Arts and Life

'Get Low': Greeting Death With A Deadpan Smirk
Bill Murray and Robert Duvall go head to head in this high-concept comedy about an aging man who throws a funeral party -- for himself. Critic Ella Taylor says that the veteran leads are perfectly cast as a pair of terse and cranky Southerners and commends the film for its sepia-tinged cinematography. (Recommended)

Seafaring 'Charlie St. Cloud' Keeps To The Shallows
Charlie St. Cloud purports to grapple with matters of life and death. But this ode to "moving on" from grief packs so little genuine emotion that it will touch only the most susceptible of viewers -- that is, the teenage girls who will flock to see heartthrob Zac Efron cry while not wearing a shirt.

Feds Peel Back Chrome On Motorcycle Gangs
Federal investigators are working to infiltrate the closed societies of biker gangs and bring criminal cases against their leaders. Last month, agents arrested more than two dozen members of the Outlaws motorcycle club, charging them with weapons and racketeering offenses.
From WFAE News: ATF: Criminal Biker Gangs Ride Rough In The Carolinas

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CMS To Add 141 Teachers
Charlotte Mecklenburg School officials cut hundreds of teachers earlier this year to make way for expected state budget cuts. But those cuts weren't as deep as the district expected and so CMS plans to hire 141 teachers before the school year starts.

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Expert Blasts Insurance Practice As Deceptive
One insurance expert says the way life insurance companies use retained-asset accounts is atrocious. Insurance expert Jeffrey Stempel offers his insight.

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Free Popcorn And A Movie? Just Another Day On Jury Duty
It's Juror Appreciation Week in Mecklenburg County, so court officials are offering free popcorn and movies to liven up the long wait for potential jurors. But if you didn't know better you might think every week is Juror Appreciation week at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse.

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Newport Folk Festival 2010 Preview
The annual Newport Folk Festival kicks off this weekend with a diverse and surprising mix of artists, from the Nigerian-German hip-hop and soul singer Nneka to veteran folk artists John Prine and Levon Helm. NPR Music will be there to webcast and broadcast full concerts live, along with WFUV, mvyradio and Folk Alley. Festival producer Jay Sweet talks about what's in store for this year's legendary event.

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Cold Feet: Time To Call Off The Wedding, Or Chill?
For some brides and grooms-to-be, even a heat wave in the thick of wedding season isn't enough to ward off cold feet. Sometimes the pressure or expense of a pending wedding can cloud judgment about whether to call it off. Syndicated advice columnist Amy Dickinson talks about how to handle degrees of cold and cool feet.

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Charlotte & Energy Jobs. What's being done in Charlotte to encourage energy as a career choice, Friday on WFAE's Charlotte Talks.