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TIFF’23: Perfect Days and the simplicity of life

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:20 GMT

Complexity has become a large part of our lives. Using numerous social medias, keeping up multiple friendships and relationships, learning all of the latest celebrity drama. It can be too much for many, who may find themselves yearning for simplicity. For the protagonist of this film, what makes a day perfect is simplicity.#TIFF23 Perfect Days is another fantastic film by Wim Wenders, centered around a powerful yet simple performance by Kōji Yakusho. It's the one film I've seen at the festival that I can't wait to rewatch as soon as possible.— James Mackin @ TIFF 23 (@JamesMackin10) September 7, 2023Perfect Days is a Japanese film directed by German filmmaker Wim Wenders (who previously made Paris, Texas, Wings of Desire, and Pina). It stars beloved Japanese actor Kōji Yakusho (from Cure and Babel) as a man called Hirayama. He is an aging man working as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo, living a very structured and simple life where every day is almost exactly the same. B...

Chicago Teachers Union President admits sending son to private school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:20 GMT

CHICAGO — After an onslaught of online criticism, and days of silence, the head of the Chicago Teachers Union now admits she sends her eldest son to a private high school.Stacy Davis Gates has been an outspoken critic of school choice, but she tells WBEZ her family was forced to make “unfair choices” due to disinvestment in her own community. What is CPD’s response time? Experts can’t say with certainty “Our neighborhoods have basically been robbed of everything,” Davis Gates told WBEZ.The Chicago Teachers Union has not responded to multiple requests for confirmation or comment from WGN-TV.“It was a very difficult decision for us because there is not a lot to offer Black youth who are entering high school,” Davis Gates told WBEZ. “In many of our schools on the South Side and the West Side, the course offerings are very marginal and limited. Then the other thing, and it was a very strong priority, was his ability to participate in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, which...

Gilgo Beach killings: Police investigate link between Rex Heuermann, missing South Carolina mom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:20 GMT

(NewsNation) — Authorities are investigating a possible connection between accused Gilgo Beach Killer Rex Heuermann and a South Carolina woman who has been missing since 2017. Julia Ann Bean, 37, was last seen alive on May 31, 2017, in Sumter, South Carolina, according to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. Investigators have been poring over "the information they have recently received to determine if there is any evidence linking Bean with Heuermann," the Sumter County Sheriff's Office said in a press release this week. "Yet there are no confirmed facts that confirm or deny the possibility of a connection." ‘That ’70s Show’ actor Danny Masterson gets 30 years to life in prison South Carolina police asked the FBI to help investigate the possible connection after Bean's daughter recently came forward saying her mother was last seen with a man resembling Heuermann, the sheriff's office said. Bean's daughter, Cameron, also said the unfamiliar man was driving a dark truck, the sherif...

Telework crackdown: Lawmakers push federal workers to return to the office

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The days federal government employees can work remotely may be numbered.Lawmakers on Capitol Hill and the White House are pressuring federal workers to return to the office."We're coming after you," said Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.Ernst says it's time for a telework crackdown within the federal government."I know they're still on the payroll," Ernst said. "Is COVID over? Are we able to come to work safely?"According to Ernst, taxpayer money is being wasted on empty offices.A Government Accountability Office report released in July found that it costs $7 billion to lease and manage agency headquarters — but most agencies are only using a fraction of their buildings. Of the 24 federal agencies reviewed in the report, 17 used 25% or less of their buildings' capacities during a three-week period in 2023."We’ve got to figure this out," Ernst said.Ernst is demanding answers from each agency. She also wants to stop federal workers from receiving Washington, D.C., wages ...

Man sentenced to life in prison for 2021 murder in Fredericksburg

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:20 GMT

GILLESPIE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man was convicted by a jury in March in connection with a May 2021 shooting in Fredericksburg that killed one man and critically injured a 10-year-old girl.According to Gillespie County court documents, Esteban Mansanares-Wences was sentenced to life in state prison for murder.Documents showed Mansanares-Wences would receive a jail credit of 647 toward his sentence.Mansanares-Wences pleaded not guilty ahead of his trial date, according to documents.

