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Miyazaki’s ‘The Boy and the Heron’ is No. 1 at the box office, a first for the Japanese anime master

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:26:02 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — For the first time in Hayao Miyazaki’s decades-spanning career, the 82-year-old Japanese anime master is No. 1 at the North American box office. Miyazaki’s latest enchantment, “The Boy and the Heron,” debuted with $12.8 million, according to studio estimates.“The Boy and the Heron,” the long-awaited animated fantasy from the director of “Spirited Away,” “My Neighbor Totoro” and other cherished anime classics, is only the third anime to ever top the box office in U.S. and Canadian theaters and the first original anime to do so. The film, which is playing in both subtitled and dubbed versions, is also the first fully foreign film to land atop the domestic box office this year. Though Miyazaki’s movies have often been enormous hits in Japan and Asia, they’ve traditionally made less of a mark in North American cinemas. The director’s previous best performer was his last movie, 2013’s “The Wind Rises,” which grossed $5.2 million in its ...

Diamonds in the vacuum cleaner: Paris’ luxury Ritz hotel finds guest’s missing ring

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:26:02 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Lost a very expensive diamond ring? Try checking the vacuum cleaner. That’s what employees of Paris’ luxury Ritz hotel did — and got lucky.Le Parisien newspaper reported Sunday that a Malaysian guest of the hotel filed a police complaint on Friday alleging that her diamond ring vanished from her room. The newspaper said the ring was worth an estimated 750,000 euros, or more than $800,000.The Ritz Paris wouldn’t release details about the ring or the client but said the ring had been found on Sunday.“Thanks to meticulous searches by security agents at the Ritz Paris, the ring was found this morning in a vacuum cleaner bag,” the hotel said in a statement. “Our client is happy at the news.”The Associated Press

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones back on X after Elon Musk restores account

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:26:02 GMT

(AP) -- Elon Musk has restored the X account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, pointing to a poll on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter that came out in favor of the Infowars host who repeatedly called the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting a hoax.It poses new uncertainty for advertisers, who have fled X over concerns about hate speech appearing alongside their ads, and is the latest divisive public personality to get back their banned account.Musk posted a poll on Saturday asking if Jones should be reinstated, with the results showing 70% of those who responded in favor. Early Sunday, Musk tweeted, “The people have spoken and so it shall be.”A few hours later, Jones' posts were visible again and he retweeted a post about his video game. He and his Infowars show had been permanently banned in 2018 for abusive behavior.Musk, who has described himself as a free speech absolutist, said the move was about protecting those rights. In resp...

Ready for a meteor shower? One of the best celestial displays returns this week

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:26:02 GMT

ST. LOUIS (KTVI) -- This week, bright and colorful meteors are expected to light up the night sky. The nights of December 13 and 14 will feature the peak of the Geminids meteor shower.The Geminids earn their reputation as one of the best celestial displays each year because they are known for their vibrant and vivid meteors. They stand out as one of the most reliable and active meteor showers annually, according to NASA. The Geminids reached their peak in mid-December and have a rich history that dates back to the mid-1800s. They started with a modest showing of only 10 to 20 meteors per hour, which initially made them unremarkable. Rare eclipse: Asteroid will pass in front of bright star Betelgeuse Monday Over time, a major meteor shower has evolved, and observers can witness a spectacular display of up to 120 Geminids meteors per hour under optimal conditions at its peak. These meteors have a reputation for being bright, moving at high speeds, and frequently displaying a distinc...

Your car might be watching you to keep you safe − at the expense of your privacy

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:26:02 GMT

(The Conversation) - Depending on which late-model vehicle you own, your car might be watching you – literally and figuratively – as you drive down the road. It’s watching you with cameras that monitor the cabin and track where you’re looking, and with sensors that track your speed, lane position and rate of acceleration.Your car uses this data to make your ride safe, comfortable and convenient. For example, the cameras can tell when you’ve been distracted and need to bring your attention back to the road. They can also identify when you are speeding by verifying the speed limit from your GPS position or traffic signs along the road and warn you to slow down. Some carmakers are also beginning to incorporate similar features for convenience, such as unlocking your car by scanning your face or fingerprint. Your car may also transmit some of this data to the manufacturer’s data centers, where the company uses it to improve your driving experience or provid...

