Nicole Scherzinger is a Grammy-nominated, multi-award-winning, platinum-selling singer, actress, and dancer. Scherzinger was formerly a member of one of the world’s best-selling music groups of all time, The Pussycat Dolls, firmly cementing herself as a global pop icon. Scherzinger grew up a student of theater and is a classically trained performer. Her early onstage career included musical performances in Guys and Dolls, Chicago, and Showboat. Her West End debut came in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats, for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. Scherzinger recently garnered rave reviews for her “career-defining” performance as ‘Norma Desmond’ in Jamie Lloyd’s reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Blvd. The rapturously received production was nominated for 11 Olivier Awards, winning seven of them, including Best Musical Revival and Best Actress in a Musical for Scherzinger. She also won the Best Musical Performance award at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards. The production is moving to Broadway this fall, beginning previews on September 28 and opening on October 20 at the St. James Theater. On screen, Scherzinger co-starred in the critically acclaimed NBC musical television special, “Annie Live!” as ‘Grace Farrell.’ She won “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010 and served as a judge on several other television talent shows, including “The X Factor” US (2011), “The X Factor” UK (2012-2013, 2016-2017), and “The Masked Singer” (2019-2023). Scherzinger is also the voice of ‘Sina’ in Disney’s popular film Moana.

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Tom Francis is an Olivier Award winner for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as ‘Joe Gillis’ in Sunset Blvd (Savoy Theatre- West End). Other theater credits include: & Juliet (Shaftesbury), What’s New Pussycat? (Birmingham Rep), Rent (Hope Mill), Hair – The Concert (London Palladium), and I Could Use A Drink (Gartland Productions). Screen credits include “You” (Netflix) and the upcoming untitled Noah Baumbach Picture (Netflix). Training: Arts Educational School. Instagram: @realtomfrancis.

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Grace Hodgett Young is the winner of the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Professional Debut and an Olivier Award nominee for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Sunset Blvd. at the Savoy Theatre. Other theater credits include Eurydice in Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre. Screen credits include “What It Feels Like For A Girl” (BBC). Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Instagram: @gracehodgettyoung.

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Theater credits include: Sunset Blvd. (Savoy Theatre; Olivier Award nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical); Passion (Donmar Warehouse; Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical); Les Misérables (Sondheim/ Queen’s); Come From Away (Phoenix); The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s); Camelot (London Palladium); Love Never Dies (Adelphi); West End Men (Vaudeville); She Loves Me (Sheffield Crucible); Candide (Menier Chocolate Factory); Roller Diner (Soho); Only The Brave, The Rake’s Progress (Wales Millennium Centre); The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Southwark Playhouse); The Cunning Little Vixen (Sherman, Cardiff); Trial by Jury (BBC National Orchestra of Wales/ St David’s Hall/ Chandos). Concerts include: Jesus Christ Superstar – The Concert (Regent’s Park Open Air); Broadway to the Bay (Wales Millennium Centre); “Welsh Guards Centenary Celebration” (Cardiff Principality Stadium); “Friday Night is Music Night” (BBC Radio 2); Bond with the Royal Northern Sinfonia (Sage Gateshead); Bring Them Home (Cardiff Castle). Training: Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Instagram: @youngthacko.

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Mandy Gonzalez is an accomplished film, TV, stage actor, and author. She possesses one of the most powerful and versatile contemporary voices of our time. Her first Broadway role was in Aida and has since gone on to originate the role of ‘Nina Rosario’ in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, In The Heights, for which she received a Drama Desk Award. She is also among the Broadway greats who have taken on the role of ‘Elphaba’ in Wicked and most recently she starred in the megahit Hamilton as ‘Angelica Schuyler’ for six years. Along with being a stage actor, Gonzalez has been featured in television and movie roles including “The Good Wife,” “Madam Secretary,” Across the Universe, “Quantico,” and “Only Murders in the Building.” A frequent concert soloist, Gonzalez has performed with symphony orchestras around the world. Highlights include Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops, Boston Pops, Philly Pops, the National Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, and Atlanta Pops to name a few. Gonzalez released her debut album FEARLESS in 2017, which debuted in the Top 20 of iTunes pop charts. In her quest to create positive change, Gonzalez is the proud founder of #FearlessSquad – a social media movement for inclusiveness and positivity. She is also an accomplished author who recently published her young adult series, FEARLESS – a four-book middle-grade series that follows young thespians whose brushes with the supernatural teach them about theater, friendship, and themselves. Gonzalez is deeply committed to advocating for underserved communities and schools. She serves on the boards of BCRF (Breast Cancer Research Foundation) and BC/EFA (Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS), where she actively promotes awareness and fundraising efforts.

