Whether 'stringing' or 'looping,' tobacco is the tie that binds many North Carolina farm families
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — It's called “stringing” or “looping,” depending on what part of North Carolina you're from. Twelve-year-old Sophie Sunday just calls it fun. She was the youngest competitor in the annual tobacco stringing contest at the State Fair in Raleigh last week, part of a three-generation crew trying to keep the traditions of the state's historic cash crop alive. Teams tied bundles of tobacco leaves on wooden sticks to be hung in a wood-fired curing barn. Sandy Jones taught her daughter and then Sophie how to “loop” tobacco, as she calls it. They didn't take home first prize, but there's always next year.
Coastal construction projects threaten the mangrove forest that protects Vietnam's biggest city
CAN GIO, Vietnam (AP) — Construction projects are putting at risk a mangrove forest that stands between Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City and rising seas. Mangroves play a vital role in buffering coastlines from storms, flooding and erosion. They support fisheries and store vast amounts of carbon. But Vietnam’s rapid economic growth is transforming the coast as its biggest company, Vingroup, builds a new seaside city. The project includes plans for a major port, roads, bridges and a sea-crossing route. Scientists warn the new infrastructure could disrupt water flows that sustain the mangroves, weakening a natural defense as climate change increases risks of flooding.
Dusky shark that became a tourist draw while trapped in a South Korean canal finally swims free
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean officials have freed a large gray shark trapped for over a month in a canal in Busan. On Wednesday, they used a floating platform to guide the 3-meter-long dusky shark, nicknamed Bukangi, to the sea. The shark was first spotted in mid-September and became a tourist attraction, drawing over 1.7 million visitors. Previous attempts to free it failed. Experts were concerned about its health due to lack of feeding and falling water temperatures. The operation involved maneuvering a platform and using nets to prevent the shark from returning. It's unclear how far the shark swam out.
A 'Treasury of Ice' goes on show, revealing relics as Swiss glaciers rapidly melt
LUCERNE, Switzerland (AP) — The Glacier Garden in Lucerne is showcasing artifacts from Switzerland's glaciers in an exhibit called "Treasury of Ice." The exhibit features relics like an ancient bow, a Roman statuette, and an alpinist's helmet. Swiss glaciologists recently reported a 5.5% loss in glacier volume this year, the second-biggest decline on record. The museum director says the exhibit aims to highlight the importance of these artifacts before the glaciers disappear. The show includes videos, charts and a mockup of a glacier flow. It runs through Aug. 22.
Pompeii's grandest house gets a $1.6 million restoration funded by private sponsor
MILAN (AP) — A private home in Pompeii, believed to be the grandest, is being restored with 1.4 million euros ($1.6 million) from a private sponsor. The house of Marcus Fabius Rufus, modeled after Rome’s imperial palaces, has been closed to the public since 1980. Part of it is expected to open to guided groups by Christmas. A German entrepreneur, Frank Hoefer, is funding the renovation after reading a book by superintendent Gabriel Zuchtriegel. Zuchtriegel hopes to expand such sponsorships to develop the site. Current renovations focus on frescoes, including the famous Venus of Pompeii, and making the complex more accessible.
'The Simpsons' resurrects Apu after nearly a decade of silence
The Halloween-themed episodes of “The Simpsons” have always been a treat of spooky stand-alone storylines. On Sunday, the show surprised viewers with the resurrection of Apu. The beloved Indian Kwik-E-Mart operator had not been heard onscreen in almost a decade. Once voiced by Hank Azaria, he's now voiced by Indian American actor Sunil Malhotra. Apu’s surprise return is a remarkable twist to a long-running discourse about the character representing a painful stereotype to some South Asian Americans. Comedian Hari Kondabolu made the 2017 documentary “The Problem With Apu.” He commended “The Simpsons” on bringing Apu back.
A fall planting guide for long-lived perennials like peonies, iris and false indigo
When plants die, we automatically assume we’re responsible. Sometimes, we are. But what we might not realize is that, like all living things, plants have a lifespan. Unlike annuals and biennials that die after one or two years, respectively, some perennials can persist beyond 50 years under the right conditions. Fall is a great time to plant them. Peonies are the super agers of the group, easily living 50-100 years after they take off. Some species, like bearded iris, hostas and daylilies, will require regular maintenance every three to five years to prevent crowding and rejuvenate the plants. Others, like false indigo, can live on undisturbed through all that nature throws at it.
A historical society with pilot's help bought Neil Armstrong's boyhood home and will offer tours
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A former military pilot has stepped up to preserve Neil Armstrong's boyhood home in Ohio. Ken Schreiber was inspired by Armstrong's legacy as the first man to walk on the moon and decided to buy the house after learning it was for sale. He donated $400,000 to the local historical society. The sale was finalized Monday. The organization plans to restore the home to its 1940s appearance. The goal is to open it for public tours by 2030, marking Armstrong's 100th birthday. The house, a key part of Armstrong's early life, has never been open to the public. Schreiber hopes this effort will inspire future generations.
