Photographer Chick Harrity, who documented history for AP from Vietnam to the White House, has died

• September 16, 2026

By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN

NEW YORK (AP) — Photographer Chick Harrity, who documented the Vietnam War and eight sitting U.S. presidents for The Associated Press and U.S. News and World Report, has died. He was 87.

Harrity took one of the best-known photographs of the Vietnam War, of a baby girl lying in a box alongside her brother in what was then the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon.

“Chick was an amazing photographer,” said retired photojournalist Nick Ut, another AP Vietnam War photographer. “We all walked by this homeless boy near a woman selling cigarettes, but Chick saw the photo.“

An eighth-grade teacher in his hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania, urged Harrity to pick up a camera, launching him on “a lifelong journey documenting the world around him,” his wife of 51 years, Yvonne Henry, wrote in an online obituary.

He took pictures ‘of a group of pretty interesting people’

Harrity started his career in 1956 at a Reading newspaper and went on to spend 26 years at the AP, 13 of them in the Washington bureau. He then became chief photographer at U.S. News and World Report.

“I had the chance to run around the world taking pictures of a group of pretty interesting people. I was getting to witness history,” Harrity said in his family’s obituary.

As a member of the White House press corps for 33 years, he covered presidents from Lyndon B. Johnson to George W. Bush and was at the White House documenting Richard Nixon’s resignation. One Aug. 9, 1974, photo shows a teary-eyed Nixon bidding farewell to members of the White House staff.

Harrity served in the Air National Guard and attended Kent State University. His hobby was “writing and photographing stories ‘as a unit,’” the AP wrote in an internal article describing Harrity as the organization’s Albany photographer.

Harrity had a great sense of comedy that imbued his work and personal lives, his wife said. “The guy had a fantastic sense of humor in every single part of his life,” Henry said. “He always looked for something funny.”

When asked about her husband’s obituary, she said, “”His quote would be, ‘It’s been a wonderful ride.’”

His family’s obituary also makes a reference to Harrity’s appetite for deep knowledge about the stories he was covering.

A page titled “Chick’s favorite cartoons” shows one of two men looking a sign with one arrow captioned “You are here” and another captioned “Those in in the know are here.” Another shows a character from the cartoon “Shoe” who’s sent out to do some aerial photography. Perched on a rooftop, the character says, “Luckily I just get paid to take the picture, not to figure out why.”

He was known for forming relationships that made his photography possible

Harrity covered 1960s and 1970s protests in Washington and Milwaukee, among other cities. Sent to Vietnam to help cover the effects of the Paris Peace Accords to end the war, he demonstrated his ability to swiftly form relationships that helped him take top-notch photographs of a country he didn’t know intimately, said retired AP photographer Neal Ulevich.

“Chick was not only a top-notch shooter but outstanding at getting along with everyone in a situation that he was new to,” Ulevich said.

Harrity retired from U.S. News on April Fool’s Day 2001, his family wrote in his obituary. He moved to northern California, where he contributed to the Calistoga Tribune and local arts organizations.

During his long career, he received the Associated Press Managing Editors’ award for excellence in photography, the National Press Photographers’ Association’s Joseph Sprague memorial award, the Leica Medal of Excellence for photojournalism and the White House National Press Association’s lifetime achievement award. He was also named the White House News Photographers Association’s photographer of the year.

Beside his wife, Harrity is survived by “interesting, amusing, and treasured family and friends,” his family obituary reads. “He loved well. He was well loved.”

Associated Press journalist Edith M. Lederer contributed.

​ Orange County Register 

Historic Dana Point home by Hollywoodland developer lists for $2.2M

• September 16, 2026

A historic Dana Point home tied to one of Hollywood’s most recognizable landmarks is on the market for $2.195 million.

Marketed as “La Casa Encantada,” the Spanish Colonial Revival home spans 1,328 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Built in 1929 and since updated, it remains a link to a coastal enclave inspired by the Mediterranean Riviera that was eventually cut short by the Wall Street crash of 1929, which Federal Reserve historians describe as “a cataclysmic bust.”

At least six buyers have already expressed interest in the property as of Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Public records show the property last sold for $715,000 in July 2004.

A year later, the city designated the house a historic resource. According to the listing agency, the property now benefits from Mills Act property tax savings in exchange for its historic preservation and continued maintenance.