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Caroline Bowman has an extensive theater career that has taken her all over the world. Fresh off her five-year run as ‘Elsa’ in the North American tour of Disney’s Frozen playing over 1,000 performances. Broadway and tours include: Kinky Boots OBC and closing cast (‘Nicola’), Wicked (‘Elphaba’), Evita (‘Eva Peron,’ Helen Hayes Award nomination), Spamalot (‘Lady of the Lake’), Fame – China Tour (‘Carmen’) and Grease – Istanbul, Turkey (‘Rizzo’). Select Regional: The MUNY (All Shook Up, Kinky Boots), Cape Playhouse (Gypsy), Toby’s Dinner Theatre (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Helen Hayes Award nomination), Vancouver Opera (Evita). She holds a BFA in musical theater from Penn State. Instagram: @carolinebowman5.

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Broadway debut! Tour: Chicago (‘Annie,’ understudy ‘Roxie Hart’). Regional: Music Theatre Wichita, Bucks County Playhouse, Syracuse Stage, Theatre Aspen. Choreographer of the regional premiere of Salt City Blues. Proud Syracuse University alum. Instagram: @livdrews.

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Coney Island born and raised, Borkowsky is ecstatic to be making his Broadway debut with Sunset Blvd! He is a USC Musical Theater BFA and a LaGuardia High School alum. He has performed at venues such as Madison Square Garden, Pasadena Playhouse, and Lincoln Center. Borkowsy likes to eat rice and beans. Don’t forget the chicken. When you see him on stage, just know he is living his dream. Instagram: @smurf.boy.

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Broadway debut! National and international tours: Hadestown (First National Tour), The Prom (First National Tour), LCT’s My Fair Lady, and Dreamgirls. Off-Broadway and other New York theater: Once Upon a Mattress (City Center), Smokey Joe’s Cafe, and The Fantasticks (El Gallo). Regional: Old Globe, Ahmanson, American Conservatory Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Walnut Street Theatre, and Ordway Theatre. Film and television: “The Blacklist” and “Vinyl” (HBO). Instagram: @shaveybrown.

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Training: Urdang. Theater Credits: Tania/Ensemble in Your Lie in April (Concert), ‘Young Norma’ in Sunset Blvd. (West End), a member of the ensemble in Cabaret (Lido 2 Paris), ‘Serena’ in Legally Blonde (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). Screen credits: Dancer in Knuckles (Paramount+).

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Cydney Clark is absolutely delighted to be making her Broadway debut! Past credits include: Six (NCL), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Theatre by the Sea), State Fair, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (the Rev Theatre Company). She is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s musical theater program.

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Raúl Contreras – Finance Man

Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Contreras most recently served as dance captain, swing and understudy for ‘Santiago’ in Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway. You can catch him as a featured dancer in the upcoming, anticipated feature film, Kiss of the Spider Woman starring Jennifer Lopez. He previously danced for Ballet Metropolitano de Monterrey, Metamorphosis Dance Collective, and Ballet Hispánico. He has served as a teacher, choreographer, and artistic director for Universidad de Monterrey’s Dance Group, and as a guest teacher for Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center. He has performed at renowned venues across New York City including The Joyce Theater as a soloist in Bennyroyce Royon’s world premiere of Homebound/Alaala, New York City Center for the Fall For Dance Festival and the Apollo Theater with Ballet Hispánico. Contreras has performed pieces from renowned choreographers such as Anabelle Lopez Ochoa, Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, Iratxe Ansa, and Andy Blankenbuehler among others. He is a graduate of the Escuela Superior de Música y Danza de Monterrey with a BFA in Contemporary Dance and has trained with Comunidad de Danza Urbana, Martha Graham School, and Universidad de Monterrey.

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Tyler Davis (Sheldrake; he/him) Training: Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Film: O’Brien in The Boys in the Boat (MGM). Theater: ‘3D’ and understudy for ‘Biff Tannen’ in Back to the Future the Musical (Adelphi Theatre, London), ‘Adam’ in Love Beyond (City Gates, London), ‘Sheldrake’ in Sunset Blvd. (Savoy Theatre, London). Instagram: @tylermichaeldavis.

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E.J. Hamilton hails from St. Petersburg, Florida. Her training began at Judith Lee Johnson’s Dance Studio and Soulful Arts Dance Academy. She spent consecutive summers at Debbie Allen’s Dance Academy, the Ailey School, Broadway Theatre Project, the Performing Arts Project, and Broadway Dance Center. A proud alumna of thespian Troupe 4127, she graduated from St. Petersburg Catholic High School in 2011 and was accepted to Spelman College. Her junior year, she was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a concentration in Dance with a Spanish minor in 2015. Post graduation, she moved to New York City and began her career as an assistant to NYU New Studio on Broadway professor and award-winning choreographer Byron Easley. Hamilton made her Broadway debut in Diana: The Musical in March 2020 and can also be seen in the Netflix film. She joined the heels ensemble of Moulin Rouge! on Broadway in 2022 and in 2023 became the first universal Lady M cover for both Broadway and the North American tour. Instagram: @e.j._hamilton.

