Thursday, March 15, 2012

Stop//look//listen: 7 entertaining things you need to know about this week. You're welcome.

CHILDREN

'Brave Potatoes'

The spuds are out for an adventure, but they must be on thelookout for Chef Hackemup in this play adapted from the book by TobySpeed. At Lifeline Theatre to June 4.

MOVIES

'The Notorious Bettie Page'

The key to this subdued, reflective biopic is actress GretchenMol, who brings out the sweetness and sadness in Page's curious lifein film.

MUSIC

'We Shall Overcome:

The Seeger Sessions'

Bruce Springsteen overcomes the glossy production and calculatedmessages of his post-9/11 work and celebrates the immediate sparks ofmaking music via the songbook of great folk singer Pete Seeger. …

Baby Tamia back in Illinois

Thursday night, Baby Tamia Hemphill slept in her family's home for the first time in three months.

A dozen cameras focused on Bishop Larry Trotter as he came off a Delta Airline flight from Utah. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, Trotter smiled as he carried his precious cargo and delivered her to her mother, Carmen McDonald.

Returning the child to her family was like "a reward," Trotter told the Defender. "It brought closure to this situation," he said.

Trotter told the Defender that the family will be at his Sweet Holy Spirit Church on Easter Sunday to give thanks for Tamia's return.

During a news conference after his arrival at O'Hare International Airport, …

Air Berlin 3Q net profit rises 43 pct

Air Berlin PLC said Thursday its earnings grew 43 percent in the third quarter as an efficiency program paid off, with sales rising even though passenger numbers decreased.

Air Berlin _ Germany's second-largest airline after Lufthansa _ said net profit in the July-September period rose to euro46 million ($59 million) from euro32 million a year earlier.

Air Berlin has moved to cut unprofitable routes. It said that meant the number of passengers carried in the third quarter declined to 8.6 million from 8.8 million a year earlier _ but sales still improved by nearly 9 percent, to euro1.06 billion from euro978 million.

The company said that revenue …

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Broadcaster Murray Carays on magnificently

Leading off for the Expos today will be Casey Candaele. Well,he's no good. . . .

Wallach's under it and makes the catch. Too bad he didn't fall.. . .

Is this that terrible Foley up again? Hey, Foley! Foley!Strike out, Foley! I hate everything you stand for!

Bill Murray, Cubs broadcaster

After spending nine innings near or next to designated meatballBill Murray in WGN's TV-radio booth at Wrigley Field, a worn-outSteve Stone turned to Murray and said, "Bill, I think you'verevolutionized play-by-play."

Some baseball broadcasters are so smart. Some are so nice.Some are so dull.

Murray must be the first one who ever leaned out of …

Nitro Council gives preliminary OK to water, sewer rate hike

FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Nitro City Council voted unanimously to approve the first readingof an ordinance that would hike water and sewer bills 29 percent overthe next two years.

The ordinance was presented to council Tuesday by Dennis Vaughn,attorney for the city's utility board.

Vaughn told council the rate increase is something that has to bedone for the utility board to maintain bond requirements and meetfederal and state environmental protection agency mandates.

Vaughn said the increase would come in two steps - a 13 percenthike in May and a 16 percent boost in rates one year later.

Revenues would be increased by nearly $500,000 more a …

Turkey says it will challenge Gaza blockade

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey is preparing to challenge Israel's blockade on Gaza at the International Court of Justice, the foreign minister said Saturday, ratcheting up tensions between the once close allies.

Ahmet Davutoglu's comments came a day after Turkey expelled the Israel's ambassador and severed military ties with the country, angered over its refusal to apologize for last year's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed nine pro-Palestinian activists.

In an interview with Turkey's state-run TRT television, Davutoglu dismissed a U.N. report into the raid that said Israel's naval blockade of Gaza was a legal security measure. Davutoglu said the report — …

Swedish security police say 4 people arrested,suspected of preparing terror attack in Goteborg

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish security police say 4 people …