Attention Ozians: Today’s the day! That is, today’s the premiere of Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated Part 2 to last year’s blockbuster. Revisit the trailer here, and if you haven’t already secured your tickets, check out showtimes near you. And for the real theater nerds out there, Playbill put together a full rundown of all the ways the film changed things up from the musical’s second act.
Must Reads
Find your next read in the list of 2025 National Book Award winners
NASA captured new pics of Comet 3I/Atlas, the third interstellar visitor ever recorded in our solar system
Culture
The Disney Imagineers’ Next Project: An Altadena Playground
Disney
Over the past 70 years or so, the Disney Imagineers have devised such wonders as “It’s a Small World,” “Space Mountain,” and the “Haunted Mansion” — all iconic hallmarks of the company’s theme parks. And now, the team of visionaries is throwing its creative power behind a particularly special project: a fire-damaged park in Altadena. Charles White Park was destroyed in January’s Southern California wildfires, just one example of the beloved public spaces claimed in the natural disaster. The Imagineers aim to help fill that gap, with plans to build a community center, an amphitheater, and a playground “infused with Disney magic,” per a press release. “Our ethos is creativity,” Emily Dow, the lead Imagineer on the project, told ABC News. “It is about families. And I hope that we inspire the joy that returns to the community, but also the imagination and the creativity it will take to bring Altadena back.” The Charles White revitalization is part of a larger, $15 million commitment from Disney to aid in the wildfire recovery process. Click here to see more renderings of what the park will look like (as well as some before pictures).
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Environment
Iowa City’s Free Buses Are Popular Among the People — And a Boon for the Environment
The City of Iowa City Government
From cost savings to environmental concerns, there’s much to be said for taking the bus. So, it’s easy to see why a growing number of cities are offering free public busing. Many of these initiatives are found in international locales like Luxembourg and Montpellier, France, but the concept has also taken root in Iowa City, a college town in America’s heartland. The city of under 183,000 residents slashed bus fares in August 2023 as part of a two-year pilot program aimed at lowering emissions and encouraging more people to try alternative modes of transportation, per The New York Times. Although some community members were initially skeptical, it has since garnered immense support, prompting the City Council to extend the program for another year. And the effect on the environment has been notable: The local government estimates annual carbon dioxide emissions in the city have decreased by 24,000 metric tons thanks to the surge in ridership. “The transit system is one of the greatest tools communities have to combat climate change and reduce emissions,” Darian Nagle-Gamm, Iowa City’s transportation director, told The Times. “You can make a pretty immediate impact.” Learn more about the program’s impact.
Humanity
Chadwick Boseman Receives Posthumous Walk of Fame Star: “A Hero and an Icon”
JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images
Chadwick Boseman’s death at age 43 in August 2020 shocked the world — fans at the time were gearing up to see him act in the Oscar-contending Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which premiered that November. But despite being cut short by illness, Boseman’s decades-long career was nothing short of remarkable, from his breakout role as Jackie Robinson in 42 to suiting up as superhero T’Challa in Black Panther. So it’s only fitting that the actor’s name should appear on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame, and now, it does. “He is on an ancestral plane and the more we utter his name, the more his spirit stays alive,” Boseman’s Black Panther co-star Lupita Nyong’o told Variety before the dedication of his posthumous star on Thursday. “It’s hard to articulate without sounding grandiose. But there was something about him that you couldn’t explain why he moved you so much. It went through the screen and into so many people’s hearts.” Simone Ledward-Boseman (pictured) accepted the award on her late husband’s behalf. She was joined at the emotional ceremony by Black Panther director Ryan Coogler and Viola Davis, who worked with Boseman on Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. “Chad, today we recognize a lifetime of artistry, we recognize your skill and devotion, and we cement your legacy as a hero and an icon,” Ledward-Boseman said. “You lived with honor and you walked in truth, you were as brilliant as you were beautiful and as courageous as you were kind. We love you, we miss you, we thank you.” Watch the full ceremony.
Global Good
🇬🇧 A new Royal Mint coin commemorates Queen frontman Freddie Mercury and the 40th anniversary of Live Aid (read more) 🇦🇶 In Antarctica,subzero temps and frozen fingers can’t stop a military musician from practicing her craft (read more) 🇧🇷 This 96-year-old Brazilian rower is still going strong after nearly eight decades in his sport (read more) 🇫🇷 Paris’ “pigeon doctor” saves neighborhood birds from an all-too-common plight (read more) 🇮🇹 Digital re-creations of luxurious towers offer a first-of-its-kind glimpse at the “lost Pompeii” (read more)
Inspiring Story
Keeping kids warm
A teen in Dacula, Georgia, is on a mission to collect and donate 5,000 gloves, hats, and scarves for kids in need. “When they’re facing homelessness, they don’t want to worry about if they’re going to be warm. They want to worry about school,” said 15-year-old Cayden Jackson. Meet the young philanthropist and learn more about his nonprofit, Loved and Protected.
Photo of the Day
Tristan Fewings/Getty Images
If you’re a “Wesophile,” you may want to put a trip to London on your 2026 bucket list. From Fantastic Mr. Fox in his signature suit to this massive model of the Grand Budapest Hotel, 700 cinematic artifacts are now on display at “Wes Anderson: The Archives” in the Design Museum. The institution’s latest foray into the cinematic universe, following shows highlighting the works of Stanley Kubrick and Tim Burton, the exhibit opened today and runs through July 26.
Fisher Investments:Actionable Ways to Achieve a Comfortable Retirement
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Up This Weekend
Bobsleigh World Cup: Winter sports fans can get a little preview of the upcoming Olympics by tuning into the Bobsleigh World Cup, beginning tomorrow in Cortina, Italy
G20 Summit: The annual meeting of the G20 intergovernmental organization is being held in Africa — specifically in Johannesburg, South Africa — for the first time
Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights: New Yorkers can marry Christmas magic with animal viewing now that the iconic zoo’s holiday lights are being turned on for the season
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