Nearly a century after its completion, the home retains much of the craftsmanship and Mediterranean character envisioned for the original development. Sidney H. Woodruff led that effort. He previously helped develop the Hollywoodland hillside subdivision and its famous sign over Beachwood Canyon in 1923.

Three years later, he turned his attention to South Orange County as head of the Dana Point Syndicate, a group of wealthy Los Angeles investors.

Woodruff acquired about 1,400 acres of coastal land, which included a failed 900-acre development launched in 1923, with plans to build a seaside community. His team paved roads and named the streets after the colorful maritime lanterns that merchant ships and  traders once used to communicate with the coast, establishing what became the modern Lantern District.

Architect Charles A. Hunter designed about 40 homes for the tract, but archival records at UC Irvine confirm only 13 houses were actually completed by the original Dana Point Syndicate before the financial collapse.

“La Casa Encantada” is one of the original properties.

The house sits on an elevated 4,750-square-foot lot, surrounded by tropical palms and structural desert succulents.

Low masonry walls frame a terracotta tile walkway centered by a blue compass rose medallion that leads to the gated entrance. Textured exterior walls, a tapered chimney with decorative tile accents and a red clay barrel tile roof define the facade.

Inside, the main living area features white walls, warm hardwood flooring and a beamed ceiling. A stucco fireplace with geometric diamond-tile inlay and a raised brick hearth anchors the room.

An arched picture window and a similarly shaped doorway connect the space to the dining room, which has a built-in china hutch.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, white cabinetry, a plaster range hood with decorative tile accents and a tiled backsplash over the range.

French doors open to a tiled deck with two ocean-facing outlooks, including south toward the cliffs and beaches of San Clemente and another that stretches above neighborhood rooftops toward the open water off Dana Point.

Tara Trenda of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties holds the listing.

​ Orange County Register 

Judge refers Philadelphia district attorney to federal prosecutors for investigation

• September 16, 2026

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal judge referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner to the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday for investigation into whether he broke the law while overseeing a post-conviction case.

U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond disqualified Krasner and Assistant DA Matthew Stiegler from participating in the case involving Dennis Johnson, who is seeking to have his second-degree murder conviction overturned.

Diamond also took the unusual step of recommending that the DOJ investigate whether Krasner committed any crimes, including perjury and obstruction of justice, according to court documents.

In a memorandum referring the matter for “investigation and other appropriate action” the judge said “troubling” activity by Krasner and Stiegler was uncovered during recent evidentiary hearings into how the DA’s office handled the Johnson case.

That included allegedly pressuring staffers to lie to Diamond in court and threatening “consequences” for those who did not follow Krasner’s orders, the judge wrote.

“I have thus reluctantly concluded that Philadelphia’s highest law enforcement official and one of his top assistants may have violated the law,” Diamond said.

Krasner said in a statement that he “respectfully and vigorously” disagrees with the decision.

“I look forward to appealing to the higher court as soon as the law allows,” Krasner said, adding that he could not comment further because the case is pending.

Stiegler did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania also did not immediately reply to inquiries seeking details about the potential investigation.

Johnson was convicted in 2009 of killing Kenyatta Smith. In 2022 the DA’s office made a court filing stating that Johnson was entitled to habeas relief based on ineffective assistance of counsel.

Court documents show that DA employees told Krasner the case should be directed to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office due to potential conflicts of interest involving Stiegler. Krasner opposed the move, saying he needed to stay involved to “protect the office,” according to the documents.

Johnson’s petition remains on hold. Diamond said the DA’s office could continue to handle the case moving forward, but it is not immediately clear which prosecutor might take it on.

​ Orange County Register 

Angels’ Ben Joyce still working back into form after shoulder surgery

• September 16, 2026

ANAHEIM — Even though Angels relief pitcher Ben Joyce has been back for more than a month, he’s still not … back.

The right-hander was out for a season and a half rehabbing from shoulder surgery. Since he was activated in early August, he has a 3.38 ERA, with nine walks and 15 strikeouts in 13⅓ innings. He’s converted five saves in seven opportunities.

“I feel pretty good,” Joyce said. “There’s been ups and downs. I kind of have to remind myself sometimes that it’s a pretty big shoulder surgery. It’s not going to be the same every day. There’s going to be good days and bad days. It’s just making the most of the bad days and taking advantage of the good days.”

