Sonia Manzano known to multiple generations as Maria on “Sesame Street” confesses that there was flirtatious chemistry between her character and Oscar the Grouch. “That’s absolutely true,” she said with a laugh during an exclusive interview with Page Six. “I really love Oscar. He was my favorite Muppet character. “I always kid around, saying, ‘I left the show because 44 years was long enough for me to wait for him to propose.” Manzano, 75, explained that she loved Oscar because of his sense of humor, as portrayed by late Muppeteer Caroll Spinney. “He would just say things, ‘If you don’t want to be a murderer, don’t be around people who shouldn’t be killed,’” she said, still laughing. “‘I know my mother used to rock me to sleep, she used real rocks.’ “You know, those kinds of quips were endearing to me. I loved it.” Manzano is the subject of a documentary, “Street Smart: Lessons from a TV Icon,” viewable online through the end of November as part of Doc NYC’s Metropolitan Competition. The Bronx native joined the legendary PBS kids series in 1971, two years after it debuted, and eventually began writing scripts for the series. Manzano said Jim Henson the legendary puppeteer who created such characters as Oscar, Big Bird and Cookie Monster and voiced Ernie from 1969 to 1990 was not an easy person to know. “He was a very enigmatic person,” she explained. “You never knew what he was thinking. I can’t say that I knew him well. He didn’t open up and we weren’t on the set at the same time.” One thing she said she did learn from the creative genius who, died suddenly in 1990 at 53, is how to treat people. “He never criticized the performers,” she said. “He always said, ‘I think we can do that better.’ And kind of putting himself in that group that was going to do things better.” The Emmy winner recalled how she shaped Maria by drawing on her own childhood experiences in the South Bronx and acknowledges her character’s importance for young Latino viewers. “Not seeing people who looked like you reflected in society certainly made you feel invisible,” she said. Manzano knew it was time to leave the show, which now plays on both PBS and Netflix, when she was on a panel with other performers and realized that she was the only one there who had personally known Henson, and also began not recognizing the show’s celeb guests. Since leaving the show, Manzano has written children’s books and is the creator of the cartoon series “Alma’s Way,” set in The Bronx and revolving around a 6-year-old Puerto Rican girl.
https://pagesix.com/2025/11/19/entertainment/maria-from-sesame-street-had-flirtation-with-oscar-the-grouch/
Yearly Archives: 2025
‘RHOA’ star Porsha Williams accused of getting physical with fellow passenger during plane ‘incident’
Porsha Williams allegedly got physical with a fellow passenger during the Delta Airlines flight “incident” that led to FBI involvement. As the reality star touched down on Sunday after attending BravoCon 2025 in Las Vegas, she and another female passenger were met by cops in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. A statement obtained by Page Six from the Atlanta Police Department read, “Preliminary investigation indicated that both parties may have been involved in a verbal dispute that reportedly escalated into a physical dispute during an inbound flight to Atlanta.” “Both parties were separated on the scene and interviewed by officers” the statement continued, as victim and witness statements were “forwarded to the FBI.” Officials tell Page Six that the report has not yet been finalized. Neither Williams nor the other woman involved was taken into custody at any point, according to the U. S. Sun, who was the first to report the news. A source tells Page Six that the accusation “is completely false and defamatory” and that Porsha “was the victim and it was all verbal,” adding that the “FBI should be closing case soon.” Amid the federal investigation, the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star’s lawyer also maintains that his client was the victim in the dispute. “Ms. Williams was verbally assaulted by an irate and unhinged passenger without provocation,” Williams’ lawyer, Joe Habachy, told Page Six Tuesday. He added, “The passenger then proceeded to make false allegations that were in direct conflict with observations from several eyewitnesses.” “As with any incident occurring aboard an aircraft, federal authorities are required to conduct an investigation involving all parties to determine what, if any, offenses occurred.” Habachy noted that Williams “has every intention of cooperating with law enforcement to whatever extent necessary, and remains confident that the passenger will be charged.” Although it is still unclear what happened, the former “Celebrity Apprentice” star could be seen in a video obtained by TMZ smiling and cooperating with authorities once they met her in the airport. A spokesperson for the FBI Atlanta confirmed a situation had happened as they told the outlet, “FBI Atlanta is aware of incident on a Delta flight on November 16th allegedly involving Porsha Williams and/or at least one other person. “We are looking to see whether any federal charges may or may not apply.”.
