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Movie review: Denzel returns for more carnage, Italian style, in ‘The Equalizer 3’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:51 GMT

The blood flows like wine in “The Equalizer 3,” as dark as Chianti, seeping into cobblestone streets, splattering onto stained glass and statuary. Yes, star Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua have used the third installment of this trilogy as the opportunity for an Italian vacay, with vigilante hero Robert McCall (Washington) leaving Boston behind to follow a spate of movie sequels, TV productions and Instagram influencers to the old country for a taste of “la dolce vita.” But Robert has to take care of business before he can truly enjoy retirement on the Amalfi Coast, which means ridding this charming village of pesky mafiosi.It’s clear Fuqua has been watching his Italian mafia movies, and he revels in the visual drama offered by the setting and subgenre. His compositions are stuffed with religious iconography, baroque embellishments, claustrophobic medieval alleys, and lots and lots of pasta. But he and cinematographer Robert Richardson put their own stamp on the imagery...

Working Strategies: Reflections on the history behind Labor Day

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:51 GMT

Like many of America’s national holidays, Labor Day holds two meanings simultaneously. On the one hand, we sponsor parades to commemorate the struggle for workplace rights.And on the other hand? It’s a great day for hot deals on mattresses or other big-ticket items.Amy LindgrenAt this point, I should probably segue into how ironic that is. How could we ignore the true meaning of the day for something so superficial?In truth, I think it’s the perfect measure of the holiday’s success. Taking the day for granted means that it has become embedded in our culture — an enormous victory for its founders.As one of our earliest national holidays, Labor Day was signed into law by President Grover Cleveland in 1894. Enacting the law wasn’t benevolence, but an effort to quell unrest over the growing violence between workers, management and law enforcement. Earlier that year, for example, two striking workers in the Pullman Railcar Strike were killed by the U.S. Army and U.S. Marshals Servi...

Tomatoes, eggs, and other groceries that dropped in price in the Midwest last month

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:51 GMT

Grocery shoppers felt a slight reprieve this spring as grocery prices fell after a run of increases spanning back to September 2020.So far this summer, grocery prices have remained relatively steady, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. In July, prices inflated by 0.3% compared to June, and were up 3.6% from July 2022. Urban prices have fallen in many grocery categories, including eggs, meats, vegetables, grains, and dairy products. Overall inflation is cooling as well after a series of interest rate hikes by the Fed to temper the record inflation plaguing Americans over the past two years.While costs remain high overall, the decreases mean dollars can stretch a bit further at the grocery store. Stacker used monthly Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the grocery items that experienced the largest price decreases over the last month in the Midwest, using year-over-year changes as a tiebreaker where needed. For this analysis, the Midwest includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,...

Grading The Week: CU, Nebraska, Stanford should be in same dang conference. Not three separate ones.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:51 GMT

We give up. I mean, yeah, everybody got dragged across the Rubicon ages ago, the minute Fox and USC (allegedly) hatched a plan with the Big Ten, let UCLA ride shotgun, and took an almighty howitzer to maps and common sense.But the dumb keeps getting dumber.CU-Central Florida? Conference game. Oregon-Rutgers? Conference game. SMU-Boston College? Conference game. Stanford-Virginia Tech? Conference game. As the curtain closes on Summer 2023, Stanford and Cal are bound for the ACC, The Golden Gate Bridge is now an extension of Tobacco Road, and the kids in the GTW offices are measuring the drapes for a cell with padded walls. Yay, realignment!ACC meets West Coast — FCollege sports’ provincial, regional dynamic, one of the tenets that made it unique within American sporting fare, has been replaced by the ethos of “Let’s Be In All Four Time Zones” — which, of course, is code for, “Let’s Be A Junior NFL.” ACC? Junior NFL. Big 12? Junior NFL. SEC? Junior NFL (With only two time zones. For n...

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami agree to switch hotels in support of striking hospitality workers 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:51 GMT

Legendary soccer superstar Lionel Messi is in Los Angeles as Inter Miami are set take on LAFC at BMO Stadium on Sunday, and the team is supporting local striking hotel workers during their stay in the City of Angels. According to the Los Angeles Times, Inter Miami were originally slated to stay at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica, but Unite Here Local 11 – which represents the striking workers – said the team canceled its reservations “at the union’s urging.” “The housekeepers, cooks, bellmen and servers of the Fairmont Miramar say thank you to the great Lionel Messi and his teammates for agreeing to move from the hotel and stand with the striking workers,” Unite Here Local 11 said in a statement. The union posted a message on social media on Wednesday asking the team to “stay out” of the Fairmont Miramar amid tensions and occasional violence on the picket lines.  Kobe Bryant’s daughter Natalia tosses first pitch on Lakers Night at Dodger Stadium The MLS Players Association, w...

