Empire’ Actor Smollett Pleads Not Guilty to Lying About Chicago Attack
“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett pleaded not guilty in a Chicago court on Thursday to new charges that he falsely reported to police that he was the victim of a racist
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Wide-Ranging K-Pop Scandal Rocks South Korea
South Korea’s entertainment industry was upended this week after a celebrity’s cell phone, which was in for repairs, revealed widespread alleged acts of sexual misconduct. YG Entertainment, which is tied
Read MoreUS Cheesemakers Growing, Changing With the Times
In the U.S. these days, cheese is emerging as a product and point of pride that in some circles. That was clear at the United States Championship Cheese Contest held
Read MoreItalian Police Identify 6 Suspects in Fake Modigliani Show
Italy’s art police say they have identified six suspects in connection with a 2017 Modigliani exhibit that was comprised mostly of fakes. The Carabinieri art squad announced Wednesday that the
Read MoreAlaskan Native Pete Kaiser Wins Iditarod Dog Sled Race
Pete Kaiser has become the latest Alaska Native to win the Iditarod dog sled race. Kaiser won the race for the first time early Wednesday, crossing the finish line in
Read MoreLaughter Can Bring Attention to Global Refugee Crisis, US Comic says
Most people wouldn’t consider the global refugee crisis a laughing matter, but American comic actor Ben Stiller says humor can help draw people’s attention to it. Humor can help tell
Read MoreUS Pawn Shops Offer Loans for Hidden Treasures
You never know what you will find in a pawnshop. Where else can you find a snow blower parked next to a mink jacket? Or an ornate 19th century mantle
Read MoreKenya’s Lone Ice Hockey Team
The first and only ice hockey team in Kenya continues to defy the odds by playing and practicing the sport in one of the few ice rinks found across Eastern
Read MoreTick Tock, Tick Tock: Tokyo Olympics Clock Hits 500-day Mark
Tick tock, tick tock. The Tokyo Olympic clock has hit 500 days to go. Organizers marked the milestone on Tuesday, unveiling the stylized pictogram figures for next year’s Tokyo
Read MoreFree Books Inspire Love of Reading in DC’s Youngest Residents
When Washington resident Joshua Clark snuggles with his son in a comfy armchair and reads to him, it brings back uncomfortable memories. Reading for fun “I remember my mom almost
Read MoreUS Olympic Cyclist Catlin Dies at 23
Kelly Catlin, an Olympic track cyclist who helped the U.S. women’s pursuit team win a silver medal at the 2016 summer games in Rio de Janeiro, has died at the
Read MoreDecline in Readers, Ads Leads Hundreds of US Newspapers to Fold
Five minutes late, Darrell Todd Maurina sweeps into a meeting room and plugs in his laptop computer. He places a Wi-Fi hotspot on the table and turns on a digital
Read MoreDecline in Readers, Ads Leads Hundreds of Newspapers to Fold
Five minutes late, Darrell Todd Maurina sweeps into a meeting room and plugs in his laptop computer. He places a Wi-Fi hotspot on the table and turns on a digital
Read MoreBabe Ruth’s Last Surviving Daughter Dies in Nevada at 102
Julia Ruth Stevens, the last surviving daughter of Hall of Fame baseball slugger Babe Ruth and a decades-long champion of his legacy, has died at age 102, her family has
Read MoreCenter of Christianity Has its First Mormon Temple
Europe’s largest Mormon temple will be dedicated over three days starting Sunday. Russell Nelson, president of the world’s 16 million Mormons, will be in Rome for the dedication ceremonies. No
Read MoreThe Return of Antique Printmaking
Wedding invitations, posters, greeting or business cards — Alessandra Echeverri, owner of Typecase Industries, does all things paper, and she uses only antique press machines. Iuliia Iarmolenko went to Echeverri’s
Read MoreFrenchman Maintains Lead in Alaska’s Iditarod
A Frenchman continues to lead this year’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Nicolas Petit was the first musher Saturday to leave the checkpoint at Eagle Island, about 592 miles (953
Read MoreR. Kelly: ‘We’re Going to Straighten All This Stuff Out’
R. Kelly walked out of a Chicago jail on Saturday after someone who officials said did not want to be publicly identified paid $161,633 that the R&B singer owed in
Read MoreNCAA Loses Federal Antitrust Case, Can Still Claim Win
The NCAA was able to claim victory Friday night after a judge ruled against the governing body for college sports in a federal antitrust lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken
Read MoreInternational Women’s Day Puts Spotlight on Victims, Activists, Heroes
Civic and governmental organizations around the world are preparing to recognize and celebrate International Women’s Day on Friday. International Women’s Day is a more than 100-year-old celebration of women’s
Read MoreR. Kelly Says ex-Wife Destroyed His Name, Others Stole Money
Embattled R&B star R. Kelly angrily blamed his ex-wife for “destroying” his name and claimed other people stole from his bank accounts during new portions of an interview that aired
Read MoreHuman Rights Campaign to Honor Christina Aguilera
The nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization is honoring Christina Aguilera with its Ally for Equality award. The Human Rights Campaign announced Thursday the six-time Grammy-winning singer is a true
Read MoreHanging Gardens of Babylon Recreated for the 21st Century
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, words that evoke colorful images of lost riches. While debate continues over where the gardens were located, or even if they existed at all, researchers
Read MoreJeopardy! Host Alex Trebek Says He Has Pancreatic Cancer
“Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek said he has been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer but intends to fight the disease and keep on working. In a video posted online Wednesday, the
Read More‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ Coming to Netflix
The groundbreaking novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is coming to the screen for the first time in a Spanish language series for Netflix, the streaming
Read MoreHow Enslaved Africans Helped Invent American Cuisine
You can thank enslaved Africans for one of America’s most iconic drinks: Coca-Cola. “The base ingredient in Coca-Cola is the kola nut that’s indigenous to Africa,” says Frederick Opie, professor
Read MoreChelsea Manning, Parkland Teens Documentaries to Debut at Tribeca
A documentary about Chelsea Manning, Werner Herzog’s latest and a film about Parkland students in the aftermath of the Florida high school massacre are among the selections that will premiere
Read MoreJapanese ‘Demon’ Festival Grapples with Blessing and Curse of UNESCO Listing
As a child, Tatsuo Sato was terrified when the Namahage demons roared into his northern Japanese house every year, but in adulthood he mourned as the centuries-old tradition faded away.
