Latest news with #Traverse
The National
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Play explores if it is possible to love someone whose views you hate
That's the question being asked by a powerful new drama based on the relationship between an award-winning US playwright and his brother, a convicted murderer and high-ranking member of a white supremacist prison gang. An explosive exploration of race, power and cultural divides in the 21st century, Rift is to be given its UK premiere at the Traverse in Edinburgh during the Fringe. It has already won critical acclaim from both audiences and critics in the US, but playwright Gabriel Jason Dean told the Sunday National he was a little nervous about showing Rift in Edinburgh this summer. READ MORE: 'Not in our name': Hundreds gather in Scottish cities to protest Donald Trump 'The context has changed from when [Joe] Biden was president,' he said. 'Then it was a little bit safer to be talking about these things. Now it feels like I'm holding a stick of dynamite. There has been political anxiety in the States my entire life to some degree, but things are really coming to a head.' Rift certainly doesn't stray from tackling political controversy and Dean said he was looking forward to seeing what the audience reaction would be like in Edinburgh. 'In the US if you say a play is political, that is a stroke against it for audiences, but in my experience, drama here is the opposite of that,' he said. 'I'm excited to see how what feels a little more aggressive to an American audience will land in a place where political theatre is just the status quo.' The play is based on Dean and his half-brother's relationship and different trajectories in life. Both were sexually abused by the same person but were brought up separately until Dean was a teenager. He lived with his father and mother and, despite the abuse, had a less traumatic upbringing than his brother, whose mother was in and out of incarceration. Eventually, their father took a paternity test and agreed to bring the boy into their home but by that time, much of the damage had been done. In later life, it is the sexual abuse they both suffered that allowed them to connect despite their ideological differences. 'His was enduring because he lived with this person,' said Dean. 'It happened to me one time but it doesn't need to happen more than once to leave a mark on you.' Talking to his brother, along with therapy, helped Dean come to terms with the sexual abuse and enabled him to write about it. However, while that is part of the play, it is not the centre of it as Dean still has difficulties with his brother's ideology even though it appears to have mellowed slightly during his incarceration. Now 46, he was jailed for life without parole when he was 21, after being involved in a murder. In prison, he joined a white supremacist gang, possibly as a survival tactic, but then became more and more extreme in his beliefs. It was more than Dean could take and he stopped contact with his brother for 10 years, only resuming it a year or so after Donald Trump was elected President of the US in 2016. 'I started thinking I needed to talk to my brother,' said Dean. 'I couldn't explain it at the time, I just felt this need to reach out to him. 'I had no intention of writing anything – I just felt that if the outside world was starting to look like the inside, then he needed something else in his life.' Dean admitted 'a bit of a saviour complex' may have motivated him but it swiftly became more than that. 'Being so close to extremism with him made me start to understand the ways in which the tentacles of white supremacy had weaved their way into my life too,' said Dean. 'I'm still trying to unweave that tangled web in my own life and hopefully my children's lives too.' Although he thinks it's misguided, he understands why people would vote for Trump. 'I think the answer that they're seeking with him is wrong but I think what they're seeking isn't,' he explained. 'They want to have enough, and be able to live the life that has been promised.' Dean added: 'The play really gets into this idea that it's actually the lie of whiteness that's killing us all. It's killing folks of colour yes and it's also killing poor white people.' He believes the political situation could turn around in the US if there were a truly progressive presidential candidate that would appeal to those who voted for Trump. 'Essentially we have two conservative parties,' Dean said. 'We desperately need a legitimate third party in the US. And to take big money out of politics.' Although the circumstances of Dean and his brother's lives are unique, he believes the conflict of ideologies is souring many relationships all over the US and elsewhere. 'At first I was full of self-doubt about the play, thinking nobody would understand it or want to see it but the opposite has been true,' he said. Rift has resonance in Scotland too, with the rise of Reform and topics like climate change and gender recognition continuing to split society. Yet while Dean finds many of his brother's views abhorrent he can still find qualities in him he loves and admires. 'He's a charming individual which is both his strength and his Achilles' heel,' said Dean. 'He is so loving but he's not been exposed to the best people a lot of times and they've taken advantage of that.' His brother's giving nature was exemplified when Dean said he was considering writing about their relationship. 'I felt like I had to absolutely have his permission, no matter how much I fictionalised it and without hesitation he agreed. That demonstrates the way that he moves through the world, and especially in relation to me. He's always put me on this sort of pedestal.' Dean recognises that even if he and his brother had grown up together in a stable environment they would still be very different people, but writing the play has helped their relationship. 'We talk on a weekly basis now and, you know, he kind of filled a hole,' he said. 'I think I filled a gap for him too, and now we have some kind of family, the two of us. 'I think it's shown me I have a capacity for love I didn't know I had. And if there is anything I'd like an audience to take away, it's that if you have that rift in your life, whatever it is, it is possible to mend it.' Rift opens at the Traverse Theatre on Thursday, July 31
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
At least 11 people stabbed at Michigan Walmart
At least 11 people were stabbed Saturday at a Walmart in Traverse, Mich., police say. (Credit: Jerome Hartl)
Winnipeg Free Press
13-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sex charges stayed against chief after child testifies she lied
