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Cord Jefferson’s insightful satire of race and media, ‘American Fiction,’ lights up TIFF

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:56 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Fifty pages into Percival Everett’s “Erasure” Cord Jefferson knew he wanted to adapt it into a movie script. Halfway through, he began to see Jeffrey Wright playing the book’s academic protagonist, Thelonious “Monk” Ellison. By the time he was finished, he knew he wanted to direct it, too.As quick as that, Cord Jefferson — the 41-year-old TV writer of “Succession,” “Master of None” and “Watchmen” — began working toward his directing debut, “American Fiction.” And just as speedily, following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, “American Fiction” became a breakout hit of the festival, launching Jefferson as a major new voice in movies.In the film, Monk (Wright), is a frustrated author who’s agent (John Ortiz) tells him his books — the latest of which is a reworking of Aeschylus’ “The Persians” — aren’t “Black enough.” “I’m Black,” he responds, “and this is my book.”Monk, played with acerbic perfection and de...

Virginia governor pardons man whose arrest at a school board meeting galvanized conservatives

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:56 GMT

The father of a Virginia student sexually assaulted in her high school bathroom has been pardoned after his arrest two years ago protesting a school board meeting became a flashpoint in the conservative push to increase parental involvement in public education.Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced on Fox News Sunday that he had pardoned Scott Smith of his disorderly conduct conviction stemming from the June 2021 incident. The episode featured prominently throughout the gubernatorial campaign that year for Youngkin, who has made support for the so-called “parents’ rights” movement a cornerstone of his political brand.“Scott Smith is a dedicated parent who’s faced unwarranted charges in his pursuit to protect his daughter,” Youngkin said Sunday in a press release. “Scott’s commitment to his child despite the immense obstacles is emblematic of the parental empowerment movement that started in Virginia.”According to Loudoun Now, Smith threatened to kick out the t...

Health Canada recalls Paqui spicy chip brand after U.S. teen’s death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:56 GMT

Health Canada has recalled a popular spicy chip brand after a 14-year-old died in the U.S. due to medical complications believed to be from the “2023 one chip challenge.”Health Canada announced the recall stemmed from “reported adverse reactions” from the Paqui “2023 one chip challenge” brand.On September 1, Harris Wolobah, a 14-year-old at Doherty Memorial High School in Massachusetts sophomore, died unexpectedly. A GoFundMe page for the teen mentions they died after consuming one of the spicy chips.Paqui chips contain seasoning of two of the hottest peppers currently available — Carolina Reaper Peppers, which are around 1.7 million Scoville Units and Naga Viper Pepper, which is about 1.4 million Scoville Units.On September 1, Harris Wolobah, a 14-year-old at Doherty Memorial High School in Massachusetts, died after partaking in the Paqui one-chip challenge. Photo: GoFundMe.Paqui’s website states that the one-chip challenge is intende...

Foreign student arrested in Norway on suspicion of espionage including electronic eavesdropping

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:56 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — A 25-year-old foreign student has been arrested in Norway on suspicion of espionage, including illegal eavesdropping through various technical devices.Norway’s domestic security agency, known by its acronym PST, told Norwegian media that the man, who was arrested on Friday, was charged in court on Sunday with espionage and intelligence operations against the Nordic country.The man, whose identity and nationality haven’t been disclosed, has pleaded not guilty in initial police questioning. Norwegian authorities haven’t said which country the man was allegedly spying for.“We don’t quite know what we’re facing. We are in a critical, initial and vulnerable phase of the investigation,” PST lawyer Thomas Blom was quoted as saying by Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. “He (the suspect) is charged with using technical installations for illegal signal intelligence.”Police have seized from the man a number of data-carrying electronic devices, which the PST is now in...

2 Uptown businesses vandalized, spray-painted by at least 10 people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:56 GMT

CHICAGO — Two Uptown businesses were vandalized and spray-painted Saturday night in Uptown, according to the Chicago Police Department.The first business was targeted around 10 p.m. in the 1500 block of West Carmen Avenue and the second was targeted about 40 minutes later in the 5100 block of North Clark Street. Man’s body found near Promontory Point According to information from Chicago police, about 10-15 people broke the windows of the businesses, went inside, spray-painted the doors and walls and set off a smoke grenade inside one of the businesses.The group consisted of 10-15 men and women who are between 18 and 25 years old, according to CPD.Anyone with information is asked to call Area 3 detectives at 3121-744-8263.

