The Washington National Opera is ending its long-standing partnership with the Kennedy Center due to declining ticket sales and supporter donations following President Trump's takeover of the venue, seeking to become an independent nonprofit and find new performance spaces in D.C.
Amber Heard and Brandon Flynn will star in Jeremy O. Harris's new play 'Spirit of the People,' premiering at Williamstown Theatre Festival, which aims to confront uncomfortable truths about land and destruction, as part of a star-studded summer season.
In response to recent cancellations of Pride-related events at the Kennedy Center following President Trump's takeover, a group of Democratic senators and artists, including Beth Malone and Brandon Uranowitz, are organizing an exclusive Pride-themed concert called Love Is Love on June 23 to protest and reassert LGBTQ+ presence in the arts. The event features prominent queer artists and performances, serving as a political statement amid ongoing debates over arts programming and funding at the Kennedy Center.
SafeWise's 10th annual Safest Cities report named multiple Southern California cities, particularly in Orange County, as the safest in the state, with Rancho Santa Margarita, Aliso Viejo, Yorba Linda, Laguna Niguel, and Mission Viejo leading the list. The report highlighted Californians' high concern for safety due to above-average crime rates, but noted a 19% decline in safety concerns year over year. Utilizing FBI crime statistics and demographic information, the study found that California's safest cities had significantly lower per capita crime rates compared to the state average.
According to a report by SafeWise, the top six safest cities in California are all located in Orange County, with Rancho Santa Margarita topping the list. None of Los Angeles County's cities made it to the top 10. The rankings were based on FBI data, including statistics on violent crime, property crime, gun violence, and package theft. However, the FBI discourages ranking city safety based solely on crime data, as other factors like demographics and law enforcement effectiveness also play a significant role. Orange County's dominance in the rankings coincides with a recent advertising campaign aimed at deterring criminals from the area.
Three third-prize-winning Powerball tickets, each worth $50,000, were sold in Upstate and Central New York, including one in Liverpool. The winning ticket from Liverpool was purchased at the Speedway at 7369 Oswego Rd.
The collapse of the historic Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has deeply shaken the city's maritime community, impacting port workers and crabbers whose livelihoods depend on the bridge. The disaster has halted maritime traffic to one of the east coast’s busiest ports, and the loss of life has highlighted the challenges facing immigrant workers. The collapse has also brought attention to Baltimore's rich maritime history and the city's resilience in the face of adversity.
Six communities in Massachusetts, including Cambridge and Boston, have been named among the Best Places to Live in America in 2024 by Niche, based on factors such as housing market health, neighborhood diversity, public schools, and walkability. This ranking, which analyzed 230 cities and over 18,000 places, aims to assist individuals in choosing where to live, with Naperville, Illinois, taking the top spot. Niche utilized data from sources like the U.S. Census Bureau and resident reviews to compile the list, which also includes other Massachusetts neighborhoods like Brookline and Cambridgeport.
Thousands of customers in the Capital Region are experiencing power outages across multiple counties, with some areas expected to have power restored by 8 p.m. while others are still being assessed for restoration times, impacting various communities including Guilderland, Colonie, Albany, Menands, Watervliet, Clifton Park, Halfmoon, Troy, North Greenbush, Brunswick, Altamont, Knox, Schodack, and East Greenbush.
NV Energy reports widespread power outages in western Nevada, with over 9,500 customers affected, most notably in Washoe County. The outages are scattered across various areas, with some customers being without power since before midnight. NV Energy has not provided a cause or estimated time for power restoration in most cases, but they are working to restore power to affected areas.
The 440 area code in parts of Greater Cleveland is close to being exhausted, leading to the introduction of the new 436 area code for new phone lines starting March 1, serving the same geographic area as 440. This change comes as a response to the increasing demand for phone numbers in the region.
Ohio's 440 area code will be exhausted, prompting the introduction of the new 436 area code in 2024 for Northeast Ohio, including parts of the Cleveland metropolitan area. Existing customers will keep their 440 area code, while new customers will receive the 436 area code starting March 1, 2024. This follows the recent introduction of area code 283 in Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio in 2023, as the increasing number of connected devices can lead to quicker exhaustion of area codes.
A new area code, 436, will be added to the existing 440 area code in Northeast Ohio starting on March 1, 2024, serving the northern portion of the state. Existing telephone customers will keep their current area code, but new service or line requests in the 440 region may be assigned a number in the new 436 area code.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has announced that Northeast Ohio's new area code will be 436, replacing the 440 area code for new cell phone numbers starting on March 1. Existing 440 area code numbers will not change. The 440 area code is expected to run out of available numbers in the second half of the year. The new area code has sparked discussions about its significance and potential impact on the region, with some residents expressing pride in their existing area codes.
In Northern California, snow-seekers are delighted by a late-season snowfall at lower elevations, particularly in the Pollock Pines area. Families and individuals, including the Atallah family and Jon Castillo, are enjoying the winter wonderland, with some experiencing snow for the first time. Despite the cold, people are engaging in outdoor activities like picnics, embracing the snowy conditions with excitement and making the most of the delayed winter weather.