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Amid national theater crisis, Denver has staged a comeback. Will it last?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:55 GMT

For the past three years, the theater world has been in crisis. Across the country, companies have staged fewer shows and laid off employees. Some have stumbled financially while others — mostly in entertainment-rich cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles — have even closed.The state of the industry has garnered headlines. A New York Times op-ed from last summer argued that American theater is imploding before our eyes, soon to collapse without a bailout.Denver hasn’t been immune to these challenges. Attendance is down here even as it has dropped 20% nationwide since the beginning of 2020 — and could drop even further, according to American Theatre, a magazine that covers theatrical news and trends.And yet Denver’s theater scene is doing measurably better than most. Unlike other cities, there have been no major closures. Instead, the buzz for some shows has built far in advance of their openings, while upcoming titles for next year have recorded ...

Bison vs. urban growth: Rocky Mountain Arsenal seeks solutions to water runoff

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:55 GMT

A growing herd of 250 bison, re-introduced at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge to help restore toxic wasteland to the native short-grass prairie, often descends through a floodplain to reach First Creek and cross to northern half of the refuge.But torrents of water spilling off the rapidly urbanizing parts of Denver and Aurora east of the 25-square-mile refuge have torn into the floodplain, carving a gully that blocks the bison from crossing the creek.“This is a human-created challenge resulting from all the development,” biologist Sarah Metzer, the refuge’s supervisory ranger, said. “Bison are nimble animals but they’re going to have a hard time moving across this creek and getting up that other side.”Biologist Sarah Metzer, looks over flood damage at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Denver on Dec. 12, 2023. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)The deepening gully has become an obstacle for both the rec...

Massive surf to peak along Southern California coast Thursday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:55 GMT

Residents and beachgoers are being warned about the dangers of a massive swell that is expected to reach its peak along the Southern California coastline Thursday.The high surf and flooding dangers are of particular concern in Ventura County and at Hermosa, Manhattan and Palos Verdes beaches in Los Angeles County, according to the National Weather Service. Waves of 10 to 15 feet with sets to 20 feet are expected along the Ventura County coast. A high surf warning and coastal flood warning are in effect from 4 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Saturday. “Most dangerous conditions are expected later today (Thursday),” KTLA’s Omar Lewis said.Beachgoers are being urged to use caution as high surf hits the Southern California Coast Thursday. (National Weather Service Los Angeles)Surf near Point Conception and Hermosa, Manhattan and Palos Verdes beaches will reach 7 to 12 feet with sets between 15 and 20 feet, according to the Weather Service. “We’re all excited,” said Manhattan Beach resident Rub...

Zeros to Heroes: Latino Punk Pioneers Return for Holiday Show

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:55 GMT

Zeros to Heroes: It seems that the punk-loving public’s interest in the pioneers of the various geographical scenes is eternal. Here in L.A., that of course means X and the Germs, the Dils and the Weirdos, the Bags and Geza X. But people also loves to dig a little deeper, scratch a little harder, and pull names off of Dangerhouse compilations like Eyes and Black Randy.Somewhere between all of that sit the Zeros. Formed in 1976 in Chula Vista, the original band featured vocalist/guitarist Javier Escovedo, Robert Lopez (aka El Vez) on guitar, Hector Penalosa on bass and Baba Chenelle on drums. The first ever Zeros show was also the first ever Germs show, with the Weirdos also on the bill.The Zeros lineup has changed a little bit over the years, but the core is still in place and Escovedo is still at the mic. It’s been 24 years since their last full studio album (Right Now!), but Escovedo says that will be changing soon.“We’re recording a new record,” he says. “We’re not do...

Wish Book: Understanding lupus is the first step in fighting the disease

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:55 GMT

You may have heard of lupus but probably don’t really know what it is. That was true of San Jose resident Jane Siebenmorgen in 2004, when she started feeling fatigue while on a family trip to Europe.Within a year, she was tired all the time and her symptoms had grown to include weight loss, hair loss and circulatory problems in her fingers, which would turn white, then dark blue and then red. Siebenmorgen went to her doctor — the same one who had stitched up her chin when she was 4 years old — who suspected she had lupus and referred her to a rheumatologist.The following Monday, Siebenmorgen wasn’t feeling well at work and co-workers called 911 after discovering her heart was racing at more than 200 beats per minute. That started a three-week hospital odyssey of tests, talks among specialists and scary moments for her family. While in the hospital, she suffered two grand mal seizures, a stroke and developed a bacterial infection.“At one point, a doctor ...

