Editor’s note: We don’t have a new issue this week, but we have follow-ups on some past stories, and recommendations for seasonal outings. Puzzle fans can find the crossword and Sudoku in the Metro section of the Sunday Globe. Thank you for reading! 

UPDATES

He was set to be executed in 1954. He became the longest-serving prisoner in US history.

Frank Smith served more than eight decades in prison. And on June 25, the diminutive man with a wisp of white hair died quietly in bed in a secure nursing home in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, a few months shy of his 102nd birthday. In 2023, Annalisa Quinn told Smith’s story in the Globe Magazine. 

Court cuts judgment against Alex Jones over falsely labeling Newtown killings a hoax

Earlier this month, a Texas court drastically reduced a $50 million judgment that conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was ordered to pay families of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. For a 2022 Globe Magazine article, Amanda J. Crawford, a UConn journalism professor, spoke in depth with the Sandy Hook families who sued Jones and have been battling conspiracy theories. 

FALL ESCAPES

Ideas for some seasonal fun 

With summer’s end upon us and autumn fast approaching, you may be dreaming up fun ways to fill your weekends. The Globe’s lead meteorologist, Ken Mahan, is optimistic that fall foliage will be more vibrant across the region this year. With that in mind, we’ve compiled some suggestions for enjoying your precious free time. 

New England day trips:

• How Portland, Maine, became New England’s bakery haven

• A bike-to-ferry day trip, perfect for late summer and fall 

Activities around the city from The Boston Globe’s 2026 Best of the Best awards:

• Have fun at two classic fall festivals – Fluff Fest and the brass band festival known as HONK! 

• Explore specialty markets for fresh pasta, produce, fish, wine, and more

• Browse our favorite thrift shops for your next great treasure 

• Fuel up for a day of fun at one of these great breakfast spots

And finally, fans of the late, great Dolly Parton might want to consider a road trip in her honor. Globe travel writer Christopher Muther visited her Tennessee truck stop and wrote about it earlier this month. 

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