https://pagesix.com/2025/11/19/celebrity-news/rhoa-star-porsha-williams-accused-of-getting-physical-with-fellow-plane-passenger/
Michelin Guide doesn’t include any new stars for DC restaurants
The awards for the 2025 D. C. Michelin Guide were announced during a ceremony in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Michelin demoted what was previously the region’s only three-starred restaurant; The Inn at Little Washington is now a two-star establishment. Besides that demotion, all other restaurants on D. C.’s list maintained their star status designation from last year. D. C. restaurateur and activist José Andrés received the Northeast Cities Mentor Chef Award. Michelin praised Andrés’ focus on sharing his talents with others as well as his ownership over a wide variety of award-winning restaurants, including minibar with two Michelin stars. Two restaurants were added to Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list. PhoXotic and Your Only Friend were given that status, which celebrates restaurants that offer quality food at a reasonable price. PhoXotic serves Vietnamese food, including butcher’s rolls and pho bowls. Your Only Friend is a self-described “sandwich bar” with offerings such as the “Hot Nug” sandwich, loaded with chicken nuggets and Nashville hot sauce. Both eateries were recently highlighted on a list of eight D. C. restaurants recommended by Michelin. None of those recommended restaurants earned Michelin stars Tuesday night. According to Michelin’s website, one-star status goes to restaurants with “top-quality ingredients and prepare dishes with distinct flavors.” Two stars represent restaurants with “expertly crafted dishes, with food that is both refined and inspired.” Restaurants where “the cooking elevates the craft to an art form” are awarded the highest honor of three stars. Green stars are for restaurants that maintain an “exceptional commitment to sustainability.” Last year, two restaurants earned their stars for the first time: Vegetarian Latin American restaurant Mita and Japanese sushi restaurant Omakase at Barracks Row. The full 2025 D. C. Michelin Guide is posted online. Here’s a look at which restaurants made the cut for star or Bib Gourmand. C. Asian Cane Caribbean Daru Indian Dauphine’s Creole Ellē Contemporary Hitching Post Southern Ivy City Smokehouse Seafood Karizma Modern Indian Indian L’Ardente Italian La Tejana Mexican Laos in Town South East Asian Lapis Afghan Maketto Asian Menya Hosaki Japanese Oyamel Mexican PhoXotic Vietnamese Queen’s English Chinese Residents Cafe & Bar Contemporary Sababa Mediterranean Stellina Pizzeria Pizza Taqueria Habanero Japanese The Red Hen Italian Toki Underground Japanese Unconventional Diner American Yellow Middle Eastern Your Only Friend Gastropub Zaytinya Mediterranean Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here. © 2025 WTOP. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
https://wtop.com/business-finance/2025/11/michelin-guide-doesnt-include-any-new-stars-for-dc-restaurants/
Judge Sets Jan. 21 Pretrial in Leigha Mumby Vehicular Homicide Death of Daniel Waterman
In Leigha Mumby’s first pretrial appearance since she was charged with vehicular homicide in the death of her former boyfriend, a judge today set Jan. 21 as the next pretrial, granting the defense’s request for a 60-day extension to go over new discovery in the case. The State Attorney’s Office added the vehicular homicide charge against Mumby in late October, following the death of Daniel Waterman on Oct. 8. He was 22. Mumby, 24, was driving her car with Waterman in the passenger seat on Feb. 9 when the couple got into an argument. According to statements by Waterman before his death, Mumby intentionally drove the car recklessly, crashing into a tree on I-95. Waterman’s safety settings on his iPhone automatically activated through its crash detection technology, calling 911 and electronically providing the 911 dispatcher with the coordinates of the crash scene, between Palm Coast Parkway and Matanzas Woods Parkway. Waterman had no pulse at the scene, according to a paramedic, while Mumby was incapacitated and trapped, but conscious. Both were extricated. Mumby was originally charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony, and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, both felonies. The new charge, also a felony, does not carry a mandatory minimum sentence on conviction, but if Mumby is convicted, she is now much more likely to face prison than with the two previous charges alone. Mumby discovered that she was pregnant the morning of the crash. The tension between her and Waterman was related to that discovery. She gave birth to the child on Oct. 11, according to a petition for grandparental rights filed earlier this month by Heather Waterman, Daniel’s mother, and the child’s grandmother. There has been no contact between the Waterman family and Mumby. Mumby, a Flagler Beach resident, is represented by Jacksonville attorney Reid Hart. Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark is prosecuting the case.
