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Movie review: Joaquin Phoenix meets his Waterloo in ‘Napoleon’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:46 GMT

Michael Phillips | Chicago TribuneThe literal French definition of “tour de force,” an admiring noun that gets thrown around a lot in English, translates as “feat of strength.”Therefore I don’t get it. I don’t get why Joaquin Phoenix’s take on Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France and frequent film subject, might inspire anyone to characterize the results as a tour de anything, except a feat of sustained, occasionally droll indecision.The same goes for director Ridley Scott’s middling epic “Napoleon.” “Middling” and “epic” are not words you want to see together, but there you are. Napoleon was many things, and with this dutiful career highlights reel, Phoenix and his director deliver glancing blows to as many aspects of the warrior-tyrant-genius-fool-lonely heart as cinematically possible in two and a half hours.Scott’s plan for the eventual Apple TV+ airing of “Napoleon” will restore 90 minutes and likely a battle or three. Will it make for a better experience? Probably. Scott has ...

Minnesota Wild seek state support for improvements to the Xcel Energy Center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:46 GMT

In downtown St. Paul, the Minnesota Wild are scouting out prospects for major improvements to the Xcel Energy Center.St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter joined Wild owner Craig Leipold in a sit-down meeting with Gov. Tim Walz in late October to broach the subject, as first reported by MinnPost, though it’s unclear if the trio discussed the possibility of city or state funding or if any specific dollar amounts were floated.Around the same time, Jim Schowalter, the recent former manager of the state’s Management and Budget agency, registered as a state lobbyist on behalf of the Minnesota Hockey Ventures Group, listing the subject areas of “capital bonding” and “sports facilities.”Also listed in the group is the Wild’s chief financial officer Jeff Pellegrom and William Huepenbecker, director of planning and public affairs for the St. Paul RiverCentre. Former state Sen. Roger Moe and public affairs consultant Maureen Shaver have been registered with th...

Sources: Vehicle explosion at Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls not act of terrorism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:46 GMT

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) – All four international border crossings between the United States and Canada in Western New York were closed for approximately five hours Wednesday due to a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge that killed two passengers.Sources told News 4 and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul later confirmed that the incident is not believed to be an act of terrorism, countering what some national outlets reported earlier Wednesday. Several area locations closing following explosion at Rainbow Bridge Thick smoke could be seen in a viewer video from the scene following the explosion. CBS News reported a car traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into a pylon at the bridge crossing, which was followed by the explosion. "At this time, there is no indication of a terrorist-involved attack," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a press conference Wednesday evening.Hochul said officials have determined those killed in the incident were local to Western New York. A border patr...

Women's Health Wednesday: Prematurity Awareness Month

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:46 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10.COM) - In the United States, one in ten babies is born too soon, putting them at serious risk for major health problems. November is Prematurity Awareness Month. It's puts a global spotlight on the current state of maternal and infant health in the U.S. and around the world.In this week's Women's Health Wednesday, Dr. Eric Horowitz, MD, medical director at St. Peter's Hospital, discusses how awareness can help.

Equinox returns to in-person Thanksgiving dinner

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:46 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y (NEWS10) – Equinox has returned to its in-person Thanksgiving dinner celebration at First Presbyterian Church but this year it was celebrated the day before Thanksgiving. Organizers said it’s important to return to the in-person gathering to reestablish connections within the community. Staff from Equinox and Whitney Young Health Partners worked with volunteers on Wednesday to serve 1,000 meals. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “It’s not just about the food, again, it’s about the warmth of being around with other people, enjoying other people's company, and that is so important to our mental health,” said Christine Rajotte, the chief development officer at Equinox. “The food is great for our physical health but the camaraderie, that fellowship with other people, is so important for mental health as well.”She said people wanted the in-person church dinner back. “They really missed [it], especially a lot of our seniors...

