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World premiere of ‘An American Tail’ comes at right time, thanks to Children’s Theatre

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:48 GMT

If you’ve ever left a theater performance mulling why its producers thought it important to present that particular show at that time, know that you won’t feel that after attending Children’s Theatre Company’s world premiere production of “An American Tail.”At first blush, one could wonder why CTC chose to commission an adaptation of a 1986 animated feature inspired by stories passed down within the family of superstar film director Steven Spielberg. But the motivation becomes clear quickly in this energetic, entertaining and quite well-executed staging.For surely playwright Itamar Moses (a Tony winner for 2017’s “The Band’s Visit”) and composers Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler looked around late last decade and saw that immigrants were being scapegoated for a host of American problems, our borders hardening against entry. So they set to work on a story from the late 19th century, when the country was far more welcoming to new arrivals and saw it as a central element to the natio...

John Shipley: MLB’s experimental “Challenge” system has legs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:48 GMT

Triple A baseball is a player’s last stop before making the Show. The same applies for new rules, which, like the players, tend to begin in low-A ball and work their way to the top.This season, the major leagues added the pitch clock, bigger bases and a ban on severe defensive shifts after they proved adequately successful in Class AAA ball. The rules being tested this season are just as radical, most notably using technology to call balls and strikes — what MLB is calling the Automatic Balls and Strikes system.Even more interesting is the “Challenge” system, a hybrid of ABS and human umpires. Basically, the ABS system is running but the plate umpire calls balls and strikes. Any one of three players — the pitcher, catcher and batter — can request a challenge.The challenge system was put through its paces for the first time at CHS Field on Friday when the Saints played host to the Nashville Sounds.“It’s kind of throwing the umpires under the bus a little,” Saints outfielder Kyle Garl...

Overnight double homicide, one injured, St. Louis shooting

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- After a shooting, two people are dead and one is injured. It happened last night around 11:30 p.m. on Cherokee Street between Oregon and California Avenues.Two victims were taken to the hospital, where they later died. The third victim was shot in the leg. Homicide is investigating the scene.

Highest-rated free things to do in Missouri, according to Tripadvisor

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:48 GMT

Whether for the weekend around town or to add to your out-of-town itinerary, free things to do are good. With the ever-rising costs of gas and food, the idea of disposable income can feel like a distant fantasy.The cost-of-living continues to rise across the country, forcing each dollar earned to stretch further. While vacations are undoubtedly beneficial for mental health, maintaining savings, paying down debts amid inflation, and regular expenses likely take precedence. But, not everything enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's probably a roster of completely free things to do in your current area.Think about the most common entries on a vacation getaway itinerary: Sight-seeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet.The truth is: Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, you can find all this and more without swiping your card. Find and plan your next h...

The federal COVID emergency is ending, but Californians get 6 extra months of free tests

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:48 GMT

If your medicine cabinet is low on COVID tests, you only have a few days left to stock up for free from the federal government.And starting Friday, the feds also will no longer protect patients from being billed for their COVID testing.But there’s good news for Californians: The state legislature has given Golden State residents an extra six months of guaranteed coverage of COVID tests and reimbursements from their insurance.Changes are coming next week in much of the country as the federal government’s COVID national and public health emergencies end on May 11, more than three years after they were declared by then-President Trump and the Department of Health & Human Services as the virus was first detected in the United States.File photo of three drops being administered to tan at-home COVID-19 testing device in Fremont in 2022. You only have a few days left to stock up on free COVID tests from the federal government. Starting Friday, the feds also will no longer p...

