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Book bans surged across the US in 2023. Florida was the blueprint

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:56:40 GMT

The number of books banned in school districts across the U.S. reached a peak this year, a new report says, with Florida leading the way in more ways than one.The state topped the country in the number of books banned alone, representing 40% of the country’s total cases, with over 1,400 books removed from libraries in the 2022-23 school year, according to a report issued on Thursday by PEN America, a free speech advocacy group. Across the country, over 3,000 books were removed.But Florida’s influence also extends far beyond the number of books it has banned — the state’s conservative advocacy groups and legislation have helped pave the way for the rest of the country to follow suit.“Florida is not an anomaly,” said Kasey Meehan, the lead author of the report, titled “The Mounting Pressure to Censor: The Drivers Behind Book Bans,” and the Freedom to Read Program Director at PEN America. “It’s almost like an incubator.”Florida’s influenceOne common theme emerged as researchers studied...

What are residuals and how do they work? A Hollywood strike battleground, explained

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:56:40 GMT

By Brian Contreras, Los Angeles TimesIt’s not often that people get fired up over nitty-gritty financial mechanisms — but for the last 4½ months on the streets of Hollywood, that’s exactly what’s been happening.As members of the Writers Guild of America and performers union SAG-AFTRA march down picket lines and shutter studio productions, a major focus of their ire has been the system of payouts that writers and actors earn when a project they’ve worked on gets replayed.These residuals, as they’re known, are less flashy than some of the unions’ other priorities, such as artificial intelligence.Yet the importance of residuals to showbiz employees’ wallets is direct and undeniable. The checks can be comically small — getting one worth less than a dollar will earn you a drink at Studio City’s aptly named Residuals Tavern — and entertainment workers say the industry’s pivot toward streaming has made them particularly unreliable.̶...

An unforgettable debut at Wrigley Field for local Quinn Priester — with a chance to spoil Chicago Cubs’ postseason hopes

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:56:40 GMT

Quinn Priester’s jog from the visitors bullpen under the right field bleachers at Wrigley Field between half innings Tuesday night required a moment to appreciate the environment.When Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton called on Priester to begin the second inning against the Cubs, the Cary native and Cary-Grove High School graduate couldn’t help but soak it in. Priester made sure he took a deep breath and looked around at the 34,202 fans in the ballpark.In his first big-league game against his favorite childhood team, Priester allowed four runs in six innings Tuesday versus the Cubs in a 14-1 loss.“You kind of forget everything that kind of goes on and being able to see the scoreboard again, the fans, and it sounds stupid, but the seventh-inning stretch, when it’s ‘Let’s Go Cubbies,’ it brings back a lot of nostalgia, a lot of memories,” Priester said before Thursday’s series finale. “So to actually be out there doin...

Patriots losing ‘explosive player’ in placing Marcus Jones on injured reserve

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:56:40 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots’ once-strong cornerback depth is dwindling.Patriots head coach Bill Belichick officially announced cornerback Marcus Jones is heading to injured reserve. The second-year pro tore his labrum in the Patriots’ Week 3 loss to the Dolphins.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots offensive line sees positive news at practice ahead of Jets game New England Patriots | Patiots new QB Will Grier will have role Week 3 vs. Jets, Bill Belichick announces New England Patriots | Why Patriots signed Will Grier for third QB spot on 53-man roster New England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: Will Demario Douglas escape Bill Belichick’s doghouse? New England Patriots | Patriots already have NFL’s next great special teamer in Brenden Schooler “Well, he’s on IR for now,” Belichick said when asked if it was a season-ending injury. “Be out for a while.&#...

Patriots offensive line sees positive news at practice ahead of Jets game

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:56:40 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots’ full roster was present for practice Friday.That included rookie offensive lineman Sidy Sow, who was wearing a red non-contact jersey as he remains in concussion protocol, and new quarterback Will Grier, who was sporting No. 19.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots losing ‘explosive player’ in placing Marcus Jones on injured reserve New England Patriots | Patiots new QB Will Grier will have role Week 3 vs. Jets, Bill Belichick announces New England Patriots | Why Patriots signed Will Grier for third QB spot on 53-man roster New England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: Will Demario Douglas escape Bill Belichick’s doghouse? New England Patriots | Patriots already have NFL’s next great special teamer in Brenden Schooler Sow — the Patriots’ starting right guard in Week 1 — didn’t practice last week or play Week 2 agains...