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Sydney Jones is grateful and ecstatic to join this fierce team! Broadway: A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. Regional: Escape to Margaritaville (‘Rachel’), and 42nd Street (‘Anytime Annie,’ Arrow Rock Lyceum); Boop! The Betty Boop Musical (CIBC Theater); The Karate Kid (STAGES St. Louis); Grease (‘Sandy,’ Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma); and 12 seasons at the MUNY. Proud graduate of the University of Oklahoma Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre. Instagram: @syd__jones.

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Her credits include Sunset Blvd. (West End, Savoy Theatre), Back To The Future (West End, Adelphi Theatre), Back To The Future (Workshop/Manchester Opera House), Dr. Dolittle (UK Tour), Thoroughly Modern Millie (UK Tour), Salad Days (Union Productions Ltd/Theatre Royal Bath). This will be her Broadway debut. Instagram: @emmadlloyd.

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Pierre Marais was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. Broadway: Aladdin. Film and television: Scorpion King 2 (Netflix), Black Beauty (Disney+), Wake of Death (Universal). Favorites: ‘Jack Kelly’ in Newsies (TUTS), the ‘Emcee’ in Cabaret (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), ‘Gilbert’ in Anne of Green Gables (Goodspeed). National tours: A Chorus Line, Flashdance, and Aladdin. Marais is also an award-winning filmmaker: As Apple Pie (Cannes World Film Festival – Best Young Filmmaker), Apart (Alternative Film Festival – Best USA Drama), Bound by a Thread (San Francisco Dance Film Festival and Dance on Camera at Lincoln Center – Official Selections). Instagram: @pierre_marais.

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Training: The Urdang Academy. Theater includes: The Artist (McOnie Company at Theatre Royal, Plymouth), Sunset Blvd. (Savoy Theatre, West End), Johannes Radebe: Freedom Unleashed (UK Tour), Aladdin (Apollo Theater, Stuttgart), The Wiz (Hope Mill Theatre). Film appearances include Disenchanted (Disney). McPherson is thrilled to be making her Broadway debut in Sunset Blvd.

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Living the dream baby! Broadway: Lempicka, Disney’s Aladdin. Instagram: @jiminmmoon.

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Justice Moore is a New York based performer and choreographer. Growing up in Dallas, Texas, she trained in all styles at Next Step Dance Performing Arts Center. Upon graduating from Allen High School, she had the amazing opportunity to open Hamilton in Chicago as ‘The Bullet.’ She then went on to open the second national tour of the show and join the Broadway production. Moore had the honor to work on projects by Keone and Mari Madrid such as Once Upon a One More Time on Broadway and The Karate Kid: The Musical in St. Louis. She worked on seasons four and five of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” with choreographer Marguerite Derricks. She made her movie debut in Disney+’ Better Nate Than Ever, directed by Tim Federle and choreographed by Zach Woodlee, and her television choreographic debut in CBS’ “East New York.” She was recently the associate choreographer for London’s Fangirls (under Ebony Williams) and New York City Center’s production of Jelly’s Last Jam (under Edgar Godineaux). Never limiting herself to one side of the dance industry, she continues to keep expanding her community, training, and possibilities. She performed with Doja Cat for MTV’s VMAs, Tyla for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and Stray Kids for the 2024 Youtube Brandcast. She is also a principal company member in Candace Browns’ Soul Project Dance Company. Moore has captivated audiences online and off through her story telling, choreography, and comedy. She hopes to continue exploring the many ways dance and storytelling can connect with humans of all avenues. Instagram: @justicemoore_.

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Drew Redington is thrilled to be back at the St. James Theatre where he was recently a part of Spamalot (2023 Revival) and the original Broadway cast of New York, New York. Other Broadway credits: Mean Girls, The Prom, and Holiday Inn. Select Regional: Lyric Opera of Chicago (Fiddler on the Roof), the MUNY of St. Louis (Gypsy and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway), TUTS (Rock of Ages), Marriott Theatre Chicago (West Side Story), and Paper Mill Playhouse. Television performances with CBS, NBC, and Broadway HD. Training received at Elon University. Instagram: @drew.redington.

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Diego Andres Rodriguez (Artie; he/him) is an actor and writer from McAllen, TX making his Broadway debut in Sunset Blvd. His upbringing in the vibrant border land of South Texas has greatly influenced his artistic journey, identity, and sense of community. Rodriguez is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan’s musical theater program. Instagram: @_diegorodz_.

