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Theater review: ‘Hamilton’ lives up to the hype at Orpheum

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

When hip-hop was a considerably younger art form, one of its first great groups, Public Enemy, issued a caution: “Don’t believe the hype.” I confess that message had taken up residence in the back of my mind as I headed toward my first encounter with “Hamilton,” the hip-hop history lesson that’s been hailed as something like the reinvention of musical theater.Yet, after attending a touring version at Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theatre, I’ve concluded that the hype is well deserved. “Hamilton” is a relentlessly exciting, imaginative and, yes, revolutionary work that blows the dust off your American history education.What makes it all the more astounding is that it’s primarily the creation of one artist. Broadway musicals tend to emerge from the womb of a writing room where a librettist, composer and lyricist have gathered. But Lin-Manuel Miranda was all of the above for “Hamilton,” also taking on the title role in its original incarnation. It was he who spent a beach vacation reading Ron C...

Wild center Ryan Hartman suspended for one game with playoffs looming

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With nothing to play for in Thursday night’s game against the Nashville Predators. the Wild are expected to rest most of their starters. Thus, it’s unclear if No. 1 center Ryan Hartman was slated to play in the final game of the regular season.Now he certainly will not.After delivering a hit to Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers on Tuesday night in St. Paul, and getting called for interference in the process, Hartman has been suspended for one game. This seemed imminent after news broke Wednesday morning that Hartman was set to have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety.The sequence in question started with Ehlers finishing a check on Wild star Kirill Kaprizov. He retreated through the neutral zone after doing so and got stood up by Hartman in open ice.Asked about the hit postgame, Hartman claimed he was simply trying to brace himself with Ehlers skating straight at him.“I had the puck,” Hartman said. “If I didn’t touch the puck,...

Transportation funding package — including 75-cent fee for delivery of taxable merchandise — goes to MN House floor for final vote

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

A package of tax and fee increases that would dedicate billions of dollars in new funding to transportation projects across the state is headed to the Minnesota House floor for a final vote in that chamberThe bill would impose a 75-cent fee for delivery of taxable merchandise to homes and businesses, increase metro area sales taxes by 0.75% for transit projects, boost motor vehicle license tab fees for roads and bridges and hike vehicle sales taxes.The House Ways and Means Committee approved the bill Wednesday on a voice vote with most Democrats voting for it and Republicans voting “no.” The full House is likely to vote on the package in the next week.House Transportation Committee Chair Frank Hornstein, DFL-Minneapolis, said the measure would address growing unmet needs for all modes of transportation in all parts of the state. The Legislature has not provided a significant increase in transportation since 2008, when it passed a gas tax increase.If lawmakers don’t allocate mo...

Hudson Falls CSD PTSA hosts Fun Fair on April 30

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

HUDSON FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On April 30, the Hudson Falls Central School District PTSA is hosting the Fun Fair from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The fair will be held at the Hudson Falls Primary School. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Visitors can purchase a $15 wristband, which provides access to unlimited carnival games. There will be prizes, basket raffles, and food available for purchase. A Cricut Explore Air 2 Bundle valued at over $500 will also be raffled off.

Achoo! Allergy levels, tree pollen high around St. Louis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Brace yourselves, St. Louisans. It's that time of year again when spring allergies are creeping up, and you might need to take action. The FOX 2 Allergy Index for Wednesday tracks high tree pollen levels from several sources across the region. Oak, ash, birch and sycamore pollen levels are all higher than average for this time of year. It's a trend that could continue with mild temperatures expected for the next several days.When the index reaches high levels, as is the case for many sources of tree pollen, most people with any sensitivity to seasonal allergies could suffer symptoms. Meanwhile, mold counts are considered moderate around the St. Louis area, though generally increase later into the year. Trending: Minnesota man steals semi-truck, leads to police chase in St. Louis County Seasonal allergy symptoms include itchy eyes, throat, sneezing, nasal congestion, and ear-popping. You may also develop a tickle in your throat or a cough. Prolonged symptoms can be mis...

