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Route 66 centennial spurs tourism in historic small towns
As U.S. Route 66 turns 100 years old, travelers are searching for the brightest motels, most unique attractions and tastiest diners to celebrate its centennial.
The things Route 66 travelers seek today are the same ones that drew people out during the road’s heyday.
"[The] trucking industry increased like 700% between 1939 and 1964. In 1964, 80% of people vacationed by automobile," Route 66 author, Jim Hinckley, told Fox News.
Historic Route 66 runs through dozens of towns — some have grown into larger cities, while others are now the bones of what once was.
ROUTE 66: AN AMERICAN CELEBRATION, ALONG WITH AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY
"Think 1939, you’ve got a million cars coming through your town in a year. And after the war, that increases, and all of a sudden it’s like someone turned off the tap," Hinckley said.
That vision becomes clear as travelers pass rundown businesses in dozens of small towns across the eight states.
During that stretch is the Texas town of Adrian, which is coined as the "geographical midpoint" of Route 66, according to Gary Daggett, president of the Old Route 66 Association of Texas.
"It's the nostalgia, ya know, there's so much of American history here at Route 66," Daggett said.
ROUTE 66 HIGHLIGHTS COSMIC SITES ACROSS ARIZONA
Daggett is also the gift shop manager at Midpoint Café in Adrian, which is hard to miss as it is marked by a sign that soars to the skies.
The owner, Brenda Hammit Bradley, bought the café in 2018 and is still known for her endless pie flavors, like green Chile apple pie and Elvis, which is chocolate, peanut butter and banana.
"Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that it’s not hard, because it’s a job, but it’s just fun, I get to meet awesome people," Bradley told Fox News, adding that more than 70% of her customers come from overseas.
Bradley said The Midpoint Café inspired Flo's V8 Restaurant in the Disney-Pixar movie Cars.
Just 15 minutes east, is Vega, Texas – a small country town with sprinkles of Route 66 memorabilia. One block off the historic route is Dot's Mini Museum.
"Our town was bypassed by I-40, but you know, there are a lot of people who travel, who love to go into the town, meet the people, see the places," said Keila Bain, Dot's granddaughter.
Bain said her grandmother's small museum of antiques is free to enter, and the door is never locked.
FOX'S STEVE DOOCY VISITS TULSA'S OUTSIDERS HOUSE MUSEUM
"The thing that's mostly missing about Dot's mini museum is Dot herself, because she was a lot of life and a lot of fun," Bain said, adding that her grandmother inspired one of the characters in Cars, which allowed her to attend some movie events.
Although Dot is not around anymore, a guest book inside the small museum is filled with names from dozens of countries. These small books are in several Route 66 attractions around the town, tallying the thousands of people who stop by.
"From its inception, what it's about is the people. It has always been about the people," Hinckley said. "That's what gives it that infectious magic and enthusiasm."
Caitlin Clark honored for massive career milestone before Fever fall in overtime thriller
Catilin Clark is just starting her third WNBA season, and she is already being honored for a big career achievement in a pregame ceremony.
Is that good? I think that's good.
The Indiana Fever played host to the Washington Mystics on Friday night in a battle of two 1-1 teams through the early going of the season.
One of the big stories so far this season came in the Fever's season opener against the Dallas Wings, when Clark scored her 1,000th career point.
She accomplished the feat in just 54 games, which made her the fastest player to reach 1,000+ points, 250+ assists and 250+ rebounds.
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The previous mark belonged to WNBA legend Diana Taurasi, and she did it in 62 games.
So, before tip-off on Friday, the team recognized Clark's accomplishment.
Clark didn't wait long to keep adding to that career point and assist total of hers, feeding teammate and OutKick favorite Sophie Cunningham to extend an early Fever lead.
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Clark wound up with 32 points on the night, along with seven assists and four rebounds. The biggest came with just one second on the clock when she drained a three-pointer to force overtime.
Clark simply has the clutch gene.
While Indiana was able to get this one to overtime, the Mystics managed to hang on to win 104-102 despite a late push from the Fever.
The Fever dropped to 1-2 on the year, and will be back in action on Sunday when they welcome the Seattle Storm to town.