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Giuseppe Bausilio is an actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, cinematographer, and producer born and raised in Switzerland by a Brazilian mother and Italian father. Both are former ballet dancers and currently teach at their school in Switzerland and New York/NJ: American-Swiss Ballet. His brother is a former ballet dancer with the Paris Opera Ballet and his sister is a carpenter. Bausilio began dancing at the age of three under the tutelage of his parents and made his Broadway debut in Billy Elliot: The Musical at just 11 years old. Since then, he’s appeared in six Broadway shows including Newsies; Aladdin; Cats; Hello, Dolly!; and Hamilton. Bausilio loves to choreograph and cinematography with ambitions to merge his interests on the big screen. His film and television credits include playing Alfie in “The Next Step,” “Ode to Passion,” and “Dead Man Down.” Co-producer and Director of Photography for Sharrod Williams’ “Neighbors.” He is also a judge, masterclass teacher, and emcee for Youth America Grand Prix. Speaks seven languages. Instagram: @GiuseppeBausilio.

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Kristina Garvida Doucette is honored to be joining the company of Sunset Blvd., doing everything always for the people who helped them get here. Broadway: Wicked, Here Lies Love (OBC); Regional: The Karate Kid (STAGES St. Louis).

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Broadway: MJ The Musical. Tour: Hello, Dolly! Regional: MUNY, Maltz Jupiter Theater, Seattle Fifth Avenue Theatre. Film and television: “The Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt” and “Westworld.” Instagram: @brandonlwhitmore.

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Broadway debut! Likcani received her BFA from Montclair State University in 2023. Regional: Jersey Boys (‘Mary Delgado’) at the REV, Anastasia (regional premiere) at WPPAC, Evita at the REV, Something Rotten! (‘Bea Bottom’) at Forestburgh Playhouse. She is also a choreographer; her work has recently been seen Off-Broadway and at her alma mater. Instagram: @maggielikcani.

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Abby Matsusaka is so grateful to be a part of this incredible show. New York: Some Like it Hot (Broadway), Lempicka (Broadway), Once Upon a Mattress (City Center Encores) Regional: The Karate Kid (STAGES St. Louis). Instagram: @abbyrose_m.

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Rixey Terry is making their Broadway debut in Sunset Blvd. Regional: Pippin (‘Pippin’), Joseph and the Amazing Techicolor Dreamcoat (‘Joseph’), The Bridges of Madison County (‘Michael’ understudy), 42nd Street (ensemble). University of Michigan musical theater graduate and Davidson, North Carolina native. Instagram: @rixeyterry.

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MADISON, Wis. –

The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to fire a communications professor who wanted to keep his job after he was fired as chancellor of one of the system’s campuses for producing pornographic films.

Joe Gow, who served as UW-La Crosse’s chancellor for nearly 17 years, argued last week that he should retain a teaching position on campus. But the university’s lawyers argued that he behaved unethically, violated the terms of his employment contract, damaged the university’s reputation and compromised its mission.

The regents met in closed session Friday morning before publicly voting to fire Gow. There was no public discussion before the board vote.

Gow said he is considering filing a lawsuit to keep his teaching job. He did not immediately respond to a message Friday morning.

Gow has been on paid leave from his faculty position since the regents fired him as chancellor in 2023, shortly after university leadership became aware of the videos posted on pornographic websites.

The case has drawn national attention both for the salaciousness of a high-ranking university official making and speaking publicly about pornographic films and for the questions it raises about free speech rights.

Gow argued that his videos and two e-books that he and his wife Carmen published about their experiences in adult films were protected by the First Amendment. The university’s attorney argued that Gow’s videos themselves were legal, but that they were not protected by his employment contract.

Zach Greenberg, an attorney with the free speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, called the regents’ decision “a major blow to academic freedom and the right to free expression.”

“FIRE has said time and time again: Public universities cannot sacrifice the First Amendment to protect their reputations,” Greenberg said. “We are disappointed that the UW has caved to donors and politicians by alienating a tenured professor.”

Republican lawmakers already view Wisconsin’s university system as a liberal incubator. Last year they forced the company to scale back its diversity initiatives. System President Jay Rothman has tried to avoid further angering conservatives as he seeks approval for an $855 million increase in the next state budget.

Gow’s hope of teaching in the classroom again was rejected by his department head, Linda Dickmeyer. She said that because Gow had not taught in 20 years, he would be assigned general education courses, but she declined to allow him to return to teaching in any capacity.

