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William Friedkin, director of 'The French Connection' and 'The Exorcist,' dead at 87

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:08 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — William Friedkin, the Oscar winning director who became a top filmmaker in his 30s with the gripping “The French Connection” and the horrifying “The Exorcist” and struggled in the following decades to match his early success has died. He was 87.Friedkin, who won the best director Oscar for “The French Connection,” died Monday in Los Angeles, his wife, producer and former studio head Sherry Lansing told The Hollywood Reporter.The movie, based on a true story, deals with the efforts of maverick New York City police Detective James “Popeye” Doyle to track down Frenchman Fernando Rey, mastermind of a large drug pipeline funneling heroin into the United States. It contains one of the most thrilling chase scenes ever filmed.The movie also won Academy Awards for best picture, screenplay and film editing and led critics to hail Friedkin, then just 32, as a leading member of a new generation of filmmakers.FILE - Director William Friedkin poses for portraits after inte...

Mattel unveils ‘Weird Barbie’ based on Kate McKinnon’s character

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:08 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.It’s pretty safe to say that “Barbie” mania is still going strong. Over the weekend, the movie surpassed $1 billion at the global box office. And in case repeat trips to the theater aren’t enough to feed your “Barbie” obsession, Mattel is still rolling out dolls inspired by the movie’s characters that are becoming instant collectibles. The latest? A “Weird Barbie” based on Kate McKinnon’s character.Warning: “Barbie” spoilers ahead.Who is ‘Weird Barbie’?srcset="https://cdn.bestreviews.com/images/v4desktop/image-full-page-cb/weirdbarbieinline1.jpg?w=160 160w, https://cdn.bestreviews.com/images/v4desktop/image-full-page-cb/weirdbarbieinline1.jpg?w=256 256w, https://cdn.bestreviews.com/images/v4desktop/image-full-page-cb/weirdbarbieinline1.jpg?w=320 320w, https://cdn.bestreviews.com/images/v4desktop/image-full-page-cb/weirdbarbieinline1.jpg?w=640 640w, https://cdn.bestreviews...

Fritos wants you to rock a free mullet for a chance to win $10K

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:08 GMT

(Fritos)DALLAS (KDAF) — Fritos is giving away mullet haircuts along with a chance to win $10,000.In celebration of the USA Mullet Championships, Fritos is partnering with Floyd's Barbershop to offer 1,000 free mullet cuts in August, the corn chip company announced. Every Friday through Aug. 25, mullet fans can book a free Fritos Flow mullet haircut at all Floyd's locations nationwide. Reservations can be made online."Mullets are back! We've been seeing an uptick in the number of customers requesting them, and we want to embrace that," said Patrick Butler, senior director of creative and technical education at Floyd's Barbershop. "That's why we're so excited to team up with Fritos to help make it the hairstyle of the summer by providing free mullet cuts at all our locations every Friday in August. Whoever has the boldest mullet can enter the USA Mullet Championship. for the chance to win $10,000, or share a photo on Instagram – tagging @of...

Public health alert issued for raw beef that may contain plastic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:08 GMT

(WTAJ) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns about a raw beef product that may be contaminated.According to the release, the raw beef item may contain soft, clear plastic. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that this product should not be consumed. However, the product is no longer available for purchase. RECALL: Baby monitors sold at Walmart, Toys ‘R’ Us pose fire risk The raw beef item was produced on July 25, 2023. The product bears the establishment number Est. 85M on the back label. The product was available in select ALDI grocery stores nationwide.The following product is subject to the public health alert:Approximately 1.5-lb. plastic tray packages containing “USDA CHOICE BLACK ANGUS BEEF FROM ALDI, BEEF FOR CARNE PICADA” with a “Use or Freeze by” date of Aug. 22, 2023, Julian Date 206, and time stamp between 08:43 through 09:23.FSIS...

UT program aims to clean up, improve safety in West Campus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:08 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 7, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new pilot program in West Campus aims to clean up the area and improve safety.On Monday, the University of Texas announced the launch of the West Campus Ambassadors pilot program. ‘The walk home never feels safe’: UT students talk West Campus safety The West Campus Ambassadors program will include two teams of ambassadors: safety ambassadors and cleaning ambassadors who will operate on foot, bicycle and by truck.The safety ambassadors will be in West Campus between 3:30 p.m. and 3 a.m. Their job will be sharing safety resources and tips, escorting residents to their destinations in the late evening, monitoring the region for unwanted activity, discouraging panhandling, working with local law enforcement to address other problematic situations, and serving as another set of eyes in the area.The cleaning ambassadors will provide daily cleaning services, including litter and trash collect...

