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On this day in history, May 20, 1927, Charles Lindbergh departs for first solo nonstop flight across Atlantic

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On this day in history, May 20, 1927, Charles Lindbergh departs for first solo nonstop flight across Atlantic

Aviator Charles Lindbergh began his historic solo transatlantic flight on this day in history, May 20, 1927. 

Departing from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, just before 8 a.m. on May 20, Lindbergh would spend the next 33-and-a-half hours in the air before landing safely at Le Bourget Airdrome, Paris, at 10:22 p.m. local time on May 21, according to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s website.

A sizable crowd in France was waiting for Lindbergh’s arrival. 

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“The crowd surged on the Spirit of St. Louis, and Lindbergh, weary from his 33 1/2-hour, 3,600-mile journey, was cheered and lifted above their heads,” noted the History Channel website.

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While Lindbergh was the first person to make a solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic, the first transatlantic flight occurred in May 1919, that site also said.

Charles Lindbergh in his flying kit standing in the Spirit of St Louis. (Getty Images)

Inspired by the 1919 aeronautic feat, a Frenchman and hotel owner named Raymond Orteig created the “Orteig Prize,” offering $25,000 to the first person to successfully fly across the Atlantic Ocean in a nonstop solo flight. 

Lindbergh, along with other legendary aviators of the time, took Orteig up on his offer, notes the History Channel. 

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Lindbergh received backing for his historic flight from nine investors from St. Louis, said the Smithsonian, and as a token of appreciation he named his airplane the Spirit of St. Louis.

The journey across the Atlantic was physically and mentally taxing.

Lindbergh did not sleep for the entire duration of the flight, and he estimated that he went more than two full days without sleeping, said the History Channel website. 

Charles Lindbergh seen here posing by the Spirit of St. Louis, the plane in which he completed the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic.  (Getty Images)

“Lindbergh went so far as to buzz the surface of the ocean in the hope that the chilly sea spray would help keep him awake, but 24 hours into the journey, he became delirious from lack of rest,” said the site.

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Additionally, Lindbergh kept the windows to his plane open for the entire trip, according to the Smithsonian website. 

The Spirit of St. Louis can be seen at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. 

While keeping the windows open increased drag, Lindbergh hoped that the cold air would force him to stay awake for the duration of the flight.

During the flight, Lindbergh began hallucinating, seeing “fog islands” in the sea and describing “vaguely outlined forms, transparent, moving, riding weightless with me in the plane,” said the History Channel. 

These apparitions, Lindbergh said, “spoke to him and offered words of wisdom for his journey.” 

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Charles Lindbergh and Grover Whalen, chairman of the reception committee, in the speaker’s stand at Roosevelt Field.  (Getty Images)

Lindbergh became an instant celebrity and national hero upon his safe arrival in France. He was nicknamed “Lucky Lindy” and the “Lone Eagle,” notes CharlesLindbergh.com. 

President Calvin Coolidge arranged for his transport back to the United States (by boat, not by plane) and he received a ticker-tape parade in New York City and the Congressional Medal of Honor, said the History Channel website. 

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In the citation for his Medal of Honor, Lindbergh was commended “For displaying heroic courage and skill as a navigator, at the risk of his life, by his nonstop flight in his airplane, the ‘Spirit of St. Louis,’ from New York City to Paris, France, 20-21 May 1927, by which Capt. Lindbergh not only achieved the greatest individual triumph of any American citizen but demonstrated that travel across the ocean by aircraft was possible.”

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Today, the Spirit of St. Louis can be seen at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. 

Charles Lindbergh preparing to begin his historic flight to France. (Getty Images)

Born in Detroit in 1902, Lindbergh began flying professionally at the age of 20 as a “barnstormer” — essentially a daredevil, said CharlesLindbergh.com. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1924, aiming to become an Army Air Service Reserve pilot.

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At the time, the U.S. Air Force was not yet a separate branch of the military. 

Following his graduation from training in 1925, Lindbergh became a mail pilot. 

A nonstop flight from New York’s JFK Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport lasts about seven hours and 30 minutes today, according to Air France. (iStock)

“The life of an aviator seemed to me ideal. It involved skill. It brought adventure. It made use of the latest developments of science. Mechanical engineers were fettered to factories and drafting boards while pilots have the freedom of wind with the expanse of sky. There were times in an airplane when it seemed I had escaped mortality to look down on earth like a God,” he said in 1927.

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In 2023, a nonstop flight from New York’s JFK Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport lasted about seven hours and 30 minutes, said Air France’s website. 

The return flight is just a hair longer, coming in at just about eight hours. 

For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle.

