Ugandans plant trees near national park to keep people out of gorillas’ habitat
BWINDI, Uganda (AP) — Mountain gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are seeing their population grow, but their forest habitat is not expanding. Communities near the park have planted trees nearby for medicine, firewood, and crafts to ease pressure on gorilla habitats. The idea is to provide resources outside the park so residents don't cut trees inside. The forest is home to about 450 mountain gorillas, nearly half the world’s population. The Uganda Wildlife Authority distributes seedlings to help. Tourism supports conservation efforts, with visitors generating jobs and revenue. The project was highlighted around World Gorilla Day on September 24.
At a talent show on Los Angeles' Skid Row, the performers are all part of the homeless community
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles' Skid Row held what is believed to be its first talent show featuring performances from people who are homeless or formerly homeless. Pastor Gary Carr, who organized the event Saturday, wanted to highlight the value and stories of the community that are often overlooked. The downtown LA neighborhood is synonymous with abject poverty, home to thousands of chronically homeless people and inundated with tents and debris. Many sang or rapped songs they had written themselves about their struggles in hopes they will inspire others. One performer read Scripture from the Bible that he was particularly moved by.
Twin brothers Austin and Tyler Jones ump big league games together for the first time
BALTIMORE (AP) — Twin brothers Austin and Tyler Jones have umpired games together for the first time at the major league level. They worked both ends of a doubleheader between Toronto and Baltimore on Wednesday. Austin Jones was at first base and Tyler Jones handled second in the first game. Then they swapped spots. The two are on a list of Triple-A call-up umpires who fill in at the big league level for injuries, illnesses, vacations and other reasons of absence. Tyler Jones umpired the first game of the Blue Jays-Orioles series Monday. There are typically five umpires on a crew for a doubleheader instead of four, so Austin Jones was added when Tuesday's scheduled game was rained out.
Rome's Colosseum closes for two days after a worker plunges to his death
ROME (AP) — Rome's Colosseum has been closed to mourn a worker who fell to his death at Italy's most-visited monument. The 22-year-old worker Andrea Moretti specialized in working at altitude on ropes. He died on Tuesday while installing cabling for an illumination project. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed shock and sadness. She called his death unacceptable especially in the workplace. Authorities were investigating to determine the circumstances of Moretti's death. Some visitors had already entered the Colosseum on Wednesday morning before the closure.
How Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' became the longest-running No. 1 hit of all time
NEW YORK (AP) — Ella Langley’s song “Choosin’ Texas” is officially the longest-running No. 1 single in the U.S., spending 23 weeks at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. It is also 2026's biggest hit. Since its release in October, the song has achieved 911 million on-demand streams in the U.S. and 1.26 billion globally. Senior editor at Spotify Claire Heinichen says the song’s growth has been explosive. Musicologist Nate Sloan and “Country Soul” editor Charles L. Hughes say the bright song’s ability to pull from traditional and contemporary genres in and outside of country music speaks to its success. They also cite its lyrics, which tell a specific story about the universal experience of heartbreak.
What to know about Taylor Swift's new music: Her first since her wedding
NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift has announced “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore,” an extended version of her 2025 album with four new tracks. Those include the single “Patient Zero” as well as “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon.” “The Encore” will arrive Friday. On Tuesday, Swift launched a cryptic countdown clock on her website, which ended at 2 p.m. Eastern. Her fans quickly started theorizing. Her website now offers three limited-edition CD variants of “Patient Zero" for preorder. The new music arrives after Swift appeared in a pretaped sketch at last week's Emmys in which she dropped additional Easter eggs.
Fat Bear Week opens for Alaska’s heavyweight crown. Can Chunk, the 1,200-pound champ, win again?
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — After a summer spent packing away sockeye salmon, Alaska’s heftiest brown bears are ready to throw their weight around. Online voting began Tuesday for Fat Bear Week, the annual contest that pits the rotund residents of Katmai National Park and Preserve against each other for the title of most oversized ursine. Last year’s winner, Chunk — known officially as Bear 32 — is hungry for a repeat. The event this year features 16 bears facing off in a single-elimination, bracket-style tournament. All voting is done online at www.fatbearweek.org, with the winner declared Sept. 29.
Amateur archaeologist finds Germany’s biggest hoard of ancient Roman silver coins
BERLIN (AP) — An amateur archaeologist has discovered a significant hoard of Roman silver coins in western Germany. Oliver Riedl found 934 Roman silver denarii in a field near Wesseling, south of Cologne. The local archaeological office confirmed Tuesday that it's the largest coin treasure from the time of Roman Emperor Hadrian found in Germany. The coins, weighing 3.1 kilograms, are now on display at the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn. Experts believe the coins were buried deliberately in the second century A.D. The pay of Roman legionaries provides a reference for the hoard's value, though its exact worth remains unclear.
New book by Princess Diana's brother prompts war of words with King Charles III
LONDON (AP) — A new book by the late Princess Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, has made headlines with damning allegations about King Charles III. In “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” Spencer claims he argued with Charles over plans for Prince William and Prince Harry to walk behind Diana's coffin in 1997. Spencer says Charles dismissed concerns. He claims the prince “went ballistic” during the argument, and told him: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.” Buckingham Palace responded with a rare statement, suggesting grief can cloud judgment. Spencer insists he's telling the truth. The book revives tensions between the palace and the Spencer family, highlighting Diana's enduring impact on the royals.
Presley Gerber, model and son of Cindy Crawford, dies at 27
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — The son of supermodel Cindy Crawford, Presley Gerber has died at age 27. Medical examiner records show Gerber died Sunday at a rehabilitation facility. An autopsy was performed, but the medical examiner's website said more testing is required before investigators can give a cause. Santa Monica police said they were investigating Gerber's death as a suspected overdose. A spokesperson for Crawford and husband Rande Gerber said the family is asking for privacy. Presley was a model in his own right and the older brother of model and actor Kaia Gerber. He had been open about his struggles with mental health and substance abuse.
