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Michael Cera to appear in ‘Barbie’ movie as discontinued character Allan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:47 GMT

TORONTO — Lovable loser Michael Cera is getting dolled up for the new “Barbie” movie, in which he’ll portray a discontinued and long-forgotten character in the toy line.The Brampton, Ont. actor, known for roles in “Superbad” and “Arrested Development,” has been announced as part of the extended cast for the summer comedy, playing a role simply known as “Allan.”“Barbie” is a spin on the popular children’s toy franchise with Margot Robbie in the titular role and London, Ont.-born Ryan Gosling as Ken.“Kim’s Convenience” actor Simu Liu, who was raised in Mississauga, Ont., plays another version of Ken who clashes with Gosling’s Ken in the latest trailer released Tuesday.While the specifics of Cera’s character haven’t been revealed, a discontinued Barbie character named Allan was introduced in the 1960s.The red-haired Allan was marketed as Ken’s “buddy” who was dr...

Court throws out gas pipeline’s West Virginia water permit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:47 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A company building a long-delayed natural gas pipeline has lost a key water permit after a federal appeals court ruled that West Virginia didn’t adequately assess the impact of building the Mountain Valley Pipeline across streams and wetlands.Siding with environmental groups, the court said Monday the state Department of Environmental Protection’s justifications for its 2021 water quality certification were “deficient,” the Charleston Gazette-Mail reported.The 303-mile (487-kilometer) pipeline across rugged mountainsides in West Virginia and Virginia — which is mostly finished — would transport natural gas drilled from the Utica and Marcellus shale formations in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Legal battles have delayed completion for years, as environmental groups say construction has led to violations of regulations meant to control erosion and sedimentation.Among other things, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the West Virginia agency didn’t adequat...

Trump arrives at New York courthouse ahead of arraignment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:47 GMT

Former President Donald Trump arrived Tuesday at a Manhattan courthouse ahead of his arraignment on criminal charges stemming from a hush money payment to a porn actor during his 2016 campaign.Trump pumped his fist as he exited Trump Tower minutes earlier, then traveled in an eight-car motorcade down a highway along the East River to the downtown courthouse, where’s he expected to surrender to authorities. He’s expected to be fingerprinted and processed, and his mug shot may be taken — a remarkable reckoning after years of investigations and an extraordinary moment in U.S. history.The booking and appearance before Judge Juan Merchan should be relatively brief — though hardly routine — as Trump learns for the first time the charges against him. Trump will plead not guilty, according to his lawyers, and is expected to enter the plea himself, as is standard in the court.Merchan has ruled that TV cameras won’t be allowed in the courtroom.Trump, who was impeached twice by the...

Alaskan charged for transphobic notes threatening students

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:47 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A children’s book illustrator has been charged in Alaska with terroristic threatening after police allege he posted anti-transgender notes that referenced shooting children.Mitchell Thomas Watley, 47, did not enter a plea to the felony charge during his first court appearance Monday, the Juneau Empire reported. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 11.Watley is accused of placing notes in several public locations across Juneau starting Friday, the International Day of Transgender Visibility. The notes were the size of a business card showing an assault rifle and the colors of the transgender flag, the complaint says. “Feeling Cute Might Shoot Some Children,” the text read.Anti-transgender rhetoric and disinformation followed a mass shooting last week that killed six people at a Nashville Christian school. It came as lawmakers across the country engage in a historic push for more restrictions on trans people’s rights.Authorities have not shared any evide...

Women run the fictional world of ABC’s ‘General Hospital’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:47 GMT

As “General Hospital” marks its 60th anniversary, much remains the same for the longest-running scripted series in production in the United States. A hospital is still the backdrop for the soap opera, many of the veteran characters remain, the wealthy Quatermaine family looms large and the stories are about love, mystery and adventure.But in a shift, many of the most powerful residents of Port Charles are women.Genie Francis’ legacy character Laura Collins, whose 1981 wedding to Luke Spencer drew 30 million viewers and is still the highest-rated soap opera episode in US history, is now the mayor of Port Charles. The police commissioner is a woman (played by Tanisha Harper), and the chief of staff at General Hospital is also a woman (played by Cassandra James.) Kristina Wagner, a longtime cast member who plays Felicia Scorpio, first joined “General Hospital” in 1984 as a literal princess and romantic interest for Frisco Jones (Jack Wagner), forming a soap supercouple. While age...

