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In ‘The Blue Caftan,’ Moroccan film director tackles LGBTQ+ love and celebrates embroidery craft

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

As Mina gets increasingly sick, her body withering away, her husband dotes on her: He washes her hair, helps her change, brings the sweetness of a fruit to her lips. But underneath the genuinely tender moments shared by this on-screen Moroccan couple simmers a longing — of a forbidden kind.In her latest film, “The Blue Caftan,” Moroccan director Maryam Touzani delicately weaves intricate, overlapping tales of love, both traditional and largely taboo for many in her country and its region as she tells the story of a woman and her secretly gay husband who together run a shop making caftans. The marriage grows more complicated when the couple hires a male apprentice.Wading into socially sensitive subjects is not unfamiliar terrain for Touzani who has won accolades at international film festivals and, just recently, was a jury member at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. “The Blue Caftan,” which had been shortlisted in the international feature film category for the 95th Academy Awards, ...

Company withdraws petition to build industrial park in Deerfield

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

DEERFIELD, Ill. — A controversial plan to develop a large industrial park in the northern suburbs has been withdrawn.The plan to turn Baxter International's 101-acre site into an industrial park will not be moving forward as planned. The Village announced Bridge Industrial withdrew its petition Wednesday, just one day before a scheduled hearing on the matter.Hundreds of Deerfield and nearby residents protested the proposed development by Bridge Industrial back in April. The company lobbied the village to annex Baxter International's headquarters and rezone it for industrial use. But at the public meeting, neighbors to the large property near the Tri-State Tollway were outraged over the idea. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Thousands sign petition to prevent industrial development in Deerfield "None of us knew that an industrial warehouse equaling 17 football fields would be built across the street from us, sharing the same stoplight that we use," said Barbara Raff, President of the Thorngate H...

Man arrested after allegedly getting into argument with ex-wife, firing gun at McHenry County bar

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

MARENGO, Ill. — A man has been arrested after police in Marengo said he allegedly started shooting into the air at a bar after an argument and finding his ex-wife inside.Marengo Police Department officers were called to the bar around 11 p.m. Friday in the 200 block of South State Street. Bears CEO Kevin Warren, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson release statement after meeting During an investigation, officers determined the man found his ex-wife at the bar, got into an argument, went outside, pulled a firearm from his waistband, fired several shots into the air and left, according to a news release.No injuries were reported. Carpentersville structure fire destroys 2 homes, 2 garages A warrant was issued for armed violence, felon in possession of a firearm, violation of an order of protection, unlawful use of a weapon - possession in a liquor establishment and reckless discharge of a firearm, according to the release.Elgin Police Department officers arrested the man on Wednesday.

MedWatch Daily Digest: Cancer drug shortage, cancer survivors experience post-treatment problems

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

CHICAGO — For Wednesday, June 7, WGN’s Dina Bair has the latest on new information, including the following. More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Cancer drug shortage updateCancer survivors experiencing post-treatment problemsA new study found a diabetes drug may show promise as medication for alcohol addiction

Rhode Island city gets bus to help house its homeless population

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — One Rhode Island city has found a creative way to combat homelessness in the community.Monday night, the Woonsocket city council approved the purchase of a 45-foot coach bus, which will be turned into a miniature shelter.For months, Woonsocket council members have been working to secure what’s called a "Dignity Bus."The bus was originally found and pursued by the state, but the process was held up.“I was a little bit upset about it," City Council Vice President Valerie Gonzalez recalled. "We had been working on it for quite a bit."Gonzalez was on vacation in Florida when she got the news the bus was falling through, so she took matters into her own hands."When I woke up, I was just, ‘Oh my God, the bus is in Florida and so am I,’" she added. "So I made a few phone calls and was able to meet with the organization ‘The Source.’"She was able to convince the company to sell directly to the city instead of working with the state.She said that will be a huge adva...

