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‘The Color Purple’ review: An exhilarating, larger-than-life journey

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:15:09 GMT

Like its central character, Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Color Purple” has had a long journey. Published in 1982, this lyrical story of a poor Black woman’s eventual triumph over an abusive husband and a seemingly uncaring world became a movie directed by Steven Spielberg in 1985, and then a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical in 2005. And here it is, transformed again: a new movie, based on the stage musical but featuring some new songs, directed by filmmaker/musician Blitz Bazawule.Let me just repeat a key word in that previous sentence: This is a capital-M Musical, complete with big songs and enormous dance numbers and larger-than-life emotions — and it’s often irresistibly exhilarating, as the best musicals can be. I haven’t seen the stage version of “The Color Purple,” but I can absolutely imagine what an impact it would have on an audience, how Miss Celie’s journey would sweep you up and carry you to a higher, more joyful place. That’s basically what happen...

Rosemount City Council unanimously approves Meta data center on UMore Park land

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:15:09 GMT

The Rosemount City Council approved the final site and building plan Thursday night for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to build its $700 million data center.Jimnist LLC, a subsidiary of Meta, received unanimous approval to move forward with its data center at UMore Park, which is expected to bring in 1,000 construction jobs and support at least 50 on-site jobs.The project, previously code named Project Bigfoot, met resistance from residents who expressed concerns about environmental impacts, a lack of transparency and Meta as the end-user of the data center.Councilmember Tami Klimpel said as a resident of the area, she also had concerns, but “every one of those is addressed in the proposal ahead of us today and then some,” she said Thursday.Having done her due diligence, including reaching out to towns like Altoona, Iowa, to learn about how a Meta data center impacted their community, Klimpel said she is proud to support the project.The sale of the 280-acre parcel at UMore Pa...

Tax evasion charges brought against Stillwater masonry business

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:15:09 GMT

Sixteen charges have been filed against a Stillwater masonry business after its owner was accused of tax evasion and failing to pay wages to its employees, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office announced this week.A complaint was filed against Todd A. Konigson in connection with his operation of Stillwater Masonry Restoration, Inc.Authorities began to investigate Stillwater Masonry after receiving reports that the business was failing to pay wages in a timely manner and failed to “comply with other obligations owed to its employees” and also failed to “fulfill contractual obligations for small businesses, churches and nonprofit organizations in and around the Twin Cities.”During their investigation, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office uncovered six lawsuits against Konigson and Stillwater Masonry alleging that the business had failed to pay workers, subcontractors and vendors. At least three of the lawsuits resulted in a judgment against either Koni...

Appellate court reverses conviction in 2018 death of local state trooper

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:15:09 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court reversed the conviction of Aaron Munise, 37, of Johnstown. He was convicted of criminally negligent homicide for fatally rear-ending off-duty State Trooper Jeremy VanNostrand in November 2018. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The court ruled that prosecutors failed to prove that 37-year-old Aaron Munise had committed criminally negligent homicide. Prosecution and defense agreed that the crash was VanNostrand's fault--although he hit the brakes and slowed from 60 to 45 miles per hour, he couldn't prevent the crash. The decision hinged on the severity of the crime."A failure to brake, without more, does not constitute criminal negligence," the decision reads. "Defendant's unexplained failure to perceive the victim's vehicle, careless as it may have been and tragic as its results were, is insufficient to establish the necessary blameworthy conduct for defend...

24 adoptions finalized in Edwardsville just days before Christmas

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:15:09 GMT

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - We all know there's no place like home for the holidays. With that sentiment in mind, Friday was a very special day for 24 children in foster care. Many children joined their forever families on Friday after their adoptions were finalized at the Madison County Courthouse. This was the sixth annual adoption day celebration in Madison County. City officials saw bodycam footage after police SUV crashed into bar – Source For many families, with adoptions finalized just three days before Christmas, it proved to be an emotional day. "It's a long time coming," said Jason Price. "These girls cam into our home as strangers, and they're staying as family. To me, family is what you make of it. It's not necessarily blood; it's love, and you make your family. We've been gracious with two wonderful girls who are super smart and talented. This completes what we wanted." Finalizations were followed by a celebration that included a balloon arch, balloon animals, a magician an...

