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Playing live, ‘Nutcracker’ musicians bring unseen signature to holiday staple

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Musicians in a cramped space under a Phoenix stage send up the familiar tones of “The Nutcracker.” Overhead, satin-and-glue pointed toes pitter-patter across stage in a performance of the holiday favorite.For Ballet Arizona and many other productions around the world, a pit full of musicians is as much part of the tradition as the dancers above.Shows can turn to recordings as they weather costs and crises, and in recent years, productions across the country have been working to recover after the pandemic forced them to go silent during public health closures. But fans, musicians and union leaders say live music brings an unseen signature to each show — even if the path is sometimes fraught. In New York, a production some consider the quintessential American “Nutcracker” opened minutes after musicians agreed to a contract. In Los Angeles, a company gives audiences both options. And in the Phoenix show, the pit was put on hiatus during the Great Recession tied to the 20...

The color purple: It’s a new movie and an old hue that’s rich in meaning and history

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — “I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it,” Shug tells Celie in Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple.”In nature, among the priestly and royal, as a symbol of independence, pride and magic, purple is weighty in history and culture. Now, with the Christmas Day opening of the second film based on Walker’s 1982 book, purple takes a seat at the box office after the historic popularity of “Barbie” and all things pink.Consider it a many-layered cultural counterpart to its frothier cousin.Power, ambition, luxury. Purple reflects them all. It also expresses creativity, independence, pride, peace, mystery and magic. In contemporary history and fiction, it often represents something sought dearly. In the early 20th century, purple attire and signage signified loyalty and dignity among the suffragists. In Walker’s novel, Celie, the main character, wants a pair of purple shoes but can’t afford the...

1 dead, 4 rushed to hospital in Caledon crash involving SUV, school bus

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

One person is dead and four others have been rushed to hospital following a two-vehicle crash in Caledon on Tuesday morning.Emergency crews were called to Heart Lake and Mayfield roads around 7:50 a.m. Tuesday for reports of a collision involving a school bus and an SUV.Paramedics say one occupant of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. Four other people in the SUV were sent to hospital, including one with serious injuries.The school bus had an adult driver and one child on board at the time of the crash. Both received minor injuries.Heart Lake Road is closed from Mayfield to Old School roads for the investigation.

A man claiming to be a former Russian officer wants to give evidence to the ICC about Ukraine crimes

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Russian claiming to be a former officer with the Wagner Group has arrived in the Netherlands and says he wants to provide evidence to the International Criminal Court, which is investigating atrocities in the war in Ukraine.Dutch news program EenVandaag reported Monday that Igor Salikov had flown into the Netherlands. The news show spoke to him via a videolink. He is believed to have applied for asylum and could not be reached for comment Tuesday.Salikov said he was in eastern Ukraine in 2014 when conflict erupted there, and in 2022 when Russia invaded its neighbor.“I know where the orders came from,” he told EenVandaag. His claims could not be independently verified.The Wagner Group, a military contractor created by Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, deployed to eastern Ukraine when a Moscow-backed separatist rebellion erupted there in 2014. It also took part in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, spearheading the battle for the eastern city of Bakhmut...

Here’s a list of November inflation rates for selected Canadian cities

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s annual inflation rate was 3.1 per cent in November, Statistics Canada says. The agency also released rates for major cities, but cautioned that figures may have fluctuated widely because they are based on small statistical samples (previous month in brackets):— St. John’s, N.L.: 2.8 per cent (2.9)— Charlottetown-Summerside: 0.1 per cent (1.6)— Halifax: 3.1 per cent (3.5)— Saint John, N.B.: 1.9 per cent (2.7)— Quebec City: 3.8 per cent (4.3)— Montreal: 4.1 per cent (4.6)— Ottawa: 2.9 per cent (2.6)— Toronto: 3.8 per cent (4.0)— Thunder Bay, Ont.: 2.1 per cent (2.6)— Winnipeg: 2.0 per cent (2.2)— Regina: 2.9 per cent (2.3)— Saskatoon: 2.9 per cent (2.2)— Edmonton: 2.2 per cent (1.7)— Calgary: 2.9 per cent (2.8)— Vancouver: 3.5 per cent (3.4)— Victoria: 3.0 per cent (2.3)— Whitehorse: 3.0 per cent (2.8)— Yellowknife: 1.4 per cent (1.6)— Iqaluit: 1.8 per cent (1.5)This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2023.The Canadian Press

