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Review: New ‘Shazam!’ has more everything, but less charm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:10 GMT

Sequels, by nature, are more. Whatever the original had, just add more, the rule seems to be. Even more words in the title — how often is a sequel’s title shorter than the original?And so, exactly four years after the original DC superhero pic “Shazam!” surprised with its clever blend of innocence and silliness, and enough wit to blunt the inevitable ridiculousness of plot, we have “Shazam! Fury of the Gods.” It brings five times the title wordage, more action, more villains, more monsters and more star wattage — Oscar winner Helen Mirren, for example.But not more charm. The sequel, again directed by David F. Sandberg, feels less breezily funny, less fresh, less fleet of foot. (At two hours and 10 minutes, it’s actually two minutes shorter than the original, but doesn’t feel shorter).In its favor, though, are some elements that lent the original its pleasures, especially Zachary Levi and his goofy efforts (if perhaps more frenetic) to play a youngster in an adult superhero body, and...

Chicago's top cop checks out early

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:10 GMT

It was an unceremonious end for police superintendent David Brown.  WGN Investigates has learned Chicago’s top cop checked-out earlier than his announced exit, originally scheduled for Thursday. Sources say Brown cleaned-out his corner office and is leaving town without the usual pomp and circumstance usually afforded a police leader.  He declined all interview requests.  The early departure comes after Brown also missed the final police graduation and promotion ceremony of his tenure on March 7.Mayor Lori Lightfoot brought Brown to Chicago in 2020 from Dallas where he had previously served as police chief.  He began in the early weeks of the pandemic which proved to be a defining fixture of his time here.“When I’m talking to you in a couple of years for your exit interview, what does success look like?” WGN Investigates’ Ben Bradley asked Brown in May of 2020.  “Historical lows in violent crime and trust in the community not seen in Chicago,” Brown answered...

Elmwood Park school district expects 100+ at school board meeting after boy brought loaded gun to school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:10 GMT

ELMWOOD PARK, Ill. — Elmwood Park High School is expecting more than one hundred parents, students, staff and teachers to be in attendance of a school board meeting tonight after the school faced backlash from the community on how they handled a crisis situation last week.The school district (CUSD #401), sent a letter to families Wednesday ahead of the meeting, saying in part:"We want to assure you that it is everyone’s top priority to provide a safe school environment that protects our students and staff. Our goal in such situations is to de-escalate any threat, protect the well-being of all students and staff, and prevent panic.”The full letter can be read below.On Friday, students at the school held a walkout where they demanded changes to the school's safety policy, citing they no longer felt safe after, according to police, a 17-year-old boy was arrested last Monday following reports he left the school's property with a loaded gun in his backpack. The boy was arrested and no on...

Nike announces it'll stop using kangaroo leather for its soccer cleats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:10 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — After Oregon lawmakers introduced a bill banning the sale of kangaroo parts, Nike has announced that it will no longer be using kangaroo leather for any of its products by the end of 2023.According to ESPN, Nike confirmed its move away from kangaroo products in a statement on Monday.ESPN reported that Nike’s Tiempo soccer cleats, which are typically made with kangaroo leather, will “debut with a new Nike-only, proprietary synthetic upper, [with] a new material that is a better performance solution.” Shop at IKEA? You may be entitled to part of a $24M class action settlement Prior to this announcement, the athletic apparel company had been criticized for its use of kangaroo products by animal activists across the world.In March 2022, organizers joined the Global Day of Action to protest the brand’s soccer cleats outside of a Nike store in downtown Portland, Oregon. Groups in New York and Australian cities led their own protests as well.More recently, Oregon ...

Kennedy Expressway construction project to begin Monday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:10 GMT

CHICAGO — Starting Monday, a three-year construction project will start on the Kennedy Expressway and is expected to cause major delays for drivers.During the first phase of the $150 million project, the Illinois Department of Transportation will be doing deck overlay repairs on every bridge structure between the Edens and Ohio Street. FULL DETAILS: Kennedy Expressway construction project to last 3 years, cost $150M Overnight Monday into Tuesday morning, IDOT will close the two left-hand inbound lanes of the Kennedy. It will take about a week for the full configuration to get in place.The express lanes will stay open to inbound traffic around the clock until this year's repairs are done."If they want to get on and off the Kennedy, it's best that they stay to the right-hand side and use the local lanes," Jon Schumacher, the bureau chief of construction for IDOT District 1, said. "If they're going all the way downtown or going through, it'll be best for them to use the reversible." ...

