A chess expert at age 9, and more

A chess expert at age 9

A 9-year-old from Chelmsford, Mass., has become the youngest American chess player to reach expert level since recordkeeping began. Carissa Yip has risen through the rankings of the U.S. Chess Federation and is now in the top 7 percent of its membership. Yip’s father taught her the game three years ago, and she was beating him regularly within a year. Her next milestone—aside from starting the fifth grade—is to become a chess master, though her ultimate goal is to become the first female world champion. “It’s not like the rating matters,” she said.

Bush 41 shaves his head

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Former President George H.W. Bush opened up this week about having shaved his head in support of the cancer-stricken 2-year-old son of one of his security guards. Pictures released last week showed the 41st president cradling Patrick, who is battling leukemia, in his arms. The rest of his Secret Service detail shaved their heads in solidarity, explained the 89-year-old. “I said, ‘Well, why not me?’ It was the right thing to do.” Bush’s wife, Barbara, said his new hairstyle “shocked, surprised, and thrilled” her. “I think he looks beautiful and looks younger,” she said.

Cleveland captive gets standing ovation

One of the three women held captive for a decade in Cleveland by Ariel Castro made her first public appearance this week, three months after managing to escape. Amanda Berry appeared onstage at a Cleveland festival, to a standing ovation from the crowd. “I told her she had a little bit of time to make up on the partying,” said radio host Shane French, “and you guys would help her out tonight.” The rapper Nelly dedicated a song to Berry, 27, and danced with her onstage. Castro, meanwhile, was facing a life sentence plus 1,000 years in jail.