Joyce recalled a comment from former teammate Alek Manoah, who also had a major arm surgery.

“It’s like you’ve got a new shoulder in there,” Joyce said. “You’re trying to figure out what it needs to go every day, or every other day. There are feels that are not always the same. You think it’s going to be the same as, back in 2024 or whatever, but some days it’s a little different. You’ve got to work through it.”

His fastball velocity has averaged 101 mph, which is down a tick from his 102 mph average in 2024.

One particular issue has been Joyce’s slider. Back in 2024, he threw it 15% of the time. Since he’s come back this year, he’s only thrown it 8% of the time. In his last two outings, only one of his 43 pitches has been a slider.

“That’s kind of been the last thing for me, getting the feel for that,” Joyce said. “When you’re doing rehab, it’s fastballs. Your whole throwing program is fastballs and getting the feel for that. I just think that’s the last step for me.”

Joyce said he’s also still trying to find his control. He’s had at least one walk in three straight outings. On Aug. 28, he walked two and hit a batter before getting pulled.

The other issue is that the Angels are not using Joyce on back-to-back days. That means that his work has been sporadic, so finding a rhythm can be a challenge.

“Some days I feel like I’ve been pitching for two years, and some days I feel like I took 16 months off,” Joyce said. “It’s just finding that balance. I do whatever I need to do in between to stay sharp. I appreciate them looking out for me. It’s been a hard two years, and I appreciate them having my health in their minds with what they’re doing. That gives me a lot of confidence for sure.”

Joyce, who turns 26 on Thursday, said he’s looking forward to having a normal offseason without rehabbing, which will allow him to be stronger next season.

“I’m going to talk with (the Angels and medical staff) and take however much time off and then kind of get into a normal throwing program and take advantage of a healthy offseason to work on the slider, work on the sinker, dial in all those things,” he said. “And then build myself up to where I can pitch 70 games next year or whatever it might be, to be healthy in October when we make it there.”

NETO HONORED

Shortstop Zach Neto is the Angels’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes players for their community service. Each team has one nominee and a major-league wide winner will be announced during the World Series.

Neto, whose father was in the Navy, has supported charities related to the military throughout his career.

HEADING TO THE AFL

Shortstop Arjun Nimmala, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in the José Soriano trade last month, will be one of eight Angels prospects to play in the Arizona Fall League.

Nimmala hit eight home runs with a .966 OPS in 27 games with the Angels’ Double-A team.

The other seven players are right-handers Peyton Olejnik, Kyle Robinson, Sam Tookoian, Yeferson Vargas and Najer Victor; third baseman Jake Munroe and first baseman Ryland Zabrowski.

NOTES

Reid Detmers was presented with the Good Guy Award by the Los Angeles/Anaheim chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Assn. of America. The award is given each year for cooperation with the media. …

Four Rancho Cucamonga players were named to the California League postseason All-Star team, led by outfielder Hayden Alvarez. Shortstop Kendrey Maduro and right-handers Dylan Jordan and Fulton Lockhart were also selected.

UP NEXT

Mariners (RHP George Kirby, 9-11, 4.25 ERA) at Angels (LHP Yusei Kikuchi, 1-5, 4.75 ERA), Wednesday, 6:38 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Angel City FC faces important game against Seattle

• September 15, 2026

Angel City Football Club’s two-goal rally in a tie against Denver Summit last Friday kept the team within striking distance of a playoff spot.

The next night, however, the Seattle Reign defeated Bay FC, 2-0. The win moved the Reign four points clear of Angel City for eighth place and the NWSL’s final playoff spot. The teams square off Wednesday night at BMO Stadium.

Seattle is on 37 points, followed by ninth-place Angel City (33). The teams played to a 2-2 draw on Aug. 9 in Seattle.

The response after falling behind 3-1 early in the second half, was the positive that Angel City took from Friday’s draw.

“We have to do better in our game management,” interim coach Leif Smeurd said. “We tried to play a few passes and we missed them. So it’s nothing bigger than that, but at this level, you get punished. I’m more focused on how we responded because when this happens, in an important game like this, it’s very easy to go down 3-1 down. I’m very happy with how we responded.”

Part of that response was the insertion of Prisca Chilufya onto the field. Chilufya entered in the 62nd minute and scored in the 63rd. Her presence against a fatigued Denver back line was just what Angel City needed.