Sox fan facing 3rd cancer battle has support system of major league proportions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:10 GMT

CHICAGO — They may look like just ordinary MLB cleats but by the time Bianca Frustaci gets done with them, they will be All-Star material just like the feet they belong to — White Sox closer Liam Hendricks. Describing her not-so-accidental encounter with Hendricks, his wife Kristi and representatives from the Andrew Weishar Foundation, Frustaci told WGN News that the meeting, while nerve-wracking, was fulfilling."I was at a loss for words that I was able to meet him and talk to him about his journey and things like that," she said. "It’s a different type of connection to where it’s good to know there are other people who are struggling but also fighting." ‘Incredibly genuine’: How Liam Hendriks & family have helped the Lymphoma Research Foundation Liam Hendricks (Photo: Provided)Frustaci is fighting Hodgkin's lymphoma for a third time. Her original diagnosis was in 2017. Always on the move, either working or volunteering at Valentine Boy's and Girl's Club, she wrote it of...

At least 8 kids sickened after possibly eating pot gummies at California school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:10 GMT

(KTLA) – At least eight children needed medical evaluation Wednesday afternoon after possibly ingesting marijuana gummies at a school in Sun Valley, California officials said.The incident was reported around 1:20 p.m. at 7330 N. Bakman Avenue, the site of Sun Valley Magnet School, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.The patients, all believed to be school age, were being evaluated for "sudden illness" after ingesting what is believed to be chewable marijuana, officials said. They were all conscious and breathing.The boys and girls are between 12 and 16 years old. Five were taken to a hospital for further treatment, while three were released at the scene to their parents.Officials said that while the kids were discovered sick at the campus, it was unclear if they are students.“A confirmation of how each may be affiliated with the campus remains a matter for LAUSD officials,” LAFD said in an updated alert.Several Los Angeles Fire Department units responded to the school, aeri...

EMS: Overdoses down in Austin this spring compared to last year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Overdoses typically spike in the spring, but Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) said that's not the case this year. Last year, the week before SXSW - two peopled died from overdoses and at least a dozen went to the hospital in what police called an "alarming" 48-hour period. DEA, APD address increase in downtown overdoses This prompted the Austin Police Department (APD) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to issue a poignant warning ahead of the festival. Over the past year, multiple city and county efforts have gone toward curbing overdoses and keeping the deadly drug fentanyl off the streets.This year, as ATCEMS crews go full throttle on SXSW safety efforts, the agency is happy to report overdose numbers are down. "They're not as high as last year, so that's a good thing," ATCEMS Commander Eric Gordon said. "I think public messaging and awareness is going really well. I think people are understanding the risk of that and how dangerous using those drugs...

Texas Rent Relief application portal closing early with more than 70K submissions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:10 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video is a KXAN story from March 14 on the Texas Rent Relief portal.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Rent Relief (TRR) application portal will close on Thursday after thousands of applications were submitted within the first 24 hours, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.More than 70,000 applications were submitted, according to a TDHCA news release. ‘I don’t want to be homeless’: Texas rent relief gets over 10K applications in just hours The TRR portal will close at 11:59 a.m., Central Standard Time, the release said.For comparison, the highest number of applications seen in a single day when the portal first opened in 2021 was less than 20,000, TDHCA said.Applicants who have started the application process but not yet completed must upload all documents and submit them by Thursday, the release said. However, submitting an application does not guarantee payment.TDHCA said closing the portal helps ensure program s...

Martin Ludden to step down as director of St. Paul Neighborhood Network

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:10 GMT

Martin Ludden, the executive director of the St. Paul Neighborhood Network cable access station and media center, plans to step down this summer after six years.Undated courtesy photo, circa April 2017, of Martin Ludden. (Courtesy of St. Paul Neighborhood Network)During his time at the helm of the nonprofit community media and technology center, Ludden built out new community-driven documentary programs and invested in the organization’s staff and infrastructure, in part by creating a paid family leave program.Ludden, a former public relations executive, also oversaw improvements to the nonprofit’s technology and facilities, including a comprehensive review of the organization’s policies and community impact, with a focus on diversity and inclusion. The center has served as a public forum in advance of St. Paul City Council and mayoral elections, as well as political referendums on organized trash collection and rent control.SPNN’s “Fresh Vantage” grants supp...