Child sex abuse charges have been stayed against a Manitoba chief after the young alleged victim admitted in court Friday she lied when she told police the man had taken cellphone pictures of her vagina. 'I have my life back,' Lake St. Martin First Nation Chief Christopher Traverse said outside court, minutes after prosecutor Boyd McGill stayed charges of sexual assault, possessing and creating child pornography and sexual interference. Traverse, 41, said his life was turned upside down after he was arrested in February 2024. His bail order prohibited him from talking to or seeing his kids, he had to sell his house, was removed from the boards of the Interlake Reserves Tribal Council and Anishinaabe Child and Family Services and banned from attending Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs events. Child sex abuse charges have been stayed against Lake St. Martin First Nation Chief Christopher Traverse after the young alleged victim admitted in court Friday she lied when she told police the man had taken cellphone pictures of her. 'The whole process was very difficult… and I stopped being there for my community,' Traverse said. 'This is worse than murder, to accuse an individual of touching a girl like that,' he said. 'That's the worst kind of charge you could (face) and I endured that pain for over a year and a half, being called names and all that.' Traverse said he expects to resume his regular duties as chief immediately. He's also hoping for an apology from the Indigenous groups that turned their backs on him. 'They put me down,' he said. 'Now they are going to know I didn't do this kind of stuff.' Traverse was accused of sexually assaulting the girl in December 2023, when she was eight years old. In an interview video played for court last April, the girl said she was watching television when Traverse put her over his shoulder and carried her to the bathroom 'like someone was kidnapped' and told her to pull down her pants (she amended her statement in court, saying Traverse pulled her by the hand to the bathroom). The girl said Traverse told her to pull her pants down. When she didn't comply, Traverse pulled her pants down himself and touched her vagina before taking a picture of her exposed body on his cellphone. The girl said Traverse deleted the picture, and then used her cellphone to take another picture, which he 'forgot' to delete. She claimed Traverse told her not to tell anyone about what had happened. 'I shut my mouth,' she said. 'I thought I would get in big trouble if I told.' The girl said her mother later discovered the picture on her cellphone. 'She was like: 'Who did this to you?' I said Chris.' During cross examination Friday, the girl said around the same time period she had taken a picture of herself using the toilet, which was later discovered by her mother, who told her not to do it again. The girl admitted she then lied to her mother, telling her she took the picture 'by accident.' During subsequent questioning, the girl admitted she took the second picture of her vagina and after her mother discovered it, she blamed Traverse. 'I just got scared,' the girl testified. 'So, Chris didn't take the photo?' Olson asked the girl. 'No,' she said quietly. 'You thought you were going to get in trouble with your mom, didn't you?' Olson said. 'Yes,' the girl replied. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. The trial before provincial court Judge Stacy Cawley was held over two days, two months apart, and was marked by angry outbursts between the alleged victim's family and Traverse and his supporters. A second day of testimony set for April had to be adjourned after Traverse was assaulted as he arrived outside court. Police confirmed Friday a man in his 40s and a man in his 50s have been charged with one count each of assault. Their names have not been released so as to protect the identity of the child witness in the case. When the trial resumed Friday, Sheriff's officers were stationed outside the courtroom and sat in the small court gallery separating the two families. Sheriff's officers escorted Traverse and his family as they left court. Dean PritchardCourts reporter Dean Pritchard is courts reporter for the Free Press. He has covered the justice system since 1999, working for the Brandon Sun and Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 2019. Read more about Dean. Every piece of reporting Dean produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Union County reports two separate one-vehicle fatalities on Highway 34 last week
Jun. 9—A Clarinda man and an Osceola woman were killed in separate Union County one-vehicle accidents five days apart. According to a Union County Sheriff's report, in the early hours of Tuesday, June 3, a 1983 Honda motorcycle, driven by John Pace, 54, of Clarinda, was traveling eastbound on Highway 34 when it didn't navigate the turn properly. The motorcycle traveled into the north ditch of the highway where it came to a rest on its side and Pace was located on the ground south of the motorcycle. The accident was found around 4 a.m. by a driver of a semi who had seen the lights and turned around to check. Pace was deceased at the scene and has been taken for autopsy. The investigation is ongoing. On June 8, the Union County Sheriff's Office received numerous 911 calls at approximately 11:50 a.m. regarding a reckless driver who was all over the roadway eastbound on Highway 34 past Highway 169. As the vehicle was close to the Clarke County line and without a Union County deputy in the area, a call was transferred to Clarke County. Union County was then advised that the vehicle, a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse, driven by San Vega, 43, of Osceola, was involved in an accident at mile marker 102 in Union County where it went off the roadway, down an embankment and came to rest in the Grand River. The caller told Clarke County they were able to get the Traverse stopped on the side of the road. When they went to put the vehicle in park, it was instead put into reverse. Vega lost consciousness and lifted her foot off the brake, causing the vehicle to reverse down the hill. Witnesses were unable to stop the vehicle. A Clarke County deputy and first responders arrived on scene after the car went down the hill. They were able to get Vega out of the vehicle before it became fully submerged in the water. Vega was transported by an ATV from the water to the Clarke County ambulance to be transferred to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines where she was declared deceased. Medics reported to deputies they smelled alcohol on or around her person. The investigation is ongoing. This is the third vehicle fatality reported in Union County this year.