“I was going in and he (Smerud) told me, ‘You can change this game,’” Chilufya said.

Chilufya had started the previous five games.

“It’s good to have someone trying to massage the defenders and then put on her (Chilufya) with the speed and power that she has,” Smerud said. “She was fresh and some of the defenders were getting tired.

“It’s a bit like a card game. You have to sort of look what cards you have and when to play them.”

IMPORTANT TRIP AHEAD

If Angel City is to make the playoffs for a second time in its five seasons, it will have to survive a crucial four-game trip. After Wednesday, Angel City will play four consecutive games on the road: Sunday at Utah, Sept. 26 at Washington, Oct. 4 at Gotham FC and Oct. 17 at Denver.

Angel City can draw from the experience of its three-game trip earlier this month, which saw the team earn six out of a possible nine points.

After Wednesday, Angel City’s next home game isn’t until Oct. 24 against Bay FC.

DOUBLE-DIGIT GOAL-SCORER

Angel City has never had a player score at least 10 goals in a season. Last year, Riley Tiernan scored eight, setting the club’s single-season record. Maiara Niehues tied that output when she scored her eighth goal of the season on Friday.

Sveindís Jónsdóttir is right behind Niehues with seven goals and Chilufya, who the team acquired late last season, has five.

SEATTLE REIGN FC at ANGEL CITY FC

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Where: BMO Stadium

How to watch: NWSL+

​ Orange County Register 

Americans value press freedom, but new surveys show support for restrictions in certain cases

• September 15, 2026

By JOCELYN NOVECK

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans value press freedom — with some exceptions.

About three-quarters of U.S. adults said press freedom is “extremely” or “very” important to society’s well-being, according to a newly released Pew Research Center study. But at least half said they also support government restrictions on reporting in specific circumstances, such as protecting national security or preventing inaccurate information.

At the same time, many Americans said it is “never acceptable” for the U.S. government to give journalists access to public figures in exchange for positive coverage, or to revoke a news organization’s broadcast license.

“People are not all or nothing,” says Katerina Eva Matsa, director of news and information at Pew Research Center, when asked what was striking about the findings. “When you give them options and scenarios … they are negotiating. That was a very interesting perspective that the data gave us.”

The study, which was based on two surveys conducted earlier this year, also found that Americans were divided about whether the media is completely free to report the news, with Democrats and Republicans expressing very different levels of worry about restrictions on the press.

The polling comes at a bumpy time for media in the US

The analysis comes as the relationship between the U.S. media and Donald Trump’s second administration becomes ever more fraught as the president, in his second term, seeks to restrict press coverage not to his liking. He or his administration has attacked, sued or taken administrative action against media outlets that have drawn his ire.

Matsa said that tension was one impetus for doing the report now. Other reasons: the changing media environment and the evolution of what “the press” is now, as well as the emergence of tech companies as gatekeepers of the news.

“Overall, there’s a lot of public conversation — and it’s the 250th anniversary of our nation,” she said. “So, it kind of felt like a good moment to look at how Americans think about this.”

Most Americans, about 7 in 10, said the Trump administration and the U.S. news media have a “very” or “somewhat” bad relationship. That’s a slight increase from 2025, when 64% of U.S. adults said this.

They’re more divided on whether the press faces additional restrictions under Trump’s second term, although few think the press is freer than it was before. About 44% of U.S. adults said the press has become less free under the second Trump administration, while about 26% said there has been no change. Only 12% said the press is more free, and 17% said they’re not sure.

Americans hold complex views on when the government can intervene

Despite U.S. adults’ broad belief in the ideal of press freedom, the survey found, they’re willing to contemplate restrictions in specific circumstances.

Most U.S. adults said the government should not be able to require a news organization to take down a story if it is critical of the government or clearly favors one political side. But about half say it should be able to force a retraction if a story contains false information, and about 6 in 10 said this about a story that poses a risk to national security.

The findings indicate most Americans are open to some form of government restriction on the media, despite their broad embrace of press freedom as a concept. At the same time, there is unlikely to be uniform agreement about what constitutes a national security risk, for example, or who gets to determine that — and the poll did not probe those distinctions further.

