Latest news with #CommonGround
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Acrobat battle comes to Gloucestershire in satirical circus spectacle
A HIGH-energy satirical circus show is coming to Gloucestershire. Showdown, produced by Upswing, will be performed at Gloucester Guildhall from Thursday, June 27 to Saturday, June 29, with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. The show follows on from Upswing's mockumentary Common Ground, available on YouTube, which went behind the scenes of the fictional search for a Global Majority star to rebrand circus for the 21st Century. It sees six acrobats race to become 'the new face of the circus' whilst asking questions about media, identity, tokenism and the obsession with winning. Throughout the show, the audience is invited to vote for the winner, with each round delving further into the contestants' ambition and seeing just how much they will sacrifice to come out on top. Upswing artistic director Vicki Dela Amedume said: "We're excited to finally bring Showdown to the UK. "This production has been a labour of love for the company and, to us, it represents more than just a performance—it's a testament to the unique possibilities that arise when circus and theatre collide. "It promises to be a fresh, dynamic experience: a great night out filled with incredible circus, but one that will also provoke as much thought as it does gasps. "Through conversations with Athena Kugblenu and other global majority creatives, I have become really interested in how the conversation around diversity has shifted in recent years. "I'm interested in the games we play and what we are willing to sacrifice to get the rewards we hope for and in the dynamics of power. "Ultimately, we want the audience to leave our show feeling elated, hopeful and ready to change the world." Jaide Annalise, Rebecca Solomon, Shane Hampden, Loris Di Via, Kussyl Amara, Gracie Hill and Rhys Hollis will make up the cast of performers for the show. The show, suitable for ages 12 and over, will begin at 7.30pm each day. Tickets for the show can be bought from the Gloucester Guildhall website.
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Renee Ferguson, longtime investigative reporter for WMAQ-Ch. 5, dies
Renee Ferguson spent more than 25 years as a reporter on two Chicago television stations, and she made history as the first Black woman to work as an investigative reporter on TV in Chicago. During her career, Ferguson, who also cofounded the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, established herself as one of Chicago's premier investigative reporters, winning seven Chicago Emmy awards plus an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for investigative reporting. 'Renee had this incredible ability to convince the powers that be in the newsroom to give her these really interesting assignments,' said former WBBM-Channel 2 director of community affairs Monroe Anderson, a longtime friend. 'She knew how to work things out. She was really talented. And she was a good reporter.' Ferguson, 75, died Friday while in home hospice care, said WMAQ-Channel 5 news anchor and reporter Marion Brooks, a close friend. She had been a longtime Chicago resident. An Oklahoma native, Ferguson graduated in 1967 from Douglass High School in Oklahoma City. She then earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Indiana University in 1971. 'Renee and I were the only two Black students in the journalism department at Indiana University (at that time),' Anderson recalled. After college, Ferguson worked as a writer for the Indianapolis Star before taking a job at a TV station, WLWI-TV, in Indianapolis in 1972. She spent five years at the station, which in 1976 took on the call letters WTHR-TV, and worked alongside a young, wisecracking weather forecaster named David Letterman, who would go on to national fame. In 1977, Ferguson joined WBBM-Channel 2 as a reporter. While at the station, she drew national headlines for an investigative piece she reported that debunked the highly acclaimed Westside Preparatory School founder and teacher Marva Collins. By the late 1970s, Collins had become nationally recognized for her work, and Ferguson's report threw cold water on that national praise, accusing the educator of lacking the background and temperament to teach and also alleging that Collins had not gotten the results she had said she was getting, and that she had used high-pressure techniques to collect tuition payments. While at CBS 2, Ferguson also began hosting the public affairs talk show 'Common Ground' in 1981. 'Renee always thought of herself as the voice of the voiceless,' said retired WMAQ-Channel 5 vice president of news and station manager Frank Whittaker, who first worked with Ferguson at Channel 2. 'She would take on stories that nobody else would take on because she believed in what people were telling her and what she believed was the truth and she was going to be their voice.' In 1983, Ferguson left Channel 2 to become an Atlanta-based network correspondent for CBS News. WMAQ-Channel 5 hired Ferguson as an investigative reporter in 1987, bringing her back to Chicago. 'She really was so authentic and people trusted her and she had this uncanny ability to create a space that made people really open up to her. She had that sort of Oprah-esque vibe where people would just share with her,' Brooks said. 'She also had great instincts — she knew when to follow the trail.' One of Ferguson's early reports was 'Project Africa,' which was the product of an idea Ferguson had with a Near West Side elementary school principal in which they would bring nine children from Chicago's toughest streets to Africa for two weeks. The project required students wanting to take the trip to commit themselves to extra attendance both before and after school to study French, photography and West African culture. 'We did play tourist some of the time when we were in the cities, but by far the most moving times were when we visited the villages,' Ferguson told the Tribune's Rick Kogan in 1989. 'The native kids greeted the Chicago kids as if they were visiting royalty. It was an extremely special time for all the children. And I could see the Chicago kids getting more and more relaxed. They started out kind of shy, but as the trip progressed they began to feel surer of themselves. This is the sort of experience that will change them forever.' In 1993, Ferguson visited strife-torn South Africa while on a prestigious William Benton Foundation Fellowship through the University of Chicago. She returned to NBC 5 afterward and covered the landmark 1994 elections in South Africa for the station. Later work included reports on strip searches of Black women at O'Hare International Airport, which in 1999 won Ferguson and her producer, Sarah Stolper, the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for investigative reporting. 