WASHINGTON — Dutton and Wrenlee are on the rise but they're no match for champs Liam and Olivia as the top baby names in the U.S. last year.

The Social Security Administration released the annual list Friday. The agency tracks baby names in each state based on applications for Social Security cards, with names dating to 1880.

It's Liam's sixth straight year as No. 1. Olivia has reigned since the name unseated Emma four years ago. Emma is No. 2.

Coming in third for girls' names is Charlotte, followed by Amelia, Sophia, Isabella, Ava, Mia, Evelyn and Luna. For boys' names, Liam is followed by Noah, Oliver, James, Elijah, William, Henry, Lucas, Benjamin and Theodore.

Luna is the only newcomer in the Top 10, booting Harper.

The agency has been compiling the list since 1997, often revealing the impact pop culture has on baby naming trends. The smash hit "Yellowstone" has clearly influenced new parents. The neo-Western starring Kevin Costner debuted in 2018, with characters surfacing among baby names ever since.

Dutton moved up the Social Security list to 835, a change of 986 spots from 2021. It's the last name of the fictional family featured on the series, and it counts Costner's John Dutton in its ranks. Dutton is the fastest rising name in the Social Security rankings.

Another Dutton name follows actual Dutton as a star with a bullet among baby names. Kayce, as in Kayce John Dutton on the show, moved to the 587th most popular name, up from 1,077 the year before. Luke Grimes plays Kayce.

Rip, also from "Yellowstone," has grabbed some naming attention, but it didn't crack Social Security's top 1,000. Cole Hauser's Rip Wheeler is Dutton adjacent as the son-in-law of John.

Other names rising fast for boys: Chosen, Khaza, Eithan. For girls, Wrenlee is followed by Neriah, Arlet, Georgina and Amiri.

The Social Security Administration's latest data shows 3.64 million babies in the U.S. were issued Social Security cards last year, up slightly from 2021.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSWASHINGTON — Dutton and Wrenlee are on the rise but they're no match for champs Liam and Olivia as the top baby names in the U.S. last year.The Social Security Administration released the annual list Friday. The agency tracks baby names in each state based on applications for Social Security cards, with names dating to 1880.It's Liam's sixth straight year as No. 1. Olivia has reigned since the name unseated Emma four years ago. Emma is No. 2.Coming in third for girls' names is Charlotte, followed by Amelia, Sophia, Isabella, Ava, Mia, Evelyn and Luna. For boys' names, Liam is followed by Noah, Oliver, James, Elijah, William, Henry, Lucas, Benjamin and Theodore.Luna is the only newcomer in the Top 10, booting Harper.The agency has been compiling the list since 1997, often revealing the impact pop culture has on baby naming trends. The smash hit "Yellowstone" has clearly influenced new parents. The neo-Western starring Kevin Costner debuted in 2018, with characters surfacing among baby names ever since.Dutton moved up the Social Security list to 835, a change of 986 spots from 2021. It's the last name of the fictional family featured on the series, and it counts Costner's John Dutton in its ranks. Dutton is the fastest rising name in the Social Security rankings.Another Dutton name follows actual Dutton as a star with a bullet among baby names. Kayce, as in Kayce John Dutton on the show, moved to the 587th most popular name, up from 1,077 the year before. Luke Grimes plays Kayce.Rip, also from "Yellowstone," has grabbed some naming attention, but it didn't crack Social Security's top 1,000. Cole Hauser's Rip Wheeler is Dutton adjacent as the son-in-law of John.Other names rising fast for boys: Chosen, Khaza, Eithan. For girls, Wrenlee is followed by Neriah, Arlet, Georgina and Amiri.The Social Security Administration's latest data shows 3.64 million babies in the U.S. were issued Social Security cards last year, up slightly from 2021.

See what baby names were the most popular last year

The Silver Alert has been canceled. Roy W. McGonigal Jr. was located in Schuyler, Nebraska. He was disoriented but otherwise in good condition.&nbsp;

HARVEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Newton Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Arkansas man who was last seen in Newton, Kansas.

The whereabouts of 79-year-old Roy W. McGonigal Jr. are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.

Roy was last seen leaving a residence in the 400 block of East 10th&nbsp;St. in Newton, around 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, according to a media release from the KBI.&nbsp; 

Roy did not arrive at his hotel in Newton and hasn’t been heard from since. Roy drives a light blue 2013 Toyota Corolla bearing Arkansas tag USACRXD. He was last seen wearing a white collared shirt, black pants, and black shoes.

Roy is a white male, approximately 5 ft. 8 in. tall, weighing around 184 pounds. He has brown eyes and wears glasses. Roy has a white beard and is balding with white hair. He requires oxygen to breathe, as he has been diagnosed with COPD and emphysema.

If you see Roy McGonigal, Jr., or his vehicle, please immediately contact 911. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call&nbsp;Harvey County Communications at 316-283-4190.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683507107631.png" alt="photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>The Silver Alert has been canceled. Roy W. McGonigal Jr. was located in Schuyler, Nebraska. He was disoriented but otherwise in good condition.&nbsp;HARVEY COUNTY –&nbsp;The Newton Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Arkansas man who was last seen in Newton, Kansas.The whereabouts of 79-year-old Roy W. McGonigal Jr. are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.Roy was last seen leaving a residence in the 400 block of East 10th&nbsp;St. in Newton, around 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, according to a media release from the KBI.&nbsp; Roy did not arrive at his hotel in Newton and hasn’t been heard from since. Roy drives a light blue 2013 Toyota Corolla bearing Arkansas tag USACRXD. He was last seen wearing a white collared shirt, black pants, and black shoes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683507155552.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Roy is a white male, approximately 5 ft. 8 in. tall, weighing around 184 pounds. He has brown eyes and wears glasses. Roy has a white beard and is balding with white hair. He requires oxygen to breathe, as he has been diagnosed with COPD and emphysema.If you see Roy McGonigal, Jr., or his vehicle, please immediately contact 911. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call&nbsp;Harvey County Communications at 316-283-4190.

KBI: Statewide Silver Alert for missing Arkansas man

By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press

LONDON — Heather Howarth tugged at King Charles III's ears and tittered with satisfaction.

The other ladies who gather to knit and natter in her small English village thought the ears should be bigger. But when creating a crocheted likeness of the new king, she was determined not to cause offense.

"He might not like this one," she said reaching out to give the king a fond pat. "But he'll love his Grenadier Guards!"

Howarth and her friends in the village of Hurst, a stone's throw from Reading, west of London, have fashioned a woolly coronation procession to rival the pomp and circumstance that will take place when Charles is crowned on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. Sheathing the 29 posts that circle the community pond with their knitted and crocheted creations, the women have recreated the cast of characters set to attend the big event.

There's the king, of course, the queen consort and the Archbishop of Canterbury. And lots of Grenadier Guards. They even threw in Paddington Bear — a sort of honorary member of the royal family after he shared tea with the late Queen Elizabeth II in a film celebrating her 70 years on the throne.

The Hurst Hookers are part of a phenomenon that has taken hold across Britain in recent years, with guerrilla knitters and crochet enthusiasts celebrating holidays and royal occasions by decorating the nation's iconic red post boxes and other public spaces with their handiwork. There's no money in it, and the creations are sometimes stolen. But they do it anyway because they have fun brightening their communities, even if no one asked them to.

"Yarn bombers" around the country have been hard at work for months creating everything from golden coaches to crenelated castles and jewel-encrusted crowns that will add fuzzy bits of color to the coronation festivities.

This is a group that got started during the coronavirus pandemic, meeting every couple of weeks at the local cricket club when Britain's intermittent lockdowns would permit. It's bring your own gin and tonic, but there's tea for anyone who wants it. When the 18 women aren't meeting up for crocheting and community, they keep in touch via WhatsApp. The pings are so incessant at least one member has had to turn off her alerts.

They began planning and creating their coronation scene in early September, soon after the queen died and Charles became king. By April, it was finally time to install it.

The "guerrilla'' action began just after 5:30 p.m. on a recent Friday as the setting sun bathed the newly cleaned pond in a peaceful light.

Clad in jackets and sweaters on a chilly spring night, the women arrived with their creations tucked inside huge shopping bags emblazoned with supermarket logos, then swooped down on the posts surrounding the pond.

There was little stealth, but much determination.

First they pulled out the crocheted likenesses of Charles, wearing a crown and a cape fashioned from an old Christmas stocking, and Camilla, with a flash of unruly blond hair. Then came the archbishop, whose spectacles rest on a bulbous woolen nose. And finally, the red-coated guardsmen.

Quick as you like, the figures were pulled down over the posts and firmly stapled in place, with the precisely embroidered medals, moustaches, sergeant stripes and other embellishments getting an extra staple or three.

"King Charles wants our support, doesn't he?" Howarth said. "How else do I show that I am supporting him?''

Valerie Thorn, who did the embroidery, carefully researched all the decorations, so that every medal was from a different campaign in which the guards participated. The insignia on Charles' chest is so precise that from a few feet you mistake it for the real thing. The archbishop's miter, modeled after the one he wore at his installation, is immediately recognizable.

So far, the fat sergeant character seems to be the village favorite.

A Daily Mail newspaper columnist described crafters such as these as "unhinged … woolly delinquents." Rather than taking offense, the ladies of the Hurst Hookers embraced the jibe.

"I'm going to embroider that on a T-shirt,'' said Thorn, 76, with pride. "If I am unhinged, what is wrong with that?''