When asked whether it was more important for the press to be free to report news even if some reporting is inaccurate, or if preventing inaccurate reporting should be prioritized even if it limits press freedom, about half, 53%, of U.S. adults said it was more important to prevent inaccurate reporting, and 45% said press freedom was more important.

But they see limits for government too. Just over half of Americans say it is “rarely” or “never” acceptable for the U.S. government to force journalists to reveal the identities of unnamed government sources or take away a news organization’s license to broadcast. About 2 in 10 say these actions are “sometimes” acceptable, and only about 1 in 10 say they are “usually” or “always” acceptable.

Political affiliation helps determine perspectives

Perhaps not surprisingly in a highly politicized environment, views on press freedom differed sharply according to political leaning.

Democrats were more likely than Republicans to prioritize a free press to begin with, the study found. About 8 in 10 Democrats said a free press is “extremely” or “very” important for society’s well-being, compared to about two-thirds of Republicans.

Republicans were also more likely than Democrats to say the government should be able to require a news story be taken down in cases of national security. About 7 in 10 Republicans said this should be allowed, compared to about half of Democrats. A similar gap emerged on the publication of false information.

The share of Americans who said the media was “completely” free to report the news fell slightly from 33% last year to 28% in the latest survey. About half — 48% — said the press was “somewhat” free and about 2 in 10 said it was “not very” or “not at all” free.

There were differences between the parties there, too.

—In the new study, only about 2 in 10 Democrats saw the media as “completely” free to report the news.

—Meanwhile, most Democrats, 64%, said they were “extremely” or “very” concerned about potential restrictions on press freedom, while only about 3 in 10 Republicans held similar worries. The reverse was true during the Biden era.

The report is accompanied by a knowledge quiz based on the surveys that users can take to test how much they know about the First Amendment. It has eight questions, all of which were included in the survey. Matsa noted that while many Americans understand the basics of the First Amendment, many don’t know the mechanics of who it protects — and from whom.

For example, the study found that while 58% of U.S. adults know the Constitution protects the press from interference by the U.S. government, only 33% know that it does not protect the press from interference by private companies, such as a social media company or a web-hosting service.

The Pew-Knight analysis was based on two polls conducted using samples drawn from the Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel, which is probability-based. One survey of 3,507 U.S. adults was conducted March 23-29, 2026, and the other was conducted among 3,488 U.S. adults from June 22-28, 2026. The margin of sampling error for the March survey of 3,507 adults is plus or minus 1.9 percentage points. The margin of sampling error for the June survey of 3,488 U.S. adults is plus or minus 1.8 percentage points.

​ Orange County Register 

They are paid to bring rain. When it fails — or leads to floods — violence can follow

• September 15, 2026

By RODNEY MUHUMUZA and JOSEPH FALZETTA

NAMISINDWA, Uganda (AP) — The farmers who paid David Nabutsilili money to summon rain were angry when they received so much of it that their vegetable gardens were left flooded. They chased him up and down the hills, stopping when he fell upon a rock and broke a femur. That was his punishment.

Sixteen years later, the rainmaker still feels pain in his leg. Many of those who pursued him regularly seek his spiritual help when they need rain, especially during the planting season, but also when they seek to block it. If he fails to meet their expectations, he must temporarily flee his home for his own safety, Nabutsilili told The Associated Press during an interview in his village in eastern Uganda.

“People beat us because sometimes the rain is too much, or there is no rain,” he said.

African rainmakers have long served as spiritual leaders in their communities, performing rituals to ask deities to bring rain. But their perceived successes can create enormous expectations among farming communities in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Now they are increasingly targeted for their presumed failure to perform amid the vexations of climate change. In the most extreme cases, they are killed by mobs.

“We have been with these people, and indeed sometimes they have done (rituals) and we have had rain,” said Joseph Weyusya, an elder with Inzu ya Masaaba, a traditional institution of the Bagisu people of eastern Uganda.

But sometimes the weather is uncooperative.

“When the rains refuse, people gather around the village and then start looking for them — ‘Why are we not having rain?’” Weyusya said. ”And most times they have beaten such people to almost near death.”

Many farmers blame rainmakers for their misfortune

In South Sudan, which neighbors Uganda to the north, at least two rainmakers have been killed in the past two years. In 2024, Solomon Oture was buried alive in the remote mountain village of Lohobohobo during a dry spell. In June, in a southeastern area facing a prolonged dry spell, men abducted a rainmaker named Albino Lobillia and buried him alive, according to witnesses.

