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Quincy Jones, Jennifer Hudson and Chance the Rapper co-owners of historic Chicago theater

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Iconic music producer Quincy Jones and entertainers Jennifer Hudson and Chance the Rapper are now co-owners of the historic Ramova Theatre on Chicago’s South Side.Their ownership was announced Wednesday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.The Ramova has been closed for nearly four decades. Developer and co-owner Tyler Nevius bought the property and an adjacent lot from the city in 2017 for $1, the newspaper reported.Jones, Hudson and Chance the Rapper, whose real name is Chancelor Bennett, are Chicago natives.“My mother always taught us to take care of home first, so to support the rehabilitation of this extraordinary theater with such a rich history in Chicago means more to me than one could imagine,” Hudson said.Bennett says “Chicago will always be part” of who he is.“I joined the team at Ramova to give back to the city that’s given me so much and to provide a stage to showcase the incredible talent Chicago has to offer,” he said.The Ramova opened ...

Gerrit Cole a unanimous winner of his 1st AL Cy Young Award. Blake Snell takes NL prize

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole was a unanimous winner of his first American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, and Blake Snell took the National League honor in becoming the seventh hurler to earn baseball’s top pitching prize in both leagues.After coming close several times before, Cole finally finished on top following an outstanding season for the New York Yankees. The ace right-hander received all 30 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.Minnesota Twins right-hander Sonny Gray was the runner-up with 20 second-place votes, and Kevin Gausman of the Toronto Blue Jays finished third.Cole went 15-4 with an AL-low 2.63 ERA and 222 strikeouts in 209 innings, leading the league in innings, as well. He became the sixth Yankees pitcher to win a Cy Young and first since Roger Clemens in 2001.The six-time All-Star twice came in second in Cy Young voting and finished in the top five three other times.Snell was the NL winner after leading the majors in E...

$2,000 reward announced in Humboldt Park food delivery driver homicide investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A $2,000 reward was offered Wednesday for anyone who could come forward with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot and killed one man, and critically injured his brother while the two were delivering food early Saturday morning.According to the Chicago Police Department, the shooting happened around 3 a.m. in the 1400 block of North Avers Avenue. Family members told WGN News that 31-year-old Tramon Thomas and his brother, 32-year-old Terrence Thomas, were sitting in their car preparing to deliver food when someone started shooting from a blue SUV.Tramon was shot multiple times and taken by the Chicago Fire Department to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead.Terrence was also taken to Stroger Hospital, where he remains in critical condition. 3 armed carjackings conducted in 30 minutes on North Side "He was a great hugger. There wasn't anything that he wouldn't do for anybody," said Shirelle Shaw, Tramo...

Bears injury report ahead of matchup against Detroit Lions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Eight players were listed on the Chicago Bears injury report ahead of their week 11 matchup at the Detroit Lions.According to team officials, quarterback Justin Fields (right thumb), guard Nate Davis (ankle), corner Terrell Smith (illness) and fullback Khari Blasingame (concussion) were all full participants at practice Wednesday, while running backs Khalil Herbert and D'Onta Foreman and linebacker Jack Sanborn were all limited in practice with ankle injuries.Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (knee) was the lone player listed on the injury report who did not participate (DNP) in practice. ‘I feel good’: Justin Fields says he’s ready to go against Detroit Lions As for Detroit, defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs (illness) and guard Jonah Jackson (wrist/ankle) were listed as DNP, while safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (hand), defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike (hip) and wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle) were listed as limited participants.Center Frank Ragnow (toe/back) and newly-acquired wide...

Pink Floyd co-founder denied hotel stays in Argentina, Uruguay over antisemitism allegations: report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Hotels in Argentina and Uruguay reportedly rejected reservations for Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters over accusations of antisemitism leveled at the British singer known for his pro-Palestinian views.Waters was due to stay in Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires ahead of shows scheduled for Nov. 21-22 as part of his “This is Not a Drill” tour, but the reservations fell through, with hotels citing a lack of availability, the Argentine newspaper Pagina 12 reported.Hotels in Montevideo, in neighboring Uruguay, also refused to host him but did not provide a reason, a Pagina 12 story on Wednesday quoted Waters as saying.The singer said that as a result, he was still in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he performed a few days ago.“I had a dinner date on the 16th with José Mujica, the former president of Uruguay, who is a friend of mine. And I can’t go (…) because the Israeli lobby and whatever they call themselves have canceled me,” Waters told Pagina 12.The president of t...

