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Chicago celebrates cultural diversity on World Refugee Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:12 GMT

CHICAGO — With World Refugee Day around the corner, Chicago, a city built on the backs of immigrants, is expected to celebrate cultural diversity. For over 20 years, Chicago has celebrated the day with its own style and a mix of cultures collaborated to promote unity over division. Most pools now open across Chicago after surge of lifeguard applicants "Chicago will always be a city that stands on solidarity and in support of our refugee neighbors," Mayor Brandon Johnson said. Though this year's celebration comes with the challenges of today's reality as migrants, many asylum seekers from South America are bussed and flown to Chicago from Texas. "Whether you are coming from Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Afghanistan, the democratic republic of Congo, these are just some of the places connected today," Johnson said. The crisis has stretched resources and promoted a clash between public officials and non-profit groups. "I’m proud to lead this city where refugees feel empowered to become a ...

Demonstrators gather in Chicago as abortion debate continues 1 year after Dobbs decision

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:12 GMT

CHICAGO — On the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, demonstrators on both sides of the debate gathered Saturday in downtown Chicago to make their voices heard.The activists gathered to stage demonstrations at Federal Plaza. One year later, the Supreme Court’s abortion decision is both scorned and praised "I'm here because I believe life should be protected from conception to natural death," Anel, a pro-life demonstrator said.Anti-abortion advocates gathered for a rally, march and had several speakers take the stage.Abortion rights activists, including Chicago for Abortion Rights, Stop Trans Genocide and the Gay Liberation Network, held a counter-protest."We realize the people across the street here are against our right to control our own bodies," Andy Thayer, the co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network, said.Since the Dobbs decision one year ago, more than 25 million women are living in states where there are more restrictions on abortion access. Abortions have surged i...

Musical theater review: Guthrie spins some spirited Sondheim with ‘Into the Woods’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:12 GMT

Stephen Sondheim was right. As he and playwright James Lapine placed the finishing touches on their musical “Into the Woods” in 1987, the songsmith remarked that he could see their fairy-tale-based creation enjoying a lengthy shelf life, with productions at professional, community, college and high school theaters into the foreseeable future.And so it is. Add a 2014 film version and it’s certainly the most seen of the 16 musicals for which Sondheim penned the music and lyrics.Madeline Trumble (Baker’s Wife), Robert Knight (Baker) and Suzie Juul (Little Red Riding Hood) in the Guthrie Theater’s production of “Into the Woods,” Stephen Sondheim’s musical inspired by several fairy tales. The show runs June 17 — Aug. 13, 2023 at the Minneapolis theater. (Dan Norman / Guthrie Theater)Yet you’re unlikely to find a more expertly executed production of it than the one currently gracing the Guthrie Theater’s thrust stage. Under the direction of Sarna Lapine, the ...

Summer heat grips St. Louis region, with temps hitting high 90s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS – We’re just days into summer and high temperatures Saturday made it one of the hottest days of the year thus far. Despite the dangerous heat, there are ways to stay cool.What started as a comfortable morning quickly turned into a scorcher of a Saturday, as temperatures rose to new heights.Those venturing outside will certainly feel the heat. With temperatures rising into the high 90s, summer is most definitely in the air.“I need a shower, but I feel good; feels good,” one runner said. Police share image of teens wanted for questioning in St. Louis mass shooting Whether on water or land, people showed up bright and early to Creve Coeur Park and lake to enjoy their weekend outdoors, with a side of caution.“Come out early, because the sun will take it out of you, even this early in the morning,” said runner Rich Dernec. “As you can see, it’s a sweaty one.”“I’m going to spend the rest of the day in air conditioning, listening to a book, reading a book or something like that...

Man dies after raft overturns in Arkansas River near Salida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:12 GMT

A man died Friday when a raft overturned in the Arkansas River near Salida.The incident happened about 3 p.m. when three people in a private raft entered the Bear Creek Rapid, a Class III rapid, and the raft flipped, according to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife news release.“All three people were thrown into the swiftly flowing, 60-degree water,” the release said.One person safely made it to shore, and a second person was rescued by an Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area ranger who was patrolling the river.The third passenger and the upside-down raft went missing downriver, triggering a search that included rangers, Parks and Wildlife officers, the Salida Fire Department, Chaffee County Emergency Medical Services, Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas Valley Ambulance and Howard Fire Department.“The upside-down raft eventually was spotted about 2 miles downstream, just above Wellsville,” the release said. “It appeared ...