Florissant mother killed in suspected DWI crash Wednesday morning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:46 GMT

FERGUSON, Mo. – A suspected drunk driver struck and killed a Florissant mother as she was making her way to work on Wednesday morning.The crash happened just after 4:20 a.m. near the intersection of West Florissant Avenue and Hudson Road, along the border of Ferguson and Dellwood.The Missouri State Highway Patrol, which is investigating the crash, claimed that Ferguson police were chasing the suspect’s vehicle prior to the wreck.Late Wednesday afternoon, the highway patrol identified the innocent driver who died as Alisa Ruffin. She was 56.“Anytime that someone loses their life on the highways, it’s a tragedy, especially around the holidays,” Corporal Dallas Thompson, Missouri State Highway Patrol, said. “It's the holidays, and we are supposed to be with family and loved ones, and now somebody has been taken from us.” Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News ...

Belleville man charged with involuntary sexual servitude of minor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:46 GMT

BELLEVILLE, Ill. - A Belleville man is behind bars on felony charges in a child sex crimes case. Prosecutors have charged Thomas Conner III, 38, with two counts of involuntary servitude of a minor, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and solicitation of a sex act. St. Louis pot tax money goes up in smoke thanks to city hall blunder Charges stem from a July 2022 tip alleging that Conner had sexually assaulted a minor. Illinois State Police and the FBI are investigating the allegation. U.S. Marshals arrested Conner at his home on Tuesday. Conner is now jailed in St. Clair County, Illinois.

Three winners share $50,000 scratch-off lottery prize

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Three lucky players recently claimed a $50,000 prize from the "500X" scratchers game and split the winnings. On November 13, they turned in their winning ticket at the Missouri Lottery regional office in St. Louis.The winning ticket was purchased at the 7-Eleven in the 5600 block of Gravois Avenue in St. Louis. The scratcher's ticket, named "500X," offers players the chance to match any of the numbers selected for them to the winning numbers and claim the prize. Moreover, if a player uncovers a '5X,' '10X,' '20X,' '50X,' '100X,' '250X,' or '500X' symbol, the prize is then multiplied by that amount.There are still 13 more $50,000 prizes left in this game and two more chances to win the grand prize of $5 million. The odds of winning on a scratch-off lottery ticket can vary widely, contingent on the specific game and its design. Each scratch-off game comes with its own unique set of rules, odds, and prize structures. Generally, the odds of winning a prize, even a modest one...

Yosemite's Tioga Pass is closed for winter, NPS says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:46 GMT

A major route through Yosemite National Park is now closed for the season.According to Caltrans, Tioga Pass, which is also known as Highway 120, will likely remain closed until late May or early June. 10 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles now open Caltrans says they received notice from the National Park Service of the seasonal winter closure of eastbound Highway 120 to traffic just east of Crane Flat Road inside Yosemite National Park due to snow conditions as of Tuesday afternoon.Caltrans says entrances including those along Highway 120 from the west, Hetch Hetchy, Highway 140, and Highway 41 will remain open all year.The latest road conditions inside Yosemite National Park can be found by clicking here.

Inmate killed by 2 other inmates at Kern County prison: CDCR

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:46 GMT

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation say two inmates killed another inmate at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi Wednesday morning.Just before 9 a.m., 38-year-old David Moreno was attacked by two other inmates, identified as Armando Taylor, 41, and Carlos Cervantes, 39.The altercation at the maximum-security facility required "chemical agents" to separate the inmates, CDCR officials said.38-year-old David Moreno was serving a life sentence for attempted first-degree murder in Los Angeles County. (CDCR)Moreno was stabbed multiple times and received immediate treatment from staff at the prison. He was then transported to an outside medical facility, but died during the ride around 9:40 a.m.Back at the prison, guards recovered three "inmate-manufactured weapons," and Cervantes and Taylor were moved into restricted housing. Movement at the prison has been limited, CDCR officials said.Moreno had been imprisoned for nearly 20 years, arriving from L...