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New report from PEN America documents vast book bannings in US prisons

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:05 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Tens of thousands of books are being banned or restricted by U.S. prisons, according to a new report from PEN America. The list includes everything from self-help books to an Elmore Leonard novel.“The common concept underpinning the censorship we’re seeing is that certain ideas and information are a threat,” says the report’s co-author, Moira Marquis, senior manager in the prison and justice writing department at PEN, the literary and free expression organization.Timed to the start Wednesday of Prison Banned Books Week, “Reading Between the Bars” draws upon public record requests, calls from PEN to prison mailrooms, dozens of accounts from inmates and PEN’s struggles to distribute its guide for prison writing, “The Sentences That Create Us: Crafting A Writer’s Life in Prison,” which came out last year.Marquis said that the most common official reasons for bans are security and sexual content, terms that can apply to a very wide range of titles...

California home with meth lab goes on market for $1.5 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:05 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — A California home that was busted as a meth lab seven months ago is now up for sale for more than $1.5 million.What's more, the San Jose home at 668 Potomac Court is being sold as-is.Surrounded by chain link fencing and warning signs reading "condemned," the home has been deemed unsafe to occupy. Keller Williams Reality's website lists the 2,743-square-foot home for $1,550,000 and states, "Great opportunity to own large home. Great location to freeway and expressway. Home has inactive meth lab and meth."The homeowner, 35-year-old Peter Karasev, was arrested in March for keeping explosive materials, guns and narcotics inside. FBI agents said Karasev stockpiled highly explosive bomb-making chemicals while he lived at the home with his wife and three young children.Police found chemicals drugs, and firearms "within easy reach of children. It was not a safe environment for children, or for anyone," San Jose Police Department Assistant Chief Paul Joseph previous...

Dean's Home Video: 'Pain Hustlers,' 'American Horror Stories,' and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:05 GMT

CHICAGO — There's a little bit of everything for everyone in this edition of streaming picks from WGN's Dean Richards this week. There's a new crime drama featuring Emily Blunt and Chris Evans on Netflix while the other continues a horror anthology that began in 2011."Pain Hustlers" and "American Horror Stories" are among the selections in "Dean's Home Video" as he looks at some of the offerings for shows, movies, documentaries, and comedies That included "If You Were The Last," "Fellow Travelers," "Get Gotti," "The Enfield Poltergeist," "Life On Planet," and more.You can watch this edition of "Dean's Home Video" from the October 25 show in the video above.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Inside the Investigations: Graffiti & new resources for assault victims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Each week the in-depth reporting from the KXAN Investigates team will get a spotlight on KXAN Live.A conversation will happen Wednesday morning with investigative reporter Kelly Wiley and KXAN Live anchor Will DuPree to break down one of this week’s top stories. People can watch the live stream in this story and on the station's Facebook page. Inside the Investigations: ACC student pandemic aid The story they'll discuss this week is:KXAN investigator Matt Grant heard from someone claiming to be behind more than 60 spray-painted tags across Austin that read, "even though I was raped, I am OK." While KXAN is unable to verify a connection for sure, Matt will explain why the meaning that person says is behind the messages is worth sharing at a time when new resources are being made available in Texas to help sexual assault victims.Join Kelly Wiley and Will DuPree every Wednesday morning for a live recap of the latest headlines and in-depth reporting from the...