And when the installation was almost complete, there was the moment to put the icing on the confection.

Pip Etheridge pulled out a resplendent copy of St. Edward's Crown — the crown that will be placed on Charles' head next weekend — and handed it to Janette Vorster because she didn't want to be in the pictures.

In a procession all their own, the group trooped to the village store for the piece de resistance, installing the crown atop the post box out front.

As they chatted around the post box, the group debated whether their handiwork was more about the coronation or about themselves. They giggled, talked about posting the photos on social media and wondered what the neighbors might say. And they just kept laughing.

"If you swapped that one with the real one," Etheridge asked, nodding to her crown, "do you think he'd notice?"

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682865565863.jpeg" alt="Heather and David Howarth adjust a knitted figure of Britain's King Charles III fitted to a post during a pre-coronation yarn bombing in the village of Hurst, near Reading, England, April 21. Howarth and her friends in the village of Hurst, a stone’s throw from Reading, west of London, have fashioned a woolly coronation procession to rival the pomp and circumstance that will take place when Charles is crowned on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. (AP Photo/David Cliff)" />
 <figcaption>Heather and David Howarth adjust a knitted figure of Britain's King Charles III fitted to a post during a pre-coronation yarn bombing in the village of Hurst, near Reading, England, April 21. Howarth and her friends in the village of Hurst, a stone’s throw from Reading, west of London, have fashioned a woolly coronation procession to rival the pomp and circumstance that will take place when Charles is crowned on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. (AP Photo/David Cliff)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DANICA KIRKA Associated PressLONDON — Heather Howarth tugged at King Charles III's ears and tittered with satisfaction.The other ladies who gather to knit and natter in her small English village thought the ears should be bigger. But when creating a crocheted likeness of the new king, she was determined not to cause offense."He might not like this one," she said reaching out to give the king a fond pat. "But he'll love his Grenadier Guards!"Howarth and her friends in the village of Hurst, a stone's throw from Reading, west of London, have fashioned a woolly coronation procession to rival the pomp and circumstance that will take place when Charles is crowned on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. Sheathing the 29 posts that circle the community pond with their knitted and crocheted creations, the women have recreated the cast of characters set to attend the big event.There's the king, of course, the queen consort and the Archbishop of Canterbury. And lots of Grenadier Guards. They even threw in Paddington Bear — a sort of honorary member of the royal family after he shared tea with the late Queen Elizabeth II in a film celebrating her 70 years on the throne.The Hurst Hookers are part of a phenomenon that has taken hold across Britain in recent years, with guerrilla knitters and crochet enthusiasts celebrating holidays and royal occasions by decorating the nation's iconic red post boxes and other public spaces with their handiwork. There's no money in it, and the creations are sometimes stolen. But they do it anyway because they have fun brightening their communities, even if no one asked them to."Yarn bombers" around the country have been hard at work for months creating everything from golden coaches to crenelated castles and jewel-encrusted crowns that will add fuzzy bits of color to the coronation festivities.But how to explain the Hurst Hookers?This is a group that got started during the coronavirus pandemic, meeting every couple of weeks at the local cricket club when Britain's intermittent lockdowns would permit. It's bring your own gin and tonic, but there's tea for anyone who wants it. When the 18 women aren't meeting up for crocheting and community, they keep in touch via WhatsApp. The pings are so incessant at least one member has had to turn off her alerts.They began planning and creating their coronation scene in early September, soon after the queen died and Charles became king. By April, it was finally time to install it.The "guerrilla'' action began just after 5:30 p.m. on a recent Friday as the setting sun bathed the newly cleaned pond in a peaceful light.Clad in jackets and sweaters on a chilly spring night, the women arrived with their creations tucked inside huge shopping bags emblazoned with supermarket logos, then swooped down on the posts surrounding the pond.There was little stealth, but much determination.First they pulled out the crocheted likenesses of Charles, wearing a crown and a cape fashioned from an old Christmas stocking, and Camilla, with a flash of unruly blond hair. Then came the archbishop, whose spectacles rest on a bulbous woolen nose. And finally, the red-coated guardsmen.Quick as you like, the figures were pulled down over the posts and firmly stapled in place, with the precisely embroidered medals, moustaches, sergeant stripes and other embellishments getting an extra staple or three."King Charles wants our support, doesn't he?" Howarth said. "How else do I show that I am supporting him?''Valerie Thorn, who did the embroidery, carefully researched all the decorations, so that every medal was from a different campaign in which the guards participated. The insignia on Charles' chest is so precise that from a few feet you mistake it for the real thing. The archbishop's miter, modeled after the one he wore at his installation, is immediately recognizable.So far, the fat sergeant character seems to be the village favorite.A Daily Mail newspaper columnist described crafters such as these as "unhinged … woolly delinquents." Rather than taking offense, the ladies of the Hurst Hookers embraced the jibe."I'm going to embroider that on a T-shirt,'' said Thorn, 76, with pride. "If I am unhinged, what is wrong with that?''And when the installation was almost complete, there was the moment to put the icing on the confection.Pip Etheridge pulled out a resplendent copy of St. Edward's Crown — the crown that will be placed on Charles' head next weekend — and handed it to Janette Vorster because she didn't want to be in the pictures.In a procession all their own, the group trooped to the village store for the piece de resistance, installing the crown atop the post box out front.As they chatted around the post box, the group debated whether their handiwork was more about the coronation or about themselves. They giggled, talked about posting the photos on social media and wondered what the neighbors might say. And they just kept laughing."If you swapped that one with the real one," Etheridge asked, nodding to her crown, "do you think he'd notice?"

'Woolly delinquents' celebrate Charles' coronation in yarn

TALLAHASSEE,
 Fla. (AP) — Disney sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday over the
 Republican's takeover of its theme park district, alleging the governor
 waged a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" after the company
 opposed a law critics call <a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-lifestyle-education-florida-ron-desantis-322e0a40da909f48954b8b1bd9190750">“Don't Say Gay.”</a>

The lawsuit was filed in Tallahassee minutes after a Disney World oversight board <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">appointed by DeSantis</a>
 voted to void a deal that gave the company authority over design and 
construction decisions in its sprawling properties near Orlando.

"Disney
 regrets that it has come to this," the case said. “But having exhausted
 efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to
 file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local 
development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government 
power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint
 unpopular with certain State officials.”

The legal filing is the latest salvo in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/disney-desantis-florida-lgbtq-ec4f81d46aaf8967ff48729105fbbdbd">a more than year-old feud</a> between Disney and DeSantis that has engulfed the governor in criticism as he prepares to launch <a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-florida-trump-president-2024-election-00b8335b1a2dd4d08fb216e4b609f6a3">an expected presidential bid</a> in the coming months.

DeSantis,
 who has framed himself as a Republican firebrand able to deftly 
implement his conservative agenda without drama, has dived headlong into
 the fray with the beloved company and major tourism driver, as business
 leaders and White House rivals bash his stance as a rejection of the 
small-government tenets of conservatism.

“We are unaware of any 
legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain
 special privileges not held by other businesses in the state,” said 
DeSantis spokeswoman Taryn Fenske. “This lawsuit is yet another 
unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida 
voters and operate outside the bounds of the law.”

The fight began last year after Disney, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-travel-arts-and-entertainment-florida-lifestyle-be24e5ea65acff3e1cfe94649c26e023">in the face of significant pressure</a>,
 publicly opposed a state law that bans classroom lessons on sexual 
orientation and gender identity in early grades, a policy critics call 
“Don’t Say Gay.”

As punishment, DeSantis took over Disney World’s 
self-governing district and appointed a new board of supervisors that 
would oversee municipal services in the sprawling theme parks. But 
before the new board came in, the company pushed though an 11th-hour 
agreement that stripped the new supervisors of much of their authority.

The
 DeSantis board on Wednesday said Disney’s move to retain control over 
their property was effectively unlawful and performed without proper 
public notice.

“Disney picked the fight with this board. We were 
not looking out for a fight,” said Martin Garcia, chair of the Central 
Florida Tourism Oversight District, before the vote, adding “bottom 
line, what our lawyers have told us, is factually and legally what they 
created is an absolute legal mess. It will not work."

DeSantis has
 also vowed additional retribution, with proposals to enhance state 
oversight of the resort’s rides and monorail, as well as a suggestion to
 build a prison nearby.

Disney has said all agreements made with 
the previous board were legal and approved in a public forum. Disney CEO
 Bob Iger has also said that any actions against the company that 
threaten jobs or expansion at its Florida resort was not only 
“anti-business” but “anti-Florida.”

The Disney lawsuit asks a 
federal judge to void the governor's takeover of the theme park 
district, as well as the DeSantis oversight board's actions, on the 
grounds that they were violations of company's free speech rights.

“A
 targeted campaign of government retaliation — orchestrated at every 
step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech — 
now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic 
future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights," the 
lawsuit said.

