LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mike Koenig sat back in his seat for a recent screening of “Mad Max: Fury Road.” But this was no ordinary theater chair. As the theater darkened and death machines rumbled across the desert on screen, Koenig’s chair rumbled with them. As bullets whizzed by Furiosa, the movie’s heroine played by … Continue reading
Author Archives: jlconey
High court rules against Spider-Man toy inventor
WASHINGTON (AP) — The inventor of a popular Spider-Man web-shooting toy can’t keep reeling in royalties after his patent ran out, the Supreme Court ruled Monday The justices ruled 6-3 against Stephen Kimble in his long-running dispute with Marvel Entertainment over a Web Blaster toy that shoots foam string from a glove. Kimble sold his … Continue reading
Europe cautiously optimistic of Greek debt deal this week
BRUSSELS (AP) — Greece has finally offered economic reforms that creditors consider potentially acceptable, giving Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras a couple days to turn a spirit of goodwill into a deal that might keep the country from a painful exit from the euro currency. Even though a firm deal to get Greece more loans remained … Continue reading
US stocks climb on Greek optimism, more deal news
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks advanced Monday on hopes of a breakthrough in talks between Greece and its lenders. Eurozone finance ministers are hopeful a deal can be reached later in the week to avoid the Mediterranean nation defaulting on its debts. Stocks also got a boost from merger news in the health care … Continue reading
US to raise breach of government records at talks with China
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States began annual security talks with China on Monday, and an official said it plans to raise directly the breach of a federal government server that resulted in the theft of personnel and security clearance records of millions of employees and contractors. China has openly denied involvement in the break-in. … Continue reading
High court says gov’t seizure of raisins is unconstitutional
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the government can’t force raisin farmers to give up part of their annual crop for less than it’s worth, a victory for conservative groups that hailed the decision as a win for private property rights. The justices ruled 8-1 that a 1940s-era program born out … Continue reading
Q&A: Angela Bassett talks playing boss in ‘Rainbow Six’ game
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Angela Bassett is taking on the mantle of “Six,” the codename for the leader of the elite counter-terrorism group depicted in the video game series “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six.” Bassett was unveiled Monday during a Ubisoft news conference at E3 as the latest “Six” in the upcoming “Rainbow Six: Siege” installment … Continue reading
Sony’s ‘Uncharted 4,’ ‘Last Guardian’ capture E3 attention
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nathan Drake is back in action. Sony capped off its game-filled Electronic Entertainment Expo briefing Monday night with a bullet-riddled demonstration of “Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End,” the forthcoming action-adventure starring the charismatic treasure hunter. The preview showed Drake and mentor Victor “Sully” Sullivan engaging in a firefight on foot before … Continue reading
Obama, GOP try to revive trade agenda, but hurdles await
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and his legislative allies scrambled Monday for ways to revive his severely wounded trade agenda, although Democrats and Republicans alike said all options face serious hurdles. Obama talked with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. And White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough spoke with Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the House … Continue reading
FDA tells food industry to phase out artificial trans fats
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is ordering food companies to phase out the use of heart-clogging trans fats over the next three years, calling them a threat to public health. The move will remove artificial trans fats from the food supply almost entirely. Consumers aren’t likely to notice much of a difference in their … Continue reading
Zimbabweans trade in old currency for peanuts
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Harare resident Alice Mhandara spent a U.S. dollar to take the bus into town to answer the government call to trade in her old Zimbabwe dollars, but she left the bank in disgust when her 90 trillion in old currency wouldn’t even cover the bus ticket home. Starting this week, Zimbabweans … Continue reading
Zoning board rejects plan for Oscar Hammerstein museum
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The grandson of Oscar Hammerstein has lost his bid to create a museum and educational theater honoring the Broadway lyricist. Doylestown Township’s zoning board voted Monday night to deny variances that Will Hammerstein needed to build the project at his grandfather’s former Pennsylvania farm. The plan included construction of a 400-seat … Continue reading
Trade loss an ominous sign for Obama in month of challenges
WASHINGTON (AP) — The trade defeat in Congress was an ominous sign in a month of challenges that could help determine President Barack Obama’s standing for the rest of his second term. Fellow Democrats rebuffed last-minute appeals to rescue his global trade agenda, and the House seriously damaged Obama’s chances of capping his presidency with … Continue reading
Texas planners look to aquifers to prepare for next drought
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — The torrential storms of last month essentially ended one of Texas’ worst-ever droughts, but much of the excess water has already flowed into the Gulf of Mexico or will evaporate by year’s end. With a wary eye toward the next prolonged dry-streak that inevitably will come, some think expanding the use … Continue reading
Houston No. 1 in US in armored car, bank takeover robberies
HOUSTON (AP) — Larry Gonzales was emerging from his Garda Cash Logistics armored truck to refill an ATM at a Houston-area Chase Bank in October 2013 when a man behind him demanded money. “People joke around with us,” said Gonzales. “I didn’t think this dude was actually serious. Next thing, I get shot in the … Continue reading