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'First of its kind' Illinois law will penalize libraries that ban books

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:53 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday signed into law a bill that he says will make Illinois the first state in the nation to outlaw book bans.Illinois public libraries that restrict or ban materials because of “partisan or doctrinal” disapproval will be ineligible for state funding as of Jan. 1, 2024, when the new law goes into effect.“We are not saying that every book should be in every single library,” said Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who is also the state librarian and was the driving force behind the legislation. “What this law does is it says, let’s trust our experience and education of our librarians to decide what books should be in circulation.” Former St. Louis alderman under federal indictment for insurance fraud The new law comes into play as states across the U.S. push to remove certain books in schools and libraries, especially those about LGBTQ+ themes and by people of color. The American Library Association in March announced that ...

Amtrak's St. Louis-to-Chicago trains running at 110 MPH, cutting trip 15 minutes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:53 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Taking the train from St. Louis to Chicago will soon take less time.Trains will now increase speed from 90 miles an hour to 110. That will cut travel time by 15 minutes. Former St. Louis alderman under federal indictment for insurance fraud The new schedules for the Lincoln Service begin June 26. Most of the $2 billion cost of upgrading the tracks came from the American Recovery and Re-Investment Act.Construction work took eight years and five more years of testing.

New development plans around City Foundry & Armory

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:53 GMT

ST. LOUIS - More excitement is coming near the City Foundry & Armory in midtown St. Louis.Developers have filed plans to renovate the former Famous-Barr Warehouse. Green Street Real Estate Venture wants to create hundreds of apartments and more entertainment options. Mizzou hazing case: 4th fraternity brother pleads guilty In addition, two more development groups want to build hundreds of student apartments just west of St. Louis University. The St. Louis Planning Commission will review both projects at their meeting Wednesday evening.

“Hair,” “Everwood” actor Treat Williams dies after Vermont motorcycle crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:53 GMT

DORSET, Vt. — Actor Treat Williams, whose nearly 50-year career included starring roles in the TV series “Everwood” and the movie “Hair,” died Monday after a motorcycle crash in Vermont, state police said. He was 71.Shortly before 5 p.m., a Honda SUV was turning left into a parking lot when it collided with Williams’ motorcycle in the town of Dorset, according to a statement from Vermont State Police.“Williams was unable to avoid a collision and was thrown from his motorcycle. He suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, where he was pronounced dead,” according to the statement.Williams was wearing a helmet, police said.The SUV’s driver received minor injuries and wasn’t hospitalized. He had signaled the turn and wasn’t immediately detained although the crash investigation continued, police said.Williams, whose full name was Richard Treat Williams, lived in Manchester Center in southern Vermont, police sa...

Hundreds without power after car crashes into pole in Los Feliz

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:53 GMT

Hundreds of people were left in the dark when a car crashed into a power pole in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles Tuesday morning.The crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. at the intersection of Griffith Park Boulevard and Hyperion Avenue. The incident caused a power outage for hundreds of Los Feliz and Silver Lake area residents. As of 6:30 a.m., the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported 305 customers still without power. Video showed Griffith Park Boulevard was closed at Hyperion Avenue while crews worked on the damaged pole. Neary Gelson's and Trader Joe's stores did appear to have power Tuesday morning.It was unclear what caused the crash or if there were any injuries as a result.

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling head to L.A. for global 'Barbie' tour

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:53 GMT

Grab your best pink ensemble and your rollerblades because the stars of the upcoming "Barbie" movie are headed to Los Angeles. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling ,who play the toy world's power couple of Barbie and Ken, are hitting the road for a global world tour. The pair made the announcement on Instagram on Monday. "Guess what Barbie fans, you don't have to go to Barbieland to hang with Barbie and Ken," Robbie announced. Barbie reveals first doll with Down syndrome "Margot and I are taking the show on the road," revealed Gosling. The globe-trotting adventure will stop in Los Angeles and New York then will head internationally to Toronto, Canada, Sydney, Australia, Seoul, South Korea, Mexico City, Mexico, Berlin, Germany and London, England. "Are you packing your rollerblades?" Robbie asked her costar, who shrugged it off admitting, "You know I can't rollerblade in real life." Ryan Gosling’s toned and tanned as Ken in live-action ‘Barbie’ movie "It's going to be the best tour ev...

