Associated Press

This still image from video provided by Disney shows the character Mickey Mouse in the 1928 animated short “Steamboat Willie.” On Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, the iconic character from “Steamboat Willie” entered the public domain after the expiration of the 95-year copyright, and is already the focus of two horror films. (Disney via AP)

Freed from Disney’s grasp, Mickey version goes on murderous rampage

Horror movie-makers quick to cash in on iconic mouse entering public use domain

This still image from video provided by Disney shows the character Mickey Mouse in the 1928 animated short “Steamboat Willie.” On Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, the iconic character from “Steamboat Willie” entered the public domain after the expiration of the 95-year copyright, and is already the focus of two horror films. (Disney via AP)
FILE - Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper speaks during an NFL football news conference Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. Tepper now finds himself embroiled in a public relations nightmare after a video surfaced of the billionaire allegedly throwing the contents of a drink at a fan from his club suite following a 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.(AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

NFL owner tosses drink at opposing fans, fined $300,000

Carolina’s David Tepper apologizes, league calls conduct ‘unacceptable’

FILE - Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper speaks during an NFL football news conference Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. Tepper now finds himself embroiled in a public relations nightmare after a video surfaced of the billionaire allegedly throwing the contents of a drink at a fan from his club suite following a 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.(AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
Patrick Stewart in "Star Trek: The Next Generation." (Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures/TNS)

Ashes of B.C. Star Trek fan set to go to space alongside famous stars

Son says Vancouver mother of 8 would be ‘just tickled’ to know where her remains are going

Patrick Stewart in "Star Trek: The Next Generation." (Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures/TNS)
File - A food shopper pushes a cart of groceries at a supermarket in Bellflower, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File)

More plants, less meat means more money in your wallet

Instead of cutting out meat entirely, try substituting veggies instead on a gorwing basis

File - A food shopper pushes a cart of groceries at a supermarket in Bellflower, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File)
Singer Paula Abdul poses with Idol Eyes audio glasses during the Pepcom Digital Experience before the start of the CES tech show, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Paula Abdul accuses ‘American Idol’ producer Nigel Lythgoe of sexual assault in lawsuit

Paula Abdul has accused former “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe of sexually…

Singer Paula Abdul poses with Idol Eyes audio glasses during the Pepcom Digital Experience before the start of the CES tech show, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A Japan Airlines plane is on fire on the runway of Haneda airport on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)

Planes collide and catch fire at Japan’s busy Haneda airport, killing 5. Hundreds evacuated safely

A passenger plane and a Japanese coast guard aircraft collided on the…

A Japan Airlines plane is on fire on the runway of Haneda airport on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)
2024 glasses are displayed ahead of New Year’s Eve in Times Square, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

To resolve is to be human, to break resolutions is human too

Personal accountability, reasonable expectations key to keeping your New Year’s promise

2024 glasses are displayed ahead of New Year’s Eve in Times Square, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Timothee Chalamet arrives at the premiere of "Wonka" on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, at Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Wonka tops box office week as movie industry celebrates rebound year

Hollywood reports revenues pushed past $9B mark for first time since pandemic

Timothee Chalamet arrives at the premiere of "Wonka" on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, at Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (2) makes the catch for a touchdown against Texas during the first half of the Sugar Bowl CFP NCAA semifinal college football game, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Penix Jr. leads Huskies to 37-31 win over Texas and spot in national title game

Washington will meet Michigan in championship contest

Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (2) makes the catch for a touchdown against Texas during the first half of the Sugar Bowl CFP NCAA semifinal college football game, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
FILE - A right-wing demonstrator gestures toward a counter protester as members of the Proud Boys and other right-wing demonstrators rally in Portland, Ore., Sept. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

American democracy has overcome big stress tests. More challenges are ahead

A lot has happened since Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election results, and a lot more is to come

FILE - A right-wing demonstrator gestures toward a counter protester as members of the Proud Boys and other right-wing demonstrators rally in Portland, Ore., Sept. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
FILE - Richard Roundtree attends the premiere of “Shaft” on June 10, 2019, in New York. Roundtree, the trailblazing Black actor who starred as the ultra-smooth private detective “Shaft” in several films beginning in the early 1970s, has died. Roundtree died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, at his home in Los Angeles, according to his longtime manager. He was 81. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

The year in review: Influential people who died in 2023

Yevgeny Prigozhin, Henry Kissinger, Rosalynn Carter just a few of the notable people who passed

FILE - Richard Roundtree attends the premiere of “Shaft” on June 10, 2019, in New York. Roundtree, the trailblazing Black actor who starred as the ultra-smooth private detective “Shaft” in several films beginning in the early 1970s, has died. Roundtree died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, at his home in Los Angeles, according to his longtime manager. He was 81. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
Families and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza hold their photos and shout slogans during a rally calling for their release, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. More than 100 Israeli hostages are held in Gaza after being abducted in a Hamas cross-border attack on Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 35 as Netanyahu says war will continue

