'Wonka' ends the year No. 1 at the box office, 2023 sales reach $9 billion in post-pandemic best

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:15:41 GMT

'Wonka' ends the year No. 1 at the box office, 2023 sales reach $9 billion in post-pandemic best NEW YORK (AP) — Hollywood closed out an up and down 2023 with “Wonka” regaining No. 1 at the box office, strong sales for “The Color Purple” and an overall $9 billion in ticket sales that improved on 2022’s grosses but fell about $2 billion shy of pre-pandemic norms.The New Year’s weekend box office this year lacked a true blockbuster. (This time last year, “Avatar: The Way of Water” was inundating theaters.) Instead, a wide array of films – among them “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” “The Boys in the Boat,” “Migration,” “Ferrari,” “The Iron Claw” and “Anyone But You” – sought to break out over the year’s most lucrative box-office corridor.The top choice, though, remained “Wonka,” Paul King’s musical starring Timothée Chalamet as a young Willy Wonka. In its third weekend, the Warner Bros. release collected an estimated $24 million Friday through Sunday and $31.8 million factoring in estimates for the Monday holiday. That brings the film’s domestical total to $142.5 million.That beste...

South Bay Assemblymember Evan Low’s bill requiring gender-neutral toy aisles is now law in California

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:15:41 GMT

South Bay Assemblymember Evan Low’s bill requiring gender-neutral toy aisles is now law in California By Cheri Mossburg | CNNMajor retailers in California are now required to have gender-neutral toy aisles under a new state law.The law, which went into effect Monday, stems from a 2021 bill in the California legislature requiring toy retailers with a physical location in the state and at least 500 employees “to maintain a gender-neutral section or area to be labeled at the discretion of the retailer.”California Assemblymember Evan Low said he was inspired to introduce this bill by an 8-year-old girl who asked, “Why should a store tell me what a girl’s shirt or toy is?”“Her bill will help children express themselves freely and without bias. We need to let kids be kids,” Low said.Related ArticlesBusiness | Ohio Gov. blocks bill banning transition care for minors Business | DeSantis accused of spreading false info for trans care ban Business | Pope Francis authorizes blessings for same-sex couples Business | ‘Pervasive pornograp...

Stockton woman killed by vehicle at early-morning sideshow in Oakland

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:15:41 GMT

Stockton woman killed by vehicle at early-morning sideshow in Oakland A 23-year-old Stockton woman died early Monday morning after a car jumped a curb at a sideshow and slammed into her, authorities said.The incident happened shortly before 12:45 a.m. Monday in the intersection of 42nd Avenue and International Boulevard in East Oakland, which has been the site of numerous sideshows in the past.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | One person killed, three others injured in separate shootings across Oakland Crime and Public Safety | Lowriders, as well as those with expired registration tags, get a break — 2024 rings in new California traffic laws Crime and Public Safety | Photos: Oakland’s St. Columba Catholic Church holds year-end ceremony for victims of homicides Crime and Public Safety | Man found fatally shot on Hayward street Crime and Public Safety | Fatal shooting of Oakland police officer renews fears of crimes around Bay Area cannabis shops The woman was ...

One person killed, three others injured in separate shootings across Oakland

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:15:41 GMT

One person killed, three others injured in separate shootings across Oakland A 19-year-old man was fatally shot a couple hours before dawn Monday in East Oakland, marking the city’s first homicide of 2024.The killing punctuated a violent start to the New Year in the city, where violent crime is up more than 20%, after three other men also were shot in separate incidents throughout Oakland within a couple hours of midnight, police said.The fatal shooting happened outdoors shortly before 5:15 a.m. Monday in the 1900 block of 36th Avenue. A 19-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released.A motive for the killing remains under investigation, and police have not yet said if he was shot by someone in a passing vehicle, or by someone who confronted him on the street. No arrests have been announced.The killing marked the first death investigated as a homicide by Oakland police in 2024. Last year, the city also recorded its first homicide of the year on Jan. 1, when a 55-year-old man was fatally shot in East Oakland after he got...

San Jose’s Aaron Gordon returns to Nuggets practice with 21 stitches, explains dog bite injury on Christmas

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:15:41 GMT

San Jose’s Aaron Gordon returns to Nuggets practice with 21 stitches, explains dog bite injury on Christmas Aaron Gordon rejoined the Nuggets for practice Sunday after missing two games due to injuries from a dog bite on Christmas. Gordon told The Denver Post he feels ready to play Monday when the Nuggets host the Hornets.A league source said it’ll be Gordon’s call as to whether he plays against Charlotte, and that the team feels comfortable allowing him to play if he’s ready.The dog that bit Gordon was his Rottweiler, which he adopted about four years ago when the dog was six weeks old, Gordon said. Due to the travel demands of the NBA schedule, he doesn’t get to spend much time around his pet during the season, so he has family looking after it for him. Gordon is considering possible training alternatives.“I love dogs. I grew up with dogs my whole life,” Gordon said. “But because we’re on the road so much, my dad’s taking care of him, so I can’t really train him how I need him to be. … But I feel good. Everything is fine.”Sporting 21 stitches caused by the incident, mostly bandaged acro...

