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Judy Blume, on top of the world (and her Key West bookstore)

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — At Books & Books, the nonprofit store Judy Blume and her husband have run for the past seven years, you will find her own work in various sections: from general fiction, among the other “B”-named authors, to a shelf dedicated to her — a name unto herself.For more than 50 years, Blume has been a proud member of the literary community. She is also a literary celebrity of the rarest kind, who has not only sold millions of books, but also moved young readers so profoundly that, as adults, they approach her in tears and thank her.“I remind them of their childhood,” she likes to say.Now 85, Blume has never been forgotten, but is currently enjoying renewed interest. For the first time, one of her books has been adapted into a major Hollywood film: “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” is written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. Premiering next week, it stars Abby Ryder Fortson as the preteen from New Jersey with a lot of questions about religion, boys and her ...

Lisa LaFlamme to join CityNews for special coverage of the Coronation of King Charles III

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

Renowned Canadian journalist Lisa LaFlamme will be returning to CityNews as a special correspondent for the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla.LaFlamme will be in London, England leading the in-depth coverage alongside reporter Cynthia Mulligan. Starting on May 3, they’ll be reporting daily for CityNews, Breakfast Television, CityNews 680 and 98.1 CHFI. They will bring unique perspectives from Canadians in Britain, royal experts, and more.“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to bring this historic event to Citytv viewers across Canada,” shared LaFlamme. “Most – including myself – have never seen a coronation with traditions dating back a thousand years so this is a rare event.”LaFlamme first joined CityNews as a special correspondent for coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September. She interviewed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon, among others, on the impact of Qu...

Crowns, sceptres, rings, ampulla and more: The coronation regalia explained

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, will be crowned at Westminster Abbey in London, England, on May 6 – the first coronation to take place in the United Kingdom in nearly 70 years.Although the procession and solemn ceremony — conducted by Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury — are expected to be more low-key than Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in June of 1953, it will be steeped in ancient history and traditions that include royal regalia from the Crown Jewels. Most of the regalia dates back to the 17th century but at least one item is from the 12th century.“The Coronation Regalia are sacred and secular objects which symbolize the service and responsibilities of the monarch,” Buckingham Palace states on its website.A woman looks at the St. Edward’s Crown and Orb, part of an exhibition at the The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, in Westminster Abbey in London, England, on May 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)During the coronation ceremo...

Statistics Canada says retail sales down 0.2% in February

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 0.2 per cent to $66.3 billion in February as a drop in sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors and general merchandise stores led the way lower.The agency also says that its early estimate for March points to a decline of 1.4 per cent for that month, though it cautioned the figure would be revised.For February, retail sales were down in four of the nine subsectors as sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors fell 5.0 per cent for the month and general merchandise retailers lost 1.6 per cent.Meanwhile, sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers rose 0.9 per cent in February.Core retail sales — which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers — increased 0.1 per cent helped by a 4.4 per cent gain in sales at clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers.In volume terms, overall retail sales fell 0.7 per cent in February.This report by The Canadian Press was f...

Former Olympic skier known as 'The Icon' found dead in Utah correctional facility

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

CEDAR CITY, Utah (KTVX) – A former Olympic skier was found dead at a correctional facility in Utah on Wednesday morning.Officials discovered Jeremy Nobis, 52, alone and unresponsive at the Iron County Correctional Facility in Cedar City on April 19, according to the Iron/Garfield/Beaver/Kane Critical Incident Task Forces. Task Force officials say no foul play is suspected, and the incident remains under investigation. Mikaela Shiffrin breaks Alpine skiing record for World Cup victories Court documents show that Nobis was convicted of driving under the influence, a third-degree felony, on March 7. His sentencing hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, April 25. U.S. Ski & Snowboard (USSS) staff extend their condolences to Nobis' family and friends. Nobis made it onto the U.S. Alpine Ski Team in the late 1980s, according to USSS. He went on to claim two World Junior Championships in 1988 and 1989. Nobis finished ninth in the giant slalom at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games.Nobis report...