No bull: Lake County cow sculpture's winning name revealed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

Wednesday was a beautiful day at the Lake County Farm Bureau and its newest and greatest attraction was naturally the center of attention.The 14-foot beauty of a bovine’s name was revealed.The bureau's executive director, Greg Koeppen, first announced the runner-up.“In third place, it was Milkshake, and in second place, it was Elsie,” he said.It was Koeppen who conceived of the idea of commissioning the public art in front of the bureau's headquarters in Grayslake after seeing a similar one in Wisconsin’s Door County some 20 years ago as a nod to German immigrants who brought the Holsteins over in the 1800s.Like many places, there aren't nearly as many dairy farms in Lake County these days.Koeppen and the bureau board agreed that a cow sculpture would be the perfect way to draw attention to the county’s history and teach kids about the cows and farmers of yesteryear.Several months later, the masterpiece of Americana was completed. It was 14 feet high and 23 feet long and weighed 1,0...

Leander Police provide more details in deadly crash involving retired APD officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) -- The Leander Police Department provided more details involving a retired Austin Police officer who died in a crash in Leander over the weekend.At approximately 11:50 a.m., Nov. 12, officers responded to the 8600 block of Ranch-to-Market Road 2243 for a report of a rollover crash, according to a news release from LPD. APD confirms retired officer died in Leander crash According to police, a Ford Excursion driving westbound "had a mechanical/tire related issue and crossed the double yellow center lane divider," which struck a Chevrolet Silverado head-on. The Silverado then rolled off the roadwayThe retired officer was identified as Ray Shillito Jr., 51, of Austin, according to police.Shillito had recently retired from APD and was working with the City of Austin Development Services Department, according to LPD.The crash remained under investigation Wednesday, police said.

Investor Nate Paul pleads not guilty to federal wire fraud counts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Nate Paul, the Austin real estate investor tied to Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to four wire fraud charges filed this month.The four November counts were stacked on top of eight initial counts of making false statements to lending institutions, according to a superseding indictment. Nate Paul, Austin investor tied to AG Paxton, facing 4 additional federal charges Paul, 36, asked the court to waive his in-person arraignment scheduled for Thursday on the latest federal charges, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Lane accepted the request. Paul is the head of World Class Holdings -- a sprawling, multi-billion-dollar real estate company with high-value properties across Austin and beyond.  In the latest counts related to wire fraud, Paul is accused of sending false statements to partners involved in limited partnerships. Prosecutors allege Paul overstated partnership bank balances, understated how much the partnerships were owed a...

'A warrior's death': APD to release body cam video showing moments officer was killed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)— The Austin Police Department says it'll be releasing body camera footage later this month, showing the moments one of their own was killed in a SWAT situation on Saturday morning.This is in line with its policy to release video within 10 business days of an officer-involved shooting. Officer Jorge "George" Pastore was shot and killed by Ahmed Mohamed Nassar, according to APD. Mother and son, Eyman El-Nemr Nassar and Riad Nassar were also killed, according to a search warrant affidavit. Another relative was stabbed, was able to escape and called 911, the affidavit said. Search warrant provides new details about suspect involved in APD officer’s death Days after the horrific tragedy, the area on Bernoulli Drive is still blocked off. On Wednesday, APD and the FBI were out on scene investigating, going in and out of that home where the killings happened. Deafening silence, sunflowers and a police flag rest outside the crime scene where Pastore was killed trying to save...

Lively revival of Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Company’ is sure to please Orpheum Theatre audiences

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:05:00 GMT

Musical theater master Stephen Sondheim surely went to his grave knowing that he was deeply appreciated. In March of 2020, the New York Times devoted a nine-page supplement to him on the eve of his 90th birthday, when a revival of his 1970 musical, “Company,” was set to open on Broadway. While COVID abruptly wiped live theater away, dozens of the biggest names in Broadway and Hollywood created an online-only tribute to him, featuring songs from a half-century of his musicals.That production of “Company” finally opened in November of 2021, and Sondheim attended a preview 11 days before his death. What he experienced was more than just a revival: It was a reimagining, transforming the central character from male to female, his romantic liaisons from female to male, and changing one of the five couples in their orbit to two gay men.Britney Coleman as Bobbie and the North American Tour of “Company.” (Matthew Murphy)It took home five Tonys last year, including “Best Revival o...