Pac-12 MBB power ratings: Arizona on top despite ugly loss while Utah and Colorado complete home sweeps

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:15:41 GMT

Pac-12 MBB power ratings: Arizona on top despite ugly loss while Utah and Colorado complete home sweeps We’ll start the new year with an old topic — one that plays an essential role in determining the NCAA Tournament field and seeds.Yes, it’s time for our annual NET rankings refresher.By the NCAA’s own admission, the NET rankings serve as “the primary sorting tool for Division I men’s basketball” and “play an important role in establishing a team’s resume.”It is the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) in every sense.The rankings not only consider winning percentage — the foundational metric in the RPI (Rating Percentage Index) — but a slew of other factors, including “game results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, net offensive and defensive efficiency, and the quality of wins and losses.”The “quality” piece is based on the NCAA’s quadrant system, which places each game on one of four tiers based on location and the opponent’s NET ranking.Because it’s easier to ...

BART train derails, catches fire near Orinda Station

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:15:41 GMT

BART train derails, catches fire near Orinda Station ORINDA, Calif. (KRON) -- According to Bay Area Rapid Transit, there is a major delay Monday morning on the Antioch Line in the Antioch and SFO directions after a train derailed and caught fire between Orinda and Lafayette stations. A train is not able to move between Lafayette and Orinda BART stations. A Yellow Line train heading eastbound was derailed outside of the Orinda Station around 9 a.m. Monday. The passengers self-evacuated and were escorted to Orinda Station by BART personnel, according to the BART Police Department.According to BART, two train cars were on fire. Orinda fire crews were able to extinguish the flames.Photo: Craig ChurchPhoto: Craig ChurchBART police and fire crews are at the scene, BART said.There is no service between Rockridge and Walnut Creek as of 9:47 a.m., the transit agency said. BART suggested on their X account for commuters to seek alternate means of transportation. No bus bridge has been established.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Child killed by fireworks in SF's Treasure Island neighborhood

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:15:41 GMT

Child killed by fireworks in SF's Treasure Island neighborhood (KRON/BCN) -- A child died after suffering firework-related injuries in San Francisco, barely an hour after the New Year arrived, police said.The San Francisco Police Department said that at approximately 12:40 a.m. Monday, officers responded to a report of someone injured by fireworks in the 1200 block of Exposition Drive in Treasure Island neighborhood.Upon arrival, they found a child suffering life-threatening injuries, police said. Neighbors told KRON4 the victim was a young girl.(AIO Filmz)The victim was given first aid, but when paramedics arrived, the child was pronounced dead.San Francisco police ask anyone with relevant information to contact them at (415) 575-4444 or text TIP411.Bay City News contributed to this report.

Treasured Berkeley breakfast restaurant closing after 45 years

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:15:41 GMT

Treasured Berkeley breakfast restaurant closing after 45 years (KRON) – Homemade Cafe in Berkeley closes on New Year’s Day after 45 years of business. The restaurant posted on its Facebook on Friday, “It is with great sadness and disappointment that we have to close. It is just financially impossible to stay open. In today's economics, running a small, locally owned, full-service restaurant that serves Homemade food out of quality ingredients, at relatively reasonable and affordable prices, while valuing its employees and refusing to pay less than a living wage is apparently not possible.”   Beloved Fremont restaurant calls off closure Homemade Cafe was opened in 1979. The current owner and longtime employee Collin Doran bought the restaurant from previous owners Norm Berzon and Janet Hinze in 2011. Doran implemented the “everybody eats” initiative, according to the Facebook post. Customers had the option to donate a $5 “free food” ticket that would a person who could not afford breakfast to eat for free. The restaurant expressed its gratitud...

2 dead after employee shot at Southwest Florida hotel on New Year’s Eve

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:15:41 GMT

2 dead after employee shot at Southwest Florida hotel on New Year’s Eve COLLIER COUNTY, Florida (WBBH) — Two people are dead, including one victim and a suspect, after a shooting at a Collier County hotel on New Year’s Eve.According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, the deadly shooting happened at Port of the Islands Resort hotel on Sunday afternoon.Detectives say the suspect, a former employee of the 25000 Tamiami Trail East hotel, entered the lobby at 3:25 p.m. and shot a hotel employee. The employee died of their injuries.Deputies evacuated the hotel and searched the facility and surrounding area. The CCSO SWAT, Aviation Unit and Drone Unit; the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Greater Naples Fire Rescue District; and Collier County EMS all were involved in the response.Deputies found the suspect deceased of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a hotel office.CCSO said the suspect’s identity will be released once the next of kin has been notified.