Israeli’s counterattacks have so far killed more than 21,800 Palestinians and wounded some 55,000 others

Families and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza hold their photos and shout slogans during a rally calling for their release, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. More than 100 Israeli hostages are held in Gaza after being abducted in a Hamas cross-border attack on Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
FILE - Tom Wilkinson arrives at the “Denial” premiere on day 4 of the Toronto International Film Festival at the Princess of Wales Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in Toronto. Tom Wilkinson, the Oscar-nominated British actor known for his roles in “The Full Monty,” “Michael Clayton” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” has died, his family said Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. He was 75. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, file)

British actor Tom Wilkinson, known for ‘The Full Monty,’ dies at 75

Wilkinson also recognizable for ‘Michael Clayton’ and ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’

FILE - Tom Wilkinson arrives at the “Denial” premiere on day 4 of the Toronto International Film Festival at the Princess of Wales Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in Toronto. Tom Wilkinson, the Oscar-nominated British actor known for his roles in “The Full Monty,” “Michael Clayton” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” has died, his family said Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. He was 75. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, file)
FILE - United States’ Kendall Coyne Schofield skates with the puck against Canada during the first period of a Rivalry Series hockey game Nov. 17, 2022, in Kamloops, British Columbia. Coyne Schofield, a three-time Olympian and former U.S. captain, will suit up for Minnesota’s Professional Women’s Hockey League opener at Boston on Jan. 3. The game will underline Coyne Schofield’s determination in returning to competitive play, after the birth of her son, now 6 months old. (Jesse Johnston/The Canadian Press via AP, File, File)

New women’s professional hockey league ready to drop the puck

The first of the 72-game season will kick off on Monday

FILE - United States’ Kendall Coyne Schofield skates with the puck against Canada during the first period of a Rivalry Series hockey game Nov. 17, 2022, in Kamloops, British Columbia. Coyne Schofield, a three-time Olympian and former U.S. captain, will suit up for Minnesota’s Professional Women’s Hockey League opener at Boston on Jan. 3. The game will underline Coyne Schofield’s determination in returning to competitive play, after the birth of her son, now 6 months old. (Jesse Johnston/The Canadian Press via AP, File, File)
Tourists walk around New Year’s Eve sign ahead of New Year’s Eve in Times Square, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Sydney and Auckland ring in 2024 as war shadows celebrations elsewhere

Wars in Ukraine and Gaza hanging over celebrations in many cities

Tourists walk around New Year’s Eve sign ahead of New Year’s Eve in Times Square, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Construction continues on and around the rink for the New Year’s Day NHL hockey Winter Classic between the Seattle Kraken and the Vegas Golden Knights, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, in Seattle at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP)

Bringing the Winter Classic to Seattle came with an insurance policy

The game Monday will be the 39th outdoor game the NHL has conducted

Construction continues on and around the rink for the New Year’s Day NHL hockey Winter Classic between the Seattle Kraken and the Vegas Golden Knights, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, in Seattle at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP)
This image made from militant video posted online on Tuesday, April. 18, 2017 by the Aamaq News Agency, a media arm of the Islamic State group, purports to shows destroyed houses following a U.S.-led coalition strike in the eastern Syrian town of Boukamal, on the Iraqi border. Boukamal was the site of another attack Dec. 30, 2023.	(Aamaq News Agency via AP)

Air raids over eastern Syria near Iraqi border kill 6 Iran-backed militants

Biden last week ordered the U.S. military to carry out strikes on Iranian-backed Iraqi groups

This image made from militant video posted online on Tuesday, April. 18, 2017 by the Aamaq News Agency, a media arm of the Islamic State group, purports to shows destroyed houses following a U.S.-led coalition strike in the eastern Syrian town of Boukamal, on the Iraqi border. Boukamal was the site of another attack Dec. 30, 2023.	(Aamaq News Agency via AP)
A new calf has been born to the J pod of endangered southern resident killer whales, as shown in this handout image from Tuesday Dec. 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Center for Whale Research-Maya Sears **MANDATORY CREDIT**

Christmas baby for endangered southern resident killer whales

The calf was first spotted in Washington state’s Puget Sound on Dec. 26: Center for Whale Research

A new calf has been born to the J pod of endangered southern resident killer whales, as shown in this handout image from Tuesday Dec. 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Center for Whale Research-Maya Sears **MANDATORY CREDIT**
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Russia fires 122 missiles and 36 drones against Ukraine

Ukraine calls it the biggest aerial barrage of the war

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
(Black Press Media Creative)

Rare ‘dancing lemur’ baby born at UK zoo is doing well and delighting keepers and visitors

Chester Zoo has released the first video of a critically endangered Coquerel’s…

(Black Press Media Creative)