Senator John Kennedy introduces America to ‘Margaret,’ his elliptical trainer named after Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher once ran Britain. John Kennedy’s "Margaret" mostly runs him into the ground.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., is going viral after posting a tongue-in-cheek workout video introducing followers to "Margaret" — his elliptical trainer named after former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher — while wearing a red bandanna and speaking directly to the camera from his Louisiana carport.
"Hey X, I have somebody I’d like you to meet," Kennedy says at the start of the minute-long video posted to social media Friday.
"This is Margaret. Margaret is my elliptical trainer. I named Margaret after Margaret Thatcher because both kick butt and take names."
ERIC SWALWELL'S 'CRINGE' WORKOUT VIDEO MOCKED FOR BENCHING LIGHT WEIGHT
Kennedy goes on to explain that "Margaret" lives outside under the carport for three reasons: the machine is too heavy to move, his wife "won’t let" him bring it inside and because he enjoys getting in a workout during Louisiana summers.
The Senator said he enjoys working outside during Louisiana summers, a detail that drew disbelief from many viewers familiar with the state’s famously brutal heat and humidity.
"As you can see, Margaret, my elliptical trainer, is out here under my carport in Louisiana," Kennedy says. "After Margaret kicks my butt, I look for air conditioning."
The surreal, self-aware clip quickly drew thousands of reactions online, with users roasting Kennedy’s bandanna look while also praising the senator’s everyman personality.
SEN KENNEDY PRAISES FETTERMAN AS A ‘TOTAL BANGER,’ WHO 'DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN' ABOUT ANGERING LIBERALS
"You are rocking the dadgum crap outta that bandana," one user wrote. "I thought you were representing the Bloods for a minute. Tell Margaret I think she’s cute but evil."
Others praised Kennedy’s personality and down-home delivery style.
"You are a gem to us normal folk Mr. Kennedy. Live long and prosper!" one supporter posted.
"Senator Kennedy is that kind of Southerner that makes you feel you're sitting on the front porch having some bit of common sense enlighten you in that poetic Southern way," another wrote.
The Louisiana Republican has long cultivated a folksy, humorous public image that often breaks through online with colorful one-liners and unconventional social media moments.
Kennedy ended the video with a line that only added to the internet’s fascination.
"My work here is done," he said. "And I can see myself out."
Washington Nationals unveil the latest stadium snack that will excite some, horrify others
We live in the age of a concession stand arms race where it's every professional sports team's goal — no, duty — to release the most mind-boggling game-day grub.
Now, the Washington Nationals have done the unthinkable and bastardized the most beloved of all ballpark foods: the hot dog.
And some people will love it, while others are sharpening pitchforks as we speak.
On Friday, the Washington Nationals welcomed the Baltimore Orioles to town for Hot Dog Day.
This involved all kinds of specialty hot dogs (though, in the past, I've talked about how a standard ballpark dog with yellow mustard is perfect), and the show-stealers were the hot dog fries.
They are what they sound like: wieners sliced up shoestring-style served with some chipotle ranch.
Alright, before we all run to opposite sides of the room on this one, at least we can all agree that it kicks ass that these come in a mini-batting helmet.
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Those are always great.
Now, I can see both perspectives on this.
On one hand, this seems like a bit of a horror show. I mean, frying hot dogs until they're dry sticks seems like a bad idea. Plus, I think if I ate fried hot dogs dunked in chipotle ranch, the doctor would probably wake up in a cold sweat.
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Plus, I'm not a fan of messing with the sacred hot dog, especially in a ballpark.
That said...
If I were at a game with some pals, I might not order these (I mean, maybe for the mini helmet), but if someone else did, I'd probably see if I could take a taste.
Y'know. Even if just for the story... and because I think chipotle ranch and hot dog sounds like it could be a flavor we have not explored enough as a society.
Waymo driverless cars overrun Atlanta neighborhood, circling cul-de-sacs and alarming families with kids
One Atlanta neighborhood has dealt with Waymo problems than they expected recently.
The Georgia city’s northwest Buckhead neighborhood has been overrun in the last couple of weeks by empty, driverless ride-share vehicles due to an apparent routing behavior issue.
"It’s almost every little cul-de-sac in our area, so I think it’s a problem," a neighbor who lives on embattled Battleview Drive told WSB-TV.
