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Prince William honored Welsh rugby player Leigh Halfpenny after the athlete announced his plans to retire

NEED TO KNOW

• Halfpenny, who began his professional career in 2008, will retire at the end of this season

• The royal celebrated Halfpenny's "outstanding career" and said he "embodied courage, professionalism and humility" in a post shared to the official The Prince and Princess of Wales X account

Prince Williamis celebrating the career of one of rugby's most legendary players after the athlete announced his plans to retire.

The Prince of Wales, 43, honored Welsh rugby player Leigh Halfpenny in apost on Xon Thursday, May 7, after Halfpenny, 37, announced that he would end his years-long rugby career after making his professional debut back in 2008.

"Congratulations to Leigh Halfpenny on an outstanding career representing Wales and the British & Irish Lions," William wrote. "A player who embodied courage, professionalism and humility throughout every chapter of the game. Your dedication to Welsh rugby has inspired so many, and your achievements will long be remembered. Wishing you all the best for the future."

He signed the message, which was posted to the official The Prince and Princess of Wales X account, with his first initial, W.

Halfpenny announced his international retirement in October 2023, and recently shared that he will retire from Wales at the end of the season. The team has a special place in Prince William's heart; he has served as patron of the Welsh Rugby Union since 2016.

The royal recentlyattended Wales' Six Nations rugby matchagainst Italy in March, where he was seen singing in Welsh to cheer on his team.

The Six Nations Championship is one of rugby’s most prestigious competitions, and Wales has won the second-most championships in Six Nations history. The team has secured 28 victories, behind only England.

Prince William supported his team during the March 14 match from the stands of Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

While William is patron of Welsh rugby, his wife,Kate Middleton, is patron of the Rugby Football Union in England, making for afriendly rivalrybetween the spouses. The Princess of Wales took on her patronage in February 2022.

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She was appointed patron after assuming the duty fromPrince Harry, whose former royal role was reassigned after he and wifeMeghan Marklestepped back from their duties as working royals and moved to the U.S.

Prince William's Thursday post isn't the only time he's used his official social media accounts to discuss major news in British sports. In June 2024, the princepaid tributeon social media to rugby player Rob Burrow after he died following a diagnosis of Motor Neuron Disease.

"A legend of Rugby League, Rob Burrow had a huge heart," William wrote on X at the time. "He taught us, ‘in a world full of adversity, we must dare to dream.’ Catherine and I send our love to Lindsey, Jackson, Maya and Macy. W"

And in December 2025, the princecelebrated an "incredible game"after Argentina's Emi Buendía scored a winning goal in a football match against Arsenal. He wrote on X, "Surely Emi Buendia for man of the match @footballontnt ?! An incredible game! UTV! W"

More recently, William and Kateposted a joint messageto X timed to the Women’s Six Nations tournament, writing that they were "wishing all the players and support staff the best of luck! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿."

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The love for rugby has extended to the couple's children, too.Prince George, 12,Princess Charlotte, 11, andPrince Louis, 8, have all developed a passion for the sport.

William once joked that his household's rivalry over rugby had become “quite the thing,” but said he was “trying to stay out of it,” according toThe Sunday Times.

Read the original article onPeople

Martin Short opened up about the loss of his brother, mother, and father during a panel discussion at the Netflix Is a Joke Presents: This Better Be Funny with David Letterman event on May 7

NEED TO KNOW

• Short has previously shared how his family’s approach to life’s challenges shaped his perspective on tragedy and priorities

• The actor and comedian's wife, Nancy Dolman, died in 2010, while his daughter Katherine died in February at the age of 42

Martin Shortis reflecting on the loss he experienced early in his life.

During an appearance at the Netflix Is a Joke Presents: This Better Be Funny with David Letterman event at The Montalban Theater in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 7, Short, 76, appeared on a panel alongside fellow comediansDavid LettermanandPaul Shafferand discussed topics including his early career, friendship withSteve Martinand his late wifeNancy Dolman.

Letterman, 79, also commented on Short’s upcoming Netflix documentary film,Marty, Life Is Short, and noted that after watching the doc the “one thing that struck me was your childhood.”

“You came from a funny Irish Catholic family and then suddenly your brother died in a car accident. And then your mother got cancer. And then your father died. That’s an incredible amount of loss very early,” Letterman told Short.

“Yeah, I was around 20,” replied Short. “My older brother David died first. He was the star of the family. Then my mother was diagnosed with cancer at his funeral and died three years later. My father died the year after that.”

“So there was definitely a period where life changed completely,” added Short, noting that his mother, who was a violinist, was the first female concertmaster in North America and was "an extraordinary musician."

Short was just 12 when his brother died, while his mother and father, who was a steel executive, died before he was 21.

