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Review: Tom Hanks’ novel shares inside look at moviemaking

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:40:02 GMT

“The Making of Another Motion Picture Masterpiece,” by Tom Hanks (Knopf)There may be no one better suited to tell the tale of how a movie gets made than Hollywood icon and master of the motion picture Tom Hanks. His debut novel follows the life of a story from its inspiration to when it hits the silver screen. The fictional tale captures the magic of the process, yes, but also the crawling, detail-packed moviemaking step, presented just so in the bulk of the novel. The first act takes place in the ’70s, introducing readers to Robby Anderson, a 5-year-old with a knack for drawing comic strips, and his hero and Marine veteran uncle, Bob Falls. When Uncle Bob exits Robby’s life as quickly as he entered it, all Robby has left of him is a comic likeness he drew of his uncle as a World War II flamethrower superhero.Robby grows up to create a fully fledged comic strip based on said character, and after fast-forwarding to present day, the strip is discovered in a collectio...

MP Michael Chong decries ‘systemic failure’ to notify him of China’s alleged threats

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:40:02 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s spy agency has now been formally directed to investigate and disclose any foreign threats against parliamentarians or their families, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Tuesday, while the Conservative MP targeted by Beijing urged his colleagues to go further.Conservative MP Michael Chong was invited to testify before the House affairs committee on Tuesday evening, where he recommended his fellow MPs obtain documents and records related to his case.He said they should better understand the “systemic failure” that led to him learning about threats against his family through the media nearly two years after they were being tracked by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.Chong said he was briefed this month on the contents of the 2021 CSIS intelligence assessment that alleges Zhao Wei, a Chinese diplomat in Toronto, was collecting information about his family members in Hong Kong in order to sanction them.But he said he first learned ab...

Family remembers miracle at Indiana Dunes' Mount Baldy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:40:02 GMT

What’s true of the Indiana Dunes is true of any body of water. Danger lurks under the surface.There have been more than 20 drownings in these Lake Michigan waters since 2010.In 2013, one drowning was hundreds of yards away from the lake. In fact, this threat to a 6-year-old boy didn’t involve a drop of water. And its unthinkable occurrence astounded the world.  For more Cover Story content, click here It was a July day on a family outing to the popular beach at Mt. Baldy. a 126-foot dune an hour’s drive from Chicago. The Woessner family made that trip from their home in Sterling, Illinois. That’s where we found Nathan’s parents, to take us back to that traumatic summer day a decade ago."It pretty much started out as a long weekend, camping with friends," Greg recalled.  "There was a trail going up to the top of the dunes."Nathan and his friend were following their dads. Suddenly, a panicked call to the dads from the friend who said Nathan disappeared in a hole. Through h...

YouTube’s recommendations send violent and graphic gun videos to 9-year-olds: study

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:40:02 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — When researchers at a nonprofit that studies social media wanted to understand the connection between YouTube videos and gun violence, they set up accounts on the platform that mimicked the behavior of typical boys living in the U.S.They simulated two nine-year-olds who both liked video games. The accounts were identical, except that one clicked on the videos recommended by YouTube, and the other ignored the platform's suggestions.The account that clicked on YouTube's suggestions was soon flooded with graphic videos about school shootings, tactical gun training videos and how-to instructions on making firearms fully automatic. One video featured an elementary school-age girl wielding a handgun; another showed a shooter using a .50 caliber gun to fire on a dummy head filled with lifelike blood and brains. Many of the videos violate YouTube's own policies against violent or gory content.The findings show that despite YouTube's rules and content moderation e...

Drier, warmer weather returns for a couple of days

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:40:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We are now enjoying above-normal May rainfall after more than a week of on-and-off showers and thunderstorms.Drier, hotter weather comingA ridge of high pressure and drier northwesterly flow kicks in Wednesday and Thursday, removing rain chances from the forecast. Seasonably hot afternoons return with highs in the upper 80s to near 90 degrees.Temperatures warm Wednesday and ThursdayNext severe thunderstorm riskA cold front moves southeast across our area late Friday night into Saturday morning, leading to our next chance of rain and thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center's Day 4 outlook is suggesting possible strong to severe thunderstorms during this time. The chance of precipitation will be 40%. Stay tuned for specific timing details.Severe weather possible late Friday nightThe front passes out of the area Saturday morning leaving a breezy north wind and keeping weekend temperatures cooler and more comfortable.A few showers and thunderstorms will remain possib...

