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Movie review: ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ an overstuffed prequel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

It’s been eight years since the release of the last “Hunger Games” film, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2,” which means enough time has passed that it feels appropriate to return to the well that produced big box-office dollars for Lionsgate, and made star Jennifer Lawrence a household name. It also helps that author Suzanne Collins released a prequel novel in 2020, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” which explores the young adult life of Coriolanus Snow, the tyrannical president of Panem played by Donald Sutherland in the prior (though chronologically later) films.There is something comforting about slipping back into the world of Panem, dystopian and brutal as it is, especially in the capable hands of director Francis Lawrence, who helmed three out of four “Hunger Games” films: “Catching Fire” and both “Mockingjay” installments. He is a true craftsman and audacious visual stylist, bringing a Cold War Soviet flair to th...

Police search for missing woman in Lenox

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

LENOX, Mass. (WWLP) - Police are asking for the public's help with locating a missing woman from Lenox. According to NamUs, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, 66-year-old Susan Daniels Lockwood was last seen on Monday, October 30th. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Her car was found on Reservoir Road in Lenox. A distinct winter hat that belonged to Lockwood was found on the "Broken Thumb" trail of the Kennedy Park trail system. Susan has a history of suicide and depression and was scheduled to meet with her psychologist the day she disappeared. Police say they found her phone was left at home and it had recent searches about suicidal ideations and fatal overdoses.She is described as 5'7" tall, approximately 110 to 120 pounds, with gray or partially gray hair. She may have been last wearing blue flannel pajama pants with snowflakes, a gray sweatshirt that said "Airforce," and brown Morrell hiking boots. Pitts...

The Horses Lounge in Schenectady reopening under new ownership

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Horses Lounge, a staple in Schenectady for almost 50 years, closed its doors at the end of June. Now, the restaurant is reopening under new ownership. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On November 9, previous owner Christian Fritzen announced that The Horses Lounge had been sold and the new owner was keeping the name. The new owner is Tommy Nicchi, who also owns The Comedy Works in Saratoga Springs and The Broken Inn in Niskayuna.According to a post by Nicchi on November 14, he plans to keep most things about The Horses Lounge the same, including the décor, craft beers and the Fritzen recipes for blue cheese, corned beef and chicken wings. The Eleven opens downstairs in Albany’s Lark Hall "The Horses is loved by so many, myself included, and that’s a direct reflection of the time, effort and love that the Fritzen family and all of their employees put in," said Nicchi. "They did it right. No one...

CDV of 1871 Troy Haymakers up for bid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- As part of Lelands' 2023 Fall Classic Auction, an original carte de visite (CDV) of the 1871 Troy Haymakers is up for bid. The Troy Haymakers were part of The National Association, baseball's first professional league. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The team, founded in 1860, played first in the National Amateur Association, first going by the Unions of Lansingburg until 1871 when they became a Major League Affiliate of the National Association. According to Lelands, the Haymakers were managed by Lipman Pike, who also happened to be one of the team's best players and a great power hitter of that era.Once the Haymakers disbanded, Pike went on to play for the Philadelphia Athletics, where he and two other players became some of the first players to be compensated for playing the game. He and the two others received a weekly salary of $20, per Leland. 5 things to know this Thursday, November 16 Those in...

Arrest made in death of Jewish protester in Thousand Oaks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office has made an arrest in the death of a Jewish protester in Thousand Oaks.Loay Abdelfattah Alnaji, 50, of Moorpark, was arrested Thursday morning on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, the VCSO said in a news release. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.Kessler, 69, died earlier this month after an alleged altercation with pro-Palestinian protesters.The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles said Kessler was “struck in the head by a megaphone wielded by a pro-Palestinian protestor." California authorities seek video, urge patience in investigation into death of Jewish demonstrator Video showed him lying on the ground suffering from a head wound at the intersection of Westlake and Thousand Oaks boulevards, where he had been protesting related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.A few days after the incident, Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said investigators had “not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime,” but they lacked enough evidence to ...