TALLAHASSEE,
 Fla. (AP) — Disney sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday over the
 Republican's takeover of its theme park district, alleging the governor
 waged a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" after the company
 opposed a law critics call <a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-lifestyle-education-florida-ron-desantis-322e0a40da909f48954b8b1bd9190750">“Don't Say Gay.”</a>The lawsuit was filed in Tallahassee minutes after a Disney World oversight board <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">appointed by DeSantis</a>
 voted to void a deal that gave the company authority over design and 
construction decisions in its sprawling properties near Orlando."Disney
 regrets that it has come to this," the case said. “But having exhausted
 efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to
 file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local 
development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government 
power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint
 unpopular with certain State officials.”The legal filing is the latest salvo in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/disney-desantis-florida-lgbtq-ec4f81d46aaf8967ff48729105fbbdbd">a more than year-old feud</a> between Disney and DeSantis that has engulfed the governor in criticism as he prepares to launch <a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-florida-trump-president-2024-election-00b8335b1a2dd4d08fb216e4b609f6a3">an expected presidential bid</a> in the coming months.DeSantis,
 who has framed himself as a Republican firebrand able to deftly 
implement his conservative agenda without drama, has dived headlong into
 the fray with the beloved company and major tourism driver, as business
 leaders and White House rivals bash his stance as a rejection of the 
small-government tenets of conservatism.“We are unaware of any 
legal right that a company has to operate its own government or maintain
 special privileges not held by other businesses in the state,” said 
DeSantis spokeswoman Taryn Fenske. “This lawsuit is yet another 
unfortunate example of their hope to undermine the will of the Florida 
voters and operate outside the bounds of the law.”The fight began last year after Disney, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-travel-arts-and-entertainment-florida-lifestyle-be24e5ea65acff3e1cfe94649c26e023">in the face of significant pressure</a>,
 publicly opposed a state law that bans classroom lessons on sexual 
orientation and gender identity in early grades, a policy critics call 
“Don’t Say Gay.”As punishment, DeSantis took over Disney World’s 
self-governing district and appointed a new board of supervisors that 
would oversee municipal services in the sprawling theme parks. But 
before the new board came in, the company pushed though an 11th-hour 
agreement that stripped the new supervisors of much of their authority.The
 DeSantis board on Wednesday said Disney’s move to retain control over 
their property was effectively unlawful and performed without proper 
public notice.“Disney picked the fight with this board. We were 
not looking out for a fight,” said Martin Garcia, chair of the Central 
Florida Tourism Oversight District, before the vote, adding “bottom 
line, what our lawyers have told us, is factually and legally what they 
created is an absolute legal mess. It will not work."DeSantis has
 also vowed additional retribution, with proposals to enhance state 
oversight of the resort’s rides and monorail, as well as a suggestion to
 build a prison nearby.Disney has said all agreements made with 
the previous board were legal and approved in a public forum. Disney CEO
 Bob Iger has also said that any actions against the company that 
threaten jobs or expansion at its Florida resort was not only 
“anti-business” but “anti-Florida.”The Disney lawsuit asks a 
federal judge to void the governor's takeover of the theme park 
district, as well as the DeSantis oversight board's actions, on the 
grounds that they were violations of company's free speech rights.“A
 targeted campaign of government retaliation — orchestrated at every 
step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech — 
now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic 
future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights," the 
lawsuit said.

Disney sues DeSantis, calling park takeover 'retaliation'

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK — The 1990s are making a comeback, with scrunchies 
acceptable again, “Night Court” back on TV and fanny packs and flannel 
all the rage. But it’s not the '90s until two of the most idiotic 
teenagers return, sniggering along the way.

That's right, Beavis 
and Butt-Head — forever un-matured — are on the streaming platform 
Paramount+ these days, still mocking culture and saying things like, 
“That cloud looks like a butt.”

“It is almost fun sometimes to 
just go to that lazy part of your brain where you’re just blurting out 
whatever stupid thought comes out,” says Mike Judge, who created the duo
 and voices them.

A second season of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP30WvQy0sc">“Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head”</a>
 kicked off this month with our heroes at school-mandated meditation 
class, an alternative to detention. “This sucks,” says Butt Head, the 
dark-haired one in braces and an AC/DC T-shirt. “Now try to empty your 
mind of all thoughts,” says the teacher. It is surprisingly easy.

There's
 also a visit to a polling place — the boys mistake it for a strip club —
 and later a scheme to buy beer by spray-painting Beavis' hair with 
white paint to make him look older. It goes awry, of course, when he 
gets on a shuttle bus to a retirement community.

The look, feel 
and snark of the show hasn't changed even if there are fewer music 
videos these days. Judge relies on a producer to scour YouTube to find 
videos that might spark a spontaneous put-down. It's all very timeless.

“That’s
 the beauty of ‘Beavis and Butt-Head’ — no matter what decade you were 
born in, you’re able to find ways to connect to them and even perhaps 
see bits of yourselves in them,” said Domenic DiMeglio, chief marketing 
officer for Paramount+.

There are a few bizarre tangents, 
particularly the return to an alternative universe where Beavis and 
Butt-Head are middle-aged. Judge devised one episode in which they marry
 each other without realizing it.

The original “Beavis and 
Butt-Head” arrived in 1993 on MTV and became an instant hit, running for
 seven seasons before going on hiatus in 1997. The un-dynamic duo 
returned with an eighth, stand-alone season in 2011, and the series was 
revived last year.

This show’s influence was so strong that it 
spawned a full-length film called “Beavis and Butt-Head Do America” in 
1996 and another titled “Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe" in 2022.

Judge
 says he started to think about returning to his cartoon duo after the 
band Portugal. The Man asked him if he could introduce them with his 
iconic title characters at 2018’s Coachella.

“I thought of it as a
 way of ‘Let me see what it sounds like if my voice still sounds like 
them.’ And I did it. I played it back and it still felt like Beavis and 
Butt-Head. And so that’s partly what got me thinking about doing this 
again.”

The targets have changed, even if some show principles 
have not. If something is already funny, it's usually not a good target.
 And being overexposed is usually a green light. So yesterday's Axl Rose
 became today's Jack Harlow.

This season sees Beavis and Butt-Head
 dunk on Lil Nas X, Audrey Nuna, Bill Gates, Ronald Reagan and even the 
Buddha. There's a bizarre scene in which the boys annoy Jesus and Ganesh
 on an astral plane so much that the deities take turns punching the 
boys.

Judge came up with the original concept at a time when TV 
was filled with yuppies — “The Cosby Show,” “Family Ties,” “The Fresh 
Prince of Bel-Air” and “Mad About You.”

“Maybe some of it was in 
reaction to that — finding a place in comedy that was different,” he 
said. “But I wasn’t trying to be shocking or edgy. I was just trying to 
make it funny.”

There was plenty of blowback. Judge thinks “Beavis
 and Butt-Head” were badly misunderstood back then by some people who 
accused it of contributing to all sorts of poor teen behavior. Judge 
even got death threats.

The cartoon duo have returned to a vastly 
different media landscape, one they had a part in cracking open. Can two
 snarky teens with little social consciousness have the ability to cut 
through the online hype?

Yes, says Paramount+: “Beavis and 
Butt-Head have been doing clever social commentary long before it was 
cool in the age of social media and their no-filter, blissfully ignorant
 POV has always been part of this duo’s DNA," said DiMeglio.

One 
thing the show will not do is wade into politics. In a recent episode, 
Beavis and Butt-Head go hunting — “The outdoors sucks,” says Butt-Head —
 and accidentally drink deer urine. This was an opportunity to raise the
 issue of guns, but Judge has no interest.

“I feel like this is 
comedy and we’re just looking for funny and just trying to give people a
 break from that kind of stuff. I don’t think Beavis and Butt-Head have 
anything to add to that conversation,” he said.

“They’re not 
sophisticated enough to go there. I think that’s what’s comforting about
 it: Just seeing some guys who don’t know any better. They don’t have 
much accountability. They don’t know what the word means.”

