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Jordan Nixon saved Texas A&M from being the highest seed knocked out of the tournament so far with a layup at the buzzer in overtime that gave the Aggies an 84-82 win over Iowa State.Seventh-seeded Iowa State held the lead for most of the game and ended the third quarter with a 9-point advantage. But the second-seeded Aggies — who were pushed hard in their first-round win over 15th-seeded Troy — were not going down without a fight.A jumper by Nixon coupled with a layup by center Ciera Johnson with a minute on the clock in regulation brought the Aggies to within a point of the Cyclones. Ashley Joens, who finished with 32 points and 18 rebounds for Iowa State, clapped back with a turnaround jumper. Nixon then made a driving layup to send the game to overtime, and started overtime with a 3-pointer that gave the Aggies a lead for the first time. The teams continued to volley until the end and were tied with a second to go, when Nixon broke away for her layup at the buzzer. She finished with 35 points. The Alamodome erupted in the loudest applause of the tournament, and the Aggies breathed a sigh of relief. Texas A&M will play in its third consecutive Sweet 16.In a postgame interview, Nixon dedicated her performance to her high school coach, Dave Edwards, who died on March 24, 2020, after contracting the coronavirus.“Today was Read the full article

SANDWICH — An elderly North Sandwich man with dementia was found dead Tuesday, the day after he was reported missing, State Police reported.Richard Breed, 88, was found on his property on 672 North Sandwich Road shortly before 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to a statement distributed to the media by State Police Troop E. State Police were alerted that Breed was missing after he apparently left his residence in the middle of the night.The investigation has been turned over to the State Medical Examiners Office. Read the full article

CONWAY — A Carroll County Superior Court judge has granted permission for a Jackson teen accused of felony-level sexual assault to attend out-of-state college tours with one of his parents.Attorney Michaela Andruzzi on March 9 filed charges of "special felony" aggravated felonious sexual assault and misdemeanor sexual assault against Riley Hayes, 18, of Jackson.The Conway Police Department log from Feb. 26-March 1 showed that Hayes was charged with felonious sexual assault when the victim, a minor, was "physically helpless." The log indicates Hayes was arrested at the Conway Police Station on Feb. 26 just before 4 p.m.Carroll County Superior Court paperwork shows that Hayes turned 18 the day before the arrest and that the date of the alleged offense was Oct. 17, 2020. Hayes was released on personal recognizance.The aggravated felonious sexual assault criminal complaint that Andruzzi filed says Hayes assaulted (a 15-year-old at the time) person "when (the alleged victim) was physically helpless to resist."The statute that describes extended imprisonment says that any felony committed under a prescribed list of circumstances comes with a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.The misdemeanor charge alleges Hayes assaulted a victim who was between the ages of 13 and 16. Class A misdemeanors carry a penalt Read the full article

Written by Oscar Holland, CNNA hand-painted "self-portrait" by the world-famous humanoid robot, Sophia, has sold at auction for over $688,000.The work, which saw Sophia "interpret" a depiction of her own face, was offered as a non-fungible token, or NFT, an encrypted digital signature that has revolutionized the art market in recent months.Titled "Sophia Instantiation," the image was created in collaboration with Andrea Bonaceto, an artist and partner at blockchain investment firm Eterna Capital. Bonaceto began the process by producing a brightly colored portrait of Sophia, which was processed by the robot's neural networks. Sophia then painted an interpretation of the image.Sophia, who was developed by the Hong Kong-based firm Hanson Robotics, has garnered worldwide fame for her conversational ability, realistic movements and complex facial expressions. Since her activation in 2016, she has appeared on talk shows and spoken at conferences, and was even granted Saudi Arabian citizenship, making her the first robot to have a nationality.The act of painting was "based completely on d Read the full article

A 200-year-old oak tree comes down as part of Notre Dame rebuild efforts. Credit: Jean-Francois Monier/AFP/Getty ImagesThe tree eventually will join 1,000 other oaks being used to reconstruct the wooden lattice of the roof and replace the base of the fallen spire engulfed by the blaze that devastated the Gothic building almost two years ago, in April 2019. "We know it's the end of something, but it's also the beginning," said Pauline Delord, a 15th-generation forest guardian responsible for protecting and managing the forest. Her colleague Claire Quinones agrees. "It's the best second life we can give (the tree)," she said. Last summer, French president Emmanuel Macron dropped the idea of a contemporary redesign for Notre Dame's 315-foot spire -- originally added by Eugene Viollet-le-Duc in 1859 -- before opting instead for Read the full article

PLYMOUTH, CT (WFSB) – Plymouth police have arrested a man who is accused of spreading roofing nails across the roadway to target police cars.Police said from December 24, 2020 to January 14, 2021, the police department was the subject of multiple criminal mischief incidents.On three separate occasions, a man identified as 37-year-old Ryan Ciafardoni, allegedly spread roofing nails across the entrance and exit of the Town Hall/Police Department.The nails damaged one police car, but police said they could have significantly impacted critical town services. Police began a joint investigation with the Bristol Police Department and an arrest warrant was issued for Ciafardoni.On March 20, Ciafardoni turned himself in at the Plymouth Police Department. He was charged with criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.He was released on a $2,500 bond and is schedules to appear in court on May 5. Read the full article

Black-owned hair salons provide 'safe haven' Many locally have had to evolve to survive during the pandemic, but business remains strong because of community loyalty. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Like many small businesses around the country, Black-owned barbershops and hair salons have had to adapt to operating during a pandemic. Many locally have had to evolve to survive, but business remains strong because it's a staple for the Black community. Hair salons and barbershops are not just small businesses for the Black community but a safe haven.  “I think we make up a small percentage, and when people come into the area, they feel that they can come for culture, conversation, or just being around a commonplace," Nick Jones, owner, Trendsetter Barbershop, said. Jones turned his hobby of cutting hair into a passion and career, but he says business is getting back to full strength thanks to loyal customers. Quintina Arnett is another business owner.  After her corporate job was eliminated, she decided to follow her dream of opening up a hair salon. “When you feel good about your hair to me, it kind of changes you’re whole mood," Quintina Arnett, owner, Glitz Beauty Bar, said.  Arnett has faced similar challenges during the pandemic. She decided to branch out by selling hair products online. “I don’t know how long the pandemic will last so, it kind of pushed me to think outside the box," Arnett said. "Like how can I make money when I’m not behind the chair." Arnett is an advocate of the natural hair movement, Read the full article