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☆ ‘Home Alone’ house hits the market for $5.25 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Rosa Rahimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Kevin McCallister’s childhood home has hit the market for $5.25 million. The home for sale is located in Winnetka, Illinois and “epitomizes” the classic architecture of the Chicago suburbs, the Dawn McKenna Group said in its online listing. Dawn McKenna GroupThe iconic home has ample space for family living and entertaining. Dawn McKenna GroupIn 2021, fans of the movie were given the opportunity to rent the house for one night only – and for just $25. In February, Freddie Mercury’s former West London residence went on sale for £30 million ($38 million).

Persons: Kevin McCallister’s, “ It’s, ”, Dawn McKenna, Macaulay Culkin, Kevin McCallister, epitomizes, McAllister, Freddie Mercury’s Organizations: CNN, Dawn, Dawn McKenna Group, Century Fox, Kraft Macaroni Locations: Paris, Winnetka , Illinois, Chicago, West London, Los Angeles

☆ Macy’s Reports Another Drop in Sales
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Jordyn Holman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Macy’s said its comparable-store sales in the United States fell 1.2 percent from the same quarter a year earlier. Sales at the namesake Macy’s brand were the weakest of all of the company’s brands, falling 1.6 percent. Sales at Bloomingdale’s rose 0.8 percent and Bluemercury’s sales rose 4.3 percent. According to the Census Bureau, retail sales at department stores overall fell 2.4 in the first four months of the year, compared with the same period last year. The department store chain said it expected comparable-store sales to be down about 1 percent to 1.5 percent compared with last year.

Persons: Macy’s, décor Organizations: Census Locations: United States

☆ Brittney Griner re-signs with Phoenix Mercury ahead of Team USA training camp
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Jill Martin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Brittney Griner has re-signed with her longtime WNBA team, the Phoenix Mercury, ahead of this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Griner also is a two-time Olympic gold medalist for Team USA. Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty Images/FilePhoenix’s signing of Griner comes the same week that the USA Basketball Women’s National Team will hold a training camp in Cleveland, Ohio. On Thursday, the USA Basketball Women’s National Team announced the 14-athlete April training camp roster, which will be held Wednesday through Friday. When announcing the training camp roster Thursday, USA Basketball said at the time that Clark would attend contingent on Iowa’s progression through the NCAA tournament.

Persons: Brittney Griner, ” Griner, Griner, Tim Clayton, Corbis, Griner –, “, ”, Caitlin Clark, Clark Organizations: CNN, WNBA, Phoenix Mercury, Mercury, Team USA, Griner, Rio, USA Basketball Women’s, Paris, Phoenix, Las Vegas Aces, Team, NCAA Locations: Paris, Russia, United States, Cleveland , Ohio, Clark, Iowa, Cleveland

☆ Freddie Mercury’s London home for sale for $38 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —The former London home of rock legend Freddie Mercury is available to buy – that is, for those with a cool £30 million ($38 million) to spare. The property was bought by Mercury on the spot when he first visited it in 1980, according to Knight Frank, which is handling the sale. In this spirit, the dining room was painted citrus-yellow, reportedly Mercury’s favorite color, with complementary jewel tones in the cornices of the room. The property’s principal suite is entered through what used to be Mercury’s dressing room, where he stored his clothes and stage costumes. After more than 30 years taking care of them, Austin, now 72, auctioned about 1,400 of Mercury’s belongings last year, and is now looking to sell Garden Lodge for offers in excess of £30 million ($38 million), according to Knight Frank.

Persons: Freddie Mercury, Knight Frank, Robin Moore Ede, ” Knight Frank, Barney Hindle, Knight Frank The, Mercury, Mary Austin, “, ” Austin, Freddie Organizations: London CNN, Mercury Locations: London, Kensington, Austin

☆ ‘What Have We Become?’ How Congress Came To Be So Boorish
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Kaia Hubbard | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

They’re members of Congress. “I mean, straighten up here.”Even before this week, a number of vulgar refrains, heated exchanges and a near physical altercation punctuated this Congress after festering in recent years. What have we become?’”Indeed, this Congress seemed to kick off with drama baked in. The picture of this Congress is a stark departure from expectations for lawmakers in recent history. “For a lot of members, Congress is not a legislature so much as it is a reality television show about a legislature,” C. Lawrence Evans, a professor of government at the College of William & Mary, says.

