Today in History: First Kentucky Derby held
Today in history:
On May 17, 1875, the first Kentucky Derby was held; the race was won by Aristides, ridden by jockey Oliver Lewis.
Also on this date:
In 1792, the Buttonwood Agreement, a document codifying rules for securities trading, was signed by 24 New York stockbrokers, marking the formation of the New York Stock Exchange.
In 1946, President Harry S. Truman seized control of the nation's railroads, delaying — but not preventing — a threatened strike by engineers and trainmen.
In 1954, a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court handed down its Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision, which held that racially segregated public schools were inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional.
In 1973, a special committee convened by the U.S. Senate began its televised hearings into the Watergate scandal.
In 1980, rioting that claimed 18 lives erupted in Miami after an all-white jury in Tampa acquitted four former Miami police officers of fatally beating Black insurance executive Arthur McDuffie.
In 1987, 37 American sailors were killed when an Iraqi warplane attacked the U.S. Navy frigate Stark in the Persian Gulf. (Iraq apologized for the attack, calling it a mistake, and paid more than $27 million in compensation.)
In 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to allow same-sex marriages.
In 2015, a shootout erupted between members of motorcycle clubs and police outside a restaurant in Waco, Texas, leaving nine of the bikers dead and 20 people injured.
Today's Birthdays: Musician Taj Mahal is 83. Boxing Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard is 69. Sports announcer Jim Nantz is 66. Singer-composer Enya is 64. TV host-comedian Craig Ferguson is 63. Musician Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) is 60. Actor Sasha Alexander is 52. Basketball Hall of Famer Tony Parker is 43. Screenwriter-actor-producer Lena Waithe is 41. Dancer-choreographer Derek Hough is 40. Former NFL quarterback Matt Ryan is 40. Actor Nikki Reed is 37.
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Miami Herald
28 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
A tribute to the Miami Northwestern teacher who changed my life
Charlette Seward, a four-decade public school drama teacher and coach, died last month in Miami. Her obituary will tell you she was also a successful professional actress and Broadway veteran and that she left behind former students to reflect on the immense influence she had on their lives. I am one of those students. Ms. Seward came into my life when I was 14 — and changed it forever. To many, she was a legendary drama teacher. To me, she was a lifeline, a builder and the woman who saw something in me before I could see it in myself. I was just a poor Black girl from Liberty City, moving in and out of family homes and foster care, convinced my path was already written. I grew accustomed to being in the dark, behind the scenes, so I naturally gravitated to technical theater, a little broken tomboy covered in baggy clothes to mask my fears of becoming somebody. In high school, working behind the scenes in the drama class, I was safe, unseen. But Ms. Seward had a way of pulling you into the light. I'll never forget the day she found out I could sing. That I could really act. She said, 'Erica, how long have you been hiding this voice, this talent from me?' That moment altered the course of my life. From then on, she refused to let me play small. She pushed me to audition for my first national tour, where at just 15 years old, I earned my first professional role and job. Later, she prepared me for competitions, late-night rehearsals and the discipline of the stage. When I was 17, she stood proudly by my side as I won a 2003 state-wide high school theater competition, taking the Best Actress category with her favorite 'Ma Rainey' monologue, beating seniors across the state. Afterward, she whispered in my ear, 'I told you.' Ms. Seward was more than a teacher— she was a builder of character. She demanded discipline, humility, professionalism and grit. Crisp polos, polished shoes, memorized lines — her standards were non-negotiable. She taught us that we weren't just representing ourselves. We were representing Liberty City, showing the world that inner-city drama students could break every stereotype as Troupe 1684. Because of her, I became the first in my family to graduate from college. It was her last promise to me. 'Come hail or high water, you're going to college.' Deep in my soul, I didn't believe it. But I got accepted into six schools with scholarships in theater programs. I graduated from Florida A&M University and eventually earned a master's degree from New York University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. Because of her, as a member of Troupe 1684, got my first passport to perform in London and Scotland. Ms. Seward had connections so we performed in New York and even on a Carnival Cruise that same year. Because of that trip to New York, I fell in love with my dream city and ended up living there for almost 10 years. Because of her, when I entered the corporate world, I found the courage to enter boardrooms with the same confidence she demanded on stage. By 37, I became a vice president of communications and marketing, always carrying the lessons she instilled. I am not unique in this story. I am one of hundreds of students she built, molded and pushed into their destinies. Each of us carries a piece of her legacy into the world. Miami has lost a true legend. Rest in peace, Ms. Seward. Thank you for seeing me. Thank you for building me. Thank you for saving me. Erica Hicks Anderson is a strategic communications and marketing leader. Born and raised in Miami, she now lives in Dallas with her high school sweetheart and two daughters.
