The Arts

Robert Silvers, founding editor of The New York Review of Books, dies at 87

Robert Silvers, the founding editor of The New York Review of Books and a towering patron of intellectual thought who championed writers including Norman Mailer and Joan Didion, has died at the age of 87. Silver died Monday at his Manhattan home after a brief illness, the literary publication announced. Under his guiding editorial hand,

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, USA

A country legend’s wife gives a heartbreaking update on his condition

Glen Campbell is widely regarded as one of the best guitarists of the past 50 years, but his advancing Alzheimer’s disease has robbed him of the ability to play. Glen’s wife of 34 years, Kim Campbell, opens up about Glen’s condition in a new interview with “The Tennessean.” He can still play a little air

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

‘Sesame Street’ to introduce Julia, a muppet with autism, in April

She’s the wide-eyed little Muppet with a big smile who has made it to “Sesame Street.” Her name is Julia and she has autism. Julia was first introduced in 2015, playing alongside Elmo and Abby Cadabby, as part of an online-only Digital Storybook story called “Sesame Street and Autism: See the Amazing in All Children.”

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Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Mel Gibson quietlly supporting Holocaust survivors

Mel Gibson, the Catholic actor/director who in the past struggled with an anti-Jewish image, has been discreetly supporting an organization that helps Holocaust survivors. Comedy director Zane Buzby, founder of the Survivor Mitzvah Project, recently told Extra that her organization helps “bring emergency aid to Holocaust survivors in Eastern Europe who are in desperate need

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Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Chuck Berry, rock ‘n’ roll pioneer, dies at 90

Chuck Berry, one of the most influential figures in American popular music, has died at age 90. Police were called to a medical emergency early Saturday afternoon, according to St. Charles, Mo, County police, according to the department’s Facebook page. Inside the home, medics found an unresponsive man and administered lifesaving techniques, according to the

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Mayim Bialik disputes Linda Sarsour’s claim that Zionists can’t be feminists

“The Big Bang Theory” star Mayim Bialik has fired back at a recent claim by Palestinian activist Linda Sarsour that Zionism and feminism are contradictory ideals. Ms. Bialik wrote a piece Wednesday saying the political left “should reexamine the microscope they use to look at Israel” and stop blaming all of Zionism for the bad

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Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Famed San Francisco radio host commands laughter with new Jewish humor book

Michael Krasny’s ‘Let There Be Laughter’ offers funny jokes and insightful commentary as antidote to trying times By Renee Ghert-Zand You know how a lot of people have trouble remembering jokes? Well, Michael Krasny isn’t one of them. An English professor and the longtime host of the most-listened-to locally produced public radio program in the

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Whoopi Goldberg made a serious promise after being targeted by a fake news site

Whoopi Goldberg expressed her disgust on ABC’s “The View” after she was made the subject of a fake news allegation regarding Carryn Owens, widow of Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens who was killed in a raid in Yemen. A fake story claimed that Goldberg had criticized the widow after President Trump singled her out

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Amy Krouse Rosenthal, author of ‘You May Want to Marry My Husband,’ dies at 51

CHICAGO — Amy Krouse Rosenthal, a Chicago author who wrote a heart-wrenching column called “You May Want to Marry My Husband” while battling ovarian cancer, died Monday at 51. Rosenthal was a prolific creator described on her website as “a person who likes to make things.” That description includes children’s books and “grown-up books,” salads,

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Obituaries & memorials, USA

I’ll be back: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s possible ’18 Senate run

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2017 – Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R- November 17, 2003 – January 3, 2011) is considering a 2018 Senate run as a third-party, or independent, candidate. Schwarzenegger’s entrance would give him the stage to continue to lock horns with President Trump over political issues. Trump has publically excoriated the former body

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Joni Sledge, of ‘We Are Family’ group Sister Sledge, dies at 60

Joni Sledge, who belonged to the four-sister disco-era group Sister Sledge, best known for its No. 1 hit “We Are Family,” died Friday at her home in Phoenix, a spokeswoman for the group announced. She was 60. No cause of death has been announced. “Yesterday, numbness fell upon our family,” said the Sledges in a

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Obituaries & memorials

Richard Gere: Cigar gifts ‘no big deal‘ if Netanyahu makes peace

In Israel, Hollywood star says disgraced ex-PM Olmert was ‘a friend of mine’; compares PM, US president: ‘It’s all deals to them’ By Sue Surkes Richard Gere attends opening night of the Miami Film Festival on March 3, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images/AFP) Hollywood movie star and veteran peace campaigner Richard Gere weighed

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Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA