Day: September 12, 2024

LANSING, Kansas — The shuttered Kansas prison where the killers chronicled in Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood were executed is now a tourist attraction. 

Starting Friday, former wardens and corrections officers will lead two-hour tours of the stone-walled building in Lansing that first began housing inmates in the 1860s, The Kansas City Star reported. 

The building, originally called the Kansas State Penitentiary, was without purpose after the Kansas Department of Corrections opened the newly constructed Lansing Correctional Facility in 2020. But instead of demolishing it, the Department of Corrections transferred control of the building to the Lansing Historical Society and Museum. 

Upcoming events include a car show inside the prison walls later this month. 

“We’re expecting the prison to open up to large crowds who want to know what went on inside those walls,” Debra Bates-Lamborn, president of the society, said after state prison officials handed over the keys this week. 

For years, the prison carried out executions by hanging at the gallows — a site that visitors will not be able to access during tours. Since removed from prison grounds, the wooden gallows are now disassembled and under the state’s custody. 

Among the notable inmates executed at the prison were Richard “Dick” Hickock and Perry Smith, who were convicted of murdering four members of the Clutter family on Nov. 15, 1959, in the family’s home near Holcomb, Kansas. 

Capote, along with his close friend and fellow writer Harper Lee, visited the prison while doing research for the book about the killings. Hickock and Smith were executed in April 1965, among the last inmates to be hanged in the state. 

One spot on the tour is the Chow Hall, where the late country music legend Johnny Cash performed for inmates in 1970. 

“Johnny Cash has always said that audiences in prisons are the most enthusiastic audience he’s ever played to,” Bates-Lamborn said. 

The prison tour is modeled off of a similar tour in Missouri. About a year ago, a state lawmaker approached the Lansing Historical Society and Museum with the idea of preserving the prison by converting it into a tourist attraction. 

Bates-Lamborn said she and another board member made the trip to Jefferson City to tour the Missouri State Penitentiary, which has been open for tours since 2009. 

“Afterwards, I thought ours is a shoo-in and we’re so much better,” she said. 

Tours of the facility will be held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and are scheduled to run until October 26. Since the facility has no heat or electricity, the tours stop over the winter and will return in the spring.

Hispanic Heritage Month Events Round Up 2024

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. It’s a great time to celebrate Hispanic heritage with your family and teach your children about the different cultures that co-exist in New York City.

Here’s a round up of events this Hispanic Heritage Month in New York City!

Click on your region to jump to events near you!

• Manhattan
• Bronx
• Brooklyn
• Queens
• Staten Island

Manhattan

The Latin GRAMMYs®: 25 Years of Musical Excellence
The Paley Museum, 25 W. 52nd St, Upper West Side
Friday, Sept. 13, and Wednesdays – Sundays, 12 – 6 pm, through Nov. 3
All Ages
Free

The Paley Museum, in partnership with The Latin Recording Academy®, salutes the 25th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, and honors Hispanic Heritage Month with its latest in-depth exhibit, The Latin GRAMMYs®: 25 Years of Musical Excellence. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the excitement of the Latin GRAMMY Awards® via an array of memorable outfits and instruments from Latin GRAMMY®–winning recording artists including Shakira, Ricky Martin, Juan Gabriel, and Carlos Santana. The collection will also feature dozens of photos of iconic and thrilling Latin GRAMMY® moments, screenings of the 2023 Latin GRAMMY Awards® in Spain, and many other unforgettable experiences. Plus, visitors can take their picture on a Latin GRAMMY® red carpet ahead of the 25th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®.

Corn Craze Family Day

Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, One Bowling Green, Lower Manhattan.
Saturday, Sept. 14, 12 – 5 pm
All Ages

Free

Bring the whole family to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with stories, lessons, and family-friendly activities featuring corn.

Bilingual Sunday Story Time (English/Spanish): Paletero Man / ¡Qué Paletero tan Cool!
New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W., Upper West Side
Sunday, Sept. 15, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
All Ages
$6-$24; free for ages 4 and younger.

Start off National Hispanic Heritage Month with a bilingual Sunday Story Time! Follow a young boy as he passes through his busy neighborhood in search of the Paletero Man (popsicle man). When he finally catches up with him, our boy’s pockets are empty. Oh no! What happened to his dinero? It will take the help of the entire community to get the tasty treat now. The book is titled Paletero Man, written by Lucky Diaz and illustrated by Micah Player. After the story, make your own colorful (and tasty!) popsicle craft.