“There was no food, and animals began dying in large numbers because of the drought,” said Madelina Tito, a relative of Lobillia and a local chief. “They held meetings and decided he should be killed because, according to them, he had refused to command the rain.”

A study last year in the International Journal of Environment and Climate Change found that the average annual number of rainy days in the Kapoeta region, which borders Lobillia’s home area, had fallen from 90 in the 1980s to 46 by the mid-2010s, the most recent period for which figures were available. When rain does come, it is often sudden and intense.

“Communities in the most flood-prone areas have spent the last few years alternating between losing crops to floods and losing them to drought,” said Joris Gasper, a researcher for REACH Initiative, a humanitarian group active in South Sudan.

Unsurprisingly, many farmers blame rainmakers for their misfortune. In Uganda, as in South Sudan, millions depend on subsistence agriculture to feed their families. Erratic weather can destroy livelihoods, putting rainmakers on the spot over their perceived inability to do their work.

“It’s becoming worse and worse,” said Matthew Oromo, a government official in Lobillia’s home area, speaking of violence against rainmakers. “People are not aware of what is happening. They don’t understand this issue of climate change.”

Although no Ugandan rainmakers have been killed, some have been assaulted and even reported to authorities for allegedly obtaining money under false pretenses.

Nabutsilili, 45, said he was possessed by the rainmaking spirit as a 14-year-old boy when his legs mysteriously developed wounds. His first task came from cabbage transporters who put him atop their truck and asked him to keep the rain away. It did not rain on them, and he went on to become his village’s most reliable rainmaker even as erratic weather patterns occasionally confounded him and those he serves.

If things don’t work out, he said, that is what God wishes. “In life there are always things that fail,” he said of rainmaking. “It doesn’t stop (us) from trying again.”

A quid pro quo that contributes to violence

Rainmakers in Uganda can be consulted in their homes, or in the bars where they go to drink. Those who need their services are required to pay a fee, which can range from a token as small as $13 to an amount as high as $260, which is what Nabutsilili was paid to block the rain the day President Yoweri Museveni came to the region last year to campaign for reelection. It didn’t rain that day.

The quid pro quo is said to contribute to violence targeting rainmakers when they refuse to refund the money after perceived failures. Unlike Christian priests and medicine men, who generally command respect, rainmakers are sometimes seen as malicious people who retaliate against whole communities for quarrels with their neighbors.

“Sometimes when you have grown your crops, like this season, and there is no rain and you give them money to bring rain, they bring rain that destroys our crops,” said farmer Paul Boyi.

Some in Namatsokha, Nabutsilili’s village, recalled a recent incident when work at a construction site was frustrated by persistent rain only at the scene. The rain reportedly stopped after several rainmakers were paid, fueling suspicions that they had caused it deliberately.

Nabutsilili, who walks barefoot wherever he goes, is widely seen as spiritually strong enough to summon the rain without even going to the waterfall where others perform rituals. Many said his authority was not in doubt.

Yet he was accused of failing to do his work as recently as November, detained in a neighboring village over rainfall that disrupted an important ceremony. “They said bring back the money, because you have failed to deliver,” said witness Isaac Watenga. Other punishments include forcing a rainmaker to drink the muddy runoff after it rains.

There are at least four rainmakers in Namatsokha, sometimes leading to rivalries that can only be contained when they unite in associations. As this is not always possible, there can be competition among rainmakers trying to discredit each other, said 30-year-old Kilindon Simiyu, another of the village’s rainmakers.

“You can give me money to stop the rain. Then my colleague finds out that they have given me money to stop the rain and the colleague brings rain,” he said.

One recent morning, Simiyu and Nabutsilili descended into the depths of a waterfall and appeared to pray as they chewed on some herbs. Namatsokha had not received rain for many weeks, and many locals described the spell as one of the driest they had known. Some seemed skeptical as the men performed the rainmaking ritual.

“We are having difficulties because, sometimes when it is supposed to rain, it doesn’t rain,” Simiyu said afterward. “So we use our powers to try and bring it, but it doesn’t come as it used to come in those days.”