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Pittsburg, PA

California High School Football: Pittsburg releases schedule

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California High School Football: Pittsburg releases schedule


High school football schedules for the 2026 season are coming out one-by-one out of every state around the country and one that is a breeding ground for college prospects is California, with a number of squads finalizing their fall slates.

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Next up out of the state of California when it comes to their 2026 high school football schedule release are the Pittsburg Pirates, which finished within the state’s Top 25 rankings last season. Armed with an abundance of talent last fall, the Pirates concluded last season with a 42-17 win over Cardinal Newman.

The Pirates only two losses of the season came against state powerhouses Archbishop Riordan and De La Salle, respectively. Though Pittsburg has some graduations that will hit the roster, one key returner that will be back is 2028 four-star wide receiver Kenneth Ward, who caught 47 passes for 924 yards and scored 11 touchdowns in 2025.

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The full Pittsburg 2026 football schedule can be seen below, with all official game times to be announced at a later date.

Aug. 28 – Monterey Trail
Sep. 4 – St. John Bosco
Sep. 11 – at James Logan
Sep. 18 – at Mission Viejo
Oct. 2 – Los Gatos
Oct. 9 – Liberty
Oct. 16 – Freedom
Oct. 23 – at Deer Valley
Oct. 30 – at Antioch
Nov. 6 – at Heritage

Pittsburg went 11-2 last season and finished as the state’s No. 19 ranked team, according to the final California 2025 High School Football Massey Rankings.

More about Pittsburg High School

Pittsburg High School, located in Pittsburg, California, is a comprehensive high school known for its strong academic and extracurricular programs. Established in 1924, PHS is home to the Pirates and serves a diverse student body. The school offers a range of AP courses, career technical education, and a robust athletics program. The Pirates are recognized for their competitive sports teams, particularly in football. The school fosters a supportive environment emphasizing academic achievement and community involvement.

For California high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Golden State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across California.

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Connecticut

New Haven’s Chapel Street shift from one-way to two-way traffic brings confusion, concerns

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New Haven’s Chapel Street shift from one-way to two-way traffic brings confusion, concerns


Pedestrians dash across Chapel Street where a new two-way traffic pattern has opened between College and York Streets in New Haven, Conn., Thursday, April 23, 2026.

Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN — Lucy Ballester, the owner of Soap-Edi on Chapel Street in New Haven, said she initially wanted the stretch of the road between in front of her shop to open to two-way traffic. 

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She thought the change would bring more customers to her business, which sells bath bombs, soaps and lotions. 

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“Now it’s kind of harder for them to get here,” Ballester said, who has been in the space for four years. 

Chapel Street, between College Street and York Street, was converted from one-way traffic to two-way traffic starting April 20. The change is part of a broader effort to improve the safety of Chapel Street, one of New Haven’s longest, busiest and most crash-prone arteries.

Chapel Street goes through at least seven neighborhoods stretching from Fair Haven in the east through Mill River, Wooster Square, Downtown, Dwight and Edgewood, West River and Westville.

On April 23, though, New Haven crossing guards manned crosswalks, guiding pedestrians across the street and stopping traffic. Police officers sat in cars on the corners of Chapel Street where traffic change happened to make sure people weren’t driving in the wrong lane. 

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One police officer said he saw 10 people drive in the wrong lane on April 22. By around 11:50 a.m. on April 23, he said he saw four people who drove in the wrong lane. He added a fifth one just moments later when a blue pickup truck turned from College Street into the wrong lane on Chapel Street. 

The police officer laid on the horn at the driver. 

Ballester said there’s more traffic and it is more difficult to get to and leave her shop. She also said her customers said they have to park further away to get to her. She lives in Hamden and usually Ubers to her store or she’ll sometimes drive with her husband.

“I literally don’t even want to deal with it,” Ballester said. 

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Ballester said she lost parking spots in front of her store to a loading space, where a truck was unloading food on April 23. 

“(The traffic) just makes the drivers angry,” Ballester said. “Just makes everybody upset.”

Balester said before there was “flow” and the cars were moving more, but now the street is congested. 

Bryn McGuire, who lives in Clinton and drives to New Haven to attend classes at Gateway Community College, said the street seems “more calm” than he remembered it being. He said he’s been visiting New Haven for more than 20 years now. 

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“That’s what I’d certainly like to see if it makes it more convenient to get around here, that’s great,” McGuire said. “But I think it’s very much a wait and see.”

He said he wanted to see more pedestrian infrastructure, such as bike lanes. 

Plans call for Chapel Street, which already is a two-way street from Fair Haven to College Street, eventually to be open to two-way traffic all the way to Ellsworth Avenue, where it currently becomes two-way as it crosses Ella T. Grasso Boulevard into Westville.

