Culture

Boston Public Library launches AI-assisted project to digitize historic public records

SMGN Publishing August 11, 2025

Partnership to expand access to government archives The Boston Public Library, one of the nation’s oldest and largest public library systems, has begun a project with Harvard University researchers and artificial intelligence specialists to expand access to its extensive collection of historic government documents.The archive includes congressional reports, oral histories,

Comedy Returns to Theaters: ‘The Naked Gun’ Succeeds While ‘Freakier Friday’ Falls Short

SMGN Publishing August 8, 2025

Reviving slapstick on the big screen With mainstream comedies becoming increasingly rare in theaters, the arrival of The Naked Gun reboot signals a push to bring the genre back to the big screen. The film, a revival of the 1980s and 1990s Leslie Nielsen classics, captures much of the original’s

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars Top the 2025 MTV VMA Nominations

SMGN Publishing August 6, 2025

Leading Artists and New Categories Highlight This Year’s Awards Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, and Kendrick Lamar lead the nominations for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, one of the most anticipated annual music events in the United States. Gaga has earned 12 nominations, followed by Mars with 11 and Lamar

Albert Pike Statue Set to Be Reinstalled in Washington D.C. After 2020 Protests

SMGN Publishing August 5, 2025

National Park Service to restore monument under preservation laws The statue of Albert Pike, a Confederate general and Masonic leader, which was toppled and burned during demonstrations in June 2020, is set to be restored and returned to its original site in Washington D.C., according to the National Park Service

Sydney Sweeney’s Ad Campaign Sparks Debate Over Message and Imagery

SMGN Publishing August 4, 2025

A visual concept that blends fashion, identity and controversy A recent ad campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney and a U.S.-based clothing brand has stirred considerable online discussion. The ad, which aimed to promote a line of jeans, was later removed from the company’s official social media accounts, though it remains

Birmingham Honors the Legacy of Ozzy Osbourne with Public Farewell

SMGN Publishing July 31, 2025

Thousands gather to celebrate the life of the heavy metal icon The city of Birmingham, England, paid tribute to one of its most famous cultural figures, musician Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away earlier this month. A founding member of the legendary band Black Sabbath, Osbourne was instrumental in shaping the

Proposed Legislation Seeks to Rename the Kennedy Center After Donald Trump

SMGN Publishing July 30, 2025

Republican bill aims to rebrand a major cultural institution in Washington, D.C. A new bill introduced in the U.S. Congress proposes renaming the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Titled the Make Entertainment Great Again Act, the legislation seeks to change the center’s name to the Donald J.

Mariska Hargitay Seeks the Truth Behind Her Mother’s Legacy in New Documentary

SMGN Publishing July 29, 2025

A Personal Journey Into Jayne Mansfield’s Real Story Actress Mariska Hargitay, known for her role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, has released a documentary titled My Mom Jayne, which explores the life of her mother, actress Jayne Mansfield. Hargitay was three years old when Mansfield died in a

Teen Artists Confront Boundaries on Self-Expression at Cultural Events

SMGN Publishing July 28, 2025

Art initiatives reveal real-life experiences of youth This summer, teen artists participated in two exhibitions aimed at representing their everyday realities. “The Teen Experience” at the American University Museum in Washington, D.C., and an installation at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival showcased their perspectives on topics like mental health, school safety,

British Singer Cleo Laine Dies at 97

SMGN Publishing July 25, 2025

A distinguished voice with a four-octave range British singer and actress Cleo Laine has died at the age of 97, as announced by The Stables, the music venue she co-founded with her husband, saxophonist John Dankworth. Laine was internationally known for her vocal versatility, spanning four octaves, and her work

More News

Puerto Rico Pauses as Bad Bunny Makes Super Bowl Halftime History

Sarah Olivella February 9, 2026

Puerto Rico stood still for 13 unforgettable minutes as Bad Bunny transformed the Super Bowl halftime show into a historic celebration of culture, identity, and representation. Across San Juan and towns throughout the island, daily routines stopped, conversations paused, and thousands gathered in homes, bars, beaches, and public plazas to

Takaichi’s Landslide Fuels Conservative Shift

Felipe Cardona February 9, 2026

Japan entered a new political phase after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivered the most decisive electoral victory in the modern history of the ruling party, consolidating power in a snap vote held under unusually difficult conditions. Despite the shortest campaign period of the postwar era and severe winter weather across

Massive Potomac River Sewage Leak Spurs Months-Long Repair and Public Health Concerns

Sarah Olivella February 9, 2026

A massive sewage leak into the Potomac River is now expected to take months to fully repair, after officials discovered severe structural damage and a major blockage inside a collapsed sewer pipe. The incident, which occurred roughly eight miles from the White House, has already released approximately $243 million gallons