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Banned Books Week: Boston Public Library opens digital stacks to readers nationwide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

The Boston Public Library has joined with two other municipal library systems to offer up full access to its collection of digital books and audiobooks to adults and teens across the nation to counteract the record rise in attempted book bannings.“As we head into Banned Books Week, an annual event that highlights the value of free and open access to information, we are proud to stand with the Brooklyn Public Library and Seattle Public Library to uphold intellectual freedom and the right to read,” said BPL President David Leonard in a Thursday statement announcing the move. “By joining this initiative, we embrace the opportunity to champion the principle of access for individuals across the nation who face limitations in reaching content and are unable to advocate for themselves.”The Brooklyn Public Library in New York City launched the Books Unbanned initiative in April of 2022, according to a statement from Linda Johnson, the library’s president and CEO.The American Library A...

Motorcyclist suffers serious injuries from collision in Etobicoke

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

One person is in a trauma centre following a collision involving a motorcycle in Etobicoke on Saturday afternoon.Police responded to reports of a collision at approximately 1:08 p.m. in the Evans Avenue and North Carson Street area, near The Queensway.The collision involved a motorcycle and a vehicle, and the driver of the vehicle remained on scene.The driver of the motorcycle, an adult male, was transported to a trauma centre with serious injuries.Evans Avenue is closed from Bestobell Road and Treeview Drive, and police suggest using alternate routes.

U2 concert uses stunning visuals to open massive Sphere venue in Las Vegas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — It looked like a typical U2 outdoor concert: Two helicopters zoomed through the starlit sky before producing spotlights over a Las Vegas desert and frontman Bono, who kneeled to ground while singing the band’s 2004 hit “Vertigo.”This scene may seem customary, but the visuals were created by floor-to-ceiling graphics inside the immersive Sphere. It was one of the several impressive moments during U2’s “UV Achtung Baby” residency launch show at the high-tech, globe-shaped venue, which opened for the first time Friday night.The legendary rock band, which has won 22 Grammys, performed for two hours inside the massive, state-of-the-art spherical venue with crystal-clear audio. Throughout the night, there were a plethora of attractive visuals — including kaleidoscope images, a burning flag and Las Vegas’ skyline, taking the more than 18,000 attendees on U2’s epic musical journey.“What a fancy pad,” said Bono, who was accompanied onstage with guitarists The Edge and ...

An Ecuadorian migrant was killed in Mexico in a crash of a van operated by the immigration agency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A migrant from Ecuador died and 10 others from Colombia and Guatemala were injured in an crash that occurred while they were being taken for processing in a van operated by Mexico’s immigration agency, authorities said Saturday.Mexico’s National Migration Institute said the van was involved in a collision with a bus in the the city of Mexicali, across the border from Calexico, California. The institute said that eight injured migrants from Colombia and two from Guatemala had been taken to hospitals for treatment. The drivers of the van and the bus involved in Friday’s crash, which happened after the migrants had been detained along the border, were also injured.The institute didn’t release the name of the 36-year-old Ecuadorian killed in the crash. A photo supplied by the agency showed the van crushed up against a utility pole.It was the latest in a series of deaths amid an upsurge in the number of migrants heading toward the U.S. border.On Frida...

One in hospital with life-threatening injuries after collision in North York

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

One person is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after a collision involving a motorcycle in North York on Friday night.At approximately 11:00 p.m. Friday night police responded to a report of a personal injury collision involving a vehicle and a motorcycle in the Islington Avenue and Finch Avenue West area.A blue Ford F-150 was reportedly travelling northbound on Islington Avenue when it collided with a dirt bike motorcycle was travelling southbound on Islington Avenue.The 28-year-old driver of the motorcycle was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening-injuries.There is an investigation is ongoing by traffic services and police ask any local residents, business and drivers with security or dash camera footage of the area or incident to contact investigators.

