Phoenix – September 24, 2026 -- A Vietnam veteran's estate gift sent 360 fellow veterans, service members and first responders to New York Yankees games against the Mets on September 11, 12 and 13, fulfilling his final wish to keep serving the community he devoted his life to.

Joe Pasternack deployed to Qui Nhơn, Vietnam, from September 1965 to August 1966

Pasternack served three years in the U.S. Army before returning home to New York, where he became a lifelong Yankees fan. In 2013 he joined the Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix), a nonprofit that provides free event tickets to veterans, active service members and first responders through its 1st Tix program.

Lehigh Valley – September 24, 2026 -- Discover Lehigh Valley, the region's official destination marketing organization, is challenging visitors to see how many fall experiences they can pack into one trip, from covered-bridge drives to a 15th-anniversary bacon festival.

Peak foliage hits mid- to late October, timing the region's biggest events

Alex Michaels, President and CEO of Discover Lehigh Valley, said travelers can start a day picking pumpkins at Valley Fruits and Veggies, spend the afternoon at a festival or scenic trail, and end with a cocktail at Eight Oaks Farm Distillery while taking in the foliage.

Reno, Nevada – September 24, 2026 -- Choice Mutual has launched a ChatGPT assistant plugin that lets consumers research, quote, and buy final expense and burial insurance policies through conversation instead of web forms.

The digital insurance agency, based in Reno, Nevada, says the tool is the first final expense insurance marketplace built directly into ChatGPT. Users can compare plans from top-rated providers and complete a purchase in minutes.

The plugin skips traditional web forms entirely

Instead of filling out multi-screen quote forms, users share basic details—age, state of residence, and coverage needs—one step at a time through natural dialogue. The assistant does not require a phone number or email address, and users can ask clarifying questions or adjust coverage amounts mid-conversation without restarting.

Nashville – – September 24, 2026 -- Southern Land Company opened Lupo Notte, its first full-service restaurant, on September 16 at Vertis Green Hills, the company's flagship mixed-use community and headquarters at 2035 Richard Jones Road in Nashville.

The menu centers on upscale Italian dishes made with local ingredients

Lupo Notte serves house-made pasta, 12-inch Neapolitan-style pizzas with 48-hour fermented dough, and shareable plates such as Lupo Meatballs made with ground wagyu beef, Italian sausage, and veal. Main courses include snapper in tomato broth and sweet corn-filled Agnolotti, alongside a beverage program featuring Italian-inspired cocktails and a wine list weighted toward Italian varietals.

Xiangxi – September 24, 2026 -- A delegation of international social media influencers traveled through the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture in Central China's Hunan province from Sept 22 to 24, exploring ethnic traditions, mountain landscapes, and rural development projects.

The tour started at Fenghuang Ancient Town's historic streets and river

Participants wore traditional Miao garments, sampled regional dishes, and cruised the Tuojiang River past rows of stilt houses. Thai journalist Pichayapa Sutabutra sang a love song on the river celebrating bonds beyond wealth and social standing.

Nigerian content creator Oluwabunmi Jimoh praised Fenghuang's scenery, cuisine, and cultural appeal, urging people to visit during the upcoming National Day holiday. French influencer Marius Etrillard highlighted the architecture and clear waters, noting the town's status as a 5A-rated tourist attraction in China.

New York – September 24, 2026 -- Rivet, a new dating network founded by former Tinder and Match Group executive Taru Kapoor, launches nationwide across the United States today, free to download on iOS and Android.

Rivet replaces swiping with a network of human matchmakers.

The app introduces what it calls Social Matching, a model where users called Matchers review potential pairs and recommend introductions they think could work. When a pair receives a high Social Matching score, both individuals are introduced, and each person independently decides whether to start a conversation. Anyone can join purely as a Matcher, even if they aren't looking for a relationship themselves, to help someone else find a connection.

San Mateo, Calif. – September 24, 2026 -- GoPro's new MISSION 1 Series of cinema cameras has picked up 11 awards from 10 tech and outdoor publications, with prices starting at $599.99 for the base MISSION 1 model.

WIRED scores the MISSION 1 PRO a 9 out of 10

WIRED named the MISSION 1 PRO its Best Overall Action Camera for 2026, pointing to the 1-inch sensor, 8K video and slow-motion range. SlashGear gave the MISSION 1 PRO its Best Action Camera nod and handed Best Camera honors to the MISSION 1 PRO ILS on its Hot List 2026.

PCMag awarded the standard MISSION 1 an Editors' Choice rating of 4.5 out of 5, praising image quality, battery life and durability. Tom's Guide and Gizmodo also gave the MISSION 1 PRO Editor's Choice recognition, with Tom's Guide highlighting 8K30 Open Gate and 8K60 capture alongside best-in-class battery and thermal performance.

New York – September 24, 2026 -- National Extra Virgin Olive Oil Day, marked every September 30, turns 10 this year, and Olive Oils From Spain is using the milestone to push American cooks beyond their single go-to bottle.

The campaign, dubbed a Spanish Flavor Renaissance, highlights that Spain grows more than 200 olive varieties across a production history spanning 3,000 years. Flavor profiles range from delicate green apple and almond notes to bold, peppery finishes.

Spain supplies nearly half the world's olive oil

Spain is the top global producer, accounting for close to half of worldwide supply, grown across 360 million olive trees described as the largest man-made forest on Earth. Four signature varieties define the range: the bold Picual, the sweet Arbequina, the balanced Hojiblanca, and the herbaceous Cornicabra.

New York – September 24, 2026 -- Bom Dia Brazilian Bubbles has become the first Brazilian wine ever named to Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Best Buys list, a milestone reached in only its second year on the market.

A young brand notches a historic first

The achievement builds on an earlier distinction: Bom Dia was the first Brazilian canned wine of any varietal ever exported outside Brazil. "To become the first Brazilian wine on this list, in only our second year, is an incredible moment for our team," said Antonio Motta, co-founder and COO of Bom Dia Brazilian Bubbles.

Quality scores back up the branding buzz

Bom Dia was previously nominated for Innovator of the Year at Wine Enthusiast's Wine Star Awards in 2025. The wine also earned 90 points in the 2026 Brazil Special Report by Gabi Zimmer, published by Tim Atkin MW.

Melville, N.Y. – September 24, 2026 -- Nikon has unveiled the Z5IIC, a full-frame mirrorless camera priced at $1,399.95 for the body alone, aimed squarely at smartphone photographers ready to upgrade without wrestling with manual settings. The camera ships mid-October 2026, with a $1,699.95 kit bundling the NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens, plus additional soft bundles with 26mm f/2.8 and 40mm f/2 pancake lenses through retailers.

Built on the Z5II platform, the Z5IIC drops the viewfinder in favor of a screen-first design, keeping the body compact and users engaged with their surroundings rather than buried behind an eyepiece.