Motor Trend
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
2026 Chevrolet Traverse Review: Expert Insights, Pricing, and Trims
At home at the (warehouse) club or off the grid, the 2026 Traverse is Chevrolet's 3-row SUV with a base price under $50,000. The baby Tahoe-looking model was redesigned for 2024 with chunkier styling and originally joined the Chevrolet lineup for 2009. The ute made its bones as a roomy conveyance that trades the capability of the Tahoe and Suburban for greater affordability, a tradition it continues today. Competitors include the Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride, and Hyundai Palisade. What's New Changes to the 2026 Traverse include: Polar White Tricoat and Sandstone Gray exterior colors Driver Confidence package gains key card. This physical card gives users access to the SUV and allows them to start it, like a similar card that comes with Teslas. For the Traverse LT, a rear camera mirror is available through the Driver Confidence package Iridescent Pearl Tricoat and Harvest Bronze Metallic exterior hues have been retired What We Think This 2026 Chevrolet Traverse brings meaningful upgrades over its predecessor, including a turbocharged engine that delivers more output than the outgoing V-6. Although fuel economy sees little improvement, the new powertrain offers better drivability and quicker acceleration. Inside, the Traverse features large displays and updated safety tech, and although the cabin design is conservative, its controls are intuitive and user-friendly. The off-road-oriented Z71 and the premium High Country trim add more variety to the 2026 Traverse range. However, the absence of a hybrid or plug-in hybrid option is a missed opportunity to compete with the Toyota Grand Highlander and Hyundai Palisade. Still, with its bold styling and improved performance, the Traverse is well positioned to compete in the crowded 3-row SUV segment. Top-Ranked Competitors: Hyundai Palisade Kia Telluride Honda Pilot Mazda CX-90 Performance The Traverse's 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine carries over into 2026 producing 315 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. Output is routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission, and models are offered with standard FWD or available AWD. Towing capacity is pegged at 5,000 pounds. Accelerating to 60 mph should take roughly 7.0 seconds. MPGs and Range Fuel economy ratings come in at 20/27 mpg city/highway with FWD and 19/24 mpg with AWD. Curiously, driving range is better for the AWD model, but that's because it comes with a larger 21.7-gallon fuel tank. Range is 456 miles, while the FWD with its 19.4-gallon reservoir can go only 446 miles. The 2025 Telluride is both less efficient and comes with a smaller 18.8-gallon tank. Fuel economy ratings are 20/26 mpg city/highway with FWD and 18/23 mpg with AWD, while driving ranges are 414 miles and 376 miles, respectively. Safety Ratings and Features The Traverse performs well in safety testing: 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick NHTSA 5-star overall rating Standard driver assist features include: Forward and reverse automatic emergency braking Adaptive cruise control Blind-spot monitoring Lane keeping Auto high-beams Cargo Space and Interior Room The Traverse boasts a spacious interior with room for up to eight passengers and a big cargo hold. The Telluride and Pilot deliver a skosh more legroom in the second and third rows, respectively. Technology Infotainment An 11.0-inch display sits before the driver, while infotainment is controlled through a 17.7-inch touchscreen with Google integration. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Chevy also includes a wireless phone charger and a half dozen USB ports throughout the cabin, and a 120-volt outlet is available. Sound System Base models feature a six-speaker setup. The Bose 12-speaker upgrade comes with a subwoofer. Available Upgrades Super Cruise self-driving technology is offered through the Enhanced Driving package that's available for LT and Z71, and standard on the High Country and RS. The suite also adds Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist, Driver Attention Assist, and an audio system upgrade. Value Think of the 2026 Traverse as a less premium GMC Acadia, with the same strong powertrain and roomy cabin. Standard features are not as plentiful, and fuel economy could be better for both, but the Chevrolet SUV is redeemed by its practical interior and lower prices. Recommended Trim Our pick in the Chevrolet Traverse lineup is the LT model with AWD, which emphasizes practical essentials. It comes equipped with a hands-free power tailgate, second-row captain's chairs, and a power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support.
