Friday, March 20, 2026

Friday, March 20, 2026 | Back issues

Arts

The home of the ‘Mona Lisa’ has a new boss to steer the Louvre out of crisis after jewel heist

Associated Press / February 25, 2026

The former royal palace has also suffered a broad array of other problems that have presented a picture of a treasured national institution spiraling out of control.

Second Circuit vacates BMI licensing rate hike for live performance rights

Josh Russell / February 24, 2026

The appeals panel reversed a federal judge's decision to raise BMI's blanket fees for public performance rights by 138%, finding he miscalculated the figure.

Louvre Museum’s director resigns in wake of jewels heist in Paris

Associated Press / February 24, 2026

She had offered to resign on the day of the robbery but was refused by the culture minister.

In ‘Wonder’ the musical, young actors with facial differences find their voices onstage

Associated Press / February 23, 2026

Adapted from R.J. Palacio’s 2012 young adult novel, “Wonder” is a story about the power of kindness and resilience.

Heirs to widely sampled funk song bang out royalties settlement on eve of trial

Josh Russell / February 23, 2026

Fifty years after late songwriter Roy C. Hammond self-released "Impeach the President," its crisp funky drum sample continues appearing in hundreds of rap songs.

Authors, illustrators push for copyright owner class in case against Google AI

Carly Nairn / February 20, 2026

Google insists it doesn't need individual permission to use content uploaded onto its engines and that litigating a class action would be overbroad.

Met Opera’s 2026-27 season has 17 productions, its fewest in at least 60 years

Associated Press / February 19, 2026

Next season opens on Sept. 22 with a new production of Verdi’s “Macbeth” starring soprano Lise Davidsen and directed by Louisa Proske.

Louvre official says fraud ‘inevitable’ at large museums as France probes multimillion euro scheme

Associated Press / February 18, 2026

The fraud case has landed as the Louvre is still dealing with the fallout from the crisis that drew worldwide attention — then the October crown jewels theft.

Rio samba school honors Lula amid election-year backlash

Marília Marasciulo / February 17, 2026

It was the first time a samba school paid tribute to a sitting president, prompting opposition complaints over federal funding and election rules.

Love in the mail: Colorado remailing program celebrates 80 years

Amanda Pampuro / February 13, 2026

As Valentine’s Day approaches, one northern Colorado city is stamping and remailing more than 100,000 valentines from around the world.

In France, Epstein files evoke history of pedophilia in intellectual circles

Lily Radziemski / February 9, 2026

Members of France’s political and cultural elite are under fire for their ties to the convicted sex offender. The reaction recalls a decadeslong history of French intellectuals defending sex with children, often without punishment.