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Marvel, Disney drop actor Jonathan Majors after he's convicted of assault

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:19 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors was convicted Monday of assaulting his former girlfriend after a two-week trial that he hoped would restore his status as an emerging Hollywood star, but did just the opposite with Marvel Studios and the Walt Disney Co. dropping him immediately after his conviction.A Manhattan jury found Majors, 34, guilty of one misdemeanor assault charge and one harassment violation. He was acquitted of a different assault charge and of aggravated harassment.Majors, who was asked to stand and face the jurors as the verdict was read, showed no immediate reaction, looking slightly downward. He declined to comment as he left the courthouse.Marvel and Disney immediately dropped Majors from all upcoming projects following the conviction, said a person close to the studio who was granted anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter.Majors had earlier planned to be a central figure throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the antagonist r...

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke hip ahead of tribute to vocal group: business partner

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:19 GMT

(KTLA) – Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was on his way to pay tribute to the Manhattan Transfer at a concert in Los Angeles when he fell and broke his hip Friday, Variety reported Sunday night.The 76-year-old NBA Hall of Famer, now recovering from surgery, was supposed to speak about the vocal group at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Friday during what was billed as their final concert, according to Variety. Instead, he ended up releasing a statement to the outlet (via his business partner Deborah Morales) on his connection to the group. Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski crash trial is being adapted into a musical “The Manhattan Transfer first took the stage the same year I first took the NBA court. I’ve been listening to their unique blend of R&B, jazz, blues and pop ever since. Their artistry has lifted me when I needed lifting, soothed me when I needed soothing, and gave me joy when I needed to be joyful. I couldn’t ask for anything more,” the statement read.In 2009, the...

Austin Police say 47-year-old woman found safe

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department said a 47-year-old woman was found safe after she previously reported missing Sunday.The woman was last seen in northwest Austin and was previously believed to be endangered. However, APD said on social media Monday that she was found safe.No other details were released Monday.

Man sentenced to six months in jail, probation in deadly shooting outside Martindale home

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:19 GMT

CALDWELL COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A Martindale man who was found guilty of manslaughter in a deadly shooting outside of his home was sentenced in Caldwell County Monday.Terry Turner was sentenced to 180 days in jail, starting Monday, and 10 years of probation. A jury recommended that Turner serve 10 years in prison, according to a Judge Chris Schneider, who oversaw the case. However, Schneider decided on a lesser sentence. Starting Monday, Turner is now serving142 consecutive days, per Schneider's ruling. He'll also have to serve four days in jail on dates coinciding with the date of Adil Dghoughi's death and his birthday for the next 10 years. Turner will have to pay a $10,000 fine as well as do community service and counseling. Verdict reached in driveway shooting of Austin man Turner was indicted in February 2022 in connection with the shooting, and convicted of manslaughter in November 2023. Terry Duane Turner (Caldwell County Sheriff's Office)Turner was sentenced nearly two mon...

Gov. Abbott signs border security bills into law at wall construction site

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:19 GMT

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (Nexstar) — Gov. Greg Abbott visited the Rio Grande Valley Monday, where he signed several border security bills passed during the third and fourth special legislative sessions.Earlier this month the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 3, a measure that will send $1.5 billion toward further construction of a border wall along the 1,200 mile Texas-Mexico border. In November, state lawmakers also approved Senate Bill 4, which makes it a state crime to enter Texas illegally, giving state and local law enforcement the ability to arrest those who cross between ports of entry. SB 4 will also allow Texas police to effectively deport those who cross illegally, through an order obtained by a state judge. Currently, that is a power solely reserved for federal authorities.Abbott added his signature to both SB 3 and SB 4 into law, as he previously indicated on social media, calling it “historic progress for border security.”Supporters of the bills say they are necessary step...

