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Meet Colorado’s new poet laureate: “I write about what I dream the world can be”

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:24 GMT

Boulderite Andrea Gibson was named Colorado’s ninth poet laureate Wednesday, a position in which they hope to “redirect awe, astonishment and wonder back into people.”That’s “something we were born with, but culture takes out of us as we grow older,” Gibson said in a state news release. “I spent so much time writing about what was wrong with the world. Now I write about what I dream the world can be.”Gibson — a queer activist, author and four-time Denver Grand Slam poetry champion — writes about the LGBTQ community, spirituality, feminism, mental health and gun reform, among other topics. Much of Gibson’s current work centers on their journey after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer two years ago.Gov. Jared Polis announced Wednesday morning that Gibson will succeed Bobby LeFebre, who served as the state’s first poet laureate of color. Gibson will hold the title for two years.“I want to come up with new and inventive ways t...

Broadway’s “Beetlejuice” a naughtier, louder take on Tim Burton film | Review

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:24 GMT

From the outset of Broadway’s touring “Beetlejuice,” playing through Sept. 17 at the Buell Theatre, audiences must spend some of the goodwill earned by director Tim Burton’s 1988 afterlife comedy.Unlike the “Pretty Woman” adaptation that visited the Buell a little over a year ago, however, “Beetlejuice” makes good on its circuslike source by thrusting its characters into outrageous, broadly comic situations that succeed on the audacity of their staging and performances. At its grimy heart, it’s screwball showmanship larded with poignant themes, eye-popping visuals and hammy melodies.Even with its overstuffed libretto and low-reaching songs, “Beetlejuice” honors and expands on its source material, bringing richness to a beloved story about, well, death. As a critic wiser than I once said, Broadway audiences grow more interested in mortality as they age. The fact that the audience at the Sept. 5 opening night looked rel...

Chandler Jones not at Raiders facility and his status is uncertain for opener at Denver

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:24 GMT

By MARK ANDERSON (AP Sports Writer)HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Defensive end Chandler Jones was not at the Las Vegas facility on Wednesday, a day after he posted, then deleted social media posts critical of Raiders management, and his status for Sunday’s season opener at Denver is in question.Raiders coach Josh McDaniels characterized the situation as “day to day.”“We’ve got to deal with different things during the course of the year whether it’s injuries or other adversity,” McDaniels said. “I think the guys are focused on trying to control the things that they can control and get ready to play the best game we can play.”Tyree Wilson, selected seventh overall in this year’s draft, is listed on the depth chart as the backup should Jones not play against the Broncos. Wilson missed most of training camp because of a foot injury from his last season at Texas Tech.“He’s worked through this whole spring and summer o...

California temporarily halts I.E. school district's 'forced outing policy' for trans, nonbinary students

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:24 GMT

Just nine days after California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced his intention to halt what he described as a "forced outing policy" approved by a Southern California school board, his office scored a legal victory in blocking the regulation.The state secured a temporary restraining order in San Bernardino Superior Court on Wednesday that nullifies the requirement that Chino Valley Unified School District staffers notify parents if a student is transgender or gender-nonconforming, according to the Los Angeles Times."We’ve secured a temporary restraining order against Chino Valley Unified School District’s illegal and dangerous forced outing policy," Bonta announced on X, formerly known as Twitter. Bonta later added in a statement that "a temporary restraining order rightfully upholds the state rights of our LGBTQ+ student community and protects kids from harm by immediately halting the board’s forced outing policy."“While this fight is far from over, today’s ruling takes a signi...

Tickets for In-N-Out's 75th anniversary festival almost sold out

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:24 GMT

In-N-Out fans planning to attent the company’s 75th anniversary celebration in October should buy their tickets sooner rather than later.Tickets for In-N-Out Burger’s 75th anniversary festival and benefit concert are almost sold out, according to the event website. Copycat In-N-Out restaurant in Mexico changes its name Festival tickets cost $25 per person, and ticket bundles that give people access to the concert and festival cost $75 per person.However, ticket packages, like the Fun Runs deal, are already sold out.The festival is slated to take place at the Pomona Raceway on Oct. 22, 2023, where visitors can enjoy drag racing, carnival rides, a car show, food, drinks, live musical performances and In-N-Out burgers.The Pomona Raceway was also officially renamed the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip to celebrate the company’s milestone.In-N-Out CEO Lynsi Snyder announced the event last year.In-N-Out Burger opened in 1948 as a tiny stand at Francisquito and Garvey avenues in Baldwin ...

