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Beloved 2000s Irish boy band Westlife set to embark on first-ever North American tour

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:10:44 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Irish boy band Westlife are set to perform in North America for the first time in their 20-plus year history.Westlife has sold more than 55 million records, released 36 No. 1 albums, and earned over one billion streams on YouTube. And now, they’re headed to a few major cities in the U.S. and Canada around St. Patrick’s Day next year.The stint is short, but it is a long time coming. Westlife will kick off their four-date North American tour on Thursday, March 13, at Toronto’s Meridian Hall, followed by Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway on March 14, New York City’s famed Radio City Music Hall on March 16, and close out the run at the Chicago Theatre on March 18.According to a press release, the shows will highlight the group’s catalog, touching on their greatest hits: “Swear It Again,” “Flying Without Wings,” “World Of Our Own,” “My Love,” “If I Let You Go,” and “Hello My Love” among them.Westlife first appeared on the pop music s...

Yorkdale Mall to undergo major $28M reno to bring in more high-end retailers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:10:44 GMT

Toronto’s largest mall is set to undergo a major multi-million dollar luxury facelift over the next year.The owner of Yorkdale Shopping Centre has announced $28 million in renovations that will transform 100,000 square feet of existing space into a luxury retail corridor. Some stores have already been moved from the mall’s central corridor to other areas to make room for the project.“The relocation of tenants and renovation of a key property corridor is designed to meet demand for prime retail space for more than a dozen of the world’s leading luxury brands,” reads a release of Oxford Properties.The new space is set to open in the spring of 2025 and also includes renovations to the shopping centre’s food court. The expanded dining area will include more seating and nine new restaurants.There is no word on what retailers will be taking over the renovated space but the release says some of the new tenants will be brands launching their first Canadia...

Ro CEO charts growth past sexual health roots to obesity and beyond

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:10:44 GMT

Ro built its name online by offering discreet help for problems like erectile dysfunction. Now it wants to tackle an issue many people are talking about: obesity.The care provider formerly known as Roman launched its “body program” earlier this year. The subscription service aims to guide customers through weight loss with help from doctors, nurses and the latest obesity treatments. It’s a popular topic, with Ro competitor Hims & Hers planning a similar program.Ro also offers subscription services to help people grow longer eyelashes or curb excessive sweating. It also provides skin care, fertility testing and hair-loss treatments, among other services. Zach Reitano co-founded the privately held company in 2017. The 32-year-old CEO spoke recently with The Associated Press about how his company has since branched out. The conversation has been edited for clarity and length.Q: Your body program costs $145 a month after the first month. Why charge monthly fees?A: The fee is e...

Author-illustrator Loren Long, who has worked with Barack Obama among others, has 6-figure book deal

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:10:44 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The illustrator of bestselling children’s books by former President Barack Obama, Madonna and poet Amanda Gorman has a six-figure deal with a Macmillan imprint for two of his own projects. Loren Long’s first book under his new contract is “The Yellow Bus,” scheduled for June 2024. “Noticing a rusted and abandoned school bus sitting in a field with goats climbing in and out of it got me thinking about purpose and the passage of time. I thought ‘Surely that yellow bus started it’s life in a grand fashion, bright and shiny, carrying children from one important place to another,’” Long said in a statement issued Monday through Roaring Brook Press.“The Yellow Bus resulted from me contemplating and imagining what the life of that old bus might have been. And the feeling that comes from doing things for other people,” he said.Besides working on Obama’s “Of Thee I Sing,” Madonna’s “Mr. Peabody’s Apples” and Gorman’s “Change Sings,” L...