'That was amazing work,' Brooks said. In 1996, a young Chicago man, Tyrone Hood, was convicted of murder and armed robbery in the 1993 slaying of an Illinois Institute of Technology basketball star. Hood insisted that he had nothing to do with it, and Ferguson concluded that Hood was innocent and that another man had been the murderer. Ferguson reported numerous stories about the case, all with Whittaker's support. She continued that advocacy even after retiring, and eventually then-Gov. Pat Quinn commuted Hood's lengthy prison sentence. 'Her work was able to get him out of prison,' Whittaker said. 'She just really believed in helping when people reached out, and she had a true soul for it. It was ingrained in her.' In the early 2000s, one of Ferguson's investigative interns at Channel 5 was a Harvard University undergraduate named Pete Buttigieg. During Buttigieg's internship, Ferguson and her husband housed the future U.S. Transportation Secretary and South Bend, Ind. mayor in their home. 'She was very proud that she was a mentor to Mayor Pete,' Anderson said. Ferguson later was awarded a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University in 2007. Ferguson retired from NBC 5 in 2008 and soon began working as a spokeswoman for former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun during Moseley-Braun's unsuccessful 2011 bid to become Chicago mayor. She later served as a press secretary for U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush. Ferguson's husband of 34 years, Ken Smikle, died in 2018. She is survived by a son, Jason Smikle. Services are pending.
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Human trafficking ring busted in Oakland County, 3 arrested, police say
Three people have been taken into custody in a suspected human trafficking and money laundering operation involving several locations in Southeast Michigan, according to a report from the West Bloomfield Police Department. The sixth-month investigation by the South Oakland Narcotics Intelligence Consortium (SONIC) wrapped up Wednesday. The sites involved several massage parlor sites operating in Novi, Farmington and Livonia. "The investigation revealed that female victims were allegedly being coerced into performing commercial sex acts under the pretense of operating as legitimate massage services," the police department report said. "Detectives determined that the women, many of which had been transported from out of state, were allegedly being forced to work under exploitative conditions." As a result of the investigation, SONIC detectives identified three people believed to be responsible for managing and profiting from the criminal enterprise. Those three have since been taken into custody. The investigation was conducted through the coordination of the Novi Police Department, West Bloomfield Police Department, Farmington Hills Police Department, Farmington Hills Police Directed Patrol Unit, Shelby Township Police Department, Common Ground, Care House of Oakland County and the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Tony Armstrong reveals exact moment he had to quit his presenter role at the ABC: ‘Killing me'
Tony Armstrong has reflected on his departure from ABC News Breakfast last year after three years on the job. Speaking candidly on the Inherited podcast, Armstrong detailed the moment he knew he had to quit, with his body ultimately making the decision for him. 'I decided about halfway through last year that that was going to be it for breakfast because it was killing me,' he told host Ruby Hall in this week's podcast. 'Like literally, I ended up staying in bed for like a month because I just couldn't get up.' The 35-year-old former AFL star said he would be rostered to go on-air, but his body just wouldn't co-operate. Eventually, his partner Rona Glynn-McDonald – the CEO of First Nations not-for-profit Common Ground – told him he needed to put his health first. 'I couldn't get out of bed and Rona was just like, 'Look. your body's telling you you need to resign.' But like I finally got a job that's secure and you know what this business is like – it's pretty fickle. And I've never really been someone who's like, 'Oh, I'll be right'. You know, I'm established enough to be able to do what I want.' Armstrong said that Rona helped him realise that it was important to 'look after my own health rather than job security'. 'I'm really proud that we were able to step away, and I did that through her help,' he said. The former athlete announced his departure from ABC News Breakfast last September. Speaking on-air at the time, the popular presenter said his final show would be October 4. 'I've been pretty nervous about doing this,' he began, before going on to say he had 'retired from News Breakfast'. 'I just want to thank Brekky and the broader ABC News team for welcoming me in with open arms and helping me grow over the past few years,' he added. '[It] feels like I've been on a bit of a rocket ship.' Armstrong continued, 'I'm going to miss the couch. Not the alarm, but I'll miss the couch. And, yeah, I've had such a ball. I'm going to miss everyone but, um, yeah. You'll still see me around.' Indeed, after few months of R&R, Armstrong has lined up his next big gig alongside Australian drag queen and singer Courtney Act. The duo has been named as SBS's commentary team for the Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland, with the grand final airing this weekend. 'I'm not entirely a first-time viewer but definitely not someone who comes with the knowledge of all the voting alliances that all the nations have,' Armstrong told 'So where the partnership with Courtney will come to the fore is me going 'this is a bit weird' and she will be able to fill in that gap.' The presenter pros were given a 'chemistry test' before landing the coveted gig, which was long held by Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst before they stepped down in December. 'We had the television chemistry test, which I've never, ever done before,' Act revealed. 'I had met Tony in real life but then we did the test at SBS and hung out for the day and commentated on past Eurovisions and obviously it went well and they asked us to be the hosts.'