Girl, 12, recalls terrifying encounter with homeless man

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:51 GMT

A mother recalls the terrifying moment a man snuck into her Riverside home and touched her 12-year-old daughter.The suspect, Daveon Alvarez, 28, is a convicted felon and a transient on parole for auto theft, Riverside police said.Alvarez entered the home through an unlocked door where the victim, 12-year-old Jessie Guitron, was asleep on the couch.“He walked straight into the living room, stood in front of my daughter as she was asleep and touched her face with his hand,” said Laura Guitron, the victim's mother.Alvarez then sat across from the girl and just stared at her, Laura said. Maintaining her composure, the girl calmly walked over to her older sister’s room while Alvarez followed behind.“He asked for the time and I tell him,” Jessie recalled. “Then he asked for my age which was very confusing to me. I was just very nervous and tense.”Police say Daveon Alvarez snuck into a home and touched a 12-year-old girl on the face. Aug. 28, 2023. (Riverside Police)Daveon Alvarez is seen ...

Kobe Bryant's daughter Natalia tosses first pitch on Lakers Night at Dodger Stadium

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:51 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Natalia Bryant threw out the first pitch on Friday night before the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Atlanta Braves as the Lakers legend was honored.The 20-year-old University of Southern California student tossed the ball from in front of the mound. It took one bounce and into the glove of All-Star Mookie Betts, who was handling catching duties. A smiling Natalia hugged Betts, who wore her father's No. 24 jersey over his Dodgers uniform.Bryant was joined by her mother, Vanessa, and sisters, 6-year-old Bianka and 4-year-old Capri. They all wore Dodgers jerseys. The back of Vanessa's read Queen Mamba, a nod to Kobe's nickname. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka also attended.Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in 2020.Natalia Bryant, daughter of Kobe Bryant, hugs Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves Friday, Sept. ...

What is California Forever? Company behind huge land purchases releases details

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:51 GMT

The group of Silicon Valley investors who have been buying up land in Northern California under the company Flannery Associates has launched a website, revealing a parent company called California Forever and offering more details about its plans for building a new metropolitan area in Solano County. The website, which launched Thursday, features information about a survey conducted by the company, renderings of what the community would look like, and more information about the two companies, which it says are seeking to build a new "sustainable community." California Forever has existed since 2017, according to the site. But it wasn't until this year that it caught national attention after concerns were raised about the close to 55,000 acres it had purchased in the eastern part of Solano County, close to Travis Air Force Base. This summer, the land buyers started receiving more attention from media outlets and state and federal elected officials after concerns about the proximity o...

Bay Area high school football roundup 2023: Best of Week 2 action

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:51 GMT

Welcome back to the Bay Area News Group’s high school football roundup. Here, you’ll find all the details from the weekend’s action in this news organization’s coverage area, which encompasses teams that play in leagues based primarily in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.Check back every Saturday during the season for scores, highlights and top performers, updated throughout the day.If you have not already, please subscribe here for complete digital access all season long. Your contributions keep us going.On to the roundup …Ranked teamsNo. 3 Pittsburg 41, Granite Bay 21The visiting Pirates broke a 14-14 deadlock by scoring four touchdowns over a 9:23 stretch of mostly the fourth quarter. The eruption of six-pointers began when QB Marley Alcantara threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Makari Kenion with 15 seconds left on the clock in the third quarter. The Pirates (2-0) struck again when Alcantara flipped a 6-yard pass to Tristan Berena to make...

Man fatally shot in East Oakland late Friday night

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:41:51 GMT

OAKLAND — A 40-year-old man was fatally shot Friday night in East Oakland, authorities said.His name has not yet been released, but he is believed to be an Oakland resident, police said.The man was found shot about 11:40 p.m. Friday outside in a parking lot in the 2700 block of East 12th Street. He was pronounced dead at the scene.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Shooting victim in critical but stable condition following gunfire in downtown Oakland Crime and Public Safety | Oakland police have a year to speed up 911 response times — and a lot to lose if they don’t Crime and Public Safety | One dead following shooting in Union City Crime and Public Safety | Alleged East Bay gang member convicted of killing teen in drive-by shooting Crime and Public Safety | Alleged co-founder of ‘Murder Mob’ Concord Sureño gang sentenced to 9 years for drug conspiracy Police have not...