Persons: –, “, ” Sen, Mazie, Elizabeth Warren, There's, ” Dan Lamb, it's, Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s, Hunter Biden, Lauren Boebert, Adam Schiff, Greene, Tim Burchett, McCarthy, Jared Moskowitz, James Comer, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Barack Obama, Lindsey Williams Drath, ” Drath, ”, Drath, Lawrence Evans, College of William & Mary, “ It's, they’re, Mullin, ” Evans, Mike Johnson, Gaetz, Cynthia Lummis, Bernie Sanders, Sanders, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Sanders, Charles Sumner Organizations: Hawaii Democrat, Cornell University, Georgia Republican, Colorado Republican, House Republicans, California Democrat, New, New York Democrat, South Carolina Republican, Forward Party, Republican Party, College of William &, Wyoming Republican, Trump, Capitol Locations: Mazie Hirono, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Colorado, California, New York, Wyoming, Vermont, America, legislating, Arizona

☆ ‘Succession’ star Brian Cox wears faux leather trousers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —In the five years Brian Cox played vitriolic media mogul Logan Roy in HBO’s boardroom drama “Succession,” viewers mostly saw him on-screen in a navy business suit and burgundy tie. Brian Cox's camel-hued leather trousers have caused a stir online. “I wish this app would stop showing me Brian Cox in those leather trousers and loafers,” added another. More recently, Joe Jonas has been praised online for his rotating selection of leather pants in red, brown, black and silver during the latest Jonas Brothers tour. Lo and behold, two decades on, everyone’s favorite faux-CEO is bearing his calves — and more besides — in leather trousers on prime-time television.

Persons: Brian Cox, Logan Roy, Venk Modur, Cox, Waystar, Jasmine Chongo, Lowry, Jimmy Fallon, Brian Cox's, Todd Owyoung, Roy, ”, Modur, Freddie Mercury’s, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presely, Joe Jonas, Jonas Brothers, horsebit loafers, “, Anne Hollander, New York Times — Organizations: CNN, Scottish thespian, HBO, Warner Bros, NBC, Getty, Cox’s, New York Times, General Electric Locations: Budapest, America

☆ Queen Lyrics and Freddie Mercury’s Grand Piano Soar at Auction
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Scott Reyburn | More About Scott Reyburn | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Then the competition exploded, with a half-dozen bidding paddles raised in the London salesroom, followed by a flurry of bids online and by phone. “The very piano on which ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was composed. The instrument,” the auctioneer Oliver Barker intoned as the bidding paused after spiraling into seven figures. Mercury composed many of Queen’s hits at the Yamaha. It was originally estimated to sell for at least $2.5 million in Sotheby’s 59-lot evening auction of the most desirable pieces from the collection offered by the singer’s lifelong friend Mary Austin.

Persons: ’, Oliver Barker intoned, Barker’s, Freddie Mercury’s, Mercury, Mary Austin Organizations: Yamaha Locations: London, British

CNN —Following the harassment of WNBA star Brittney Griner at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Phoenix Mercury’s leadership plans to make adjustments to prioritize players’ travel safety, head coach Vanessa Nygaard said Sunday. When asked if Griner was approved to charter flights and why she wasn’t chartering on Saturday, Nygaard said the team was following league-established rules and guidelines. Griner’s longtime teammate and WNBA star Diana Taurasi said that the harassment occurred during the team’s first public appearance since Griner’s release. Describing the incident as “unnerving,” Taurasi said the players’ safety comes first. “We implore the league and the teams not to wait another day to change the rule regarding travel.”

Persons: Brittney Griner, Vanessa Nygaard, Griner, ”, Viktor Bout –, Biden, ” Nygaard, Nygaard, Brianna Turner, “, Griner’s, Diana Taurasi, ” Taurasi Organizations: CNN, Fort Worth International, Phoenix, WNBA, “, “ League, Indiana Fever, Mercury, Basketball Players Locations: Dallas, Russia, of

☆ Freddie Mercury’s handwritten lyrics suggest he considered ‘Mongolian Rhapsody’ song title
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

(CNN) — Never-before-seen draft lyrics of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” suggest that Freddie Mercury considered giving his mock-opera anthem a somewhat different title: “Mongolian Rhapsody.”The discovery was made following the emergence of a 15-page folio of lyrics, vocal lines and harmonies handwritten by the singer as he composed his 1975 hit. Queen recorded “Bohemian Rhapsody” the next year. Sotheby's auction house said the handwritten lyrics present "untold insights into other possible directions the song could have taken." Queen pictured in 1977, two years after releasing "Bohemian Rhapsody." Richard E. Aaron/Redferns/Getty Images“What is ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ about?