In an early profile with PEOPLE, Short, who was 34 at the time, shared thetouching way he coped with the tragedy his family has experienced.

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"There isn't a period of my life that I don't like to think about or wouldn't go back to,” he told PEOPLE at the time. "It sounds like a tragic family, but it really isn't.”

"My mother had cancer, and she had been ill and then in remission since I was 13. She was a remarkable person; both my parents were. So I never looked at it as if it was a tragedy — that I didn't have them my whole life. You learn some sense of priorities. Our whole family took the attitude that if you have wonderful moments, don't second-guess them, just enjoy them."

Short’s actress wife Dolmandied in August 2010from ovarian cancer. The pair sharedthree children, sons Oliver, 40, and Henry, 36, and daughter Katherine, who died in February of this year.

Katherinediedby suicide on Feb. 23, 2026, at the age of 42.

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"It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” the Short family told PEOPLE in a statement at the time. “The Short family is devastated by this loss and asks for privacy at this time. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”

On Wednesday, May 6, Short made hisfirst public appearancesince Katherine’s death as he attended the L.A. special screening of his Netflix documentary.

The comedian and actor was joined by his sons Oliver and Henry, as well as famous friends including Shaffer, 76,Selena Gomez,Kate Hudson,Eugene Levy,Jimmy Kimmel,Jerry SeinfeldandBilly Crystal.

Read the original article onPeople

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced its first authorization of fruit-flavoredelectronic cigarettesintended for adult smokers, a major policy shift that comes after months of appeals to President Donald Trump from the vaping industry.

The decision is certain to be opposed by health groups and parent organizations that have long pointed to flavors as the driver behindunderage vaping in the U.S.But the federal action comes as teen vaping rates have dropped to a10-year lowand manufacturers have pushed the Republican administration toloosen restrictionson their products.

Vaping companies have long made the case that their products can helpblunt the toll of smoking among adults, which is blamed for 480,000 U.S. deaths annually due to cancer, lung disease and heart disease. The battery-powered devices have been sold in the U.S. since 2007, but their potential benefits have been overshadowed for years by uptake among middle and high school students.

The newly authorized e-cigarettes come in mango, blueberry and two varieties of menthol. Los Angeles-based vaping company Glas Inc. plans to market the flavors under the names Gold, Sapphire, Classic Menthol and Fresh Menthol, according to the FDA release.

Previously the FDA had only granted permission to tobacco or menthol-flavored vaping products. Most e-cigarettes OK'd by regulators come from large manufacturers, includingJuuland Altria.

Tuesday's announcement is not an approval or endorsement, and the FDA reiterated that the Glas vapes are only intended for adults interested in quitting or cutting back on cigarettes.

The FDA suggested the company's digital age-verification system makes it unlikely the products will be picked up by underage users. Users must first verify their age with a government ID on their cellphone. The e-cigarettes can then only be used when connected via Bluetooth to the phone of the verified user.

The FDA’s OK of the new fruity products will be “a key test case,” said Kathy Crosby of the Truth Initiative, an anti-tobacco nonprofit.

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“Ultimately, it’s critical that we remain vigilant in protecting young people, including closely monitoring the use of authorized products,” Crosby said in an emailed statement.

As a presidential candidate, Trump vowed to “save” vaping and won backing from e-cigarette companies, shop owners and vaping enthusiasts.

Under President Joe Biden, the FDA denied more than a million marketing applications for candy- or fruit-flavored products, part of a wider crackdown that is credited with helping drive down teen vaping after a surge in 2019. During his first administration, Trump put in place the first flavor restrictions on e-cigarettes and raised the age for purchasing all tobacco products from 18 to 21.

But action on vaping and other tobacco policies has largely taken a backseat underFDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who has focused on a slate of other priorities, including restricting COVID-19 vaccines, phasing out artificial food dyes and speeding up approval of some innovative drugs.

Groups such as the Vapor Technology Association have met with administration officials in recent weeks calling for more action on flavors.

In March, the FDA released its first-ever guidance to industry on flavors, stating that menthol, coffee, mint and spice flavors could have a role in appealing to adult smokers. The same document also reiterated the risks of sweeter flavors that tend to appeal to teens, such as fruit, candy and dessert flavors.

The vast majority of U.S. teens who vape continue to use unauthorized fruit- and candy-flavored products, according to the latest government data. Those products are technically illegal but remain widely available in cheap, disposable brands typically imported from China.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Beanie Feldstein is pregnant.

Key Points

• The actress is expecting her first baby with wife Bonnie-Chance Roberts.

• The couple shared the news on Instagram alongside beautiful photos.

Congrats go out toBeanie Feldstein!

The actress is pregnant and expecting her first baby with wife Bonnie-Chance Roberts. The couple shared their happy news onInstagramMonday alongside photos of Feldstein, 32, cradling her growing belly in a pink lace dress.

