HALF MOON BAY — A Minnesota horticulture teacher remained the reigning champion Monday of an annual pumpkin-weighing contest in Northern California where his massive gourds have won the top prize four years in a row. Travis Gienger, of Anoka, Minnesota, beat his closest competitor by 6 pounds (2.7 kilograms) to...
Vientos Hits Grand Slam as Mets Cool Dodgers’ Hot Pitching to Even up NLCS
LOS ANGELES — Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos homered as the New York Mets stopped the Los Angeles Dodgers' record-tying postseason scoreless streak in a 7-3 victory on Monday, tying the NL Championship Series at a game apiece. Mets' Power Surge Breaks Dodgers' Streak Lindor added to his storybook season...
Minnesota City Says Trump Campaign Still Owes More Than $200,000 for July Rally
ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Former President Donald Trump's campaign still owes St. Cloud nearly $209,000 for services related to a July rally, officials from the central Minnesota city say. The bill is for services beyond what the city normally provides, The Minnesota Star Tribune reported Monday. A request for comment...
6 People Accuse Diddy of Sexual Assault in New Lawsuits, Including Man Who Was 16 at Time
NEW YORK — Sean "Diddy" Combs was hit Monday with a new wave of lawsuits accusing him of raping women, sexually assaulting men and molesting a 16-year-old boy. It is the first time he's been sued by a person alleging they were abused as a minor. At least six lawsuits...
‘Extortion’ and ‘Bullying’ Accusations Fly: Who Should Pay for Sinking the Friant-Kern Canal?
A last-resort attempt to shore up funding for ongoing Friant-Kern Canal repairs has run into a buzzsaw of opposition from several irrigation districts that were stuck with the bill – up to $295 million. A letter disputing the fees accuses the Friant Water Authority, which operates the canal, of, among...
US Deploys THAAD Missile Defense System and Troops to Israel, Sparking Debate
The New York Times reported that the U.S. is deploying a THAAD missile defense system and 100 troops to Israel to enhance its defenses against Iranian missiles. This marks the first U.S. troop presence in Israel since the Hamas-led attacks in October 2024, indicating a shift toward increased U.S. involvement...
Christopher Reeve’s Children Share Their Father’s Complex Legacy in ‘Super/Man’
NEW YORK — Christopher Reeve's children say they made a point to include all the complexities of their father's life — his strengths and weaknesses — in the new documentary "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story" — because that's what he would have wanted. The film includes family home videos, mixed...
Bakersfield Prof, Community College Reach $2.4M Settlement in Free Speech Case
Matthew Garrett, a former professor at Bakersfield College, recently settled a lawsuit with his former employer. A long-running saga involving a Kern County community college professor — hailed as a defender of free speech by some but by others as a source of campus strife — has ended with a...
‘Terrifier 3’ Slashes ‘Joker’ to Take No. 1 at the Box Office, Trump Film the Apprentice Fizzles
NEW YORK — The choices on the movie marquee this weekend included Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker, a film about Donald Trump, a "Saturday Night Live" origin story and even Pharrell Williams as a Lego. In the end, all were trounced by an ax-wielding clown. Terrifier 3 Tops Box Office...
Oregon, Penn State Move Behind No. 1 Texas. Army, Navy Both Ranked for 1st Time Since ’60
NEW YORK — Oregon and Penn State each moved up a spot in The Associated Press college football poll on Sunday following thrilling wins in high-profile games, and Top 25 newcomers Navy and Army are in the rankings together for the first time since 1960. Texas strengthened its hold on...