Falzetta reported from Nairobi, Kenya.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

​ Orange County Register 

Universal’s Fast & Furious is the best new coaster of 2026

• September 15, 2026

The highly anticipated Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift lived up to expectations and earned the title of the Best New Roller Coaster of 2026 during the grand opening of the first-of-its-kind ride at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will officially open to the public on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

ALSO SEE: See all 4 ‘Fast & Furious’ coaster cars at Universal Studios Hollywood

I rode Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift seven times during a media preview on Tuesday, Sept. 15 and found every experience to be ever-changing, unpredictable and exhilarating.

Fast & Furious star Vin Diesel, who played Dominic Toretto in the $7 billion film franchise, was expected to be on hand during an official grand opening ceremony later in the day on Tuesday.

The multi-launch coaster reaches a top speed of 72 mph while navigating four inversions along the 4,100-foot hillside-hugging track.

Dom’s 1970 Dodge Charger serves as the lead vehicle on the coaster trains that feature three other ride vehicles themed to look like authentic Fast & Furious film cars.

What makes Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift stand out from other coasters is the 360-degree rotating coaster vehicles that “drift” like the muscle cars from the street racing film franchise.

The first-of-its-kind ride experience combines Hollywood movie-style car stunts with the controlled spin of the Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge dark ride and a thrilling high speed roller coaster.

No two ride experiences are ever alike on Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift even though the individual ride vehicles follow a predetermined rotation sequence — largely due to the fact that I never sat in the same seat twice. The end result: I never knew whether I’d be watching the clouds above or the ground below as I navigated each inversion.

ALSO SEE: See the Fast & Furious stunt vehicles in the Universal coaster queue

It’s possible to anticipate some elements of the ride, but it’s virtually impossible to tell which way your car will be facing at any given moment.

That feeling of randomness leaves you constantly wondering what will happen next and makes the coaster immensely repeatable.

I rode in the front, back and middle and never found a bad seat on the new coaster. The front hero car offers the best view, the back car delivers a faster and more intense experience and the middle two cars don’t always spin the same way as the front and back.

ALSO SEE: Universal Studios Hollywood uses double-sided lockers for first time on Fast & Furious coaster

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift stands head and shoulders above the 2026 coaster crowd that lacked many true contenders for the crown of best new coaster of the year.

The quadruple-inversion Tormenta Rampaging Run is the biggest competitor for the 2026 coaster crown, but the new Six Flags Over Texas ride is merely the latest and greatest version of a Bolliger & Mabillard Dive coaster that first debuted in 1998.

Tormenta Rampaging Run

The same can be said for Drakon at Paultons Park in the United Kingdom that offers a new take on the Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter that first debuted in 2003.

Drakon

The four-rides-in-one NightFlight Expedition combines a water coaster with a flight simulator, boat ride and whitewater rafting experience — but most fans would likely describe the new Dollywood attraction as a dark ride rather than a coaster.

Quantum Accelerator

Falcons Flight completely reshuffled the record books when the world’s fastest, tallest and longest coaster opened at Six Flags Qiddiya in Saudi Arabia in late 2025 — too late for consideration for most Best of 2025 honors and too early for 2026 consideration.

Barracuda Strike

The remaining 2026 coasters that might warrant consideration at SeaWorld San Antonio (Barracuda Strike), Six Flags New England (Quantum Accelerator) and Kentucky Kingdom (Flying Fox) can’t compare to Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.

Flying Fox

If you disagree that Fast & Furious is the Best New Coaster of 2026, check out the videos above and decide for yourself. I think you’ll find Hollywood Drift leaves them all at the starting line in a cloud of burnt rubber.

ALSO SEE: Fast & Furious riders wait in the middle of the action to ride new Universal coaster

It certainly feels strange to be finally riding the year’s best new coaster for the first time after Labor Day weekend.

Universal technically met the official “summer 2026” opening date with the summer season officially stretching through Sept. 22 — although most fans expected the ride to open on or before Memorial Day weekend.

Universal began on-again, off-again “technical rehearsals” of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift in July and passholder previews in August.

The opening of the new coaster was delayed while Universal installed additional sound barriers to address noise complaints from nearby Toluca Lake residents.

ALSO SEE: Universal’s Horror Nights 2026: All 8 mazes ranked from best to worst

The delays only made it easier to compare Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift to the rest of the 2026 field of contenders — and made it clear the new Universal thrill ride is the best of the 168 new roller coasters that have opened around the world so far this year.

​ Orange County Register