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Digital AI art to be allowed at state fair competition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:25 GMT

PUEBLO, Colo. (KXRM) — After a controversial AI-generated image at the 2022 Colorado State Fair, organizers say AI-generated art will be allowed in the digital art category this year.The controversy arose as it was revealed that Jason Allen's winning piece, "Théâtre D’opéra Spatial," was largely created using AI technology, and was not created in the traditional method of digital art -- by the hand of a human. Art winner stirs up controversy at state fair Many argued that art competitions should be reserved for art created solely by human beings, and a discussion was sparked over what could be considered art.Now, the Colorado Department of Agriculture has confirmed to Nexstar's FOX21 News that AI-generated art will be permitted at the 2023 Colorado State Fair Fine Art Competition. However, it must be labeled as such.The official Premium Book states that in order for an artist to be eligible in the art competition, artists must submit only original artwork, "created directly by an ...

‘A Jubilant Revue’: Dita Von Teese talks about blinged-out Vegas residency

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:25 GMT

Feeling a little burlesque? Dita Von Teese, who’s lived the ‘esque life, is getting a Vegas residency.She didn’t get the name “Queen Of Burlesque” for nothing, so it’s definitely going to be a show-girl!Get mesmerized by this tease. Dita Von Teese, that is.She’s giving the iconic “Jubilee!” Vegas show a face-lift.Dita Von Teese: “I somehow manifested this, because in 2016, I was there the week that the show was closing, and I just remember thinking, ‘God, I wish we could update this and make it something new,’ and here I am, and I’m really, really excited.”Dita’s new residency, “Dita Las Vegas: A Jubilant Revue,” will be blinged out.Dita Von Teese: “I’m not trying to recreate ‘Jubilee,’ I’m trying to merge the best of my shows that I’ve done for the last several years together with my favorite parts of “Jubilee” — you know, the f...

Berry good idea: Salt & Straw launches 5 new berry ice cream flavors for this summer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:25 GMT

How hot is it in South Florida? It’s berry hot.Good thing the ice cream specialists at Salt & Straw are playing it cool … and their new berries-themed menu might give you chills.They’ve launched their new menu just in time for National Ice Cream Day on Sunday. Now that’s what I call a berry good idea!Sofia Gomez: “This menu is packed with a bunch of different berries, ranging from huckleberries – we have blackberries, marionberries,” said Sofia Gomez.”One of our most popular is our birthday cake and blackberries; another one of our very popular flavors is the goat cheese and marionberry with habanero.”Deco checked out the sweet treats at the Coconut Grove store.There are five new seasonal flavors, which will be available through Aug. 3.And, if you order any three pints for delivery online on Sunday, you get one free in honor of the holiday.FOR MORE INFO:Salt & Straw3015 Grand Ave Coconut Grove, FL 33133786-633-0142Click t...

Woman arrested on drug charges in death of Robert De Niro’s grandson

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:25 GMT

A 20-year-old woman has been arrested on federal narcotics charges and is accused of selling the drugs that led to the death of actor Robert De Niro’s 19-year-old grandson, a law enforcement official said Friday.The woman, Sofia Haley Marks, appeared in Manhattan federal court on Friday and agreed to remain behind bars until she requests bail at a later date. Prosecutors said they would oppose a request for her release.Marks was arrested Thursday evening on three counts of narcotics distribution stemming from the sale of drugs to Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the law enforcement official said. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.Rodriguez was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on July 2. His mother, Drena De Niro, announced the death on Instagram. Amy Gallicchio, an assistant federal defender who represented Marks on Friday, said Marks planned to hire a lawyer. Gallicchio d...

Microsoft moves closer to completing $69 billion Activision takeover after court rebuffs regulators

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:25 GMT

A U.S. appeals court on Friday rejected a bid by federal regulators to block Microsoft from closing its $68.7 billion deal to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard, paving the way for the completion of the biggest acquisition in tech history after a legal battle over whether it will undermine competition. In a brief ruling, a three-judge panel on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concluded there were no grounds for issuing an order that would have prevented Microsoft from completing its nearly 18-month-old deal to take over the maker of popular video games such as Call of Duty. The Redmond, Washington, software maker is facing a $3 billion termination fee if deal isn’t completed by Tuesday.“This brings us another step closer to the finish line in this marathon of global regulatory reviews,” Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a statement. The appeal filed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission was a last-ditch effort from antitrust enforcers to halt the merger after an...