 National Hispanic Heritage Month at CMOM
Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd St., Upper West Side
Sept. 17-22, Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm
All Ages
Included with admission: $17

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by exploring different traditions, contributing to a mural, crafts, storytime, and more. 

Family Day: Baila! Canta! Celebra!
Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave., Upper West Side
Saturday, Sept. 21, 12 – 4 pm
Ages 3 – 10
Free

Family Day is back with activities offered in both English and Spanish, featuring live music, dance, and celebration. Stop by for a quick visit or join the fun for the whole afternoon!

Explore This! Latin American Design
The Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St., Midtown
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2 – 4 pm
All Ages
Free

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with hands-on activities and explore the exhibition Crafting Modernity: Design in Latin America, 1940–1980. Join anytime and choose activities that interest your family, and move at your own pace. Recommended for families with kids ages five and up. 

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Washington Heights Library, 1000 St. Nicholas Ave., Washington Heights
Thursday, Sept. 26, 4 – 5 pm
All Ages
Free

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with stories, crafts and activities.

Call Me Roberto! Children’s Story Time and Art Workshop
Jackie Robinson Museum, 75 Varick Street, New York
Sunday, Oct. 13, 1 – 2:30 pm
Ages 3 – 12 years old
$15-$18; free admission for children younger than 5.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a special story time and meet-and-greet featuring a new children’s book, Call Me Roberto! Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos! Enjoy a family-friendly reading with author Nathalie Alonso and art activities with illustrator Rudy Gutierrez.

Bronx

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center, 3225 Reservoir Oval East, Williamsbridge
Saturday, Sept. 14, 12 – 3 pm
All Ages
Free

Learn, experience, and represent the different cultures of South America, Central America, Spain and the Caribbean! There will be music, dancing, and activities for the kids. Wear your flag and celebrate.

Create Tin Foil Art
Allerton Library, 2740 Barnes Ave., Williamsbridge
Thursday, Sept. 19, 4 – 5 pm
Ages 6 – 12
Free

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by learning about and making tin foil art, a traditional Mexican folk art form that involves manipulating tin into various decorative items such as mirrors, lanterns, ornaments, and religious artifacts. Known as “hojalata” in Spanish, this craft has roots dating back to the 16th century. Everyone will make their own piece of tin foil or hojalata to take home.

Make Your Own Maracas
Bronx Library Center, 310 E Kingsbridge Road, University Heights
Thursday, Sept. 19, 4 – 5 pm
Ages 13 and up
Free

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by making maracas! Maracas are an inconspicuous but ever-present musical instrument in Latin American music whose roots stretch far back into the misty, pre-Columbian past. Learn about the history of this instrument and listen to some songs in which maracas are featured prominently! 

Festival Latino
Bronx Terminal Market, 610 Exterior Street, Melrose
Saturday, Sept. 21, 1 – 3:30 pm
All Ages
Free

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with music, giveaways, and family fun!

Fiesta on the Hudson
Wave Hill, 4900 Independence Ave., Riverdale
Thursday, Sept. 26, 4:30 – 8:30 pm
All Ages
Free

Dance the night away to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Learn the basic steps and traditions of dances like salsa and cha-cha, while enjoying live music on the Great Lawn overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades. As the sun sets, the party continues indoors. Specialty food and drinks will be available in Wave Hill House with more music and dancing into the night. Hosting and dance instruction provided by Talia Castro-Pozo and guests.

Brooklyn

The Animals of Latin America: A Craft Activity + Dance Party Concert
Macon Library, 361 Lewis Ave., Bedford–Stuyvesant
Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 am – 12pm
All Ages
Free

Join Broadway performer Facundo on a musical adventure traveling across Latin America. Start by doing a craft activity, where all are invited to make their own animal masks or puppet, while learning about various animals from different Latin American countries. Then end with a celebratory concert, with shakers to make rhythms together, colorful scarves for dancing, our new animal masks and puppets, and ending with a bubble party!

Learn Spanish / Charango Sing Along!
Brooklyn Public Library Sheepshead Bay, 2636 E. 14th St., Sheepshead Bay
Saturday, Sept. 28, 3 – 5 pm
Ages 3 – 8
Free

Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Hispanic heritage with the award-winning Araceli Roma! Learn Spanish through catchy songs and playful word repetition with the beautiful charango. Enjoy Spanish instruments and a charming puppet show. 

