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Creators of Black opera ‘Of The Sea’ on inspiring alternatives to Eurocentric works

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:58:43 GMT

TORONTO — A new Black Canadian opera brings to life a story of resilience, amplified by hopeful arias and performers drawing from their own experiences in facing obstacles. The Tapestry Opera and Obsidian Theatre co-production titled “Of The Sea” is written by Kanika Ambrose and composed by Ian Cusson. It is a story of Black fatherhood and the lengths a parent would go for their child. Ambrose, a Toronto-based librettist, playwright and screenwriter, says prior to writing “Of The Sea” she didn’t know any operas that were in English. “Everything I’d seen at the Canadian Opera Company was in some European language,” she said. She began writing the 90-minute production with Cusson in 2018 as a part of a Tapestry Opera program that pairs composers and librettists to collaborate on projects that can become full commissions of new operas. Ambrose decided to create something based on the mythological narratives she’s heard since childhood about oceanic waters....

Guilbeault wants stronger links with Alberta on issues of oilsands tailings ponds

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:58:43 GMT

OTTAWA — Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault is emphasizing his call for stronger links between Ottawa and Alberta when it comes to environmental protection in the oilsands. Guilbeault repeated today his plan for a new body with federal and provincial members that would share information, especially on environmental emergencies like the releases from Imperial Oil’s Kearl mine in Alberta.Guilbeault, in a letter last week to his provincial counterpart, Sonya Savage, spelled out what he’s hoping to see.He says he wants the new federal-provincial body to have a say in remediation and containment of the ponds, as well as about notifications for spills or seeps. Guilbeault also wants the body to look at reform of water monitoring in the area. In her public statements, Savage has agreed to the need to look at communication between the two levels of government.This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2023. The Canadian Press

B.C. parent launches class-action lawsuit against makers of Fortnite video game

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:58:43 GMT

VANCOUVER — A Vancouver parent has launched a proposed class-action lawsuit against the makers of Fortnite, saying the popular video game is designed to be “as addictive as possible” for children.In the lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court on Friday, the plaintiff identified only as A.B. says her son downloaded Fortnite in 2018 and “developed an adverse dependence on the game.”The statement of claim says the game incorporates a number of intentional design choices such as offering rewards for completing challenges and making frequent updates, which encourages players to return repeatedly.The statement says Fortnite creator Epic Games enriches itself by making content and customization options purchasable via an in-game currency, which are purchased with real cash. The class-action lawsuit would still need approval from the court and none of the allegations have been proven in court. The plaintiff is seeking damages alleging the game breaches the B.C. Business ...

Teen driver in crash that killed 5 children had no license

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:58:43 GMT

The 16-year-old driver in a crash that killed five young people did not have a driver’s license or permit and may have fallen asleep or become distracted before the SUV veered off a New York highway, officials said Monday.The car continued straight at a curve on the highway and struck a boulder and then a tree at 12:20 a.m. Sunday, Westchester County Executive George Latimer said at a news conference. Speed does not appear to have been a factor, he said.“The crash cost the lives of five young people. And that is a tragedy no matter what the details are,” Latimer said. “It was a horrific accident site.”The victims — three boys and two girls — were identified Monday as Malik Smith, the 16-year-old driver; Anthony Billips Jr., 17; Zahnyiah Cross, 12; Shawnell Cross, 11; and Andrew Billips, 8. They included two sets of siblings, Latimer said. A 9-year-old boy, the sixth person in the SUV, was the only survivor. Police said he apparently was riding in the rear cargo area of t...

Austin connection to dentist accused in wife's poisoning death, affidavit claims

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:58:43 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — An Aurora dentist who is accused of poisoning and killing his wife allegedly researched and ordered multiple "undetectable poisons" and Googled "how many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human." Police also said he was attempting to begin a new life with another woman who had ties to Central Texas.James Toliver Craig, 45, was arrested on a first-degree murder charge Sunday for the death of his wife Angela Craig. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by KXAN sister station FOX31, the Aurora Police Department believes James went to great lengths to kill his wife by allegedly searching for ways to kill someone undetected, ordering multiple different types of poison and pouring them into her protein shakes.According to the affidavit, Angela said she was suffering from dizziness, headaches and the feeling of being drugged beginning on March 6 through March 15. Angela became sick multiple times within that week and was admitted to the hospital three separate ti...