Wet weekend ahead for Southern California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

Thursday maybe a relatively dry day after a wet Wednesday, but don't get used to it, Los Angeles. More rain is coming Friday and could stick around until Sunday.After Wednesday, which brought about 0.4 inches of rain as recorded at the USC Campus in Los Angeles, the next best chance for "significant rainfall" is Friday and early Saturday, "with rain possibly lingering into Sunday," according to the National Weather Service."Currently, our best estimates are for a widespread 1 to 3 inch rain event for the area, depending on location," the NWS said.KTLA's Henry DiCarlo said that Saturday will see scattered showers, and while Sunday will "for the most part be a drying-out day," there will be "another little wave [of precipitation] that comes in Sunday evening." Snow is expected to remain at high elevations, likely 7,500 to 9,000 feet, but "as the rain continues through the week, cannot rule out some minor flooding issues," NWS officials added. Southern California weather forecast Tha...

MLB owners clear path for A's to leave Oakland for Vegas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

Las Vegas is about to get its second sports team from Oakland.On Thursday, ESPN reported that Major League Baseball owners approved a plan to move the Oakland Athletics to Vegas, following in the footsteps of the now-Las Vegas Raiders.The relocation "comes after more than two decades of failed efforts to secure a new stadium in the city to replace the aging Oakland Coliseum," ESPN's Jeff Passan reports.Passan noted that the move isn't finalized, as the state's promise to provide $380 million for the construction of a new $1.5 billion stadium on the Strip faces legal challenges from a teachers union.The stadium itself is also an issue, as current plans don't include a dome or retractable roof to keep out the summer heat.Further complicating matters, that stadium isn't expected to open until 2028, The Athletic reports."Where the A’s will play for the 2025-27 seasons is not yet clear," the outlet added.Despite these concerns, MLB owners gave the move unanimous support.

Another 'Frozen' film possibly in the works

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

Disney isn't ready to let the "Frozen" franchise go. While the company is working on the third installment of the franchise, it may be eyeing a fourth film. On Thursday morning, CEO Bob Iger made the announcement while talking with "Good Morning America" host Michael Strahan. “‘Frozen 3’ is in the works, and there might be a ‘Frozen 4’ in the works too,” Iger said. “But I don’t have much to say about those films right now. Jenn Lee, who created the original ‘Frozen’ and ‘Frozen 2,’ is hard at work with her team at Disney animation on not one but actually two stories.”Iger appeared on the show to announce the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland's "World of Frozen."The fictional land of Arendelle will come to life on Nov. 20 and will feature new rides and immersive experiences. “For years at our Disney Parks, we’ve been creating these large immersive worlds. Essentially, they are the physical embodiment of some of the greatest stories that we’ve told," Iger explained. "And of course, ‘Fro...

Kevin Hart will receive the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for lifetime achievement in comedy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

Comedian Kevin Hart has been chosen to receive the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for lifetime achievement in American humor, capping a three-decade career that has seen him rise from the open mics of Philadelphia to become one of his generation's most successful performers.Hart, 44, launched his career as a teenager performing at venues such as The Laff House in his native Philadelphia under the name of Lil Kev. He recalled his early stand-up performances as a string of brutal failures that included being booed off the stage multiple times and at one point, he claimed, having a piece of chicken thrown at him on stage. Gradually, Hart honed a signature style that combined his diminutive stature, expressive face and motormouth delivery and made him a wildly successful touring act. He made his movie debut in the 2002 film “Paper Soldiers” and came to mainstream fame through a string of scene-stealing cameos in mega-hits such as 2005's “The 40-Year-Old-Virgin.”Hart has gone on to be...

Larry Magid: Survey sheds light on parent, teen feelings about Generative AI

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:52 GMT

We hear a lot about Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI), including gloom and doom scenarios about its potential dangers. As an internet safety advocate, I worry about all technologies’ impact on well-being and personal safety along with potential social, political and economic impact, and GAI is no exception. So, it’s no surprise that others do as well, including, of course, parents and teens who might worry about its impact on their families.Related ArticlesBusiness | Magid: White House order provides guidance on AI safety Business | Magid: Beware of ‘smishing’ scams Business | Magid: Smartphone essentials for traveling abroad Business | Magid: UN Internet Governance Forum focuses on AI But a recent study conducted by Kantar on behalf of the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) found that both parents and teens are not only aware of GAI but also mostly optimistic about its impact. The study included t...