Jack and Friends Latino Heritage Month: Bilingual Birdies
Park Slope Library, 431 6th Ave., Park Slope
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 4 – 4:45 pm
All Ages
Free

Join Jack and Friends for a family concert with Bilingual Birdies! ¡Hola, hola! ¿Cómo estás? Get ready to sing, dance, jump, shake, laugh, march, run, freeze, tap, smile, and have the most fun ever en español with Bilingual Birdies! Families go on a joyful adventure with songs, dance, and puppetry, to learn new words in Spanish while they’re having a blast in this live music interactive experience. Whether you know a bit of Spanish already or are completely new to the language, this is the perfect way to celebrate diversity and embrace Latin American cultures! 

Brooklyn DA Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
New York City College of Technology, 300 Jay Street, Downtown Brooklyn
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 6 – 8 pm
All Ages
Free
Advanced registration required

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with an annual celebration of culture, music, food, and community. 

Quetzali Travels to Central and South America: Bilingual Puppet Show with Karina Onofre
Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights
Thursday, Oct. 3, 3 – 3:45 pm
Ages 12 and under
Free

Learn about Hispanic heritage with Karina Onofre and Quetzali the puppet and go on an adventure to countries like Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, and Argentina! In this energetic and interactive puppet show, children will sing, dance, learn, and play with Quetzali and her puppet friends while immersing themselves in a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. 

Calpulli Mexican Dance Company
DeKalb Library, 790 Bushwick Ave., Bushwick
Friday, Oct. 4, 3 – 4 pm
All Ages
Free

Join the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company to celebrate the rich diversity of Mexican and Mexican-American cultural heritage through this dance-based program.

Queens

Kick-off to Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Queens Public Library Langston Hughes, 100-01 Northern Boulevard, Corona
Saturday, Sept. 14, 11 am – 4 pm
All Ages
Free

Celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Latin America with live Tango, Cumbia, traditional Mexican dance, arts & crafts, giveaways, trivia, games, and more!

Carnaval De La Cultura Latina
Junction Blvd., bet. Roosevelt Ave. and 37th Ave. Corona
Sunday, Sept. 15, 12 – 6 pm
All Ages
Free

This event will showcase the richness of Latino heritage through music, dance, food, and art. It will also feature a variety of family-friendly activities, making it an inclusive and festive environment for all ages. Vendors will feature all kinds of Latin American arts and crafts, music, food and many other items. Children’s entertainment will include inflatable rides, face painting, games, and lots of giveaways. 

Hispanic Heritage: Wepa! Latin Dance For Kids with Urban Stages
Sunnyside Library, 43-06 Greenpoint Ave., Long Island City
Friday, Sept. 20, 3 – 3:45 pm
All Ages
Free

Experience the vibrant rhythms of the Caribbean with this interactive workshop! Engage in guided listening, rhythmic exercises, body movement, and beginner instruction in various Latin dances. Learn, laugh, and mambo around your house with a newfound appreciation for this rich musical culture. 

Hispanic Heritage: Mexican Bark Painting
Queens Public Library – Fresh Meadows, 193-20 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows
Wednesday, Sept. 25, 4 – 5 pm
Ages 6-11 years old 
Free

Bark Paintings, made by the people of Xalitla, Mexico, are made on amate paper (from the bark of the wild fig tree) and typically depict flowers, birds, plants, and animals. Learn about these beautiful objects and create one to take home with you!

Hispanic Heritage: Latin Dance for Kids with Cucala Dance Company
Queens Public Library – Fresh Meadows, 193-20 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows
Saturday, Oct. 12, 3 – 4 pm
All Ages
Free

Queens Public Library is excited to share fun Hispanic Heritage Month programming with children and their families in collaboration with Cucala Dance Company! Dancing is an excellent way to stay active, make friends, and build confidence. The Cucalitos Community is centered around respect, fun, and creativity. This is sure to be an encouraging and interactive program that everyone can enjoy!

Staten Island

Family Friendly Live Folk Concert with Jose Raul (Tito) Ocasio
Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave., Great Kills
Saturday, Sep. 21, 12 – 4 pm
All Ages 
Free

Jose Raul (Tito) Ocasio presents a free, family friendly live folk concert and artistic presentation during Hispanic Heritage Month honoring a Bronx living legend and award winner Jose Rivera, along with folk artists Bob Wright and Linda Hickman. 