Crow Bar to relocate from South Congress location after 2022 fire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:58:43 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Crow Bar will move from its original South Congress location after it learned a 2022 intentionally-set fire will require the building to be demolished. The bar owner posted to Instagram Sunday and said, "the building has to be demolished after finding extensive damage in the walls in the older part of the building next to [the] patio." PREVIOUS: Arson suspect arrested, may be connected to 15 Austin fires, AFD says "The good news is I am aggressively looking for CB’s new spot," the Instagram post continued.Austin Fire Department crews responded to the fire in the early morning of Sept. 18 and found the building's exterior deck completely involved in the fire. Investigators said the fire appeared to be intentional. Later, AFD said the Crow Bar fire was one of at least 15 fires set that weekend. The department announced an arrest in connection to the arson cases that week.

Open house to be held on improvements to intersection of MN Highway 36, Lake Elmo Ave.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:58:43 GMT

Washington County officials are holding a second open house from 4 to 6 p.m., on Wednesday, April 19, to discuss the upcoming road improvements to the intersection of state Highway 36 and Lake Elmo Avenue or County Highway 17.The public is invited to attend the meeting to be held at River Valley Church. It will feature a review of design options for the intersection and allow those attending to offer feedback.The project will address the safety, capacity and efficiency of the intersection, according to the website at www.co.washington.mn.us/LakeElmoAvenue.Various alternatives to the intersection will be drafted in a three-step evaluation process. The first step has been done with options such as a partial median U-turn being dismissed from further consideration and others like a single roundabout as a possible option. Related ArticlesLocal News | After failed bond request, South Washington County seeking input on school facility plans Local News | ‘V...

NYSP investigates suspicious death near AuSable Chasm Bridge

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:58:43 GMT

CHESTERFIELD, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Investigations into a suspicious death near the AuSable Chasm Bridge are underway. According to police, they located Kenneth C. Darrah, 37, of Keeseville, deceased on the north side riverbank shortly after 2 a.m. on Monday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! An autopsy is scheduled at the Glens Falls Hospital on Tuesday morning. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact State Police at (518) 873-2777.

1990 murder of seminary student featured on Oxygen network

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:58:43 GMT

CREVE COEUR, Mo. - The only unsolved murder in Creve Coeur, Missouri, history is the subject of a recent episode of a true-crime series on the Oxygen network.The March 18 episode of "Cold Justice" tackles the 1990 slaying of seminary student Elizabeth Mackintosh.Mackintosh was found murdered on the morning of March 26, 1990, inside a chapel bathroom at Covenant Theological Seminary. She was 50.“An electrical cord was used to tie her up to the top of a stall in the bathroom,” Creve Coeur Det. Doug Manniner said in a March 2020 interview with FOX 2.Manniner said Mackintosh died of strangulation. Investigators also found multiple puncture wounds to her neck, which Mannier believes were caused by scissors. Top story: Search for missing St. Charles woman leads to abandoned car "Cold Justice" host Kelly Siegler, a former Texas prosecutor, and retired Milwaukee Police Department homicide detective Steve Spingola, travel to Creve Coeur to visit the seminary to recreate the crime scene. ...

If Trump is charged, what happens next?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:58:43 GMT

Preparations appear to be underway for the unprecedented scenario that Donald Trump could become the first former president in U.S. history to be indicted.Barricades arrived outside the criminal courthouse in Manhattan on Monday while law enforcement agencies grapple with how to protect the former president. Questions also remain as to whether Trump would be handcuffed and when he would first appear in court if he is indeed charged in a case involving a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.As a potential indictment looms, here’s what to expect if the grand jury indicts Trump.What charges would Trump face?Manhattan prosecutors are scrutinizing a $130,000 hush payment that Michael Cohen, Trump’s longtime fixer and former attorney, made to Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair she says she had with Trump. Making a hush payment in itself is not illegal, but legal observers indicate that prosecutors are eying charges against the former presid...