Man, 18, dead, 3 injured after shooting in Washington Park

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:10:44 GMT

CHICAGO -- An 18-year-old man is dead and three others are injured after a gunman opened fire on a group in Washington Park Sunday night.Police responded to reports of shots fired in the 5700 block of South Patne Drive around 8:16 p.m. A 52-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound to the face and chest and is listed in critical condition. A 16-year-old boy was shot in the leg and is listed in fair condition. 4 shot, 1 critically, on Chicago’s North Side Police said another 18-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and torso and is listed in fair condition as well. Another 18-year-old sustained gunshot wound to the thigh and buttocks was listened in critical condition. He was later pronounced dead.All the victims were transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center.Preliminary investigation showed that there was an argument amongst several women followed by an unidentified man who shot the victims before fleeing on foot.There is currently no one in custody and...

WATCH LIVE | 2 former baseball coaches, director of ops file lawsuit against Northwestern

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:10:44 GMT

EVANSTON, Ill. — Two former assistant baseball coaches and the director of baseball operations at Northwestern University are set to file a lawsuit against the school and several additional parties Monday.According to a press release from the Offices of Clifford Law, the complaint — to be filed on behalf of Dusty Napoleon, Jon Strauss and Chris Beacom against Northwestern University, former head baseball coach Jim Foster, and several other members of the athletics administration — alleges retaliatory discharge, harassment, bullying and abuse that led to Napoleon, Strauss and Beacom's contracts being discharged. The complaint also alleges charges of racism, sexism and egregious tortious conduct, including unwarranted retaliation against these coaches after they reported NCAA violations by Foster to university officials, and seeks compensation in excess of $50,000 for alleged damages.“The prejudicial and biased attitude of the former head coach that also...

Dwyane Wade's emotional moment at the Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:10:44 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — In a Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony that included a few connections to the Chicagoland area, a native of the city provided one of its most memorable moments.Dwyane Wade, who was born in Chicago, grew up in Robbins, and played at Richards High School in Oak Lawn, was one of 12 members of the Class of 2023 enshrined on Saturday at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. East Chicago native and Merrillville High School graduate Gregg Popovich along with former Bulls' forward Pau Gasol also took their place in the Hall of Fame this weekend.Wade, who was a 13-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion during his 16 seasons that included one with the Bulls, saluted a number of people in his life during his speech that went for about 26 minutes. That included his mother, Jolinda, and then eventually his father, Dwyane Wade Sr.It was he that Wade saved special words to end his speech in front of fellow Hall of Famers and peers.(Photo by Mike Lawrie/Ge...

Dean's Reviews: 'MJ The Musical'

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:10:44 GMT

CHICAGO — WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards has his review for "MJ: The Musical" at the Nederlander Theater.The show will run until Sept. 2. For more information, go to www.broadwayinchicago.com.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!

AFD contains brush fire near I-35, Stassney

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:10:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Fire Department said Sunday night crews contained a brush fire in south Austin to a half-acre in size. The fire was near Interstate 35 and Stassney Lane. AFD said the fire started in a homeless camp.No injuries were reported, AFD said. Camp contents and surrounding vegetation as damaged. AFD said multiple calls for the fire came in just before 11 p.m., but the first call came from a passing Travis County Parks police officer. Austin Fire crews fight fire in south Austin on Aug. 14. (Courtesy; Austin Fire)Austin Fire crews fight fire in south Austin on Aug. 14. (Courtesy; Austin Fire)AFD said encampment residents left the scene. The fire department said it had no updates on the fire cause as of Monday morning.

Esperance man on supervised release pleads guilty to child pornography charge

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:10:44 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Esperance man pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on Monday. John Hotaling, 62, was already on supervised release for the same crime, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! According to the DOJ, Hotaling admitted to possessing child pornography in 2020, some images he created by photoshopping faces of children onto nude adult bodies engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hotaling was on supervised release for a 2009 conviction for the same crime.The DOJ says he admitted to violating his terms and conditions of supervised release. Trial in the case was scheduled to begin Tuesday. Audit finds improvements are needed at NYS parks He is set to be sentenced on January 4, 2024. He faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of 20, as well as a fine of up to $250,00, and a term of supervised release of at least five years to life.