https://flaglerlive.com/mumby-pre-trial/
Francis Rawlings Jr.
Feb. 23, 1947 Nov. 11, 2025 NATCHZ Funeral services for Francis “Pablo” Rawlings Jr., 78, of Ridgeland, MS, formerly of Natchez, who departed this earthly life on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, in Jackson, will be held Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, at 11 a. m. at West Gate Funeral Home (George F. West Sr. Memorial Chapel) with Pastor Michael Hoggatt officiating. Burial will follow at the Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of West Gate Funeral Home. Visitation will be held on Monday from 10 a. m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Francis was born on Feb. 23, 1947, in Natchez, the son of Willie Mae Rawlings and Francis Rawlings Sr. He received his bachelor’s degree from Alcorn State University, was a United States Marine Veteran, and was a self-employed painter/contractor. Francis was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church and enjoyed basketball and reading. Francis leaves to cherish his memory: sons, Damon Rawlings and Darrick Rawlings; daughters, Qwana Carter and Daphaney Stancel; brothers, Thomas Rawlings and Larry Rawlings; sister, Pam Rawlings; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Online condolences may be sent to www. westgatefh. com.
https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/obituaries/francis-rawlings-jr-5fb40fc9
Trump says he’ll make Sudan peace push at Saudi leader’s behest
President Trump vowed to make a push for peace in the war-torn African country of Sudan on Wednesday after listening to an appeal from Saudi Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman during his visit to Washington. “His majesty would like to me do something very powerful having to do with Sudan,” Trump told a crowd at…
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5613381-trump-sudan-peace-push/
RGGI was never a good fit for Pennsylvania
SALENA ZITO: THE UNSUNG HERO OF THE ROLLING THUNDER MINE The states currently part of RGGI are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia all decidedly blue states whose energy costs soared after joining the initiative. Pittsburgh Works Together, a building trade organization headquartered in Western Pennsylvania, points to a new study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which documented that every state in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative had higher electricity prices than Pennsylvania. The deal gave Republicans lower costs and relief for the state’s powerful energy industry, and it gave Shapiro a chance to champion that industry while neutralizing GOP talking points ahead of his reelection bid. “For years, the Republicans who have led the Senate have used RGGI as an excuse to stall substantive conversations about energy production. Today, that excuse is gone,” Shapiro said at his press conference last week after the budget was finalized. “It is time now to look forward, and I’m looking forward to aggressively pushing for policies that create more jobs in the energy sector, bring more clean energy onto our grid, and reduce the cost of energy for all Pennsylvanians,” he added. RGGI was never a Shapiro thing. He inherited it from Gov. Tom Wolf, a York County Democrat, who in 2019 issued an order seeking to join RGGI. It didn’t go over well. The order was challenged in court and has dragged on for years. Kim Ward, a Westmoreland County Republican and the state Senate president pro tempore, said in a statement that leaving the program “will give Pennsylvania families more certainty with their electricity rates.” Climate activists were less than thrilled. Lena Moffitt, the executive director of Evergreen Action, said Shapiro was elected to be a fighter who would not back down, but instead, he caved to Republican obstructionism. Luke Bernstein, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, said the budget agreement offered significant victories for businesses, beginning with permitting reform and the state’s exit from RGGI, “something that will provide much-needed clarity and encourage energy development and investment.” SALENA ZITO: TRUMP EXPLAINS HOW CHARLIE KIRK’S MURDER CHANGED HIS LIFE The latest energy employment data for Pennsylvania from the Department of Energy show that there are 273, 364 energy workers statewide, representing 3. 