Read More3 Quebec Radio Stations Stop Playing Michael Jackson Songs
Three major Montreal radio stations have stopped playing Michael Jackson songs as a result of child-molestation allegations against the late musician that aired Sunday in an HBO documentary. A spokeswoman
Read MoreArtwork by James Terrell and Zsudayka Nzinga Terrell
Artists James Terrell and Zsudayka Nzinga Terrell have been on a long quest to explore their identity and express it in their art works. The artists are both descendants of
Read MoreKen Burns Prize for Film to Honor Documentaries
The Library of Congress will begin presenting an award named for Ken Burns, who elevated the craft of historical documentaries. Officials announced on Tuesday the creation of the Library of
Read MoreEgypt Releases Prominent Photojournalist After 5 Years in Prison
After five years of imprisonment, prominent Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zaid was released and returned to his family Monday. Zaid, popularly known as “Shawkan,” said he would continue his work
Read MoreUS Actor Luke Perry Dead at 52
Luke Perry, who gained instant heartthrob status as wealthy rebel Dylan McKay on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” died Monday after suffering a massive stroke, his publicist said. He was 52.
Read MoreFrom Satirical to Silly, Walking Clubs Spice Up Mardi Gras
A floppy-eared pooch wearing a red crustacean costume rides in a wagon decorated like a shrimp boat, followed by another “boat” wagon occupied by a pug in a sailor hat.
Read MoreVisual Exploration of African Americans’ Identity
Artists James Terrell and Zsudayka Nzinga Terrell have been on a long quest to explore their identity and express it in their art works. The artists are both descendants of
Read MoreAnnual Race Finishes With Happy Ending for One Couple
An annual race run in Britain’s largest island ended with the promise of holy matrimony. One competitor who had previously won the quirky race carrying his girlfriend proposed to her
Read MoreFIFA’s Infantino: Look to Women’s Game to Improve Men’s
Striving to improve behavior at soccer matches, FIFA President Gianni Infantino sees women as role models for male players. There is less simulation and time-wasting in the women’s game, according
Read MoreHiplet: When Ballet Meets Hip-Hop
A new dance style, born in Chicago, is recognized around the world. It’s called hiplet and combines hip-hop and ballet. Ksenia Turkova traveled to Chicago to meet the Godfather of
Read MoreHip-Hop Guru Opens Dance Studio in US Capital
Jason Cerda is a professional dancer and recording artist. He’s performed on stage with Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and other big-name musicians and now uses his expertise to teach young
Read MoreMusical Virtuoso Previn Dies at 89
Musical virtuoso Andre Previn, who mastered almost every type of genre, died Thursday at 89. His manager gave no cause of death in making her announcement. The Berlin-born
Read MoreLady Gaga: Bradley Cooper Duet Was Acting, Not Love
It was acting, not love, when Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper sang a duet Sunday at the 91st Academy Awards. Gaga discussed the emotional performance of “Shallow” from their
Read MoreIce Castles Turn US Farmland Into Winter Wonderland
On a clear, frigid night in a courtyard made of walls of ice, Bruce McCafferty and his young son stand mesmerized, bathed in the pulsating rainbow light emanating from a
Read MorePopular Fur-Trimmed Parkas a Boon for Trappers, Not for Coyotes
Those fur-trimmed parkas so common on city sidewalks have become a boon to backwoods trappers. Coyote fur pelts are in big demand to provide the lush, silvery or tawny-tinged arcs
Read MoreSculptures Add to the Attraction of Outdoor Ice Rink
Water turns to ice when it gets cold enough, and that physical state change turns a splashing summertime fountain in front of one of Washington’s museums into a smooth surface
Read MoreMichael Jackson Brothers Say Accusers’ Film Neglects Facts
The family of Michael Jackson had a feeling the years-old child molestation allegations against the pop superstar would resurface at some point. So they say they weren’t entirely surprised to
Read MoreFirst Iranian-American Woman to Win Oscar Turns to Iran-Themed Films
The first Iranian-American woman to win an Oscar, Rayka Zehtabchi, says she wants to build on Sunday’s triumph of her documentary about menstruation by producing several films with Iran-related themes.
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