The top 10 audiobooks on Audible.com

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:47 GMT

Nonfiction 1. Outlive by Peter Attia, MD and Bill Gifford – contributor, narrated by Peter Attia, MD (Random House Audio)2. Atomic Habits by James Clear, narrated by the author (Penguin Audio)3. Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, narrated by the author (Random House Audio)4. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F(asterisk)ck by Mark Manson, narrated by Roger Wayne (HarperAudio)5. Never Finished by David Goggins, narrated by the author, Adam Skolnick and Jacqueline Gardner (Lioncrest Publishing)6. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey, narrated by the author (Random House Audio)7. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, narrated by the author (Simon & Schuster Audio)8. Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins, narrated by the author and Adam Skolnick (Lioncrest Publishing)9. 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, narrated by Richard Poe (HighBridge, a Division of Recorded Books)10. The 6 Habits of Growth by Brendon Burchard, narrated by the author (Audible Originals)_____Fiction1. Her D...

Moscow hosts talks aimed at Syria-Turkey rapprochement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:47 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Senior diplomats from Russia, Turkey, Syria and Iran wrapped up two days of talks in Moscow Tuesday, part of the Kremlin’s efforts to help broker a rapprochement between the Turkish and Syrian governments.Russian and Turkish foreign ministries issued terse readouts, saying the diplomats have discussed preparations for a planned meeting of the four countries foreign ministers. Moscow described the consultations as “frank and direct,” and Ankara said they were held in a “transparent and clear manner,” while offering no details. Russia has waged a military campaign in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. While the bulk of the Russian military has been busy fighting in Ukraine, Moscow has maintained its military foothold in Syria and kept warplanes and troops at its bases there.The Kremlin has also made persistent efforts to help Syria rebuild fractu...

Alberta waited a month to declare emergency response to oilsands releases: document

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:47 GMT

EDMONTON — The Alberta government waited a month before calling an emergency response to one of the biggest releases of oilsands tailings in the province’s history, a leaked document shows.The document, obtained by The Canadian Press, shows the province didn’t initiate an emergency response until after First Nations chiefs in the area went public about how they were informed of the releases from Imperial Oil’s Kearl mine, about 70 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, Alta.The document also sheds new light on official communications and reaction to the spills, now the subject of three inquiries. “The fact that the province waited over a month before initiating its emergency response is not surprising at all,” said Chief Alan Adam of the Athabasca Cree First Nation, which uses the area for harvesting. “We are used to the provincial government letting us down.”Discoloured water, later found to be groundwater contaminated with oilsands tailings, w...

Lockdown lifted at Highland Park High School; 5 students in custody

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:47 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — Five students are in custody following a lockdown Tuesday at Highland Park High School due to reports of a gun in the school.City officials said no shots were fired and the lockdown has been lifted. The lockdown was issued in the morning after a student was "potentially" in possession of a gun.Five students were taken into custody as a result and circumstances around the incident are not known at this time. The school is being dismissed early.The soft lockdown at other public buildings in the area, including elementary schools, has also been lifted.WGN News will update this story once more information becomes available.

Wrecktangle Pizza bringing new concept to St. Paul in space next to Palace Theatre

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:47 GMT

The restaurant space that used to house Wild Tymes on West Seventh Place in downtown St. Paul has been empty since 2017, with promises that the company behind The Palace Theatre and First Avenue, which is leasing the space, would open a new restaurant.Five years and a pandemic later, we finally have an announcement: Wrecktangle Pizza will move in with a new concept they’re calling Wrestaurant at the Palace.The new spot, which will open sometime this summer, will offer classic Wrecktangle Detroit-style pizzas, sandwiches and slices, but will also introduce new dishes and a cocktail menu. There will be a slice window to offer grab-and-go items, but the rest of the eatery will be full-service with a 40-seat bar as well.“We are very jazzed for this new partnership,” said Jeff Rogers and Breanna Evans of Wrecktangle and Wrestaurant. “Food and beverage expect to be familiar and fun, just like us! This isn’t Wrecktangle Pizza, but there will be Wrecktangle Pizzas.”The restaurant will be op...