In 2012, retired FBI agent Dave Benscoter began a mission to rescue century‑old apple varieties that were slipping into oblivion across the Pacific Northwest. The idea sparked when he noticed a parishioner’s orchard in Washington contained unusual trees, including the historic Yellow Transparent and Wealthy apples, the first U.S.‑bred variety. Benscoter turned to online research, county fair archives and family recipes, and soon teamed with orchard experts Joanie Cooper and Sean Shepherd from Oregon’s Temperate Orchard Conservancy. Together they identified the first lost apple, the Fall Jenneting, and over the next decade have catalogued 30 other pre‑1920 varieties such as Streaked Pippin, Sary Sinap and Nero. He co‑founded the nonprofit Lost Apple Project with E.J. Brandt, which harvests specimens in the fall, performs DNA analysis, and returns in winter to graft branches and grow “heritage” trees. The project’s work has taken them beyond Washington to Idaho and Oregon, where they recovered the long‑missing Kittageskee apple in southern Idaho, delighting a farmer who had spent his life searching for it. By preserving these rare cultivars, Benscoter and his partners safeguard genetic diversity, protect regional food heritage and provide future growers with a living archive of America’s earliest apple breeding. Their ongoing efforts illustrate how individual passion can turn a quiet orchard into a living museum, ensuring that these historic trees survive for generations to come.
England have added two fit bowlers to their ODI squad for the October tri‑series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka after injuries ended their summer campaigns. All‑rounder Sam Curran and spinner Adil Rashid returned to the 16‑man side, while fast bowler Jofra Archer will be rested to manage workload. The squad also features three uncapped players – leg‑spinner Mason Crane, Sussex’s James Coles and Henry Crocombe – who could make their ODI debuts. Crane, who last appeared for England in 2018, has impressed for Glamorgan this summer and earned a recall after eight years out of international cricket. Curran’s comeback follows a groin operation that halted his summer, but he took three wickets in the final ODI against India, including Virat Kohli’s wicket. Rashid, who missed the ODI leg of the home T20 series with a hand injury, was part of England’s win over Sri Lanka in September and is now fit for overseas play. England’s captain Harry Brook will lead the side through six matches in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with the series offering a chance to test the squad before the World Cup. The tri‑series will run from 18 to 31 October, with games at Rawalpindi and Lahore, and England will face each opponent twice.
Matthias Jaissle, Newcastle United’s head coach, revealed that a tumour in his neck at age five forced him to give up playing football. The childhood illness taught him the value of health and resilience, lessons he says still guide his coaching philosophy. After a promising youth career at Hoffenheim, a serious knee injury at 20 halted his playing days, leading to retirement in 2014. He entered coaching through a training programme at RB Leipzig, where he worked with youth teams and club staff before moving to Red Bull Salzburg. Success in Austria and Saudi Arabia earned him a role at Newcastle, where he took over after Eddie Howe’s departure in 2023. Jaissle has faced a steep learning curve, managing a squad that underwent a mass overhaul and dealing with injuries in a short pre‑season. Despite early setbacks, the club’s young players have responded to his aggressive, vertical style, and he has already secured a win against Hull City. Off the pitch, Jaissle has settled into Tyneside, welcoming fans and celebrating victories with community gestures.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a lifelong Everton fan, has pushed for a review of the 1985 Sporting Events Control of Alcohol Act, arguing that the ban unfairly targets football supporters. He framed the issue as a matter of equality, noting that rugby and cricket fans routinely bring drinks into stadiums without restriction. Burnham’s bid was met with immediate resistance from clubs, who warned that lifting the ban would raise policing costs and strain budgets. Parliament also showed reluctance, with a Conservative‑backed motion last year rejecting a formal consultation on scrapping the rule. Public opinion mirrors this divide; a YouGov poll found 64 % of match‑going Britons support keeping the ban, while only 26 % back Burnham’s stance. The government has cited a successful 18‑month pilot that allowed alcohol in Women’s Super League matches, but the pilot’s exemption status and differing fan cultures complicate the argument. Without broad support from MPs, clubs and fans, the proposal remains stalled, and Burnham’s focus has shifted to other football‑related priorities.
Prime Video has officially confirmed a sixth season of the action‑thriller Reacher, marking a rare double‑season renewal that could cement the series as the platform’s longest‑running action show. The announcement follows the series’ steady rise in popularity since its 2022 debut, with each season adapting a new Lee Child novel and delivering high‑rated performances from Alan Ritchson and co‑stars. With four seasons already aired, Reacher now surpasses The Boys - Prime Video’s current record holder with five seasons - by securing a sixth installment. The renewal also positions Reacher one season away from overtaking Bosch, the network’s most expansive crime‑thriller franchise that ran seven seasons plus spin‑offs. While Invincible has also been renewed for two more seasons, Reacher’s anthology format and the vast Lee Child bibliography give it the potential for continued longevity. The confirmation was announced ahead of the fifth season’s premiere, underscoring the studio’s confidence in the show’s sustained viewership. If the series maintains its momentum, it could become the first action series on Prime Video to reach six seasons, setting a new benchmark for the streaming service’s original programming.