81.2 F
Houston
Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Home Blog Page 87

‘Mercy’ Takes Top Spot in a Frozen Box Office Weekend

Michael Esparza
-
0
‘Mercy’ Takes Top Spot in a Frozen Box Office Weekend

Amazon MGM’s Mercy claimed the No. 1 spot at the box office with an estimated $12.6 million opening weekend from 3,468 theaters, ending the reign of Avatar: Fire and Ash. Still, the win comes amid a familiar early-year slowdown for theaters.

Winter Storms Deepen the Slump

A massive winter storm stretching from Texas to New England has placed roughly two-thirds of the U.S. population under freezing conditions, with parts of the Northeast expecting several feet of snow. The severe weather kept many moviegoers home, further dampening ticket sales nationwide.

The total domestic box office for the weekend is estimated at $58.4 million, down 13% from the same weekend in January 2025, highlighting how much the storm contributed to the sluggish turnout.

‘Mercy’ Opens Softly Despite First Place Finish

Even without the weather factor, Mercy does not appear poised for a long theatrical run. The AI thriller starring Chris Pratt opened slightly ahead of Lionsgate’s January 2025 release Flight Risk, but critical reception has been harsh. The film holds a 21% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences were more forgiving, giving it a B- CinemaScore and an 81% audience rating.

Holiday holdovers including Avatar 3, Zootopia 2, and The Housemaid continue to dominate the top five, limiting room for new releases to break out.

‘28 Years Later’ Sequel Drops Sharply

Sony and Columbia’s 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple suffered a steep decline in its second weekend, earning an estimated $3.8 million, a 70% drop from its $12.5 million debut. Even accounting for weather disruptions, the sequel is struggling to reach $30 million domestically.

Disney Finds a Bright Spot

One bright note belongs to Disney’s Zootopia 2, which added $5.9 million in its ninth weekend. The film has now surpassed $400 million domestically, bolstered by its recent Oscar nomination and record-setting animated box office run.

For the latest box office updates, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

GRAMMY-Nominated Folklorist Juan Díes Brings Corridos, Stories, and Songwriting to Houston

Indira Zaldivar
-
0
GRAMMY-Nominated Folklorist Juan Díes Brings Corridos, Stories, and Songwriting to Houston

Houston audiences will have a rare opportunity to experience the power of the Mexican corrido tradition when GRAMMY- and Latin GRAMMY-nominated artist Juan Díes presents two free events at MECA Downtown at the end of January.

On Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m., Díes will lead Stories and Corridos, an evening of music and storytelling performed in both Spanish and English. The program will feature classic corridos alongside newly composed songs that recount real-life Mexican and American tragic heroes. Known for blending scholarship with performance, Díes draws on more than 35 years of experience as a folklorist, ethnomusicologist, performer, and educator to bring these historical ballads to life.

Díes is a co-founder of the Chicago-based Sones de México Ensemble, which has earned both GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY nominations for its dedication to preserving and innovating traditional Mexican music. The evening is supported in part by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and MECA-Houston.

The experience continues on Friday, Jan. 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with an intensive, hands-on Mexican Tragic Ballad Songwriting Workshop. During the five-hour session, participants will explore the 180-year-old corrido tradition, learning its history, structure, and poetic rules. By the end of the workshop, the group will collaboratively write an original song following the traditional tragic corrido form.

Both events take place at MECA DOW, 1900 Kane St., Houston, TX 77007, and are free to attend. Registration is required for the workshop.

UK Leaders, Allies Condemn Trump’s Remarks on NATO’s Role in Afghanistan

Edward Saenz
-
0
UK Leaders, Allies Condemn Trump’s Remarks on NATO’s Role in Afghanistan

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince Harry are among several international figures criticizing President Donald Trump after he downplayed the role NATO allies played during the war in Afghanistan.

Prince Harry Defends Allied Sacrifice

Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan as a British Army captain, issued a strong rebuke following Trump’s remarks. He emphasized that NATO invoked Article 5 — its collective defense clause — for the first and only time after the Sept. 11 attacks, and that U.S. allies responded.

“I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there,” Harry said, noting that 457 British service members were killed during the conflict. He added that thousands of families across allied nations continue to carry the cost of the war.