Gow was criticized in 2018 for inviting porn actress Nina Hartley to speak on campus. She received $5,000 from tuition fees for her performance. The university said he came up with the idea of ​​bringing her to campus after filming a pornographic video with her.

Gow and his wife’s e-books were written under the pseudonyms “Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enhances Our Relationships” and “Married with Benefits – Our Real Adventures in the Adult Industry.” But they also star in a YouTube channel called “Sexy Healthy Cooking,” in which the couple cooks meals with porn actors.

Die Auswirkungen des Regens und der Winde von Hurrikan Helene verursachen Schäden in ganz Ost-Tennessee.

Der stetige Regen eines typischen Sturms begann diese Woche zunächst Ost-Tennessee zu durchdringen, dann wehten die äußeren Bänder des Hurrikans Helene in die südlichen Appalachen. Jetzt sind die Überreste des Sturms hierher gelangt und haben die Winde, die Schäden verursacht haben, über weite Teile von Florida und Georgia gebracht.

„Es ist zu erwarten, dass umgestürzte Bäume und Stromleitungen zu Stromausfällen führen. Kehren Sie um, ertrinken Sie nicht“, warnten Experten des National Weather Service-Büros in Morristown.

Schulen sind geschlossen und Fußballspiele werden abgesagt.

CNN
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Austria goes to the polls this Sunday, with the populist, anti-immigrant Freedom Party (FPÖ) expected to emerge victorious, in what would mark another win for Europe’s far right.

However, unlike its competitors, the FPÖ is not an upstart and has previously been involved in coalition governments.

Since the FPÖ is unlikely to win an absolute majority according to current polls, it would have to rely on the support of other parties – and they could do so instead Work together to freeze it. Here’s what you need to know:

The FPÖ is considered the forefather of European right-wing extremist parties and represents an anti-migrant, anti-Islam, anti-European and anti-vaccination agenda. One of their typically provocative slogans was once “Love of homeland instead of Moroccan thieves”.

Benjamin Biard, a political scientist and research fellow at the Brussels-based think tank Center de Recherche et d’Information Socio-Politiques (CRISP), told CNN that the FPÖ shares “many characteristics” with other leading European far-right parties, citing the French National Rally (RN), the Flemish Vlaams Belang (VB), the Italian Lega and the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV).

But there is a crucial difference. Unlike, for example, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which was founded in 2013 in response to Eurozone politics, the FPÖ was founded in the decade after the Nazi era and is deeply rooted in Austrian politics. It has been in power three times in coalition with other groups at the federal level, making it one of the few far-right parties in Europe to have achieved this.

On June 9, the party narrowly won the European Parliament (EP) elections in Austria for the first time with 25.5% of the vote and would like to transfer this momentum to the national level.

The party was founded in 1956 by former Nazis, but today denies any connection to National Socialism. Still, over the years it has followed a controversial path, trending from the far right to the center and back again.

“In its early years, the FPÖ represented all-Germanist ideas and wanted to pave the way for the return of National Socialism in Austria,” said Biard. “At that time it consisted mainly of Nazi sympathizers, pro-German nationalists and libertarians.”

Pan-Germanism was a 19th century^Th Century movement for the political unification of everyone who speaks German or a Germanic language.

The party’s liberal tendencies, Biard said, “gradually displaced the former position” and by the early 1980s It was “accepted as a legitimate competitor in the Austrian electoral landscape.”

Their political stance changed again when Jörg Haider – the son of former NSDAP members – became party chairman in 1986. Haider was a controversial figure who was known for once praising Nazi Germany’s employment policies.

“At a time when the FPÖ had ‘de-radicalized,’ Haider imported a populist style and program centered on social nationalism and economic liberalism,” Biard said.

The party’s rightward shift under Haider proved popular and it secured 27% of the vote in the October 1999 election and subsequently entered a coalition government with the center-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP). Haider himself remained out of the government, but his rise to prominence and the party’s presence in the Austrian government alarmed the EU and left it diplomatically isolated.

In recent years, the party has been embroiled in scandal again, most notably in 2019 during its second coalition government with the ÖVP. In the so-called “Ibiza Gate,” then-head of state Heinz-Christian Strache was caught on camera promising government contracts to a woman who claimed to be the niece of a Russian oligarch – leading to his resignation and the collapse of the coalition .

The FPÖ has been led by Herbert Kickl since 2021. A far-right strongman, he has vowed to turn Austria into a “fortress” if he comes to power and has described himself as the future “People’s Chancellor” or “People’s Chancellor,” a term that has drawn criticism because of how he describes himself referred to the FPÖ’s Nazi past.

What are the main policies of the FPÖ?

Key issues in the September 29 election include cost of living, immigration, climate change and the war in Ukraine. Austria has been struggling with high inflation and below-average growth for almost two years. It is also under pressure from European allies to curb its heavy reliance on Russian gas.