Man ejected from car after crashing into tree near Camarillo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:53 GMT

A man was airlifted to a nearby hospital after he crashed into a tree and was ejected from his car near Camarillo Monday. Authorities with the California Highway Patrol responded to reports of a solo vehicle traffic collision that occurred on Aggen Road, north Los Angeles Avenue around 1:15 p.m. One report indicated that the driver, identified as 36-year-old Jorge Herrera Huerta, was ejected from his car, a 2005 Toyota Scion.  According to a preliminary investigation, Huerta was traveling south on Aggen Road at an unknown speed, when he lost control of the Scion. Officials say the back end of the Scion began to rotate in a clockwise motion, causing it to veer off the road. The car traveled onto a dirt shoulder and crashed into a tree and a water main. After the impact, the Scion spun back around and stopped, facing the wrong way in the northbound lane of Aggen Road.Aggen Road was shut down for nearly two hours while CHP personnel investigated the crash and recovered the vehicle from...

Newsom spars with Fox News host Hannity over Biden, immigration, California economy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:53 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom sparred with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday night, insisting President Joe Biden is physically fit for a second term as president while refusing to say whether supporters have urged him to run against Biden on the 2024 ballot.Asked if he believes Biden is “cognitively strong enough to be president," Newsom said yes, adding that he talks with the president “all the time” and has traveled with him aboard Air Force One.‘You never answered my question directly," Hannity responded. “How many times does your phone ping a day, people saying you need to get in this race because they agree with me that he’s not up to the job.” VIDEO: Sean Hannity interviews Gov. Newsom on Fox News Newsom stammered somewhat before responding: “I'm not answering.”Newsom has repeatedly said he has no interest in running for president, saying he completely supports Biden's reelection campaign. In April, Newsom raised money for Biden during a fundrais...

NBA Finals: Aaron Gordon’s high school coach reacts to championship victory

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:53 GMT

Archbishop Mitty boys basketball coach Tim Kennedy was inside Ball Arena and got to watch as his program’s greatest player, Aaron Gordon, hoisted his first NBA championship on Monday night. When the final buzzer sounded on the Nuggets’ 94-89 victory, confetti rained down and the longtime San Jose coach beamed with pride while cheering and celebrating in the Denver stands. “I’m exhausted, but seeing Aaron win it was a dream come true,” Kennedy told the Bay Area News Group on Tuesday morning. “When your players go to college, that’s special. When they get drafted, you think you’ve hit the top. But to win and be a world champion on the highest stage, it doesn’t get any better.”Archbishop Mitty’s Aaron Gordon (32) gestures after defeating Sheldon during the CIF Northern California Regional Basketball Championship Boys Open Division game at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif. on Saturday, March 16, 2013. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Staff) Gordon was twice named Cal-Hi Sports’ Mr....

Milpitas teens show off their talents at Shindig Showcase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:17:53 GMT

Friendship, entertainment and talent combined to make the Shindig Showcase a success on stage at the Milpitas Teen Center on Friday, June 9. Milpitas teens performed Yang-style 24-form tai chi and wushu straight sword routines, danced, played their original songs and played the pipa, a traditional Chinese instrument to a mostly senior audience.The Milpitas Teen Center opened about five years ago as a safe space that provides services and programs for teens ages 13-18. With about 200 active members, the center also fosters intergenerational community by being collocated with the Milpitas Senior Center.Many of the first members of the center grew with it and became team members, running the center themselves for their fellow teens, giving the showcase the feel of a family reunion.“The artist on stage was one of kids when the center first had cooking classes year ago, and now he is running the show,” said one audience member.The Shindig Showcase is the brainchild of Jason Villaruz, a s...