By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment WriterNEW YORK — The 1990s are making a comeback, with scrunchies 
acceptable again, “Night Court” back on TV and fanny packs and flannel 
all the rage. But it’s not the '90s until two of the most idiotic 
teenagers return, sniggering along the way.That's right, Beavis 
and Butt-Head — forever un-matured — are on the streaming platform 
Paramount+ these days, still mocking culture and saying things like, 
“That cloud looks like a butt.”“It is almost fun sometimes to 
just go to that lazy part of your brain where you’re just blurting out 
whatever stupid thought comes out,” says Mike Judge, who created the duo
 and voices them.A second season of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP30WvQy0sc">“Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head”</a>
 kicked off this month with our heroes at school-mandated meditation 
class, an alternative to detention. “This sucks,” says Butt Head, the 
dark-haired one in braces and an AC/DC T-shirt. “Now try to empty your 
mind of all thoughts,” says the teacher. It is surprisingly easy.There's
 also a visit to a polling place — the boys mistake it for a strip club —
 and later a scheme to buy beer by spray-painting Beavis' hair with 
white paint to make him look older. It goes awry, of course, when he 
gets on a shuttle bus to a retirement community.The look, feel 
and snark of the show hasn't changed even if there are fewer music 
videos these days. Judge relies on a producer to scour YouTube to find 
videos that might spark a spontaneous put-down. It's all very timeless.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682543106950.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“That’s
 the beauty of ‘Beavis and Butt-Head’ — no matter what decade you were 
born in, you’re able to find ways to connect to them and even perhaps 
see bits of yourselves in them,” said Domenic DiMeglio, chief marketing 
officer for Paramount+.There are a few bizarre tangents, 
particularly the return to an alternative universe where Beavis and 
Butt-Head are middle-aged. Judge devised one episode in which they marry
 each other without realizing it.The original “Beavis and 
Butt-Head” arrived in 1993 on MTV and became an instant hit, running for
 seven seasons before going on hiatus in 1997. The un-dynamic duo 
returned with an eighth, stand-alone season in 2011, and the series was 
revived last year.This show’s influence was so strong that it 
spawned a full-length film called “Beavis and Butt-Head Do America” in 
1996 and another titled “Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe" in 2022.Judge
 says he started to think about returning to his cartoon duo after the 
band Portugal. The Man asked him if he could introduce them with his 
iconic title characters at 2018’s Coachella.“I thought of it as a
 way of ‘Let me see what it sounds like if my voice still sounds like 
them.’ And I did it. I played it back and it still felt like Beavis and 
Butt-Head. And so that’s partly what got me thinking about doing this 
again.”The targets have changed, even if some show principles 
have not. If something is already funny, it's usually not a good target.
 And being overexposed is usually a green light. So yesterday's Axl Rose
 became today's Jack Harlow.This season sees Beavis and Butt-Head
 dunk on Lil Nas X, Audrey Nuna, Bill Gates, Ronald Reagan and even the 
Buddha. There's a bizarre scene in which the boys annoy Jesus and Ganesh
 on an astral plane so much that the deities take turns punching the 
boys.Judge came up with the original concept at a time when TV 
was filled with yuppies — “The Cosby Show,” “Family Ties,” “The Fresh 
Prince of Bel-Air” and “Mad About You.”“Maybe some of it was in 
reaction to that — finding a place in comedy that was different,” he 
said. “But I wasn’t trying to be shocking or edgy. I was just trying to 
make it funny.”There was plenty of blowback. Judge thinks “Beavis
 and Butt-Head” were badly misunderstood back then by some people who 
accused it of contributing to all sorts of poor teen behavior. Judge 
even got death threats.The cartoon duo have returned to a vastly 
different media landscape, one they had a part in cracking open. Can two
 snarky teens with little social consciousness have the ability to cut 
through the online hype?Yes, says Paramount+: “Beavis and 
Butt-Head have been doing clever social commentary long before it was 
cool in the age of social media and their no-filter, blissfully ignorant
 POV has always been part of this duo’s DNA," said DiMeglio.One 
thing the show will not do is wade into politics. In a recent episode, 
Beavis and Butt-Head go hunting — “The outdoors sucks,” says Butt-Head —
 and accidentally drink deer urine. This was an opportunity to raise the
 issue of guns, but Judge has no interest.“I feel like this is 
comedy and we’re just looking for funny and just trying to give people a
 break from that kind of stuff. I don’t think Beavis and Butt-Head have 
anything to add to that conversation,” he said.“They’re not 
sophisticated enough to go there. I think that’s what’s comforting about
 it: Just seeing some guys who don’t know any better. They don’t have 
much accountability. They don’t know what the word means.”

REVIEW: Beavis and Butt-Head return as wonderfully moronic as ever

By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/dumbbell-ranch-operation-in-nebraska-sandhills-poised-for-next-chapter/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — After less than a month on the market, the Nebraska Sandhills ranch with the quirky name and <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/03/dumbbell-in-nebraska-sandhills-gains-spotlight-with-sheer-size-storied-past/">storied past</a> is poised to be purchased by a Colorado family.

The owners of the Dumbbell Ranch in 
the Hyannis area have a preliminary agreement with the potential buyer. 
And a member of the family that has had an ownership interest in the 
15,500-acre property for more than a century said she is happy.

Anne Anderson Bennett of the Red Oak,
 Iowa area, said her family had hoped to pass on the Dumbbell legacy to a
 family, as opposed to a corporation or big entity. If all goes as 
hoped, she said, the Anderson Family trust this summer will turn the 
reins over to the Colorado ranching family, which had been wanting to 
relocate its operation to the Sandhills.

The asking price for the Dumbbell was
 $16.7 million, and Bennett said she was pleased with the price offered.
 She declined to provide too many details until the deal is officially 
sealed.

“It is bittersweet,” she said, as the
 Dumbbell has been a part of her family since 1913. “But I am so excited
 that a family is going to be able to continue the tradition. I think 
they will be a fabulous asset for the community.”

Bennett said she hadn’t met the 
family yet, but knew that there had been multiple offers on the ranch 
operation in the few weeks since <a target="_blank" href="https://hallhall.com/property-for-sale/nebraska/dumbbell-ranch/a095d00002U10JQ/">marketing</a> began.

The Dumbbell attracted attention from
 local and outside interests, in large part because of its size and 
storied past. Valentine area broker Mark Johnson of Hall and Hall, which
 marketed the ranch, said he was a bit taken aback by the widespread 
response.&nbsp;

“It really was the right time,” <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/03/dumbbell-in-nebraska-sandhills-gains-spotlight-with-sheer-size-storied-past/">Bennett told the Nebrask</a>a
 Examiner in early April about putting the Dumbbell operation up for 
sale. At 57, she is getting married again. Her only brother has a 
separate career in Colorado.

Younger generations of Andersons, 
namely Bennett’s daughters, who are in their 20s, had more pressing 
interests than continuing the ranch ties.

On Monday, Bennett was busy helping 
to write high school graduation announcements for her stepson and was 
working on plans for her nuptials.

“I’m relieved,” she said. “I’m very grateful for the interest.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680554659570.png" alt="The Dumbbell Ranch spans about 15,500 acres, mostly in Nebraska’s Cherry County, known as the nation’s “top cow county.” It is for sale, which means it will have owners outside the Anderson family for first time in over a century. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)" />
 <figcaption>The Dumbbell Ranch spans about 15,500 acres, mostly in Nebraska’s Cherry County, known as the nation’s “top cow county.” It is for sale, which means it will have owners outside the Anderson family for first time in over a century. (Courtesy of Hall and Hall)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/dumbbell-ranch-operation-in-nebraska-sandhills-poised-for-next-chapter/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — After less than a month on the market, the Nebraska Sandhills ranch with the quirky name and <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/03/dumbbell-in-nebraska-sandhills-gains-spotlight-with-sheer-size-storied-past/">storied past</a> is poised to be purchased by a Colorado family.The owners of the Dumbbell Ranch in 
the Hyannis area have a preliminary agreement with the potential buyer. 
And a member of the family that has had an ownership interest in the 
15,500-acre property for more than a century said she is happy.Anne Anderson Bennett of the Red Oak,
 Iowa area, said her family had hoped to pass on the Dumbbell legacy to a
 family, as opposed to a corporation or big entity. If all goes as 
hoped, she said, the Anderson Family trust this summer will turn the 
reins over to the Colorado ranching family, which had been wanting to 
relocate its operation to the Sandhills.The asking price for the Dumbbell was
 $16.7 million, and Bennett said she was pleased with the price offered.
 She declined to provide too many details until the deal is officially 
sealed.“It is bittersweet,” she said, as the
 Dumbbell has been a part of her family since 1913. “But I am so excited
 that a family is going to be able to continue the tradition. I think 
they will be a fabulous asset for the community.”Bennett said she hadn’t met the 
family yet, but knew that there had been multiple offers on the ranch 
operation in the few weeks since <a target="_blank" href="https://hallhall.com/property-for-sale/nebraska/dumbbell-ranch/a095d00002U10JQ/">marketing</a> began.The Dumbbell attracted attention from
 local and outside interests, in large part because of its size and 
storied past. Valentine area broker Mark Johnson of Hall and Hall, which
 marketed the ranch, said he was a bit taken aback by the widespread 
response.&nbsp;“It really was the right time,” <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/03/dumbbell-in-nebraska-sandhills-gains-spotlight-with-sheer-size-storied-past/">Bennett told the Nebrask</a>a
 Examiner in early April about putting the Dumbbell operation up for 
sale. At 57, she is getting married again. Her only brother has a 
separate career in Colorado.Younger generations of Andersons, 
namely Bennett’s daughters, who are in their 20s, had more pressing 
interests than continuing the ranch ties.On Monday, Bennett was busy helping 
to write high school graduation announcements for her stepson and was 
working on plans for her nuptials.“I’m relieved,” she said. “I’m very grateful for the interest.”

Massive Dumbbell Ranch in Nebraska Sandhills poised for next chapter

Meetings set to provide information for canola growers

K-State Research and Extension news service&nbsp;

MANHATTAN – A decision by a Nebraska-based agribusiness to recommission an oilseed crush facility near Goodland has opened an opportunity for farmers in Kansas and Oklahoma, said a Kansas State University agronomist.&nbsp;

Canola breeder Mike Stamm noted that Scoular – which lists more than 100 offices in North America and Asia and sales of more than $9 billion –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scoular.com/news/scoular-invests-in-kansas-oilseed-crush-facility-for-renewable-fuels-market/">announced in mid-March</a>&nbsp;that it would retrofit the facility to crush both soybeans and canola.&nbsp;

The facility is expected to begin operations in fall 2024.&nbsp;

“We wanted to support them by getting growers together to learn more,” Stamm said. “For alternative oilseeds like canola to be successfully grown in Kansas, it is crucial to have a readily available end market within the region, which Scoular will provide.”&nbsp;

Stamm said K-State Research and the Great Plains Canola Association will host several canola informational meetings for new and experienced growers. The meetings are scheduled for May 11 in Enid, Oklahoma, and May 18 in Montezuma, Kansas and Harper, Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He said the meetings will include an update from Scoular on their marketing and pricing strategies and the company’s vision for the rapidly changing renewable fuels market. Brief updates on canola research and extension activities will be given, as well as an update from the Great Plains Canola Association.&nbsp;

The meetings are free to attend, but reservations are required because a meal will be provided. Location and contacts for each meeting include:&nbsp;&nbsp;

Thursday, May 11: Hoover Building, 300 E Oxford Ave, Enid, Okla.&nbsp;