A foiled terrorist attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in August sparked a debate about domestic security, while this month’s widespread flooding, which killed five people and declared the whole of Lower Austria a disaster zone, put climate change at the forefront put on the agenda.

The FPÖ has successfully addressed some of these voter concerns. In its campaign manifesto, the party promised to tighten immigration rules and implement what it calls “remigration” – the return of people to the countries from which their families originally came, particularly in the case of criminals.

The FPÖ – which likes to market itself as a party of the working class and appeals to low-income earners who feel excluded – It also outlined measures to stimulate the economy, including tax breaks for young workers and lower taxes on savings.

The long-time anti-EU and supposedly pro-Russia party rejects the bloc’s sanctions against Russia and further aid supplies to Ukraine and argues that Austria should remain neutral. In contrast to its competitors, the FPÖ demands that Vienna must continue to rely on Russian gas supplies in order to prevent a rise in energy prices.

The party now sits in the EU Parliament in alliance with Hungary’s Fidesz, a party led by Viktor Orban – Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in Europe.

Austria’s current coalition of ÖVP and Greens is trying to find ways to wean the country from Moscow’s supplies, with the energy minister calling this a “major economic and security risk.”

The far-right party has benefited from the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic and is known for its staunch opposition to the vaccines, with Kickl previously condemning it as a “genetic engineering experiment”.

Heinisch Reinhardt, professor of comparative politics at the University of Salzburg, describes the FPÖ as “one of the most successful right-wing radical parties since the 1980s.”

Speaking to CNN, Reinhardt said: “They are strong because, like other populists, they occupy a part of the spectrum where they have little competition.” They generally oppose the positions of all other parties and are perfectly positioned to appeal to people , who are disillusioned with democracy, feel abandoned by elites and resent the political mainstream.”

He also points out that distrust of the Austrian ruling coalition – a “government of two ideologically different parties” that “disagree on almost everything” – is fueling support for the FPÖ.

“In this environment of discontent, the FPÖ has developed well, also because in Mr. Kickl it has probably the best communicator of all parties and a disciplined person with a sharp intellect that distinguishes him from his predecessors.”

Polls by local daily Der Standard show the FPÖ is on track with a narrow victory of 27%, ahead of its main rivals, the ruling ÖVP with 25% of the vote and the center-left Social Democrats (SPÖ). with 20%.

Should the FPÖ win, its only likely coalition partner would be the conservative ÖVP, with whom it has already served as a junior coalition partner twice.

The ÖVP’s current chancellor, Karl Nehammer, has expressed his unwillingness to work with Kickl, declaring this month that it is impossible “to form a government with someone who loves conspiracy theories.” However, he left the door open to working with the FPÖ without Kickl, with the two parties There is overlap on issues like immigration and tax cuts.

If the ÖVP gets confused in the polls, it could hold talks with the FPÖ or try to form Austria’s first three-party alliance – with the SPÖ and either the Greens or the liberal NEOS party.

According to Reinhard, the FPÖ is more likely to form a government if it comes second than if it comes first. “If the FPÖ is ahead, it could only form a government with the conservatives. However, it is questionable whether the ÖVP would like to be a junior partner in a coalition with the FPÖ, while it could be a senior partner in a coalition with the SPÖ and a third party.”

According to Reinhard, if a coalition between the ÖVP and SPÖ is numerically possible, this is the most likely outcome.

But Biard said it was “not ruled out that the FPÖ could join or even lead a coalition – which would be a first in Austria.”

“This would strengthen the weight and influence of the extreme right not only in Austria, but also at the European level.”

Towns was drafted Nol. He was selected No. 1 overall by the Timberwolves in 2015 and spent nine seasons in Minnesota.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Minnesota Timberwolves open training camp next week and made a blockbuster trade on Friday evening.

According to Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, the Timberwolves are trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte Divencenzo and a first-round pick.

Why it matters

Towns was drafted Nol. He was selected No. 1 overall by the Timberwolves in 2015 and spent nine seasons in Minnesota. He is the team’s best player alongside Anthony Edwards and one of the faces of the franchise. It appears Towns himself was caught off guard, judging by his reaction on social media Friday night.

Towns helped the Timberwolves to their best regular season in 20 years last season and their first trip to the Western Conference finals in two decades. He is a four-time NBA All-Star and 2015 Rookie of the Year. Last season, he averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, making him one of the best perimeter shooting big men in the league.

Towns begins the first year of a four-year, $220 contract extension this season. The Timberwolves posted a video of Towns practicing at Mayo Clinic Square earlier this week.