"Limited Edition Scouse Beanie Baby coming soon!! 🎀🍼," the caption read. Roberts, a British producer, posed with Feldstein for the photos, which also featured a two-tier white cake with pink bow details. The dessert plate read, "B & B are having a Baby!"

The pair are expecting a baby girl,Entertainment Weeklyhas confirmed.

Celebrity friends and followers alike commented on the news, with Feldstein's good friend Ben Platt writing, "The universe is healing." HerBooksmartdirector Olivia Wilde added, "Luckiest baby. And I’m finally a grandma!!!!"

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Feldstein and Roberts first met during pre-production for the movieHow to Build a Girlin 2018. They got engaged in 2022 andtied the knotin a summer camp-themed wedding in New York's Hudson Valley on May 20, 2023.

The couple both wore Gucci as guests including Platt, Sarah Paulson, Holland Taylor, Kaitlyn Dever, Adam Levine, and Behati Prinsloo celebratedtheir nuptials.

"The best person i’ve ever known was born today!!! My bonnie-chance: my clever, imaginative, hysterical, silly, brilliant, ever giving, magnetic bit of magic 💫," Feldsteinsharedon Roberts' birthday in December. "The most singular girl in the world - the greatest light to walk into any room - the best thing to ever happen to me. I love you, thanks for always making me dance in the kitchen. Here’s to the most magical year ahead 🌟."

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Roberts also commemorated Feldstein's birthday in June, writing onInstagram, "You enchant this universe with your kindness, your wit, your empathy, your beauty, your resilience, your singular perspective and your boundless love. Any place and any person is better for having seen you. And I get to see you every day. I’m so grateful that I traded in that cow for legumes 🌤️ I love you endlessly my cheeky pie ❤️."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

If you’ve spent any time at the local Moose Lodge or caught a sunset at a winery lately, you might have run into Jan and Rob Santoro. Known as theUnexpected Duo(and founding members of the six-pieceBlues Krue), the intrepid couple is the real deal — musicians who spent their days working "regular" jobs and their nights keeping the nightlife alive. Now that they’re "retired," they’re working harder than ever to make sure the local scene stays vibrant.

Gigs include theEaglesor theMooselodges in Lake County. If you're there, stop by and say hello, but don't ask them for hair or carpentry advice; they're strictly in the music biz now.

The Daily Commercial spoke to Jan about their transition from the Northeast to the Florida blues scene, their musical household and why retirement for them means anything but slowing down.

Q: You moved here from Connecticut about a year and a half ago. What spurred your move down to Florida?

A: Honestly, we just wanted the warmth! We spent decades in Connecticut. I was a hairdresser for over 30 years, and Rob was a contractor, and we always knew we wanted to retire somewhere we could actually enjoy the outdoors year-round. We landed in a cozy 55-plus community in Leesburg (Lakeside Village), and it’s been perfect. It feels like a big family here.

Q: Your partnership with Rob is pretty legendary. You’ve been married and playing music together since you were 24. How did you two first meet?

A: It was actually a band audition back in 1980. His five-piece band was looking for a singer, and a mutual friend gave them my number. It’s funny because we realized we went to the same schools and knew the same people, but our paths never crossed until that audition. We’ve been together ever since.

Q: Is yours a "musical household?" Does that talent run in the family?

A: It definitely does. Our son is 40 now and still up in Connecticut, but he’s a fantastic musician. He’s actually quite well-known for his Paul McCartney tributes. He’s left-handed, just like Paul, and he’s studied the accent and the look so perfectly that it’s uncanny. We grew up on the Beatles and the Stones, so seeing him carry that on is special.

Q: You’ve pivoted into the blues with Blues Krue. What drew you to that genre specifically?

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A: I started listening to Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi, which led me down the rabbit hole to the blues divas like Koko Taylor.

I realized that almost everything we listen to today evolved from those basics. There’s such a raw energy to it. We played Bike Fest last year as the duo, but I’m really looking forward to getting the full Blues Band into more festivals and maybe some small theaters.

Q: Where can people catch you playing locally?

A: We’re on rotation atUncorkedin Eustis, which is a great little wine bistro. We also love playing on the patio at theOrange Blossom Oprybefore the main shows.

We’re just trying to fill that void for live, soulful music in the Lake and Sumter area.

Catch the Santoros live

For Unexpected Duo:

May 9:Steve’s Bar and Grill at The Plantation in Leesburg, 5-8 p.m.

May 15:The Oak house @ Water Oak, Lady Lake, 4-7 p.m.

For Blues Krue:

May 23:Blues festival at Sparacia Witherel winery, Brooksville, at 8:30 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial:Unexpected Duo brings bluesy groove to retirement in Leesburg