum in mock debate preparations and encouraged then-President Donald Trump to back DeSantis for governor. At one campaign stop in Navarre, Florida, Gaetz jokingly referred to DeSantis as “Batman” to his “Robin.”
- Charlotte Observer
Charlotte man hits $1M lottery jackpot, but got goosebumps so bad, he needed a moment
He wanted to collect himself after he realized, scratching off the numbers in his car, that he had won $1 million.
- The Independent
Police officer ‘breaks arm’ of dementia patient after she forgets to pay for her groceries
The lawsuit filed against police says the vicitm now experiences fear, trauma and anxiety whenever she leaves her home
- Associated Press Videos
Colorado woman with dementia sues police over arrest
A 73-year-old woman with dementia has filed a lawsuit against the city of Loveland, Colorado and police officers over a June 2020 arrest. The lawsuit claims the woman suffered physical injuries and still experiences fear, trauma and anxiety. (April 15)
- The Telegraph
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 12 months in prison
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was jailed for 12 months on Friday along with four other veteran democracy activists for helping to lead one of the city's biggest-ever protests. Organisers say 1.7 million people – almost one quarter of Hong Kong's population – turned out for a huge rally that formed the backbone of demonstrations that wracked the city throughout 2019. Mr Lai was among nine of Hong Kong's most prominent democracy campaigners found guilty of organising and participating in the rally. Many of them have spent decades advocating non-violence in their ultimately fruitless campaign for universal suffrage. Mr Lai, 73, was sentenced to 12 months in prison while four other campaigners were jailed for between eight and 18 months. Among the other defendants were Martin Lee, 82, a respected barrister known as the "father of democracy" in Hong Kong, who was once chosen by Beijing to help write the city's mini-constitution. They also include Margaret Ng, a 73-year-old barrister and former opposition lawmaker. Mr Lee and Ms Ng were also given prison terms, but their sentences were suspended. Mr Lai was brought to the court from custody, where he was being held after arrest under Beijing's new national security law. Seven of the defendants who had earlier pleaded not guilty submitted their mitigation on Friday morning.
- Business Insider
The US ditched its last flying boats 38 years ago, but they could still help fill the gaps against China in the Pacific
The US military has long seen seaplanes as antiquated, but competition with China across the Pacific expanse could give them new use.
- Business Insider
Biden administration reveals the intelligence community is not very confident Russia actually put bounties on US troops
American intelligence had reportedly found last year that Russian military intelligence officered the bounties to Taliban-linked militants.
- The Telegraph
Why Peter Phillips is the ideal peacemaker to stand between William and Harry
Peter Phillips is the ideal peacemaker to stand between his cousins Prince William and Prince Harry at Prince Philip’s funeral. However badly the brothers have fallen out, they remain extremely fond of their first cousin. Ever since they were born, Peter Phillips has been the cousin they most look up to. As the oldest grandchild of the Queen and Prince Philip, he occupies a powerful role among the next generation of royals. At 43, he is 30 years older than his youngest royal first cousin, Viscount Severn, Prince Edward’s younger child. Five years older than William, and seven years older than Harry, Peter was the tough, strong, no-nonsense boy they admired when they were children. Now they’re grown-up, you can see how close they remain to him, joshing each other and laughing away. Prince Philip latest news and funeral updates
- The Independent
North Carolina teacher killed in shoot-out after trying to rob Mexican drug cartel
Barney Harris shot and killed despite wearing bulletproof vest to rob drugs and cash
- Business Insider
Manchin balks at GOP's smaller infrastructure plan - and says he can back $4 trillion as long as it's paid for
Republicans are putting together an infrastructure plan of up to $800 billion and wooing Joe Manchin. But he wants to go bigger.
- INSIDER
Jake Paul reveals ahead of big weekend bout that he has brain damage but will carry on with fight
The controversial YouTuber said in a pre-fight media event on Thursday that he had "gotten brain scans" that showed early signs of chronic trauma to his brain.
- Associated Press
GOP leaders diverge on Trump, putting party in limbo
One by one, the Republican leaders of Congress have made the trip to Mar-a-Lago to see Donald Trump. Kevin McCarthy visited after the deadly Jan 6 Capitol insurrection, counting on the former president's help to win back control of the House in 2022. The chair of the Senate Republican campaign committee, Rick Scott, stopped by to enlist Trump in efforts to regain the Senate.
- Business Insider
Coinbase's first employee was hired after he emailed his undergraduate thesis on bitcoin to the founders - and was paid in cryptocurrency for 3 years
"I literally cold-emailed jobs@coinbase and said, 'I love bitcoin. Here's my thesis. I'll do any job'," Olaf Carlson-Wee said.
- Associated Press
Texas' longest serving death row inmate has sentence tossed
An appeals court has overturned the sentence of Texas’ longest serving death row inmate, whose attorneys say has languished in prison for more than 45 years because he's too mentally ill to be executed. Raymond Riles’ “death sentence can no longer stand” because the 70-year-old inmate’s history of mental illness was not properly considered by jurors, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled Wednesday. When Riles was tried, state law did not expect jurors to consider mitigating evidence such as mental illness when deciding whether someone should be sentenced to death.
- BBC
Chile sees Covid surge despite vaccination success
The country's vaccination rollout is one of the fastest in the world, so why are Covid cases surging?
- Idaho Statesman
‘Wow’ or ‘disgusting’? 5 Boise homes for sale at prices that will melt your brain
The price of real estate appears to have, um, inched up in Boise?