Investopedia names Appleton one of the best places to retire in US

Appleton was named one of the best places to retire in the United States by Investopedia because of its affordable housing and arts scene.

USA TODAY

Every year, Investopedia releases alist of 100 top places to retirein the country, and Appleton was one of five cities in Wisconsin to make it on the list.

Wausau, Waukesha, La Crosse and Eau Claire also made it on the list, highlighting areas in the Midwest.

According to Investopedia, cities are scored based on affordability, healthcare options, lifestyle and climate factors important to retirees. It compares over 500 cities around the country to finalize the list, which is separated by region. The Midwest section includes 25 cities.

Appleton mixes "Midwestern charm and a bustling cultural scene,"Investopedia said May 3. The city's housing market played a significant role in making the list, with Investopedia saying the average cost of a house in Appleton was $291,197, below the national average of $360,591.

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Between the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Lawrence University and a downtown music scene, Appleton's art scene stands out. Combined with a more affordable housing market, the art scene offers retirees more activities than they might get in another city of the same size.

"Appleton's cultural energy sets it apart from many cities of its size and from more traditional retirement destinations. The art scene is an important thread in the city's fabric," Investopedia said.

Appleton's downtown area, particularly College Avenue, is a significant draw for residents with "sparse" traffic and plentiful restaurants, cafes, bars and small shops. The trails and parks in the area outside of the busier downtown also appeals to retirees who want to enjoy Wisconsin's four-season climate.

Overall, Appleton "brings together cultural energy, community warmth and financial practicality in ways that many other retirement locations can't do," Investopedia said.

Contact Benita Mathew at bmathew@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent:Investopedia names Appleton one of the best places to retire in US

Investopedia names Appleton one of the best places to retire in US

Appleton was named one of the best places to retire in the United States by Investopedia because of its affordable housing and arts sce...
New search warrant in Kristin Smart case, decades after 19-year-old disappeared

Nearly 30 years after 19-year-old Kristin Smart disappeared, California investigators conducted new search warrants as part of their ongoing probe into the location of her body.

ABC News

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that deputies executed a search warrant at the 500 block of East Branch Street.

The sheriff's office declined to provide further details about the operation.

"The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to bringing Kristin home to her family. No further information is available," it said in a statement.

Inside the decadeslong search for justice in the Kristin Smart disappearance

Smart attended an off-campus party at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she was a freshman, on May 24, 1996, but never returned to her dormitory.

Investigators declared Smart legally dead in 2002 and the case remained cold until 17 years later, when the true crime podcast "Your Own Backyard" launched and helped investigators to get new witnesses and evidence.

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In 2021, investigators arrested and charged Paul Flores, who was a student at the college at the time of Smart's disappearance.

Detectives said that some classmates found Smart passed out during the early morning hours of May 25, 1996, and Flores appeared out of nowhere. He claimed to the other classmates that he knew where she lived and offered to help her to her dorm, detectives said.

Paul Flores sentenced to 25 years to life for murder of Kristin Smart

Flores was interviewed by officers following Smart's disappearance, but he was not charged.

In 2021,police searched the homebelonging to Flores' father, Ruben Flores, and allegedly found human blood and fibers in the dirt that matched the colors of the clothing Smart had been wearing when she went missing.

A juryconvicted Paul Floresin October 2022 of first-degree murder and he wassentencedin 2023 to 25 years to life.

Ruben Flores was charged with being an accessory to murder; however, a jury acquitted him on those charges.

Paul Flores appealed his conviction, but in January, the California Supreme Court denied his petition for review of his conviction.

New search warrant in Kristin Smart case, decades after 19-year-old disappeared

Nearly 30 years after 19-year-old Kristin Smart disappeared, California investigators conducted new search warrants as part of their on...
US travel blogger comes to defense of hantavirus-struck cruise ship and says vessel is clean with strong biosecurity

AnAmerican travel bloggerstuck aboard thehantavirus-stricken cruise shipdefended the vessel’s cleanliness, stating that the ship is “maintained to a very high standard.”

The Independent US

Three people have died, and several others have fallen ill on the MV Hondius following the outbreak ofhantavirus, a rare, rodent-borne illness. Global health authorities suspect the first person caught the virus before boarding the ship, and later transmitted it to other passengers.

Only two cases of the virus, which is passed from rodents to humans through their droppings, have been confirmed by health authorities, and officials maintain that the risk to global health is low.

Travel blogger Jake Rosmarin has been documenting his time aboard the illness-stricken ship, tellingThe Independentin a statement that aside from the two confirmed cases, the other passengers on board are “doing well” and remain “in good spirits.”

