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‘The Marvels’ bombs at the box office

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:36:41 GMT

Since 2008’s “Iron Man,” the Marvel machine has been one of the most unstoppable forces in box-office history. Now, though, that aura of invincibility is showing signs of wear and tear. The superhero factory hit a new low with the weekend launch of “The Marvels,” which opened with just $47 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.The 33rd installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a sequel to the 2019 Brie Larson-led “Captain Marvel,” managed less than a third of the $153.4 million its predecessor launched with before ultimately taking in $1.13 billion worldwide. Sequels, especially in Marvel Land, aren’t supposed to fall off a cliff. Yet “The Marvels” debuted with more than $100 million less than “Captain Marvel” opened with — something no sequel before has ever done. David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Research Entertainment, called it “an unprecedented Marvel box-office collapse.”The previous low for a Walt Disney Co.-owned Marvel movie was “Ant-M...

Minor arrested for allegedly making threats against Brentwood middle school

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:36:41 GMT

A minor was arrested last week for allegedly making multiple threats against a middle school in Brentwood, police said.Police said the juvenile made school shooting-related threats Tuesday against Bristow Middle School, a school with 1,100 students southeast of Antioch. The suspect was arrested on Thursday and has since been booked into juvenile hall.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Fremont: Police find dozens of cats, some dead, at home of suspected animal hoarder Crime and Public Safety | Alameda man, 50, charged with sending lewd image to person posing as 14-year-old girl Crime and Public Safety | A Fremont man’s armed romantic rival allegedly taped security camera and broke into his home. What followed was a life-or-death struggle Crime and Public Safety | Trump joins media outlets in pushing for his federal election interference case to be televised Crime and Public Safety | Sinaloa Cartel...

Inside the ‘pressure cooker’: 4 current and former LA sheriff’s employees die by suicide in less than 24 hours

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:36:41 GMT

(CNN) — When former police officer Omar Delgado heard the news of four current and former members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department dying by suicide in less than 24 hours last week, he understood.“It’s kind of like a pressure cooker. If you don’t slowly let go of that steam little by little, when it does pop, it’s over because it’s going to be such a big explosion.”Delgado was one of the first officers on the scene of the Pulse nightclub attack in Orlando on June 12, 2016. He suffers post-traumatic stress disorder from that night, and has attempted to take his own life twice.“They just popped,” he said.In announcing the deaths of three current members and one retired member, the LA County sheriff’s department said homicide detectives are investigating each of the four deaths independently. The names of the deceased were not disclosed.“We are stunned to learn of these deaths, and it has sent shockwaves of emotions throughout the department,” Sheriff Robert Luna said in a...

Defying Democratic pushback, Dean Phillips vows to invest millions in his primary challenge to Biden

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:36:41 GMT

MANCHESTER, N.H. (CNN) — Rep. Dean Phillips is escalating his long-shot presidential primary challenge to President Joe Biden, vowing to invest as much of his multimillion-dollar fortune as it takes to win.His defiance comes in the face of overwhelming rejection from his fellow Democrats, a reaction so fast and furious Phillips believes he’s torpedoed his own congressional career.But instead of backing down, Phillips is opening the door to super PAC money that could air millions of dollars’ worth of negative ads in primary states that are likely pivotal in the general election, including Michigan and New Hampshire. And he’s escalating his attacks against the president’s message and political standing.“I think in 2020, (President Biden) was probably the only Democrat who could have beaten Donald Trump. I think in 2024, he may be among the only ones that will lose to him. And that’s why I’m doing this,” Phillips told CNN in a lengthy interview Saturday.Phillips says he’s likely tanked...

House GOP pursuing two-step plan to avert government shutdown

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:36:41 GMT

(CNN) — House Republicans are pursuing a two-step plan for funding the government, three sources familiar with the matter told CNN, as Congress barrels toward another spending deadline Friday.Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the plan on a GOP conference call with members Saturday afternoon and argued, “I wasn’t the architect of the mess we are in,” according to a source on the call.While Johnson embraced the right-wing members of his conference by pitching the two-step approach, he didn’t fully cave to their wishes. The package does not include the deep spending cuts his right flank pushed for but instead extends funding at its current levels.“This two-step continuing resolution is a necessary bill to place House Republicans in the best position to fight for conservative victories,” Johnson said in a statement Saturday.The first bill would extend funding until January 19 and would include funding for military construction, Veterans Affairs, transportation, housing ...

