GOP congressman from Wisconsin swims to safety after plane makes emergency landing in a lake
WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) — A Republican congressman says he had to swim to safety after a plane he was traveling in made an emergency landing in a lake late Saturday. U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany says he was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the light aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau. They both ended up in the water and swam to safety. Emergency responders got both Tiffany and the pilot to a nearby hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries. Tiffany is running for governor on the Republican ticket in Wisconsin and has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.
15-year-old rescued after clinging to capsized boat for days in Alaska's Bering Sea
A fishing crew in Alaska’s Bering Sea rescued a teenager who clung to a capsized boat for roughly two days in the frigid waters. The rescuers say they also recovered the bodies of the boy’s brother and a cousin who died sometime after the boat flipped. The Coast Guard says it began searching for the skiff Monday morning. An aircrew spotted the 15-year-old hours later on top of the boat near Alaska’s remote St. Lawrence Island. A nearby fishing vessel then approached the overturned skiff. Video of the rescue shows the boy kneeling atop the skiff before the boat’s crew pulled him into a rescue basket.
Well-preserved tooth from Pacific mastodon found in a creek in San Francisco Bay Area
Brigid Lynch was working along a wooded creek in a mountainous part of the San Francisco Bay Area on a habitat restoration project when something that didn’t look like the rocks she’d been studying caught her eye. It turned out to be the fossilized tooth of a Pacific mastodon. Lynch, a geomorphologist at Balance Hydrologics, made the discovery earlier this year. She spotted the fossil while working on a project to protect the threatened California red-legged frog in a preserve in San Mateo County. The public land management agency announced the find this week, and that it has been donated to Stanford University.
GOP and Democratic officials in Nashville unite over renaming airport for Dolly Parton
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — In Nashville, Tennessee, Republican and Democratic leaders are in an ugly partisan battle over who controls the city's airport, but they agree on one thing. It should be renamed to honor the state's favorite daughter, Dolly Parton. Parton, who passed away two weeks ago, has previously declined such honors. On Friday, the state-controlled Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority unanimously approved a motion to begin the renaming process. Nashville officials say a competing city-controlled authority is also in favor. Officials say the renaming process could take a year or more. Hurdles include working with Parton’s estate to determine how they might split profits from merchandise sales, among other things.
Ella Langley leads Country Music Association Awards nods, with mentor Miranda Lambert close behind
NEW YORK (AP) — Ella Langley leads the 2026 Country Music Association Awards nominations with nine nods, thanks to her hit “Choosin’ Texas.” Her mentor, Miranda Lambert, follows with six nominations. The top nominees, announced Thursday, also include Kacey Musgraves and Ben West with five nominations each. Langley competes for entertainer of the year alongside Cody Johnson, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson. Her songs “Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas” are up for single of the year. The 60th annual CMA Awards will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 18.
Snoop Dogg brings the VMAs back to Los Angeles as host for Sept. 27 show
NEW YORK (AP) — The MTV Video Music Awards are returning to the West Coast with Snoop Dogg as host. The rapper will MC the show live from Los Angeles on Sept. 27. This marks the first time since 2017 that the VMAs won't be in New York or New Jersey. Snoop is a 13-time nominee. He says MTV has been a big part of his career. Madonna leads with 11 nominations, including video and artist of the year. Taylor Swift follows with nine nods. Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter have seven nominations each. Nirvana will receive the Video Vanguard award.
Little Mercury may be shrinking faster than scientists expected
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A new study shows that little, wrinkly Mercury may be shrinking faster than expected. Scientists from the German Aerospace Center reported Thursday that Mercury's shrinkage may be 30% greater than previously believed. They say that represents a loss in diameter of as much as 14 miles, significant for a planet that is barely 3,000 miles across. Mercury has been shrinking ever since its formation 4.5 billion years ago because of internal cooling, which is tightening the surface like a girdle to fit its new slimmer self.
One Tech Tip: New iPhones arrive, but you can keep your old phone longer by caring for it
Apple's latest iPhones come with new features and hefty price tags. If you're planning to splurge on a new iPhone, you will want to take good care of it to make it last. Or you can save your money and hold on to your current device and make it last longer. Batteries are the biggest factor in device longevity. Avoid exposing your phone to extreme temperatures, which can damage the battery. Don't let your phone die or charge it to 100%, which can both stress the battery.
Hockey player and coach-turned-broadcaster Barry Melrose dies at age 70
Barry Melrose, a hockey player-turned-coach who led the Los Angeles Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final before going on to a long career in broadcasting the sport, has died. He was 70. ESPN announced Melrose’s death Wednesday after his wife informed the network. Melrose stepped away from the role in 2023 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. From Kelvington, Saskatchewan, the hard-nosed defenseman played over 300 games in the NHL after nearly 200 in the World Hockey Association.
'South Park' creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone 'rename' show to 'South America' in jab at Trump
Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of "South Park," are changing the show's name to "SOUTH AMERICA," at least for now. They announced the change on the show's Instagram page. This move comes after President Donald Trump declared he is renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" in the U.S. Apple and Google have already adopted the new name in their maps. The change comes a week before the 29th season premiere. Parker and Stone have also criticized their parent company, Paramount, which owns Comedy Central, where "South Park" airs. A recent storyline on “South Park” depicted Trump as a villain-like character romantically involved with Satan.
