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‘Mr. Monk’s Last Case’ review: Can germaphobe Adrian Monk function in a COVID world?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:31 GMT

Nina Metz | Chicago TribuneRare is the reboot that captures the magic of the original. But sometimes it’s nice to catch up with familiar characters years later, and the TV movie “Mr. Monk’s Last Case” (on Peacock) is one such opportunity, with Tony Shalhoub returning as the obsessive-compulsive crime solver he played on “Monk,” the USA series that ran for eight seasons from 2002 to 2009.Monk’s germaphobia has always been central. So what does his life look like now, amid an ongoing pandemic caused by an airborne virus? Do the ideas behind the character’s idiosyncrasies even work in this new context?In short, no.Creator Andy Breckman does acknowledge Monk’s fixation on hygiene — often met with eyerolls in the series — makes a good deal of sense in light of (gestures broadly) everything. But here’s me, clomping through the pleasant, low-stakes vibes of a brief “Monk” return to point out that the story now also requires you to believe the character would go anywhere post-2020 sans face...

Patriots defender has message for fans who want team to tank for draft pick

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:31 GMT

There’s a faction of the Patriots fanbase that is not so silently rooting for the team to lose because it could be more beneficial for the team in the long term.Losing would help to improve the 2024 NFL Draft slot for a Patriots team that was eliminated from playoff contention this weekend.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick gives detailed assessment of Patriots QB Bailey Zappe’s recent play New England Patriots | Patriots-Steelers film review: Did Bailey Zappe prove something in Pittsburgh? New England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: What’s Bailey Zappe’s future with organization? New England Patriots | Patriots lose veteran LB again to Dolphins New England Patriots | Source: Patriots lose offensive coach with 4 games left Defensive tackle Christian Barmore, who has emerged as one of the team’s best overall players this season, was asked what he would say to fans who wan...

The trick that makes soufflés an easy weeknight meal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:31 GMT

Meredith Deeds | Star Tribune (TNS)Yes, sometimes necessity is the mother of invention, and sometimes mothers are the mother of invention. Such is the case with this Easy Cheddar, Bacon and Scallion Soufflé, a recipe inspired by French chef Jacques Pépin’s mother, who accidentally streamlined one of France’s most iconic dishes.As a young bride who was an inexperienced cook, but fearless in the kitchen, she wanted to make her new husband his favorite dish. And while she didn’t know exactly how a cheese soufflé came together, she did know its basic components were béchamel, cheese and eggs.The traditional version, painstakingly labored over by French chefs in fancy kitchens for a couple hundred years or so, starts with the béchamel, the famous French white sauce, made by cooking flour and butter together, before whisking in milk. A copious amount of cheese (usually Gruyère) is added to the sauce, along with egg yolks, before the mixture is gently folded into perfectl...

What to know about abortion lawsuits being heard in US courts this week

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:31 GMT

By GEOFF MULVIHILL (Associated Press)When the U.S. Supreme Court undid the nationwide right to abortion last year, it did not remove the issue from the courts.Instead, it opened a new frontier of litigation, with states passing their own restrictions and opponents challenging them in courts across the country.This week, three state courts are hearing arguments on abortion, including a request in Texas that could establish a new legal approach for women who are seeking immediate access to the procedure because of pregnancy complications.Some things to know about the cases: Most of the lawsuits that have been filed against bans and restrictions are seeking to secure general access to abortion.But last week, a Texas woman pregnant with a terminally ill fetus decided not to wait for those challenges to be resolved. Saying that her condition poses a risk to her health and future fertility, she asked a court for permission to obtain an abortion immediately.Doctors told 31-year-old Kate Co...

Spiced cookies that are perfect for the holidays

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:31 GMT

We just had a lovely Thanksgiving, a pie holiday — one of the next holidays, Christmas, is a cookie holiday! I like pie but I love cookies and make them frequently throughout the year, especially at Christmastime. Now with no kids at home, I still make cookies, but I only bake a few at a time. The rest of the batch is rolled into walnut-sized balls and frozen in zip-lock bags. It’s a great way to have some warm homemade cookies in a few minutes; more importantly, though, it keeps me from eating them for breakfast.I missed out on those sugary, butter-filled treats as a kid, growing up with a health-conscious mother. She only baked two kinds of cookies: date bars that we could have used for doorstops and gingerbread men that she made for tree decorations. One year I “accidently” discovered those tree decorations tasted pretty good. As the holiday wore on, I secretly nibbled away at the gingerbread men until most of them were just heads hanging from a green thread. Did anyone else do t...

