Going global: Jim Yong Kim, president of Dartmouth College, has been chosen to be the next president of the World Bank. His selection extends the United States’ hold on the top job at the 187-nation development agency. Kim, a surprise nominee of President Barack Obama, was selected today in a vote by the World Bank’s 25-member executive board. He’ll succeed Robert Zoellick, who’s stepping down after a five-year term. Developing nations waged an unsuccessful challenge to Kim, 52, a physician and pioneer in treating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in the developing world. Kim’s selection marks a break from previous World Bank leaders, who were typically political, legal or economic figures. Get the full story from The Associated Press here.
Slugging it out: Following its sweep of Alabama over the weekend, the LSU Tigers are ranked No. 1 in the Collegiate Baseball newspaper poll released today. The Tigers (30-7) have won 13 of their last 14 games, including the last six in a row, and are tied for first place in the SEC standings with No. 2 Kentucky—whom they face this weekend for a three-game series in Lexington. The 2012 club becomes the third LSU team to be ranked No. 1 during the six-season tenure of coach Paul Mainieri. “We’re certainly very proud of the No. 1 ranking,” Mainieri says. “It brings a lot of notoriety, but it also brings a lot of responsibility.” Read more at the LSUsports.net website here.
Musical chairs: Two more artists were dropped from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival lineup today—Reggae legend Bunny Wailer and Levon Helm, the drummer of The Band fame who was to perform with Mavis Staples as a guest. Warren Haynes Ziggy Marley will take Wailer’s Friday, May 4, spot on the Congo Square Stage, while jam band guitar hero Warren Haynes will appear in the Blues Tent on Saturday, May 5, in place of Helm. Already this year, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam fame has canceled and been replaced by Jimmy Buffett, while Cee Lo Green is replacing Jill Scott. John Mayer also canceled early on, but instead of being replaced, Bruce Springstten & the E Street Band were given a 2.5-hour set. See the full lineup and more at the Jazz Fest website here.
