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Review: ‘Soul Train Musical’ bursts out of the gate in SF world premiere

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

“Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical” roared into San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater Wednesday night in an explosively kinetic world premiere.Dominique Morisseau’s propulsive new jukebox musical has its sights set on Broadway, where “Ain’t Too Proud,” the Temptations musical, which she also wrote and which debuted at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, generated great acclaim for its celebration of the Motown sound.Movement is the engine that drives “Trip,” a retro pop music delight that pays tribute to “Soul Train,” the groundbreaking TV dance party that brought Black singers and dancers into the mainstream American imagination from the ‘70s to the 2000’s. In a society often ruled by visuals, TV shows take on outsize influence over the culture. In the case of “Soul Train,” the influence was colossal, shining an unwavering spotlight on black culture through the ebb and flow of decades of social tumult. It was a radical alternative to “American Bandstand” in which peo...

Bill cracking down on California school textbook bans heads to Gov. Newsom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

Banning textbook bans in California is the goal of a bill now headed to the governor’s desk.In mainly party-line votes, the Democratic-controlled state legislature on Thursday, Sept. 7, passed AB 1078, legislation seen as Sacramento’s counter-strike against conservative school boards that keep certain textbooks and related materials out of the classroom.In most cases, the boards say they’re protecting children from pornography and other harmful content. Critics contend they’re trying to erase any mention of LGBTQ people or truthful lessons about the role of race in U.S. history.A textbook showdown occurred earlier this year in Temecula, where the school board rejected an elementary social studies curriculum with supplemental materials that referenced the late LGBTQ civil rights leader Harvey Milk. Two board members called Milk a “pedophile.”Gov. Gavin Newsom threatened to send textbooks to Temecula and fine the Temecula Valley Unified School District if the board did not approve the...

Judge who approved Kansas newspaper raid faces complaint

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

By Whitney Wild, Elizabeth Wolfe and Andy Rose | CNNThe judge who signed off on a search warrant authorizing the raid of a newspaper office in Marion, Kansas, is facing a complaint about her decision and has been asked by a judicial body to respond, records shared with CNN by the complainant show.Kansas resident Keri Strahler filed the complaint against Judge Laura Viar about a week after police raided the office of the Marion County Record, the home of the paper’s publisher and a county councilwoman, seizing reporters’ cell phones and computers, among other items, in a move that drew widespread condemnation from news organizations and press freedom advocates.The complaint requests the Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct to review “Viar’s mental capacity in her decision to seemingly circumvent federal and state law” when she signed off on the search warrant for the newspaper office, according to a copy of the complaint provided by Strahler.The commission has asked Viar to respond ...

Pac-12 legal affairs: Having trouble following all the lawsuits? Here’s a handy guide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

Washington State and Oregon State have taken legal action against the Pac-12 to determine control of the assets in a conference that will have two remaining members as of next summer.But with assets come liabilities, and the Pac-12 is involved in numerous lawsuits — some the result of its own missteps, some due to its status as a Power Five conference.Here’s a look at the other legal challenges.AB 252Background: Assembly bill 252, the College Athlete Protection Act, is winding through the California legislature, the same body that produced the Name, Image and Likeness law that changed college sports. Sponsored by Chris Holden, a former San Diego State baseball player who represents the 41st district, AB 252 aims to create a revenue-sharing relationship between the schools and athletes in which tens of millions of dollars in athletic department revenue potentially could be diverted into so-called “degree completion funds” for the athletes.Status: AB 252 passed...

Pedestrian dies after being struck by vehicle in Oakland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

OAKLAND — A pedestrian died Friday morning after he was struck by a vehicle in East Oakland, authorities said.No other information has been released yet about the man killed.The fatal collision happened about 10:30 a.m. Friday in the 9200 block of International Boulevard.It was not immediately known if the man was in a crosswalk when he was struck by a vehicle. The man was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:39 a.m., police said.Police said the driver of the vehicle that hit the man remained at the scene.Streets in the area were shut down while police investigated.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Case fizzles against Bay Area man suspected of vehicular manslaughter? Crashes and Disasters | East Bay motorcycle crash leaves one dead, another seriously injured Crashes and Disasters | Driver charged with vehicular manslaughter in wrong-way Highway 84 crash that killed two Crashes and Disasters | ATV rider killed in E...

