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Review: The Hunger Games return in ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,’ with the odds in its favor

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

Two hours and 37 minutes is pretty long for a “ballad,” but you can’t call it “The Hunger Games: The Three-Cycle Opera of Songbirds and Snakes” now, can you?Concision was never much in favor in the four “Hunger Games” films, which reached a seeming finale with 2015’s “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2.” The intervening years have done nothing to shrink the ambitions of this unapologetically gaudy dystopic series where the brutal deaths of kids are watched over by outrageously styled Capitol denizens with names like Effie Trinket.That clash of YA allegory and color palette is just as pronounced, if not more so, in “The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” a prequel set 64 years before the original books, adapted from Suzanne Collins’ 2020 book of the same name.“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” which opens in theaters Nov. 16, is an origin story of the Hunger Games, themselves, as well as numerous characters — primarily the devious President Coriolanus Snow, played b...

Maine court hears arguments on removing time limits on child sex abuse lawsuits

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A lawyer for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland told supreme court justices Thursday that Maine’s elimination of time limits on child sex abuse lawsuits is unconstitutional and imposes new liabilities, a reference to costly lawsuits that have driven some dioceses into bankruptcy.But an attorney whose law firm represents about 100 plaintiffs characterized the law as the “will of the people” versus the diocese’s expectation of brushing past conduct under a rug.“There’s never been a right to enabling child sex abuse. The diocese wants you to create a vested right in getting away with it,” attorney Michael Bigos told the court.The Supreme Judicial Court heard highly technical arguments at the Penobscot Judicial Center in Bangor during a packed hearing that underscored the stakes of its ultimate decision.Roman Catholic dioceses in Baltimore; Buffalo, New York; and elsewhere have filed for bankruptcy under the weight of lawsuits and settlements stemming from the...

Veteran's Day Deals 2023: Where to get free food and discounts across Chicagoland

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

CHICAGO – It's an annual 'thank you' to all military service members, past and present, in the form of a delicious meal, beverage, and more. In honor of Veterans Day on Saturday, Nov. 11, several restaurants across the Chicagoland area will offer complimentary food with proof of military service. For 2023, a list of the available Veterans Day deals for this year is listed below:Applebee’s:Free meal from a special menu of 8 entrées for active duty members and veterans. Dine-in only.Bar Louie:Free Craft Burger of their choice for active duty members and veterans. Dine-in only.Bonefish Grill:A complimentary order of Bang Bang Shrimp with a soft drink for active duty members and veterans.Boston Market:Buy one individual meal with a drink and get a second free using a promo code. No ID is required. Buffalo Wild Wings:Free order of 10 boneless wings and fries for active duty members and veterans. Dine-in only.Chili’s:Free entrée from a select menu for active duty members and veterans. Din...

President Biden speaks at Stellantis plant in Illinois

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

CHICAGO — President Joe Biden is in Illinois Thursday to boost his reelection campaign.Biden has two stops in Illinois: one in Belvidere at a Stellantis Plant, one of several involved in the most recent auto workers strike. Governor JB Pritzker and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain are also schedule to be there.Biden is expected to discuss how the recent agreement shows his economic strategy.After his stop in Belvidere, he will head to Chicago for private fundraising events.The president will be trying to boost his poll numbers when it comes to economy, which Republicans believe makes him vulnerable. Five takeaways from the GOP debate in Miami Donald Trump is leading Biden in the latest New York Times poll in several areas, including the economy where 59 percent of voters said they trusted the former president compared to Biden's 37 percent.

President of Chicago local SAG-AFTRA on Hollywood strike ending

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

Charles Andrew Gardener, the President of the Chicago Local of SAG-AFTRA, joins WGN's Dean Richards to talk about the Hollywood strike ending after 118 days. Hollywood actors strike is over as union reaches tentative deal with studios Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

What's causing this pink pond on Maui?