RSVP to Ron Sholar,&nbsp;<a></a><a href="mailto:jrsholar@aol.com">jrsholar@aol.com</a>&nbsp; Thursday, May 18: Montezuma Community Building, 508 West Sunnyside Ave., Montezuma, Kansas.&nbsp;

RSVP to the Gray County Extension Office, 620-855-3821, or Kurt Werth,&nbsp;<a></a><a href="mailto:kwerth@ksu.edu">kwerth@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp; Thursday, May 18, 2023 – Fencepost, 700 E. 14th St., Harper, Kansas&nbsp;

<a>RSVP to the Harper County Extension Office, 620-842-5445, or Jenni Carr,&nbsp;</a><a></a><a href="mailto:jlcarr@ksu.edu">jlcarr@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682342241976.png" alt="Photo courtesy Scoular" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Scoular</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Meetings set to provide information for canola growers</h2>K-State Research and Extension news service&nbsp;MANHATTAN – A decision by a Nebraska-based agribusiness to recommission an oilseed crush facility near Goodland has opened an opportunity for farmers in Kansas and Oklahoma, said a Kansas State University agronomist.&nbsp;Canola breeder Mike Stamm noted that Scoular – which lists more than 100 offices in North America and Asia and sales of more than $9 billion –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scoular.com/news/scoular-invests-in-kansas-oilseed-crush-facility-for-renewable-fuels-market/">announced in mid-March</a>&nbsp;that it would retrofit the facility to crush both soybeans and canola.&nbsp;The facility is expected to begin operations in fall 2024.&nbsp;“We wanted to support them by getting growers together to learn more,” Stamm said. “For alternative oilseeds like canola to be successfully grown in Kansas, it is crucial to have a readily available end market within the region, which Scoular will provide.”&nbsp;Stamm said K-State Research and the Great Plains Canola Association will host several canola informational meetings for new and experienced growers. The meetings are scheduled for May 11 in Enid, Oklahoma, and May 18 in Montezuma, Kansas and Harper, Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;He said the meetings will include an update from Scoular on their marketing and pricing strategies and the company’s vision for the rapidly changing renewable fuels market. Brief updates on canola research and extension activities will be given, as well as an update from the Great Plains Canola Association.&nbsp;The meetings are free to attend, but reservations are required because a meal will be provided. Location and contacts for each meeting include:&nbsp;&nbsp;Thursday, May 11: Hoover Building, 300 E Oxford Ave, Enid, Okla.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>9:30 a.m., Coffee and networking&nbsp;</li><li>10 a.m., presentation and meeting&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>RSVP to Ron Sholar,&nbsp;<a></a><a href="mailto:jrsholar@aol.com">jrsholar@aol.com</a>&nbsp; Thursday, May 18: Montezuma Community Building, 508 West Sunnyside Ave., Montezuma, Kansas.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>12 p.m., presentation and meal&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>RSVP to the Gray County Extension Office, 620-855-3821, or Kurt Werth,&nbsp;<a></a><a href="mailto:kwerth@ksu.edu">kwerth@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp; Thursday, May 18, 2023 – Fencepost, 700 E. 14th St., Harper, Kansas&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>6 p.m., presentation and meal&nbsp;</li>
 </ul> <a>RSVP to the Harper County Extension Office, 620-842-5445, or Jenni Carr,&nbsp;</a><a></a><a href="mailto:jlcarr@ksu.edu">jlcarr@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Goodland crush facility opens opportunity for Kansas, Oklahoma farmers

NEW YORK (AP) — 
CNN fired longtime host Don Lemon on Monday following his short and 
disastrous run as a morning show host, a little over two months after he
 apologized for <a href="https://apnews.com/article/don-lemon-nikki-haley-e40445ae824a56e3548c17a029a80775">on-air comments</a> about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley being past her prime.

The
 move quickly turned nasty. While CNN chairman and CEO Chris Licht 
announced, after Lemon had co-hosted the show Monday, that they had <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNPR/status/1650535190568026113" target="_blank">“parted ways,”</a> Lemon characterized it as a firing and said it was surprise to him.

“After
 17 years at CNN I would have thought someone in management would have 
the decency to tell me directly,” Lemon said. CNN said that Lemon was 
given the opportunity to meet with management but released a statement 
on Twitter instead.

CNN offered no 
public explanation for Lemon’s dismissal. During a February discussion 
on “CNN This Morning” with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins 
about the ages of politicians, he said that the 51-year-old Haley was 
not “in her prime.” A woman, he said, was considered in her prime “in 
her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s.”

Harlow challenged 
Lemon, trying to clarify what he was referencing: “I think we need to 
qualify. Are you talking about prime for childbearing or are you talking
 about prime for being president?”

“Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are,” Lemon responded.

Lemon
 issued a statement the same day saying he regretted his “inartful and 
irrelevant” comments. He was subsequently absent from the show for three
 days, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-tv-nikki-haley-don-lemon-52be979ee7c3b95dbcddedf23683e98c">returning the following week</a> with a tweeted apology but no mention of the episode on air.

Haley,
 who had criticized Lemon’s statements as sexist and used the incident 
to fundraise in February, took to Twitter on Monday to call Lemon’s 
ouster “a great day for women everywhere,” linking to the beverage 
sleeves emblazoned with “Past my prime? Hold my beer.”

Lemon
 used to host the prime-time “Don Lemon Tonight” but moved when the 
network launched “CNN This Morning” last November, just before the U.S. 
midterm elections, as one of the first major programming moves under 
Licht.

NEW YORK (AP) — 
CNN fired longtime host Don Lemon on Monday following his short and 
disastrous run as a morning show host, a little over two months after he
 apologized for <a href="https://apnews.com/article/don-lemon-nikki-haley-e40445ae824a56e3548c17a029a80775">on-air comments</a> about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley being past her prime.The
 move quickly turned nasty. While CNN chairman and CEO Chris Licht 
announced, after Lemon had co-hosted the show Monday, that they had <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNPR/status/1650535190568026113" target="_blank">“parted ways,”</a> Lemon characterized it as a firing and said it was surprise to him. “After
 17 years at CNN I would have thought someone in management would have 
the decency to tell me directly,” Lemon said. CNN said that Lemon was 
given the opportunity to meet with management but released a statement 
on Twitter instead.CNN offered no 
public explanation for Lemon’s dismissal. During a February discussion 
on “CNN This Morning” with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins 
about the ages of politicians, he said that the 51-year-old Haley was 
not “in her prime.” A woman, he said, was considered in her prime “in 
her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s.”Harlow challenged 
Lemon, trying to clarify what he was referencing: “I think we need to 
qualify. Are you talking about prime for childbearing or are you talking
 about prime for being president?”“Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are,” Lemon responded.Lemon
 issued a statement the same day saying he regretted his “inartful and 
irrelevant” comments. He was subsequently absent from the show for three
 days, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-tv-nikki-haley-don-lemon-52be979ee7c3b95dbcddedf23683e98c">returning the following week</a> with a tweeted apology but no mention of the episode on air.Haley,
 who had criticized Lemon’s statements as sexist and used the incident 
to fundraise in February, took to Twitter on Monday to call Lemon’s 
ouster “a great day for women everywhere,” linking to the beverage 
sleeves emblazoned with “Past my prime? Hold my beer.”Lemon
 used to host the prime-time “Don Lemon Tonight” but moved when the 
network launched “CNN This Morning” last November, just before the U.S. 
midterm elections, as one of the first major programming moves under 
Licht.

Lemon fired from CNN after divisive morning show run

NEW YORK (AP) — Fox News said Monday it has “agreed to part ways” with Tucker Carlson, its popular and controversial host, less than a week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-trump-2020-0ac71f75acfacc52ea80b3e747fb0afe">settling a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;over the network's 2020 election reporting.

The network said in a press release that the last program of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” aired Friday.

“We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” the press release from the network said.

Carlson became Fox’s most popular personality after replacing Bill O’Reilly in Fox’s prime-time lineup in 2016. He’s also consistently drawn headline for controversial coverage, including most recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-tucker-carlson-capitol-riot-mccarthy-adc245e22f50b076925eb72948062808">airing tapes from the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection</a>&nbsp;to minimize the impact of the deadly attack.

There was no immediate explanation from Fox about why Carlson was leaving. A text message to Carlson seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Fox agreed last week to pay Dominion Voting Systems more than $787 million and acknowledged that some of its reporting following the 2020 election — which allowed former President Donald Trump's aides to amplify false charges of election fraud — was incorrect.

But that reporting mostly concerned other shows, not Carlson’s. His name did come up during the case, primarily because of email and text messages that were revealed as part of the lawsuit.

Carlson and other Fox hosts were caught in private messages doubting their own network's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-explainer-trump-fbd401a951905879d837a8860b3bec5e">allegations about Dominion's role</a>&nbsp;in the supposed election fraud, while also being concerned that Fox was losing audience among Trump fans at the time. In some of them, Carlson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tucker-carlson-fox-news-murdoch-capitol-attack-96c305cf4046aaf373130876940fd06e">privately criticized Trump,</a>&nbsp;saying he hated him passionately.

A few weeks ago, Carlson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-trial-trump-carlson-election-f580413e13d1bfaea1e94827a4f35dc1">devoted his entire show</a>&nbsp;to an interview with Trump.

Carlson was recently named in a lawsuit filed by Abby Grossberg, a Fox News producer fired after claiming that Fox lawyers had pressured her to give misleading testimony in the Dominion lawsuit. Grossberg had gone to work for Carlson after leaving Maria Bartiromo's Fox show.