Here’s a list of November inflation rates for Canadian provinces

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s annual inflation rate was 3.1 per cent in November, Statistics Canada says. Here’s what happened in the provinces (previous month in brackets):— Newfoundland and Labrador: 2.1 per cent (2.4)— Prince Edward Island: 0.4 per cent (1.7)— Nova Scotia: 2.5 per cent (3.2)— New Brunswick: 1.7 per cent (2.8)— Quebec: 3.6 per cent (4.2)— Ontario: 3.3 per cent (3.3)— Manitoba: 1.8 per cent (1.9)— Saskatchewan: 2.3 per cent (1.8)— Alberta: 2.5 per cent (2.1)— British Columbia: 3.2 per cent (2.7)This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2023.The Canadian Press

White House backs industry effort to standardize Tesla’s EV charging plugs

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

The White House is lending its support to an auto industry effort to standardize Tesla’s electric vehicle charging plugs for all EVs in the United States, part of a broad effort to stimulate their sales to help combat climate change.More than 1 million EVs have been sold in the United States in 2023, a record, but that pace still lags behind sales in such countries as China and Germany. One key reason is that the limited availability of charging infrastructure across the country has been a widespread concern for many would-be buyers of EVs and has held back their sales in the United States.Tesla, the leader in the EV market, operates the largest network of fast-chargers. And many of its Supercharger stations are in prime locations along highly traveled corridors, where other charging stations are sparse. On Tuesday, SAE International, formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers, confirmed as a new standard Tesla’s North American Charging Standard connector. That connector, known as...

Putin hails Russia’s military performance in Ukraine and he vows to achieve Moscow’s goals

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Tuesday that the military has seized the initiative on the battlefield in Ukraine after repelling Kyiv’s counteroffensive and is well positioned to achieve Moscow’s goals.Putin’s speech at a meeting with top military brass came a day after he presented documents to Russia’s Central Election Commission to seek reelection in the March presidential vote that he’s all but certain to win.“Our troops are holding the initiative,” he said. “We are effectively doing what we think is needed, doing what we want. Where our commanders consider it necessary to stick to active defenses they are doing so, and we are improving our positions where it’s needed.”The Russian leader hailed the troops for repelling Ukrainian attacks during the summer counteroffensive. “The enemy has suffered heavy casualties and to a large extent wasted its reserves while trying to show at least some results of its so-called counteroffen...

Man charged in deadly South Side armed robbery

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

CHICAGO — A man is facing multiple charges, including murder, following a deadly armed robbery this summer in West Englewood.Daitwon Cobbins, 22, was arrested Sunday at his residence in the 7000 block of South Sangamon.He's accused of being a suspect who participated in a double shooting and armed robbery on July 26 in the 7000 block of South Laflin.A 57-year-old man and a 51-year-old man were shot during the robbery. The 57-year-old died as a result of a gunshot wound to the abdomen.The 51-year-old survived.Cobbins was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery, armed robbery with a firearm, attempted murder and murder - other forcible felony.

Dean's A-List Interviews: Jeffrey Wright and Sterling K. Brown, who star in the new film "American Fiction"

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

Check out Dean's A-List Interviews with Jeffrey Wright and Sterling K. Brown, two of the stars of the new film "American Fiction," one of several big films coming out during the holiday season. Dean’s A-List Interviews: Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks and more 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!