The announcement came just over a year and a half after New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, joined by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, announced an $11 million federal grant for the “Chapel Street Safe Streets Project.”

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At the time of the announcement, nearly 900 accidents had taken place over four years along Chapel Street between State Street and Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, including three fatalities and 18 serious injuries, according to the University of Connecticut’s Connecticut Crash Data Repository, officials said at the time.

This story includes reporting by staff writer Mark Zaretsky. 



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Maine

Southern Maine’s 5 boys track teams to watch​

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Southern Maine’s 5 boys track teams to watch​


South Portland’s Devin Berry, right, and Matthew Berry fly over a hurdle during a 110-meter hurdles heat at the Class A championships in Lewiston last June. Devin Berry is the top returning 110 hurdler in the state. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)

1. South Portland

South Portland has won the past two Class A outdoor track and field championships — and the most recent indoor title — with a similar recipe. The Red Riots have had one or two individuals who can win events, sometimes multiple events, and then lots of quality depth. They appear to have the same combo working this spring, and that’s why they’re the favorites to three-peat. Bossay Ditanduka emerged this winter as one of the state’s top sprinters. He’s a top-three contender in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump. Devin Berry is Class A’s top returning 110-meter hurdler. Michael Lawlor, a senior, has been a key component to each championship as an 800-meter specialist (third at indoor states this winter) and relay runner. Coach Dave Kahill expects points to come in the hurdles from Caleb Ramsell (also a high jumper and triple jumper), Isaac Arey and Gabe Babineau. Ramsell and Arey were fifth and sixth in the indoor hurdles. Ambrosio Mputu (third indoors in 55), Jared LaRose (also high jump and pole vault), Lamed Khelendende and Remy Kiala add sprint depth. Senior race walker Folsom Lamer and junior Anthony Nielsen (sixth indoors in 800) are scoring threats. Lewiston is South Portland’s highest-rated challenger.

2. Portland

The Bulldogs were fifth last year in Class A and graduated some top performers, like 1,600-meter champ Aran Johnson. It’s unlikely this year’s team will have an individual state champion, but it does have seven returners who have placed at a state meet in Brinelle Kubelo (sixth in 110 hurdles), Aziz Mohamed (fifth outdoors and indoors in 400), Liam Alexander (fifth indoors and outdoors in 800), Owen Blades (seventh outdoors in 800), Cordell Jones (fourth in high jump), Ben Mbongo (eighth indoors and outdoors in long jump), and Griffin Lavertu (1,600 relay). Coach Frank Myatt thinks freshman Josh Muanda (fourth indoors in 400) will be a factor in the sprints. The 3,200 relay team won the event indoors and is the defending outdoor champ.

3. Greely

Coach David Dowling points out that the Rangers graduated four multi-event scorers from last year’s team that won the Class B title by 26 points over Lincoln Academy. So a runaway win probably won’t happen, but Greely did claim this year’s indoor crown and has proven returners. Kannon Crocker won the Class B title in 200 and placed in hurdles. Sophomore Jackson Walton was the indoor long jump champ and sixth in the 200. Those two were on Greely’s second-place 400 relay team last spring. Pole vault should also be a strength, with seniors Nate Kim and Camden Wengler, who were third and sixth indoors after placing fifth and sixth outdoors in 2025. Greely showed its depth by winning the indoor 800 relay and placing second in the 3,200 relay.

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4. Bonny Eagle

Deering and Gorham are also in the Class A mix to be a top-five team, but we give a slight edge to the Scots’ well-rounded quality. Junior sprinter Drew Gervais is a threat to win both the 100 and 200, with the top time among returnees in both events. Junior shot putter Wyatt Cyr is coming off a second-place showing indoors with a best throw over 53 feet. He will also compete in discus. Senior Caden Cooper has the third-best returning Class A time in the 300 hurdles. Sophomore Ben Havu is an emerging talent in the javelin (No. 2 Class A returner) and triple jump. Dom Metayer (race walk) and Parker Moore (800 and 1,600) are also scoring threats. The sprint relays look strong. Hurdles and jumps are an area to improve.

5. Freeport

The Falcons placed fifth in Class B last spring and second at this winter’s indoor championship. While Greely’s strength is in the sprints, the Falcons have an excellent distance program led by senior Alex Gilbert, who will likely run the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at the state meet and place in the top three in each — with wins possible at the longer distances. Junior Ian Guzman won the 800 indoors. Brady Webber is a likely scorer in the hurdles and high jump. Tyler Burns was fifth in the indoor triple jump. Senior Jack Brogan is new to outdoor track after placing third in the indoor 400. Senior Dietrick Schulz qualified for states and finished in the top 12 in both shot put and discus last spring.



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