Generations of anglers have made the pilgrimage to Montauk to catch striped bass
MONTAUK, N.Y. (AP) — Generations of fishermen have come to Montauk, New York, to fish for striped bass, but the fish are in the midst of a decline. The community is located at the end of Long Island and has a long history as a destination for sport fishermen. Members of that community say they fear the lifestyle of Montauk striper fishing will decline with the loss of the fish. Some reported catching no fish this summer and fall. Old-timers remember the moratorium on fishing in the 1980s and say that approach might be needed again.
'Dixie' map that divided the US into North and South fetches nearly $1 million at auction
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — After a brief bidding war, the manuscript map that helped divide the United States into North and South, free and slave states, sold for $950,000. Lauren Brunk of Brunk Auctions in Asheville, North Carolina, said Thursday that 45 bidders battled for just under three minutes to own the hand-drawn survey of the Mason-Dixon Line, finished in 1768 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. Bidding started at $400,000. And while it didn’t fetch the hoped-for $1.2 million high estimate, Brunk says it was a very high price for an American map. She says the buyer asked to remain anonymous, at least for now.
Bodies of 2 Colorado students and aspiring outdoorsmen are recovered after they died on hiking trip
The bodies of two Colorado college students who died during a weekend hiking trip have been recovered by helicopter after gusty winds delayed efforts to bring them down. Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon set out last Friday from Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus for what was supposed to be a weekend trip to 13,958-foot Ice Mountain. Their bodies were found Wednesday in a snow-filled basin of West Apostle Mountain. The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office reports that ground crews helped recover their bodies around 1 p.m. the following day. The office adds that it was raining when they started hiking. A severe storm arrived Saturday afternoon and dumped up to 2 feet snow.
A rock formation collapse in Turkey's touristic Cappadocia region kills at least 3
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Parts of a large volcanic rock formation have crashed down in Turkey’s popular tourism destination of Cappadocia, killing at least three people and injuring five others. Officials say a section of the rock formation, known as a fairy chimney, tumbled in Cappadocia’s Goreme region on Thursday. Gov. Huseyin Kok said recent heavy rains likely caused the collapse, which occurred near a parking lot at an entrance to the site. Rescue teams continue to search for others who may be trapped under the debris. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said an investigation has been launched into the incident.
'Dixie' map that divided US into North and South is going up for auction
It’s perhaps the most consequential map in American history, and it could be yours. The hand-drawn chart of the Mason-Dixon Line that eventually divided the free and slave states is up for auction. Originally intended to settle a border dispute between the colonies of Maryland and Pennsylvania, Charles Mason's and Jeremiah Dixon's survey became synonymous with the fundamental divisions that exploded into civil war four decades later. Late publisher Malcolm Forbes outbid the Library of Congress for the map in 1982, paying $360,000. Lauren Brunk of Brunk Auctions estimates it could fetch up to $1 million at Thursday's sale.
Wendy's, struggling with beef prices and growing competition, gets a buyout offer
Shares of Wendy’s jumped after noted investor Nelson Peltz made an offer to buy the struggling burger chain. Wendy’s shares are down 25% in the past year following a yearslong decline. The chain, founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas and named after his daughter, is known for its square burgers and Frosty desserts. But its market share has been falling as burger competitors like In-N-Out and Five Guys expand and inflation made fast-food visits less affordable. Peltz’s Trian Fund Management and several partners are offering Wendy’s $7.35 per share in cash, or a premium of nearly 19% over the stock’s closing price on Tuesday.
Russell Brand denies all charges as he takes the stand at his rape and sex assault trial
LONDON (AP) — Russell Brand says allegations of sexual misconduct have had a “devastating” impact on his life. The actor and comedian testified in court Wednesday at his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault. Brand, 51, denied all charges, stating that friends and colleagues have abandoned him. He also mentioned being barred from staying with his baby son in the hospital due to the allegations. Over the past two weeks, prosecutors have presented their case, with six women accusing Brand of misconduct between 1999 and 2009. Brand insists that consent is fundamental, denying any wrongdoing.
California appeals court upholds actor Danny Masterson's rape convictions
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California appeals court has upheld actor Danny Masterson’s convictions and long prison sentence for raping two women at his home in 2003. The three-judge panel on Tuesday unanimously found that the “That ’70s Show” actor had failed to demonstrate that the lower court made errors that would warrant granting him a new trial. Masterson was convicted in 2023 of raping two women at his home two decades earlier. He was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. His attorneys said in an emailed statement Tuesday that they would seek review at the California Supreme Court.
A dinosaur fossil that looks like a mini T. rex just sold for a giant $47 million
NEW YORK (AP) — A dinosaur that looks like a miniature T. rex is now one of the world's most expensive fossils. The rare skeleton of a Nanotyrannus sold for $47.3 million to a mystery buyer at auction in New York City. Sotheby’s auction house had expected it to fetch anywhere from $6 to $9 million. The price tag for “Jodi,” as the skeleton is nicknamed, makes it the second-priciest set of dinosaur bones ever sold. This summer, a T. rex fossil known as “Gus” sold for a record $50.1 million. Some scientists have opposed such private sales, saying they should go to museums or other institutions for study and public display.
China takes Mbappé's apology 'seriously' after backlash over his ‘Chinese dictator’ comments
BANGKOK (AP) — China has acknowledged soccer star Kylian Mbappé's apology for comments seen as disrespectful to Mao Zedong, the founding leader of Communist China. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday they take his apology seriously, even as state media warned that celebrities would naturally lose business for crossing a red line. Mbappé has faced backlash since Tuesday after his remarks in an online interview, and the fallout continues, after he lost brand deals with three Chinese companies and state media suspended broadcasts of Spanish league matches. The incident was the latest in which China has used its market to compel foreign brands and individuals to apologize for perceived slights.
