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Amy Schumer’s memoir, ‘The Art of War’ and many other books are banned in US prisons. Here’s why

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:38 GMT

By HILLEL ITALIE (AP National Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — Tens of thousands of books are being banned or restricted by U.S. prisons, according to a new report from PEN America. The list includes everything from self-help books to an Elmore Leonard novel.“The common concept underpinning the censorship we’re seeing is that certain ideas and information are a threat,” says the report’s lead author, Moira Marquis, senior manager in the prison and justice writing department at PEN, the literary and free expression organization.Timed to the start Wednesday of Prison Banned Books Week, “Reading Between the Bars” draws upon public record requests, calls from PEN to prison mailrooms, dozens of accounts from inmates and PEN’s struggles to distribute its guide for prison writing, “The Sentences That Create Us: Crafting A Writer’s Life in Prison,” which came out last year.Marquis said that the most common official reasons for bans are...

EU Jewish leader calls on European governments to grant citizenship to remaining hostages

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:38 GMT

European Jewish Association Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin, who heads the organization that represents hundreds of communities across the continent, called Monday (23 October) on European governents to immediately grant citizenship to the remaining hostages, urging them not to put Jews through another selection process, writes Yossi Lempkowicz.He made the call in a statement upon responding to news that Hamas will release 50 hostages of dual nationality. “If Hamas are now releasing hostages with dual nationalities the answer is clear. Every European government should immediately grant citizenship to the remaining hostages. “I urge European governments most sincerely, please don’t force Jews to once again go through a selection,” he said.

List of places not to take a woman on 1st date going viral

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:38 GMT

A list of unacceptable places to take a woman on a first date is going viral.The list was posted to X, formerly Twitter, and it's leaving men stumped on where else to go. The first several places are popular restaurant chains like Applebees, Chili's, Olive Garden, IHOP, Denny's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Wingstop, Red Lobster and the Cheesecake Factory. Any fast food chain is also a big no. Photo: @power106LA Other places mentioned include movies, the gym, a bar for drinks, coffee or ice cream dates, the guy's house, a buffet, family functions, somewhere that requires a long drive, bowling and sporting events. Clubs and hookah lounges also made the list. LL Cool J, whom the ladies love, posted to X on Tuesday saying he was "going to Cheesecake Factory tonight."Meanwhile, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith was up in arms over the list. "First of all, what the hell is wrong with Cheesecake Factory? Ain't nothing wrong with Cheesecake Factory" he exclaimed in a clip posted to X. "Not only is ther...

Two shot at Oakland homeless camp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:38 GMT

OAKLAND — Two men were shot Tuesday afternoon at an East Oakland homeless camp, authorities said.Both men were reported to be in stable condition Tuesday morning. One of the men was shot twice.The shooting happened about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the camp, which is in the area of East 8th Street and Alameda Avenue.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Police arrest East Bay brothers after Marin County drug bust Crime and Public Safety | Man charged with burglarizing USS Hornet Museum Crime and Public Safety | East Bay man told cops he and his girlfriend beat her 2-year-old son to death for grabbing vape pen and eating Doritos, police say Crime and Public Safety | Valentine’s Day murder trial begins with conflicting theories of the East Bay killing Crime and Public Safety | Authorities release identity of teen killed in Oakley house-party shooting One of the men, a 45-year-old Oakland resident,...

Panera lemonade blamed for killing college student who avoided caffeine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:38 GMT

(CNN) — A 21-year-old woman with a heart condition died after consuming a heavily caffeinated lemonade at Panera Bread, her parents alleged in a wrongful-death suit against the restaurant chain.In September 2022, Sarah Katz, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, went into cardiac arrest after drinking Charged Lemonade at a Panera restaurant near the Philadelphia campus. She died after being transported to a hospital and suffering a second arrest, according to the lawsuit, which was filed Monday morning.Katz’s parents are seeking compensatory and punitive damages.“We were very saddened to learn this morning about the tragic passing of Sarah Katz, and our hearts go out to her family,” Panera told CNN in a statement. “At Panera, we strongly believe in transparency around our ingredients. We will work quickly to thoroughly investigate this matter.”In an autopsy report obtained by CNN, the medical examiner cites Katz’s cause of death as cardiac arrhythmia due to long QT syndrome, ...

