Sunday, July 19, 2015

Mike Copeland: New building permits, Kelly Services moves downtown, Tesla ...

Kelly Services has relocated its local headquarters from the Wells Fargo building on Wooded Acres Drive to the Roosevelt Tower at 400 Austin Ave.

The company has about 3,000 registered staffers who perform temporary jobs in Waco, Temple, Killeen and Belton.

To mark the move and its 30 years of membership in the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce Kelly will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. Thursday in Suite 201 of the tower, said Jeannie Towns, Kellys business development representative.

We will have three people in our office, but we are rebuilding Kelly, so that could expand to five or six, Towns said.

She said Kelly downsized in the area beginning in 2009, as the national and local economy felt the effects of the Great Recession. Its Temple and Waco operations were combined, and they will remain so for the foreseeable future.

But were trying to rebuild Kelly and grow accounts and bring in new business, Towns said.

Building permits

Three permits recently issued by the city of Waco inspection services department stood out:

A permit valued at $155,708 was issued for the remodeling of 2512 W. Loop 340 at Central Texas Marketplace, where Dollar Tree reportedly will open a store. Bed Bath & Beyond previously occupied that space before relocating within the complex.

A permit for $7 million was issued for construction of 96 apartments at 600 Franklin Ave., Waco Franklin Place Apartments.

An $81,000 permit was issued for exterior and interior remodeling of PJs Bar and Grill, 7000 Sanger Ave.

Taking a charge

Billionaire Elon Musk continues to take steps to make it easier to drive his Tesla electric cars in Texas.

He recently opened a service center in North Houston, where Tesla owners can charge their vehicles in as little as 20 minutes, free of charge.

Tesla now has 43 such chargers at seven stations in the state, including one next to Collin Street Bakery at 701 Interstate 35 North, near Sams Club in Bellmead.

Since the first supercharger opened in San Marcos in August 2013, such devices in Texas have provided the power for Tesla Model S owners to drive 2 million miles, according to a report by the automaker.

The report said the chargers have enabled Model S drivers to save more than 90,000 gallons of gas and more than 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

The Model S has a range of 265 miles and the company is trying to locate charging stations on major routes to accommodate that distance. It also places them next to hotels, business parks and restaurants for the convenience of drivers who can stop for a quick meal or coffee break while charging their Tesla, the company said.

Musk has another tie to the Greater Waco area. He founded SpaceX, the private rocket-making venture that sends supplies to the International Space Station and tests its product in McGregor.

Kudos for credit union

Genco Federal Credit Union, which has three locations in Waco, was named one of the top 200 healthiest credit unions in America for 2015 by DepositAccounts, which ranks the quality of financial institutions.

Genco stood out in all of the primary evaluation categories, including Texas Ratio, Deposit Growth and Capitalization, said Patrick Russo, a spokesman for DepositAccounts.com, who released a statement.

Texas Ratio is an indicator of how much capital a bank or credit union has available compared to the value of loans at risk.

Founded in 1953, Genco has locations in Waco, Lorena and Lufkin and employs 87. Its assets total $261 million; $164 million in loans; $230 million in deposits; and $30 million in equity capital.

Source: http://www.wacotrib.com/news/business/mike_copeland/mike-copeland-new-building-permits-kelly-services-moves-downtown-tesla/article_df682810-bb6f-5d69-814e-5f5704224ce0.html

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Saturday, July 18, 2015

Writer calls Gov. Greg Abbott "an idiot" when it comes to Tesla in Texas ...

Tesla employees work on a Model S cars in the Tesla factory in Fremont, Calif., Thursday, May 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made it clear this week that he wants nothing to do with the electric car company, Tesla, entering the Lone Star States economy.

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Abbott told Bloomberg Radio earlier this week that the Texas auto sector is working just fine the way it is and does not need Tesla.

Texas has a very robust, very open, very effective automobile sector that seems like its working quite well the way that it is, Abbott said in the radio interview. If youre going to have a breakdown in a car, you need to have a car dealership there to make sure that the vehicle is going to be taken care of. We havent seen that from Tesla.

Abbotts comments got Michael Ballaban of car blog Jalopnik particularly fired up, questioning if the Texas governor knows what hes talking about when it comes to Tesla.

