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Dean's Review: 'It's A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!'

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:37:58 GMT

CHICAGO — If you're looking for some great theater to take in during the holidays, WGN's Dean Richards recommends the American Blues Theater's 21st annual production of the holiday classic, "It's A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!" The show is a live interactive production that includes a Christmas sing-a-long and holiday music games. The audience even gets milk and cookies.The brand-new American Blues Theater is located at 5627 N. Lincoln Ave. "It's A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!" runs through Dec. 31. Related: Dean’s A-List Interviews: Jeffrey Wright and Sterling K. Brown talk new film ‘American Fiction’ 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!

APD officer indicted in connection with deadly south Austin shooting

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:37:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A grand jury has decided to indict an Austin police officer in connection with the deadly 2022 shooting of a 33-year-old in south Austin, multiple law enforcement sources told KXAN on Wednesday.That officer, identified as Daniel Sanchez, was placed on administrative leave after the shooting, according to police. Several sources confirmed the indictment with KXAN and say that Sanchez faces a charge of deadly conduct. The shooting happened in November 2022 in the 2200 block of South Third Street, APD said. APD releases videos from fatal south Austin police shooting Around 12:30 a.m., 911 received a call about a man with a gun. The caller said the man seemed to be scared of something inside his own home before pointing his rifle inside and firing.Austin Police released a Ring camera video that shows the man, identified as Rajan David Moonesinghe, outside his home with his rifle, pointing it at something off-camera and saying, “Are you sure you want this?” before firin...

Signing day tracker: Star prospect Koi Perich, 18 more join Gophers football for 2024

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:37:58 GMT

Eighteen of the 19 total high school commitments in the Gophers football program’s 2024 recruiting class had signed their national letters of intent by 8 a.m. Wednesday.The U’s top-ranked player, Esko, Minn., safety Koi Perich, was conspicuously absent.But at 8:03, the Gophers made it official: The four-star prospect had signed with Minnesota over Ohio State. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day had traveled to northern Minnesota to see Perich last week.RELATED: Breakdown of Gophers recruiting class: strength, weakness, sleeper and moreThe Gophers had six commitments via the NCAA transfer portal going into Wednesday. Five signed with Navarro Junior College defensive lineman Eddy Toussom going to Alabama-Birmingham instead.Here’s who signed with Minnesota and a snippet about each newcomer:6:05 a.m.: SAF — Zahir Rainer, Richmond, Va., 5-foot-10, 185 poundsThe son of former NFL linebacker Wali Rainer had more than 30 scholarship offers, but picked the U over his father’s alma mater (Vir...

DJ Pauly D coming to Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:37:58 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- DJ Pauly D will be performing at the Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady Event Center on Friday, March 1, 2024. Tickets to see the former "Jersey Shore" star go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. online. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! DJ Pauly D will be joined by local DJs DJ Tomb and DJ Ketchup with the night kicking off at 8 p.m. He has over 18 million followers across all social media platforms and has appeared in advertisements for Burger King, Pepsi, and 7-Eleven. The Providence, Rhode Island native was cast by "Jersey Shore" in 2009 until the show ended in 2012. In 2011, he signed a three-album deal with 50 Cent's G-Unit Records and G-Note Records.

Capital Region restaurants that opened, closed in 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:37:58 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The restaurant industry is ever-changing. In the Capital Region, 2023 marked the end of some restaurants after decades in business. For others, their time open was short-lived, as they opened and closed in the same year. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! More eateries opened in 2023 than closed their doors. These are the restaurants that opened and the restaurants that closed this year in the Capital Region.ClosedJanuaryBirch Bark Eatery, 21 Ridge Street in Glens Falls.Owner Tania Sharlow closed Birch Bark due to rising costs, and staffing and product shortages. But fear not, Sharlow reopened as Bitchin’ Donuts in Albany in March.The Daisy, 6 Franklin Street in TroyOwners Kelly and Joe Proctor closed The Daisy to reopen in the space as a new restaurant. Frankie Bird opened shortly after.Riccitello’s, 1687 Foster Avenue in SchenectadyOwners Lewis and Donna Riccitello decided to retire and close the restau...