Harry said the sacrifices of NATO troops deserve to be discussed “truthfully and with respect.”

Trump Minimizes NATO Contributions

Trump’s comments came during a Fox News interview in Davos, Switzerland, amid renewed tensions with NATO over his push to acquire Greenland. In the interview, Trump claimed the U.S. did not need its allies in Afghanistan.

“They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan and they did,” Trump said. “They stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”

The White House defended the president’s remarks, with spokeswoman Taylor Rogers stating that the U.S. has contributed more to NATO than all other alliance members combined.

Casualties Across the Alliance

More than 3,500 NATO troops were killed during the Afghanistan war, according to data compiled by icasualties.org. While nearly 2,500 of those deaths were U.S. troops, several allies suffered significant losses relative to their population size.

Britain lost 457 troops, Denmark lost 44, and Poland also reported 44 fatalities during the conflict.

Starmer Calls Comments ‘Appalling’

Prime Minister Starmer described Trump’s remarks as “insulting and frankly, appalling,” saying they caused pain to the families of those killed or injured.

“I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice that they made for their country,” Starmer said while honoring British service members.

Poland, Others Push Back

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also criticized Trump, recalling a 2011 farewell ceremony for fallen Polish soldiers in Afghanistan. Tusk said American officers at the time vowed Poland’s sacrifices would not be forgotten.

Trump has recently questioned whether NATO allies would defend the U.S. in a future conflict, despite their military support following the 9/11 attacks.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Philadelphia Sues Trump Administration Over Removal of Slavery Memorial

Indira Zaldivar
-
0
Philadelphia Sues Trump Administration Over Removal of Slavery Memorial

The city of Philadelphia has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration following the removal of a memorial honoring people enslaved by George Washington at the President’s House site, a national historic landmark near Independence Hall.

City Alleges Agreement Was Violated

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, names the National Park Service (NPS), the Department of the Interior, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and NPS Acting Director Jessica Bowron as defendants.

Philadelphia argues that the removal of the exhibit panels — which told the stories of nine enslaved individuals who lived and labored at the President’s House — violated a 2006 cooperative agreement between the city and the federal government. That agreement outlined the terms for the exhibit’s design and construction, which opened to the public in 2010.

According to the complaint, NPS removed the panels without prior notice or consultation, despite the city’s shared authority to approve the exhibit’s final design.

Claims of Arbitrary Federal Action

City attorneys contend that the sudden removal was “arbitrary and capricious” and not in accordance with federal law. The lawsuit argues that the city’s right to approve the original exhibit would be rendered meaningless if NPS could later alter or dismantle it unilaterally.

The complaint also alleges violations of the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires federal agencies to publish proposed changes and allow for public comment before taking significant action.

Executive Order Cited by Interior Department

The Department of the Interior has defended the removal, stating it was done to comply with President Donald Trump’s March 27, 2025 executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” The order directs federal agencies to remove what it describes as “divisive, race-centered ideology” from museums and cultural institutions.

An Interior Department spokesperson said all interpretive materials are being reviewed to ensure alignment with “shared national values,” adding that the National Park Service acted appropriately under the directive. The spokesperson also criticized Philadelphia for filing what they called a “frivolous lawsuit.”

Mayor Responds, City Seeks Restoration

Mayor Cherelle Parker addressed the lawsuit during a Friday press conference, emphasizing that the 2006 agreement requires both parties to meet and confer before any exhibit changes are made. She said the city will continue updating the public as the case moves forward.

Philadelphia is seeking a court order to restore the slavery memorial, along with preliminary and permanent injunctions to prevent further changes to the President’s House exhibit.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Winter storm could lead to ice accumulation on trees, power lines in counties north of Houston

ABC13 Houston
-
0
Winter storm could lead to ice accumulation on trees, power lines in counties north of Houston

By Lileana Pearson, ABC13 Houston

Officials are warning that the cold and rain we’re expecting this weekend could turn into ice accumulation, bringing serious impacts to Houston and southeast Texas.

“Because of the precipitation coming down, that would be ice; it could weigh down the power lines from the pole to your house. That could cause a downing of the power line for you or maybe for your neighborhood,” Governor Greg Abbott said.

