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Ray Stevenson, of ‘Rome’ and ‘Thor’ movies, dies at 58

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:40 GMT

Ray Stevenson, who played the villainous British governor in “RRR,” an Asgardian warrior in the “Thor” films, and a member of the 13th Legion in HBO’s “Rome,” has died. He was 58.Representatives for Stevenson told The Associated Press that he died Sunday but had no other details to share on Monday.Stevenson was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, in 1964. After attending the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and years of working in British television, he made his film debut in Paul Greengrass’s 1998 film “The Theory of Flight.” In 2004, he appeared in Antoine Fuqua’s “King Arthur” as a knight of the round table and several years later played the lead in the pre-Disney Marvel adaptation “Punisher: War Zone.”Though “Punisher” was not the best-reviewed film, he’d get another taste of Marvel in the first three “Thor” films, in which he played Volstagg. Other prominent film roles included the “Divergent” trilogy, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” and “The Transporter: Refueled.”A loo...

Argentina introduces larger bank note amid galloping inflation

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:40 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina has put a new 2,000-peso bill into circulation as the country endures one of the world’s highest inflation rates that has decimated the value of the local currency.The new bank note is worth double the previous highest bill in circulation, but is still worth only $8.21 at the official exchange rate and $4.08 at black-market rates. Stringent capital controls mean that access to the official foreign exchange market is extremely limited, and the peso is worth far less in parallel markets.With an annual inflation rate that hit 109% in April, retail businesses and banks have been complaining about the difficulties of operating when the highest bill in circulation is of such little real value.People paying bills with wads of cash has become a common sight and ATMs regularly run out of money, particularly on weekends and holidays.A large sector of Argentina’s economy is informal so cash payments remain common.The Central Bank said in a news release ...

Police: Connecticut man arrested for leading ‘street takeovers’ including racing and blocking roads

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:40 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut man was charged Monday with rioting and other crimes after police said he led a series of “street takeovers” across the state over the weekend involving illegal racing and mobs of people blocking roads.State police said they arrested Jefferson Duron, 20, of Norwalk, shortly after 1:30 a.m. following the takeovers in Hartford, Tolland and New Haven counties involving more than 200 people on Sunday. Troopers said they pulled him over near Milford after his car was identified as one of the vehicles leading the events.It wasn’t immediately clear if Duron has a lawyer who could respond to the allegations. He was detained on $250,000 bail.At one of the takeovers in Tolland on Sunday night, dozens of people blocked a main road leading to the University of Connecticut in nearby Storrs, just off Interstate 84. There were reports of bystander vehicles getting struck by baseball bats, an ambulance being damaged during a medical call and participants s...

A’s broadcaster Glen Kuiper let go after racial slur on air

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:40 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Athletics broadcaster Glen Kuiper was let go by NBC Sports California after using a racial slur during a telecast while describing a trip to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.Kuiper was suspended by the network earlier this month following his slur that aired during a pregame segment of an A’s game against the Kansas City Royals on May 5. Kuiper talked about a trip to the museum with colleague Dallas Braden but seemingly mispronounced the word “negro,” making it sound instead like a slur.“Following an internal review, the decision has been made for NBC Sports California to end its relationship with Glen Kuiper, effective immediately,” the network said in a statement Monday. “We thank Glen for his dedication to Bay Area baseball over the years.”A person familiar with the investigation said “the decision was based on a variety of factors, including information uncovered in the internal review.” The person spoke on condition of anonymity and didn...

4-year-old boy’s body found in surging California river, day after sister found dead

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:40 GMT

SANGER, Calif. (AP) — A search crew found the body of a 4-year-old boy in a surging California river on Monday, a day after his 8-year-old sister died when the siblings were swept away by the current, authorities said. Searchers in a boat spotted the boy’s body caught against a tree in the Kings River about 1.75 miles (2.8 kilometers) downstream from where he and his sister went into the water, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. The river has been closed to recreational use because of high water levels.Sheriff’s deputies responded at around 2 p.m. Sunday and the girl was found dead less than an hour later. About 40 rescue personnel using boats, a helicopter and a drone continued the search for her brother about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Pine Flat Dam near Sanger, a city of about 26,000 people east of Fresno.Officials did not immediately release the children’s names or say what killed them. The children, who were not wearing life jacket...