What it means

The Timberwolves open training camp next week and will host a media day on Monday. That means Anthony Edwards is the face of the franchise, if he wasn’t already. Randle and DiVencenzo will need to work their way into the rotation and find a fit for Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley Jr. and Naz Reid.

Tim Connelly continues to show that he is not afraid to take bold steps. He traded five draft picks and four players to the Utah Jazz to get Rudy Gobert, who was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth time last season.

The team has not confirmed Towns’ trade.

MILWAUKEE — About 36 hours after escaping a natural disaster in the South, the Mets caused a debacle of their own making, imploding minutes into a crucial game with ace Sean Manaea on the mound. The Mets are still in control of their own destiny after their opening game loss here, although that’s not exactly a huge blessing considering how they’re playing in their biggest game of the season.

The current scorecard for the trip that will decide this season is as follows: Braves one win, Brewers one win, Hurricane Helene two rainouts, Mets two no-show games.

This certainly wasn’t the time for one of the worst performances of the season, but that’s exactly what it was. There were almost no encouraging events.

Manaea didn’t look like himself at all, and the Mets’ lineup didn’t come together nearly enough against Frankie Montas and Co., who shut out the Yankees. Additionally, Mets star Francisco Lindor, playing his first full game in two weeks, doesn’t look 100 percent, no matter what anyone says. He just seemed to stick it out.

To add insult to injury, noted Mets tormentor Rhys Hoskins once again played the villain, hitting a grand slam in the first inning of the Mets’ 8-4 loss. Not that anyone gets to pick their winners, but Hoskins has already been reviled in the Mets clubhouse.

This Hoskins hate started when he was back in Philly, but he killed the Mets in the first week of that season when he won a game with his hitting heroics after hitting Jeff McNeil (remember him?) with a hard one sliding into second base had upset. Then, six months later, he dared to start on that final weekend of the season. His two-out, two-strike home run to left basically decided everything after 20 minutes.

The Mets have two games left here and a chance. But they have to take it up.

Give plenty of credit to the up-and-coming Brewers from arguably the smallest MLB market (Milwaukee and Cincinnati have held that title for years). They field, they run the bases (they stole at will on Friday) and they win, securing the No. 3 seed and home field for their wild-card series — whether they play the Mets or someone else .

The game was almost meaningless for Milwaukee, yet they started with their “A” lineup and played close to their “A” game. Good for you. But bad for the Mets.

For the team from Queens, this attempt was almost a complete failure. They were playing in a competition they “had to win” (coach Carlos Mendoza) after fleeing Atlanta, and they didn’t give themselves a chance.

However, I can’t say they didn’t show fire. Mendoza was ejected for freaking out home plate umpire Ramon De Jesus after De Jesus called out Francisco Alvarez on a pitch that appeared below the strike zone with two outs and two outs in the fourth. That happened after Alvarez — who later left with back spasms — hopped around and threw his helmet to the ground.

There is reason to scream. The final schedule, which looked difficult, took a significant turn for the worse when the possibility of a flight south and a return trip to Atlanta on Monday to make up the two lost games came into play.

Even if the Mets get through this weekend well, their pitching depth will be tested with the prospect of two games on Monday before the start of a potential playoff series on Tuesday. This matchup could happen again next week if the Mets are lucky enough to beat the Braves or Diamondbacks. And if so, the small team from this beautiful Midwestern city will have almost every advantage.

That’s not just because the Mets’ decent strength will be severely depleted by then, but also because the Brewers honestly appear to be the better team. These little things they do can add up, right?

As if the Mets didn’t have enough to worry about, former MVP candidate Lindor didn’t really resemble himself. He managed a leg kick, but struck with an unusually weak swing and made a rare throwing error while playing through a back problem. Although both he and team staff kept saying he was fine, he didn’t look it.

The whole team doesn’t seem quite right either. But even though this journey has been nothing short of disastrous so far, remarkably her circumstances are still not entirely dire. They just need to beat one of the Braves or Diamondbacks, who have similar records and other weaknesses. The Braves can pitch, but they can’t hit. The D’backs are the opposite: good hitters but suspect pitchers.

Right now, it looks like the Mets can’t accomplish much. But as we know, things can change quickly. The Mets came back from an 0-5 start and 11 games under .500 and prepared for a possible playoff appearance. But they’re returning to their previous games at the worst possible time and simply can’t play like they did on Friday when they expect to get where they want to go.

MADISON, Wis. –

The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to fire a communications professor who wanted to keep his job after he was fired as chancellor of one of the system’s campuses for producing pornographic films.

Joe Gow, who served as UW-La Crosse’s chancellor for nearly 17 years, argued last week that he should retain a teaching position on campus. But the university’s lawyers argued that he behaved unethically, violated the terms of his employment contract, damaged the university’s reputation and compromised its mission.

