5/20/2025: Live Long and Pick Your Battles

PLUS: DNA for Sale; Free Diddy; and Meg’s Text Pal

Today is Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

It is the 140th day of the year.

225 days remain.

Photo by Matt Bennett on Unsplash

WHAT’S ON TAP

NOTABLE & NOTEWORTHY: Law enforcement agencies team up to offer a larger reward for information leading to the arrest of escaped inmates in New Orleans.

SARAH JESSICA PARKER claims to read a lot and CAREY HART shows off some battle scars. More in SHOWBIZ.

ALYSSA FARRAH GRIFFIN cries for JOE BIDEN and “Sesame Street” has a new home. Details in CASTING CALL.

MEGHAN SUSSEX keeps up a text friendship in ROYALS.

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UPDATE: The FBI, ATF, and CrimeStoppers have teamed up to offer rewards for tip leading to the arrest of seven inmates who remain at large after busting out of a New Orleans jail late last Thursday.

There’s now a $20,000 bounty for information leading the arrest of each escaped inmate, half from the FBI and $5,000 each from the other two agencies. The FBI says a tip from the public led to the recovery of at least one of the three escapees already back in custody.

On Monday, Louisiana Governor JEFF LANDRY blamed lenient prosecutors and judges for not more quickly moving the prisoners through the justice system, which would have put the men in a more secure prison facility. The comments coincide with local law enforcement statements that suggest the escapees likely had help from the inside. [via CBS News]

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American airports aren’t the only ones facing problems with problematic air traffic control systems: the computers managing takeoffs, landings, and communication between pilots and the control tower at Paris-Orly airport in France broke down on Sunday, with disruptions continuing into Monday.

All flights to Spain, Italy, Portugal, and some domestic flights to southern France were cancelled on Monday. Airlines were asked to reduce their flights by 15%.

So far there’s still no official word on what caused the problem. [via ABC News]

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Less than five years after soaring to a $6 BILLION valuation, genetic testing company 23andME is being sold at bankruptcy for a relatively paltry $256 MILLION.

Biotech company REGENERON will buy the assets in bankruptcy and acquire data from an estimated 15 MILLION samples. The company says they’ll use the information in the development of new drugs.

A court-appointed supervisor will ensure compliance with 23andMe’s privacy policy for customers who willingly provided their samples for testing. [via WSJ]

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A resident of Cape Coral, Florida, Gloria Baenan, went out to her docked pontoon last week to investigate a strange, fishy odor lingering nearby, eventually to discover a dead alligator – that was missing its head and tail.

Investigators from the state’s fish and wildlife commission did not find the reptile’s missing extremities. They’re looking into whether the freaky scene is a result of poaching, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

Despite the eerie find, Baenan is along for the adventure. She tells local media, “I don't understand how a headless alligator could be so newsworthy, but it’s kind of cool.” [via Gulf Coast News Now]

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Ethel Caterham, the world’s oldest living person, says the key to her longevity is to not argue.

“Never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like,” she said from her nursing home in Surrey, England.

Caterham took over the honor of oldest person following the death of Sister Inah Canabarro, a Brazilian nun and teacher who died at the age of 116.

BY THE WAY: Guinness World Records notes Caterham is the last person alive born in 1909, the last British person born before 1913, and the oldest person to survive COVID-19.

FOR THE RECORD: Jeanne Louise Calment of France was the oldest living person ever at 122 years, 164 days. She passed away in August 1997. [via Independent]

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