Stolen ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in 'The Wizard of Oz' are auctioned for $28 million
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A pair of ruby slippers that were worn by Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz" and stolen nearly two decades ago have fetched $28 million at auction. The iconic slippers were auctioned off to the highest bidder Saturday. Heritage Auctions had estimated that they would fetch $3 million or more. Including the auction house's fee, the final cost to the buyer is $32.5 million. The slippers were on display at the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005 when a thief used a hammer to smash the glass of the door and display case. Their whereabouts remained a mystery until the FBI recovered them in 2018.
Far-right influencer Nick Fuentes accused of pepper spraying woman on his doorstep
BERWYN, Ill. (AP) -- Far-right internet personality Nick Fuentes is due in court later this month after a woman accused him of pepper-spraying her at his home after he posted "your body, my choice" on X. The Chicago Tribune reports court documents allege that the woman approached Fuentes' house in Berwyn on Nov. 10 shortly after his address was leaked in response to his X post. Fuentes allegedly opened the door, pepper-sprayed her, screamed an expletive and took her phone. Fuentes is due in court on Dec. 19. He didn't immediately respond to a message The Associated Press sent him Saturday through X. Attempts to reach his attorney were unsuccessful.
Florida prosecutor seeks to clear records of people charged with buying police-made crack in 1980s
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- A Florida prosecutor says he will seek to vacate as many as 2,600 convictions of people who bought crack cocaine manufactured by the Broward County Sheriff's Office between 1988 and 1990. The Florida Supreme Court ruled in 1993 that people couldn't be charged in cases where the sheriff's office had made the crack cocaine and undercover deputies then sold it to buyers who were arrested and charged. Broward County State Attorney Harold F. Pryor says that while his office was reviewing old records, prosecutors realized many of people may still have criminal charges or convictions on their records because of the sting operation.
Storm Darragh batters UK and Ireland, leaving 1 dead and hundreds of thousands without power
LONDON (AP) -- A man died and hundreds of thousands of people in Britain and Ireland have been left without power as high winds and heavy rain battered the region. Gusts of up to 93 miles per hour were recorded as officials sent a rare emergency alert by phone to about 3 million households in Wales and southwest England early Saturday. In northwest England, a man in his 40s died when a tree fell onto his van while he was driving on a highway. Major highways and bridges were closed and train services were suspended. In Ireland, almost 400,000 homes, farms or businesses were without power, and some flights at Dublin Airport were cancelled.
Shesterkin's deal with the Rangers makes him the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history, reports say
NEW YORK (AP) -- Igor Shesterkin's contract extension with the New York Rangers makes him the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history, according to multiple reports. The team has announced the eight-year extension, but it did not provide the value of the deal in its release. It is reportedly worth $92 million for an average annual value of $11.5 million. That tops Carey Price's eight-year, $84 million deal he signed with Montreal in 2017 as the richest for a goalie. Shesterkin, who turns 29 on Dec. 30, is 9-9-1 with a 2.99 GAA and .908 save percentage this season.
Mother of Austin Tice, journalist missing in Syria, says new information proves her son is alive
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The mother of Austin Tice, an American journalist missing in Syria for more than a decade, says she's confident that her son is alive. Debra Tice on Friday cited information she said had come from a "significant source" that she didn't identify but that had been vetted by the U.S. government and treated as credible. Tice's mother and other of his relatives spoke at an event Friday following a White House meeting with national security officials that unfolded amid turmoil in Syria. Tice, who is from Houston and whose work had been published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and other outlets, disappeared in August 2012 at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus.
Pitcher Clay Holmes agrees to $38 million, 3-year contract with Mets, AP source says
NEW YORK (AP) -- A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that pitcher Clay Holmes and the New York Mets have agreed to a $38 million, three-year contract. Holmes can opt out after the 2026 season and become a free agent again, the person said. The 31-year-old right-hander was 3-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 30 saves in 67 appearances, leading the major leagues with 13 blown saves. Rediscovering his sinker, he developed into an effective setup man for the Yankees in the postseason.
Jury awards $310 million to parents of teen killed in fall from Orlando amusement park ride
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- The parents of a 14-year-old Missouri boy who fell to his death from a Florida amusement park ride has won a $310 million verdict against the attraction's Austrian builder. The Orlando jury on Thursday ordered Funtime to pay Tyre Sampson's parents $155 million each. The trial lasted only a day as Funtime never appeared in court to defend itself. Icon Park had already settled with Sampson's family for an undisclosed amount. Sampson stood 6 foot, 2 inches tall and weighed 380 pounds. He fell from the Orlando Free Fall ride at Icon Park because the harness did not fit him and he wasn't warned.
Princess of Wales takes another step in return to public life after chemotherapy with carol service
LONDON (AP) -- The Princess of Wales is taking another step in her return to public life following cancer treatment as she hosts her annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey. This year's concert is designed to celebrate the support people give to one another, especially as they struggle through difficult times, a theme that may have particular resonance for the princess after abdominal surgery and chemotherapy forced her to step back from public duties for much of 2024. The princess, often referred to simply as Kate, alluded to this in a letter thanking the 1,600 people invited to attend the event because of their efforts to help others in their communities.
Hall of Famer Randy Moss is stepping away from ESPN for an extended time to deal with health issue
Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is stepping away from his ESPN analyst role for an extended time to focus on a personal health challenge, the network said in a statement. Moss revealed last week that he's dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made his announcement on Instagram from the set of the network's "Sunday NFL Countdown" show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying any particular illness.