Video taken of the rogue Waymos shows them incessantly circling through a cul-de-sac and multiple cars causing a backup on one street after a neighbor tried to block the cars from entering the cul-de-sac.
WAYMO AUTONOMOUS CAR BLOCKS AMBULANCE CREW RESPONDING TO DEADLY AUSTIN MASS SHOOTING
"I think yesterday morning, we had 50 cars that came through between 6 and 7," another neighbor told the station.
A third neighbor pointed out that the problem is more than just an irritation.
"We’re families, we have small animals and pets, got kids getting on the bus in the morning and it just doesn’t feel safe to have that traffic," they said.
Waymo currently operates in 11 U.S. cities, including Atlanta.
The company admitted to Fox News Digital that Waymos are staged in areas of the city where they are frequently hailed from, but said that shouldn’t come at the expense of residents.
WAYMO UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AFTER CHILD STRUCK
"At Waymo, we are committed to being good neighbors," the company told FOx News Digital. "We take community feedback seriously and have already worked with our fleet partner to address this routing behavior. With over 500,000 weekly trips across the country, our service is proven to significantly reduce traffic injuries and improve road safety. We value our relationship with Atlanta residents and remain focused on providing a seamless, respectful, and safe experience for riders and residents alike."
And the cul-de-sac quagmire isn’t the only issue Waymo has faced recently. This week, the company recalled nearly 4,000 of its vehicles due to a glitch where it may not stop before driving into "standing water," and video obtained FOX 4 appeared to show a Waymo running a red light at a busy intersection in Dallas.
Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated Waymo after vehicles were allegedly seen illegally passing stopped school buses in Austin, Texas.
And in January, a Waymo hit a student walking through a crosswalk near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California. The car was driving at a low speed and the student wasn't hurt.
New Ebola outbreak leaves 65 dead as officials warn of cross-border spread
Africa’s top public health agency confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Congo on Friday after 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases were recorded in the country’s remote Ituri province.
Health officials are now investigating whether the outbreak involves the Ebola Zaire strain — the deadliest and most well-known version of the virus — or a different variant, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Neighboring Uganda also confirmed one Ebola-related death involving a Congolese man whose case officials said was imported from Congo.
The outbreak has been concentrated in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones in eastern Congo, an area near the borders of Uganda and South Sudan that officials warned could become a regional transmission risk because of mining-related travel, weak infrastructure and ongoing insecurity.
EBOLA OUTBREAK REPORTED IN AFRICAN COUNTRY — HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Ebola is a highly contagious and often fatal disease spread through bodily fluids including blood, vomit and semen. Symptoms can include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and internal bleeding.
The Africa CDC said only four of the deaths have so far been laboratory confirmed, while testing and sequencing efforts continue to determine the exact strain involved in the outbreak.
Initial tests suggested the outbreak may not involve the Ebola Zaire strain, which was responsible for Congo’s devastating 2018-2020 epidemic that killed more than 1,000 people.
UGANDA STARTS CLINICAL TRIAL OF VACCINE FOR SUDAN STRAIN OF EBOLA AMID NEW OUTBREAK
The World Health Organization (WHO) said it sent a response team to the region last week to help local officials investigate the outbreak and collect samples.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Congo has a "strong track record" responding to Ebola outbreaks and announced the agency is releasing $500,000 in emergency funding to support containment efforts.
Health authorities said Congo has stockpiles of Ebola treatments and approximately 2,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, though officials cautioned the vaccine is only effective against the Ebola Zaire strain and not against Sudan or Bundibugyo variants.
This marks Congo’s 17th recorded Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976.
The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.
Vegas Golden Knights star Mitch Marner is doing the funniest thing ever with postseason explosion
One of the biggest stories of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been Vegas Golden Knights star Mitch Marner.
Everyone knew he was an elite player in the NHL, but the biggest knock against him during his time in Toronto was his play in the postseason. And, truthfully, it was not great.
But, the second he skips town? Well, he's led Vegas to the Western Conference Final, and that's kind of hilarious because we've seen this happen before.
Marner scored just over a minute into Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks, which Vegas went on to win 5-1 to punch its ticket for a date with the Colorado Avalanche (lucky them).
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The goal was Marner's seventh of the postseason, and he leads the playoffs in points with 18 points, three clear of the player tied for second, Quinn Hughes and Kirill Kaprizov of the now-eliminated Minnesota Wild.