Rosmarin noted that the MV Hondius is an expedition vessel, not an average cruise ship, and is held to a higher standard of cleanliness due to the types of trips it takes.

American travel blogger Jake Rosmarin has shared his experience aboard the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius ship (Jake Rosmarin) This aerial picture shows a general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 5, 2026 (AFP/Getty)

“These ships operate with strict protocols and a strong emphasis on cleanliness, especially given the remote and environmentally sensitive regions they visit, which require high levels of biosecurity,” Rosmarin said.

“The vessel is maintained to a very high standard, and suggestions that it is unclear are not accurate,” he added.

Rosmarin went on to note the safety measures in place on the ship, which include social distancing and masking. Passengers can also receive meals delivered directly to their cabins to avoid the potential spread of germs.

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“Access to the outer deck is permitted for fresh air, while gathering in indoor common areas such as the lounge is currently restricted,” he continued.

“We continue to be well cared for, and additional medical provisions and supplies have been brought on board,” he added.

Rosmarin, who has over 50,000 followers on Instagram, shared a teary video update on the situation on Monday, telling his followers that the passengers stuck on the ship are “not just a story.”

“We’re people. People with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home,” he said. “There’s a lot of uncertainty, and that’s the hardest part.”

Hantavirus is spread by contact with rodents or their urine, saliva or droppings (AFP/Getty)

There are 149 passengers stuck aboard the MV Hondius, including four British passengers and four British crew.

A British crew member and a Dutch colleague were expected to be medically evacuated from the ship on Tuesday, while the rest of the ship’s passengers were expected to continue to be stuck on board for several more days.

Operator Oceanwide Expeditions said that three people, two needing urgent care and a person associated with the guest who died on May 2, will be evacuated to the Netherlands.

The ship will then set sail for the Canary Islands, which will take three days of sailing. It was not immediately clear when the passengers would be allowed to get off the ship.

The World Health Organization said there are two confirmed and five suspected hantavirus cases on the cruise ship so far.

US travel blogger comes to defense of hantavirus-struck cruise ship and says vessel is clean with strong biosecurity

AnAmerican travel bloggerstuck aboard thehantavirus-stricken cruise shipdefended the vessel’s cleanliness, stating that the ship is “ma...
Thailand scraps 25-year-old agreement with Cambodia on joint energy exploration

BANGKOK, May 5 (Reuters) - Thailand on Tuesday unilaterally terminated a longstanding agreement with Cambodia to work towards joint offshore energy exploration, defying calls from its neighbour to stay the course ‌on the 25-year-old pact.

Reuters

The Thai cabinet's cancellation of the agreement, which seeks to develop a framework ‌to jointly explore hydrocarbons in parts of the Gulf of Thailand where the two countries' claims overlap, had long been expected and ​follows two rounds of armed conflict between them last year.

The withdrawal was an election campaign pledge of Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who earlier this year rode a wave of nationalism stoked by the fierce fighting with Cambodia to become the first Thai premier to be reelected in two decades.

"Cancelling the deal is not related to ‌the border conflict with Cambodia, but ⁠part of my policy. It has been 25 years and there has been no progress," Anutin told reporters, adding that Cambodia would be informed of the decision.

Cambodia's Foreign ⁠Minister Prak Sokhonn expressed regret over the termination and said Phnom Penh "has no option" but to settle the boundary issue under processes outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.

"Cambodia’s decision to pursue ​compulsory ​conciliation under UNCLOS reaffirms its commitment to resolving maritime disputes ​peacefully and in accordance with international law," ‌he said in a statement.

SCANT PROGRESS

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Despite multiple rounds of meetings, the agreement known as "MOU 44" has made little progress since it was signed, with the process derailed by political instability in Thailand, intermittent disputes between the two neighbours and fierce opposition from Thai nationalists.

The two-track agreement had proposed the creation of a framework to allow offshore oil and gas to be jointly explored in overlapping areas while parallel negotiations take place on ‌formal demarcation.

Thai government spokesperson Rachada Dhanadirek said on Tuesday that ​UNCLOS would be used as a reference to negotiate directly with ​Cambodia on maritime boundary demarcation.

Thailand has historically ​refused to take part in Cambodian efforts to settle border disputes using international mechanisms, ‌including the International Court of Justice, insisting those ​be negotiated bilaterally.

A ceasefire has ​been in place between Thailand and Cambodia since late December after two eruptions of fighting along large stretches of their 817-km (508-mile) border, the first of which ended after intervention by U.S. President Donald ​Trump.

Each side blames the other for ‌triggering both rounds of clashes, which killed close to 150 people and displaced hundreds of ​thousands of people.

