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Italian migration odyssey ‘Io Capitano’ hopes to connect with viewers regardless of politics

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:12 GMT

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — Italian director Matteo Garrone hopes that the way his film “Io Capitano” frames the journey taken by Senegalese teenagers to Europe as an adventure, albeit a harrowing one, will make it more compelling to audiences regardless of politics.The film, which played over the weekend at the Marrakech International Film Festival, accompanies aspiring musicians Seydou and Moussa as they venture from Dakar through Niger and Libya and voyage across the Mediterranean Sea to reach Italy. The naive pair — unknowns whom Garrone found and cast in Senegal — witness mass death in the Sahara, scams and torture beyond their expectations.The film has had box office success and rave reviews in Italy since its release in September, and it was screened for Pope Francis. “Io Capitano,” which is being promoted in the English-speaking world as “Me Captain,” comes as Europe, particularly Italy, reckons with an increasing number of migrants arriving on its southern s...

R&B singer Kiana Ledé is taking back control of her music and her life

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Kiana Ledé is one of R&B’s brightest rising stars but that doesn’t mean she always embraces the compliment.“I kind of have mixed feelings about it because it gets me in my head about me needing to do more or me being more invested in my craft, or I just don’t have the right (industry) politics surrounding me,” said Ledé, who’s launching the international leg of her “Grudges” tour Tuesday starting in Auckland, New Zealand. “(But) it also makes me feel great because they’re clearly appreciating me and understanding that I do this for healing purposes and that the music is just good.”It’s a pivotal moment in the career of the 26-year-old songstress whose upcoming tour stops include London, Paris, Sydney and Berlin. Ledé, who wrapped up her 21-date North American tour in October and recently parted ways with her record label, Republic, has built a loyal fanbase and respect from industry contemporaries. But she doesn’t always garner the same attention as some of the l...

Georgia’s state taxes at fuel pumps to resume as Brian Kemp’s tax break ends, at least for now

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:12 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia drivers are likely to begin paying higher prices for gasoline and diesel as state motor fuel taxes return on Thursday.Gov. Brian Kemp’s rollback of the state taxes of 31.2 cents per gallon of gasoline and 35 cents per gallon of diesel ends at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.The Republican Kemp began waiving the taxes in September when he issued a novel legal declaration finding that high prices were an emergency. Georgia’s governor can suspend tax collections during an emergency as long as state lawmakers approve the action the next time they meet. But because the General Assembly is beginning a special session Wednesday to discuss legislative and congressional redistricting, Kemp could not extend the waiver of the taxes past then.Kemp has asked lawmakers to approve his action in the special session. He could also ask lawmakers to pass a law to extend the tax break. But Kemp spokesperson Garrison Douglas said Tuesday that the governor doesn’t plan to as...

Movie Review: ‘Eileen,’ a wonderful novel about an ‘invisible’ young lady becomes a oddball film

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:12 GMT

Something strange has happened to Eileen Dunlop, and we don’t just mean the plot of “Eileen.” The adaptation of novelist Ottessa Moshfegh’s delicious coming-of-age heroine has had a weird birth onto film. The plot and setting haven’t changed: It’s late 1964 in a frigid coastal town in Massachusetts. “Everybody’s kind of angry here — it’s Massachusetts,” Eileen explains in one her best lines. She works as a clerk at a juvenile corrections facility, goes home to an alcoholic dad and repeats. Her whole world is a prison.In print, she is dark and self-obsessed and deliciously willing to poke into every squeamish horror, even her own “folds and caverns.” On celluloid, she is just a plain, anti-social Jane. In print in one scene, she scratches her nether regions and pointedly uses the unwashed fingers to shake hands with a boss. In the film, she just walks away. Eileen has been neutered.It’s not clear what has happened since Moshfegh — along with Luke Goebel ...

Blackhawks place Corey Perry on waivers due to 'unacceptable' conduct

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:12 GMT

CHICAGO — Just a few months into his Blackhawks tenure, the team has placed veteran Corey Perry on unconditional waivers due to "unacceptable" conduct.Perry has been away from the team since skating nearly 15 minutes during a 3-2 loss against Buffalo on Sunday, Nov. 19.The Blackhawks said the "unacceptable" conduct violated terms of his contract and internal policies."After an internal investigation, the Chicago Blackhawks have determined that Corey Perry has engaged in conduct that is unacceptable, and in violation both of the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments. As such, Corey Perry has been placed on unconditional waivers. In the event Mr. Perry clears waivers, we intend to terminate his contract effective immediately," their full statement reads.The 38-year-old has four goals and five assists in 16 games. Report: Patrick Kane signs deal with Red Wings Perry was acquired in a J...

