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.

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.

Dolly Parton’s estate accuses her nephew of threatening violence and to destroy his aunt’s legacy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dolly Parton’s estate has accused the country music icon’s nephew of threatening violence and to destroy his aunt’s legacy and business empire and have asked a judge to keep him away from its employees and business dealings. Court documents filed Tuesday in Nashville against Bryan Seaver and his security company offer the first signs of discord in a carefully managed estate process. In the temporary restraining order request, Parton’s estate accuses Seaver of sending increasingly threatening messages over the last several weeks. Seaver did not respond to an email from The Associated Press requesting comment and no one answered the door at his address listed in court records Wednesday.

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.

Taylor Swift will become the most awarded artist in MTV VMAs history: A guide to the 2026 show

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift will break records at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. She will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, making her the most awarded artist in VMA history. Currently, Swift is tied with Beyoncé, each having 30 awards. The new honor will bring her total to 31. The awards show will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+. Madonna leads with 11 nominations, followed by Swift with nine. The event will feature performances by Madonna and others. Nirvana will receive the Video Vanguard Award. Fan voting ends September 25. The two-hour show will broadcast live on CBS on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.