AP Trend Summary Summary 3:42pm (EST) | National News

LONDON (AP) — A former Royal Air Force pilot took to the skies in a Spitfire at the age of 102. Jack Hemmings, a former squadron leader in the Royal Air Force, is thought to be the oldest pilot to fly an airplane during World War II. His 20-minute flight from an airfield in southern England on Monday was to raise money for the charity he co-founded nearly 80 years ago. The veteran said the ride was “very bumpy” but he was “really happy” to be back behind the pilot. Hemmings was raising money for the Mission Aviation Fellowship, a humanitarian aviation service that he helped establish with D-Day veteran Stuart King after World War II. The flight commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings and paid tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., who passed away in 2020.

Appeals court says not wearing masks during coronavirus health emergency is not free speech

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A federal appeals court has rejected an argument that there is a First Amendment right not to wear a mask during the coronavirus pandemic. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday ruled in two related cases stemming from lawsuits against officials in Freehold and Cranford, New Jersey. The lawsuit centered on allegations that the school board retaliated against the plaintiffs because they refused to wear masks at public meetings. In one case, the court remanded the case to a lower court for consideration. Another document says the plaintiffs failed to prove they suffered retaliation.

SWAT team sniper killed bank hostage taker armed with knife, sheriff says

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Authorities say a deputy shot and killed a man who held people hostage at a Florida bank and claimed to have a bomb. The Lee County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to a Bank of America branch in Fort Myers just before noon Tuesday. As the lawmakers entered the bank, dozens of people rushed out. Sheriff's officials said a man armed with a knife held two hostages and claimed to have a bomb. A negotiator was called to talk to the man. At one point, the man put the hostage in a headlock and held a knife to his throat, the sheriff said. At that time, a SWAT sniper shot and killed the man. No hostages or deputies were injured.

Killer Mike says his arrest at the Grammys was due to an altercation with an 'overzealous' security guard.

LOS ANGELES (AP) – After winning three Grammy Awards, rapper and activist Killer Mike said an “overzealous” security guard was involved in the physical altercation that led to his arrest. On Sunday, Mike was escorted away in handcuffs by Los Angeles police from the Crypto.com Arena after a moment of joy at the Grammys premiere ceremony where he won back-to-back awards. He was the first Grammy winner in more than 20 years. Police said Mike was taken into custody after the altercation and arrested on misdemeanor charges. The rapper, whose real name is Michael Render, was released on his own recognizance Sunday night. He is scheduled to appear in court in Los Angeles on February 29th.

General Motors recalls more than 323,000 heavy-duty pickups because tailgates could open unexpectedly

General Motors is recalling more than 323,000 heavy-duty pickup trucks in the U.S. because the electronic tailgate release switch could short out and open the gate while the vehicle is parked. The recall affects certain Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks from model years 2020 through 2024. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in a document that water can enter the switch and open the tailgate while the car is parked. The agency said this could cause unsecured cargo to fall, increasing the risk of collisions. GM advises owners to make sure the tailgate is closed and latched before driving the truck. The dealer will replace the exterior touchpad switch. Owners will be notified by letter starting March 18th.

3D technology brings the past to life as a giant replica of Emperor Constantine overlooks Rome

ROME (AP) – Emperor Constantine now has a restored statue befitting his larger-than-life role in history. Roman authorities on Tuesday unveiled a giant 13-metre replica of the statue, which Emperor Constantine personally commissioned after 312 AD. At this time, he became the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity and help spread Christianity throughout the empire. The statue was conceived using his 3D modeling techniques from scans of nine of his extant original marble body parts. The statue was funded by Fondazione Prada, the educational and cultural arm of the Milan-based fashion house. It was created by the Factum Foundation, a Madrid-based non-profit organization that creates high-resolution digital replicas of the world's cultural heritage sites.

Meta announces it will label AI-generated images on Facebook and Instagram

Facebook and Instagram users will now see AI-generated labels on deepfake images that appear in their social media feeds. This is part of a broader tech industry effort to separate what's real from what's not. Meta Platforms announced Tuesday that it is working with industry partners on technology standards that will make it easier to identify images, and ultimately video and audio, generated by artificial intelligence tools. How well this will work remains to be seen, at a time when it is easier than ever to create and distribute potentially harmful AI-generated images, from election misinformation to non-consensual fake nudes of celebrities. I don't know.

Fire at fireworks factory in central India kills 11 people, injures many others

NEW DELHI (AP) – A fire broke out at a fireworks factory in central India that also triggered other explosions, killing 11 people and injuring about 150. Videos on social media showed smoke and flames billowing from the factory as people fled the area in fear. The cause of Tuesday's fire in Halda, Madhya Pradesh is not immediately clear. Firecrackers used in religious festivals and weddings are in high demand in India. Fatal accidents occur almost every year as people work in temporary factories without proper safety measures in place.

Honda to recall more than 750,000 vehicles to fix defective passenger airbag sensor

DETROIT (AP) — Honda is recalling more than 750,000 vehicles in the United States because of a defective sensor that could cause passenger airbags to inflate when they shouldn't. The recall covers much of Honda and Acura's model lineups from 2020 to 2022. A document posted Tuesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the front passenger's weight sensor could crack and short out, preventing it from disabling the airbag as intended. If a child or small adult is in the seat, a sensor is required to turn off the airbag. Otherwise, the risk of injury increases. The dealer will replace the seat sensor at no charge to the owner. Owners will be notified starting March 18th.

Thousands of cars stranded on highways as Chinese Lunar New Year travel experiences heavy snowfall

BEIJING (AP) – Thousands of motorists are stranded on central China's highways amid howling heavy snow during the annual Lunar New Year holiday rush. Some flights and trains were canceled, leaving travelers stranded for hours. The unusually heavy snowfall was expected to continue in central China until Wednesday. On Saturday, millions of people will return home for the Lunar New Year. Families traditionally gather for dinner the night before. The central government in Beijing announced that it will provide emergency assistance for highway snow removal and related work in 11 provinces to ensure safe travel during the holidays.