Seven fishes (not seven dishes) for Christmas Eve

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:37:58 GMT

By Dan Pelosi, The New York TimesA marinara-stained kitchen timer ticks as Donna Berzatto choreographs a complex dance of dishes around limited oven space. “I need you to remember to put the Rockefellers in, and take out the artichokes, which leaves an open oven,” she commands her son Carmy. “I need you to put the branzino on the top and let it broil and get that nice little crispy bit.”The alarm buzzes again and again and again, a metaphor for the ticking time bomb of family drama brewing during preparations for the Christmas Eve tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes. The scenes of the high-intensity cooking feat, from the latest season of the popular FX television series “The Bear,” delivered an emotionally heightened portrayal of a tradition dear to many Italian American families. The 67 anxiety-inducing minutes probably didn’t inspire anyone to tackle the celebratory meal.This is unfortunate because the food is amazing, and the kitchen drama is part of what makes it all wor...

Over 600,000 passengers expected to go through DIA around Christmas

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:37:58 GMT

Denver International Airport officials are preparing for an expected over 600,000 passengers going through airport checkpoints this Christmas week.Between Monday, Dec. 18, and the day after Christmas, the airport expects 608,000 passengers to travel through TSA checkpoints at DIA, according to a Monday news release, an 8% increase over last year. The busiest days will be Friday and next Tuesday.Travelers will be greeted by carolers and piano performances in the Great Hall of Jeppesen Terminal through Saturday, and the airport offers several tips for passengers to make their trips better for the holidays.For standard security travelers, the South Security Checkpoint is open 24/7, and the A-Bridge Security Checkpoint is open from 4:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.The bridge checkpoint is also where passengers can reserve a security time slot with DEN Reserve.TSA PreCheck passengers can use one of four PreCheck lanes at the South Security Checkpoint open from 4 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. or the North Secur...

Gas prices dip in time for holiday travel rush

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:37:58 GMT

Gas prices in Southern California are dropping just in time for this year's holiday travel rush.The price dropped a penny overnight to $4.70 for a gallon of regular gas in the Los Angeles/Long Beach area Wednesday morning, according to the AAA website.The motor club says the price is the lowest since mid-February and nearly $1.80 lower than the region's all-time high of $6.49 on Oct. 5, 2022.The current price also represents a nearly $0.40 drop from just a month ago. Home sales in California drop to lowest level in 16 years, report says The average price of a gallon of regular gas stands at $4.48 in San Bernardino County, $4.54 in Riverside County, $4.55 in Orange County and $4.76 in Ventura County.Some of the busiest travel days of the year are historically between Dec. 15 and Jan. 2.

Home sales in California drop to lowest level in 16 years

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:37:58 GMT

Home sales in California have reached its lowest level in 16 years, according to the latest report from the California Association of Realtors.  The news comes a month after another CAR report showed that only 15% of Californians could afford a home.The latest figures show that home sales during November were down 7.4% compared to October and down by 5.8% compared to November 2022. The decline is the 29th straight drop in home sales statewide but the smallest decrease in over a year, the report said. California to spend $300 million to clear homeless encampments near highways California's November 2023 Sale and Price Report. (California Association of Realtors) “Elevated mortgage interest rates and a persistent shortage of homes for sale hindered home sales in November,” CAR President Melanie Barker said in a statement. “With mortgage rates dropping to the lowest level in four months in recent weeks and the Federal Reserve indicating it plans to cut rates more than previ...

As seen on TV: LA’s iconic ‘General Hospital’ to become hotel, housing

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:37:58 GMT

The vision of transforming the vacant yet iconic L.A. County General Hospital building in Boyle Heights into housing and healthcare facilities for working-class and homeless residents took a giant step toward reality Tuesday, with the county’s selection of a developer.Centennial Partners, consisting of Primestor and Bayspring Development, was chosen by the Board of Supervisors to build between 800 and 1,000 housing units, new retail space, a hotel, medical offices and laboratories in the architecturally significant building — and on its surrounding 25 acres.“This is a historic moment for our community,” said First District L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who has worked on the project since 2017. “The need for affordable housing in Los Angeles County, especially the Eastside, is greater than ever. I am proud to take this next step to repurpose a historic county landmark to meet our greatest need.”A year ago, the county hosted 55 developers at the site in hopes of attracting a pri...