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With 5th album, rockers Phoenix continue to rise

Phoenix frontman and singer Thomas Mars says their new album “Bankrupt!” was born out of the negative influences going on in the band after the unprecedented success of their Grammy-winning 2009 album, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.”

Book Review: Easy Rawlins returns in ‘Little Green’

“Little Green” (Doubleday), by Walter Mosley

From the moment he first appeared in “Devil in a Blue Dress” in 1990, Easy Rawlins, was an instant favorite of discerning readers and literary critics alike. So the disappointment was palpable when the black private detective, drunk and in despair over a lost love, deliberately drove his car off a California cliff at the conclusion of “Blonde Faith,” the eleventh novel in the series.

Survivor of 1987 Mich. plane crash breaks silence

Cecelia Crocker’s body provides her with a constant reminder of the most traumatic event of her life — one that she doesn’t otherwise remember.

Faltskog reflects on ABBA, releases new solo album

For most of the last three decades, ABBA was but a memory for Agnetha Faltskog. She made concerted efforts to leave behind her past as one of two principal singers of the best-selling 1970s Swedish quartet, best known for the pop classic “Dancing Queen.”

Oma Noma festival triggers memories of traditional family fun

At the Lake of the Ozarks

4-year-old Peyton Gilleland is no stranger to the stage, having competed in pageants and in the contest previously. Yet, it was a new honor being crowned Little Miss Oma Noma in her age category. Her brother also won in the same age range as Little Mr. Oma Noma.

$590M-plus Powerball: 1 winning ticket sold in Florida

It's all about the odds, and one lone ticket in Florida has beaten them all by matching each of the numbers drawn for the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million, lottery officials said Sunday.

Last-minute fortune seekers buy Powerball tickets

With the majority of possible combinations of Powerball numbers in play, someone is almost sure to win the game's highest jackpot during Saturday night's drawing, a windfall of hundreds of millions of dollars — and that's after taxes.

War in Europe comes alive in ‘Guns at Last Light’

“The Guns at Last Light: the War in Western Europe, 1944-45” (Henry Holt), by Rick Atkinson

Fruitless combat in places like Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan can evoke a certain wistfulness for World War II. Often characterized as our last “good war,” it combined a sense of purpose with universal public support and ended decisively with good triumphing over evil.

Movie Review: No passing grade for ’English Teacher’

Craig Zisk moves from TV to big screen with the story of a teacher played by Julianne Moore who sleeps with a former student.

Music Review: PJ Morton gets personal on ’New Orleans’

“New Orleans,” PJ Morton (Young Money Entertainment)

PJ Morton’s major label debut, “New Orleans,” offers an introspective take on his life and internal desire to return to the roots of the music that made him happy years ago. To that end Morton has made the album he set out to make.

For stars, ’Hangover’ series was a game changer

Four years ago, Bradley Cooper had built a solid reputation as a scene-stealing supporting player. Ed Helms was best known for his sweet but buffoonish Andy on “The Office.” And few, besides comedy-club bookers and his own family members, could wrap their mouths around the last name of Zach Galifianakis.

Record Powerball jackpot inspires office pools

In workplaces across the nation, Americans are inviting their colleagues to chip in $2 for a Powerball ticket and a shared daydream.

Dale Kushner’s debut is ’50s coming-of-age tale

“The Conditions of Love” (Grand Central Publishing), by Dale M. Kushner

The child of wayward parents, Eunice is a bright, often headstrong girl who makes few friends her own age as she grows up in the small-town environs of the upper Midwest in the 1950s.

Movie Review: ’Trek’ goes not so boldly into rehash zone

“Star Trek Into Darkness” is like fan-boy fiction on a $185 million budget. It’s reverential, it’s faithful, it’s steeped in “Trek” mythology.

Music Review: Rapper Eve delivers unimpressive new album

Eve, “Lip Lock” (From The Rib/RED)

With her first studio album in 11 years, Eve returns with an unimpressive, unfulfilling new offering, “Lip Lock.”

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