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Film review: ‘The Beanie Bubble,’ with Zach Galifianakis, plunges into a plush toy ’90s craze

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:05 GMT

` (AP) — Who knew so many movie ideas could be found while rummaging through your attic?This year we’ve had movies on Tetris ( “Tetris” ), Nike ( “Air” ), Blackberry ( “Blackberry” ) and Cheetos ( “Flamin’ Hot” ). The latest is “The Beanie Bubble,” a comic drama about the Beanie Baby craze of the 1990s.We once debated the ethics of product placement in movies — now the product IS the movie. It may not say entirely wonderful things about our capitalistic society that we’re pumping out big-screen movies and streaming-service content that exalts the stories behind snacks, sneaks and stuffies.“The Beanie Bubble,” which lands on Apple TV+ Friday, may be part of a ‘20s trend but its interest is unpacking a late-20th century phenomenon and the some of the women exploited along the way. Zach Galifianakis plays Ty Warner, the chief executive of Ty Inc., the maker of the stuffed animals that — thanks to a few ingenious innovati...

Severe weather leaves storm damage in Lake Bluff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:05 GMT

LAKE BLUFF, Ill. -- Cleanup continues in the north shore community of Lake Bluff after a storm ripped through Wednesday morning.Lake Bluff residents are picking up debris and any damage that may have been left in their yards following the Wednesday morning storm.Public works crews and tree service companies are also in the area helping to break down bigger trees that fell during the storm.Latest warnings and watches from the National Weather Service.Hours after the storm rolled through, some remain without power, but ComEd crews are working to restore power.Neighbors are in good spirits despite being without power on this warm day.No injuries have been reported following the Wednesday morning storm.

I-65 closed both directions in NW Indiana after Hazmat situation involving tanker crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:05 GMT

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — I-65 near Merrillville is closed in both directions until further notice after a crash involving a tanker led to a hazmat situation Wednesday afternoon.According to Indiana State Police, traffic is being diverted at U.S. 30 (exit 253) and S.R. 2 (exit 240).ISP also said emergency crews have disconnected the cab from the trailer of the tanker and up-righted the crashed semi. There is no clear time table when I-65 will reopen to traffic in the area.Stay with WGN News as this article will be updated once more information becomes available.

Increase your step count for better health — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:05 GMT

Medical Watch Digest for July 26Walk to better healthThe steps to better heart health: Walk. Increase your steps and monitor them.Increased step count is linked to better heart health, even for people in heart failure.University of Michigan doctors say the results of their study point to the need to adopt wearable devices to make sure to take the daily steps associated with enhanced health.So how many steps help?Baseline step counts between 1,000 to 5,000 were associated with significantly improved heart symptoms and fewer physical limitations.Study participants who increased their baseline by 2-thousand steps a day over 12 weeks saw an even greater improvement. Bronny James cardiac arrest shines light on importance of quick action Eyes on exerciseExercise is also associated with better cognitive health. And now doctors have a way to see how effective it is for each person by looking in the eyes.Pupil size during physical activity predicts benefits to the brain, specifically the p...

Northwestern's new head football coach thrust into spotlight at Big Ten Media Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:05 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time since a hazing scandal began nearly three weeks ago, a representative for Northwestern University's football program or athletic department took part in a news conference.The one to do so ended up being the person who has only been part of the university since the beginning of the year. Interim head coach David Braun, who was hired by Pat Fitzgerald to be the program's defensive coordinator in January before replacing him in July, was left alone at the lectern at Lucas Oil Stadium to face questions. There was no availability to speak with athletic director Dr. Derrick Gragg, who was in attendance in Indianapolis but spoke only to the Big Ten Network and ESPN. Three players that initially were slated to talk at the event decided not to attend on Tuesday. Naturally, as one might expect, Braun avoided hazing talk during his open news conference at Lucas Oil Stadium in front of the entire media group in the first of two Big Ten Media Days. Most of his t...

What are World Cup players wearing around their necks?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:05 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — If you've been watching the FIFA Women's World Cup, you may have noticed a player or two wearing horseshoe-shaped collars around their necks. Since necklaces and jewelry are prohibited in soccer, what could they possibly be?This isn't the first time we've seen athletes sporting the collars — multiple NFL players began wearing them this year, while others have been wearing them as far back as 2016. Known as a Q-Collar, the device is intended to protect athletes’ brains during head impacts. The Food and Drug Administration authorized the marketing of Q30 Innovations’ Q-Collars in 2021, saying they “may reduce the occurrence of specific changes in the brain that are associated with brain injury.”If you are hit in the head or body, you may suffer a traumatic brain injury, known as a TBI. A leading cause of TBI is blunt trauma accidents, which are among the most common in sports, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Intera...

Family charged in alleged multi-million dollar 'Seinfeld'-like recycling scheme

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:05 GMT

(KTLA) – Eight members of a family that run recycling centers across Southern California face felony fraud charges related to allegations that they smuggled 178 tons of recyclables from Arizona to take advantage of California's recycling programs.Over the span of eight months, the United States Department of Justice investigated several recycling centers around Riverside County and found that the operators redeemed $7.6 million worth of aluminum cans and plastic bottles that were brought over illegally from the neighboring state.Eight people, all said to be family members, were named in charging documents provided by CalRecycle. The charges were filed as part of a large ongoing initiative by CalRecycle to identify and arrest those who try to defraud California residents of recycling redemption credits that are meant to encourage use of the California Redemption Value (CRV) program.The program allows Californians to return beverage containers to privately-owned recycling centers in e...

Leaders grapple with end of affirmative action

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:05 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The Department of Education is rolling out a new game plan to work around the Supreme Court's decision to end affirmative action at universities.Following the Supreme Court's ruling, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona convened university and civil rights leaders in Washington Wednesday to brainstorm ways to promote diversity on campus."We're not going to stop fighting," Cardona said.To ensure admissions of underserved students don't backslide, Cardona said universities must rethink recruitment strategies, streamline the transfer system and make school more affordable."The results with affirmative action weren't fantastic," Cardona said. "We have to do better."Cardona said that includes reevaluating legacy admission practices, which, he argued, give privileged Americans an unfair upper hand."If you can't consider race but you can consider the last name of a person or whether their parent can write a check, that to me does not open doors for opportunitie...

APD identifies man shot, killed by officer in south Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Wednesday, the Austin Police Department identified a man who was shot and killed by an APD officer July 20 in south Austin.APD identified 60-year-old James Woodrome as the man killed.According to police, officers responded to a call shortly before 5 a.m. in the 3600 block of Menchaca Road. The caller told police a woman was banging on an apartment door stating a man was chasing her. PAST COVERAGE: APD officer shoots, kills man in south Austin after he reportedly chased woman through apartment complex The woman told police a man, later identified as Woodrome, was chasing her through the apartment complex and he had a knife.APD said Woodrome approached officers in the parking lot of the apartment complex while they were speaking to the woman, and police said he was holding a knife in his hands.According to APD, the officers began to command Woodrome to drop the knife while attempting to de-escalate the situation.“He did not comply with the commands and repeatedly ...

I-35 bridge damaged by large truck

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A bridge sustained damages at one of the busiest crossroads in Austin after a large truck struck the bridge. The damage was made to one of the bridges at Interstate 35 and Highway 183 in North Austin.A KXAN viewer sent in pictures to ReportIt, and a large chunk of concrete was missing from the bridge.TxDOT said it was aware of the damage.“A large truck struck this bridge several weeks ago. TxDOT is aware of the damage and a plan is in place to make repairs,” TxDOT said.For the moment, the highway does remain open, but KXAN will inform travelers of any traffic impacts repairs may have.