Persons: —, Queen’s, Freddie Mercury, there’s, I’ve, “ Galileo, ”, Belladona ”, Mercury’s, Mary Austin, “, ” —, Brian May, Freddie, Richard E, Aaron, Redferns, Sotheby’s, ” Austin Organizations: CNN, British Midland Airways, Tiffany, Mercury Locations: Sotheby’s, London

CNN —After spending more than 300 days in Russian custody last year, Brittney Griner made an emotional return to her WNBA home court in the Phoenix Mercury’s 75-69 defeat by the Chicago Sky. The crowd went crazy in applause as she ran onto the court while giving her teammates high fives. “There might have been a little dust in my eye, a little dusty,” Griner told reporters after the game. Carstens joined Griner at the podium after the game, alongside Representative Shelia Jackson Lee, and said it was “emotional” for them both seeing Griner on the court. BG’s family in the crowd and BG back on the court, doing what BG does best which is playing basketball.

☆ Brittney Griner Returns to the W.N.B.A. With a Weekend of Celebration
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Kris Rhim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But through her first two games, Griner has put those questions to rest. She and her teammates have acknowledged she isn’t yet the player she once was, but Griner performed like the Mercury’s best player over their first two games. She led the team in points and rebounds over the two losses, averaging 22.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks. “By All-Star, I hope to be exactly where I want to be,” Griner said after the Sparks game. “You know, not having to limit my minutes, being able to just play — I’m going to regret this, but — being able to play 40 minutes.

CNN —Nearly five months after she was released from Russian detention, WNBA star Brittney Griner says it feels “a little overwhelming” to return to public life given the widespread interest in her case. Griner spent nearly 300 days in custody before being released as part of a prisoner swap involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in December. She has since been reintegrating into life in the United States, meeting with US President Joe Biden, attending the Met Gala on Monday, and preparing for the season ahead with the Phoenix Mercury. “I didn’t think it could get that big,” Griner told reporters during the Mercury’s annual preseason media day on Wednesday. Griner arrives back in the United States in December.

☆ 'Hammer to Fall': Freddie Mercury belongings headed for auction
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Marie-Louise Gumuchian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Some 1,500 items, including handwritten lyrics, art and collectibles from Mercury's London home, Garden Lodge, have been looked after by his close friend Mary Austin since his death from AIDS-related pneumonia in 1991. "For many years now, I have had the joy and privilege of living surrounded by all the wonderful things that Freddie sought out and so loved. "It was important to me to do this in a way that I felt Freddie would have loved, and there was nothing he loved more than an auction." Sale highlights will go on tour in New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong before the main London exhibition begins on August 4. ($1 = 0.8017 pounds)Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Shoppers are pulling back at Macy’s and Kohl’s
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

That’s squeezing Macy’s, Kohl’s, Target and other chains. Macy’s (M) sales dropped 3.1% last quarter from a year ago, while Kohl’s (KSS) tanked 6.9%. “Consumers are showing increasing signs of stress and pulling back from discretionary purchases,” Target CEO Brian Cornell said on an earnings call. Although Macy’s own store sales fell 4.4% last quarter, Bloomingdale’s sales grew 5.3% and Bluemercury’s increased 14%. Macy’s stock gained 12% Thursday as the results exceeded analysts’ forecasts.

☆ Fact Check-The Earth is not covered by a dome or ‘firmament’
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Users on social media are saying people on Earth are living under a dome, also called a “firmament,” without providing evidence to support the claim. But the video’s examples offer no proof of humans living under a dome or firmament, while there is ample evidence that no dome exists. “Rocket hitting the flat earth dome”, reads the title of one of the YouTube clips. SIXTY YEARS OF SPACEFLIGHTExperts pointed out that if there were a dome that covered the Earth, astronauts would have encountered it by now. A video provides no evidence that the Earth is under a dome or “firmament”.

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