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok and Chantha Lach in ​Phnom Penh, Editing by Martin Petty and John Mair)

Thailand scraps 25-year-old agreement with Cambodia on joint energy exploration

BANGKOK, May 5 (Reuters) - Thailand on Tuesday unilaterally terminated a longstanding agreement with Cambodia to work towards joint off...
Belmont pitcher Maya Johnson picked No. 3 overall in pro AUSL draft

Belmont softballpitcher Maya Johnson was selected third overall May 4 in theAthletes Unlimited Softball Leaguecollege draft by the expansion Oklahoma City Spark.

USA TODAY

Johnson was named a 2025All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and D1 Softball after leading Belmont to the Missouri Valley Conference championship and a victory in the NCAA Tournament.

In the 2026 regular season, the Columbia Station, Ohio, native was 25-2 with 344 strikeouts. She leads the nation with a 0.72 ERA.

Johnson has faced three Power Four teams in 2026 and held them to one earned run in 20 innings.

Belmont (37-11, 21-5 MVC) is the No. 1 seed in the double-elimination conference tournament, which begins May 6 at Southern Illinois. Johnson ranks among the national leaders in virtually every statistical category, including strikeouts, strikeout-to-walk ratio, shutouts and complete games.

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Johnson spent her first season at Pittsburgh before transferring to Belmont in 2023.

The AUSL is in its second season. In addition to Oklahoma City, the league includes the Carolina Blaze, Chicago Bandits, Portland Cascade, Texas Volts, and Utah Talons.

The 2026 AUSL season starts on June 9.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean:Belmont pitcher Maya Johnson in AUSL pro league draft, taken No. 3

Belmont pitcher Maya Johnson picked No. 3 overall in pro AUSL draft

Belmont softballpitcher Maya Johnson was selected third overall May 4 in theAthletes Unlimited Softball Leaguecollege draft by the expa...
Where Mississippi State baseball stands in updated NCAA Tournament bracket projections

STARKVILLE — A 2-2 week against ranked teams still hasMississippi State baseballprojected to host an NCAA Tournament regional.

USA TODAY

The No. 11 Bulldogs (36-12)defeated No. 23 Ole Miss in the Governor's Cupon April 28, thenlost two of three games at No. 4 Texasfrom May 1-3.

They play Nicholls State (25-22) next at Dudy Noble Field on May 5 (6 p.m., SEC Network+) before a home series against No. 6 Auburn from May 7-9.

MSU, under first-year coachBrian O'Connor, is attempting to host its first regional since 2021.

Here's where Mississippi State stands in the latest NCAA Tournament bracket projections with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Mississippi State baseball NCAA Tournament projections

Aria Gerson ofThe Tennesseanhas Mississippi State projected as the No. 8 national seed to host a regional. Also in the regional are No. 2 seed West Virginia, No. 3 Virginia Tech and No. 4 Southeastern Louisiana.

D1Baseballlists MSU as the No. 10 national seed paired with No. 2 West Virginia, No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 Southeastern Louisiana.

Baseball Americaprojects Mississippi State as the No. 11 national seed. The other teams in the Starkville Regional would be No. 2 seed West Virginia, No. 3 East Carolina and No. 4 Army.

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Mississippi State NCAA Tournament resume

Mississippi State's RPI is No. 9 nationally as of May 5, up three spots from the prior week.

The Bulldogs are 9-9 in Quad 1 games, 5-3 in Quad 2 and 22-0 in Quads 3 and 4. They are ranked No. 12 in strength of schedule.

MORE:Predicting Mississippi State football's depth chart for 2026 after spring practice

The Auburn series will be all Quad 1 games.

Mississippi State baseball NCAA Tournament history under Brian O'Connor

O'Connor is a first-year coach at Mississippi State, so it hasn't played in the NCAA Tournament with him. MSU won the 2021 national championship under coach Chris Lemonis, but he was fired during the 2025 season.

Mississippi State has made the NCAA Tournament in the last two seasons as No. 2 seeds, losing in the Charlottesville Regional final and the Tallahassee Regional final.

O'Connor was the Virginia coach for 22 seasons, reaching 18 NCAA Tournaments, nine super regionals, seven College World Series and winning the 2015 national championship.

Sam Sklaris the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger:Mississippi State baseball NCAA Tournament projections in 2026 bracket

Where Mississippi State baseball stands in updated NCAA Tournament bracket projections

STARKVILLE — A 2-2 week against ranked teams still hasMississippi State baseballprojected to host an NCAA Tournament regional. Th...
Here's the biggest news you missed this weekend

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he wasreviewing a new offer from Iranto end the war but offered little optimism that the proposal would succeed.

NBC Universal

“I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years,” the president wrote in a Truth Social post.

