World War II-era map sparks treasure hunt in Dutch village
OMMEREN, Netherlands (AP) — A hand-drawn map with a red letter X purportedly showing the location of a buried stash of precious jewelry looted by Nazis from a blown-up bank vault has sparked a modern-day treasure hunt. It’s all happening in a tiny Dutch village. Prospectors have descended on Ommeren wielding metal detectors, shovels and copies of the map on cellphones. They are trying to dig up a potential World War II trove based on the drawing that was first published on Jan. 3. So far nobody has reported finding anything. The village has a population of 715 and is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) southeast of Amsterdam.
Searchers seek 2nd hiker in area where Julian Sands missing
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) — Rescue personnel in California say they have launched a search for a second hiker on the same mountain where actor Julian Sands is missing. The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department says its search and rescue team received a request Sunday to search for 75-year-old Jin Chung, of Los Angeles, on Mt. Baldy, who was last seen around 6 a.m. on Sunday. Sands was reported missing Jan. 13 while hiking on Mt. Baldy. The sheriff’s department says rescuers unsuccessfully continued searching for Sands over the weekend.
Shootout at Oakland gas station kills 1, wounds 8 people
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A shootout at an Oakland gas station killed one person and wounded seven others in the second shooting involving several people on Monday night in the San Francisco Bay Area. Officers responded around 6 p.m. at the Valero station on Macarthur Boulevard but found no victims. Dispatchers learned several victims had taken themselves to hospitals for treatment of gunshot wounds. One person died at a hospital and seven others are in stable condition. No arrests have been made. The shootout took place only a few hours after a gunman killed seven people at two locations on the outskirts of Half Moon Bay, a half-hour’s drive from Oakland. A 67-year-old man was arrested in that shooting.
Amazon launches a subscription prescription drug service
Amazon is adding a prescription drug discount program to its growing health care business. The retail giant said Tuesday that it will launch RxPass, a subscription service for customers who have Prime memberships. Amazon said people will pay $5 a month to fill as many prescriptions as they need from a list of about 50 generic medications. The company said the flat fee could cover a list of medications like the antibiotic amoxicillin and the anti-inflammatory drug naproxen. Sildenafil also made the list. It’s used to treat erectile dysfunction and also treats a form of high blood pressure.
Concern over NYC police filming of people leaving Drake show
NEW YORK (AP) — Some audience members leaving a concert by Drake at a Manhattan theater came outside to see a New York Police Department officer filming those filing out. It’s raising concerns from privacy advocates over what would be done with the footage. The NYPD said Monday the video of the concert attendees would only be used for a social media post, but there were still calls for the material to be deleted. Music writer Jon Caramanica of The New York Times posted on Twitter on Saturday night a video showing an officer seemingly recording those coming out of the Apollo Theater.
Florida’s rejection of Black history course stirs debate
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reiterated the state’s rejection of a proposed nationwide advanced African American studies course, saying it pushes a political agenda. At a Monday press conference, DeSantis said the state wants education, not indoctrination. As an example, he cited the course’s inclusion of a unit on “Black Queer Studies.” Authors whose works are included in the course told The Associated Press it is DeSantis who is pushing a political agenda. They say he doesn’t want students exposed to ideas that are contrary to his right-wing philosophy. The College Board, which is testing the course at 60 U.S. high schools, hopes to roll out the course next year.
Lifeguard Luke Shepardson wins Hawaii surfing “Super Bowl”
HONOLULU (AP) — Luke Shepardson won one of the world’s most prestigious and storied surfing contests which was held in Hawaii over the weekend for the first time in seven years. Shepardson, a lifeguard, beat out reigning champion John John Florence on Sunday at The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational with a nearly perfect score. The contest held on Oahu’s North Shore goes forward only when the surf is consistently large enough during the big-wave surfing season from mid-December through mid-March. Before this year, it had only been held nine times since the initial competition in 1984. It honors legendary Native Hawaiian waterman Eddie Aikau.
Woman who killed ill husband in hospital faces murder charge
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A woman who fatally shot her terminally ill husband inside a Florida hospital was taken into custody over the weekend after SWAT team members used a nonlethal explosive device to distract her and then tried to use a stun gun on her. The Daytona Beach Police Department said Monday that the Taser gun failed to subdue 76-year-old Ellen Gilland. She fired a shot into the ceiling of the hospital room before dropping the handgun and being taken into custody. According to the police, Ellen Gilland told officers that her 77-year-old husband, Jerry Gilland, had been ill for some time and they had planned the shooting together.
Controversy, frivolity mark day one of Paris Fashion Week
PARIS (AP) — The pioneering Black performer Josephine Baker — who left the United States to find global fame in Paris in the 1920s — was Dior’s muse for an old school spring couture collection of archetypal classicism. With her caressing velvets and silks, embroideries, sequins and tiny silver studs, designer Maria Grazia Chiuri may not have reinvented the wheel, but she certainly embellished it beautifully on Monday, the first day of Paris Fashion Week. Yet the event’s first day wasn’t without controversy after Dior was criticized for inviting a Russia influencer sanctioned by Ukraine. Meanwhile, Schiaparelli was the subject of online ire for glamorizing trophy hunting after featuring a fake lion’s head.