The regents met in closed session Friday morning before publicly voting to fire Gow. There was no public discussion before the board vote.

Gow said he is considering filing a lawsuit to keep his teaching job. He did not immediately respond to a message Friday morning.

Gow has been on paid leave from his faculty position since the regents fired him as chancellor in 2023, shortly after university leadership became aware of the videos posted on pornographic websites.

The case has drawn national attention both for the salaciousness of a high-ranking university official making and speaking publicly about pornographic films and for the questions it raises about free speech rights.

Gow argued that his videos and two e-books that he and his wife Carmen published about their experiences in adult films were protected by the First Amendment. The university’s attorney argued that Gow’s videos themselves were legal, but that they were not protected by his employment contract.

Zach Greenberg, an attorney with the free speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, called the regents’ decision “a major blow to academic freedom and the right to free expression.”

“FIRE has said time and time again: Public universities cannot sacrifice the First Amendment to protect their reputations,” Greenberg said. “We are disappointed that the UW has caved to donors and politicians by alienating a tenured professor.”

Republican lawmakers already view Wisconsin’s university system as a liberal incubator. Last year they forced the company to scale back its diversity initiatives. System President Jay Rothman has tried to avoid further angering conservatives as he seeks approval for an $855 million increase in the next state budget.

Gow’s hope of teaching in the classroom again was rejected by his department head, Linda Dickmeyer. She said that because Gow had not taught in 20 years, he would be assigned general education courses, but she declined to allow him to return to teaching in any capacity.

Gow was criticized in 2018 for inviting porn actress Nina Hartley to speak on campus. She received $5,000 from tuition fees for her performance. The university said he came up with the idea of ​​bringing her to campus after filming a pornographic video with her.

Gow and his wife’s e-books were written under the pseudonyms “Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enhances Our Relationships” and “Married with Benefits – Our Real Adventures in the Adult Industry.” But they also star in a YouTube channel called “Sexy Healthy Cooking,” in which the couple cooks meals with porn actors.

Watch as Hurricane Helene brings strong winds, heavy surf and storm surge to the Florida coast Thursday night into Friday morning.

We put together a playlist of live webcams that were still operating as of Thursday afternoon in various coastal locations, from Panama City in the Panhandle south to Key West.

St George Island, Apalachicola

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Inlet Beach, Destin (Okaloosa County)

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Panama City Beach

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Palazzo Beach, Panama City

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Clearwater Beach

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Tampa Riverfront, University of Tampa

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St. Petersburg marina

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Anna Maria Island, Bradenton

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Key West Harbor

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Fort Myers Beach

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Caloosachatchee River Bridge, Fort Myers

Originally published: September 25, 2024 at 12:20 p.m

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores is expected to buy a 27% stake in the Chargers, two people familiar with the deal told The Times on Friday. They spoke on the condition that their names not be used due to the confidential nature of the deal.

The transaction will resolve a long-running dispute between Dea Spanos Berberian and her siblings – including Chargers controlling owner Dean Spanos – that ended in court in April 2021.

Gores and his wife, Holly, are buying Spanos Berberian’s share of the franchise, people familiar with the transaction said, but he will not control or have the ability to control the organization, nor will he have any influence over its day-to-day operations the team. Dean Spanos retains full control of the franchise as he and his siblings Michael Spanos and Alexis Spanos Ruhl own approximately 69% of the Chargers.

While Spanos Berberian claimed that her brother’s poor management of the team resulted in debts that threatened the family’s fortunes, she hoped to force a sale of the team through a petition filed by attorney Adam Streisand. He previously represented Jeanie Buss in her battle for control of the Lakers from her brothers and also Steve Ballmer in the lawsuit that forced Donald Sterling to sell the Clippers.

As the litigation continued, the person familiar with the transaction said, Spanos Berberian instead shifted its focus to exiting the ownership group.

Gores will purchase Spanos Berberian’s 24% stake and an additional 3% of the franchise – 1% each from shares owned by Dean Spanos, Alexis Spanos Ruhl and Michael Spanos – for estate planning purposes.

The price of Gores’ share of the franchise is unknown, although the Chargers are worth about $5.38 billion, according to average figures from Forbes, Sportico and CNBC.

The sale still needs to be approved by NFL owners next month at a regularly scheduled quarterly meeting on Oct. 15 and 16 in Atlanta.

Gores, whose net worth is estimated by Bloomberg at $11.8 billion, is the founder of Platinum Equity. He and the Beverly Hills-based private equity firm purchased the Pistons in 2011 before becoming sole owner of the NBA team in 2015. The Chargers purchase was not related to PE, according to the Associated Press.