“Michael” soared to a record-breaking $97 million opening weekend in North America and $217.4 million globally, becoming the biggest debut ever for a music biopic despite mixed reviews and production setbacks. Starring Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson, the film overcame controversy and costly reshoots to draw strong audience enthusiasm, with sequels already under consideration.
Author Archives: Associated Press
Posted inNational News
DC gala shooting suspect aired grievances against 47th president in writings to family
Authorities say Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old California man, is accused of attempting a politically motivated attack at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25, after sending writings to family expressing grievances against the 47th president’s administration. Investigators believe Allen acted alone, legally acquired multiple weapons, and intended to target administration officials before being subdued by security, prompting a chaotic scene and the evacuation of the president, who was unharmed.
Posted inNational News
Ex-officer planned to kill Black people in mass shooting at a New Orleans festival, authorities say
Authorities say a former North Carolina law enforcement officer, Christopher Gillum, was arrested in Florida after allegedly planning a racially motivated mass shooting targeting Black people at a major New Orleans festival, believed to be the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Law enforcement recovered a handgun and ammunition, and the FBI is coordinating a multi-state investigation as Gillum faces extradition to Louisiana.
Posted inReligion
Pope prays at Catholic shrine in Angola that was a center of African slave trade
Pope Leo XIV visited the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima in Angola, a Catholic shrine with deep spiritual significance and a painful history as a hub in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. During his visit, he prayed for healing and acknowledged the suffering endured by Angolans over centuries, while scholars and observers reflected on the Catholic Church’s historical role in slavery and the need for further acknowledgment and reconciliation.
Posted inNational News
8 children between the ages of 1 and 14 are dead after a mass shooting in Louisiana, police say
Eight children, ages 1 to 14, were killed in a domestic violence mass shooting across two homes in Shreveport, Louisiana, on April 19, police said. The suspect, an adult male believed to be related to the victims, died after a police pursuit. Authorities are still investigating what led to the attack, which is the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. in more than two years.
Posted inNational News
Police say former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax killed wife, then turned gun on himself
Friends and family are mourning the deaths of former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and his wife, Cerina. Police say Justin Fairfax killed his wife before turning the weapon on himself.
Posted inReligion
Many US Catholics are dismayed by No. 47’s unprecedented broadside at the first American pope
Many U.S. Catholics and some evangelical leaders are expressing dismay after the 47th U.S. president launched an unprecedented verbal attack on Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, highlighting growing tensions between the White House and key religious constituencies ahead of the midterm elections.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Haitians cut back on already scarce food and ask how they’ll survive rising fuel prices
Rising global oil prices have driven up fuel costs in Haiti, worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis by increasing transportation and food prices, forcing families to eat less and struggle to survive.
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
It’s music festival season. How to stay safe and healthy while enjoying the show
As music festival season kicks off, experts advise attendees to prioritize safety by planning ahead for risks like heat, dehydration, injuries and overexposure to noise, while staying aware of surroundings and personal limits.
Posted inNational News
Family sues US over 8-year-old’s death in custody after crossing the border
The family of 8-year-old Anadith Danay Reyes Alvarez has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government, alleging medical neglect while she was in border custody in 2023 despite known serious health conditions.
Posted inNational News
U.S. president pulls back on threats against Iran with 2-week ceasefire agreement
The U.S. president has announced that he’s pulling back on his threats to launch devastating strikes on Iran. A two-week ceasefire is now in effect in the war against Iran, which was launched on Feb. 28 by the United States and Israel.
Posted inTechnology
AP says it will offer buyouts as part of pivot away from newspaper-focused history
By David BauderAP Media Writer The Associated Press, one of the world’s oldest and most influential news organizations, said April 6 it is offering buyouts to an unspecified number of its U.S.-based journalists as part of an acceleration away from the focus on newspapers and their print journalism that sustained the company since the mid-1800s. […]