A few comedy shows highlight 'Dean's Weekender'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

CHICAGO — If you're a fan of comedy, then you have plenty of choices this weekend when it comes to seeing a show.A number of performers are taking the stage around the Chicago area to entertain audiences from the city to the suburbs. That includes Pat McGann, Marlon Wayans, Kelsey Cook, and others figure to get a laugh or two out of the crowds.Those shows are featured in this week's "Dean's Weekender" on Friday's WGN Morning News as Dean Richards previews some of the events going on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.Along with comedy, he takes a look at a few concerts, musicals, plays, and other things to keep you occupied the next few days.You can watch this edition of "Dean's Weekender" from April 21's WGN Morning News.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!

'She's doing amazing things': Girl born with fused legs takes first steps

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) — A 2-year-old Indianapolis girl is beating the odds after being born with a condition that strikes one in 100,000 children in this country.Harper Gray has sirenomelia, also known as mermaid syndrome. Her legs were fused when she was born.Her journey did not start with an immediate separation of her legs. That would come almost a year after she was born. The more pressing issues were the placement of an ostomy for waste and repairing damage to her esophagus when a tube had to be inserted while she was in the hospital. Americans bought almost 60 million guns during the pandemic She spent weeks in the NICU but made it home and has grown. Last year, Dr. Gregory Borschel, the chief of plastic surgery at Riley Children’s Hospital, determined the time had come to do the leg separation. “We had to make sure she had a blood supply to both her legs and then, if the legs were separated, would that blood supply be enough to keep those little legs alive,” said Dr...

Family recipe to phenomenon: The restaurant credited with creating taquitos

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) - Taquitos are something that everyone has had, whether from the frozen section of a grocery store or at a local restaurant.But did you know, taquitos were brought to the United States by a restaurant in San Diego called El Indio Mexican?Founder of El Indio Mexican, Ralph Pesqueira Sr., in this undated image. He is credited with creating the taquito. (Courtesy of Jennifer Pesqueira)El Indio was founded in 1940 on the corner of India and Grape Streets by a man named Ralph Pesqueira Sr. A worker at one of the local airplane factories at the time, he started El Indio as a tortilla factory alongside his parents."It was like a little tortilla factory where they were making tortillas by hand," his granddaughter and third-generation owner of El Indio, Jennifer Pesqueira, told Nexstar's KSWB. "He worked in the local factory making airplanes during the night and then worked in El Indio during the day with his parents." The sailing ships at the center of San Diego’s fi...

Person killed in crash on Highway 71 east of Austin

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A person was pronounced dead after an early-morning crash on Highway 71 east of Austin Friday. Austin-Travis County EMS responded to the crash around 6:30 a.m. It happened near Granny Drive on Hwy 71. Real time traffic map ATCEMS said a vehicle was pinned and a patient had potentially gone into cardiac arrest.Around 6:44 a.m., the person was taken out of the vehicle and medics performed CPR, according to ATCEMS. The person was pronounced dead on the scene around 7 a.m.ATCEMS said drivers should expect extended closures and avoid the area.

Austin Resource Recovery: How to celebrate Earth Day, reduce plastic waste

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Earth Day events are taking place all across Austin this weekend.With a wide variety of environmental protection efforts underway, the city has asked Austinites to drop off plastic bags and bottles at Public Library locations."Our goal is to get out in the community and encourage Austinites to bring us their single-use plastic bags and plastic bottles for use over Earth Day weekend,” Austin Resource Recovery spokesman Andrés Cantú said.Friday is the final drop-off day, and anyone is welcome to stop by the Austin Public Library North Village Branch location from 3-5 p.m.Austin Resource Recovery plans to repurpose the plastic into reusable materials at its Earth Day events this weekend:Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Earth Day Jubilee at International ShoresSunday, April 23, 2023, 12-4 p.m. | Green Fest at Waterloo GreenwayAnyone is welcome to stop by and use these materials to create crafts, such as plastic planters and piggy banks.Earth Day is widely recognized ...