Airbnb using AI to crack down on NYE house parties in Austin

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:19 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Airbnb is poised to use new artificial intelligence-powered technology in Austin this holiday season to crack down on rowdy house parties.Airbnb officials said in a release Monday the rental company plans to put restrictions on certain bookings during the New Year's holiday "to reduce the risk of unauthorized and disruptive parties." Last year, some of the company's anti-party measures on New Year's Eve resulted in thousands of people blocked globally from booking entire home listings on the platform, the release added.Those blockings included more than 63,000 people in the United States, roughly 5,600 people in Texas and 600 guests in Austin, the release added.The AI technology being deployed will block certain one-to-three-night full home bookings "identified as potentially higher-risk for a party incident, the release added." Those guests making local reservations will be required to acknowledge they understand Airbnb's party ban policy and that they risk suspensi...

Golf: Frankie Capan III finishes 64th at PGA Tour Q-School, will return to Korn Ferry Tour

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:19 GMT

A year after a magical PGA Tour Q-School run elevated Frankie Capan III from no status to a spot on the Korn Ferry Tour, the North Oaks native finished in a tie for 64th in the final stage of the Q-School for 2024 after a 1-over round of 71 on Monday at Dye’s Valley Course in Florida to finish 2-over for the week.The top five golfers earned PGA Tour cards. Those went to Harrison Endycott — the Q-School champion at 15-under par — Trace Crowe, Blaine Hale Jr., Raul Pereda and Hayden Springer. Pereda and Springer nabbed the final two cards with 8-under par finishes.Capan entered the week in a bit of an all-or-nothing position. His strong rookie season on the Korn Ferry Tour secured himself a spot back on the primary PGA Tour feeder tour in 2024, at minimum. So anything outside of a top-five finish this week was largely moot.The 2024 Korn Ferry Tour schedule opens in mid-January, with consecutive events played in the Bahamas.Wayzata grad Van Holmgren finished the week at 3-over pa...

Dane Mizutani: We don’t need to fire Kevin O’Connell every time the Vikings lose

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:19 GMT

There’s a world in which the Vikings lose every game the rest of the season. They will likely be underdogs both times they play the Detroit Lions, including at home on Christmas Eve, and the matchup with the Green Bay Packers on New Year’s Eve feels like nothing more than a coin flip.That doesn’t mean every result should be a case study on whether somebody deserves to lose his job.The following needs to be said because a large portion of the fan base has forgotten: Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is darn good at what he does.He proved that last season by leading the Vikings to a 13-4 record in the name of situational mastery. He proved that this season by keeping the Vikings competitive through a tumultuous stretch that included losing franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins, then being forced to pick up the pieces with a combination of three quarterbacks — veteran Nick Mullens, rookie Jaren Hall and journeyman Josh Dobbs.The fact that the Vikings still have a ...

Burt Riskedahl: A plea before dying — on behalf of those who might need it

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:19 GMT

On Sept. 22, 2023, my father, Burt Riskedahl of Oakdale, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and learned that he would likely live only a few more months.Throughout his lengthy career as a social worker, lawyer and trial court judge, my father had always been focused on the impact of laws on children and vulnerable family members, and cases involving protection of individual rights. In 1987, as a judge in Bismarck, N.D., he adjudicated a case that significantly shaped his views on the right of individuals to die with dignity on their own terms.A woman in her early 60s had suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to the hospital. Despite efforts by emergency personnel, she suffered substantial oxygen deprivation and received a diagnosis of “persistent vegetative state.” Without her family’s knowledge or consent, the hospital staff inserted a feeding tube in preparation for sending her to a nursing home. When it became obvious that there was no hope for recovery, the family decided to ha...

Study: Outlooks brightened but savings elusive during St. Paul’s guaranteed income project

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:19 GMT

In 2020, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter used federal, state and philanthropic dollars to launch one of the nation’s first municipal guaranteed income projects — $500 per month for 150 low-income families with newborn children.The funds, issued across 18 months on a pre-paid debit card, carried no spending restrictions, and results were tracked by academic researchers through voluntary, compensated surveys and interviews.The University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research has completed a 59-page report on its findings, coming to the conclusion that St. Paul’s “People’s Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot” worked “protectively,” offering some financial breathing room during the worst of the pandemic, though that soon disappeared after the cash ended.One of the most elusive goals for participating families? Building up cash savings.18-month pilot studyIndividual financial situations improved during the 18-month pilot study but t...