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New Build-A-Bear teddy responds to touch and your voice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Build-A-Bear has unveiled an exciting new interactive bear that responds to touch and the sound of your voice. This special bear reacts by opening its eyes and wiggling its ears to communicate, and it has been released just in time for the Christmas season. Similar to the process of creating any Build-A-Bear, you can craft this unique "Bearlieve Bear" through a special stuffing experience. This process includes a heart ceremony, which is a step in bringing the bear to life. Build-A-Bear is venturing into the world of interactive toys. The Bearlieve Bear offers a personal interaction with the classic teddy bear. The new bear still allows you to make choices regarding fashion, scents, sounds, and even voice recording.  St. Louis police investigate 6 sudden deaths When guests visit Build-A-Bear Workshops to create their Bearlieve Bear, they participate in a unique heart ceremony by pressing the red heart on the bear's paw while proclaiming, "I BEARlieve!" T...

Muny's 106th season brings Broadway magic to St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The Muny has officially announced its seven-show lineup for the 106th season. This season comedies, romance, and magic, runns from June 17, 2024, through August 25, 2024.The 2024 Muny Season includes the following productions:Les Misérables (June 17–23, 2024):Les Misérables returns to The Muny to make history once more. This celebrated mega-musical, based on Victor Hugo's novel, holds the distinction of being Broadway's longest-running and most beloved musical.Dreamgirls (June 27 – July 3, 2024):Dreamgirls takes its audience on a thrilling journey through the dynamic changes in American pop music that defined the 1960s. It tells the moving and inspirational story of an all-girl singing trio from Chicago rising from obscurity to superstardom.Disney’s The Little Mermaid (July 8–16, 2024):Disney’s The Little Mermaid, with its magical music by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, narrates the tale of Ariel, a young mermaid longing to leave her underwater world and become "part of...

Usher uses first Super Bowl performance as ‘cheat sheet’ for 2024 show and urges diabetes screening

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. (AP Entertainment Writer)LOS ANGELES (AP) — While Usher gears up for his 2024 Super Bowl halftime performance, the singer will lean on his previous experience of hitting the NFL’s biggest stage to help prepare for the 13-minute set.The Grammy winner said he’s using his appearance with Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am in 2011 as a “cheat sheet.” He was recently chosen to headline the halftime festivities from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Feb. 11 — the same day he’s expected to release his ninth studio album “Coming Home.”“I got a chance to see a bit of what it felt like,” Usher told The Associated Press in a recent interview. In his first Super Bowl performance, he descended from the stadium ceiling to perform “OMG” in Arlington, Texas.Usher’s appearance lasted less than two minutes, but the moment gave him plenty of insight into conducting a show with such limited time....

Senate Democrats work to circumvent Tuberville’s blockade on military nominees as vacancies grow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

By MARY CLARE JALONICK and LOLITA BALDOR (Associated Press)WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats are trying a new workaround to confirm hundreds of military officers blocked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, ten months after the Alabama Republican first said he would object to the nominations over a Pentagon abortion policy. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor Wednesday that the Senate will consider a resolution in the near future that would allow the quick confirmation of the nearly 400 officers up for promotion or nominated for another senior job. The Senate is currently at a stalemate on the nominations because Tuberville is objecting to the routine process of confirming the nominations all at once by unanimous consent, and voting on them individually could monopolize weeks or months of the Senate’s time.Schumer separately moved to hold votes as soon as this week on three top Pentagon officers affected by the holds — Adm. Lisa Franchetti to be the chief of n...

Lancaster man charged with murdering 2 of his young children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

The Los Angeles County District Attorney has filed murder charges against a Lancaster man who is accused of the unthinkable: killing his own children.Prospero Serna, 38, faces two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of assault on a child under eight years of age causing death and one count of child abuse, D.A. George Gascón announced on Wednesday.The attack happened late Saturday night when deputies responded to a child abuse call at an apartment in the 1800 block of East Avenue J-2 in Lancaster.There, deputies found several children suffering from “lacerations.” Two were pronounced dead at a hospital. Two other children, one of whom had sustained non-life-threatening injuries, were found hiding in the residence, prosecutors said.Prospero Serna was arrested near the apartment where he allegedly killed two of his children. Oct. 28, 2023. (Don Luis Meza)Prospero Serna was arrested near the apartment where he allegedly killed two of his children. Oct. 28, 2023. ...