Abbott handed down that warning on Thursday. Ice impacts could be felt all the way to the coast, but will most likely be felt in counties north of Houston, including Montgomery, Grimes, Burleson, Walker, Polk, Trinity, Madison, and San Jacinto.

Energy experts told ABC13 that months of preparation have gone into strengthening power infrastructure to give it a fighting chance against the storm.

“We do start to do our preparation all year round,” customer service manager with Entergy Texas, Kenny Muhammad, said.

Muhammad said teams have been cutting branches, clearing vegetation, and replacing poles throughout the 17 Texas counties they cover to try to keep infrastructure intact, but outages can still occur.

Once accumulation passes a quarter inch, Muhammad said branches get heavy and can fall into powerlines, or lines can fall on their own.

“You’ll start to see things like cross arm break, even pole tops can tumble when you get an inch of accumulation on the lines,” Muhammad said.

The National Weather Service is projecting about 3/10ths of an inch of ice accumulation in our northern counties, though ABC13 meteorologists said on Thursday that it’s too early to know for certain.

Muhammad said now is the time to safely trim any branches or vegetation in your backyard that could come into contact with a power line.”Any storm is unpredictable, but especially winter storms,” Muhammad said.

If your energy goes out, check your provider’s website for an outage map to get an idea of how long you may be without power.

Muhammad said that Entergy Texas’ system automatically tracks outages, but customer reports are always appreciated.

For more news updates, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook, X and Instagram.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

ABC13 Weather Alert: Ice and Winter Storm Warnings issued for Houston and most of Southeast Texas

ABC13 Houston
-
0
ABC13 Weather Alert: Ice and Winter Storm Warnings issued for Houston and most of Southeast Texas

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Most of Southeast Texas is under Winter Storm Alerts this morning as an arctic front moves in.

These winter alerts are from 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday with widespread freezing rain blowing all the way down to the Gulf coast. Additionally, an Extreme Cold Warning is also in effect Saturday through Monday as an arctic airmass will move in, leading to a hard freeze and the chance for below zero wind chills Monday morning. Our ABC13 Weather Alert starts Saturday and runs through Monday morning for the threat of ice and bitterly cold conditions.

Time is running out to prepare for the coming winter storm. Temperatures Saturday will start off in the 50s, but after a round of morning thunderstorms, those temperatures will crash down into the 30s as the arctic air blows in late Saturday as the wind turns more from the northwest. In the Houston-area, freezing rain could start as early as late Saturday night (around Midnight), for more northern counties it could begin in the early evening.

What are the details on these weather alerts for the weekend?

Up to half an inch of ice is possible in the Ice Storm Warning, which includes Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Walker Counties. Up to two-tenths of an inch of ice is possible in the Winter Storm Warning, which includes Harris County and all other counties with the exception of Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Galveston, and Matagorda Counties. Power outages, tree damage, and travel hazards are possible due to the icy conditions. After the precipitation ends Sunday morning, a hard freeze is coming for nearly all of Southeast Texas Sunday night and Monday morning. We expect the roads in most places to be fine by Monday afternoon with sunshine and temperatures warming closer to 40 degrees. Another hard freeze is expected on Tuesday morning.

What should I be preparing for with the winter storm this weekend?

You need to be prepared to stay warm, stay put, and to possibly go without power should you receive a high amount of freezing rain. The freeze line now looks like it will stay just north of Southeast Texas most of Saturday, then blow through Saturday night. That means most of Saturday will be cold and rainy with nothing freezing except for in northern parts of Trinity, Polk, Walker, and Grimes Counties. That is likely to change after sunset Saturday, with freezing rain spreading south toward the Texas coast. Where freezing rain accumulations occur, it could lead to significant travel and power disruptions as ice accretes on bridges, elevated roadways, powerlines, and tree branches. Some parts of Southeast Texas north of I-10 could spend more than 48 hours below freezing as a result. These more significant impacts are more likely the farther north and west you go from Houston.

Why are we expecting freezing rain instead of snow?

The arctic air is expected to be shallow, meaning the layer of freezing air will not be thick enough to support snow. Instead, if we get anything frozen at all, it would likely be in the form of freezing rain or sleet (ice pellets). There is a brief window late Sunday when it will be cold enough to snow, but by then most of the precipitation is over.