France celebrates Bastille Day with parades and parties – and extra police, after recent unrest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:25 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French fighter jets trailed red-white-and-blue smoke over Paris monuments, families held picnics and firefighters hosted holiday balls around France to celebrate Bastille Day on Friday, a moment of much-needed festivity after mass protests, riots and political divisions that have riven the country this year.Not everyone was feeling the spirit of “liberty, equality and fraternity” that the holiday aims to embody. Traditional fireworks displays were banned in some towns, and trams and buses halted after dark across France to prevent new unrest in underprivileged neighborhoods. And an exceptional 130,000 police were deployed around the country to maintain order.This year, the celebrations marking the start of the French Revolution on July 14, 1789 come in the wake of the nation’s most serious urban violence in nearly 20 years, following the fatal police shooting of a teenager with North African roots that laid bare anger over entrenched inequality and racial discrimination...

Ex-San Francisco utilities head found guilty of fraud in wide-ranging federal corruption probe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:25 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A former head of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission was found guilty of federal fraud charges Friday, becoming the latest among several once-powerful city employees felled by a lengthy public corruption probe.A jury convicted Harlan Kelly, former general manager of the commission, of six out of eight charges involving two fraud schemes, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.Prosecutors argued — and jurors agreed — that Kelly tried to steer a city streetlight contract to a local contractor in exchange for deeply discounted construction work on his home and other gifts. Jurors also found that Kelly lied to a lender in order to acquire a $1.3 million loan. A sentencing date wasn’t immediately set. But Kelly’s attorney, Brian Getz, said he’d seek to dismiss the convictions or appeal the verdicts, The San Francisco Standard reported.The verdict is the latest win for federal prosecutors in a corruption investigation that started in January 2020 with ch...

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for DeKalb & LaSalle County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:25 GMT

UPDATE: The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for DeKalb and LaSalle counties until 8:45 p.m. on Friday.The National Weather Service in Chicago also issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for LaSalle and McHenry counties until 10 p.m. on Friday.Latest warnings and watches from the National Weather Service.Chicago area may see severe weather for third day in a rowThe Chicago area is at a 2 on the scale of 1-5 for the risk of severe weather Friday. Showers will move out for awhile Friday and midday sun and humidity will arrive.The sun will help fuel an environment of instability this afternoon with storms set to return around 4 p.m. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here The first round of potentially severe weather will last from 4 p.m. to around 9 p.m.A second round of storms is expected to move into the area around 11 p.m.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog Non-severe weather and showers will linger into th...

Missing 16-year-old girl last seen leaving her Chicago home may need medical attention

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police are looking for a missing 16-year-old girl last seen leaving her home Friday morning and may need medical attention.Aileen Villa-Valdez is described as being about 4 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 130 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesAccording to the Chicago Police Department, she was last seen around 7:15 a.m. leaving her home in the 2700 block of South Kostner Avenue.She was last seen wearing a blue and white jacket, blue jeans, grey and white Puma gym shoes and may be carrying a light purple backpack.Chicago police said she may be in need of medical attention and anyone with information on her whereabouts should call 911 or Area Four detectives at 312-746-8255.

13 confirmed tornadoes after Wednesday night's storms: National Weather Service

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:25 GMT

CHICAGO — The National Weather Service confirmed Thursday a total of 13 tornadoes after Wednesday night’s storms.The first Elgin tornado had a maximum intensity EF-1 and maximum wind speed of 100 mph. The track roughly started east of Rt. 47 and ended near the railroad tracks west of Villa Olivia Golf Course.The NWS says the second tornado in Elgin had a max intensity of EF-0 with max wind speed of 85 mph. The tornado began close to McDonald Road and ended along Hopps Road.A NWS team confirmed a third tornado after grounds were surveyed from Burr Ridge to Stickney. A EF-1 with max winds near 110 mph was identified.The fourth tornado confirmed by NWS was reportedly an EF-0 with a maximum wind speed of 85 mph in northeastern Oswego and eastern Boulder Hill Wednesday evening.NWS survey teams confirmed three additional tornadoes across McHenry and Lake County in Illinois. In Huntley, an EF-1 with max wind speeds of 90 mph. Two EF-0 tornados were also confirmed with one in Barrington wit...