Los Angeles Police bust drug lab disguised as a pizza shop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:12 GMT

What appeared to be a pizza shop in North Hollywood was really cooking up illegal THC concentrates, authorities said.The illicit “super lab” was located in the 7300 block of Radford Avenue next to a pet hospital, according to a tweet from LAPD Commanding Officer Lillian L. Carranza.Photos posted to social media by LAPD show what looks to be a functioning commercial kitchen, but instead of pizza, there were batches of THC honey oil in the boxes and on the cooling racks. An illicit THC honey oil extraction lab disguised as a pizza shop was busted in North Hollywood on Thursday. (Twitter/@LAPDCARRANZA)An illicit THC honey oil extraction lab disguised as a pizza shop was busted in North Hollywood on Thursday. (Twitter/@LAPDCARRANZA)An illicit THC honey oil extraction lab disguised as a pizza shop was busted in North Hollywood on Thursday. (Twitter/@LAPDCARRANZA)"We've heard of secret ingredients, but this takes the pie!," LAPD posted to social media. "It seems like criminals are ge...

Two women found dead in Diamond Bar, foul play suspected 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:12 GMT

Homicide investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the deaths of two women in Diamond Bar. According to a release from LASD, authorities responded to the 23800 block of Sapphire Canyon Road around 8 a.m. Saturday and found two female adults deceased at the scene. A person of interest has been detained, police said, and foul play is suspected. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org 

Watch Project Angel Food's 'Lead with Love' telethon Saturday at 7PM on KTLA

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:12 GMT

The stars will align for Project Angel Food’s Lead with Love telethon Saturday night on KTLA.Join Cindy Crawford, Niecy Nash-Betts, Magic Johnson, Paula Abdul, Carol Burnett, Marie Osmond, Steven Weber, Jessica Holmes and other KTLA personalities to help feed critically ill members of the greater Los Angeles community.Scan the QR code on this page to donate before, during and after the telethon, which airs Saturday from 7-9 PM on KTLA 5, KTLA.com, the KTLA app, KTLA+, and KTLA’s YouTube and Facebook channels.Project Angel Food Telethon airs Saturday, June 24 on KTLA.Project Angel Food is a nonprofit agency that cooks and delivers healthy, delicious meals and offers nutrition counseling -all free of charge- to people debilitated by serious illnesses. It serves men, women, and children throughout all of Los Angeles County who are debilitated and cannot shop or cook for the food they need to survive and heal.“Food is Medicine” is Project Angel Food’s philosophy, and its main goal is t...

Luis Matos’ first career home run leads SF Giants over D-backs, Merrill Kelly

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:12 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — In his first week and a half in the majors, Luis Matos had just about done it all. But the Giants’ 21-year-old rookie was still seeking his first career home run.It couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.Matos lined a letter-high fastball from Merrill Kelly over the left-field wall for a two-run shot in the sixth inning Saturday that gave the Giants the lead in a 7-6 win, their 12th in their past 13 games, pulling within 1½ games of the D-backs (46-32) for first place in the NL West. At 44-33, the Giants are further above .500 than at any point in 2022.The only doubt about it was whether it would stay fair. Matos swung with such a fury that his follow through took him toward the left-handed batter’s box, where he watched the ball’s trajectory down the left-field line while still holding his bat in his left hand. He pounded his chest and blew a kiss to the sky upon touching home plate, before returning to a tunnel of high fives in the thir...

Scooter, a bald Chinese Crested, is crowned World’s Ugliest Dog in Petaluma

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:19:12 GMT

Scooter’s fluffy ashen mohawk, long ears, wrinkly belly, slack pink tongue and backward hind legs stole the spotlight Friday night as he was named champion of the annual World’s Ugliest Dog Contest.After the hairless Chinese Crested pup emerged at the front of a pack chock full of grotesque challengers, he was proudly hoisted into the air by his owner, Linda Celeste Elmquist, and awarded a $1,500 grand prize.Scooter, who enjoys walks in the park and a stranger’s outstretched hand, was rescued by Saving Animals From Euthanasia (SAFE) shortly after being born with two deformed hind legs in Tucson, Arizona, according to his biography.While he can wobble along on his front two paws — often using his butt as a tripod — he was fitted for a new cart about two months ago and attends therapy to aid his mobility. Scooter’s journey from death’s doorstep to global stardom via the Sonoma-Marin Fair affirms his owner’s claims that he is “not only surviving but thriving.”“His handicap ...