'Weapons' horror film scores a box office victory

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Zach Cregger’s highly anticipated horror film, “Weapons,” and Disney’s sequel comedy, “Freakier Friday,” helped prove that horror and humor can thrive at the box office. “Weapons” opened with $42.5 million domestically to take the top spot, and the Disney follow to “Freaky Friday” earned $29 million. A Warner Bros. executive says “Weapons” was the studio’s seventh film this year to take the top spot, and the sixth film in a row to debut over $40 million. Paul Dergarabedian of the data firm Comscore says “the top two films could not be more different, and that’s what makes this weekend so appealing.”

3 elves are cycling from the German town of St. Nikolaus to Finland's Santa Claus Village

ST. NIKOLAUS, Germany (AP) — Three postal workers have set off on a nearly 3000-kilometer bicycle journey from St. Nikolaus, Germany, to the small town of Rovaniemi, Finland. The Finnish town is home to Santa Claus Village, a winter-themed amusement park perched on the edge of the Arctic Circle. St. Nikolaus himself, with his long purple cape and a tall golden staff, was on hand Saturday to hand over the letters to the three elves. The town of St. Nikolaus is one of seven places in Germany with a Christmas-themed name, all of which receive letters addressed to Santa Claus or Saint Nick.

Jaguars' Cam Little hits a 70-yard field goal in an exhibition game against the Steelers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville’s Cam Little made a 70-yard field goal to end the first half against Pittsburgh on Saturday night, a kick that would have broken the NFL record had it happened during the regular season. Little and the Jaguars celebrated widely as the half ended with the Steelers leading 14-9. Rookie sensation Travis Hunter was one of the first to greet him on the field, body-bumped each other in midair. Baltimore’s Justin Tucker holds the NFL mark, having made a 66-yarder at Detroit in 2021.

Mitchell scores 26 to lead injury-riddled Fever past Sky 92-70

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kelsey Mitchell scored 26 points and Lexie Hull scored 17 points and the Indiana Fever beat the Chicago Sky 92-70. Sophie Cunningham scored 10 of her 16 points before halftime and Aliyah Boston scored 15 points for Indiana. Indiana was again without guard Caitlin Clark who hasn’t played since July 15 when she aggravated a previous groin injury during a game against Connecticut. For its part, the Sky didn’t have the services of Angel Reese due to a back injury. She’s missed five straight games and there is no set timetable for her return.

Travis Hunter plays offense and defense in pro debut as Jaguars lose to Steelers in preseason

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Travis Hunter’s professional debut included 10 snaps on offense, eight on defense and no highlights. The Heisman Trophy winner and second overall pick in the NFL draft was relatively quiet in Jacksonville’s 31-25 loss to Pittsburgh in a preseason game. He caught two passes for 9 yards, with a long gain of 6 and missed an open-field tackle. Hunter did, however, have a front-row seat for the most exciting play of the night: Cam Little drilled a 70-yard field goal on the final play of the first half. The kick would have broken the NFL record had it happened during the regular season.

Lions' Morice Norris shares good news after he was taken off field in ambulance

DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris says in a social media post he’s OK after being taken off the field in an ambulance late in a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. Norris thanked people for their support in the post on Saturday. He was in stable condition late Friday night after he was attended to for about 20 minutes and taken to an Atlanta hospital. The 24-year-old Norris was hurt with 14:50 left in the preseason game after hitting Falcons running back Nathan Carter. Detroit coach Dan Campbell and Atlanta coach Raheem Morris made a decision to not finish the game.

Apollo 13 moon mission leader James Lovell dies at 97

CHICAGO (AP) — Astronaut James Lovell, who was commander of the 1970 Apollo 13 mission that managed to get back to earth safely after an oxygen tank explosion, has died. He was 97. NASA confirmed his death in a statement Friday. Lovell was also part of the Apollo 8 flight that became the first to circle the moon and was one of NASA’s most traveled astronauts through its early years, going into space four times. Lovell was supposed to be the fifth man to walk on the moon in 1970. But Apollo 13’s service module, carrying Lovell and two others, experienced an oxygen tank explosion. The famous statement “Houston, we have a problem” was attributed to Lovell in the film “Apollo 13.”

Iconic North Carolina tourist attraction damaged by Helene will be demolished

A beloved tourist attraction in western North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains will be demolished starting later this month. The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge sustained severe damage from Hurricane Helene last year. It collapsed on one end and buckled in several other sections. The town says two engineering firms concluded the bridge was beyond repair. Demolition will begin Aug. 18. The Flowering Bridge was created in 2013 by a group of volunteers who sought to transform the historic bridge into something beautiful. The group says it will try to use pieces of the bridge in future gardens.

Packers star Billy Howton, believed to have been the oldest living NFL player, dies at 95

HOUSTON (AP) — Billy Howton, a former Green Bay Packers star regarded as one of the most productive wide receivers of the pre-Super Bowl era who was a founder and the first president of the NFL Players Association, has died. He was 95. An obituary states Howton died in Houston on Monday. Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home confirmed his death on Friday. Howton was born in Littlefield, Texas, in 1930. He was believed to have been the oldest living NFL player. Howton scored the Packers’ first receiving touchdown at Lambeau Field in 1957. He led the league in receiving yards twice, was named to four Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro.

Husband suspected wife of poisoning him before she killed 3 relatives with toxic mushrooms

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian court has heard a husband suspected his wife of poisoning him over a year before she murdered three of his relatives with toxic mushrooms. On Friday, a judge lifted a gag order on pretrial evidence that Erin Patterson wanted kept secret while she attempts to overturn her convictions. The evidence includes Simon Patterson’s suspicions that his wife had tried to kill him. Erin Patterson was convicted last month of murdering her parents-in-law and her husband's aunt with a poisoned meal. She was also found guilty of attempting to murder the aunt's husband. Her lawyers plan to appeal.