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How Disneyland turned San Francisco into San Fransokyo Square

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:05 GMT

Disney California Adventure visitors crossing over the Shinto shrine-inspired Golden Gate Bridge into San Fransokyo Square will join an ongoing celebration of the “Big Hero 6” super heroes who saved the fictional wharf-side district from a villain’s evil wrath.“What you’re seeing the day you visit San Fransokyo Square is Big Hero 6 Day. It’s a big show of appreciation,” Walt Disney Imagineering Art Director Michael Dobrzycki said. “Of course, every day you visit is Big Hero 6 Day, so it doesn’t matter which day you go. If you come this time next year, it will still be Big Hero 6 Day.”San Fransokyo Square officially opened on Thursday, Aug. 31 with the full transformation of the former Pacific Wharf food court finally complete.The new San Fransokyo Square food court at Disney California Adventure. (Disney) SEE ALSO: Baymax is one of the biggest characters you’ll ever meet at DisneylandSan Fransokyo served as the central location in the 2014 Disney animated superhero movie drawin...

Santa Clara alum and USWNT stalwart Julie Ertz announces retirement

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:05 GMT

Two-time U.S. Soccer Player of the Year and former Santa Clara star Julie Ertz has retired from soccer after a 10-year career that included back-to-back Women’s World Cup titles.Ertz, 31, had already hinted at her retirement at this summer’s World Cup after the United States fell to Sweden on penalties in the Round of 16, tearfully telling reporters it was likely her final match wearing the team crest. She made it official Thursday.“I gave everything I had to the sport that I love,” she said in a statement announcing her retirement. “With that I can walk away with no regrets because while I gave soccer every ounce of myself, soccer gave me even more, and for that I’ll always be thankful.”An Arizona native, Ertz went by her maiden name Julie Johnston when she starred at Santa Clara from 2010-2013, scoring 31 goals in 79 matches for the Broncos. She was Santa Clara’s leading goalscorer in two of her four years and had the most assists or tied for the most assists in three years....

Air-quality advisory in effect again for Bay Area, but cleaner skies expected by afternoon

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:05 GMT

A haze of brown and gray hovered above the East Bay portion of the Bay Area on Thursday as the sun rose over polluted, sometimes smelly air.The good news was that by sundown, much of that haze and smoke was expected to dissipate, according to air quality officials.“We’re seeing a difference in the amount of wildfire smoke,” Bay Area Air Quality Management District spokesperson Tina Landis said. “We’re really expecting to see improvement as the day goes on.”An air quality advisory remained in effect through the end of Thursday. The had earlier issued alerts Monday and Tuesday before declaring a Spare the Air alert, which includes a ban on wood burning, for Wednesday.More clearing is on the horizon, according to Landis and weather forecasters. Northerly winds that helped funnel wildfire smoke from vegetation fires burning in southern Oregon and far Northern California into the region are expected to shift into a more normal Bay Area pattern.Air-qual...

After Blocking Lockheed Martin Acquisition, FTC Allows Another Defense Firm to Close the Deal

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:05 GMT

After the Federal Trade Commission blocked top defense contractor Lockheed Martin from acquiring a major rocket propulsion firm last year over monopoly concerns, the agency quietly allowed another defense firm that employs a former senior Pentagon official to secure the deal.Following months of scrutiny, the FTC gave final regulatory approval in July for L3Harris, one of the largest defense contractors in the country, to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne for $4.7 billion. L3Harris had announced that it would buy Aerojet Rocketdyne months after the FTC rejected Lockheed Martin’s bid in February 2022. Related Antitrust Makes a Comeback The FTC has repeatedly heralded the Lockheed Martin block as one of its major successes following the confirmation of reformist chair Lina Khan, who has reinvigorated the agency’s enforcement of antitrust laws. In a testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee last September, Khan called Lockheed Martin’s abandon...

New TV show: ‘God. Family. Football.’ Touchdown or fumble?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:05 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley reviews 'God. Family. Football' on Amazon Freevee (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); });  A cool breeze brushes across your helmet and shoulder pads, sending a chill down your spine.Fall leaves crunch under your cleats as you approach glowing Friday night lights in the distance.A marching band echoes across the bleachers as family and friends root for their community.There’...