After weeks in besieged Gaza, some foreign nationals and wounded Palestinians are allowed to leave

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

Hundreds of foreign nationals and dozens of seriously injured Palestinians were allowed to leave Gaza on Wednesday after more than three weeks under siege, while Israeli airstrikes destroyed apartments in a densely populated area for the second straight day.The first people to leave Gaza -- other than four hostages released by Hamas and another rescued by Israeli forces -- crossed into Egypt, escaping the territory's growing misery as bombings drive hundreds of thousands from their homes, and food, water and fuel run low. It remained unclear how many more people would be allowed to leave Gaza in coming days.The latest strikes in the densely populated Jabaliya refugee camp near Gaza City demolished multi-story apartment buildings, and dozens of men afterward dug through the rubble, searching for survivors, according to footage from Al-Jazeera television, one of the few media outlets still reporting from northern Gaza. It showed several wounded people, including children, being brough...

Celebrity Chef Curtis Stone Brings A Gwen-Inspired Menu To The Breeders’ Cup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

The Breeders’ Cup is returning for its 40th anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Santa Anita Park for its annual world championship and chef Curtis Stone will be at the reigns, cooking up a plated service that will be served in the restaurants at Santa Anita Park,  as well as buffet service on both Friday and Saturday. Leading up to the event, Stone will be bulking up the jockeys with a hefty breakfast.There will be some Gwen-inspired dishes on the menu. The plated lunch entrée options for Friday and Saturday include poached wild salmon and arugula salad with autumn roasted vegetables and Meyer lemon vinaigrette, miso braised short ribs with potato puree and charred broccolini. There’s a white meat entree of roasted chicken breast and jalapeno aioli, a fish course of New Orleans BBQ shrimp with creamy goat cheese and parmesan polenta, and curried cauliflower with chickpeas and dill rice for the vegan crowd. On Thursday there will be a massive breakfast bar buffet complete with live o...

Fatal Pedestrian Accident on Interstate 35 [Austin, TX]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

One Pronounced Dead after Pedestrian Collision near East Braker LaneAUSTIN, TX (November 1, 2023) – One unidentified victim died early Sunday morning in a pedestrian accident on Interstate 35. Emergency crews responded to the scene around 5:04 a.m., near East Braker Lane on October 22nd.Dispatchers located one deceased pedestrian at the scene. However, the events leading up still remain unclear. In addition, authorities have not yet released their name or place of residency.An active investigation to determine further information is still currently underway. Moreover, APD encourages those with further details to contact their offices as soon as possible.In this sorrowful time, the Sweet James team would like to extend their heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased victim. May you find comfort and strength during this difficult time.If a family member has been killed in a pedestrian accident, please contact Sweet James as soon as possible. They understand the death o...

Senate Dems work to circumvent Tuberville’s military blockade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

By Mary Clare Jalonick and Lolita Baldor | Associated PressWASHINGTON — Senate Democrats are trying a new workaround to confirm hundreds of military officers blocked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, ten months after the Alabama Republican first said he would object to the nominations over a Pentagon abortion policy.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor Wednesday that the Senate will consider a resolution in the near future that would allow the quick confirmation of the nearly 400 officers up for promotion or nominated for another senior job. The Senate is currently at a stalemate on the nominations because Tuberville is objecting to the routine process of confirming the nominations all at once by unanimous consent, and voting on them individually could monopolize weeks or months of the Senate’s time.Schumer separately moved to hold votes as soon as this week on three top Pentagon officers affected by the holds — Adm. Lisa Franchetti to be the chief of naval op...

Bay FC: NWSL sets date, rules for expansion draft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:36 GMT

Bay FC will construct a large portion of its initial roster next month when the NWSL holds its expansion draft for the two teams entering the league in the 2024 season.The draft — convened virtually — will be held Dec. 15 as Bay FC and fellow expansion team Utah Royals FC will have their pick of current NWSL players from other teams, with restrictions. Bay FC will have the first pick, and both expansion teams will be able to add up to 12 players in the draft, as outlined in the rules released Wednesday by the NWSL.Each of the league’s existing 12 teams will be allowed to protect nine players on their existing roster from being drafted by either of the new clubs. After a team has lost a player in the draft, it will be able to protect one additional player from its roster, and no team will lose more than two unprotected players.Unsigned free agents — restricted or not — and players under the age of 18 are not within the pool of players eligible to be draf...