SF city officials file suspension order against city contractor facing felony charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

(BCN) -- San Francisco officials filed a suspension order Wednesday to prohibit a city contractor facing multiple felony charges from getting new contracts with the city. Former city employee Rudolph Dwayne Jones and entities affiliated to him have been suspended from bidding on or being awarded new contracts or grants with the city and county of San Francisco, according to City Attorney David Chiu's office. The affiliated entities named in the suspension order are RDJ Enterprises, LLC; RDJ-Project Complete, LLC; The Southeast Consortium for Equitable Partnerships Urban Equity, LLC; and 20ROC Holdings, LLC. Nancy Pelosi says she’ll seek House reelection in 2024, dismissing talk of retirement at age 83 Mayor London Breed ordered all city departments to suspend or terminate all existing prime contracts with Jones or the affiliates identified in the suspension order, Chiu's office said. "The city will not tolerate corrupt actors trying to undermine our contracting and gr...

All lanes open on westbound Highway 92 after big rig crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

(KRON) -- A traffic collision involving a big rig that blocked all lanes on westbound Highway 92 Friday morning has been cleared, according to the California Highway Patrol. Big changes to BART service schedule starting Monday The crash occurred west of Lower Skyline Boulevard in San Mateo County. A severe traffic alert had been in effect earlier. Residual delays are still expected.

Sharma and Smith share lead at Irish Open as McIlroy struggles to mount title bid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

STRAFFAN, Ireland (AP) — Shubhankar Sharma and Jordan Smith shared the halfway lead at the Irish Open on Friday as Rory McIlroy struggled to mount a bid to win his home event for the second time.Sharma shot 6-under 66 and Smith followed with a 65 as they finished the second round at The K Club on 13 under for the tournament, one shot ahead of Ross Fisher (66).Smith, the world No. 85, was the only player in the top eight ranked inside the top 100, with the leading names in the field needing a big weekend to get into contention.Shane Lowry, who was born about 45 minutes away in Clara, was alone in ninth place after a second straight 68 while McIlroy shot 70 — to lie eight off the lead on 5-under par — after a mixed end to his round.The 2016 champion and No. 2-ranked player holed out for eagle from 116 yards at No. 16, only to follow that up with a double-bogey at the 17th after finding the rough off the tee and his second shot and missing a bogey putt from 4 feet. He then got up-and-d...

Commanders open the season against the Cardinals, ushering in a new era for the franchise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

Josh Harris, the leader of a group buying the Washington Commanders, speaks at an introductory NFL football news conference at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., Friday, July 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(AP/Alex Brandon) Josh Harris, the leader of a group buying the Washington Commanders, speaks at an introductory NFL football news conference at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., Friday, July 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(AP/Alex Brandon) Josh Harris and his group are the Washington Commanders’ new owners, Sam Howell is their new starting quarterback, Eric Bieniemy is their new offensive coordinator and fans have flocked back.“A lot of exciting stuff going on,” Chase Young said.It’s an exciting time for...

Chandler Jones likely out when the Las Vegas Raiders open their season at Denver

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones is not expected to play in Sunday’s season opener at the Denver Broncos, according to Las Vegas coach Josh McDaniels.Jones hasn’t been in the Raiders’ facility this week. He twice posted disparaging remarks on social media about Raiders management before removing them.McDaniels also said Friday that backup cornerback Brandon Facyson (shin) is not expected to play against the Broncos.With Jones likely out, it could mean expanded roles for rookie Tyree Wilson, the No. 7 pick of the draft, and third-year pro Malcolm Koonce. Both are backup defensive ends on this week’s depth chart.McDaniels said other players will be considered, including some on the practice squad.“I think our entire defensive line group has really worked hard,” McDaniels said. “I think we have a little bit more depth across the board than we did last year just in general terms, and we’ll do what we have to do to be able to play the ga...