Is this is a dangerous, pipe-bursting type of cold?

Yes. We expect temperatures to drop into the teens and low 20s on Sunday night and Monday morning everywhere except around Galveston Island. That’s when you’ll need to make sure your interior pipes are adequately insulated and protected from the cold. The wind will still be blowing, so wind chill factors will drop into the single digits and teens Monday morning, and some places northwest of Houston could have wind chills below zero. The National Weather Service has placed all of Southeast Texas under an Extreme Cold Warning during this timeframe. It’s important that all people, pets, and livestock are protected from the cold to avoid hypothermia.

When will we be done with the freezing weather?

Temperatures should climb above freezing on Monday, but we expect another hard freeze on Monday night and Tuesday morning. A light freeze is possible Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, especially north of Houston. Then we should be done with this round of arctic air.I heard another arctic front is coming next weekend. Is that true?

We do predict another round of arctic air will arrive Friday, and that could even bring some snow showers to Southeast Texas Friday night and Saturday morning. Our focus right now is on helping you get through our current winter storm, then we’ll spend more time nailing down the details of the next cold, wintry blast.

13 ALERT RADAR MAPS:
Southeast Texas
Houston
Harris County
Galveston County
Montgomery/Walker/San Jacinto/Polk/Grimes Counties
Fort Bend/Wharton/Colorado Counties
Brazoria/Matagorda Counties

Have weather tips, videos, and photos?

Send it to ABC13 using the form below. If you have a video or photo to send, terms of use apply. If you don’t, just hit ‘skip upload’ and send the details.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

For more Houston headlines, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine!

Minnesota Businesses Close in Protest of ICE Surge

Edward Saenz
-
0
Minnesota Businesses Close in Protest of ICE Surge

Scores of businesses across Minnesota shut their doors Friday as part of a statewide pause in economic activity to protest the Trump administration’s deployment of thousands of immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis.

‘No Work, No Shopping’ Message

Fliers reading “ICE OUT” and “No Work. No School. No Shopping.” appeared on storefronts as bars, restaurants, shops and museums closed for the day. Religious leaders and labor unions described the action as a general strike, with many workers planning to join a large afternoon march in Minneapolis despite subfreezing temperatures.

Community Spaces Turn to Resource Hubs

Some closed businesses remained open to support the community. Pow Wow Grounds, a Native-owned coffee shop in Minneapolis, served as a donation and care hub coordinated by the Indigenous Protector Movement as immigration operations intensified.

Escalating Tensions

The protests follow days of confrontations between demonstrators and federal agents, including the use of tear gas and flash-bang grenades. The Trump administration says agents have faced harassment, while critics liken the crackdown to an invasion.

Political and Corporate Silence

Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis to defend ICE operations, saying the administration is trying to reduce tensions. Meanwhile, many major Minnesota-based corporations have declined to comment, drawing criticism from state lawmakers and community members.

For more on anti-ICE protests in Minnesota and Trump’s immigration crackdown, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Trump Pulls Canada From ‘Board of Peace’ Amid Carney Dispute

Indira Zaldivar
-
0
Trump Pulls Canada From ‘Board of Peace’ Amid Carney Dispute

President Donald Trump has rescinded Canada’s invitation to join his newly formed “Board of Peace,” escalating an already tense feud with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Fallout From Davos Speech

Trump announced the decision in a social media post Thursday, shortly after Carney delivered a high-profile speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. In his remarks, Carney warned that the U.S.-led rules-based global order is facing a “rupture” and urged middle powers to unite against coercion by stronger nations.

About the Board of Peace

Trump unveiled the Board of Peace earlier this week on the sidelines of the forum. More than two dozen countries have signed on, including Israel, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, though several U.S. allies in Europe have declined or voiced reservations.

War of Words Escalates

Trump responded sharply to Carney’s comments, saying Canada should be “grateful” to the United States. Carney later pushed back, stressing that while the two countries share deep ties, “Canada thrives because we are Canadian.”

