Ahead of the ‘Michael’ Cinema Release, Netflix Streams Michael Jackson’s First Movie

As expected, fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the release of one of the most-buzzed-about movies of the spring, Michael. Not only does the biopic cover the life of the “undisputed” King of Pop, Michael Jackson, but it is also stacked with actors Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, and MJ’s own nephew, Jaafar Jackson. Additionally, it was directed by Antoine Fuqua, who is best known for his brilliant work on Training Day and The Equalizer. Now, only time will tell if Michael proves to be a box office hit and a biopic ranking among the greats like Ray, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Walk the Line, but Netflix has timely added the real Michael Jackson’s first feature film to its streaming lineup on April 1. 

In 1978, Jackson joined legends Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Lena Horne, and Richard Pryor in an onscreen musical that may not have done blockbuster numbers in theaters, but has become a classic for countless movie-watchers. 

‘The Wiz’ Starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross Is Now on Netflix

NEW YORK - 1978: The cast of "The Wiz" (L-R Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Diana Ross and Ted Ross) pose for a publicity shot in 1978 in New York, New York. The movie was directed by Sidney Lumet and produced by Universal Studios. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)

Photo by Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images

A twist on the iconic The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz puts an updated spin and adds a new perspective to the original story, with newer songs to boot. As described by the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, here is the official synopsis of the film: 

“This beloved Motown musical version of L. Frank Baum’s classic fantasy book is an adaptation of the popular Tony Award–winning stage musical that originated on Broadway in 1975. Noted for its lively score and all-Black cast, director Sidney Lumet’s film features a stellar array of iconic entertainers, including Diana Ross as Dorothy (reconceived for the film as a shy Harlem school teacher), Michael Jackson as Scarecrow, Lena Horne as Glinda, and Richard Pryor as The Wiz. Embraced by generations, The Wiz was nominated for its art direction, cinematography, costume design, and adapted score at the 51st Oscars.”

Although The Wiz predates me, watching it as a kid, I recall fond memories. I thought Michael Jackson did a solid job for someone whose career is really grounded in music, not acting. 

‘Michael’ Debuts in Theaters on April 24

Michael hits theaters on April 24. If you’re interested in purchasing tickets, you may do so now by visiting the website of your local theater or purchasing through Fandango.

Related: 50 Cent Just Agreed that There’s One Rapper He’ll Never Beef With

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Classic Series Among PlayStation Plus Games Coming in April

The list of Playstation Plus Monthly Games for April is out, and it includes one series that will get the attention of any gamer from the late 1990s. 

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is one of the three set to be available to download April 7, but that's not all.

Fans of co-op and action RPGs will also find something to dig their thumbs into.

Paging Lara Croft 

Whether you missed the original run of Tomb Raider games on the first PlayStation or just miss playing the original run of Tomb Raider games on the first Playstation, Sony has great news for you this month. 

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered will bring all expansions and secret levels from Lara Croft’s first three games to modern game platforms for the first time. 

That also means upgraded graphics, though the option to play with the original polygon look is also available. 

A new challenge mode is also available with customized modifiers and complete achievements to unlock 10 new outfits that enhance Lara’s abilities.

The original Tomb Raider game was released for the Playstation, Sega Saturn and PCs in 1996 with II and III following before the end of the decade exclusively on the Playstation.

What else is coming in April to Playstation Plus? 

If you’re not needing to scratch the vintage game itch, there are two other options. 

Lords of the Fallen is a third-person action role-playing game that allows players to use both magic and melee weapons. It has both co-op and player-vs.-player multiplayer modes.

Nine character classes are available along with hundreds of weapons as you play as a Dark Crusader tasked with bringing an end to the reign of the evil demon god Adyr. 

Sword Art Online Fracture Daydream is an action co-op raid game that lets gamers join a raid party and prepare for a fight with high difficulty bosses as a team.

In all, 21 characters from different story arcs of the SAO series are available, including different worlds and timelines. Characters come from both the anime and movie series, and each has a unique fighting class with its own attributes. 

It was originally released for PS5, XBOX Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and Steam. 

What is Playstation Plus? 

Playstation Plus is a 3-tiered subscription service from Sony.

Players on the “Essential” play get monthly game downloads, exclusive discounts, cloud storage, the ability to play against others online and other exclusive content. 

Subscribers on the “Extra” tier get all that plus access to the Game Catalog and Ubisoft+ Classics. 

RELATED: These games were added to the Game Catalog in March

People who go all the way up to the “Premium” tier get the above benefits plus access to the Classics Catalog, game trials and cloud streaming. 

As of this writing, the four monthly game downloads for March are still available: PGA Tour 2K25, Monster Hunter Rise, Slime Rancher 2 and The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Golden Road. 

Those will not be available to download after April 6, but they remain on your system as long as you don’t delete them. 

