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America Ferrera urges for improved Latino representation in film during academy keynote

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a room filled with several influential Hollywood figures, “Barbie” star America Ferrera used her platform to address an ongoing industry issue: Latino representation in film.“According to the numbers, the dominant narrative our industry puts into the world is that Latinos either don’t exist or they are poor, immigrant criminals,” the Emmy winner said before a gathered crowd Thursday at the Academy Women’s Luncheon.The actor said she was taken aback after she learned that Hispanics and Latinos remained underrepresented in film over the past 16 years, according to a recent report by the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.Despite the growth the Hispanic population in the U.S., Ferrera pointed out the study found that similar growth hadn’t happened in film. In last year’s movies, the study found that more than half of Latinos appearing on screen were depicted as criminals.“I’m personally devastated yet again,” said Ferrer...

Invest in Kids Act set to expire as Illinois legislative session comes to close

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Theauntae Jones is one of 9700 students on scholarship because of the Invest in Kids Act. The president of Theauntae's school said he has had the opportunity to thrive because of the scholarship, but after Thursday, the Invest in Kids Act will expire at the end of the year."Theonte is a classic example," said Dan McGrath, President of Leo High School in Chicago's Auburn Gresham neighborhood. "I doubt very much he would be here without a tax credit scholarship and yet he's come here, he has absolutely thrived, got himself set up for college."Hundreds of people rallied in Springfield this week in a last ditch effort to save the program, with Illinois republicans pushing to bring the issue to a vote, but efforts fell short on the last day of the legislative session, and the Invest in Kids Act was officially brought to an end."I, myself, was an underpriviledged kid that got a scholarship to a high school. That changed my life and the lives of four of my best friends,...

Texas high school football playoff scores for Thursday, Nov. 9

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The bi-district round kicked off playoff football for Texas high schools Thursday.In local action, Wimberley made easy work of Pearsall in Class 4A-Division II with a 68-0 win and Belton pounded Travis 61-6 in Class 5A-Division II. In Class 4A-Division I, Burnet thumped Somerset 42-17 and Boerne took out Taylor 42-28.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteThe remaining bi-district games will take place Friday night, including Round Rock at Westlake which will air on KBVO at 7:30 p.m.Check out the rest of the scores from the bi-district games below:Scores from around the KXAN viewing areaBelton 61, Travis 6Blanco 47, Lytle 0Boerne 42, Taylor 28Burnet 42, Somerset 17Granger 21, Burton 7Madisonville 55, La Grange 7Mason 28, Thrall 7Wimberley 68, Pearsall 0Scores from around Texas compiled by the Associated PressClass 6A Division ...

High school football: Edina’s offense rolls in Class 6A quarterfinal win over Stillwater

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

Not much was going the way of Edina senior John Warpinski and his teammates in the early going of their Class 6A state quarterfinal against Stillwater Thursday night.But after that, almost everything did.Warpinski rushed for 254 yards and two touchdowns, sophomore quarterback Mason West threw for four scores and the Hornets got a first-half safety and a touchdown on a blocked punt as they rolled past the Ponies 49-21 at Park Center High School.“Our offense was just rolling,” said Warpinski, whose team has now won seven games in a row after losing three straight early on this season. “We knew what we had to do to set up the run. Our wide receivers were not going to get beat one-on-one. They’re incredible players and the run-pass combo was really working for us tonight.”Edina (8-3) advances to face the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal matchup between Lakeville North and Eden Prairie in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Stillwater finished its season 8-3 overa...

FBI issues warning, advice over rise in hate crimes

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Hate crimes have been on the rise in the United States since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. In response to the sharp increase in violence, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has sent out its Hate Crime Threat Response Guide.FBI St. Louis Special Agent in Charge Jay Greenberg said the fear of violence spans across multiple communities.“We are seeing a heightened sense of fear in our Jewish communities, our Arab, our Muslim, and our pro-Palestinian communities,” Greenberg said.So, what is a hate crime?The FBI defines a hate crime as an attack against a person or property motivated, at least in part, by a federally protected characteristic, like race or religion. Greenberg said that in the past, hate crimes have most commonly been based on race. But that has recently changed. Rush-hour demonstrations unfold in St. Louis City & County “Since the conflict we’ve seen arise between Hamas and Israel, we have seen an increase in crimes either targeting the pro-I...

