George Lucas presents a galaxy of art that goes far, far past 'Star Wars' in new Los Angeles museum
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is opening in Los Angeles, showcasing a vast collection of creative work. While "Star Wars” fans will find familiar pieces, the museum focuses on a broader range of art collected by George Lucas. It aims to elevate populist painters, commercial illustrators and comic artists to the status of fine art. The museum features works from Lucas's personal collection, including paintings by Norman Rockwell and Maxfield Parrish. Galleries are organized by themes like sports and civic activism, rather than by artist or era. The building is designed by Ma Yansong and resembles a floating cloud or tree canopy.
Dollywood theme park will add new features, including a waterfall, to honor Dolly Parton
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dolly Parton's theme park in east Tennessee will unveil new features for fans to honor the life of the “dreamer-in-chief,” Dolly Parton, who died at the age of 80. The town of Sevierville, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, will also be placing markers throughout the city for a self-guided walking tour of places that were important to the singer, actor and philanthropist. The theme park announced plans to add a new character based on her Imagination Library charitable program. A chapel inside the park will get new stained glass windows and a waterfall to reflect her faith. And fans will be able to share their thoughts about Parton at new kiosks.
Apple changes Lake Ontario name to 'Lake America' for US users of its Maps, following Trump's order
CHICAGO (AP) — Apple has relabeled Lake Ontario to “Lake America” for U.S. users of its maps app, following competitor Google days after President Donald Trump ordered a new name for the body of water amid his escalating trade war with Canada. As of Wednesday, Apple Maps shows “Lake America” for U.S. users, while users outside the U.S. still see Lake Ontario. Earlier this week, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Trump contacted Apple directly about the change. Google Maps also updated the name for U.S. users over the weekend, citing Trump's order. Canadian leaders have rejected the move, emphasizing the lake's Indigenous roots.
Pabst Blue Ribbon offers $20,000 reward to help find its missing beer
Pabst Blue Ribbon wants its beer back, and it’s offering a reward to help that happen. Greig DeBow, the CEO of Pabst Brewing Co., said Wednesday that the company will pay up to $20,000 to anyone who provides new information that leads to the recovery of 1,602 stolen cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon and non-alcoholic Old Milwaukee beer. The beer went missing Aug. 17 in Southern California. Police in Montclair, California, said the beer was stolen from a warehouse in two separate incidents on the same day. DeBow said the company wants the beer returned by Sept. 9. Anyone with information is asked to email hotline@pabst.com.
Italy has started exporting a delicacy prized abroad, reviled at home
SCARDOVARI, Italy (AP) — Fishermen in Italy have shifted from incinerating invasive Atlantic blue crabs to commercializing them. The crabs, which have devastated mollusk populations in the Po River Delta, are now being exported and slowly introduced to Italian diners. The Italian government had tried to eradicate the crabs, but their rapid reproduction made it difficult. Fishermen are now making most of their income from crabs, despite lower prices compared to traditional mollusks. Some local chefs are embracing the crabs, hoping to change public perception. The move aims to salvage fishermen's livelihoods and rehabilitate the crab's image in Italy.
Tony Romo pleads no contest to charge of operating while intoxicated and issues statement of apology
CBS NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has pleaded no contest to a charge of operating while intoxicated and has issued a statement apologizing for the actions that led to his July arrest. Romo was arrested July 23 following a traffic stop as he was driving south on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin. CBS has since placed him on leave. Romo said multiple back surgeries during his playing career left him in pain that led to a dependence on pain medication. He said his efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol.
Researchers catch sharks off NY's Hamptons, attach trackers to toothy predators
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — Researchers are catching a wide range of sharks off New York’s Hamptons and outfitting them with small trackers as they seek to understand more about one of the world’s few confirmed great white shark nurseries. The Associated Press came along to document one recent research excursion. The scientists say they're seeing more exotic sharks coming up during the summer months as local waters warm. They also say young white sharks are moving north sooner because of the warming waters, potentially putting them at risk of becoming prey to older sharks.
Trump has asked Apple to change Lake Ontario name to 'Lake America' on its maps, interior chief says
CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump has asked Apple to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” on its maps app, his administration’s interior chief said Monday — days after signing an executive order over the body of water now in the spotlight amid his escalating trade war with Canada. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox that Trump “reached out to Apple directly.” Apple did not immediately comment. Just over the weekend, competitor Google Maps rolled out the new label for its U.S. users. The move echoes Trump's order last year to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America — and both Apple and Google updated their maps in the U.S. soon after.
At 91, Dale 'Grey Beard' Sanders reclaims record as oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail
MILLINOCKET, Maine (AP) — A 91-year-old man who goes by the nickname Grey Beard has reclaimed his record as the oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail. Dale Sanders started last Sept. 6 in West Virginia, hiked the nearly 2,200-mile trail in out-of-order sections with breaks in between, and finished Monday atop Mount Katahdin in Maine. Sanders first set the record in 2017 at age 82. Four years later, 83-year-old M.J. Eberhart took the title, but within months, Sanders announced his plan for a comeback. By his count, he fell 71 times along the way, including just 200 yards from the finish. While Sanders’ first journey was easier than he expected, he says the latest trek was considerably harder.
No pint-sized matter: Thieves steal $70,000 in Pabst beer from California warehouse
MONTCLAIR, Calif. (AP) — Police in Southern California are investigating the theft of more than 30,000 cans of Pabst beer in two separate heists from the same warehouse on the same day. Police in Montclair put the value of the beer at $70,000 in a news release Friday. Both thefts occurred on Aug. 17. Thieves first made off with $45,000 worth of beer headed to Tucson, Arizona. Montclair police say about an hour later, another $25,000 worth of beer was stolen. Investigators are trying to determine whether the thefts were part of a single operation. In a light-hearted post on Instagram, Pabst Blue Ribbon started a countdown for the return of the beer.