Austin memo outlines next step for city's NARCAN distribution, training efforts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:08 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin-Travis County EMS officials provided an update Friday on funding and training initiatives for opioid overdose reversal medications, including NARCAN.Per the memo, Austin Public Health and ATCEMS worked together on the NARCAN purchase and distribution initiatives. APH allocated $75,000 from the Opioid Settlement funds to ATCEMS to support initial purchases of NARCAN and overdose response kit supplies. KXAN TOP STORY: Judge grants motion to dismiss charges for babysitter convicted in toddler’s death The $75,000 will cover the purchase of 800 overdose response kits, which include two doses of NARCAN per kit. Those kits will then be distributed to community-based organizations that are working with APH on its naloxone distribution initiatives."Research supports that increasing the distribution of NARCAN through [community-based organizations] to people most at risk of experiencing or responding to an opioid overdose can potentially avert an estimated 25% of opi...

Air pollution may increase risk for prostate, breast cancers, study says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:08 GMT

Outdoor air pollution may raise the risk for non-lung cancer in older adults, with even low levels of air pollution exposure increasing the chances for prostate, colorectal, breast, and endometrial cancers.That’s according to a new Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study of millions of Medicare beneficiaries. The researchers found that chronic exposures to fine particulate air pollutants (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) over a 10-year period increased the risk of developing cancer.PM2.5 has been in the news during the last couple of months because that’s the concerning air pollutant from the Canadian wildfire smoke, which has wreaked havoc across the U.S.While air pollution in the past has been established as a risk factor for lung cancer — and a link to breast cancer risk has been emerging — few studies have looked at its effects on prostate, colorectal, and endometrial cancer risk.“Our findings uncover the biological plausibility of air pollution as a crucial risk factor...

Vikings release unofficial depth chart. What does it mean for certain players entering exhibition season?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:08 GMT

It’s never too early to speculate about what the Vikings might look like when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Sept. 10 season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium.Though some positions won’t change regardless of what happens in the preseason, there are many players still fighting for a spot in the starting lineup.More will come into focus this week with the Vikings traveling to play the Seattle Seahawks in their first exhibition game of 2023 on Thursday night. That game should give some insight into how the coaching staff feels about certain players.In the meantime, the Vikings have released their unofficial depth chart, which by no means is set in stone at this point.OFFENSEQuarterbackStarter: Kirk CousinsBackups: Nick Mullens; Jaren HallRunning BackStarter: Alexander MattisonBackups: Kene Nwangwu; Ty Chandler; DeWayne McBride; Abram SmithFullbackStarter: C.J. HamBackup: N/AWide ReceiversStarters: Justin Jefferson and K.J. OsbornBackups: Jalen Nailor and Jordan Addison...

Search for new Landfall city administrator is underway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:08 GMT

Landfall is searching for a new city administrator, and the city’s first city administrator is leading the search.City Administrator Tobin Lay has announced that he will be leaving the city sometime this fall, said Interim City Administrator Mike Erickson, who served as Landfall’s first city administrator in 2013-2014. Prior to 2013, the 840-resident mobile home park was administered by a clerk-treasurer.Erickson, 66, of Maplewood, has been serving as interim city administrator since July, when Lay, who has been city administrator since June 2021, left on an extended family vacation, he said.The statewide search started last month, and the Landfall City Council hopes to have a new city administrator hired by this fall. The part-time position, which includes a 30-hour work week, pays $52 an hour, plus benefits.The city also is in the process of hiring a new public works superintendent; the city’s longtime public works superintendent, Troy Carlson, died in April of medical complicatio...

Ex-Mpls officer Tou Thao unrepentant as he gets nearly 5 years in George Floyd killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:08 GMT

Tou Thao, the last former Minneapolis police officer convicted in state court for his role in the killing of George Floyd, did not show any repentance or admit any wrongdoing as he was sentenced Monday to 4 years and 9 months.Tou Thao. (Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office via AP)Thao had previously testified that he merely served as a “human traffic cone” when he held back concerned bystanders who gathered as former Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, knelt on Floyd’s neck for 9 1/2 minutes while the Black man pleaded for his life on May 25, 2020.A bystander video captured Floyd’s fading cries of “I can’t breathe.” Floyd’s murder touched off protests worldwide and forced a national reckoning of police brutality and racism.At his sentencing hearing, Thao said he never intended to hurt anyone that day. He spoke at length about his growth as a Christian during his 340 days behind bars but denied any responsibility for Floyd’s death. In rambling remarks full of biblical references, ...