4% of all U. S. energy jobs. Of these energy jobs, 21, 580 were in electric power generation, 48, 405 in fuels, 51, 437 in transmission, distribution, and storage, 69, 990 in energy efficiency, and 81, 952 in motor vehicles. The Keystone State’s energy sector represents nearly 5% of total state employment. By steering Pennsylvania out of RGGI, Shapiro showed the kind of pragmatism and independence voters rarely see in politics today.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3892333/regional-greenhouse-gas-initiative-never-good-fit-pennsylvania-josh-shapiro/
Trump nominates new CFPB director, but White House says agency is still closing
By KEN SWEET, AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) President Trump nominated Stuart Levenbach as the next director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, using a legal maneuver to keep his budget director Russell Vought as acting director of the bureau while the Trump administration continues on its plan to shut down the consumer financial protection agency. Levenbach is currently an associate director inside the Office of Management and Budget, handling issues related to natural resources, energy, science and water issues. Levenbach’s resume shows significant experience dealing with science and natural resources issues, acting as chief of staff of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during Trump’s first term. Levenbach’s nomination is not meant to go through to confirmation, an administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters. Under the Vacancies Act, Vought can only act as acting director for 210 days, but now that Trump has nominated someone to the position, that clock has been suspended until the Senate approves or denies Levenbach’s confirmation as director. Vought is Levenbach’s boss. The CFPB has been nonfunctional much of the year. Many of its employees have been ordered not to work, and the only major work the bureau is doing is unwinding the regulations and rules it put into place during Trump’s first term and during the Biden administration. While in the acting director role, Vought has signaled that he wishes to dismantle, or vastly diminish, the bureau. The latest blow to the bureau came earlier this month, when the White House said it does not plan to withdraw any funds from the Federal Reserve, which is where the bureau gets its funding, to fund the bureau past Dec. 31. The White House and the Justice Department used a legal interpretation of the law that created the bureau, the Dodd-Frank Act, that the Fed must be profitable in order to fund the CFPB’s operations. Several judges have rejected this argument when it was brought up by companies, but it’s never been the position of the government until this year that the CFPB requires the Fed to be profitable to have operating funds. “Donald Trump’s sending the Senate a new nominee to lead the CFPB looks like nothing more than a front for Russ Vought to stay on as Acting Director indefinitely as he tries to illegally close down the agency,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, in a statement. The bureau was created after the 2008 financial crisis as part of the Dodd-Frank Act, a law passed to overhaul the financial system and require banks to hold more capital to avoid another financial crisis. The CFPB was created to be a independent advocate for consumers to help them avoid bad actors in the financial system.
