(AP) WASHINGTON–First lady Michelle Obama and singer Alicia Keys are teaming up to turn the message of a movie about two inner-city boys battling long odds into a call for the nation to do more to help young people get
Fledgling filmmakers are often forced to cast actors just as green as they are. Brandon Polanco got luckier than most. His new short stars Breaking Bad award-winner Bryan Cranston. Writer’s Block,” a 13-minute short film starring Cranston, was directed by
(AP) Environmentalists sue Navy over sonar useSAN DIEGOEnvironmental organizations have added the Navy to their lawsuit against the federal government that seeks more measures to protect whales and other marine mammals from the military’s sonar use. Earthjustice and other organizations
(AP) WASHINGTONThe Marine Corps says it is attempting to determine the authenticity of photos published by TMZ.com that the entertainment website says show Marines appearing to burn bodies of dead Iraqi insurgents in Fallujah in 2004. A Marine spokesman at the
German-born director Lexi Alexander has read all the recent headlines about the dearth of female directors in Hollywood. She didn’t have to, though. She’s lived it already, and she’s more than a little mad that the status quo exists in
(AP) AP Source: Warriors acquire Crawford, BrooksBy ANTONIO GONZALEZAP Sports WriterOAKLAND, Calif. The Golden State Warriors have been searching for a suitable backup to point guard Stephen Curry since veteran Jarrett Jack signed with Cleveland as a free agent last
Some shocked New Yorkers just gave a 20th Century Fox horror movie the best promotion possible. The marketing company Thinkmodo created an animatronic baby, one so ugly even its own mother couldn’t love it, and set it loose in the
(AP) QB Tom Brady not spotted at Patriots practiceBy HOWARD ULMANAP Sports WriterFOXBOROUGH, Mass.Tom Brady has taken time off from practice before the New England Patriots play the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos. Backup quarterback Ryan Mallett says
(AP) Rangers still helping West, Texas, after explosionBy STEPHEN HAWKINSAP Sports WriterWEST, TexasScott Podsednik played high school baseball on a since-abandoned field in the shadow of a fertilizer plant that exploded last April in the former major league outfielder’s small
Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has more to worry about this week than how her famous hubby Tom Brady will fare against the Denver Broncos. The stunner inflamed parents everywhere when video of her riding an ATV while holding her 13-month-old daughter
(AP) Reports: Vikings hire Mike Zimmer as head coachEDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.The Minnesota Vikings will hire Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer as their new head coach, according to multiple media reports. Zimmer will replace Leslie Frazier, who was fired after
(AP) Lieberman: Obama lacks coherent anti-terror planBy LAURIE KELLMANAssociated PressWASHINGTONFormer Sen. Joe Lieberman told a House panel Wednesday that President Barack Obama has “no coherent” anti-terrorism strategy in embattled countries where al-Qaida is gaining new influence, and that’s endangering the
Historic subsidies propping up US wind energy ended on January 1 and Congress refused to renew them, despite supporters arguing that the aid has made renewable power cheaper than coal. The United States has subsidized wind-sourced electricity since 1992 to
(AP) Peyton Manning very good at second chancesBy ARNIE STAPLETONAP Pro Football WriterENGLEWOOD, Colo.From rematches to revivals to redemption, it’s not a good idea to bet against Peyton Manning when it comes to second chances. He has 97 touchdown throws
(AP) 4 kittens pull ‘break-in’ at upstate NY prisonFORT ANN, N.Y.A litter of kittens has found a cozy home in the least cozy of places — a maximum-security prison in upstate New York. The Post-Star of Glens Falls reports (http://bit.ly/LcCRaP
(AP) Plymouth Rock struck by vandalsPLYMOUTH, Mass.Vandals have struck Plymouth Rock, but the spray-painted mess was quickly cleaned up. Someone spray-painted the word “LIES” on the chunk of rock earlier this week. Plymouth Rock is engraved with “1620” to mark
(AP) Protests at abortion clinics back at high courtBy MARK SHERMANAssociated PressWASHINGTONThe regulation of protests outside abortion clinics returns to the Supreme Court for the first time since 2000 to find the justices seemingly more protective of speech and less
(AP) Google builds a ‘Nest’ for future of smart homesBy MICHAEL LIEDTKEAP Technology WriterSAN FRANCISCOWhen our Internet-connected gadgets and home appliances all learn to talk to each other, Google wants to be at the center of the conversation. This imagined
(AP) Report: NSA maps pathway into computersWASHINGTONThe National Security Agency has implanted software in nearly 100,000 computers around the world — but not in the United States — that allows the U.S. to conduct surveillance on those machines, The New
(AP) Heroin and pill abuse stir a battle cry in VermontBy WILSON RINGAssociated PressMONTPELIER, Vt.Behind the facade of pristine ski slopes, craft beer, quaint village greens and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, Vermont is grappling with
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The District of Columbia will take a step closer toward decriminalizing marijuana on Wednesday with a move that will make smoking a joint in the U.S. capital a violation comparable to a parking ticket. With Washington arresting
(AP) House ready to OK government-wide $1.1T budgetBy ALAN FRAMAssociated PressWASHINGTONShunning the turmoil of recent budget clashes, Congress is ready to approve a massive $1.1 trillion spending bill for this year, a compromise financing everything from airports to war costs
(AP) Obama to announce manufacturing institute in NCBy DARLENE SUPERVILLEAssociated PressWASHINGTONHighlighting the growing manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy, President Barack Obama is proposing new ways for the government and the private sector to help keep those jobs coming. The
(AP) Judge gives Chicago 6 months to OK gun sales lawBy DON BABWINAssociated PressCHICAGOA federal judge on Tuesday approved Chicago’s request for a delay of six months to allow the city time to craft a new gun sales ordinance. Federal
The long-running FOX series The Simpsons gets away with plenty, partly due to the innocuous nature of animated fare. The show apparently went too far when it labeled a beloved heavy metal act as “death metal.” The most recent Simpsons