As flu, colds, COVID take over the season, what will you turn to? Some consider vitamin shots, IV therapy, probiotics

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:31 GMT

Alondra Ramos rolled up her sleeve this week for a vitamin shot she hopes will prevent her from getting her husband’s cold.The Fort Lauderdale accountant says the shot, a mix of potent vitamins, usually boosts her immunity levels when traveling and during her busy season at work — now she’s counting on it for cold and flu season.“It’s like taking a high-dosage multivitamin,” Ramos said.Cases of RSV, COVID-19 and the flu are on the rise in the United States, and Florida is one of the states now reporting high levels of respiratory illnesses. Along with vaccines, vitamin injections and vitamin IV therapy are among the tools people are turning to this winter to help ward against these hard-hitting viruses and bacteria circulating, which also include strep throat.Kelly Rice, vice president of operations at Healthy Choice Wellness Center, says her company has been hired by several Broward County businesses this winter season, including Ramos’, to give vitamin shots on-site to employees. ...

Experts offer suggestions for dealing with holiday anxiety and depression

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:31 GMT

At this time of year, everywhere around there are full of holiday images of family gatherings, brightly lit trees, lavish gifts and tables laden with rich foods, beverages and desserts.For those whose depression and anxiety is triggered by the holiday season and those who have lost a loved one, a treasured pet, or even a job and are grieving, the holidays can be tough to navigate.“One of the things we do say is to know your own limitations,” said Karen Monts, practice manager of Counseling Services at Hospice of Michigan. “Don’t feel pressured to do things a certain way or allow images on television to get into your mind so that you feel like everyone is having a wonderful holiday except you, because we know that is not the case.”For someone experiencing the first holiday without a family member, friend or pet, even something like watching a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie can be a trigger. Monts says trying to plan ahead for the holiday can help to alleviate stress and depression....

Special counsel Jack Smith asks the Supreme Court to rule quickly on whether Trump can be prosecuted

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:31 GMT

By MARK SHERMAN and ERIC TUCKER (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith on Monday asked the Supreme Court to take up and rule quickly on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election results.Smith made his request for the court to act with unusual speed to prevent any delays that could push back the trial of the 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, currently set to begin on March 4, until after next year’s presidential election.A federal judge ruled the case could go forward, but Trump signaled he would ask the federal appeals court in Washington to reverse that outcome. Smith is attempting to bypass the appeals court, the usual next step in the process, and have the Supreme Court take up the matter directly.“This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes comm...

What did you Google in 2023? 'Barbie,' Israel-Hamas war are among the year's top internet searches

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:31 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Your Google search history for 2023 has arrived.Well, actually, the world's. On Monday, the California-based tech giant released its “Year in Search,” a roundup of 2023’s top global queries, ranging from unforgettable pop culture moments (hello, Barbenheimer), to the loss of beloved figures and tragic news carrying worldwide repercussions.The ongoing Israel-Hamas war topped news trends in 2023, per Google's global data, followed by queries related to the Titanic-bound submersible that imploded in June, as well as February's devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.Damar Hamlin was Google's top trending person on search this year. A safety with the NFL's Buffalo Bills, Hamlin experienced a near-death cardiac arrest on the field during a January game, but has since completed a celebrated comeback. Actor Jeremy Renner, who survived a serious snowplow accident at the start of 2023, followed. Meanwhile, the late Matthew Perry and Tina Turner led search trends among not...

Harvard faculty rallies to the aid of university president criticized for remarks on antisemitism

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:31 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of Harvard faculty members are urging the Ivy League university to keep its president, Claudine Gay, in command as she faces calls from some lawmakers and donors to step down over comments at a congressional hearing on antisemitism.A petition signed by more than 600 faculty members asks the school’s governing body to resist political pressures “that are at odds with Harvard’s commitment to academic freedom.”Only months into her leadership, Gay came under intense scrutiny following the hearing in which she and two of her peers struggled to answer questions about campus antisemitism. Their academic responses provoked a backlash from Republican opponents, along with alumni and donors who say the university leaders are failing to stand up for Jewish students on their campuses.Liz Magill resigned as president of the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday amid criticism of her handling of the hearing. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican whose questions sp...