I think a lot of people saw this coming. Toronto's playoff problems are well documented. No Stanley Cup since 1967, and the Maple Leafs went nearly 20 years between series wins between 2004 and 2023.
So, it's kind of hilarious to see Marner explode the second he gets a taste of the playoffs with another team after arriving in Sin City via a sign-and-trade last summer.
In fact, I feel like we've all seen this before.
Remember when Phil Kessel was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Much like Marner, he became a popular target among fans and the media.
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Then, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the very next season, he won a Stanley Cup.
Something similar happened with Nazem Kadri, who won a Cup in Colorado a couple of seasons after leaving Toronto.
It seems like Marner got out of Dodge at the right time.
Now, we'll see if that remains the case. While Marner avoided an abysmal 2025-26 season, the Leafs are expected to use the first-overall pick in the upcoming draft on Penn State star Gavin McKenna, the kind of player who should be able to help right the ship in a hurry.
Possible hantavirus case under investigation in upstate New York; no connection to deadly cruise ship outbreak
A "suspected" hantavirus case in upstate New York is being investigated, according to the Ontario County Public Health Department (OCPHD) based in Canandaigua.
The department announced in a Facebook post Thursday that it is currently "investigating a suspected locally acquired hantavirus case."
"There is NO connection to the cruise ship outbreak, and there is no risk to the general public," OCPHD officials wrote.
The investigation comes as global health officials continue monitoring a rare hantavirus outbreak tied to the MV Hondius luxury cruise ship that has sickened multiple passengers and crew members and left three people dead.
As of May 13, the World Health Organization (WHO) said 11 hantavirus cases had been identified in connection with the cruise outbreak, including eight confirmed cases, two probable cases and one inconclusive case. Three deaths have also been linked to the outbreak.
Health officials have emphasized that hantavirus infections remain rare and that the risk to the general public is low.
Human-to-human transmission of hantavirus is considered extremely rare and has only been suspected in certain strains, including the Andes hantavirus strain linked to the cruise ship outbreak.
HANTAVIRUS IN THE US: WHERE THE RARE, SOMETIMES DEADLY DISEASE HAS BEEN FOUND
"Hantavirus infections are rare in New York," the OCPHD said. "The virus is spread through mouse and rodent droppings, especially when urine, feces, or nesting materials become aerosolized during cleaning."
The OCPHD urged residents to take precautions when cleaning enclosed spaces where rodents may be present, including wearing gloves and masks when opening or cleaning attics, cabins, sheds and garages.
The OCPHD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
REPORTED HANTAVIRUS PROTOCOL BREACH AT HOSPITAL FORCES 12 EMPLOYEES INTO 6-WEEK QUARANTINE
The cruise ship outbreak has prompted heightened precautions internationally.
In the Netherlands, Radboud University Medical Center quarantined 12 staff members after officials said a hantavirus patient’s blood and urine were not handled under the strictest international protocols required for the specific virus strain.
Hospital officials said the risk of infection to staff remained low but called the quarantine a precautionary measure.
The outbreak aboard the MV Hondius began after a Dutch cruise ship carrying 147 passengers and crew departed Argentina on April 1 for a South Atlantic voyage.
According to the WHO, investigators believe the initial infection may have stemmed from rodent exposure during birdwatching excursions before boarding the ship.
Fox News Digital's Bonny Chu contributed to this report.
A replica of KITT from 'Knight Rider' got a traffic ticket in another state despite being in a museum
You'd think that one way to make sure you never get a traffic ticket in the mail is to stick your car in a museum and just not let it taste the sweet freedom of the open road.
Well, you're wrong.
It turns out that it doesn't even work if the car in question is a replica of KITT, the car from the David Hasselhoff talking car classic, "Knight Rider."
The Volo Museum is a car museum outside of Chicago, and one of the cars on display is a replica of KITT, the Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am voiced by the great William Daniels (who went on to play Mr. Feeney from "Boy Meets World").
MASSIVE DMV PHISHING SCAM TRICKS DRIVERS WITH FAKE TEXTS
It's a cool piece for any car collection, but you can understand why the museum was confused when it got a ticket in the mail claiming that KITT had gotten caught going 36 mph in a 25 mph zone in Brooklyn.
