newsmakers

newsmakers

Cincinnati Zoo reopens reptile house

CINCINNATI

Visitors to the Cincinnati Zoo can return to the zoo’s historic reptile house after a two-month renovation.

The reptile house opened Saturday and follows a renovation to restore the original look of the building constructed in 1875 and meet the zoo’s green initiatives.

Renovations to the building on the National Register of Historic Places included replacement of the old roof with a new architecturally appropriate and sustainable one including skylights, gutters and downspouts to help with stormwater management.

Officials say the exterior walls were cleaned, and insulated glass was installed to protect the building’s interior during the winter and summer.

New paint and carpeting were added inside the building.

A grant from the National Park Service provided $408,886 to renovate and update the reptile house.

Morrissey cancels tour because of illness

NEW YORK

Health concerns are forcing Morrissey to cancel his North American tour.

In a statement released Friday night, his rep says the singer has to take a break after suffering a series of maladies, including double pneumonia, a bleeding ulcer and a gastrointestinal problem called Barrett’s esophagus.

Fans can get refunds where they purchased their tickets. Morrissey thanked fans for their well wishes.

Morrissey had to cancel performances earlier this month because of his pneumonia.

Armstrong upbeat in lively SXSW show

AUSTIN, Texas

Green Day isn’t talking about the recent rocky past, but they’re playing like the old days.

An upbeat Billie Joe Armstrong whipped the Grammy-winning punk trio through an ear- splitting two-hour show Friday night at the South by Southwest Music Festival, returning to the stage for only the second time since Armstrong emerged from a rehab stint that caused the band to postpone an arena tour.

The 41-year-old Armstrong made no mention of his problems with substance abuse while playfully bantering with a nearly sold-out crowd at Moody Theater and ripping through a 25-song marathon. The energetic set mixed new rockers from the “Uno!” “Dos!” “Tre!” trilogy the band rolled out last winter and old favorites such as “Longview” and “American Idiot.”

“This ain’t no [expletive] cafe!” Armstrong told the crowd right out of the gate. “Get crazy!”

Armstrong’s good spirits were a sharp contrast to his profane meltdown at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas in September, when he complained the band’s time was being cut short and smashed his guitar. Two days later, Green Day announced Armstrong was headed to treatment for substance abuse.

Associated Press