Missouri judge rules 84-year-old man will stand trial for shooting Ralph Yarl, a Black teen who rang wrong doorbell

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:05 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri judge rules 84-year-old man will stand trial for shooting Ralph Yarl, a Black teen who rang wrong doorbell.Source

Aaron Rodgers’ football legacy could soar with the Jets if he wins in the Big Apple

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:05 GMT

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers was still a couple of months away from being wined and dined by the New York Jets when Joe Namath stepped up with an offer of his own.Wear my retired No. 12, Broadway Joe told him. If that helps get you to New York, take the handoff.It never came to that.After Rodgers brushed off thoughts of retirement and was traded in April to New York from Green Bay, where he spent his first 18 NFL seasons, the four-time NFL MVP called an audible — something at which he’s a master — and decided to wear his college No. 8.“There’s some iconic names that have played here, probably none more iconic than No. 12,” Rodgers said of Namath during his introductory news conference. “To me, 12 is Broadway Joe and I didn’t want to even go down that path.”Rodgers was ready to make his own way — as he did when he replaced Brett Favre in Green Bay — while leading a franchise that still has been to just one Super Bowl, back in Namath’s glory days of January 1969...

No. 15 Oregon has Bo Nix back at QB. The Ducks will host Portland State to open the season

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:05 GMT

Portland State (0-0) at No. 15 Oregon (0-0), Saturday, 3 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network)Line: None listed by FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Ducks lead 5-0. WHAT’S AT STAKE?The No. 15 Ducks open the season against Portland State at Autzen Stadium, where they have won 18 straight home openers. Oregon went 10-3 overall and 7-2 in the Pac-12 last season. This is the Ducks’ final season in the Pac-12 before they join the Big Ten along with Washington, USC and UCLA. The Vikings finished 4-7 overall last season, and 3-5 in the Big Sky conference. Portland State plays another FBS-level team in Wyoming next weekend.KEY MATCHUPPortland State will just try to keep Oregon out of the end zone. The Ducks averaged 38.8 points per game last season, ninth best in the nation, and more than 500 yards in total offense per game, sixth nationally. The Vikings lost four senior starters from last season’s defensive line.PLAYERS TO WATCHPortland State: Junior quarterback Dante Chachere returns after...

BYU and Sam Houston face off in first time meeting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:05 GMT

PROVO, Utah (AP) — Sam Houston at BYU, 10:15 p.m. ET (FS1)Line: BYU by 19 ½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: First MeetingWHAT’S AT STAKE?Both programs are looking to get off to a quick start entering their first seasons in new conferences. The Cougars joined the Big 12 this season after spending a dozen seasons in the FBS independent ranks. The Bearkats are entering their first season at the FBS level after moving from the WAC to Conference USA.KEY MATCHUPBYU’s rebuilt defense will be looking to prove itself against a Sam Houston offense that struggled to be productive a year ago. The Bearkats were held under 20 points five times in nine games and eclipsed 30 points only once. Stopping opponents was a chore for the Cougars last season. BYU allowed 407 yards and 29.5 points per game in 2022.PLAYERS TO WATCHSam Houston: QB Keegan Shoemaker will need to improve his accuracy and efficiency for the Bearkats to experience a smooth transition in their first CUSA season. Sho...

Union sues over changes in teacher evaluations prompted by Texas takeover of Houston school district

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:05 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Days after Texas’ largest school district began its first school year under a state takeover, a teachers union has filed a lawsuit over changes being implemented in how educators will be evaluated.The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, came as Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath made rare public comments about the takeover of Houston’s school district since he announced it in March.During a meeting in Austin Wednesday of the Texas State Board of Education, Morath expressed his support for the work of Mike Miles, the new superintendent he chose to run the school district. Morath said that so far “a lot of very positive changes” have taken place. Morath had been criticized by some parents and teachers for not attending public meetings in Houston earlier this year that discussed the takeover.One of the changes being put in place is a new teacher evaluation system that will pay educators based largely on standardized test scores and their classroom performance.In its lawsuit,...