Her lawsuit says that Grossberg learned “she had merely traded in one overtly misogynistic work environment for an event crueler one — this time, one where unprofessionalism reigned supreme, and the staff’s distaste and disdain for women infiltrated almost every workday decision.”

Fox has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-defamation-lawsuit-voting-sexism-9f0b4ec94a19fa68c1205864fef277c5">countered with its own lawsuit,</a>&nbsp;trying to bar Grossberg from disclosing confidential discussions with Fox attorneys and saying in a statement that “her allegations in connection with the Dominion case are baseless.”

“Fox News Tonight” will air in Carlson's 8 p.m. ET prime-time slot, hosted by a rotating array of network personalities, for the time being.

NEW YORK (AP) — Fox News said Monday it has “agreed to part ways” with Tucker Carlson, its popular and controversial host, less than a week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-trump-2020-0ac71f75acfacc52ea80b3e747fb0afe">settling a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;over the network's 2020 election reporting.The network said in a press release that the last program of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” aired Friday.“We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” the press release from the network said.Carlson became Fox’s most popular personality after replacing Bill O’Reilly in Fox’s prime-time lineup in 2016. He’s also consistently drawn headline for controversial coverage, including most recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-tucker-carlson-capitol-riot-mccarthy-adc245e22f50b076925eb72948062808">airing tapes from the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection</a>&nbsp;to minimize the impact of the deadly attack.There was no immediate explanation from Fox about why Carlson was leaving. A text message to Carlson seeking comment was not immediately returned.Fox agreed last week to pay Dominion Voting Systems more than $787 million and acknowledged that some of its reporting following the 2020 election — which allowed former President Donald Trump's aides to amplify false charges of election fraud — was incorrect.But that reporting mostly concerned other shows, not Carlson’s. His name did come up during the case, primarily because of email and text messages that were revealed as part of the lawsuit.Carlson and other Fox hosts were caught in private messages doubting their own network's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-explainer-trump-fbd401a951905879d837a8860b3bec5e">allegations about Dominion's role</a>&nbsp;in the supposed election fraud, while also being concerned that Fox was losing audience among Trump fans at the time. In some of them, Carlson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tucker-carlson-fox-news-murdoch-capitol-attack-96c305cf4046aaf373130876940fd06e">privately criticized Trump,</a>&nbsp;saying he hated him passionately.A few weeks ago, Carlson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-trial-trump-carlson-election-f580413e13d1bfaea1e94827a4f35dc1">devoted his entire show</a>&nbsp;to an interview with Trump.Carlson was recently named in a lawsuit filed by Abby Grossberg, a Fox News producer fired after claiming that Fox lawyers had pressured her to give misleading testimony in the Dominion lawsuit. Grossberg had gone to work for Carlson after leaving Maria Bartiromo's Fox show.Her lawsuit says that Grossberg learned “she had merely traded in one overtly misogynistic work environment for an event crueler one — this time, one where unprofessionalism reigned supreme, and the staff’s distaste and disdain for women infiltrated almost every workday decision.”Fox has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-defamation-lawsuit-voting-sexism-9f0b4ec94a19fa68c1205864fef277c5">countered with its own lawsuit,</a>&nbsp;trying to bar Grossberg from disclosing confidential discussions with Fox attorneys and saying in a statement that “her allegations in connection with the Dominion case are baseless.”“Fox News Tonight” will air in Carlson's 8 p.m. ET prime-time slot, hosted by a rotating array of network personalities, for the time being.

Tucker Carlson, Fox News' most popular host, out at network

BRUSSELS (AP) — The guardians of Champagne will let no one take the 
name of the bubbly beverage in vain, not even a U.S. beer behemoth.

For
 years, Miller High Life has used the “Champagne of Beers” slogan. This 
week, that appropriation became impossible to swallow.

At the 
request of the trade body defending the interests of houses and growers 
of the northeastern French sparkling wine, Belgian customs crushed more 
than 2,000 cans of Miller High Life advertised as such.

The Comité
 Champagne asked for the destruction of a shipment of 2,352 cans on the 
grounds that the century-old motto used by the American brewery 
infringes the protected designation of origin “Champagne.”

The 
consignment was intercepted in the Belgian port of Antwerp in early 
February, a spokesperson at the Belgian Customs Administration said on 
Friday, and was destined for Germany.

Molson Coors Beverage Co., 
which owns the Miller High Life brand, does not currently export it to 
the EU, and Belgian customs declined to say who had ordered the beers.

The buyer in Germany “was informed and did not contest the decision,” the trade organization said in a statement.

Frederick
 Miller, a German immigrant to the US, founded the Miller Brewing 
Company in the 1850s. Miller High Life, its oldest brand, was launched 
as its flagship in 1903.

According to the Milwaukee-based brand’s 
website, the company started to use the “Champagne of Bottle Beers” 
nickname three years later. It was shortened to “The Champagne of Beers”
 in 1969. The beer has also been available in champagne-style 
750-milliliter bottles during festive seasons.

“With its elegant, 
clear-glass bottle and crisp taste, Miller High Life has proudly worn 
the nickname ‘The Champagne of Beers’ for almost 120 years,” Molson 
Coors Beverage Co. said in a statement to The Associated Press.

No
 matter how popular the slogan is in the United States, it is 
incompatible with European Union rules which make clear that goods 
infringing a protected designation of origin can be treated as 
counterfeit.

The 27-nation bloc has a system of protected 
geographical designations created to guarantee the true origin and 
quality of artisanal food, wine and spirits, and protect them from 
imitation. That market is worth nearly <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_683">75 billion euros ($87 billion) annually</a> — half of it in wines, according to a 2020 study by the EU's executive arm.

Charles
 Goemaere, the managing director of the Comité Champagne, said the 
destruction of the beers "confirms the importance that the European 
Union attaches to designations of origin and rewards the determination 
of the Champagne producers to protect their designation.”

Molson Coors Beverage Co. said it “respects local restrictions” around the word Champagne.

“But
 we remain proud of Miller High Life, its nickname and its Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin provenance,” the company said. “We invite our friends in 
Europe to the U.S. any time to toast the High Life together.”

Belgian
 customs said the destruction of the cans was paid for by the Comité 
Champagne. According to their joint statement, it was carried out “with 
the utmost respect for environmental concerns by ensuring that the 
entire batch, both contents and container, was recycled in an 
environmentally responsible manner.”

BRUSSELS (AP) — The guardians of Champagne will let no one take the 
name of the bubbly beverage in vain, not even a U.S. beer behemoth.For
 years, Miller High Life has used the “Champagne of Beers” slogan. This 
week, that appropriation became impossible to swallow.At the 
request of the trade body defending the interests of houses and growers 
of the northeastern French sparkling wine, Belgian customs crushed more 
than 2,000 cans of Miller High Life advertised as such.The Comité
 Champagne asked for the destruction of a shipment of 2,352 cans on the 
grounds that the century-old motto used by the American brewery 
infringes the protected designation of origin “Champagne.”The 
consignment was intercepted in the Belgian port of Antwerp in early 
February, a spokesperson at the Belgian Customs Administration said on 
Friday, and was destined for Germany.Molson Coors Beverage Co., 
which owns the Miller High Life brand, does not currently export it to 
the EU, and Belgian customs declined to say who had ordered the beers.The buyer in Germany “was informed and did not contest the decision,” the trade organization said in a statement.Frederick
 Miller, a German immigrant to the US, founded the Miller Brewing 
Company in the 1850s. Miller High Life, its oldest brand, was launched 
as its flagship in 1903.According to the Milwaukee-based brand’s 
website, the company started to use the “Champagne of Bottle Beers” 
nickname three years later. It was shortened to “The Champagne of Beers”
 in 1969. The beer has also been available in champagne-style 
750-milliliter bottles during festive seasons.“With its elegant, 
clear-glass bottle and crisp taste, Miller High Life has proudly worn 
the nickname ‘The Champagne of Beers’ for almost 120 years,” Molson 
Coors Beverage Co. said in a statement to The Associated Press.No
 matter how popular the slogan is in the United States, it is 
incompatible with European Union rules which make clear that goods 
infringing a protected designation of origin can be treated as 
counterfeit.The 27-nation bloc has a system of protected 
geographical designations created to guarantee the true origin and 
quality of artisanal food, wine and spirits, and protect them from 
imitation. That market is worth nearly <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_683">75 billion euros ($87 billion) annually</a> — half of it in wines, according to a 2020 study by the EU's executive arm.Charles
 Goemaere, the managing director of the Comité Champagne, said the 
destruction of the beers "confirms the importance that the European 
Union attaches to designations of origin and rewards the determination 
of the Champagne producers to protect their designation.”Molson Coors Beverage Co. said it “respects local restrictions” around the word Champagne.“But
 we remain proud of Miller High Life, its nickname and its Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin provenance,” the company said. “We invite our friends in 
Europe to the U.S. any time to toast the High Life together.”Belgian
 customs said the destruction of the cans was paid for by the Comité 
Champagne. According to their joint statement, it was carried out “with 
the utmost respect for environmental concerns by ensuring that the 
entire batch, both contents and container, was recycled in an 
environmentally responsible manner.”

Champagne and 'Champagne of Beers' spat bubbles over

The Eagle Media Center business office, 2300 Hall, will close at 3 p.m. Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587155364471.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Eagle Media Center business office, 2300 Hall, will close at 3 p.m. Friday.Offices will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday.