Just seeing a sick person can trigger your immune system, California professor finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:38 GMT

Patricia Lopes (Courtesy Chapman University) You’re in an elevator with someone sneezing and dripping and hacking and coughing. You back into a far corner, horror on your face and revulsion in your gut.That’s normal!As cold, flu and COVID season sets in, we chatted with Chapman University’s Patricia Lopes, an assistant professor of biology, who studies how sick individuals impact those around them. It’s not as clear-cut as it may seem. Turns out that simply observing a sick individual triggers not only that familiar behavioral response — get away! — but a complex biological response as well.“The really interesting aspect is, it also changes your physiology,” she said.Her own experiments and reviews of scientific studies find that, when healthy animals interact with animals showing symptoms of illness, molecular pathways related to immune responses activate. Egg composition changes. And all without those animals actually being sick themselves, as if their bodies are prepping for...

Warriors’ 3 Things: Dubs provide reasons for optimism, despite season-opening loss to Suns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:38 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Play 81 more games like that and the Warriors will be just fine.No, Golden State didn’t win its season opener on Tuesday night — it fell to the Suns 108-104 — but the positives of the Warriors’ performance were unmissable.They moved the rock. They played, at times, tight defense. They rebounded as a team. They only turned the ball over 11 times. They saw strong contributions from young players Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. They went 10 deep.This is, unquestionably a better team than last year’s edition.There were some tough performances in the mix, too. Andrew Wiggins was sub-par, as was Klay Thompson. The team’s execution in the closing minutes left plenty to be desired.But you can’t knock the hustle — the Warriors played hard and smart on Tuesday.Do that every night and you’re going to win many more than you will lose, even if the Warriors did lose Game No. 1.“We’re all getting used to each other,” Chris Pau...

Bob Melvin leaves Padres to manage division-rival Giants and return to the Bay Area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:38 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants are hoping a recent division rival can turn them back into a contender.Bob Melvin, a Bay Area native and former Giants player who also managed a decade in Oakland, was formally announced as San Francisco's new manager Wednesday. That completed a whirlwind few days in which the Giants received permission to interview him from the division rival San Diego Padres, where the veteran skipper had one more year on his contract.An introductory news conference was scheduled for later Wednesday morning.“I could not be more excited to come back to the Bay Area and manage this great organization,” Melvin said in a statement. “I’d like to thank Greg Johnson, Farhan Zaidi and Larry Baer for giving me the opportunity to add another chapter to my Giants career. This is a tremendous opportunity and a great responsibility to lead this organization and I’m eager to get started.”Melvin, a three-time Manager of the Year who has won the award in both leagues,...

Woman armed with knife fought Brentwood supermarket loss prevention: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:38 GMT

(KRON) -- A woman was arrested in Brentwood last weekend after police officers responded to a theft at WinCo Foods, according to the Brentwood Police Department. The woman actively fought and threatened the supermarket’s loss prevention with a knife, police said.Officers arrived at the store on 6700 Lone Tree Way and took the woman into custody. Authorities identified the suspect as Jamila Emerson, 38, of Antioch.The knife that was used in the altercation was located, Brentwood PD said, as well as stolen merchandise and drugs. Emerson was arrested for robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, shoplifting, possession of drugs, and other related charges. She was booked into Martinez Detention Facility. Man shot multiple times by Antioch police disputes their version of events “Thankfully, no one was injured during the incident,” Brentwood police said in a Facebook post. “Providing detailed information of the crime, suspect, and any vehicle information to our Dispatch is the best thing ...

NBA gets help from ‘Sopranos’ actor to promote in-season tournament

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:10:38 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NBA enlisted an actor from “The Sopranos” and borrowed the central theme of the film “Ocean’s Eleven” — a Las Vegas heist — to hype the inaugural In-Season Tournament that begins Nov. 3.The latest marketing move, released Wednesday, is a nearly 2-minute spot featuring actor Michael Imperioli narrating how seven players — Anthony Davis, Trae Young, DeMar DeRozan, Julius Randle, Kawhi Leonard, Darius Garland and Draymond Green — are in a casino plotting to steal the NBA Cup.That’s the trophy the winner of the tournament finale in Las Vegas gets on Dec. 9. The NBA says the tournament will differ from the norm of early season basketball, with different playing floors and uniforms.“We’ve launched what we believe is a comprehensive and engaging program to promote this new tournament,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday. “We hope these efforts get fans as excited as we are about this new competition.”Silver spent years proposing a tournament like this, likenin...