Vikings star Justin Jefferson downplays contract talks: ‘My focus is on playing football’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:20 GMT

It’s no secret that the Vikings are trying to sign star receiver Justin Jefferson to a historic deal.It seems as if there’s a chance something could get done ahead of Sunday’s season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.As of right now, however, contract talks are still ongoing, and Jefferson is letting his agent handle those hard conversations.“Of course I would want a contract to be done,” Jefferson said. “It is all up to them and what the ownership wants to do with that.”Now, things might have gotten a little more difficult for the Vikings over the past couple of days, with the San Francisco 49ers signing star pass rusher Nick Bosa to a 5-year, $170 million contract extension with $122.5 million guaranteed. The average salary of $34 million for Bosa is the most ever for a non-quarterback.Though it’s unclear if Jefferson’s contract extension would surpass that figure, it’s a good bet that he wants to at least become th...

Group of DFL legislators, parents and educators say ‘no’ to special legislative session over school resource officers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:20 GMT

More than 40 Democratic legislators, along with educators and parents, said Thursday they don’t support a special session to repeal a new law limiting use of physical holds on students in schools, which has led to some law enforcement agencies pausing school resource officer programs.It came a week after top Republican legislators called for a special session.Gov. Tim Walz, DFL, said Tuesday that “some (school) districts have worked it out and they believe the language is clarified” and others have not. “… I’m certainly open to anything that provides a solution to that, if that means the Legislature working it out to make sure we have it.”Educators and parents said at a press conference Thursday at the Minnesota Capitol that the new law provides important safeguards and shouldn’t be changed.“I want to send my children to school, in hopes that they ignite their love for learning, they want to grow, and I want them to make mistakes and not be harmed,” said Dani...

What went into Greg Harbaugh becoming the Gophers’ offensive play-caller?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:20 GMT

Greg Harbaugh will never forget it.The 28-year-old Raleigh, N.C., native was serving as a graduate assistant at Western Michigan in 2015. The Broncos had just finished winter conditioning drills one day when then-head coach P.J. Fleck caught Harbaugh off guard during a team meeting.Fleck said Harbaugh was going to be a “great” coach.“I hadn’t done anything,” Harbaugh recalled Wednesday. “I had coached Division III for six years and played Division III. Then I get that opportunity to work as a graduate assistant under (Fleck). He didn’t know who I was.”Eight years later, Fleck has promoted Harbaugh to be the Gophers’ co-offensive coordinator, quarterback coach and its play-caller, starting in Minnesota’s season-opening, 13-10 victory over Nebraska on Aug. 31.On the eve of the Cornhuskers game, Harbaugh received a letter written by Fleck. Both of them wanted to keep its contents to themselves, but Fleck shared why he sent it and Harbaugh what it meant to receive it.Fleck has been writ...

Governor Hochul keeps pushing for federal support for asylum seekers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:20 GMT

ALBANY,N.Y. (NEWS10)---As the asylum seeker issue continues, Governor Kathy Hochul said she’s speaking with the White House Chief of Staff about the situation today."The answer falls with Washington," said Hochul. "With resources, change in work authorization, helping us with housing vouchers, helping us with more money for education…"While Republican state lawmakers primarily blame this situation on the federal government, earlier this week they urged Hochul to call a special session to further address the crisis. https://www.news10.com/news/republican-state-lawmakers-push-for-extraordinary-session/#:~:text=Assembly%20minority%20members%20on%20Tuesday,legislature%20needs%20to%20take%20action."We ought to be addressing some of these problems the best way we can in the state," said Assembly Minority Leader, Will Barclay, on Tuesday. "We can’t wait until January when the legislature comes back into session. We gotta do it right away."It’s something the governor hasn’t ruled out."With ...

SCCC faculty and staff honored with Chancellor’s Awards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:20 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Schenectady County Community College announced that five members of their faculty and staff have been presented with 2023 SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence. The Chancellor’s Awards were created more than 45 years ago to honor the extraordinary performance of SUNY’s teaching faculty, librarians, and membersof the professional and classified services. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The recipients receive cast bronze medallions to commemorate the occasion. The five honorees for this year's Chancellor’s Awards are listed below: SCCC's 2023 Chancellor’s Awards Honorees Catia Laird de Polanco, Associate Professor in the Division of Liberal ArtsExcellence in TeachingJohn L. O’Connell, Associate Professor in the School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and TourismExcellence in Faculty ServiceDawn Jones, Assistant Director of Career ServicesExcellence in Professional ServiceKimberly Kirker, Executive Secretary II, Stu...