‘Barbie’ Breaks Box Office Record For Female Directors

July 24, 2023 10:49 am

“Barbie” didn’t just break the opening weekend record for 2023; It also shattered the first weekend record for a film directed by a woman. With $162 million in ticket sales from North American theaters, according to studio totals Monday, “Barbie” catapulted past both “Captain Marvel,” which was co-directed by Anna Boden and opened to $153.4 million in 2019, and “Wonder Woman,” Patty Jenkins’ 2017 film that debuted to $103.3 million. Boasting a reported price tag of $145 million, “Barbie” also cost less to produce than “Captain Marvel” ($152 million) and “Wonder Woman” ($200 million).

Trader Joe’s Recalls Cookies That May Contain Rocks

July 24, 2023 9:44 am

Trader Joe’s has announced the recall of two types of cookies. The company said that it has recalled Trader Joe’s Almond Windmill Cookies and Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies. The cookies may contain rocks. The Almond Windmill Cookies have SKU #98744 with 10/19/23 through 10/21/023 sell-by dates, while the Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies have SKU #82752 with 10/17/23 through 10/21/23 sell-by dates. The cookies that were still on the shelves have been destroyed, the company said. If you have the recalled cookies, you’re being told not to eat them and either throw them away or return them to the store for a full refund. If you have questions, you can call the company at 626-599-3817, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT or email Trader Joe’s.

Twitter To Change Logo To “X”

July 24, 2023 5:15 am

NEW YORK (AP) — Elon Musk plans to change the logo of Twitter to an “X” from the famous blue bird, marking what would be the latest big change since he bought the social media platform for $44 billion last year. In a series of posts on his Twitter account starting just after 12 a.m. ET on Sunday, Twitter’s owner said that he’s looking to make the change worldwide as soon as Monday. Earlier this month, Musk put new curfews on his digital town square, a move that sparked criticism that it could drive away advertisers and undermine its cultural influence as a trendsetter.

Texas Governor Tells Biden He’ll See Him In Court

July 24, 2023 5:12 am

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is promising a legal showdown with the Biden administration in their fight over immigration enforcement. He told the federal government Monday that the state won’t remove its floating barrier on the Rio Grande. In a letter to the Department of Justice, Abbott said his state has the authority to protect its border. The Justice Department last week threatened to sue Texas over the buoys between Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Mexico. Immigration enforcement is typically the purview of the federal government, which says the buoy wall raises humanitarian and environmental concerns. Abbott wrote in his letter, “Texas will see you in court, Mr. President.”

UN; Conversations Held With N. Korea Over U.S. Soldier

July 24, 2023 5:10 am

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The deputy commander of the U.N. Command says it has started conversations with North Korea over an American soldier who ran into the North last week across the Koreas’ border. Gen. Andrew Harrison said the process has started through a communications line set up under the armistice agreement that stopped the fighting of the 1950-53 Korean War. He said the well-being of Pvt. Travis King remains the command’s primary concern, but refused to provide more details. The update came as South Korea’s military said a nuclear-propelled U.S. submarine arrived at a port on Jeju Island in the second deployment of a major U.S. naval asset to the Korean Peninsula this month.

Israeli Parliament Approves Judicial Overhaul

July 24, 2023 5:08 am

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli lawmakers have approved a key portion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s divisive plan to reshape the country’s justice system. The vote came after a stormy session in which opposition lawmakers chanted “shame” and then stormed out of the chamber. The vote reflected the determination of Netanyahu and his far-right allies to move ahead with the plan, despite massive, sustained protests for months and opposition from business leaders, military reservists and legal officials. More mass protests were expected after the vote.

Man Who Killed Eagle Is Father Of NFL Player

July 24, 2023 5:05 am

A Canonsburg man who was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly shooting and killing a bald eagle is the father of Colts’ safety Rodney Thomas II, according to the New York Post. The eagle was found dead along Water Dam Road in Mount Pleasant Township in May. It was shot with an air rifle. Rodney Thomas, 50, is charged with violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. “The bald eagle is our national bird and is widely known as being symbolic of our independence as a country,” said Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh. “A symbolic species such as the bald eagle deserves our protection. My office, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and the Mt. Pleasant Police Department worked diligently coordinating with each other to identify and charge the individual responsible and bring him to justice.” If convicted, Thomas is facing up to a year in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

Four Injured In Multiple Motorcycle Crash

July 24, 2023 5:01 am

LIGONIER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — (WPXI) – Four people were hurt in a crash involving several motorcycles on Route 30 in Ligonier Township. According to Westmoreland County 911, the crash happened at around 6:49 p.m. Ligonier Valley Police on Facebook said the crash happened near Laughlintown and involved several motorcycles. There were two different crash scenes that stemmed from the same crash, dispatch said. Four people were injured in the crash. One person was flown and two people were taken by ground to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown. A fourth person was taken to UPMC Forbes Hospital, according to officials. There’s currently no word on the victims’ conditions.

One Killed In Union Township Crash

July 24, 2023 4:59 am

One person was killed in a one-vehicle crash early Monday morning in Union Township. Washington County 9-1-1 dispatchers say it happened around 1:30 a.m. in the area of the 22-hundred block of Route 88. We are told the driver was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.  The identity of the driver has not yet been released.  No other vehicles were involved.

Canonsburg Police Investigating Weekend Shooting

July 24, 2023 2:18 am

CANONSBURG, Pa. (WPXI) — Canonsburg police are investigating after shots were fired in a drive-by shooting early Sunday morning. According to Canonsburg police, officers were called to Perry Como Avenue for reports of shots fired at around 12:50 a.m. Responding officers found damage to a building that was suspected to be from multiple gunshots from a drive-by shooting. The suspects fled an unknown car and their motive is unknown at this time, police said. No injuries were reported from the incident.