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Gone Girl: Woman Escapes Police Car While In Cuffs

In a daring escape, a woman in Muskegon Heights, Michigan, who was handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser, narrowly wriggled out of the backseat. The video was captured by a local ABC affiliate before police noticed what was happening. Somehow, the window was down. Like a caterpillar, she scrunched her way out the window and out of the car in an impressive feat.

Photo by Ajax9 on Getty Images

The Sweet Escape

Kendra Aney, 38, landed on her feet and ran behind the vehicle. The police officers were busy investigating a nearby white truck and didn’t notice that she was gone until she was down the road and around the corner. No telling what she did when she got to her location without the keys to the cuffs.

Criminal

Aney is on parole for a drug charge and went missing in January. She was re-arrested on Saturday when she escaped, but was found in an abandoned home on Tuesday and sent back to jail, according to a local Michigan station.

Her initial conviction was in 2017 for distributing illegal substances, and she was sentenced to a minimum of seven years. Stay tuned for updates.

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This Pressure Washing Mistake Can Ruin Your Concrete Fast

Pressure washing is one of the best ways to clean concrete. But as with most pressure washer jobs, there’s a right way to do it and wrong way. Concrete may seem indestructible, but use the wrong nozzle or wrong technique when cleaning your concrete driveway and walks and you may end up doing significant damage to it. 

Related: Pressure Washing vs. Soft Washing: Which is Safer for Your Home?

Using Too Much Pressure

Whether you’re using a pressure washer to clean your driveway, home, or car, using the right nozzle and technique is crucial. Using the wrong nozzle will leave your concrete with striping patterns, a rough uneven texture, and streaks.  When that happens, repairing it is very difficult. 

Why This Happens

There are two main reasons why pressure washing etches concrete:

• Narrow spray tip: Many people use a zero degree nozzle to get max pressure for blasting away grime and mildew. The problem with that approach is that the narrow spray tip creates a stream of water that’s so powerful that it can actually cut into the concrete.
  
• Holding the wand too close: As with the spray tip, holding the wand close to the concrete seems like a good way to remove stubborn stains. Holding the wand too close to the concrete concentrates all of that pressure in one place, which can etch, crack, or chip the concrete.
  
• Moving too slowly: When pressure washing concrete, or any other surface, it’s important to keep the wand moving over the surface area. Lingering on any one area can cause the high pressure water to eat into the concrete. 

Why It’s a Major Problem

Etched concrete isn’t just aesthetic damage, it can also cause structural problems. Once you've etched the concrete, you’ve broken through the seal that’s on top of it. With that seal broken, water can penetrate deeper into the concrete, breaking it down more quickly. The damage also makes the porous concrete more susceptible to dirt and stains. 

How to Pressure Wash Concrete the Right Way

You can avoid damaging your concrete while cleaning it by following these three rules:

Use a wide spray tip

A wide spray tip will deliver less pressure in a focused area, making it safer for your concrete. Use a spray tip that’s between 25 degrees and 40 degrees, which reduces the risk of damaging the concrete. Spray a small inconspicuous area of the concrete first to test your settings. 

Maintain a Safe Distance

Resist the urge to put the tip close to the concrete to take out stubborn stains. Hold the wand about 10 to 12 inches from the concrete surface to prevent applying focused pressure on the one part of the concrete. 

Related: This is the Best Time to Pressure Wash Your Home

Keep it Moving

Don’t keep the tip of the wand aimed at the same spot. Keep the wand moving at all times over the area. Make smooth even passes to prevent streaking. 

A Better Concrete Cleaning Option

A more effective, safer, and less time consuming option for cleaning broad areas of concrete is to use a surface cleaner attachment. These tools attach to your pressure washer and use high pressure rotating jets that clean the concrete surface without damaging it. Since they cover a broad 15-inch wide area, they clean without leaving streaks, giving you much better results than a pressure washer wand. 

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Watch: How Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Made A Cake In Space

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla shares the fascinating story of a real "space cake" created and enjoyed aboard the International Space Station.

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Wait For This To Happen Before Spraying Your Lawn for Weeds

If weeds are already showing up in your lawn, you may think it’s a good time to grab the post emergent weed killers. Stay your hand. Timing is everything when applying selective weed killing products to avoid doing more harm than good, especially when we’re this early into the growing season. Applying a post emergent weed killer before it’s time not only stresses out your lawn but can also make your weed problem worse. 

Related: Your Neighbor’s Lawn Is Green—Yours Isn’t. Here’s Why

What Post Emergent Weed Killer Does

Just as it sounds, post emergent weed killer is for killing weeds that have already germinated and sprouted. These are the weeds that either got past your preemergent treatment or started growing before you had a chance to apply preemergent. It’s important to note that a post-emergent herbicide will not prevent weeds. Its only function is to kill those existing weeds. 

Applying Post Emergent Too Early

The biggest mistake many homeowners make is applying post emergent as soon as they see weeds popping up in their yard. The problem is, doing so can actually hurt your grass. Even though post emergent is a selective herbicide, meaning it won’t harm grass, your grass is just coming out of dormancy in the spring. That means it isn’t equipped to handle the stress of a post emergent treatment. 