Toys 'R' Us to expand retail operations to airports and cruise lines, open additional 'flagship' stores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

(KTLA) – Toys "R" Us is looking to make a major comeback, announcing plans this week to expand its brick-and-mortar operations and add 24 new flagship stores in the country.WHP Global, the parent company of the iconic toy store brand, is partnering with the Go! Retail Group to roll out its new U.S. stores beginning in 2024. The companies also hope to create new retail experiences for travelers by opening stores in airports and on cruise ships.The first airport-based Toys "R" Us will open in November, at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, the company said. Target closing 9 stores in 4 states for safety of workers, shoppers amid thefts WHP Global has been working to revitalize the Toys "R" Us brand since acquired a controlling stake in 2021."Since acquiring Toys "R" Us, we have increased our global retail footprint by more than 50% with openings in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Dubai, and Mexico," said WHP Chief Executive Officer Yehud...

2 stabbed during altercation in Chicago's Loop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

CHICAGO -- Two individuals were stabbed after a physical altercation in the city's Loop early Saturday morning, police said.Police said the victims were stabbed by an unknown group of individuals in the 800 block of South Plymouth Court around 4:11 a.m. 3 people in serious condition after Garfield Park shooting According to police, a 29-year-old woman and a man were transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition. There is currently no one in custody and police are investigating the incident.

What is a 'urinal fly' and what is its purpose?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Urinal flies: They’re all the buzz in the bathroom. But if you asked a random sampling of friends or acquaintances about them, you’re likely to see at least a few puzzled expressions.“Why is there a fly printed on the urinal?” some may ask, just like the Reddit user who posed the same question to the platform’s online community earlier this year.The answer, as childish as it may seem, is pretty obvious to anyone standing in front of a urinal: It’s something to aim at.Where else would you even want to go? (Getty Images)Urinal flies — or, more broadly, “urinal targets” — are believed to have existed since at least the 1890s, when pictures of bees, specifically, were sometimes etched into Britain’s toilet bowls, according to May Berenbaum, an entomologist who spoke on the subject with NPR in 2009. (The genus name for the bee is also Apis, which may have even been a winking acknowledgement to its placement). By nearly all accounts, however, the idea only started to go mainst...

Top 25 matchup in the Big 12 Saturday at DKR, No. 3 Texas vs. No. 24 Kansas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The No. 3 Texas Longhorns hope to exorcise the demons of 2021 when the No. 24 Kansas Jayhawks last visited DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.The Jayhawks came into Austin and stopped the Longhorns 57-56 in overtime on a 2-point conversion to Jared Casey who caught his first pass of the season on the play, but both coaches agreed earlier in the week the game was long ago and the current teams are much different.#Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian (@CoachSark) greets the student section🤟at DKR. ’Horns hoping for their first 5-0 start since the 2009 season. #HookEm pic.twitter.com/eyNtOJpUzy— Blake DeVine (@bladevine) September 30, 2023Offensive lineman Cole Hutson and defensive lineman Kristopher Ross are recovering from injuries and won't be available, but other than that, it looks as if the Longhorns are a healthy group all things considered. Jonathon Brooks enters the game with 379 rushing yards, No. 21 in the country, and Quinn Ewers sits at No. 37 with 1,033 passing...

These are Texas' highest-rated haunted tours on TripAdvisor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:44 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Boo! It's finally October and with it comes (hopefully) cooler temperatures and fun spooky nights out with friends and family. If you're looking for a pre-Halloween activity in Texas, you're in luck: the Lone Star State has no shortage of ghoulish festivities to help you get in the spirit.Using TripAdvisor's Traveler Favorite rankings, here are the top 10 haunted tours in Texas. 9 rattlesnakes of Texas and how to spot them RankTourLocationCost per person1.The Haunted Ghost Bus TourSan Antonio$552.Haunted Austin Walking History TourAustin$283.Historic Galveston Ghost TourGalveston$254.Austin Murder WalkAustin$475.Walk with the Dead: Old City Cemetery TourGalveston$256.Haunted History Ghost TourSan Antonio$277.Death Warmed Over: Haunted Pub CrawlSan Antonio$308.The Haunted Dinner TourSan Antonio$759.Dallas Terrors Ghost Tour by US Ghost AdventuresDallas$3010.Haunted Pub Crawl Walking TourAustin$30Coming in at number 1, The Haunted Ghost Bus Tour in San Antonio takes up t...