Pope decries indifference toward migrants, as he visits multicultural port of Marseille

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:56:40 GMT

By NICOLE WINFIELD, SYLVIE CORBET, TRISHA THOMAS and MASHA MACPHERSON (Associated Press)MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Pope Francis blasted the “fanaticism of indifference” that greets migrants seeking a better life, as he arrived Friday in the French port of Marseille amid a new influx of would-be refugees from Africa that has sparked a backlash from some of Europe’s increasingly anti-migrant leaders.Opening a brief, overnight visit to the Mediterranean port, Francis presided over a silent moment of prayer at a memorial dedicated to sailors and migrants lost at sea, surrounded by Marseille’s faith leaders and migrant rescue organizations.The visit, scheduled months ago, came as Europe’s migrant dilemma is again in headlines, after the Italian island of Lampedusa was overwhelmed last week by nearly 7,000 migrants who arrived in a day, more than its resident population.“Cruelty, a lack of humanity. A terrible lack of humanity,” Francis said o...

A Ukrainian missile strikes the headquarters of Russia’s navy in Crimea

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:56:40 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine struck the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in a missile attack Friday that left a serviceman missing and the main building smoldering, according to military officials on both sides of the war and images from the scene in Crimea.The Russian Defense Ministry initially said one servicemember was killed but then issued a statement saying he was missing following the attack in the port city of Sevastopol.The Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, has been a frequent target since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost 19 months ago. Crimea has served as the key hub supporting Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Sevastopol, the main base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet since the 19th century, has had a particular importance for navy operations since the start of the invasion of Ukraine.Ukraine has increasingly targeted naval facilities in Crimea in recent weeks while the brunt of its summ...

North Carolina legislature gives final OK to election board changes, with governor’s veto to follow

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:56:40 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C (AP) — The North Carolina General Assembly gave final approval on Friday to Republican-backed legislation that would shift control of the State Board of Elections away from the governor and give it to lawmakers as the 2024 elections get underway.With the Senate recording a party-line vote to accept a consensus GOP measure after the House completed a similar vote late Thursday night, the bill now heads to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Cooper already has promised to veto it, saying it’s a GOP power play that would result in stalemates on the proposed new board, potentially limiting access to early in-person voting and giving more opportunity to the General Assembly and courts to settle contested elections. Republicans say the new structure will result in more consensus building on election matters, building voter confidence. But it also could result in the current state elections executive director being ousted from her job weeks before key primary elections are held ...

West Fraser selling two pulp mills to Atlas Holdings for US$120 million

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:56:40 GMT

VANCOUVER — West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. has signed a deal to sell two pulp mills in Western Canada to Atlas Holdings for US$120 million.The sale includes West Fraser’s Quesnel River Pulp mill in Quesnel, B.C., and its Slave Lake Pulp mill in Slave Lake, Alta.The agreement also covers related woodlands operations and timber holdings in Alberta and a long-term fibre supply agreement for the Quesnel mill.The mills will be operated by Edmonton-based Millar Western Forest Products, which is part of the Atlas family of businesses.The transaction is subject to customary regulatory reviews and closing conditions. West Fraser chief executive Ray Ferris says the sale of the pulp mills will help the company focus on its wood building products business.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:WFG)The Canadian Press

Prime Video to introduce advertisements, increase cost for ad-free streaming

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:56:40 GMT

TORONTO — Prime Video will jump on the ad wagon next year, introducing commercial breaks to its platform and hiking fees for those who want to avoid them. The cost won’t change for those willing to sit through advertisements and the company has yet to announce how much the ad-free tier will cost, however in the United States it will cost an extra $2.99 per month to avoid ads.“Starting in 2024, Prime Video shows and movies will include limited advertisements in Canada. We aim to have meaningfully fewer ads than traditional TV and other streaming TV providers,” the company said in a press release. Amazon launched Prime Video in Canada in 2016, included in the cost of Amazon Prime. The membership comes with free shipping options on the company’s web store, along with a slew of other services. It costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year. Amazon is following its competitors’ lead by introducing a new planfor its streaming service, though it takes a slightly dif...