$1M winning scratch-off ticket sold at Thornton's in Romeoville

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:12 GMT

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. — One lucky Illinois Lottery player is celebrating after winning $1 million in the southwest suburbs.The winning $1,000,000 Cash Celebration scratch-off ticket was sold at Thornton’s gas station at 400 North Independence Blvd in Romeoville. 2 Illinois Lottery players split $325k prize after hitting jackpot over the weekend “Holy smokes! This just blows my mind,” said Deborah Sparkiewicz, manager at the Thorntons in Romeoville. “We haven’t heard from any customers that they’ve won and our regulars usually come back to share the exciting news of their wins with us, so this has everyone scratching their heads over who the winner could be.” $2M winning scratch-off ticket sold at Chicago gas station The store will receive a bonus of 1% of the prize amount ($10,000). Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines In 2023 alone, more than 57 million winning Illinois Lottery Instant Tickets were sold, amounting to over $1.2 billion in prizes.

Boy found dead in Kansas City fell from building, police say

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:12 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) -- Kansas City police on Tuesday morning confirmed what caused the death of a child whose body was found a day before near a downtown apartment building. Officers were called to the area just after 11 a.m. Monday. When they arrived, they found a boy, who police said was under the age of 12, suffering from "extensive bodily trauma" behind an apartment complex. First responders pronounced the child dead at the scene. FBI asks for info on Johnson County doctor charged with child porn A KCPD spokesperson said detectives confirmed via surveillance footage that the child fell from the upper floors of the apartment building. Kansas City police said they are investigating the circumstances surrounding how the child fell and classifying it as a suspicious death. "Detectives are still piecing everything together, trying to speak to witnesses, review as much video footage as they can find to try to make sure they have a whole picture in regards to what lead up to th...

Where people spotted a rare bird in Texas for the first time

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:12 GMT

CAMERON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Birders who flocked to a state park in the Rio Grande Valley recently enjoyed an incredibly unusual sighting that excited a Texas agency enough to declare a "rare bird alert" to its followers on social media. The Texas State Parks account posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, that someone photographed a gray-collared becard at Resaca de la Palma State Park in Brownsville, which marks the first time anyone's ever seen the bird in Texas. State leaders further noted it's only the third sighting in the U.S. What is the least-visited state park in Texas? Here’s the top 10 countdown for 2023 "The gray-collared becard just had its FIRST EVER SIGHTING in Texas at Resaca de la Palma State Park!" the social media post read. "This species's first US sighting was in 2009; the second was just six months ago, in May of 2023!"Brandon Nooner, who works as a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, snapped the photo of the bird perched ...

LIST: Central Texas festive light displays this holiday season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — 'Tis the season! As holidays festivities ramp up heading into December, so, too are the number of community events aimed at making memories and spreading holiday cheer. Among those include plenty of holiday light displays, designed to elicit plenty of "oh's" and "ah's" from attendees.Here's a roundup of events to fill your cup with holiday cheer this December.Austin Trail of LightsThe Austin Trail of Lights is a nationally renowned annual tradition that illuminates Zilker Park each December. Guests are welcomed to visit the display Dec. 8-23, which features more than two million lights, 90 lit-up holiday trees along with over 70 additional displays. LIST: Holiday light events in Central Texas The Trail of Lights is held in Zilker Park at 2100 Barton Springs Road.(Courtesy: Austin Trail of Lights) Bastrop River of Lights, Lighted Christmas ParadeBastrop embraces two traditions each holiday season, illuminating town with its Bastrop River of Lights display along wit...

Enjoying an afternoon of sun

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A bright and chilly afternoon is forecast with most of our high temperatures reaching the low 60s. Sunrise was overcast. The clearing started in the Hill Country during the 10:00 hour, reaching our eastern counties by 12:30. Most lows fell to the mid to upper 40s.Clouds will return tomorrow as an area of low pressure aloft moves from just west of the northern California coast today into northeast Arizona/northwest New Mexico by Thursday morning.The next upper storm system arrives Wednesday night/Thursday morningThe upper flow will come from the southwest bringing in moisture from the Pacific. There might be a few isolated showers Wednesday but it's Wednesday night to Thursday morning where the rain chances are best.Rain and thunderstorms Thursday morning into the early afternoonThunderstorms are also a part of the forecast during that time with a potential that some may be strong to severe in areas mainly east of I-35. The map below shows where the Storm Prediction ...