Wash. U., BJC loan program helps employees become homeowners

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

ST. LOUIS - BJC Health Care and Washington University found a way to help their 52,000 employees own a home through their Live Near Your Work homeownership program.“The Live Near Your Work program is a forgivable home loan program for employees of Wash U and BJC who are benefits eligible,” Lisa Weingarth, Washington University’s senior advisor for St. Louis initiatives, said. “Through the program, employees can get up to a $12,500 forgivable home loan.”The rewarding benefit of this home loan is that it’s forgivable after five years of living in the home, which helps employees become homeowners.“And it is really intended to help our employees to purchase a home,” Weingrath said. “That is close to the university or in neighborhoods that have been historically disinvested.” Have a $2 bill? It could be worth thousands Twenty-six years after launching the program, BJC Health Care and Washington University are expanding the list of eligible neighborhoods.“With the new expanded zip codes...

Jennings juvenile shot Thursday evening

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

JENNINGS, Mo. – A juvenile was grazed by gunfire Thursday evening and rushed to a local hospital. According to Officer Adrian Washington, a spokesperson for the St. Louis County Police Department, police were called to a residence in the 8800 block of Orchard Avenue just after 8:20 p.m. for a reported shooting.When they arrived at the home, officers found a juvenile female suffering from a graze wound.The female’s injuries were not life-threatening, Washington said. No other injuries were reported.Police learned a vehicle arrived at Orchard Avenue and shot at the residence before the driver sped off.Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the St. Louis County Police Department. If you wish to remain anonymous or are interested in a cash reward, call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.

Embattled Missouri House speaker hires a former House speaker who pleaded guilty to assault

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s troubled House speaker is getting blowback after he hired another former House speaker who had pleaded guilty to assault to be his chief of staff.Republican Speaker Dean Plocher's hiring of former speaker Rod Jetton is “a gross affront to survivors of domestic violence,” Democratic House Minority Leader Crystal Quade said Thursday.Jetton in 2011 pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault while admitting that he hit and choked a woman during a sexual encounter in November 2009. He was sentenced to probation.“The speaker’s hiring of a man who pleaded guilty to assault for hitting and choking a woman during a sexual encounter is a gross affront to domestic violence survivors," Quade said in a statement. “An admitted abuser of women has no business holding a position of influence in the Missouri House, and his hiring marks a failure of both judgment and leadership by the speaker.” Rush-hour demonstrations unfold in St. Louis Cit...

The culture of film is being revived in St. Louis

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It’s a form of art and imagination that's transformed times of hardship and opportunity here in the area. It's why the St. Louis International Film Festival is celebrating hip-hop."Just listen to the words and listen to people's stories," Hady Sow said.Sow, from New York City, found himself in St. Louis during the 32nd annual St. Louis International Film Festival."We unite the world through film," Chris Clark, the artistic director of Cinema St. Louis, said.The opening night of the festival falls on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, presenting the perfect opportunity to reflect on its impact.Sow’s love for the musical genre inspired him to travel more than 900 miles to watch “House Party” on the big screen at the festival."There's been a long tradition that's always been thriving and will never really go away," Clark said.According to Clark, it’s been a focal point that’s been missing in the area."The last 10 years or so, we did not have a film credit, but it was just rei...

Kraken score first (again) and last to hand Avalanche first home loss of the season

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

Seattle’s Oliver Bjorkstand scored with 31.6 seconds left Thursday night to stun the Avalanche in a 4-3 victory at Ball Arena.It was Bjorkstand’s second goal of the game, and it led to Colorado’s first home loss of the season. It’s also the first time the Avs (8-4-0) have lost a game this season while scoring at least one goal. Beyond the team’s fourth loss in six games, the Avs also lost forward Artturi Lehkonen to injury after he took a hit along the boards.Colorado had trailed for nearly 34 minutes Thursday night when Valeri Nichushkin deflected a Devon Toews point shot past Seattle goaltender Philipp Grubauer with 7:45 left in regulation. The Kraken had led by two goals twice, but Nichushkin’s second tally of the season leveled the score at 3-3.Nichushkin missed practice Wednesday and the morning skate to be with his wife, who gave birth to their daughter, Anna.Bjorkstand gave Seattle a two-goal lead early in the second period on a weird play....