Hispanic Heritage Day
Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave., Great Kills
Saturday, September 28, 11 am – 4 pm
All Ages
$10; $5 ages 6-11; free for children younger than 5

Join Historic Richmond Town in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with a day of special programs in New York CIty’s living history village. In the 3rd County Courthouse, the renowned Calpulli Mexican Dance Company will present a thrilling and informative performance of traditional dance mixed with storytelling and folklore. Visit historic houses and trade shops, which will feature demonstrations of recipes highlighting cuisine from across the Hispanic and Latinx communities, and demonstrations of weaving and broom making. 

PARA MI GENTE HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION
Stapleton Waterfront Park, Water St., Grymes Hill
Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 am – 6 pm
All ages
Free

Shop Latin items, food, see local artists, and dance outside with guest DJ spinning Latin music, salsa, merengue, bachata, and Latin house music. 

NEW YORK — Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been indicted on additional sex crimes charges ahead of his retrial in New York, Manhattan prosecutors said at a hearing Thursday. 

The indictment will remain under seal until Weinstein’s arraignment on the new charges, which is scheduled for September 18. 

Weinstein, 72, is recovering from emergency heart surgery Monday at a Manhattan hospital to remove fluid on his heart and lungs and was not at Thursday’s hearing. 

Prosecutors retrying Weinstein’s overturned rape conviction disclosed last week that they had begun presenting to a grand jury evidence of up to three additional allegations against Weinstein, dating as far back as the mid-2000s. 

They include alleged sexual assaults at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, now known as the Roxy Hotel, and in a Lower Manhattan residential building between late 2005 and mid-2006, and an alleged sexual assault at a Tribeca hotel in May 2016. 

Because the indictment is under seal, it was not known whether the new charges involved some or all of the additional allegations. 

Prosecutors had been seeking to retry Weinstein after New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, overturned his 2020 conviction on rape and sexual assault charges earlier this year and ordered a new trial. 

It remains to be seen whether the new charges will be included in the retrial, as prosecutors hope, or handled as a separate case by the court. 

The new charges come after prosecutors in Britain announced last week that they would no longer pursue charges of indecent assault against Weinstein, who was the most prominent villain of the #MeToo movement in 2017 when women began going public with accounts of his behavior. 

Weinstein, who co-founded the film and television production company Miramax, has long maintained that any sexual activity was consensual. 

At Thursday’s hearing, Judge Curtis Farber ruled that because of Weinstein’s health concerns, he will be allowed to remain at Bellevue Hospital indefinitely instead of being moved back to the city’s Rikers Island jail complex. 

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office had signaled for months that new charges were imminent against Weinstein, who was once one of the most powerful people in Hollywood, having produced films such as Pulp Fiction and The Crying Game. 

In July, prosecutors told a judge they were actively pursuing claims of rape that occurred in Manhattan within the statute of limitations. 

They said some potential accusers who were not ready to come forward during Weinstein’s first New York trial had indicated they were now willing to testify. 

New York’s highest court threw out Weinstein’s 2020 conviction in April after determining the trial judge unfairly allowed testimony against him based on allegations from other women that were not part of the case. 

Prosecutors have said one of the accusers in that case, Jessica Mann, is prepared to testify against him again. It’s unclear if the second accuser, Mimi Haley, would participate. Her lawyer, Gloria Allred, declined to comment. 

The Associated Press does not generally identify people alleging sexual assault unless they consent to be named, as Haley and Mann did. 

Weinstein, who had been serving a 23-year sentence in New York when his conviction was quashed, was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 of another rape. 

His 16-year prison sentence in that case still stands, but his lawyers appealed in June, arguing he did not get a fair trial in Los Angeles. Weinstein has remained in custody in New York’s Rikers Island jail complex while awaiting the retrial.

Give us 5 minutes, and we’ll give you the world. Around the clock, Voice of America keeps you in touch with the latest news. We bring you reports from our correspondents and interviews with newsmakers from across the world.

Nairobi, Kenya — A U.S. Marine Corps general who commands forces in Africa says stability and support programs for Somalia are in the works as the country prepares for the withdrawal of African Union troops in December.

General Michael Langley, head of the U.S. Africa Command, said that after meeting this past weekend with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his top military official, Major General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhyadin Addow, he’s confident the country can manage its own security after the December withdrawal of the African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia, known as ATMIS.

Langley’s remarks, in a virtual briefing to reporters Thursday, came 2 1/2 years after the multidimensional mission was authorized by the U.N. Security Council, in part to help stabilize the country following years of insurgency by the militant group al-Shabab.

Langley said that Somali authorities have told him military operations in the southern and central parts of the country are focused on liberating some areas from the militants and stabilizing others.