Kurtenbach: Doubt Brock Purdy all you want. His 49ers’ teammates and coaches won’t

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:55 GMT

Brock Purdy’s career-worst game against the Ravens was a Christmas gift to everyone out there who — for whatever misguided reason — had decided he wasn’t, in fact, a good quarterback.There was downright glee about Purdy’s come-to-earth game on ESPN, Fox Sports, and countless podcasts and YouTube streams (does everyone have one of those these days?).But you know who has zero doubt that the 49ers’ second-year quarterback is good enough to lead the team to the Super Bowl?His coaches and teammates.It would have leaked out on Monday if there were any doubts about Purdy’s abilities in the 49ers’ locker room.A small, passive-aggressive comment, a bit-to-effusive praise of backup Sam Darnold, or outright questioning of Purdy’s quality — we didn’t hear a peep of negativity from the Niners after Purdy’s four-interception game.And, trust me, there are too many recorders and cameras in that room postgame to have missed it.In fact, the only p...

The year’s 50 best wines under $50, from an expert who tasted 3,243

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:55 GMT

By Elin McCoy | BloombergI love drinking rare, expensive wine as much as anyone, but I’m a bargain hunter at heart. I’m always on the lookout for the reds, whites, rosés and sparklers that deliver top quality at a reasonable cost. So, as I reviewed my 2023 tasting notes, I was delighted to discover this was a banner year for good values, despite inflation.I culled my following 50 good buys from 3,243 wines from 21 countries that I sipped this year. I’ve tried to highlight what’s new, at least to me, but some are familiar labels that consistently deliver deliciousness—and they haven’t raised their prices, either. Sadly it gets harder and harder to find Champagnes that sell for $50 and under, but I did.So, where to look for bargains?For the past two years, my top country for value in almost every category is Italy.France is a close second. Look to the Languedoc in the south, as well as the Touraine region of the Loire Valley, and in Macon. Be sure to add in Bordeaux from smaller chate...

Powerball jackpot rises to $760 million after no winner Wednesday night

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:55 GMT

By Elizabeth Wolfe | CNNAn estimated $760 million jackpot will be up for grabs in the next Powerball drawing after no winning ticket was drawn Wednesday night.The lottery’s next drawing will be Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.After more than two months with no grand prize winner, the jackpot now carries a lump-sum option estimated at $382.5 million.But Wednesday’s drawing didn’t leave everyone empty-handed. At least one ticket in Texas won $2 million and at least one other in California won $1 million, the lottery announced.Wednesday’s jackpot was initially set at an estimated $685 million but sales officials increased the prize by about $15 million due to strong ticket sales.The swelling prize is the fourth Powerball jackpot to exceed half a billion dollars this year.The Powerball jackpot was last won on October 11, when a ticket in California won a $1.765 billion grand prize. The odds of winning the grand prize are 1 in 292,201,338, according to Powerball. Tickets cost $2 per play and a...

Abcarian: Should large people get an extra airline seat for free?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:55 GMT

Kimmy Garris, who describes herself as a “fat solo traveler,” probably had no idea that her 30-second TikTok video was going to cause a sensation when she recorded herself in September politely asking a Southwest Airlines gate agent if she could avail herself of the airline’s “customer of size” policy.Her TikTok post went viral because of what happened next.The gate agent hands Garris an extra boarding pass, she walks onto the plane, asks for a seat-belt extender, takes a window seat and places the extra boarding pass in the middle seat.“If anyone tries to sit in it,” she wrote, “I kindly let them know I have two seats booked. To be honest, I almost never get approached because no one wants to sit in the middle seat next to a fat person on a plane.”You were expecting some kind of made-for-social-media airplane meltdown, right? The video went viral, I think, because people have been shocked and delighted that an airline can be so ...

Political cartoons: Wishing us all a better 2024

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:20:55 GMT

2023 is a year many of us would rather forget. War in the Mideast and Ukraine. A former president indicted. Record illegal migration across the U.S. southern border. A dysfunctional Republican-led House of Representatives. The vote to remove a member of Congress. More gun violence. More attempts in red states to limit abortion rights.Conservative cartoonist Lisa Benson and liberal Clay Bennett reflect on a year that is thankfully coming to an end.Perhaps a little humor will set the stage for a better 2024.Clay Bennett/Chattanooga Times Free PressLisa Benson/Counterpoint MediaClay Bennett/Chattanooga Times Free PressLisa Benson/Counterpoint MediaClay Bennett/Chattanooga Times Free PressLisa Benson/Counterpoint MediaLisa Benson/Counterpoint MediaClay Bennett/Chattanooga Times Free PressClay Bennett/Chattanooga Times Free PressLisa Benson/Counterpoint MediaClay Bennett/Chattanooga Times Free PressClay Bennett/Chattanooga Times Free PressLisa Benson/Counterpoint MediaLisa Benson/Counter...