Newsweek
29 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Wife Films Husband Playing With Dog, Oblivious to What's Actually Happening
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. What she thought was a precious moment between her husband and their dog turned out to be a moment of panic when the off-leash canine bolted. Han Mays and his wife Sophia took their rescue dog, Swanson, to the Imperial Sand Dunes in Southern California for an adventure day. He told Newsweek via TikTok that the day's plan would be to walk him around and run with him on the leash. "We were able to find an area with absolutely nobody around for miles, and so I thought, 'Why not let him really let loose for once in an area where there's no harm nor foul to be done?'" he said. But after the initial five seconds of being off-leash and staring at Han, Swanson took his chance. Han's heart quickened when his idea of a perfect scenario got derailed. Han imagined they'd chase each other and play a game of fetch, but instead, Swanson ran as fast as he could through the desert dunes, leaving his owners in the dust. Screenshot from an August 13 TikTok video of an owner chasing his dog through the sand dunes after letting the canine off leash. Screenshot from an August 13 TikTok video of an owner chasing his dog through the sand dunes after letting the canine off leash. @hanmays/TikTok Meanwhile, Han's wife started filming the chase between the dog as she thought they were playing. She wanted to film the moment with the beautiful scenery, oblivious to the reality, which was shared to the TikTok account @hanmays last week. But soon enough, Han revealed the truth—the dog almost ran away. Han knew Swanson would be quicker than him in the sand, but as a half American bulldog, his stamina wouldn't last. He expected he would catch Swanson rather quickly. He said the video stopped before capturing Swanson stopping about three feet beyond the edge of the dune because he tired out. Once Sophia realized, she laughed. She thought it was hilarious because she first advised him against taking off the leash. But now that he got Swanson back and learned his lesson about letting the dog off-leash, they went back and watched the video about 50 times, cracking up at the mistake. Viewers React The TikTok video amassed over 1.8 million views as of Thursday. While many loved the thought and Swanson's ability to run free, especially as a reactive dog, others questioned why he did it in the first place. "He felt free and that was a gift. Sorry for your suffering in the sand," wrote one person. Another added: "And he will remember that feeling of running free forever." Someone asked: "Who just lets their dog off leash without training them?" A fourth said: "The amount of people in the comments advocating for letting a dog with poor recall off leash is disturbing." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Forbes
29 minutes ago
- Forbes
US Critics Praise ‘Ne Zha 2' As English Dub Opens In Theaters—It's 2025's Highest-Grossing Film
An English dub of 'Ne Zha 2,' the Chinese animated movie that shattered box office records and has grossed more than $2 billion to date, mostly in China, opens in American theaters this weekend as Western critics give it positive reviews. Michelle Yeoh stars in the English dub of "Ne Zha 2." (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images) Variety via Getty Images 'Ne Zha 2' begins its English dub screenings in American theaters on Thursday, starring the voice of Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh as Lady Yin, the mother of the protagonist Nezha. Distributor A24 handled the release of the English dub in American theaters in partnership with Chinese company CMC Pictures, and the movie will screen in IMAX and 3D formats. The movie is already one of the highest-grossing films of all time—with little help so far from the United States, where the original Chinese-language version opened in February and grossed about $20 million, according to Box Office Mojo. 'Ne Zha 2' has grossed about $2.2 billion globally, making it the highest-grossing animated movie in history, taking the title from last year's smash hit 'Inside Out 2.' Reviews from American film critics rolled in Thursday as the movie opened in the United States, earning a 94% 'certified fresh' score on Rotten Tomatoes. A24 said the film is a 'milestone in modern animation – merging emotionally resonant storytelling, mythological spectacle, and cutting-edge visual artistry' in a statement. Yeoh told Reuters on Thursday the movie is a 'beautiful story' and said she hoped moviegoers would 'stop seeing it as, 'Oh it's a Chinese film.'' She said the film is 'very important' because audiences can learn about ancient Chinese mythology, as 'Ne Zha 2' is based on ancient Chinese 'warriors and demigods.' How Are U.s. Critics Reacting To 'ne Zha 2?' American critics gave 'Ne Zha 2' positive reviews. New York Times critic Maya Phillips praised the movie as 'ambitious' and a 'testament to the level of artistry in the Chinese animation industry right now' in a review Thursday. Phillips said the movie is 'imaginative and unpredictable' and said the skill level of its animators is the most impressive part. San Francisco Chronicle critic Michael Ordoña said the movie is a 'must-see,' calling it a 'work of astounding visual imagination.' Seattle Times writer Qina Liu said the movie 'deserves its accolades,' stating the 'Ne Zha' universe 'rivals the Marvel franchise in scale and spectacle.' In a less positive review, Washington Post critic Chris Klimek praised the movie as 'visually stunning' but 'narratively opaque,' stating it can be confusing for those unfamiliar with Chinese legends. Klimek considered the movie's English release 'cultural imperialism in reverse,' noting U.S. blockbusters often got a big boost from the Chinese box office, though Chinese interest in American films has waned in recent years. 'Ne Zha 2' opened in Chinese theaters in January, five years after its predecessor, 'Ne Zha,' grossed more than $740 million in its theatrical run. Multiple outlets reported the movie sold more than 300 million tickets in China, equal to about a fifth of the country's population. Deadline reported the movie benefitted from its release during Lunar New Year, when workers have time off, adding the movie became a sense of national pride. Deadline also said China had worked to build more movie theaters in recent years and that the government offered $80 million in subsidized tickets. What To Watch For Whether 'Ne Zha 2' succeeds at U.S. theaters and adds to its massive box office haul. Further Reading Biggest Culture Winners Of 2025 So Far: Box Office Up 16% As 'Sunrise On The Reaping' Tops Fiction Books (Forbes) Michelle Yeoh sees 'Ne Zha 2' movie as homage to Chinese mythology (Reuters)