Murder, kidnapping suspect dead after hostage situation in West Virginia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:56 GMT

CEREDO, WV (WOWK) - A man wanted for murder and several alleged kidnappings is dead, and the three hostages he took at a West Virginia gas station early Sunday morning are all safe, according to Kenova Police Chief Bob Sullivan. Chief Sullivan said David Maynard took the hostages at a gas station in Ceredo around 12:15 a.m. The West Virginia State Police said a state trooper went to the gas station and saw Maynard behind the counter. Maynard then allegedly pointed a pistol at the trooper, which started the hostage situation.Chief Sullivan told Nexstar's WOWK that a hostage negotiator with the West Virginia State Police Special Response Team talked with Maynard for an hour and a half. At one point it was believed one of the hostage victims had been shot, however, that was not the case. The situation ended when Maynard came to the door of the gas station with only one hostage still inside. Maynard was shot by police and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police were ...

Is pumpkin spice an addiction? Maybe not, but it's not the opposite either

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:56 GMT

(WHTM) — Americans are drinking and eating a lot of pumpkin-spice everything this time of year, so could it actually be an addiction?Not exactly, according to one WellSpan Psychiatrist. But, he says, marketers are taking advantage of a strong link we develop in our brains between our senses, like taste, and the experiences we have at the same time."It is how our minds work," Dr. J.P. Shand, a psychiatrist at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, said. "This is the way that we associate our environment to our memories. And when we have the opportunity to have a really potent flavor scent introduced to us, we can exhibit all of these memories and feelings associated with that. And people love fall." Starbucks has BOGO Pumpkin Spice Lattes all September Pumpkin spice is also sold only for a "limited time only" and scarcity does increase value. "And when you have a time-limited, let's say, a piece in time, you relate this flavor to, you start making these assoc...

Semiconductor manufacturer discusses plans to expand Austin operations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin Economic Development Department said it was discussing plans with a Netherlands semiconductor manufacturer to improve and expand its semiconductor chip manufacturing operations in Austin.The manufacturer is NXP Semiconductors N.V., and it currently has two Austin-based chip manufacturing facilities.“NXP's investment has the potential to generate an estimated annual economic impact of $560 million,” the city said in a statement.The city said it valued the insights and perspectives of the community and encouraged Austinites to provide feedback, ideas, and concerns regarding the local expansion package. The final day to contribute is Sept. 15 at 5 p.m.

Gophers have two big offensive concerns going into road test at North Carolina

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:56 GMT

The Gophers football team has two primary offensive concerns going into Saturday’s road test at No. 17 North Carolina.Minnesota has struggled to score touchdowns in the red zone through its first two games and now one of its most-important players in that area is injured going into the Tar Heels game.In wins over Nebraska and Eastern Michigan, the U has scored touchdowns on only three of their eight series into the red zone. The Gophers kicked field goals on four drives and turned the ball over on downs on one series.The Gophers’ TD rate (37.5 percent) in the red zone is ranked 119th in the country after two weeks.“We get down inside the 5 (-yard line) and that is not our style of football coming away with three points, three points and zero,” head coach P.J. Fleck said Saturday. “That’s not what I want. That’s not how I’m built. That’s not what I’m used to.”And in Saturday’s fourth quarter, key tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford had an undisclosed injured. He jogged off the field after a ...

DOC orders testing of water at Stillwater prison after complaints of brown water

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:56 GMT

After complaints from inmates that water in the Stillwater prison was dirty, the Department of Corrections brought in 51,000 bottles of water to the correctional facility on Saturday, according to a news release by the DOC.The delivery, which authorities say cost $5,800, will give each inmate seven bottles of water a day during more “comprehensive testing” on the prison’s water source by a third-party last to make sure the well water coming in through the prison pipes is safe to drink, the release said.The 51,000 bottles are anticipated to last five days during testing. More bottled water will be purchased “as needed,” said Andy Skoogman, a spokesman for the DOC, in the statement.Communities United Against Police Brutality reacted to this development on Sunday morning.“This is an admission that there are issues with the water in Stillwater Prison, that the water is brown as the inmates have stated and that the MN DOC should have taken action soone...