Long Beach launches program to distribute drink safety test kits

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:24 GMT

The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services has launched a program to begin distributing drink safety test kits that detect illegal substances in beverages, officials announced this week.Request forms for the kits are now available for businesses and organizations in the city."We are taking proactive steps to prevent drink spiking and promote a safe environment for all,” Mayor Rex Richardson said. “This $25,000 initiative is a significant investment in our community's safety, and we are proud to be promoting personal safety."The SipSafe testing kit is designed to detect the possible presence of drink-spiking drugs like GHB, known as the date rape drug, and ketamine.Other cities in Southern California, including West Hollywood, have established similar initiatives, which the Health Department is modeling its program after, officials said.Vice Mayor Cindy Allen first recommended the implementation of SipSafe and the measure was co-sponsored by Councilwomen Mary Zendejas and...

Woman goes into labor during Beyonce's Inglewood concert

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:24 GMT

Beyonce said you won't break her soul, but she never said you won't break her water. That's exactly what happened with actress Sarah Francis Jones. Both she and her partner, actor Marcel Spear, attended Queen Bey's birthday show on Monday at SoFi Stadium when she suddenly went into labor as soon as the "Cuff It" singer hit the stage. Diana Ross sings ‘Happy Birthday’ to Beyonce at SoFi Stadium "I think it was right after the mute challenge," Jones said. "Everybody went mute. L.A. did very well ... and then I started having contractions."Sarah Francis Jones and Marcel Spear welcomed their baby girl just hours after Jones went into labor during the Beyonce concert at SoFi Stadium on Monday.This caught the couple by surprise as the baby girl wasn't due for a few more days. When the contractions started, the "Honey" actress thought they were Braxton Hicks, also known as false labor pains."I said 'Something's happening,'" she explained. "Usually I like to dance at the concert and I wa...

Haven Gabriel Finkie Died in Two-Vehicle Crash on US Highway 175 [Henderson County, TX]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:24 GMT

Joseph Charles Simmons Injured in Two-vehicle CollisionHENDERSON COUNTY, TX (September 6, 2023) – Early Monday morning, a two-vehicle crash on US Highway 175 left Haven Gabriel Finkie dead.The incident happened on August 21st, at around 12:30 a.m., in the area of US Highway 175, just about 1.1 miles north of Baxter.According to police, a 2007 Honda Civic driven by 22-year-old Finkie, and a 2019 Ford F150 driven by 30-year-old Joseph Charles Simmons were involved.It was reported that the Honda was headed southeast and the F150 was headed northwest along Highway 175. The Honda then attempted to turn onto County Road 4511 but failed to yield. As a result, the Honda traveled into the path of the F150. The two vehicles collided leaving both drivers with serious injuries.Emergency crews transported Finkie to UT Health Hospital in Tyler. Additionally, they transported Simmons to UT Health Hospital in Athens for treatment of their injuries.At the hospital in Tyler, officials pronounce...

Anthony Vezzoni Dies in Head-On Collision on State Route 903 [Cle Elum, WA]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:24 GMT

86-Year-Old Man Pronounced Dead after Head-On Accident near Milepost 4CLE ELUM, WA (September 5, 2023) – Late Sunday night, Anthony Vezzoni was killed in a head-on collision on State Route 903.Police responded to the scene around 10:35 p.m., near milepost 4 on August 25th.For reasons under investigation, Vezzoni was heading south on the freeway and crossed over the center line. There, the wrong-way vehicle collided head-on with another car.Medics arrived and pronounced 86-year-old Vezzoni, of Cle Elum dead at the scene. Investigators say he was not wearing a seat belt at the time.Meanwhile, the 73-year-old man and 71-year-old woman inside the other vehicle remained uninjured.At this time, an active investigation to determine further information is still currently underway. Once available, more details will be provided.In this sorrowful time, the Sweet James team would like to extend their heartfelt condolences to the family of Anthony Vezzoni.If you have lost someone in a seri...

Bay Area arts: 10 shows and festivals to catch this weekend

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:24 GMT

From a new “Romeo and Juliet” in San Jose to a family-friendly opera in Walnut Creek to a play about a wolf boy in Berkeley, there is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend and beyond.Here is a partial roundup.Classical picks: ‘R&J’; S.F. Opera gala; ‘3 Feathers’Opera companies are launching the 23-24 season in style: “Romeo and Juliet” at Opera San Jose, a gala concert at San Francisco Opera, and a fairy tale work at Solo Opera highlight the calendar for this weekend. Here’s a look.“Romeo and Juliet”: Charles Gounod’s romantic take on Shakespeare’s tragedy of star-crossed lovers opens Opera San Jose’s fall season in a new production by company general director Shawna Lucey. Tenor Joshua Sanders is Romeo, and sopranos Melissa Sondhi and Jasmine Habersham alternate as Juliet. The cast also features baritone Efrain Solís as Mercutio and tenor Alex Boyer as Tybalt. Joseph Marcheso conducts.Details: Saturday through Sept. 24; Calif...