CPD: 18 males broke into USPS office in Loop overnight

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:40 GMT

CHICAGO — Police are searching for as many as 18 males who broke into a USPS office found in the Thompson Center in the Loop early Monday morning. Police said the group broke into the front doors at the postal office near the 100 block of West Randolph Street around 12:35 a.m. It is unclear at this time if anything was taken from the post office.According to a statement from USPS, "The US Postal Inspectors and Chicago Police Department are investigating the property damage incident at the Post Office located at the Thompson Center."WGN also reached out to USPS for comment on what Chicagoans should do if they have mail to pick up or drop off at their Thompson Center location, as well as if there will be an alternative location available to do so while it is closed. They have yet to reply.Advocates from the nearby West Loop Community Organization said incidents like this are a cause for concern for everyone in the area. The group has been advocating for more safety measures, including...

NFL announces hosts for 2026 Super Bowl, 2025 Draft

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:40 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (KRON/WFRV) – Though the 2023 season has yet to begin, we already know where a future Super Bowl and NFL Draft will be held thanks to announcements made at the NFL Spring League Meeting in Minneapolis.Reports surfaced last week that Levi's Stadium, home to the San Francisco 49ers, would be selected to host Super Bowl LX. League officials confirmed the selection Monday. It will be the second Super Bowl held in the stadium – it served as the host of Super Bowl L in 2016 when the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers. Levi’s Stadium will have a busy 2026, as it was also serve as a World Cup host site when the global soccer tournament comes to the United States that summer. Oakland A’s announcer fired after use of racial slur on broadcast The next two Super Bowls will be hosted in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium and New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome.Less than a month out from the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, the league has confirmed Green Bay will host the 2025 Draft.Accor...

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos engaged to girlfriend Lauren Sanchez: report

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:40 GMT

(The Hill) - Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez are engaged after nearly five years together, People reports.A source reportedly confirmed the couple's engagement to People after Sanchez was spotted rocking a large diamond ring in photos from their current vacation in the South of France for the Cannes Film Festival.Sanchez and Bezos went public with their relationship in 2019, following Bezos's divorce from MacKenzie Scott.Scott, who reportedly received 25 percent of Bezos’s Amazon holdings through their divorce, has made several high-profile donations in the years since, including $1.7 billion to various racial justice, LGBTQ rights and public health causes.Sanchez has joined Bezos in his charitable work, acting as vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, created from a $10 billion commitment from Bezos in 2020.The two have yet to address their engagement publicly.

MedWatch Daily Digest: A tough pregnancy could put women at risk for life — and more

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:40 GMT

For Monday, May 22, WGN’s Medical Reporter Dina Bair has the latest on new information, including the following: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Pregnancy complications and stroke Adverse pregnancy outcomes increase stroke risk according to Cedars Sinai Medical Center researchers. Women who experience gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, or pre-term birth have a higher threat of having a stroke at a younger age. The study in the journal 'Stroke' reveals women with two or more challenged pregnancies double their chances of stroke. Past studies have shown women have a greater risk of experiencing a debilitating stroke than men and researchers say the pregnancy connection may help explain the enhanced stroke burden for females. Women at greater risk to die from heart attacks Women also have a greater weight when it comes to heart attacks as females are more than twice as likely to die after a heart attack than men. The European Society for Cardiology outlines the sex diff...

Oakland A's announcer fired after use of racial slur on broadcast

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:40 GMT

(KRON) – Glen Kuiper will no longer be announcing Oakland A's games after he used a racial slur during a broadcast on May 5, NBC Sports Bay Area confirmed on Monday. Kuiper used the word when describing a trip to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. He claimed that his words “didn’t come out quite the way I wanted [them] to” when he used the "n-word" instead of saying "Negro Leagues." A’s announce land deal as part of plan to make Las Vegas ‘future home’ “Following an internal review, the decision has been made for NBC Sports California to end its relationship with Glen Kuiper, effective immediately,” the network said in a statement to the Associated Press. “We thank Glen for his dedication to Bay Area baseball over the years.”According to the AP, “the decision was based on a variety of factors, including information uncovered in the internal review.” That quote came from an anonymous source who did not reveal specific details. Kuiper's alleged mistake happened before...