'Griswold House' in Kansas is decked out with over 100,000 Christmas lights

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:26:02 GMT

ROSE HILL, Kan. (KSNW) -- A Kansas man has tapped into his inner Clark Griswold, decorating the outside of his home with tens of thousands of Christmas lights.In the 1989 holiday film "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, covers his home with 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights. How much Christmas lights add to your — and Clark Griswold’s — electric bill Putting the Griswold residence to shame, Michael Russell has decorated the outside of his home in Rose Hill with more than 100,000 lights and 40 inflatables.Russell said he started the project 15 years ago, and his display brings joy to thousands of people during the holiday season. Photo credit: Derek Lytle, KSNW "I have a guest book. People write in it. I had a bad year this year. This brought joy," he said. "I know kids are going to love it, but I really enjoy it when I see adults that get a real kick out of it." Russell said his community came up with the name for his display,...

Travis County strikes out on federal passenger rail grant award

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:26:02 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Dec. 10, 2023.TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) didn't select Travis County as one of the recipients for its passenger rail expansion efforts in Texas, county officials announced Friday. The federal government allocated $66 billion toward passenger rail developments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law back in 2021. The FRA highlighted five corridors within Texas had been earmarked for passenger rail expansions, excluding the Austin-San Antonio region and the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the release said.Currently, population estimates anticipate approximately five million people live within the "Travis-Bexar County super-region," with estimates expecting the region to grow to more than eight million people by 2050, per the release.“The FRA’s failure to include the Travis – Bexar County corridor is a significant missed opportunity to support responsible growth and investment across Cen...

1 dead after fatal crash involving semi off FM 969 Sunday

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:26:02 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN’s morning headlines for Dec. 10, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — One person died following a crash between a semi-truck and a vehicle on FM 969 Sunday morning.Austin-Travis County EMS shared on social media the agency was responding to a vehicle rescue at 11000 FM 969 around 10:20 Sunday. That's near the intersection of Blue Bluff Road and FM 969.Officials said two patients were involved in the crash, with one adult patient dead. In a follow-up social media post, ATCEMS said a second patient had been transported to Dell Seton Medical Center with potentially serious injuries. The Texas Department of Transportation's Austin District shared online that both the eastbound and westbound lanes along FM 969 at Blue Bluff Road were closed due to the crash. Drivers were asked to avoid the area and find alternative routes.The Travis County Sheriff's Office confirmed online deputies were working the crash scene. Extensive traffic delays are expected in the area.

Is horseback riding legal in the city? Maybe

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:26:02 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Did you know that you can legally ride a horse in St. Louis County, but only in designated parks? It's illegal to ride on public walkways and streets in St. Louis City. A photo on Reddit had some people asking if it's legal to ride a horse on the sidewalk in University City.First off, the University City Ordinance for sidewalks states that no one should obstruct a sidewalk, preventing others from passing. In St. Louis County, it is illegal for anyone to drive a vehicle on the sidewalk. There are locations in St. Louis City where bicycles are prohibited from being ridden on the sidewalk.Legally, if a horse is found running around, tied, staked, or housed on or along any public street or right-of-way in University City, the police can take the animal and have it impounded by the city, with the owner cited.In St. Louis, the board has banned horses altogether. An ordinance has made it illegal for anyone to ride, walk, or lead a horse in public, unless posted.Where can you ri...

Bronny James poised to make college debut for USC nearly 5 months after cardiac arrest

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:26:02 GMT

By BETH HARRIS (AP Sports Writer)LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bronny James is poised to make his college debut for Southern California nearly five months after he suffered cardiac arrest.The 19-year-old freshman is likely to come off the bench for the Trojans (5-3) on Sunday against Long Beach State. In the crowd at Galen Center is expected to be his father, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, and the rest of his family.“Super excited for that moment,” LeBron James said. “I can’t wait to see him run out with his teammates. And then once he checks into the game, whenever that case may be, it’s going to be a big moment for our family.”Coach Andy Enfield said James’ status for Sunday will be based on how the freshman feels and the opinions of USC’s doctors, trainers and strength coach.James will be on a minutes restriction in his debut.James suffered cardiac arrest on July 20 during a workout at Galen Center. He was found to have a con...