Igniting Faith And Wonder
Jason catches up with actor and author Kirk Cameron on all his various new projects, including the upcoming 'See You At The Library' event on August 16th. Kirk, along with other influential people, will gather at libraries across the nation in support of pro-American and faith-friendly books for children.
Bring on the stupid: The world's most expensive block of cheese sells for upwards of $42,000.
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Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris running for Joni Ernst's US Senate seat
Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris is running for the U.S. Senate in 2026, becoming the latest Democrat seeking to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. "Look, I think it's time for an educator in the Senate," she told the Des Moines Register. "Former teacher, school board member. I have seen firsthand the invisible burdens that are on the shoulders of families right now." Norris, 54, has a lengthy political resume. She worked on campaigns for former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and former President Barack Obama and was chief of staff to former First Lady Michelle Obama. She is the president and owner of Horizon Group, a research and consulting firm, and previously served as CEO of Goodwill of Central Iowa. She is married to John Norris, a former Iowa Democratic Party chair, gubernatorial candidate and Polk County administrator. They have three sons. Jackie Norris says she's 'very proud' of Des Moines Public Schools' policy limiting cell phones Norris, who worked as a high school government teacher in Perry, Ames and Johnston, said "families are in crisis" and are struggling to afford child care, health care and housing while young people also struggle with anxiety and depression. She pointed to her efforts as a school board member to pass a district-wide policy limiting cell phone use during class time. The district's Hoover High School previously adopted a similar policy in an effort to improve students' grades and their mental health. "We heard loud and clear that we needed to improve the conditions where students can learn and teachers can teach," she said. "And so cell phone addiction was becoming an issue. Kids were struggling with mental health challenges, they weren't hitting their mark on academic outcomes, and so moving forward and passing a cell phone policy for 30,000 students is something I'm very proud of." Norris' school board seat will be on the ballot this fall. She said she does not plan to run for reelection as she mounts a Senate campaign. 'I'm going to bring my whole self to this campaign' Norris is the fourth Democrat to formally enter the race. State Sen. Zach Wahls of Coralville, state Rep. J.D. Scholten of Sioux City and former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Director Nathan Sage of Indianola have all announced campaigns. State Rep. Josh Turek of Council Bluffs is preparing to launch a campaign this month. Norris said, "I'm going to bring my whole self to this campaign." "I'm going to work hard," she said. "I'm going to use the network that I have all across this country to raise the funds necessary to be competitive and also remind people that Joni Ernst is not what we want in the Senate and we have an opportunity to flip the seat and we need the best candidate to do it. And I'm that candidate." Jackie Norris criticizes Joni Ernst for Medicaid comments, support for Pete Hegseth Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has been scrutinized this year for comments she made at a May 30 town hall, saying, "Well, we all are going to die" after a constituent shouted that people would die due to Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump's budget bill. The next day, Ernst shared a sarcastic apology video that she filmed while walking through a cemetery. Ernst ultimately voted for the bill, which extends and deepens tax cuts signed by Trump in 2017 while cutting Medicaid spending by nearly $1 trillion over a decade. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says 10 million people are expected to become uninsured over a decade as a result of the bill. Norris characterized Ernst's remarks as "some pretty flippant comments about people who are going to face real harm." "Those types of callous remarks make it really clear that she is not in touch with how Iowans are feeling and how serious it is," she said. Norris also said that she is a military mom and respects Ernst's military service, but was disappointed by her support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Ernst, the first female combat veteran to serve in the U.S. Senate, had expressed concerns about Hegseth, who previously said he didn't believe women should serve in combat roles. She questioned Hegseth about the topic during his confirmation hearing before ultimately voting to confirm him after he affirmed women would continue to be able to serve in combat roles, "given the standards remain high." "She is a woman who served in the military, and yet she seems pretty comfortable letting women be disrespected by the secretary of defense," Norris said. "I think she's lost her way. I think she's lost her integrity." Still, Norris said her approach to governing is to solve problems regardless of party. She pointed to her work for Points of Light, a nonprofit Republican former President George H.W. Bush founded. "My approach is always going to be to find the best win for Iowa," she said. "And if that means working with people who are strange bedfellows so be it, because we should all want to work for the betterment of our state. And quite honestly I think Americans are going to believe in government if they actually see us putting them ahead of our own party loyalties." Ernst has hired a campaign manager but has not formally announced that she will seek a third term in 2026, prompting speculation about her plans. Two Republicans have said they intend to challenge Ernst for the GOP nomination: former state Sen. Jim Carlin and Joshua Smith. Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@ or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris running for US Senate
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
McDonaldland meal with volcano shake to joins menu for limited-time. Here's when
McDonald's upcoming meal item is taking customers back to the forgotten fantasy world known as McDonaldland. Starting Aug. 12, the McDonaldland meal will join menus nationwide for a limited time, featuring a colorful shake inspired by the fast-food chain's fictional whimsical world. The meal includes a new Mt. McDonaldland shake, a side of fries, and a customer's choice of either a Quarter Pounder with Cheese or 10-piece McNuggets, according to an Aug. 5 news release. The shake pays ode to a volcano from McDonaldland with the vibrant drink representing blue "lava" and pink clouds. The company also announced the launch of limited-edition merch inspired by McDonaldland through collaborations with clothing brand Pacsun and accessories retailer Away. The Pacsun collaborations will feature sweat sets and graphic tees available as soon as Aug. 12, while the Away collaboration will include luggage tags and bag charms available starting Aug. 18 while supplies last, McDonald's said. What is McDonaldland? McDonaldland is McDonald's promotional fantasy world that debuted in 1971 and was featured in games and movies. The fictional world is home to quirky landmarks from Apple Pie Trees and Hamburger Patches to the volcanic yet vibrant Mt. McDonaldland as well as many brand characters. "Now the gang is back together, and fans can rediscover the epic world and its characters or experience it for the first time – all through the meal," McDonald's wrote in the news release. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: McDonaldland meal with volcano shake debuts in August. What is it?
