ArcaMax

MINNEAPOLIS — When she drove off in her car for the first time last month, my daughter had a smile as wide as I’d ever seen.

That first drive is freedom. It’s bliss. It’s exciting.

While she beamed, however, I froze. The next hour or so seemed surreal.

It had been almost 25 years since I’d had that same feeling — albeit after a ...Read more

'THEY WILL KILL YOU'

Rated R for strong bloody violence, gore, language and brief sexual content/nudity.

What it’s about: A woman infiltrates a mysterious Manhattan apartment building in hopes of rescuing her sister.

The kid attractor factor: This is an extremely violent horror action comedy — not for kids.

Good lessons/bad lessons: Don...Read more

Q. My ex just told me in one breath that he is getting married and then, with the next breath, invited me to the wedding. As good as we all get along, I was a little shocked -- and I really don’t want to go. Our daughter will be the flower girl and I’m concerned she may be uncomfortable. How do I decline the invitation without offending him?...Read more

Grandma is close at heart. Literally. And permanently.

A picture was in this morning’s paper of a young man proudly showing a tattoo of his beloved late grandma on his chest, along with a quote from her.

Sweet. Very, very sweet.

Naturally, with 11 grands, I ask myself, “What are the chances?”

At this stage of the game, the best I could...Read more

Money buys silence. Status buys patience … And reputation? Well, that buys second chances.

The following novels understand this all too well, and dismantle the privileged systems without mercy. Set among rehab centers built to protect the famous, towns that quietly adjusted to old crimes and communities governed by image and inheritance, ...Read more

CHICAGO — Planned Parenthood of Illinois has agreed to pay $500,000 following an investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission into allegations that its white employees faced harassment and discrimination, according to the federal agency.

The EEOC investigated charges made by multiple employees and found “reasonable ...Read more

'PROJECT HAIL MARY'

Rated PG-13 for some thematic material and suggestive references.

What it’s about: An unassuming science teacher finds himself alone in space trying to save the world and befriending an alien.

The kid attractor factor: This sweet and heartwarming sci-fi epic appeals mostly to adults but might draw kids as well with its ...Read more

Q. I see my daughter every other weekend, and it's not enough. I saw her more often before I took my current job, but I now work the swing shift and get home at 11 p.m., Monday through Friday. I'm thinking about changing jobs to an 8-5, moving to another county, and then applying for full custody. Her mother can have every other weekend and see ...Read more

In this Age of Review and Return, almost 93% of all shoppers read reviews before making a purchase. Even though we review before we buy, we often return the purchase after it arrives.

There was a time when returns were a rarity. Oh, there were exceptions, but you had to face a stern clerk, who often consulted a stern manager. Now, you just ...Read more

That uniquely magical moment when a novel knocks you flat and makes you ask, “Did that really just happen?” The joy of reading a passage multiple times to revisit the delightful insanity that liberates the reader from their reality.

In "Cruelty Free," author Caroline Glenn delivers a number of these moments in a playfully sinister new ...Read more

Nikesha Elise Williams starts the prologue of "The Seven Daughters of Dupree" with a sentence so horrible readers will hope it’s a metaphor for something less unthinkable. And then, as though taking the hand of a reluctant child, Williams pulls her readers into the first chapter – and into a hair salon where we meet the first of seven women ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Planned Parenthood clinics in the Philadelphia area expect to lose $3.1 million in Medicaid revenue this year due to funding cuts under President Donald Trump’s signature spending plan.

The deficit puts thousands of low-income people who rely on Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania’s clinics at risk of losing access...Read more