Eagle Media Center closing early on Friday

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today urged taxpayers who 
missed Tuesday's April 18 tax-filing deadline to file as soon as 
possible. Taxpayers who owe and missed the deadline without requesting 
an extension should file quickly to limit penalties and interest. For 
struggling taxpayers unable to pay their tax bill, the IRS has several 
options available to help.

The IRS also reminds taxpayers who owed a refund that they don't 
receive a penalty for filing late. People shouldn't overlook filing a 
tax return. Every year, more than 1 million taxpayers overlook a tax 
refund; the IRS reminds those who <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/time-running-out-to-claim-1-point-5-billion-in-refunds-for-tax-year-2019-taxpayers-face-july-17-deadline">didn't file in 2019</a> that time is running out to get any refund owed to them.

For 2022 tax returns due April 18, 2023, some taxpayers automatically
 qualify for extra time to file and pay taxes due without penalties and 
interest, including:

Don't overlook filing; people may miss out on a tax refund

Taxpayers who choose not to file a return because they don't earn 
enough to meet the filing requirement may miss out on receiving a refund
 due to potential refundable tax credits. The most common examples of 
these refundable credits are the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-8812-form-1040">Child Tax Credit</a>. Taxpayers often fail to file a tax return and claim a refund for these credits and others for which they may be eligible.

There's no penalty for filing after the April 18 deadline if a refund
 is due. Taxpayers are encouraged to use electronic filing options 
including IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> which is available on IRS.gov through Oct.16 to prepare and file 2022 tax returns electronically.

Taxpayers can track their refund using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a> tool on IRS.gov,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a>
 or by calling the automated refund hotline at 800-829-1954. Taxpayers 
need the primary Social Security number on the tax return, the filing 
status and the expected refund amount. The refund status information 
updates once daily, usually overnight, so there's no need to check more 
frequently.

File and pay what you can to reduce penalties and interest

Taxpayers should file their tax return and pay any taxes they owe as 
soon as possible to reduce penalties and interest. An extension to file 
is not an extension to pay. An extension to file provides an additional 
six months with a new filing deadline of Oct. 16. Penalties and interest
 apply to taxes owed after April 18 and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/interest">interest</a> is charged on tax and penalties until the balance is paid in full.

Filing and paying as much as possible is key because the late-filing penalty and late-payment penalty add up quickly.

Even if a taxpayer can't afford to immediately pay the full amount of
 taxes owed, they should still file a tax return to reduce possible 
late-filing penalties. The IRS offers a variety of options for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/options-for-taxpayers-who-need-help-paying-their-tax-bill">taxpayers who owe the IRS but cannot afford to pay</a>. For more information see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalties">penalties page</a> on IRS.gov.

Taxpayers may qualify for penalty relief if they have filed and paid 
timely for the past three years and meet other important requirements, 
including paying or arranging to pay any tax due. For more information, 
see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-abate-or-other-administrative-waiver">first-time penalty abatement</a> page on IRS.gov.

Those who owe taxes can pay quickly and securely via their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS Online Account</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">IRS Direct Pay</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit or credit card or digital wallet</a>, or they can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">apply online for a payment plan (including an installment agreement)</a>.

Taxpayers paying electronically receive immediate confirmation when they submit their payment. With <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a> and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>, taxpayers can receive email notifications about their payments. For more payment options, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.

The IRS offers tips to help taxpayers <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choose a tax professional</a> to help with tax return preparation. The <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>
 can help taxpayers find tax return preparers who hold a professional 
credential recognized by the IRS or who have completed IRS requirements 
for the Annual Filing Season Program.

Taxpayers have fundamental rights under the law that protect them when they interact with the IRS. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a> presents these rights in 10 categories. IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1.pdf">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>PDF, highlights these rights and the agency's obligation to protect them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today urged taxpayers who 
missed Tuesday's April 18 tax-filing deadline to file as soon as 
possible. Taxpayers who owe and missed the deadline without requesting 
an extension should file quickly to limit penalties and interest. For 
struggling taxpayers unable to pay their tax bill, the IRS has several 
options available to help.The IRS also reminds taxpayers who owed a refund that they don't 
receive a penalty for filing late. People shouldn't overlook filing a 
tax return. Every year, more than 1 million taxpayers overlook a tax 
refund; the IRS reminds those who <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/time-running-out-to-claim-1-point-5-billion-in-refunds-for-tax-year-2019-taxpayers-face-july-17-deadline">didn't file in 2019</a> that time is running out to get any refund owed to them.For 2022 tax returns due April 18, 2023, some taxpayers automatically
 qualify for extra time to file and pay taxes due without penalties and 
interest, including:<ul>
 <li>Members of the military who served or are currently serving in a combat zone. They may qualify for an <a href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p3">additional extension of at least 180 days</a> to file and pay taxes.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Support personnel in combat zones or a contingency operation in support of the Armed Forces. They may also <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/extension-of-deadlines-combat-zone-service">qualify for a filing and payment extension</a> of at least 180 days.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Taxpayers outside the United States. U.S. citizens and 
resident aliens who live and work outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 
including military members on duty who don't qualify for the combat zone
 extension, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-54">may qualify for a two-month filing and payment extension</a>.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Some disaster victims. Those who qualify have <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations">more time to file and pay</a> what they owe.</li>
 </ul><h2>Don't overlook filing; people may miss out on a tax refund</h2>Taxpayers who choose not to file a return because they don't earn 
enough to meet the filing requirement may miss out on receiving a refund
 due to potential refundable tax credits. The most common examples of 
these refundable credits are the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc">Earned Income Tax Credit</a> and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-schedule-8812-form-1040">Child Tax Credit</a>. Taxpayers often fail to file a tax return and claim a refund for these credits and others for which they may be eligible.There's no penalty for filing after the April 18 deadline if a refund
 is due. Taxpayers are encouraged to use electronic filing options 
including IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free">Free File</a> which is available on IRS.gov through Oct.16 to prepare and file 2022 tax returns electronically.Taxpayers can track their refund using the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds">Where's My Refund?</a> tool on IRS.gov,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs2goapp">IRS2Go</a>
 or by calling the automated refund hotline at 800-829-1954. Taxpayers 
need the primary Social Security number on the tax return, the filing 
status and the expected refund amount. The refund status information 
updates once daily, usually overnight, so there's no need to check more 
frequently.<h2>File and pay what you can to reduce penalties and interest</h2>Taxpayers should file their tax return and pay any taxes they owe as 
soon as possible to reduce penalties and interest. An extension to file 
is not an extension to pay. An extension to file provides an additional 
six months with a new filing deadline of Oct. 16. Penalties and interest
 apply to taxes owed after April 18 and <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/interest">interest</a> is charged on tax and penalties until the balance is paid in full.Filing and paying as much as possible is key because the late-filing penalty and late-payment penalty add up quickly.Even if a taxpayer can't afford to immediately pay the full amount of
 taxes owed, they should still file a tax return to reduce possible 
late-filing penalties. The IRS offers a variety of options for <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/options-for-taxpayers-who-need-help-paying-their-tax-bill">taxpayers who owe the IRS but cannot afford to pay</a>. For more information see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalties">penalties page</a> on IRS.gov.Taxpayers may qualify for penalty relief if they have filed and paid 
timely for the past three years and meet other important requirements, 
including paying or arranging to pay any tax due. For more information, 
see the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/penalty-relief-due-to-first-time-abate-or-other-administrative-waiver">first-time penalty abatement</a> page on IRS.gov.<h2>Pay taxes due electronically</h2>Those who owe taxes can pay quickly and securely via their <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS Online Account</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">IRS Direct Pay</a>, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/pay-your-taxes-by-debit-or-credit-card">debit or credit card or digital wallet</a>, or they can <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application">apply online for a payment plan (including an installment agreement)</a>.Taxpayers paying electronically receive immediate confirmation when they submit their payment. With <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay">Direct Pay</a> and the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/eftps-the-electronic-federal-tax-payment-system">Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)</a>, taxpayers can receive email notifications about their payments. For more payment options, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.<h2>Selecting a tax professional</h2>The IRS offers tips to help taxpayers <a href="https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/choosing-a-tax-professional">choose a tax professional</a> to help with tax return preparation. The <a href="https://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf">Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications</a>
 can help taxpayers find tax return preparers who hold a professional 
credential recognized by the IRS or who have completed IRS requirements 
for the Annual Filing Season Program.<h2>Taxpayer Bill of Rights</h2>Taxpayers have fundamental rights under the law that protect them when they interact with the IRS. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a> presents these rights in 10 categories. IRS <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1.pdf">Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer</a>PDF, highlights these rights and the agency's obligation to protect them.

Whoops! Missed the tax filing deadline? Here's what to do

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer

In Ari Aster's new film “ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuiWDn976Ek">Beau is Afraid</a>,” Joaquin Phoenix plays an anxious man in a rotten world who goes on a wildly weird journey, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/beau-is-afraid-review-ari-aster-joaquin-phoenix-38535c76e687d09fc95361f45663d3fd">both Homeric and Oedipal</a>, to his mother's home.

It's
 theatrical and depraved and perhaps best left largely unexplained, at 
least until audiences get a chance to enter the debate. But on the eve 
of the film's wide release Friday, Aster and Phoenix attempt to shed 
some light on “whatever this is,” male pattern baldness and things 
better left unsaid.

Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: What gave you the confidence to make “Beau” now?