Chicago Tribune
24 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
For artist Dave Shetsky, a family theme runs through his drawings of Chicago sports icons
If you need a crash course on Chicago sports, Dave Shetsky's art is the place to go. He recaptures various eras using only colored pencils. Upon entering his studio, you're met with framed depictions of local icons. To begin a recent studio tour, he presented two drawings of Derrick Rose: one from his MVP 2010-11 season with the Chicago Bulls and the other from Rose's final season in 2023-24 with the Memphis Grizzlies. You know what happened in between. The first picture shows Rose staring blankly ahead, mentally preparing for a game. The Bulls of that era had high hopes of returning to the prestige of the franchise's championship years, adding weight on Rose's shoulders. Shetsky said he enjoys drawing franchise players such as Rose because he feels 'sorry that they get hassled' by fans. 'You can't get more pressure,' Shetsky said. 'I always liked him because he's humble and soft-spoken. He's not a social animal. Just leave him alone.' Rose wrote in the 2019 book 'I'll Show You' that he felt betrayed by Chicago media in his final seasons with the Bulls and wished he had his 'own reporter' to go to when the narrative spiraled out of control, like he felt Michael Jordan had. '(After) that injury, reporters were questioning his bravery and if he could come back,' Shetsky said. 'When you have an injury and people are there every day, it gets on your nerves.' Shetsky drew a picture of Rose's mother, Brenda, and sent it to him in 2011. Rose told Shetsky he still has the portrait. 'I'm inspired by their character strengths, abilities and being Chicago,' Shetsky said. 'They get lambasted in the press, so I want to make them know that there's fans out there that aren't ripping on them.' The second drawing shows Rose in an entirely new light. 'Here, he's very happy,' Shetsky said, raising the smiling Grizzlies picture. Shetsky then walked to the corner of his studio, where portraits of Mike Ditka shined in the light. He showed a drawing of a young Ditka presenting a college All-America award to his mother, Charlotte. 'Who's that? That's Da Coach,' he said with a big smile. Ditka was instrumental in the launch of Shetsky's career. He saw Ditka in a restaurant one day in 2006 'holding court with a bunch of people.' He needed encouragement from his wife, Marsha, to present the portrait to the coach. 'I was scared his hands would envelop me,' Shetsky said. Ditka's serious demeanor earned him the 'Iron Mike' moniker, and smiles were a foreign concept. That's what Shetsky loves about him. 'Man, he's real,' Shetsky said. 'If he don't like you, you'll know in three seconds.' But beyond the gridiron, he was a family man. While Ditka's father worked, Charlotte raised their four children, strengthening Ditka's bond with his mother. Finally, Shetsky presented the picture. 'I just stuck it in front of him,' he said. 'They said he almost cried.' Ditka bought the portraits Shetsky made of him from that point on. He hasn't seen the coach in 'several years,' but the influence remains. Shetsky found a new purpose in his art. 'I can tell by reading eyes,' he said. 'My wife noticed that about me; that's one of the reasons I do it. He was extremely close to his mom, so that brought a reaction out of him.' Other portraits stood in the studio closet, hiding in plain sight. Kris Bryant with his wife after the 2016 World Series. A rookie Jimmy Butler with his adopted mother, Michele Lambert. Doug Buffone's children. In the back right corner lay a fresh portrait of Shetsky's grandson. The baby is wearing Cubs gear, likely an early influence from Granddad. (As for the chances of the Cubs fan creating any White Sox art, Shetsky said they're 'nonexistent.') A theme runs through Shetsky's art: family. 'They gave up a lot of their lives for them,' Shetsky said. 'I did one of Dan Marino and his dad (because) he sacrificed his whole life for him. 'What I major in, it's got to feel good for them to receive it. I would say I do it because it makes them feel good.' He describes his art in two words: strong and sweet. He admires the courage of the athletes he draws and their strength to endure pain, physically and mentally. 'When people look at art, they say it's strong realism,' Shetsky said. 'Art is a thousand different things, but if people say he looks real, that's strong in art. 'I'm not sweet, (so) I do little things to make them look their best. A lot of it is my love of being a fan. What I do is close to being a movie of their life. It's not just a moment.' The final stop of the tour was where Shetsky showed the rest of his work. The art sat under a large drawing of Jonathan Toews carrying the Stanley Cup after the Blackhawks' 2013 championship. The centerpiece is his drawing of Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur that was displayed in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020. Before exiting the studio, he got one final question: Who would be on a Dave Shetsky portrait? Faster than he first picked up the pencils, with that Ditka demeanor, he pointed toward his wife.