https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2025/11/19/trump-cfpb-nomination/
Building the Operating System of the Creator and Fan Economy – Luffa CTO Michael Liu
Luffa is the next-gen operating system for the creator and fan economy, combining wallets, identity, communication, community, AI, and mini-programs into one seamless experience. Luffa aims to become the ultimate Web3 connector that transforms attention into ownership and connection into commerce. By enabling creators, brands, and fans to participate in a shared, transactable value-driven social [.] Source:.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/building-the-operating-system-of-the-creator-and-fan-economy-luffa-cto-michael-liu/
Quarterly profit slide at Target hints at a challenging holiday season for the retailer
By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO NEW YORK (AP) Target’s third-quarter profit tumbled as the retailer struggles to lure shoppers that are being pressed by stubbornly high inflation. The Minneapolis company said Wednesday that it expects its sales slump to extend through the critical holiday shopping season. The company also announced that it’s planning to invest another billion dollars next year to remodel stores, build new ones, increasing the total cost for the makeover to $5 billion. Investors have punished Target’s stock recently, sending it down 43% over the past year. Shares were essentially flat in early trading Wednesday. Turning around the 19% profit slide in the most recent quarter is the latest challenge for incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke, a 20-year company veteran who is replacing CEO Brian Cornell in February. The handover arrives as the retailer tries to reverse a persistent sales malaise and to revive its reputation as the place to go for affordable but stylish products. Comparable sales those from established physical stores and online channels dipped 2. 7% in its latest three-month period. That’s worse then the 1. 9% drop in the previous quarter and the third straight quarterly decline. Target’s troubles stand in stark contrast to rival Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, which is thriving. Walmart reports on its most recent quarterly performance Thursday. Target announced in October that it was eliminating about 1, 800 corporate positions to streamline decision-making and accelerate company initiatives. The cuts represent about 8% of Target’s corporate workforce. To pump up sales, Target is offering more than 20, 000 new items, twice as many as last year, and it has lowered prices on thousands of groceries and other essential items. “The environment around us continues to evolve, whether it’s shifting consumer demand, changing competitor dynamics, or broader macroeconomic pressures,” Fiddelke said on an earnings call Wednesday. ”But let me be clear. We are not waiting for conditions to improve. We are driving the change ourselves right now.” With about 1, 980 U. S. stores, Target has struggled to find its footing since inflation caused Americans to curtail much of their discretionary spending. At the same time, Target customers have complained of messy stores lacking the budget-priced niche that long ago earned the retailer the nickname “Tarzhay.” Consumer boycotts since late January, when Target joined rival Walmart and a number of other prominent American brands in scaling back its corporate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, have compounded the predicament. Other, more recent macro headwinds, are buffeting the entire retail sector. For almost a year, retailers have struggled to navigate President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging tariffs on imports and his immigration crackdown that threatened to shrink the supply of workers available to U. S. companies. The just ended 43-day federal shutdown is expected to be another drag on an economy. Government contract awards have slowed and many food aid recipients have seen their benefits interrupted, both of which can cut into consumer spending at places like Target. Fiddelke told reporters that the company saw a weaker September but he said it was “tricky for us to isolate” the different factors behind that. The retailer’s profit fell to $689 million in the three-month period ended Nov. 1, or $1. 51 per share. Adjusted per share results added up to $1. 78. That is better than the $1. 71 that Wall Street was expecting, according to a poll by FactSet, but below the $1. 85 per share the company earned in the same period last year. Sales fell 1. 5% to $25. 27 billion, just shy of analyst projections. Sales gains in food and beverages were offset by continued weakness in discretionary goods, with anxious shoppers focused increasingly on buying essentials, even during the holidays. For example, customers this year customers bought candy and costumes for Halloween, but spent less on decorations, said Rick Gomez, chief commercial officer for Target. Gomez thinks they will make similar tradeoffs during the winter holiday season. “We think the consumer will prioritize what goes under the tree versus what goes on the tree,” he said. Target also announced a partnership with OpenAI on Wednesday that will let users browse Target items through the tech company’s app ChatGPT. When customers are ready to buy, they’ll be directed to the Target app. For the fourth quarter, Target expects that comparable sales will decline by low single digits. For the full year, it now expects earnings per share to be in the $7 per share to $8 per share range, down from its earlier forecast of $7 to $9.
https://www.courant.com/2025/11/19/target-results/