San Marcos approves new contract with police union

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:40:02 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) - The San Marcos Police Department will soon work under a new contract. Tuesday night, the San Marcos City Council voted to pass the new agreement. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: San Marcos to redraw contract with police union This comes after three months of negotiations after the former agreement was repealed by local activist group Mano Amiga. The group was pushing for the following to be included in the new agreement: End the 180-day rule: Expand timeline for investigating officers for alleged wrongdoingEnd delays for officers under investigation before formal interviewersCivil Service Commission instead of a third-party arbitrationMake documented misconduct more transparentEnd vacation forfeiture as a substitute to suspensionMano Amiga calls the demands the 5 Hartman Reforms, which refers to former San Marcos Police Sgt. Ryan Hartman. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: San Marcos police officer: ‘I caused the death of somebody by me not paying attention’ In June 2020, Ha...

Trevor Plouffe’s post-playing career brings him to Twins’ broadcast

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:40:02 GMT

LOS ANGELES — Trevor Plouffe didn’t think he would be nervous in the days before his Bally Sports North debut.He had spoken with Justin Morneau and Glen Perkins, his former Twins teammates. He picked Rockies’ sideline reporter/host Kelsey Wingert’s brain. He reached out to Jerry Blevins, another former player, who does work with SNY in New York.He was as prepared as he could be. And yet, there he was on Monday, set to dive into a new career opportunity experiencing some jitters.“I’m so happy,” he said. “I want to feel those nerves again. You don’t feel them too often. Like as a player, I felt them every single day and I haven’t really had that, save for a few days since I’ve been done playing. But to feel that again and have to really prepare for something is something that I’ve been looking for.”Upon the conclusion of his nine-year major league career — most of them spent in Minnesota — Plouffe has taken on a burgeoning second career in sports media.He was an early investor in Jomb...

Importance of ‘see something, say something’ after alleged pipe bomb arrest

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:40:02 GMT

FORT PLAIN, N.Y. (NEWS10) — After a pipe bomb was found at a residence in Fort Plain, Montgomery Police now want residents to make sure that if they see something, they should say something to law enforcement as soon as possible.“Yeah, we just encourage people if they see something for any type of circumstance. Just pay attention,” Jeff Smith, Montgomery County Sheriff, said. “You don’t wanna be a nosy neighbor, but pay attention to something out of the norm.” Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police say a contractor was working on a house around upper main street last week, and they discovered a device that appeared to be a pipe bomb. Multiple agencies responded, and several roads were shut down for hours. The New York State Police Bomb Squad destroyed the device.Police say in addition to noticing if something doesn’t look right in their neighborhood, people should also pay attention to any odd packages that arrive in the ma...

Remains of World War II veteran from Overland returning home this week

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:40:02 GMT

OVERLAND, Mo. – Relatives of Melvin Meyer have been holding out hope for decades they could find the answers they had been looking for. They heard stories their loved one was a war hero, but were never able to hold a memorial service.“It was heart-wrenching, because all they wanted to do was find out what happened,” said Nedra Orf, Meyer’s great-niece.Meyer was part of an air mission just days before the D-Day invasion. He was joined by other service members for an air raid over Germany. Their plane was struck by gunfire and cashed. Survivors became prisoners of war. Meyer was declared missing.Family members recently received hopeful news. The U.S. Department of Defense notified them of the possibility Meyer’s remains had been discovered. The crash site was discovered in 2012. Excavation efforts led to some remarkable finds, including Meyer’s crucifix, his rosary, wallet, and other personal items.“It gave us goosebumps,” Orf said. Top Story: St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner ...

Contact 2 gets answers on storm damaged vehicles at GM’s Wentzville plant

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:40:02 GMT

WENTZVILLE, Mo. - Saturday's hailstorm in Wentzville not only grabbed the attention of the viewer who shared a video with FOX 2, but Brian Maloney caught wind of the severe weather more than 800 miles away in Lubbock, Texas."I'm part of a Facebook group, 2023 Canyons, and Colorados, and they reported over the weekend several people, some that work at dealers that approximately 3,300 new Chevy Colorados or Canyons that were damaged by hail at the plant or holding facilities," Maloney said.Missouri weather wouldn't ordinarily matter to Maloney, but he said he ordered a 2023 Chevy Colorado from his local dealer in March. Just last Thursday, he learned his truck was built at the Wentzville plant."I hope mine wasn't involved and hope it's not on the list," Maloney said. Illinois girl abducted at 9 found safe 6 years later in North Carolina; mom charged FOX 2 was at GM's Wentzville plant in January when the next generation of Chevy Colorados and GMC Canyons rolled off the assembly line....