“The operations are ebbing and flowing,” Langley said. “I’ll just use some of their narratives. They have a young army, it’s a building army, so there are some successes and some setbacks, but I think the morale across the forces is building and they are very enthusiastic they’re going to be able to keep al-Shabab back on their heels going forward in future operations.”

In a briefing to the Security Council in June, Mohamed el-Amine Souef, head of ATMIS, told the council that the threat posed by al-Shabab remains unpredictable. Citing a recent attack on Somali security forces in the Galmudug region, and a mortar attack on the ATMIS camp in Baidoa, he said the group still retains the ability to conduct devastating assaults.

Although Somali forces supported by ATMIS have achieved significant gains in the fight against al-Shabab, support from international partners is essential to maintain the momentum, he said.

After visiting Somalia, Langley arrived in Kenya, which contributes troops to ATMIS, where he said he plans to engage with the Kenyan military leadership to explore future prospects on how to help the Somali army hit its operational objectives.

“They have been a tremendous partner with the Somali national army, institutionalizing, professionalizing, helping them to be able to operate in various areas, collaborating along the border to ensure the defeat of al-Shabab,” Langley said.

In West Africa, U.S. troops recently withdrew from Niger, where they were ordered to leave after a military junta took power. Juntas that took power by force also rule Mali and Burkina Faso.

Langley said the way forward on security cooperation across the Sahel is still to be determined, but added that U.S. forces will stay engaged.

“In the interim, yes, we are pivoting to some degree on like-minded countries with democratic values and shared objectives and shared challenges across the coast of West Africa,” he said. “So yes, we are in talks with Cote D’Ivoire, in talks with Ghana and Benin, as well as we start to reset and calibrate some of our assets.”

He said those countries are facing threats from terrorist groups like al-Qaida and Islamic State, which initially operated in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, but are now moving toward other countries across the region.

Russian social media says Murmansk and Apatity airports were temporarily closed on Thursday after suspected Ukrainian drones were shot down on successive days.

Buckle up because Psaraki is about to become your new obsession.

Imagine this: a warm evening, the faintest whisper of salt in the air (Brooklyn may not be the Aegean, but it sure gets close), and a table brimming with the kind of Greek flavors that make you forget everything else. This isn’t just dinner; it’s an experience.

And trust me, coming from a half-Greek Texas girl who knows her way around a good meal, Psaraki is the kind of place that’ll leave you longing for more.

James Paloumbis, the mastermind behind this Mediterranean jewel, brings 28 years of NYC’s restaurant savvy to every detail here. Walking into Psaraki feels like stepping into a chic seaside taverna — only here, you’re treated to views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan skyline, and the Williamsburg Bridge.

It’s a mesmerizing juxtaposition: the tranquil ambiance of a Greek escape with the raw energy of New York just across the water. There’s a certain electricity in the air that makes the whole experience irresistibly seductive.

Now, let’s talk about the food — because this is where Psaraki truly sets hearts (and appetites) racing. 

James has a philosophy: homemade in the truest sense of the word. His dishes aren’t just inspired by family recipes; they are family recipes, passed down through generations, crafted with love, and brought to life on your plate.

The Fisherman’s Table Experience is the highlight — a stunning, shareable feast featuring classics like horiatiki, saganaki, calamari, octopus, and branzino. Each dish arrives perfectly prepared, every bite a beautiful homage to Greek culinary tradition. And for those with dietary needs, everything fried is, miraculously, gluten-free. Sophisticated and inclusive? Yes, please.

But what’s a sultry summer evening without a cocktail to match? Psaraki’s drink menu reads like a Mediterranean dream.

The Psaraki Spritz, with Otto’s Athens Vermouth and Pink Grapefruit Soda, is as refreshing as a breeze off the Santorini coast, while the Green Tears, a smoky concoction of Mezcal, Skinos, basil syrup, and lemon, is bold, intriguing, and undeniably irresistible.

Whether you’re here for a romantic evening, a gathering with friends, or a solo indulgence, Psaraki strikes the perfect balance between laid-back Greek hospitality and cosmopolitan sophistication. James Paloumbis and his team are passionate about what they do, pouring their heart into every dish, every drink, and every detail of your evening.

So go ahead, make that reservation—you’re in for a refined and unforgettable escape, Greek-style.

Psaraki, 420 Kent Ave., Williamsburg, Brooklyn. (212) 220-5035. psaraki.com.