Last week’s solution

()=included, []=excluded

Across: 1. J-acti(tati)on 7. SAM 9. car[b]om[b] 10. stre(ss)ful 11. t(eensi) est 12. voter 13. rip-rap 15. stallion 17. pen-stock 18. ver(n)al 21. [b]one-up

22. noon-[the] Times 24. excisemen 25. EL-EMI 26. bus 27. orchardists

Down: 1. Jack Tar 2. correspondences 3. iambs 4. a(i)sles 5. ir(ri)tate

6. Nash-ville 7. safety in Numbers

8. milk-run 14. antipasto 16. Economic[s] 17. P(rover)b 19. lassie-s

20. Jo(an)na 23. tread