Joe Espada will be introduced as manager of the Houston Astros on Monday, replacing Dusty Baker, AP source says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:36:41 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Joe Espada will be introduced as manager of the Houston Astros on Monday, replacing Dusty Baker, AP source says.Source

14-year-old arrested for shooting 19-year-old in Fairfax Co.

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:36:41 GMT

A 14-year-old has been arrested for shooting a 19-year-old in Fairfax County, Virginia, on Saturday.Fairfax County police responded to reports of a shooting in Hybla Valley on Saturday evening, according to a news release.Police say a 19-year-old man was shot in the arm and lower body around 5 p.m. in the 7400 block of Vernon Square Drive. He was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries.The 19-year-old was walking to an apartment nearby when a 14-year-old boy approached him and shot him, police said.A house nearby was also struck by a bullet in the shooting, which police do not believe was random.Authorities extensively searched the area and did not find the suspect. He was found later after his mother was contacted by police and she brought the boy to the Mount Vernon Police Station, but the firearm was not recovered.He is being held at the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center and is charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of ...

Lewandowski scores twice to rally Barcelona to 2-1 win over Alaves in Spanish league

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:36:41 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Robert Lewandowski came to the rescue of Barcelona, scoring twice as the Catalan club rallied to beat Alaves and keep pace with Real Madrid and Girona in the Spanish league. The 2-1 home victory on Sunday moved Barcelona back within two points of second-place Madrid, which routed Valencia 5-1 on Saturday. Barcelona is four points behind fellow Catalan club Girona, the surprise leader that came from behind to win 2-1 at Rayo Vallecano, also on Saturday.Alaves took the lead in a breakaway one minute into the match in Montjuic, but Lewandowski helped the hosts rebound with a header in the 53th and a penalty kick in the 78th.Lewandowski, who was sidelined recently with an injury, hadn’t scored in six matches since getting a double in the 3-2 win against Celta Vigo in September.“We played a bit better, but we are not going through our best moment,” Barcelona coach Xavi said. “We came through in a match that became difficult. The international break will be good for us...

More than 100,000 people march in Paris against soaring antisemitism amid Israel-Hamas war

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:36:41 GMT

PARIS (AP) — More than 100,000 people marched in Paris on Sunday to protest against rising antisemitism in the wake of Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, representatives of several parties on the left, conservatives and centrists of President Emmanuel Macron’s party as well as far-right leader Marine Le Pen attended Sunday’s march in the French capital amid tight security. Macron did not attend, but expressed his support for the protest and called on citizens to rise up against “the unbearable resurgence of unbridled antisemitism.” However, the leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, Jean-Luc Melenchon, stayed away from the march, saying last week on X, formerly Twitter, that the march would be a meeting of “friends of unconditional support for the massacre” in Gaza.Paris authorities deployed 3,000 police troops along the route of the protest called by the leaders of the Senate and parliament’s lower house, the National Assembly, am...

Edmonton Oilers fire coach Jay Woodcroft and name Kris Knoblauch the replacement

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:36:41 GMT

Jay Woodcroft is out as coach of the Edmonton Oilers after a team that was supposed to be a Stanley Cup contender lost 10 of its first 13 games.Woodcroft was fired Sunday at the end of the team’s road trip, which wrapped up with a 4-1 win at Seattle on Saturday night. That victory was not enough to save Woodcroft’s job in the aftermath of a four-game losing streak, including an embarrassing 3-2 loss at the NHL-worst San Jose Sharks earlier in the week.Kris Knoblauch, Connor McDavid’s junior hockey coach, was named Woodcroft’s replacement, and Hall of Famer Paul Coffey joins his staff as an assistant, with Dave Manson also dismissed. Knoblauch becomes the organization’s 10th coach in 15 seasons and the fifth since McDavid joined the team in 2015.After the loss in San Jose on Thursday night, Woodcroft said he wasn’t worried about his job security.“No one’s happy with where we’re at,” Woodcroft said. “We all own it. We can be better, and that’s where...