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NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Hanks-Ohio College
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks proves again he excels at taking directions.
Hank wielded oversized scissors Tuesday and, on a count of three, he led a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a newly renovated motion pictures center named for him at Wright State University in Ohio.
Hanks said that when he was a teenager, he couldn't have gotten into the university. He joked about his performance on the SATs, asking his audience to guess what he got on the tests. His answer: "Spilled Coca-Cola."
The Oscar-winning star isn't an alumnus, but has connections with teachers and alumni of the public school.
Hanks is national co-chair of a fundraising campaign for the university. He planned to attend a fundraising gala and talk with theater, dance and motion picture students during his Tuesday visit.
Rainbow Nooses
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Officials at a Tennessee university say six nooses arranged in the colors of the rainbow were part of an art display for a sculpture class and were not intended to be a political statement or hate symbol.
Austin Peay State University President Alisa White told students Tuesday that the unnamed student who made them was concerned about the perception of the display and apologetic.
The nooses were hung from a tree near the art building at the Clarksville campus Monday afternoon. Campus police removed them after a complaint.
The student issued a statement saying the display was meant to invoke the cycle of death and rebirth represented by springtime.
Some students at a community forum Tuesday were skeptical that anyone would not know nooses are a symbol of lynching.
Edible Marijuana
DENVER (AP) — Pot-infused lemon drops and other marijuana edibles that resemble fruits could be coming off Colorado shelves.
A bill up for its first hearing in the state House on Tuesday also would ban any infused edibles shaped like animals or people.
It's the latest front in a battle by Colorado lawmakers to eradicate retail pot products that could appeal to kids.
Edible pot makers already are preparing for new regulations starting this fall that will require each piece of food to carry a symbol with the letters THC, marijuana's intoxicating chemical.
Marijuana manufacturers say the latest proposal goes too far. But supporters, including Colorado's governor say marijuana candies are like modern-day candy cigarettes and send a dangerous message to kids.
McDonald's-Big Mac
NEW YORK (AP) — McDonald's is testing versions of its Big Mac as the world's biggest hamburger chain pushes to revive its business.
The company says it's testing a "Grand Mac" and "Mac Jr." in the Central Ohio and the Dallas areas, and will see how they do before deciding on a national rollout.
The Grand Mac is made with two third-pound beef patties. The Mac Jr. is basically a single-layer Big Mac.
McDonald's Corp. is been fighting to turn around its business after seeing customer visits decline in recent years. The Oak Brook, Illinois company has said it needs to move faster to keep up with changing tastes.
Airbnb Recommendations
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Airbnb is adding recommendations to its online accommodations service, building on its knowledge of travelers' preferences, coupled with tips from locals.
The company, which lets out-of-town visitors find people renting out homes and rooms, says it wants to help travelers get off the beaten path by showing alternatives to well-known, often-crowded, attractions.
CEO Brian Chesky says Airbnb's mobile apps will match travelers with hosts and neighborhoods based on their previous searches and bookings. It will also weigh their responses to questions about amenities or experiences they prefer.
The recommendations will let Airbnb show more listings outside the most-traveled neighborhoods, although visitors can still make their own selections.
Airbnb will also recommend activities, based on hosts' tips, which Chesky says will help visitors see what it's like to live in a city.
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