Editorial: California must get ahead of the deadly fentanyl epidemic

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:48 GMT

California needs a multi-prong attack on the rapidly escalating fentanyl scourge devastating families across the state.That should include educating our kids on the deadly risks of the powerful synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, expansion of drug treatment programs and wider distribution of opioid-reversing medications that can save the lives of overdose victims.The Centers for Disease Control reports that fentanyl is responsible for the death of more Americans under 50 than any other cause, including heart disease, cancer, homicide, suicide and accidents. All told, fentanyl killed a record 5,960 Californians in 2021, according to the California Department of Vital Statistics — more than the 4,250 people who died in auto accidents.Yet, students and parents remain largely unaware of the dangers associated with today’s street drugs. Pills sold over the internet or on the streets that are purportedly prescription drugs like Adderall, oxycodo...

‘Spider-Man 2’ prequel issue coming out for Free Comic Book Day

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:48 GMT

Free Comic Book Day is here, and Insomniac Games and Marvel are teaming up to give Spider-Man fans something special. They’re releasing a special comic book prequel to its upcoming title “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.”The original title and the Miles Morales follow-up are two of the finest Spidey games ever made. That’s partly because the storytelling was so good. The sequel will follow both superheroes and MJ Watson, who are all playable characters in the previous games.The prequel comic is written by Christos Gage, who also worked on “Marvel’s Spider-Man,” and artist Ig Guara’s beautiful artwork graces the panels. In the PlayStation blog entry, narrative director Jon Paquette said the comic delves into a few themes such as the idea of magic, and the Spider-Men and MJ face off against a familiar villain.“Marvel Snap” fans will know who he is. He’s a pretty good card in the game. Fans can pick up the comic at participa...

Opinion: Legal attack on California gig initiative threatens direct democracy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:48 GMT

Direct democracy is a part of California’s DNA and is deeply ingrained in our state Constitution. For California voters, the Constitution has long given us the right to legislate directly at the ballot box.Direct democracy was a Progressive-era reform promoted over a century ago by former Gov. Hiram Johnson and designed as a public check on the influence of special interests in the state Legislature. When the establishment of the initiative, referendum and recall were put before voters in 1911, they passed with 76% of the vote. Today, two-thirds of California voters still back direct democracy, according to polling from the Public Policy Institute of California.The long-enshrined right of the people to legislate by initiative has been jealously guarded by our courts again and again. This right is sacred, and it’s one reason I was heartened that the First District Court of Appeal in March upheld the core elements of Proposition 22.In 2020, California voters approved Proposition 22 wi...

As Lakers bemoan officiating, Warriors’ free-throw numbers tell a different story

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:48 GMT

The free-throw disparity in the first two games between the Warriors and the Lakers is going just as expected, with the Lakers having more than double the attempts at the charity stripe than the Warriors.But you’d never know it, based on the feelings and comments after Thursday night.It’s the Lakers who have been expressing their frustration with the officiating, despite the Warriors being called for 20 more fouls (47 to the Lakers’ 27) and Los Angeles shooting 46 free throws compared to Golden State’s 22.Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell told the media, “I’m not trying to go viral tonight,” when asked about the officiating after the game, and Lakers coach Darwin Ham made it clear that he wasn’t happy, though he didn’t want to directly address it.“I have zero thoughts,” Ham said. “I get paid to coach. I’m trying to coach my ass off for my team. Anything officials related, that’s on the league to look at. Try to be as fair and consistent as possible for both teams.”LeBron James als...

New Twitter rules expose election offices to spoof accounts

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:48 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Tracking down accurate information about Philadelphia’s elections on Twitter used to be easy. The account for the city commissioners who run elections, @phillyvotes, was the only one carrying a blue check mark, a sign of authenticity.But ever since the social media platform overhauled its verification service last month, the check mark has disappeared. That’s made it harder to distinguish @phillyvotes from a list of random accounts not run by the elections office but with very similar names.The election commission applied weeks ago for a gray check mark — Twitter’s new symbol to help users identify official government accounts – but has yet to hear back from the Twitter, commission spokesman Nick Custodio said. It’s unclear whether @phillyvotes is an eligible government account under Twitter’s new rules.That’s troubling, Custodio said, because Pennsylvania has a primary election May 16 and the commission uses its account to share important information with vote...