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Amid labor turmoil in Hollywood, Broadway seems to avoid a strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:39 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Broadway and the touring theater community seem to have avoided a labor disruption like the one that has silenced the film and television industry.The Broadway League and Disney Theatrical Productions, which represent producers, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees announced Thursday they had reached a tentative agreement that had threatened a strike as early as Friday.About 1,500 workers — stagehands, hair and makeup artists, and wardrobe personnel — are directly covered by the tentative agreement, currently working on 28 productions on Broadway and 17 on tour.The agreement still needs to be ratified. In a joint statement, the bargainers said: “The respective parties will inform their members of the details of this agreement in the coming days.”The agreement is unconnected to the strike action roiling Hollywood. Leaders of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) voted unanimously last week to st...

Tens of thousands of Canadian moviegoers bought ‘Barbenheimer’ tickets: Cineplex

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:39 GMT

Cineplex says the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon is taking hold in Canada, with nearly 345,000 advance tickets purchased for two of the biggest Hollywood movie releases of the year.  Canada’s largest movie theatre chain says it’s no surprise that moviegoers are eager to see Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” — two very different but equally anticipated films coming out on Friday. Cineplex says more than 60,000 advance tickets were purchased by moviegoers seeing both films, and 65 per cent of those ticket buyers will watch “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” on the same day. The excitement over the double feature has been dubbed “Barbenheimer,” as both movies and their box office showdown trend online.A media analyst recently told The Associated Press that “Barbenheimer” is a “marketing gift borne out of social media” and the hype is benefiting both mo...

11-year-old daughter of top Kashmiri rebel leader issues rare appeal to visit father jailed in India

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:39 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The eleven-year-old daughter of a prominent Kashmiri rebel leader who was sentenced to life in prison in neighboring India issued an emotional appeal on Thursday, urging New Delhi to allow her to meet her ailing father.Razia Sultan, the daughter of Mohammed Yasin Malik, 57, made this emotional demand after she was allowed to address the regional legislative assembly in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.“I was only two years old when I met my father. I have now turned 11,” she said in a televised speech. “I miss my father like anything. I crave to hear his voice.”Sultan said she would hold Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible if any harm was caused to her father. She said she hoped that one day her father would be released, and he had been wrongly sentenced in a “fake case.”Malik was arrested in 2019 and was sentenced to life in prison last year by an Indian court on charges of terrorism and sedition. His arrest trigger...

Suburban middle school employee accused of distributing child pornography

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:39 GMT

CARY, Ill. — A man who worked in the attendance office of a suburban middle school is facing multiple charges relating to a child pornography investigation.According to Algonquin police, Donald Peters was arrested on Tuesday after executing a search warrant was executed at his residence in Cary. Peters is a longtime employee of the CommunityUnit School District 300 and may have solicited students for their social media accounts, police said. Antioch police execute search warrant in criminal investigation after boy thrown from carnival ride "District 300 can confirm Donald Peters' employment at Westfield Community School," a spokesperson said to WGN News. "Mr. Peters has been placed on administrative leave. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the district cannot provide further comment at this time."Peters was charged with 10 offenses, including: Child pornography – reproduce or distribute videoChild pornography – solicits another to provideIntimidation – physical harm...

911 hold times: Staffing shortages cause callers to wait up to 20 min

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:39 GMT

(NewsNation) — In an emergency situation, a few seconds can be the difference between life and death but Americans around the nation say they're having to wait longer to get through to 911. NewsNation affiliates throughout the country have documented the ongoing problem of 911 callers being left on hold. From Little Rock to Las Vegas, residents are reporting delays — in some cases waiting 20 minutes to connect with an emergency operator. At the end of June, the average 911 hold time in Austin was roughly three minutes. Meanwhile, the mayor of Kansas City said his sister recently waited five minutes on the line while his mother was incapacitated.Nearly every city with delays reports the same problem: a shortage of workers at 911 centers. It's an issue industry experts say has grown worse since the pandemic. "What we're seeing, on average, is somewhere around a 30% staffing shortage for the 911 profession," said April Heinze, the 911 & PSAP Operations Director for the Nationa...

