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Filmmaker George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, are donating $25 million to a prestigious private school on Chicago's South Side. The University of Chicago says Tuesday the grant from The George Lucas Family Foundation will pay for a new arts hall at the university's Laboratory Schools.
The 86,000-square-foot building will open in 2015 and will be named after Gordon Parks, a photographer, musician and social justice advocate.
Hobson is president of the Chicago-based Ariel Investments. She married the Star Wars filmmaker in 2013.
Lucas says in a statement that art can “transform lives and communities” and says he hopes Parks’ legacy will inspire future generations.
The Hyde Park school has about 1,800 students in nursery school through 12th grade.
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Jimmy Fallon is getting ready to do the Polar Plunge, Chicago-style with Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
The new host of “The Tonight Show” said Monday on Twitter that he would join Emanuel for the frigid swim on Sunday in Lake Michigan. His decision came after Emanuel said he would appear on “The Tonight Show” if Fallon joined him for the event benefiting Special Olympics.
The high temperature on Sunday? Between 16 and 20 degrees in Chicago. The National Weather Service also says there’s a chance of snow.
Still, Fallon tweeted that, “Lake Michigan will have a New York fish this weekend.” Representatives with “The Tonight Show” confirmed he’d participate.
Emanuel responded on Twitter too, telling Fallon “excited to have you.”
Fallon debuted as host of “The Tonight Show” last week.
Associated Press
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Singer Fats Domino is 86. Guitarist Paul Cotton of Poco is 71. Actor-director Bill Duke is 71. Singer Mitch Ryder is 69. Keyboardist Jonathan Cain of Journey is 64. Singer Michael Bolton is 61. Actor Greg Germann ("Ally McBeal") is 56. Actress Jennifer Grant is 48. Bassist Tim Commerford (Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine) is 46. Singer Erykah Badu is 43. R&B singer Rico Wade of Society of Soul is 42. Singer Kyle Norman of Jagged Edge is 39. Drummer Chris Culos of O.A.R. is 35. Singer Corinne Bailey Rae is 35.
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