1. Boy Trapped in Claw Machine
One very adventurous 3-year-old wandered away from home and was found inside an arcade claw machine at a local bowling alley. Once inside the machine, the boy busied himself by playing with toys, but soon customers stumbled upon the odd sight and alerted the police. Apparently, the boy’s mother was home in the bathroom when he slipped out. She called the police, who pieced together the two incidents. The boy was removed from the machine unharmed, but exactly how he actually got in there remains unknown. Suffice it to say this little kid already has fantastic problem-solving skills.
2. Maya Rudolph’s Show Gets the Greenlight
It’s official: Maya Rudolph is bringing her talents back to NBC’s airwaves. Her variety show is slated to air on May 19th at 10 p.m., with “SNL” chief Lorne Michaels serving as the executive producer. The “Saturday Night Live” vet will be joined by some famous friends including Kristen Bell, Fred Armisen, Andy Samberg, Sean Hayes and Janelle Monáe. The one-hour special, titled “The Maya Rudolph Show,” may double as the pilot for an ongoing series. Yes, please.
3. Paris Lab Loses 2,300 Vials of a Deadly Virus
The Institut Pasteur in Paris is known for groundbreaking research, Nobel Prizes and its discovery of HIV. Now it’s in the news for something a little different. The prestigious institute has announced that it lost some 2,349 test tubes of the deadly SARS virus. SARS killed 774 people and infected more than 8,000 a decade ago, according to the CDC. The tubes have apparently been missing since January, and no one knows what happened to them. But don’t worry, Pasteur says, because “the tubes concerned have no infectious potential.” Small comfort, we’re sure.
4. The Female Confidence Gap at Work
How confident are you? Some experts say it’s key to breaking through the glass ceiling for women. Studies show women consistently have lower self-worth than their male counterparts (even if they’re just as accomplished). That lack of confidence often leads to demanding less money, voicing fewer opinions and ultimately getting looked over for promotions.
5. Bloomberg Wants to Rumble With the NRA
The former NYC mayor is fed up with gun violence in America and he plans to spend $50 million in a national grassroots effort to curb its devastating effects. Bloomberg says he will borrow from the NRA’s success and what he sees as their strong-arming of politicians. “We’ve got to make them afraid of us,” he said of the political opposition. The NRA has made no comment, but it will be interesting to see if Bloomberg’s organization can finally match the power and reach of the NRA. Let us know what you think at @nbcnightlynews.
6. Fast & Furious 7 to Use Paul Walker’s Brothers
After the death of actor Paul Walker, there’s been a lot of speculation as to how ”Fast & Furious 7” would deal with his unfinished scenes. The studio found a solution: Walker’s younger brothers. Cody and Caleb Walker are helping finish the late actor’s remaining action scenes. The film’s production team said having the brothers help complete the movie “will allow the character of Brian O’Conner to live on, and let us celebrate Paul in his most defining role.” Fast & Furious 7 is scheduled to be released in April of next year.