New England's having an 'elite' year, but there's fall foliage elsewhere, too
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Leaf-peeping season is underway, but some areas of the U.S. are seeing lots more color than others. Kyle Cotner, who owns The Foliage Report website, tracks fall foliage across the U.S. He says New England is having an elite year, thanks to adequate spring and summer rain, plus warm days and cool nights heading into fall. Colorado, meanwhile, is having a lackluster foliage season because of extreme droughts. Fall foliage happens when leaves stop making the green pigment chlorophyll, allowing orange and yellow pigments that have been there all along to be unmasked. When sunny days are followed by cold nights, sugars get trapped in leaves, producing red pigments.
Good grief, Charlie Brown! Giant inflatable pumpkin takes pre-Halloween flight
CARY, N.C. (AP) — The Great Pumpkin made an early visit to Cary, North Carolina, this year. It happened as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias passed through. Officials still had a tornado warning in effect Sunday afternoon and a twister even touched down near Phillips Farms. Then the sun peeked out and the farm staff decided to inflate their two-story-high lawn ornament. Just then, the wind picked up and the giant jack-o'-lantern started to tumble. Videos of the Great Pumpkin escape went viral. Farm owner Michael Phillips says it's the best free advertising he's ever had.
Jalen Hurts sidelined by a blood clot, the latest bad news in a rough season for the Eagles
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles have ruled out quarterback Jalen Hurts for Sunday's game against Carolina because of a superficial blood clot. Hurts was injured two weeks ago against the Los Angeles Rams when he took a cleat to his calf. He traveled with the team to London for their game against Jacksonville and was cleared to play against the Jaguars. Hurts received treatment Monday and Tuesday this week when he returned to Philadelphia and was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. An ultrasound on Wednesday revealed movement in the clot. The Eagles said they would determine the appropriate course of treatment.
Bird flu caused the death of Jackie, a California bald eagle who captured hearts
BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (AP) — Officials say bird flu caused the death of a bald eagle named Jackie who had become an internet sensation and a symbol of the species’ recovery in California. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a news release Wednesday that a necropsy and additional testing found that the primary underlying cause of Jackie’s death in August was highly pathogenic avian influenza. In the weeks leading up to her death she was being treated at the Ojai Raptor Center for a variety of ailments including anemia. Chris Eksteen, the center’s director, said in the news release that the necropsy results “have helped connect many of the findings” they saw throughout her hospitalization.
Florida man killed ex-fiancee hours after their 'People's Court' episode aired, police say
Authorities say a Florida man whose former fiancee went missing nearly 15 years ago, just hours after they appeared together on a pretaped episode of “The People’s Court,” has been charged with her murder. Orlando police announced the arrest on Wednesday of Dale Smith Jr. on a charge of second-degree murder. The body of Michelle Parker has not recovered, but police say all evidence leads to Smith as the person responsible for her death. Smith’s attorney said during a hearing Thursday afternoon that he didn’t believe the state could meet its burden of proof to convict Smith based on the information presented in the criminal complaint. A judge ordered Smith to be held without bond pending a detention hearing, which wasn’t immediately scheduled.
Luna, a small dog missing for over a month in Yellowstone, is reunited with her owners
A small dog named Luna has been found after more than a month on the loose in Yellowstone National Park. Despite frequent sightings, the Jack Russell terrier evaded capture since early September amid mounting fears for her survival and the approach of winter weather. Volunteers were able to catch the dog Wednesday in a live trap baited with a T-shirt and pillowcase carrying her owner's scent. The California family that lost Luna believes a housekeeper accidentally let her out of a cabin they were staying in while they explored the park on Sept. 10. The search for Luna had rallied locals and tourists alike.
Pilot reported ice building up on the wings before Wisconsin crash that killed 6
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Authorities report that six people, including a child, died in a plane crash in Wisconsin. The pilot had reported ice buildup on the wings while flying through a thunderstorm Tuesday night. The single-engine plane was traveling from Kenosha to Menomonie when it crashed near Mirror Lake State Park. The National Transportation Safety Board says the pilot requested to descend after noticing icing at 24,000 feet. Air traffic control approved, but communication was lost during the descent. The NTSB will investigate the crash, which occurred near Wisconsin Dells. The names of the victims have not been released.
Netflix is laying off 6% of its workforce, in biggest round of job cuts at streaming giant in years
CHICAGO (AP) — Netflix plans to lay off about 6% of its workforce as part of wider organizational changes. Co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos announced the cuts in a memo to employees on Wednesday. They said the company's product, tech, legal, and human resources teams would be most impacted. The company maintains business is strong but needs to prioritize resources for future growth. Despite profit growth this year, Netflix's forecast for the third quarter fell below Wall Street's expectations. Competition in the streaming space is growing, with rivals like Amazon's Prime Video and Disney+ close behind.
The building housing London's oldest restaurant has been donated to a conservation charity
LONDON (AP) — The building that houses London’s oldest restaurant has been donated to Europe’s biggest conservation charity. It's a move that will hopefully secure one of the U.K. capital’s go-to eateries for centuries to come. Rules was established in 1798 by Thomas Rule as an oyster bar when Europe was in turmoil in the aftermath of the French Revolution. Rules has survived the British Empire, the Blitz and even plans for a new road that would have seen it demolished. The four-decade owner of the building that houses Rules is J-P Mayhew who has made the selfless decision to donate 34-35 Maiden Lane in bustling Covent Garden in central London to the National Trust.
Kroger to lay off 3,000 corporate employees over 3 years as it leans into artificial intelligence
Grocery store chain Kroger says it will lay off 3,000 corporate employees over the next three years as it ramps up its use of artificial intelligence to streamline operations. In a memo to Kroger employees on Monday, CEO Greg Foran said the company needs to take advantage of recent advances in technology. Kroger last month outlined its AI strategy with the goal of improving the customer experience and making work easier for its employees. Cincinnati-based Kroger is the largest standalone U.S. supermarket chain with 409,000 employees and more than 2,700 stores operating under various brands, including Ralphs, King Soopers, Smith’s and Fred Meyer.