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

HONOLULU (KHON) - A beautiful, natural phenomenon is creating pink-looking water in Kealia Pond on Maui, and no, it is not fake.The color is believed to be from algae that thrives in water with high levels of salt.Travis Morrin is a chef by trade but has a passion for photography in between his restaurant jobs.A friend called him on Wednesday, Nov. 7 to tell him that Kealia Pond had turned pink."And I'm like, 'There's no way.' I'm like, 'I don't. I don't believe it, it can't be that pink!'" Morrin said. "So at sunset, I was just driving by on my way out of Kihei and I looked over and I was like, 'That does look very pink!'"He then parked his car and sent up a drone. Hawaiʻi sees 600% increase in syphilis cases amongst pregnant persons, 2019-2022 "'It kind of looked like the color of Pepto-Bismol!'" Morrin said. "I think part of the reason why it was so vibrant was it was the time of the day, there's less glare, there's less reflection."The Pacific Whale Foundation said Kealia Pon...

50 'incupouches' to go to Gaza to save babies as incubators get turned off

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

CHICAGO -- Fifty incupouches are packed and ready to be shipped to Gaza after incubators were turned off in the region -- an invention that can save Gazan babies. In 2006, Prasanga Lokuge, the vice president of the VillageMD of Clinical Strategy, designed an 'incupouch' for pre-term and low weight babies as a skin to skin, low cost and non-electric solution to incubators.In a matter of weeks, dozens of volunteers across the country from Village MD have sewed the pouch, replicating it with stretchy fabric and removable insulation. Volunteers also made knit hats. Evanston seeks volunteers to help seniors, people with disabilities shovel snow Lokuge is using the idea she came up with over a decade ago, to help babies in Gaza."When we moved to Chicago, it sat in our basement for a while, but I've been thinking about going back to it. When I heard about incubators and electricity getting turned off in Gaza, immediately I felt -- 'what if,'" Lokuge said. The whole initiative came toget...

Groups reject racial division on migrants in Chicago

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

CHICAGO —  Organized groups representing Chicago's Black and Brown communities rallied in front of city hall Thursday morning.The groups are trying to keep any question on the city's sanctuary status off the ballot. They say it further divides an already segregated city.Earier this week, some city leaders pushed for voters to weigh-in on if Chicago should continue to be a sanctuary city. It was non-binding but would give leaders a good idea of how people felt on the subject, and people have some very strong feelings.Instead of discussing Chicago's migrant crisis and sanctuary city status inside city hall Thursday morning, dozens rallied outside with a clear message.Organizers from several community groups representing Black and Brown communities wanted to show they are united in defeating any attempt to put Chicago's welcoming ordinance up for a vote, non-binding or not.Tuesday's meeting to discuss the ballot question quickly turned into chaos with at least one person being det...

Quinn's back: Ewers to start Saturday vs. TCU 2 weeks after shoulder injury

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — After sitting out two weeks with an injury to his throwing shoulder, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers will start Saturday night in Fort Worth against TCU.During Thursday's media availability, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said that Ewers, "had a great week of practice," and that "the team is excited about that." Longhorns remain No. 7 in College Football Playoff rankings, top 8 unchanged "I feel very comfortable with his ability to operate the offense," Sarkisian said. "He, his family and our medical team feel very good about where he's at health-wise, so we're looking forward to having him back."Texas won both starts by backup quarterback Maalik Murphy 35-6 over BYU and a wild 33-30 overtime win against then-No. 23 Kansas State. Sarkisian said Murphy gained quality experience and that will bode well for the future in the event that Ewers gets banged up again.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Sc...

Memo highlights Austin airport safety operations

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin airport's interim CEO Jim Smith this week sent a memo to the Austin city council and mayor detailing safety operations in place at the airport following two employee deaths this year. Last week, Interim Austin City Manager Jesús Garza sent a memo to the mayor and city council stating that he had asked Smith to review the Department of Aviation’s safety programs to “help identify what elements of the airport enterprise is specifically under the City’s purview, the initiatives currently underway by the Department to support safety at the airport, and how we can influence safety measures outside of the City’s direct control.” Memo: Overview of Austin airport safety operations expected next week Smith's memo "provides an overview of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) operations related to safety, precipitated by the two tragic incidents this year that resulted in the death of airport employees."The memo details information about what elements of t...