98th season of horse racing at FanDuel Sportsbook next week

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. - Live thoroughbred racing in the St. Louis region returns to FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing next week!Opening day at the track, the former Fairmount Park, coincides with the return of Horse Hooky Tuesday on April 18. Post time is at 1 p.m.Race days are Tuesdays (post time 1 p.m.) and Saturdays (post time 7:30 p.m.) until Nov. 18.However, the venue will be open seven days a week for simulcast betting and sports wagering: Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. The track will host the third annual $250,000 FanDuel St. Louis Derby on Aug. 26.

Berthoud Pass closed for avalanche activity

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

Berthoud Pass on U.S. 40 is closed for the second day in a row due to avalanche activity.Related ArticlesTransportation | Both lanes of U.S. 40 reopened after avalanche near Winter Park Transportation | Maroon Bowl skiers in deadly avalanche were experienced, did a snowpack analysis the previous day Transportation | ‘I just want him back’: Colorado avalanche survivor determined to find beloved dog, missing since slide Transportation | Colorado authorities issue high, extreme avalanche warnings, anticipating “very dangerous conditions” Transportation | Skier killed in massive Colorado avalanche above Aspen came from Hungary According to a tweet from the Colorado Department of Transportation, lanes were closed in both directions at 12:16 p.m. Tuesday between Henderson Mine Road and the Mary Jane Ski Area near Winter Park.#US40 westbound: Road closed due to safety concerns between He...

Colorado legislature moves to require verified composting labels after phonies contaminated supply chain

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

Phony composting and biodegradable labels are one reason Colorado’s largest compost maker recently changed the rules on what it can accept at its Keenesburg facility.Now, a bill making its way through the Colorado legislature would create standards for the marketing of products such as trash bags, paper plates, cups, utensils and other things that could be composted.If approved, all of those products would need to be validated by a third party and would require distinct labels or symbols. The bill also would prohibit misleading labels, colors and slogans that imply a product can be tossed into a compost bin.Failing to certify a product as compostable and using a label anyway would become a deceptive trade practice violation, according to SB23-253. Under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, a person committing a deceptive trade practice may be fined up to $20,000 for each violation, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill.“Unfortunately, some companies are greenwashing thei...

Opinion: A regional tax could solve Colorado’s child-care crisis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

The child-care crisis just keeps getting worse.“The child-care system is broken in this country. Families can’t afford the high cost. Child-care providers cannot sustain their businesses. Caregivers’ wages are still below self-sufficiency standards,” said Colorado’s Bell Policy Center, which did a deep dive into the subject.In other words, little about the child-care crisis has changed in three years, with pandemic effects still looming.It’s a vicious cycle: Many parents left the workforce during the pandemic in order to stay home and take care of their children. They still haven’t returned to work. That deeply affects our nation’s economy.The lack of enough affordable, accessible and quality child care prevents America from performing at the level it should, which pushes up inflation rates.  The Hill publication said affordable child care is key to getting people back to work.It’s one of the top reasons why workers, particularly women, are not just leaving but also staying out of t...

Military hospital chided for shift in Catholic pastoral care

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

By DAVID CRARY (AP National Writer)The management of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center has drawn criticism from a prominent archbishop — and some members of Congress — by choosing not to renew a contract for Franciscan priests to provide pastoral care, and instead hiring a secular firm to oversee provision of those services going forward.For nearly two decades, priests from the Holy Name College Friary in Silver Spring, Maryland, had ministered to service members and veterans hospitalized at Walter Reed, a renowned medical facility in nearby Bethesda.Walter Reed said it notified the Franciscans in March that their contract would not be renewed, and that another bidder for the new contract had been selected — secular defense contractor Mack Global LLC.The medical center said it issued a cease-and-desist order on April 4 — in the midst of Holy Week — when Franciscans continued to provide pastoral services after their contract expired on March 3...