3,156-pound pumpkin grown in Rhode Island is inspected for possible world record
HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (AP) — A Rhode Island pumpkin grower appears to have set a new world record for the heaviest pumpkin. Ron Wallace's giant squash weighed 3,156 pounds at a contest in New England. That's nearly the weight of three concert grand pianos. The Guinness Book of World Records has yet to verify his achievement. Wallace said Monday he was in communication with officials. He won $3,500 at his local contest, choosing to compete there despite bigger prize offers elsewhere. Meanwhile, in Northern California, Travis Gienger won a major pumpkin-weighing contest with a 2,389-pound pumpkin named Rocky. Gienger plans to grow pumpkins in a climate-controlled environment like Wallace to compete more seriously.
Shiyazh Pete, first Navajo NFL player, recognized on Indigenous Peoples Day
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The first member the Navajo Nation to play in the NFL got a hero’s welcome in New Mexico on Indigenous Peoples Day. Shiyazh Pete signed footballs and jerseys and posed with fans for photos in Albuquerque on Monday. Pete is now a free agent after being waived by the Dallas Cowboys, but his preseason debut gave Native Americans a moment to remember when thousands from across the Navajo Nation cheered him on in a game against the Arizona Cardinals in August. Pete joins a long list of Indigenous athletes who have broken barriers, inspired pride and become role models for children.
Bryan Ford's cozy bread pudding recipe turns day-old bread into a rum-topped dessert
Many cultures have versions of bread pudding, which was created as a way to eliminate the waste of old bread. In his cookbook, "Pan y Dulce," Bryan Ford uses day-old bread to soak up a sweet milk and egg mixture. He uses whole milk and heavy cream, but says you can substitute dairy-free alternatives if you'd like. Ford prefers measuring ingredients by weight for better accuracy, rather than in volumes like cups and tablespoons. But his book provides volume conversions. This recipe also includes raisins, shredded coconut and chocolate chips, among other ingredients, and the pudding is topped with a rum sauce.
Egypt’s Fayoum mummy portraits to travel abroad for first time after restoration
CAIRO (AP) — Egypt has unveiled a restored version of the "Tondo of the Two Brothers," a prized 2nd-century painting from the Fayoum portraits. Specialists from Rome worked with conservators from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir for three weeks to restore the artwork. Fayoum mummy portraits were painted on thin wooden panels and placed over the faces of the deceased. Egypt will lend a major part of the collection to a temporary exhibition in Rome. Experts describe the painting as unusual because of its circular shape and depiction of two people. The exhibition will run from November to May 2027.
Wildfires threaten Indonesia's orangutans as rescuers find injured animals
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Wildfires sweeping across Indonesia’s Borneo island have left endangered orangutans struggling to survive. Rescuers have evacuated animals found injured and surrounded by thick haze. A female orangutan named Novita was rescued from a nearly leafless tree in Central Kalimantan province. Her hands and feet suffered burns, likely from crossing a burned area. She was taken to a rehabilitation center for treatment. Fires have worsened due to El Niño, affecting both Borneo and Sumatra. Toxic haze has caused a health crisis in neighboring countries. Authorities stress the need for fire prevention and habitat protection.
Congregants celebrate the reconstruction of one of America's oldest Black churches
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) — The First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, one of the oldest Black churches in the U.S., celebrated the reconstruction of its original meeting house with a re-dedication on Friday. Established in 1776, the Virginia congregation began as secret gatherings of enslaved and free African Americans in defiance of laws. The original building, known as the African Baptist Meeting House, was destroyed by a tornado in 1834 and was later turned into a parking lot. Archaeologists uncovered the church's foundation in 2021, along with 62 graves linked to the congregation. The church has been rebuilt with historical accuracy, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation says. The dedication highlighted the importance of Black history as American history.
Four astronauts return to Earth after eight months in space
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts are back on Earth after an eight-month stay at the International Space Station. Their SpaceX capsule splashed into the Pacific on Thursday. The U.S., French and Russian astronauts said before leaving the orbiting lab on Wednesday that they'll miss the extraordinary views of Earth from space. But they can't wait to feel the breeze on their faces and hit the shower. They left the planet in February to replace a station crew that returned home early in a medical evacuation. The space station has welcomed 298 visitors from 26 countries since 2000.
The Waffle House Index helps Southerners — and FEMA — gauge a storm's severity
For some residents of storm-prone Southeastern states, the best indicator of a hurricane’s severity can be found at the local Waffle House. If the Georgia-based restaurant chain stays open in town, neighbors are reassured that the coming storm is unlikely to cause devastation. A closed location of the dependable diner chain has come to indicate impending disaster. What might sound like silly logic has become one of the most reliable ways for Southerners and even federal officials to gauge a storm’s severity and identify communities most in need of immediate aid. The Waffle House Index was created by a emergency management official and is still used today.
US newlyweds tour Croatia after fans photobomb their wedding shoot
SPLIT, Croatia (AP) — It began with a hijacked wedding photo shoot and turned into a very unexpected but exciting trip across the world. Ashton and Zachary Smith from Philadelphia came to Croatia this week as national guests after the couple accidentally celebrated their wedding in June with a crowd of joyful Croatian soccer fans during the FIFA World Cup in the United States. The Smiths had just gotten married and came out of Philadelphia City Hall for photos when hundreds of Croats in red-and-white chequered jerseys joined in. Photos and videos of the couple kissing among the fans became popular on social networks and paved the way for a new friendship.
With violins, trumpets and the guitarrón, Las Vegas is training the mariachi educators of tomorrow
LAS VEGAS (AP) — In Las Vegas, where Latinos top a third of the population, mariachi music is a much loved and popular staple. The Nevada city is home to one of the largest mariachi programs in the U.S. through the Clark County School District. Nearly 6,000 middle and high school students take part in learning the popular Mexican folk music. But the school district has increasingly had a tough time finding educators to teach the young. To meet demand, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas is offering one of the first mariachi minors in the country. Axel Rodríguez Olivas is set to become the program's first graduate, ready to teach mariachi to new generations of students.
