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Finding new dimensions, sisterhood, and healing in ‘The Color Purple’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:18 GMT

It’s not a secret that Fantasia Barrino did not want to play Celie again. The “American Idol” winner hadn’t had the best time doing “The Color Purple” on Broadway.The protagonist of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells her story of sexual, physical and psychological abuses in the early twentieth century South in a series of letters to God. And it was a character she found it difficult to leave behind at the end of the day. Even the prospect of starring in her first major motion picture didn’t seem worth it. But director Blitz Bazawule had a different vision: He wanted to give Celie an imagination. This Barrino found intriguing.“Once she understood the assignment, she quickly agreed,” Bazawule said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.Now, four decades after “The Color Purple” became a literary sensation and a Steven Spielberg film, the story is on the big screen again. This time it’s a grand, big budget Warner Bros. musical starring Barrino, Taraji P. H...

More Quebec public unions have tentative deals on working conditions, but not on pay

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:18 GMT

MONTREAL — Three more Quebec public sector unions say they’ve reached tentative agreements with the province around working conditions, but salary negotiations continue.The unions represent around 185,000 health-care workers and more than 12,000 education staff. Negotiations around salaries and benefits are taking place at a central negotiation table separate from talks around working conditions, which are being discussed by sector. One of the unions, which represents technical and professional staff in health and social services, says the tentative agreement around working conditions won’t be presented to members until a salary deal is reached. The unions are part of union group calling itself the “common front,” which has said its 420,000 members will launch an unlimited strike in the new year if a deal isn’t reached. On Friday, two unions representing more than 100,000 teachers said they’d reached similar deals addressing working conditions. Th...

In Christmas message, Trudeau urges Canadians to find strength in differences

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:18 GMT

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians should “find strength in our differences” this Christmas.In his annual Christmas address, Trudeau called for Canadians to “love our neighbours as we love ourselves” and give back, helping those who have fallen on hard times.“Let’s share the warmth of the season with those who are spending the holidays alone this year,” Trudeau urged.He said that while Christians mark the religious holiday by celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the values of “compassion, kindness and hope” are for everyone.Trudeau thanked members of the military, first responders, and volunteers who give their time to improve someone else’s holidays, saying they “embody the eternal message and timeless truth that it is more blessed to give than to receive.”He also called on Canadians to bring the spirit of the holidays into the New Year and find ways to make communities, the country and the world ̶...

Man dead due to early morning fire near the Stockyards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:18 GMT

A man has died due to a fire near The Stockyards early Sunday morning.Fire crews were called to McCormack Street, near Weston Road and St. Clair Avenue West, at approximately 4:08 a.m. for reports that several tractor trailers were on fire.“In the course of firefighting and search and rescue operations, one person was located inside a storage trailer adjacent to the fire,” said Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg on X.The victim, a man in his 40’s, was transferred to the care of Toronto medics but succumbed to his injuries at the scene.Police and the Office of the Fire Marshal are investigating the origin, cause and circumstances of the fire.I am on scene with @Toronto_Fire crews on McCormack Street. The investigation into the origin, cause&circumstances of this fire is underway in collaboration with @TorontoPolice and @ONFireMarshal. Sincere condolences to family, friends and all those impacted by this tragic fire.— Matthew Pegg (@ChiefPeggTFS) December 24, ...

Man charged after crash that killed his stepdaughter near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:18 GMT

CHICAGO — A man has been denied pre-trial release after he crashed his car while intoxicated and killed his stepdaughter earlier this month near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney.Chicago Police Department Officers responded to the crash around 2:15 a.m. on Dec. 17 in the 12100 block of Irving Park Road near the airport. Man charged in fatal shooting at Wheaton pub after argument over bar tab When they arrived, they found Juan Moxthe, 45, of Wood Dale, and his stepdaughter, Jaylene Escamilla, who had died, according to a news release. During the investigation, Chicago police learned the man, his wife, Escamilla and her husband were driving when Moxthe lost control, hit a guard rail and flipped the car, according to the release. The DuPage County State's Attorney's Office said his BAC was 0.12 about two hours after the crash. “As I have said many times before, if you have been drinking, do not get behind the wheel of a car," Stat...