Related: Don’t Aerate Your Lawn This Spring—Here’s Why

When to Apply Post Emergent

You need to check off a few boxes before its safe to apply post emergent for your lawn:

Grass is actively growing

Your lawn should be a bright green through the entire lawn and it should be growing consistently. This is a sign that it has fully awoken and the entire lawn is out of dormancy

You’ve Mowed Two to Four Times

A good benchmark that your lawn is fully awake, strong, and ready to handle the stress of a weed killing treatment is that you’ve mowed it several times. 

Temperatures have stabilized

Temperatures tend to fluctuate a lot in the spring. It can flirt with 70 degrees Fahrenheit one day then drop below freezing the next. Don’t add a post emergent herbicide until temperatures are consistently above freezing and all threat of frost has passed. 

Weeds are Actively Growing

A post emergent treatment isn’t going to do much for your lawn if there aren’t any weeds growing in it. Wait until you see weed activity in your yard before applying a post-emergent otherwise you're wasting your time and money by applying this herbicide too early. 

Don’t Wait Too Long

Timing is crucial when it comes to applying for a post emergent. While you don’t want to apply it too early, you also don’t want to wait too long. Post emergent has its limitations. If you allow weeds to mature, it will have a harder time killing them off. 

Getty Images.

What To Do Now

If it’s too early to apply a post-emergent, don’t worry. You can still take action:

• Spot treat: You don’t have to watch those weeds grow while you’re waiting for your lawn to get strong enough to handle a post emergent treatment. Spot treat those weeds by putting a selective weed killer in a handheld pump sprayer. 
• Apply preemergent: Just because some weeds have sprouted doesn’t mean all the weed seed has. Go ahead and apply preemergent if you haven’t already. This won’t take care of those existing weeds, but it will prevent more from growing while you’re waiting for your lawn to wake up. 

How to Apply Post Emergent

• Avoid Mowing: Time your post emergent treatment for a couple of days after you mow and don’t mow for at least a couple of days afterward. Your lawn will need to recover from the post emergent treatment, so it doesn’t need the added stress of mowing. 
• Don’t Water Immediately: Post emergent needs about 24 hours to work its magic and kill weeds. During this time do not water your lawn, or you’ll wash the post emergent off. Likewise, avoid applying it when rain is in the immediate forecast. 

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Urgent Red Flag Weather Warnings Announced for 13 States Due to Fire Threat, 40 mph Winds

The National Weather Service announced that parts of 13 states were under so-called "red flag" warnings on March 28.

You can see a map of the states here. "Unseasonably warm temperatures continue through the weekend across the Southwest and southern U.S., with more than 100 record or near record maximum temperatures forecast through the rest of the week and over the weekend," the National Weather Service wrote. "Elevated to critical fire weather conditions will persist across the Plains and Southeast U.S. this weekend."

The NWS added: "Fire weather concerns will prevail across the Plains and Southeast for Saturday" March 28.

The National Weather Service Wrote That There Are 'Favorable Conditions for Fire Spread'

According to the NWS, the "numerous Red Flag Warnings are in effect across the Central Plains and the Southeast for Saturday. Winds are expected to gust into the 25-40 mph range for areas in a Red Flag Warning atop low relative humidities in a post-frontal air mass."

"This will promote favorable conditions for fire spread and burning should try to be avoided," the weather service advised.

An Orange County fire truck zooms down the Westminster Parade route on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

(Photo by Mindy Schauer/MediaNewsGroup/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

Among the states affected are parts of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. A red flag warning and burn ban were also issued for Tallahassee, Florida. "This warning applies to Inland Gulf, Leon, Inland Jefferson, Inland Wakulla and Southern Liberty counties," wrote Tallahassee.com.

Much of Minnesota was also under a red flag warning on March 28 due to "dangerous fire conditions," Fox 9 reported. "A red flag warning means any fire that does start could spread quickly and grow out of control. Outdoor burning is not recommended," the station reported. The Twin Cities metropolitan area was also under the warning. The State of Alabama was also issued a fire warning.

"A very dry airmass will move into the Deep South tomorrow; humidity levels will be in the 20-25 percent range, and north winds will gust to 30 mph at times. No outdoor burning tomorrow," ABC3340.com reported, noting that Mississippi was also under the red flag warning.

What Is a Red Flag Warning?

Red flag warnings are only released after a careful assessment of multiple condition reports, including wind speed and humidity.

According to NWS, "Red Flag Warnings alert fire managers on federal lands to conditions that are highly unfavorable for prescribed burns and that may lead to especially dangerous wildfire growth."

Added the weather service, "A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior."

"The warning was issued due to an extreme risk of wildfires in the region this weekend. Weather conditions, which include very dry air and gusty winds, are perfect for wildfires to develop," added WBTV.

"A Red Flag Warning is issued by the National Weather Service when weather and fuel conditions are favorable for rapid wildfire growth and extreme fire behavior," explained ABC3340.com.

Related:

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