➤ After hearing that 81-year-old waitress Betty was still working to make ends meet, a customer shared her story on TikTok. The post inspired thousands to donate more than $300,000 so Betty could finally retire. (See Photos) ➤ Melanie Barratt, 49, a Paralympic gold medalist, became the first blind woman to swim the English Channel, completing the feat in just over 12 hours and earning a Guinness World Record. (See Photos) ➤ Kermit the Frog will speak at the University of Maryland’s 2025 commencement, paying tribute to alumnus Jim Henson and offering grads a dose of optimism from the Muppet’s green heart. (More) ➤ Carolina, a giant African pouched rat that detected over 3,000 tuberculosis cases during seven years of work with a humanitarian group in East Africa, was honored with a retirement celebration for years of lifesaving service. (See Photos) ➤ Pup Park Shuttle, a Raleigh dog adventure service founded by former UNC basketball player Baden Jaxen, uses a mini school bus to take dogs on daily park outings. (See Video) ➤ Food Network star Guy Fieri cooked his first steak dinner at age 8 for his parents—an early taste of the kitchen that helped launch him toward Flavortown. (More) |