Tipsy Taco Cantina opens in Latham

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:05 GMT

LATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A new taco eatery has opened in Latham. Tipsy Taco Cantina officially opened on October 24 at 704 New Loudon Road. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Tipsy Taco Cantina is owned by Brendan Brader and Robert Tario, who are the co-owners of Tipsy Moose Tap and Tavern. Tipsy Moose has locations in Latham, Albany, and Troy. “Every Tuesday, each of the three Tipsy Moose locations features a unique taco selection, which is wildly popular with customers,” said Tario. “Their enthusiasm inspired Tipsy Taco.” New Japanese restaurant opens in Wilton The Tipsy Taco menu features different types of tacos including Nashville Hot Chicken, Short Rib, Shrimp, Chorizo, vegetarian options, and more. The menu also includes salads, empanadas, taquitos, nachos, salsas, guacs, and more.The restaurant has some dessert options and an extensive tequila selection. Tipsy Taco Cantina is open every day from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Cosmetology teacher giving Albany students the hot tools to succeed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:05 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - For the last two years, students have been getting hands-on experience in the field of cosmetology in a full-functioning salon at Albany High School. Every Thursday, the aspiring beauticians swap mannequins for clients, offering free beauty services to Albany residents ages 55 and up. According to Ms. Love, all services are under the direction of teachers, and providing the services to members of their community helps students earn the number of hours they need to qualify for licensure. Albany High School offers free beauty services for ages 55 and up “We have some people who can’t afford their nails, their lashes, their hair done and then we also win and they win cause we get to practice on them and they get free stuff,” said one student.Ms. Love adding, "What I love most are the connections, the relationships, the sisterhood, that are built in this classroom.” Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox...

Alderman seek input on how to spend Ram's settlement money

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:05 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis City is still trying to decide what to do with its share of the Rams settlement money.The Board of Aldermen will meet online Wednesday to take public comments on the issue. They also had an online survey available for a month. Local cops unmask international suspects’ clever crime tricks The city received about $250 million in the NFL settlement over the Rams move to los Angeles. The meeting is at 6:00 p.m.

Colorado restaurateur opening four dim sum-and-dumpling spots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:05 GMT

Jack Lu lives and breathes restaurants. “It’s the only thing I know,” he said.Born in China, he opened his first restaurant in Japan when he was 21. Now, he owns nine Colorado restaurants — Juicy Seafood in Aurora in Longmont, Sachi Sushi in Broomfield, and four Kona Hawaiian BBQs — plus two Sapporo Japanese Steakhouses in Wyoming.Pork and shrimp dumplings at Nana’s Dim Sum & Dumplings in Denver on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)Last week, Lu and business partners Min and Aren Chen opened Nana’s Dim Sum & Dumplings, at 3316 Tejon St., in the restaurant-heavy Highland neighborhood. The address is the former home of The Fifth String, which moved to a smaller location in RiNo earlier this year.“I opened my first Japanese restaurant in the U.S. in 2008 because I lived in Japan for six years,” Lu said. “But I’m Chinese, so it’s time to get back to my roots.”Nana’s serves traditional Chinese dim sum menu items, like Shumai steamed dumplin...

Semi-truck filled with pumpkins bursts into flames on 5 Freeway 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:05 GMT

Cleanup crews had to deal with more than old-fashioned smashed jack-o'-lanterns early Wednesday morning after a semi-truck carrying a load of pumpkins caught fire. The blaze broke out on the southbound span of the 5 Freeway at Smoky Bear Road in Lebec shortly after 2 a.m.  Violent brawl at soccer game caught on camera in Irvine Video from the scene shows hundreds of burnt and bruised pumpkins littering the roadway as crews extinguish the fire. Footage from the scene shows hundreds of burnt and bruised pumpkins littering the roadway as crews extinguish the fire. (OnSceneTV) Footage from the scene shows hundreds of burnt and bruised pumpkins littering the roadway as crews extinguish the fire. (OnSceneTV) Footage from the scene shows hundreds of burnt and bruised pumpkins littering the roadway as crews extinguish the fire. (OnSceneTV) Footage from the scene shows hundreds of burnt and bruised pumpkins littering the roadway as crews extinguish the fire. (OnSceneTV) No injuries we...

Driver hit pedestrian after crash in Arleta, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:05 GMT

An Arleta traffic crash led one driver to intentionally strike a person with their car Tuesday night, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.The crash was reported at Terra Bella Street and Beachy Avenue at about 11:45 p.m., police said, though the call was upgraded to an assault with a deadly weapon in the 9600 block of Beachy Avenue.The deadly weapon in question was a blue Hyundai, which hit a pedestrian after an altercation.That pedestrian, whose identity has not been released, was taken to a local hospital in unknown condition.Police are looking for two suspects, one with wavy hair and all black clothing and the other a man also wearing all black clothing.No further details were available.Alexis Lewis contributed to this report.