Smooth start as Lambert Airport prepares for holiday rush

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:15:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It's one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, but things are running pretty smoothly at Lambert International Airport. For holiday travelers coming to and from St. Louis, it's quite a different experience compared to last year. From late December last year to early January, Southwest Airlines canceled nearly 17,000 flights and left more than 2 million fliers stranded. The airline also scrambled to address luggage issues at Lambert and other airports nationwide. City officials saw bodycam footage after police SUV crashed into bar – Source Officials expect more than 17,000 flyers to travel out of St. Louis' Southwest terminal on Friday. So far, things are moving along, and many tell FOX 2 it's been a good experience. "No trouble at all," said Matt Tovle, picking up his son and daughter. "Smooth sailing. They had a little bit of a delay in Jacksonville, but they made up time in the end.""It was great," said Nick Henderson, traveling home to St. Louis from Chicago....

Broncos coach Sean Payton on being in the playoff hunt: “It’s addictive”

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:15:09 GMT

The stakes are high for the Broncos in their matchup against the New England Patriots on Sunday, but head coach Sean Payton enjoys it. In fact, he craves these pressured situations.“It’s addictive,” he said. “As great as it feels when you win and all the things that go into it, it’s like the opposite when you don’t. It’s like misery — you can’t wait for the next weekend.”If the Broncos want to have any shot at the postseason, they have to win the final three games, starting with their home matchup on Christmas Eve. At 7-7, Denver has a 22% chance of making the playoffs, according to the New York Times postseason simulator.With a win over the struggling Patriots, the Broncos’ odds increase to 35% but a loss drops their chances to 3% — meaning their season is basically over.Payton said each hour has mattered since the Broncos have been in the playoff hunt. He added it’s much different compared to when a team is not competing for the postseason.“When you a...

Broncos defense confident it can get back to dictating play after bad night vs. Lions: “We have to in order to win these next three games”

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:15:09 GMT

Vance Joseph’s defense powered the Broncos’ surge back into contention.The offense and special teams had its moments with timely touchdown drives or field-tilting returns, but wins followed once Denver’s defense transformed from one of the NFL’s worst groups into one of its best.That run, of course, came to a screeching halt Saturday night in Detroit when the Lions ripped the Broncos for 42 points, 448 yards and 29 first downs.Joseph’s group won’t see another offense with that kind of firepower over its final three weeks. But it also knows another dud will likely end the Broncos’ playoff hopes, especially considering its backed by an offense that’s been league average.“This time of the year, we know we have to win so you just throw it away, move on and play the way we know we can play,” inside linebacker Alex Singleton told The Denver Post. “We have to in order to win these next three games.”Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph coaches on the sideline during the first h...

Men’s basketball: After holiday hiatus, final Pac-12 run begins for CU Buffs

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:15:09 GMT

The holidays always offer an opportunity for reflection.For the Colorado men’s basketball team, there is plenty to be proud about in the body of work compiled during nonconference play. There also remain more than a few areas of improvement to consider as the Buffaloes take a few days off ahead of the start of the program’s final season in the Pac-12 Conference.CU completed the nonconference schedule with a thorough 98-71 victory on Thursday night against Utah Tech, improving to 9-2 while turning in another eye-popping offensive performance.Yet once the respite is over, and the Buffs regroup ahead of the Dec. 29 league opener at home against Washington (7 p.m., ESPNU), a few concerns will need to be addressed. On the court, head coach Tad Boyle hopes to see a more consistent defensive effort while finding a way to cut down on the club’s turnovers.In terms of personnel, the Buffs eagerly await the return of standout freshman Cody Williams.Williams has missed the past three games due ...

Police thought confronting Maine shooter would be unsafe

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:15:09 GMT

By Patrick Whittle and Holly Ramer | Associated PressPORTLAND, Maine — Police who declined to confront an Army reservist in the weeks before he killed 18 people in Maine’s deadliest mass shooting feared that doing so would “throw a stick of dynamite on a pool of gas,” according to video released Friday by law enforcement.The video, which was released to the Portland Press Herald and then sent to The Associated Press, documents a Sept. 16 call between Sagadoc County Sheriff’s Sgt. Aaron Skolfield and Army Reserve Capt. Jeremy Reamer. Skolfield was following up with Reamer about the potential threat posed by Robert Card, 40, who carried out the Oct. 25 attacks at a bowling alley and a restaurant. He was found dead two days later of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.Military officials alerted police in September that Card had been hospitalized in July after exhibiting erratic behavior while training, that he still had access to weapons and that he had threatened to...