Texas decathlete hanging on to small lead after 1st day of competition at NCAAs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas junior Leo Neugebauer has a slim lead halfway through the decathlon after Wednesday's competition at the NCAA Track and Field Championships, held at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.Neugebauer, who competed for his native Germany at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in the 10-event discipline, tallied 4,591 points through five events, 21 points clear of Georgia senior Kyle Garland. Neugebauer scored 949 points in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.61 seconds and racked up 980 points with a leap of 25 feet, 2.5 inches in the long jump. He scored 954 points with a time of 47.08 in the 400, 868 in the shot put (53-4.5) and 840 in the high jump (6-8.25). Texas women look to run down an NCAA track title in Austin While Neugebauer holds the stadium record in the discipline at 8,478 points, Garland has the NCAA record with 8,720 points. The remaining five events — 110 hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500 — are set for Thursday night.The Texas men wil...

Jose Miranda at peace with Saints for now

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

Jose Miranda is in a good place. No, he’s not playing one of the corner infield spots or hitting in the middle of the Twins’ lineup, but for someone searching for the swing that made him one of the game’s most dangerous young hitters last season, he’s at peace playing for the St. Paul Saints.Feeling the pressure to reach his potential, to provide for his wife and young daughter, and to secure his future with a long-term contract, Miranda has found the comfort that proper perspective can provide.“There’s a lot of people out there who are having trouble with different things in their life,” he said. “Maybe they’re sick, maybe they’re having a rough time. For me, I got sent down, but it’s not the end of the world.“You’re playing baseball in Triple-A, which is really close to the major leagues. Obviously, we don’t want to be here, we want to be up there, but in the meantime, enjoy the time and put in the work.”Miranda went 1 for 3 with a pair of walks and three RBIs in the Saints’ 11-6 ...

Minnesota Aurora give up a goal but still cruise over Chicago Dutch Lions

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

Minnesota Aurora conceded its first goal of the season but remained undefeated with a 6-1 win over the Chicago Dutch Lions in a USL W League game on Wednesday at TCO Stadium.Hannah Adler had a first-half hat trick to propel Aurora to 5-0-0 in front of an announced crowd of 4,874 in Eagan.“For us to have scored six goals when it wasn’t our best soccer — we haven’t reached our potential yet — is a really good place to be,” Adler said.Tianna Harris and Mariah Nguyen also scored for Aurora. The Dutch Lions got on the board in the 73rd minute to end Aurora’s 433-minute shutout streak to start the season.Aurora, which has a 25-1 scoring dominance to start the season, will play Chicago City SC on Sunday.Related ArticlesSoccer | Lionel Messi picks MLS’s Inter Miami in a move that stuns soccer after exit from Paris Saint-Germain Soccer | Loons abuzz at prospect of playing against Lionel Messi next season Soccer | Maplewood’s Devin Padelford ec...

Skeletal remains found inside vacant home in Lincoln County

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo. - Lincoln County Sheriff's Office detectives investigated skeletal remains found in an abandoned home in Winfield Wednesday. Investigators said the person was found wearing several layers of clothing but said it is still early in the investigation."We found skeletal remains of a deceased person. At this time, we can't tell the sex or age of the individual," said Capt. David Hill for the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. "It's probably going to require dental records."Hill said the challenge for investigators is trying to identify the remains."As it's gotten hotter, that speeds up the decomposition process," he said. "The fact that the home is in such bad shape makes it really difficult for us to be able to effectively even investigate the scene around it." Revisting Mike Shildt’s comments on his Cardinals departure Hill said it is still too early to determine how the person died or why they were in the abandoned home."We haven't seen anything to indicate a cause...

Roadside cameras are solving cross-state crimes, finding missing people

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:41 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – License plate reader cameras are tied to many recent remarkable breakthroughs in cases.The March 3 Schnucks parking lot shooting in St. Charles County is one of many examples of how the cameras led police to suspects across state lines. In that case, investigators only had part of a license plate, but that was enough.“It’s all about networking and solving crimes, throughout the area,” Officer Shawn Birdsong, St. Charles County Police Department, said.Birdsong said that a license plate reader camera, “…makes the solvability of the crime that much greater.” Revisting Mike Shildt’s comments on his Cardinals departure From violent crimes to abductions, and even keeping sex offenders from where they should not be, Birdsong said, “We get alerts when prohibitive people are coming in our parks, so like I said we are very invested in our community and keeping it safe.”Court records indicate a January 2023 stolen car ring in north St. Louis County was broken up when ...