ASTER: <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ari-aster-beau-is-afraid-0af9d7c72a04ba828250ac40dedaaf78">I’ve wanted to make it for a long time</a>.
 I think I just felt that maybe I might actually be granted the green 
light now. And I was, which is still a surprise. I also just wanted to 
make something funny and sad.

AP: Joaquin, your schedule was 
already quite busy with Todd Phillips' “Joker” sequel and Ridley Scott’s
 “Napoleon” — why did you want to make time for this?

PHOENIX: 
That’s what I do. You always work it out. And I didn’t know what it 
would be, but in having conversations with Ari, I kept just being 
curious and I enjoyed talking to him. At some point it was like let’s 
just start shooting and see what happens. But I didn’t really have any 
expectations other than I thought that it would be challenging.

AP: I’m always reticent to ask about process, especially in a movie like this where maybe it’s better not to know.

PHOENIX:
 I don’t know the f——-g process either. It’s a mystery to me, but you 
just start. I mean, one of the first things that Ari and I did, we 
talked a great length about the hair. That was just our way in for 
whatever reason. So months in advance, like, like six months or 
something, Ari was in L.A. and we worked with someone in the hair 
department and we kind of just started playing with what look might 
work. Then we get into costumes and Ari had this great idea that Beau 
should have oversize clothing. And I just thought that was a great idea.
 I love things that are tactile that I can feel and put on. That starts 
having an effect on things. And then, I don’t know, we just talk 
endlessly. I don’t even remember what we talked about. Probably a lot 
about balding.

ASTER:
 Well, yeah ... We knew there was male pattern baldness. We just didn’t 
know to what extent. Like, is he, totally bald? What was the color of 
the hair, you know, if there is any.

PHOENIX:
 He’s somebody who’s constantly being tested. It’s really about 
identifying his nature, like who he was because everything about the 
world is trying to get him to react. And there’s something so good about
 him in some way, and it’s something that’s not jaded. But he also 
doesn’t realize how absurd this world is. And what was really important 
to us is that I played it as straight as possible. These things, this 
danger really does exist. And he doesn’t ever really stop and say, hold 
on a sec, this is f——-g crazy. Something is going on, right? I just 
think that was really important in getting to what his true nature is, 
which is kind of what (his mother) Mona is trying to do. She kind of 
fears that genetically he has something ... or, should I not?

ASTER:
 It was very important that Beau be very, very real and whatever he is 
experiencing be very, very real. It’s a very heightened performance, but
 it’s also very grounded. That was really necessary because the world is
 so arch and almost cartoonishly malign. The world of Beau is supposed 
to be a mirror of this world, like it’s horrible in all the same ways 
but with the dial turned up. I think that would have been unbearable, 
especially at this length, if you didn’t have somebody that you could 
kind of hold onto somebody who is a very effective surrogate whoever the
 audience is. A lot of the conversations were about just making this guy
 real enough. How do we have this guy be of this world and at the same 
time be (five-second pause) uh, real and authentic.

PHOENIX: You see what I’m saying? This is what it was for a month leading up to shooting.

ASTER: Only, you know, mercifully no cameras for posterity.

AP:
 The world around Beau is wild, especially in the nightmarish city where
 he lives full of incredible vulgarity and depravity, from the graffiti 
to the store signs. I read Ari was the architect of a lot of those 
details.

ASTER: That was just happening on automatic. Just bring a notepad, you know what I mean?

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PuiWDn976Ek"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film WriterIn Ari Aster's new film “ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuiWDn976Ek">Beau is Afraid</a>,” Joaquin Phoenix plays an anxious man in a rotten world who goes on a wildly weird journey, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/beau-is-afraid-review-ari-aster-joaquin-phoenix-38535c76e687d09fc95361f45663d3fd">both Homeric and Oedipal</a>, to his mother's home.It's
 theatrical and depraved and perhaps best left largely unexplained, at 
least until audiences get a chance to enter the debate. But on the eve 
of the film's wide release Friday, Aster and Phoenix attempt to shed 
some light on “whatever this is,” male pattern baldness and things 
better left unsaid.Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.AP: What gave you the confidence to make “Beau” now?ASTER: <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ari-aster-beau-is-afraid-0af9d7c72a04ba828250ac40dedaaf78">I’ve wanted to make it for a long time</a>.
 I think I just felt that maybe I might actually be granted the green 
light now. And I was, which is still a surprise. I also just wanted to 
make something funny and sad.AP: Joaquin, your schedule was 
already quite busy with Todd Phillips' “Joker” sequel and Ridley Scott’s
 “Napoleon” — why did you want to make time for this?PHOENIX: 
That’s what I do. You always work it out. And I didn’t know what it 
would be, but in having conversations with Ari, I kept just being 
curious and I enjoyed talking to him. At some point it was like let’s 
just start shooting and see what happens. But I didn’t really have any 
expectations other than I thought that it would be challenging.AP: I’m always reticent to ask about process, especially in a movie like this where maybe it’s better not to know.PHOENIX:
 I don’t know the f——-g process either. It’s a mystery to me, but you 
just start. I mean, one of the first things that Ari and I did, we 
talked a great length about the hair. That was just our way in for 
whatever reason. So months in advance, like, like six months or 
something, Ari was in L.A. and we worked with someone in the hair 
department and we kind of just started playing with what look might 
work. Then we get into costumes and Ari had this great idea that Beau 
should have oversize clothing. And I just thought that was a great idea.
 I love things that are tactile that I can feel and put on. That starts 
having an effect on things. And then, I don’t know, we just talk 
endlessly. I don’t even remember what we talked about. Probably a lot 
about balding.ASTER: Yeah.PHOENIX. And testicles.ASTER:
 Well, yeah ... We knew there was male pattern baldness. We just didn’t 
know to what extent. Like, is he, totally bald? What was the color of 
the hair, you know, if there is any.AP: Who is Beau to you?PHOENIX:
 He’s somebody who’s constantly being tested. It’s really about 
identifying his nature, like who he was because everything about the 
world is trying to get him to react. And there’s something so good about
 him in some way, and it’s something that’s not jaded. But he also 
doesn’t realize how absurd this world is. And what was really important 
to us is that I played it as straight as possible. These things, this 
danger really does exist. And he doesn’t ever really stop and say, hold 
on a sec, this is f——-g crazy. Something is going on, right? I just 
think that was really important in getting to what his true nature is, 
which is kind of what (his mother) Mona is trying to do. She kind of 
fears that genetically he has something ... or, should I not?ASTER: I guess maybe?PHOENIX: I’ll just stop.ASTER: No, no, no. Well, maybe.PHOENIX: You’re right, never mind.ASTER:
 It was very important that Beau be very, very real and whatever he is 
experiencing be very, very real. It’s a very heightened performance, but
 it’s also very grounded. That was really necessary because the world is
 so arch and almost cartoonishly malign. The world of Beau is supposed 
to be a mirror of this world, like it’s horrible in all the same ways 
but with the dial turned up. I think that would have been unbearable, 
especially at this length, if you didn’t have somebody that you could 
kind of hold onto somebody who is a very effective surrogate whoever the
 audience is. A lot of the conversations were about just making this guy
 real enough. How do we have this guy be of this world and at the same 
time be (five-second pause) uh, real and authentic.PHOENIX: You see what I’m saying? This is what it was for a month leading up to shooting.ASTER: Only, you know, mercifully no cameras for posterity.AP:
 The world around Beau is wild, especially in the nightmarish city where
 he lives full of incredible vulgarity and depravity, from the graffiti 
to the store signs. I read Ari was the architect of a lot of those 
details.PHOENIX: It’s very easy for him.ASTER: That was just happening on automatic. Just bring a notepad, you know what I mean?PHOENIX: Just talking, giving direction and then just, like, writing the most putrid thoughts.ASTER: Because the world was invented, it gave me license to throw in things that make me laugh.AP:
 People have made a big deal about this being the most expensive film 
A24 has made, which makes it seem like it’s some $200 million superhero 
movie when it’s really much more modest than that according to the 
reported numbers.ASTER: What are the reported numbers?AP: I read $35 million.ASTER:
 That is right. It was my biggest budget. “Midsommar” was $10 million 
and “Hereditary” was $5 million. But this was a much, much bigger film. 
In some ways it kind of felt like we had the same kinds of resources for
 what we were trying to do, which means that, you know, we had to 
stretch every dollar. And if ever we fell behind on one day, it was 
very, very stressful because we would have to make up for another day, 
which was already packed with stuff we had to do. There were a lot of 
limitations. But those can be good. It puts you into problem solving 
mode. It’s hardest on the crew.PHOENIX: You work on weekends, you
 work through lunches. There’s something in some way that’s great about 
it because it forces you to constantly focus on work. There’s no fat. 
There is no time to just relax. It probably creates an energy that the 
film captures.AP: Before “Hereditary.” <a href="https://apnews.com/article/97920f54401243ddaeeff1a7bfb8210a">you said were feeling a little cynical about Hollywood</a>. Has your perspective changed after your successes?ASTER: I’m not sure what I said about Hollywood. Hollywood is ...PHOENIX: Hollywood is great.ASTER:
 Yeah. Wait, Hollywood is hell on earth, what are we talking about? It’s
 the worst place in the world. But no, I love it. I’ve been very 
fortunate in that right out of the gate I had this relationship with 
A24. That’s been a really wonderful thing in my life. The fact that I 
was able to make whatever this thing is right now is pretty wonderful. I
 have no complaints. Was that a good answer?PHOENIX: It was interesting.ASTER: Thanks.

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