Iran’s latest proposal would open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end the U.S. blockade while pushing off talks on Iran’s nuclear programs for later.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Sunday that “the room for U.S. decision-making has narrowed.”

As the president weighs how to proceed in the weekslong standoff, he is facing increased pressure from Capitol Hill to seek approval for the conflict. The latest effort to pass a war powers resolution failed in the Senate last week.

More on international conflict and security:

  • European leaders called for the continent to learn how to defend itself after Pentagon officials said the U.S. was withdrawing approximately 5,000 troops from Germany.

  • Two U.S. service members are missing in southwestern Morocco after taking part in annual multinational military exercises in the North African country, the United States Africa Command said.

What Spirit Airlines passengers should know about refunds, rebooking and fares

Within hours of Spirit Airlinesshutting down, thousands of flights had been canceled, leaving travelers stranded. Check-in counters sat empty, customer service lines were unavailable and many passengers said they had received no warning before arriving at the airport.

If you’re holding on to a ticket, the airline said it willautomatically refund those purchaseddirectly with a credit or debit card, while people who booked through third parties must contact their travel agent. One of the most reliable options may be to dispute charges through your credit card company.

Other carriers are also stepping up to absorb the disruption, with United Airlines offering capped “rescue fares” to stranded Spirit passengers for a limited time.

'Meet the Press'

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that theindictment of former FBI Director James Comeygoes beyond the Instagram post central to his case.

“This is not just about a single Instagram post,” Blanche told NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” “This is about a body of evidence that [prosecutors] collected over the series of about 11 months. That evidence was presented to the grand jury.”

Blanche said the Justice Department has “evidence of all sorts” against Comey and that the indictment isn’t tied exclusively to the number “86 47,” which appears frequently on social media and online shops.

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Appearing later on “Meet the Press,” Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., criticized Blanche’s defense of the indictment, citing the widespread presence of“86 47” merchandiseonline.

“The only facts that distinguish this case from those people buying things on Amazon or posting things on Amazon is not any particular facts that are not visible to public,” the senator said. “It’s the fact that James Comey is a political opponent of the president’s. It’s the fact the president has called upon him for prosecution. It’s the fact that Todd Blanche wants to keep this job.”

Politics in brief

A historic victory at the 152nd Kentucky Derby

Getty Images; Imagn

Cherie DeVaux became the firstfemale trainer to win the Kentucky Derbywhen Golden Tempo claimed the 152nd Run for the Roses in Saturday’s race at Churchill Downs.

“I’m glad I can be representative of women everywhere,” DeVaux said. “We can do anything we set our minds to.”

Golden Tempo made a late surge to defeat one of the favorites in Renegade, which finished second. DeVaux praised jockey Jose Ortiz — who beat his brother, who was atop Renegade — for his “masterful job.”

“He was so far out of it, and he has had so much faith in this horse,” she said.

And it wouldn’t have been a proper day of horse racing without elaborate outfits and gaudy hats. Check outthe best photos from Churchill Downs.

AI finds signs of pancreatic cancer before tumors develop

The REDMOD AI model analyzes a CT scan to detect early tissue changes associated with pancreatic cancer. (Mayo Clinic)

By the time doctors detect pancreatic cancer, it’s often too late to treat effectively. But a new study suggests that artificial intelligencemight be able to find signs of the diseasebefore tumors are visible on a scan.

An AI model developed at the Mayo Clinic detected abnormalities on patients’ CT scans up to three years before they were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, according to research published this week.

Scientists trained the model by feeding it scans from patients who had been screened for other medical conditions then were later diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Compared to radiologists who reviewed the scans, AI was three times better at identifying the early signs of cancer.

Notable quote

This is supposed to be a safe place. School is a right for every child.

Bassem Abu Assaf, A school principal in the west bank

Aws al-Nasaan, 14, was gunned down in broad daylight last week in the small Palestinian village of Al-Mughayyir, in the occupied West Bank. His death comes amida dramatic escalation in Israeli settler violence, alongside a push to expand Israel’s control over the West Bank through new laws, settlement expansions and security crackdowns limiting Palestinians’ freedom.

In case you missed it

  • Defense lawyers for the man charged in the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooting said he is no longer on suicide status in the Washington jail he’s being held in.

  • A man is dead after he drove a car full of explosives and propane into a popular Portland, Oregon, athletic club on Saturday in what police described as an “isolated” incident.

  • Two people drowned in Florida amid days of heavy rain, damaging winds and “extremely rough” ocean conditions, according to local officials.

Here's the biggest news you missed this weekend

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he wasreviewing a new offer from Iranto end the war but offered little optimism that the prop...

 

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