Clouds will clear to a sunny end to Christmas Eve Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Christmas Eve started with a good amount of rain. Between the middle of the afternoon Saturday to this morning many of the area's rain gauges picked up more than inch. Three rain gauges in Burnet County received more than two inches, and one of those ended with 2.99". CENTRAL TEXAS RAIN TOTALS The last rains exits east and the fog gone. As that happens, a look to the Hill Country sees sunshine breaking through the overcast sky. The clearing will continue from west to east this afternoon.Tonight's cold front leaves a chill off of northwest breezesAnother cold front arrives tonight delivering a northwest wind. The sky will be clear with most temperatures at midnight in the upper 40s to low 50s ... perfect for Santa's visit to Central Texas.Christmas Day forecast feels winterishChristmas morning will be mostly sunny with temperatures at sunrise in the upper 30s to low 40s. Clouds will slowly increase during the afternoon. With wind out of the northwest 10 to 20 mph...

Company pays Texas $350K for poor customer service

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Friday his office had received an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) with CSC Holdings, LLC. to guarantee that "it provides the services that it advertises to consumers in Texas," per the release.CSC Holdings, LLC provides broadband, television, phone and other services to consumers in more than 100 service areas in Texas, per the release. Before August 2022, the company worked in Texas under the "Suddenlink Communications" brand, but now has re-emerged as "Optimum," the release added.The Office of the Attorney General of Texas said in the release residents have noted a pattern of issues over multiple years, including suspected billing practices, slow internet speed, frequent outages, poor customer service and misleading promotional work.The company agreed to pay the OAG $350,000 to the state and address any issues in its customer service practices.Optimum shares the state’s goal of ensuring that Texans receive high-q...

Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill misses second straight game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:18 GMT

In the biggest game so far this season, the Vikings were without star right tackle Brian O’Neill. It is the second straight game O’Neill has missed due to an ankle injury. Backup right tackle David Quessenberry is taking his place up front.After getting some work in practice this week as a limited participant, O’Neill simply couldn’t get turned around quick enough to play against the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. The rest of the Vikings’ starting offensive line remained in tact heading into the game.The other inactives included cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., receiver Jalen Nailor, safety Lewis Cine, tight end Nick Muse, left guard Chris Reed and quarterback Josh Dobbs, who will be available for emergency purposes.Meanwhile, linebacker Jordan Hicks made his highly anticipated return to the field. He has missed the past month after developing compartment syndrome in his leg that required emergency surgery. Running back Alexander Ma...

Hundreds help Pack the Bus with pet supplies at Mohawk Hudson Humane Society

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:18 GMT

MENANDS, N.Y. (NEWS10) — For over a decade, ‘Morning of Kindness’ has offered dozens of opportunities for the last month to give back to local non-profits around the capital region, from delivering food to people without homes to helping abandoned pets. On Sunday, the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society is partnering with Morning of Kindness for its ‘Stuff the Bus’ event. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Today is also a favorite for many looking for a way to give back.“This is our favorite day of the year. We teamed up [with] our families and businesses,” one volunteer said. “We called out to raise money and raised over $4,000 for ‘Morning of Kindness.’”Those who donated with their families said this is also a great opportunity to teach their kids the value of giving to others while helping out their four-legged friends.Whitney Philippi, VP for Development at Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, said the organization expects hundreds to help with the ...

SoCal family devastated after 2 young girls killed in house fire  

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:02:18 GMT

A family from the Inland Empire is mourning the loss of two of their six children in a house fire less than two weeks before Christmas. According to local officials, the fire was first reported just before 6:50 p.m. on Dec. 14 in the 2500 block of St. Lawrence Street in Barstow. Barstow Fire Protection District firefighters responded to the location on calls of multiple children being trapped inside the burning home and started two separate rescues amid heavy fire and smoke conditions, the department said in a release.  Alabama woman with rare double uterus gives birth to two children “Firefighters jumped through two separate bedroom windows to locate and rescue the trapped children,” the Barstow Fire Protection District said. “They successfully handed the children out of the windows to Barstow Police Officers who rushed them to waiting ambulances.” Firefighters fighting a house fire in Barstow, CA on Dec. 14, 2023. (Instagram/@kserrano562)The two children were...