Nick Benedict, ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘All My Children’ actor, dies at 77

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:39 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Nick Benedict, an actor who appeared on “Days of Our Lives” and also played one of Erica Kane’s many husbands on “All My Children,” died Friday on his 77th birthday, an online obituary confirmed.Benedict’s cause of death was reported as complications from spinal surgery, according to the obituary.Benedict, seen here in 1976, appeared on numerous daytime soap operas. (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)Benedict, a veteran of daytime soaps, played Curtis Reed on “Days of Our Lives” between 1993 and 2001. But he might be best remembered for portraying Phil Brent, an ex-husband of Susan Lucci’s Erica Kane character, between 1973 and 1978, Soap Opera Digest reported.For his work, Benedict was nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series at the 1979 Daytime Emmy Awards.Benedict (second from right) appears in an episode of "All My Children" during a dream sequence featuring Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) and the men from her previous...

Things to do in the Capital Region this weekend: July 21-23

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:39 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The weekend is almost here! From the Saratoga County Fair to GEMFest in Glens Falls, to the New York City Ballet at SPAC, there are quite a few things happening on July 21, July 22, and July 23. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Here are some of the events going on around the Capital Region this weekend.Friday, July 21Saratoga County Fair, 162 Prospect Street in Ballston SpaBlueberry Festival, Warrensburg Riverfront Farmers' Market on River Street, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.Swan Lake, Fancy Free & Firebird: New York City Ballet, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. You can buy tickets on the SPAC website.Tri-City ValleyCats vs. New York Boulders, Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy, 6:30 p.m. You can buy tickets on the Tri-City ValleyCats website.Honky Tonk Angels, Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, 8 p.m. You can buy tickets on theREP website.GEMFest, The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, 7 p.m. You can ge...

Essity to close manufacturing sites in the Capital Region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:39 GMT

SOUTH GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Essity, a Tork professional hygiene brand, is closing its tissue manufacturing sites in New York State to consolidate production in other states. The New York sites include the South Glens Falls paper mill, Greenwich converting facility and Saratoga Springs warehouse/distribution center. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “It is never easy to decide to close a manufacturing operation,” said Michael Olive, plant director for Essity’s sites in New York. “Our operations in upstate New York have had a long, productive history and have always benefited from the extraordinary commitment of our employees. This decision is in no way a reflection on the skills, capabilities or dedication of our employees here. We are grateful for their decades of service and the support we have always received from the surrounding community.”The South Glens Falls paper mill has already stopped papermaking operations,...

Crews fight fire on Stow Avenue in Troy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:39 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Crews are battled a fire on Stow Avenue in Troy. The fire started at 18 Stowe Avenue and spread to the neighboring two building. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! No deaths of injuries were reported. Eight people are affected by the damage. According to the fire chief, the third floor of two of the buildings collapsed onto the second floor.According to Troy police, Stow Avenue is closed in both directions. Morrison Avenue was closed in both directions. The fire is still under investigation and crews are still on scene.

Board of Aldermen pass bill that would ban openly carrying guns without a permit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:39 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Board of Aldermen pass two bills that address significant issues in the city in the Board’s last meeting before the summer break. The Board passed Board Bills 29 and 82 by wide margins Thursday morning.Board Bill 29 passed unanimously 14-0 while Board Bill 82 passed 11-2. Alderwoman Cara Spencer sponsored Board Bill 29. It bans people from openly carrying or displaying guns in the city without having a concealed-carry permit. Thieves target car washes, business owners band together to fight back The legislation came after multiple recent situations where young people were captured on video openly carrying firearms downtown during events like parties. Supporters say the bill will help get guns off the streets and will also disarm minors because most people have to be 19 years old to get a concealed carry permit in Missouri.'Stop and frisk' concerns about Board Bill 29 were raised by some including Alderman Rasheen Aldridge. That led Aldridge to craft Board...