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Salman Rushdie and Cheryl Strayed among endorsers of anti-censorship initiative

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Salman Rushdie, Cheryl Strayed, Carl Hiassen and Ibram X. Kendi are among hundreds of authors who have endorsed an announcement by the American Library Association and the Association of American Publishers that calls attention to the 70th anniversary of a Freedom to Read Statement issued by book publishers and librarians during the height of the McCarthy era. With book bannings surging nationwide over the past two years, the library and publishing associations are urging “all members of the book community” to affirm their commitment to the June 1953 declaration, which includes such propositions as ”It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those that are unorthodox, unpopular, or considered dangerous by the majority.” Sunday’s press announcement reads in part: “Today, as we grapple with a new wave of censorship in schools, libraries, and bookstores targeting...

One dead, several injured after riders plunged from a roller coaster in Sweden

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — One person was killed and several others injured when a roller coaster derailed in Stockholm on Sunday, Swedish TV reported.Park officials told public broadcaster SVT that one of the carriages on the Jetline rollercoaster derailed and people fell to the ground at the Grona Lund amusement park.“It is incredibly tragic and shocking,” park spokeswoman Annika Troselius told SVT. “Unfortunately we have been informed that one person is killed and many are injured.”Police said seven people, both children and adults, were hospitalized. Man who gave up seats on Titan submersible says OceanGate CEO was ‘dismissive’ of concerns The amusement park was evacuated to facilitate the work of rescue crews.SVT reporter Jenny Lagerstedt, who was standing in line for another ride, said the carriage was at a high altitude.“Suddenly I heard a metallic thud and then the rides started to shake,” she said. Rescuers had to remove other passengers who were stuck in other carriages on the rol...

Marcella's final Weekend Break: Gene's Sausage Shop & Delicatessen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

Check out marcella's final weekend break at Gene's sausage shop & Delicatessen.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

UofC Education lab and Youth Guidance team up to tackle mental health of young girls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

Dr. Monica Bhatt, senior research director of University of Chicago Education Lab and Wow director of program and staff development at Youth Guidance partnered up to study and tackle mental health of young girls who reportedly have high rates of PTSD, anxiety and depression in the city of Chicago.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Why are restaurants sneaking in service charges? They say they have no choice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – In case your $20 salad and $15 cocktail weren't expensive enough, your restaurant tab might have a few more line items tacked on. Diners are more frequently encountering service charges, a fee added to their bill that doesn't always count as tip. Sometimes it's called a "living wage" charge or "kitchen fee," and is used to better pay back-of-house staff like cooks and dishwashers. Other times it's a fee the restaurant says it uses to cover employees' health care. Sometimes it's a mandatory minimum gratuity that gets split by all restaurant employees. For many restaurants, service charges started as a way to cover the sudden added costs of operating during the pandemic, such as purchasing PPE and setting up new safe workspaces, explained Denise Mickelsen, communication director at the Colorado Restaurant Association and Foundation. But even if the era of social distancing is basically over, running a restaurant hasn't gotten cheaper, she said. Food delivery fees ad...

Missing Washington County man found safe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Columbia County Sheriff's Office announced that a missing Washington County man has been found safe. Darrell Dutcher, of Salem, NY, was located in good health by the East Greenbush Police Department. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The missing alert for Dutcher went live on June 23. Before being found, he had last been seen on June 3 in the town of Chatham.

Knife-wielding homeless man shot by police at Little Tokyo hotel 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

An armed man was shot by police after allegedly threatening hotel staff with a knife early Sunday morning, police said. Authorities say the suspect walked into the lobby of the Miyako Hotel on 1st Street in Little Tokyo around 3:30 a.m. armed with a knife. "He was inside the lobby with a knife, and he refused commands given by the officers, at which time an officer-involved shooting occurred,” said LAPD Captain Elaine Morales.  An armed suspect was shot by police after allegedly threatening hotel staff with a knife early Sunday morning. (KeyNewsTV)An armed suspect was shot by police after allegedly threatening hotel staff with a knife early Sunday morning. (KeyNewsTV)An armed suspect was shot by police after allegedly threatening hotel staff with a knife early Sunday morning. (KeyNewsTV)The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division is handling the investigation. (KTLA)The suspect was transported to a nearby hospital and is said to be in stable condition. Authorities said th...

Human remains discovered on Mount Baldy near search for Julian Sands

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

Human remains were discovered by hikers on Mount Baldy Saturday morning in an area where authorities have been searching for missing British actor Julian Sands.At around 10 a.m., hikers contacted the Fontana Sheriff’s Station after coming across the remains in the Mount Baldy Wilderness Area.Deputies along with the sheriff’s Emergency Operations Division responded to the scene.The remains were transported to the coroner’s office where officials are working to identify the body. Authorities said positive identification is expected next week. No further details were released.Back in January, search efforts were underway when two hikers went missing in Mount Baldy including British actor Julian Sands, 65. Two other hikers were also found dead in the area before Sands went missing. Julian Sands (San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office)Jin Chung in a photo from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.Missing hikers in Mount Baldy. From left: Julian Sands, Robert Gregory, and J...

Police investigate deadly overnight shooting in Oakland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

OAKLAND — A man was found fatally shot in East Oakland late Saturday, marking the city’s 52nd homicide of the year, authorities said.According to Oakland police, gunshot-detection microphones alerted officers to a shooting at 10:55 p.m. Saturday in the 6200 block of International Boulevard, south of Seminary Avenue. They arrived to find an unconscious man lying on the sidewalk, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.The man died at the scene a short time later. His name was not immediately released. Police have not determined a motive or identified any suspects in the shooting as of Sunday morning.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Authorities: South Bay man arrested for having guns in defiance of court ban Crime and Public Safety | One killed, one arrested in Oakland traffic collision Crime and Public Safety | Four wounded in three separate Oakland shootings Crime and Public Safety | Arrest made in Milpitas gas...

San Francisco to build 550 affordable homes across city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:08 GMT

(BCN) -- San Francisco plans to build five new affordable housing projects, creating 550 new homes for low-income seniors, families and individuals exiting homelessness, Mayor London Breed's office announced Friday. Construction may start as early as 2026 with resident move-ins by the end of 2028, pending availability of gap funding. SF Pride street closures, schedule, parade route Projects were announced in five neighborhoods: Bernal Heights, the Sunset District, Potrero Hill, Alamo Square and Forest Hill. Each project will be developed by different groups in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD), other city agencies and community partners. The MOHCD will fund the acquisition and predevelopment of the new projects. It will also support applications for future funding sources, including state and federal low-income housing tax credits, funding programs through the California Department of Housing and Community Development and lo...