The car had never been out of the museum, let alone left the state, but sure enough, according to the Associated Press, the ticket came with a photo showing a black Trans-Am with a California plate that read "KNIGHT" getting caught on a traffic cam.
That, of course, is the same plate seen on the show, and the same one on the Volo Museum's replica.
So, how did a real ticket wind up getting sent to a museum that owns a replica of the car from "Knight Rider?"
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Well, no one seems to know. New York City hasn't explained, and the museum is as confused as the rest of us.
"The fact that we’re legally tied to a movie prop is interesting," Volo Museum marketing director Jim Wojdyla said. "We’re known for having our Hollywood cars from TV and movies, but I have no idea how we got registered from a ticket in New York to the plates in California to the Volo Museum in Illinois. We’re still trying to figure it out."
Oddly enough, the same Trans-Am has been tied to five more unpaid tickets in New York City.
The museum has requested a hearing to fight the ticket, and I get the sense they will probably win.
NAACP official condemns White politicians trying to replace resigning Black mayor
The North Carolina NAACP defended a local branch president, Corine Mack, after she argued that it is "seriously disturbing" for any White person to fill in as interim mayor of Charlotte after Mayor Vi Lyles announced her resignation.
Lyles announced last week that she will be resigning as mayor on June 30, saying her term has been "has been the honor of my life." While some are puzzled at her resignation only about halfway into her term, one aspect that has been noted is her controversy on the national stage after the stabbing of Ukrainian national Iryna Zarutska.
According to Axios, numerous local politicians are jockeying to fill the position, but Mack voiced outrage at the possibility that Lyles — who is Black — could be temporarily succeeded by someone who is White. As Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP president, Mack shared a now-controversial post on Monday, arguing that a White person taking the role would be part of a larger phenomenon of usurping Black representation.
"It is seriously disturbing for White folks to be lobbying to be the interim Mayor in Charlotte," Mack wrote. "Our Mayor who recently resigned is a Black woman who is a registered Democrat. While Black representation is being undermined and stripped nationwide; White folks are either tone deaf or worse ... self centered! It's not about YOU!
CHARLOTTE MAYOR WINS LANDSLIDE REELECTION DESPITE CONTROVERSY OVER IRYNA ZARUTSKA’S SLAYING
"In Charlotte, Black Voters have been intentional about having Black representation," she continued. "What is the consensus after several discussion; If the City Council votes a non-Black person in as interim Mayor again ... voters will hold you accountable next year."
Mack made a similar statement, doubling down to Queen City News by declaring, "Why would we replace the Black outgoing mayor with a White person? That simple."
She later added, "My question for the white folks who, up in arms and outraged, are they outrage about the fact that Black representation is under attack?"
Mack also defended the post on her personal Facebook page, arguing the outrage about how "any Black person who dares to have an independent thought and opinion."
"On our NAACP Charlotte-Mecklenburg Branch page, White people are losing their minds in defense of Charlotte having the right to have a White Mayor. Anyone can run next year! This year the City Council will elect the interim Mayor," she wrote. "It is very interesting to watch some White people in a frenzy about Black people loving and supporting Black people. Meanwhile, they create movements and spaces solely for white people all of the time."
NAACP POSTS SPLIT IMAGE COMPARING ICE AGENTS TO KKK MEMBERS: 'DIFFERENT MASK, SAME AGENDA'
"The outrage must be about any Black person who dares to have an independent thought and opinion," she concluded. Poor things! White people created race and racism. But, they continue to play the victim and create fake narratives. Everything in this country is predicated on race ... White people did that! I won't be silenced! In the meantime, I'm praying for this country."
WBTV reported that Deborah Maxwell, president of the North Carolina NAACP, addressed Mack's initial post on the following Wednesday.
"NAACP North Carolina stands with the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Branch and its long‑standing work to advance equity, justice, and accountability for Black communities," she said.
She added further, "The NAACP evaluates leadership by actions, policies, and results, not by personal identity. What matters is whether decisions made by those in power strengthen or harm the lived experiences of Black residents."
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Maxwell also defended the local NAACP chapter’s duty to raise concerns if they think Black communities are being excluded from "meaningful participation or progress."
"Black communities deserve leadership that listens, delivers results, and helps close long‑standing gaps in opportunity," she said.