Tensions Continue

The clash adds to months of strained relations over tariffs and Trump’s repeated remarks about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, further underscoring the growing rift between the neighboring allies.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Former Olympian Ryan Wedding Arrested on Major Drug Trafficking Charges

Indira Zaldivar
-
0
Former Olympian Ryan Wedding Arrested on Major Drug Trafficking Charges

Ryan Wedding, a former Canadian Olympic snowboarder and longtime FBI Most Wanted fugitive, has been arrested, U.S. officials announced Friday.

The 44-year-old is accused of leading a transnational drug trafficking operation that moved massive quantities of cocaine from Colombia through the U.S. and into Canada. Prosecutors also allege Wedding ordered multiple murders tied to the criminal enterprise.

Authorities said Wedding was taken into custody in Mexico after surrendering to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City following weeks of negotiations. He was flown to the United States and is expected to make his first federal court appearance on Monday.

Wedding competed for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics before investigators say he became a major figure in organized crime.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Here’s how to stay warm and safe in Houston during this weekend’s winter storm

ABC13 Houston
-
0
Here’s how to stay warm and safe in Houston during this weekend’s winter storm

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — This weekend’s winter storm is on everyone’s mind as government officials, utility companies, and residents prepare for the potential of freezing rain and sleet.

Many will stay in their homes as severe weather moves across southeast Texas, and those who need them will seek shelter at warming centers throughout the Houston area.

Below are some helpful tips for weathering the storm safely.

Staying safe inside your home

Officials say people should stay indoors during a winter storm. But home heating systems running for hours can increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning as the deadly fumes can be produced by furnaces, stoves, and heaters, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Carbon monoxide can also be created when people use portable generators or run cars in their garages to stay warm or charge their phones.

Dr. Alex Harding, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said that because carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, people won’t necessarily be aware of it.

“The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be really insidious. They can sneak up on patients and can range from just developing a headache or maybe a little bit of nausea to all the way to losing consciousness and seizures,” he said.

Dealing with hypothermia

Cold weather can be dangerous or deadly due to unsafe exposure to the elements.

The cold temperatures could catch people off guard in parts of the country that earlier might have largely experienced a mild winter.

“Really cold temperatures and winds can make temperatures feel a lot colder, and the result of that could be cold air that could eventually lead to frostbite at a much faster rate or hypothermia at a much faster rate than normal,” said Jon Palmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine.

Prolonged exposure to frigid temperatures can put people at risk of hypothermia, a condition that happens when one’s body loses heat faster than it can produce it.

“Hypothermia is definitely one of the bigger concerns, especially if we do have any kind of certainty in like power grids or electricity failing,” Harding said.

The danger of hypothermia is greater for someone outside, exposed to wind gusts, and not wearing appropriate clothing, or for someone whose clothing gets wet.

“If they have a safe place that’s warm, where they can hunker down, where they have water and food and all those kinds of necessities … then that’s going to limit their exposure to those risks,” Harding said.

But vulnerable populations like people with disabilities or homeless individuals can have problems finding a warm and safe place to stay.

Warming centers throughout the Houston area

Below is a list of warming centers throughout the Houston area, including unincorporated parts of Harris County.

Harris County Precinct Four

Bayland Community Center, open 24 hours starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday
6400 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77074

City of Houston

Officials said these shelters open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, but the exact operating hours may vary by location.

Acres Homes MSC
6719 West Montgomery Road, 77091

Denver Harbor MSC
6402 Market Street, 77007

Fifth Ward MSC
4014 Market Street, 77077

Fonde CC
110 Sabine Street, 77007

Kashmere MSC
4802 Lockwood Drive, 77026

Magnolia MSC
7037 Capitol Street, 77011

Metropolitan MSC
1475 West Gray Street, 77019

Moody MSC
3725 Fulton Street, 77009

Northeast MSC
9720 Spaulding Street, 77016

Southwest MSC
6400 High Star Drive, 77074

Sunnyside MSC
4410 Reed Road, 77051

Third Ward MSC
3611 Ennis Street, 77004

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

For more Houston headlines, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

1...868788...954Page 87 of 954

Houston’s premier Hispanic news network, dedicated to keeping you informed with the latest updates on local and national breaking news, community events, entertainment, chisme, and much more. We strive to be your trusted source for engaging and timely content that connects with our vibrant community and celebrates the culture and stories that matter most to you.

Contact us: contact@queondamagazine.com

© Copyright - Que Onda Magazine 2024