Business Mayor
24-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Business Mayor
These Spring Textiles Will Bring You Down to Earth
While spring is associated with the first gentle drops of April rain or a delicate garden full of fresh flowers, this year's trends are leaning towards something a bit richer. Instead of the usual soft pastels, we're seeing textiles embrace deeper, more grounding tones—bringing nature indoors in a bold new way. Perennials is leading this rich retreat back to nature with their new Down to Earth collection, featuring six new fabrics, four new rug offerings, and nine new wallcovering designs—all of which take the warmth and tranquility of the outdoors and bring them in. They are also introducing a new signature colorway called Fearless Green, which captures the beauty and strength of nature all the way down to its name. The new Fearless Green colorway (seen here in deep velvet) naturally makes a statement while also complementing the rest of the collection's contemporary, yet grounded motifs. For over 25 years, Perennials has been a pioneer in luxurious, 100 percent solution-dyed acrylic fabrics, renowned for their timeless durability in even the harshest outdoor elements. It's this striking balance of practicality-meets-pattern that infuses an earthy elegance into every piece they make. In the Down to Earth collection, it's all about earthy tones and retro vibes, as seen in the six new fabric offerings: Shadow Stripe, a fresh take on gingham; Two Step, with a cozy brush-pill texture; Common Ground, a light waffle knit; Comfort Zone, a perfectly chunky basket weave; Fresh Air, with delicate stitching and a tonal pinstripe; and Sheer Joy, which brings a slight shimmer that flecks in the light. The six new fabric qualities in Perennial's Down to Earth Collection—Shadow Stripe,Two Step, Common Ground, Comfort Zone, Fresh Air, and Sheer Joy—are all rooted in nature-inspired hues. The four new rugs in the collection are equally unique, all taking cues from the natural world without resorting to cookie-cutter motifs: In Bloom is a whimsical watercolor design featuring light florals (with a matching wallpaper to complete the look); Call of the Wild is a double shag rug with a little edge to it; Natural High is a plush Tibetan knot design that gives you the illusion of a grand marble floor; and Story Lines offers a heavyweight take on the classic plaid. Read More Bound seating by Karim Rashid for Kusch + Co Perennial's Fearless Green colorway is perfectly juxtaposed with the marble-inspired Natural High rug—while the grid patterning of the Common Ground fabric on the pouf adds another subtle layer of dimension. Nine stunning wallcoverings round off the collection, allowing you to transform the vibe of any room with a singular design element. It starts with four new commercial-grade performance wallcoverings for high-touch areas like bathrooms and nurseries: In Bloom, which features delicate watercolor-like vibes; Set In Stone, inspired by the natural grain of marble; Spellbound, which has an almost modern art type of look that leaves you—well—spellbound; and Leading Edge, which brings a playful basket weave into the mix. Perennials only made their first foray into wallcoverings last year—and the hits keep coming. Here, the In Bloom wallpaper in a salt and pepper hue brings a moody floral pop to a biophilic bathroom design. For those who gravitate toward green, don't worry: There are multiple shades available in this collection, and they all allow for an effortless mix and match. Comfort Zone fabric chairs in a jeweled Evergreen are paired with the Story Line rug in Fearless Green and the Crinkle in Time wallcovering in Sage for a cohesive, yet colorful look in this kitchen. For those who prefer a more tufted wallcovering design, there's Tied Up, a natural cloth with grass fiber variations, adding depth and warmth in unexpected places—perfect for the bedroom or other tranquil spaces. There's also Crinkle in Time, which has been meticulously crafted and hand crinkled by artisans that can add dimension practically anywhere, especially given the way it emits joy with such nuance. Read More What Is Generative AI? Everything You Need to Know And finally, there's Cadence, inspired by one of Perennials' bestselling fabrics, combining a luxe texture with an organic stripe design—think neutral with some flair; Happy Daze is a natural ombre wallcovering that plays with pigment for big impact; and Heritage Stripe is a natural woven design incorporating sophisticated vertical stripes in contrasting colors. These three present hazy interpretations of natural tones with grace and modernity. Each Perennials fabric is designed to withstand both stains and the elements, offering a natural, luxe feel that also resists ultraviolet degradation. You won't have to keep replacing your fabrics every outdoor season—guaranteed. Despite its rich appearance, the entire collection of fabrics, rugs, and wallcoverings is incredibly low maintenance. After all, Perennials prides itself on the fact that you don't have to live in fear around its fabrics, thanks to the stain-resistant, solution-dyed acrylic yarns that can withstand fading and even mildew. In the case of stains, simply wipe clean with soap and water—and in the case of heavier damage, you can easily clean them with bleach without having to worry about discoloration. The best part of the new Down to Earth collection? These fabrics are neutral yet bold enough to feel at home in everything from a breezy bungalow to a traditional home. Staying true to the collection's name, Perennials has delivered pieces that capture the full spectrum of nature's grounding and blooming beauty. Explore the Down to Earth collection at READ SOURCE
