The quiz this week asked readers about a mix of politics, entertainment and local news. It began with a question on former First Lady Jill Biden’s worries about President Joe Biden during an important public appearance. Another prompt brought up actor Russell Crowe, who had a heated exchange outside
The brand‑new PUBLIC West Hollywood hotel, created by famed entrepreneur Ian Schrager, will welcome guests on July 15. The property sits where the old Standard Hotel once stood at 8300 Sunset Boulevard, a location that was once the center of late‑90s Hollywood glamour. Instead of echoing past exc
The event opened with a nod to a local actress who first appeared on stage in 1972’s “Godspell. ” She later earned a Tony and an Emmy, showing how early roles can open doors in both Broadway and Hollywood. A writer who transformed her romance novels into a hit series about gay hockey players was
Christina Powell grew up in Aurora and began working at Children’s Nebraska more than two decades ago. She has spent 24 years helping the hospital carry out its promise: to give every child a better chance to live. In January, Powell was chosen to lead the hospital’s newest Behavioral Health a
The Koger Center in Columbia invites artists from across the state to join its yearly “Koger Center Project” competition. Submissions are accepted now and will close on August 2, 2026. There is no entry fee, but each participant may submit up to ten pieces. After two rounds of juried evaluation,
Bitcoin fell below $73, 000 after a surge of Iranian strikes that pushed oil higher and shook risk appetite. Two days of heavy withdrawals from Bitcoin spot ETFs have erased more than $1 billion, the largest loss since January. The slump spread to other major coins: Ethereum slipped under $2, 000 fo
Central banks keep choosing gold instead of digital money because it has shown steadiness for thousands of years. Gold survived wars, financial crashes and currency collapses, so it feels safe to hold. The United States owns more than 8, 000 metric tons of gold, half of which is at Fort Knox. Whe
People celebrate many famous birthdays on May 29. Among the stars, Danny Elfman, known for his music in films, reaches 73 and has earned four Oscar nods. Singer La Toya Jackson turns 69, remembered for a video with her brother’s hit. Actress Annette Bening is now 68, originally hailing from Topeka,
Every time a leader visits the Vatican, people wonder what to bring. Pope Leo XIV, who took office last year, has become the latest recipient of a wide range of presents. Some gifts are extravagant and symbolic; others come from hometown pride or personal hobbies. In Chicago, the mayor and a city d
In the mid‑1950s, polio was a terrifying threat to American kids. The disease could strike suddenly and leave survivors paralyzed or even dead. A breakthrough arrived in 1955 when Dr. Jonas Salk created the first effective vaccine, but most parents still hesitated to give it to their teenagers becau