Ballaban had few problemswith Abbotts comments on the Texas automobile sector. But he argues that Abbotts comments on Tesla and its repair services makes the governor look like an idiot.

That verbal garbage isnt remotely correct, Ballaban writes. You dont need a traditional franchised dealership to get your car repaired. Tesla, in fact, has three service centers already open in Texas, with two more on the way, to help out owners in the Lone Star State who managed to get their hands on one of the all-electric cars.

Tesla has been trying for years to get state laws changed across the country allowing itto sell vehicles without a dealership. The company has attacked Texas in particular, mostly due to the fact that it is the nations second-largest automobile market for two years.

And better yet, a dealership and service center thats directly controlled by the company, in theory, may allow for better customer service with greater oversight from Teslas corporate headquarters. So theres that.

Texas is home to Tesla showrooms, or galleries as the company calls them, which is the case at NorthPark Centerin Dallas where shoppers can marvel at the high-end electric vehicles but cannot buy one on the spot. It is instead an education center of all things Tesla, as we wrote in 2014.

Tesla Motors new gallery at NorthPark Mall in Dallas, pictured on June 18, 2014, will open on Friday June 20, 2014. Tesla Model S vehicles start at around $70,000. (Michael Ainsworth/The Dallas Morning News)

Ricardo Reyes, a spokesman for Tesla, told Bloomberg the company has four maintenance centers in Texas that have earned high marks for service. He said doing business in the state is a matter of when, not if.

We look forward to working as a business in Texas, he said. Its just a matter of time.

But as Ballaban points out, the state and the company couldnt be on more opposite sides of working together. And because of that we all lose.

Let people buy Teslas in Texas, Ballaban concludes. For Freedom, Free Markets, And Other Things That Are Free.

Source: http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2015/07/writer-gov-greg-abbott-is-an-idiot-when-it-comes-to-tesla-in-texas.html/

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Family questions death of Sandra Bland in Texas jail - Chicago Tribune

Prosecutors in Texas called for a grand jury to review findings of an investigation into the death of a Naperville woman in a Texas jail after family members on Thursday questioned the ruling that she died by suicide.

The family of Sandra Bland, a 28-year-old Naperville woman found dead Monday, also called for calm as they pursue the facts and await an investigation, being done by the Texas Rangers with the FBI.

Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis" announcement that he will present the findings of the investigation into the matter to a grand jury came at a news conference in Hempstead, Texas. He was responding to a question about the importance to the investigation of recently discovered video of Bland describing depression and post-traumatic stress disorder that she experienced.

County officials have said Bland"s death was a suicide by hanging in her cell, but her family and friends have expressed skepticism at the finding.

Mathis said the importance of the video will be determined by the Waller County grand jury because he wanted the public to have the final say on this issue.

Family attorney Cannon Lambert said the death of the woman known among her four sisters as Sandy B should not be politicized as the family figures out what happened in the jail.

Blands older sister, Sharon Cooper, said her sister was outspoken, happy and passionate, and that suicide was unfathomable.

When you think through the circumstances that have been shared with us to this point, it is unimaginable and difficult for us to wrap our minds around, Cooper said.

While Lambert repeatedly emphasized that the family would not succumb to the swirl of accusations and instead wanted to gather facts, he also said after the news conference that the family thought that she was killed.

The family has been told many, many things, from a number of sources, Lambert said. As a consequence, the swirl of confusion is very easy to get swept up in.

Family members are traveling to Texas on Thursday or Friday and hope to meet with the Texas Rangers, Lambert said.

Bland, who previously lived in Aurora and Villa Park, was found dead in her cell at 9 a.m. Monday, of what appeared to be suicide by hanging, according to authorities.

Lambert said the family wants to meet with the lead investigator in the case and to drill down into the facts regarding the African-American womans death, which has been a contentious topic on social media in recent days.

When youre left not knowing what happened to people in these strange circumstances, the mindset that you have is that you seek understanding, he said.

Bland had recently been offered a job at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M University, family said.

Bland was arrested Friday afternoon in the county, northwest of Houston, after failing to signal a lane change, according to Trooper Erik Burse, a Department of Public Safety spokesman. She was about to be let off with a written warning when she kicked the officer outside her car and was taken into custody, he said. Law enforcement officials said she declined medical treatment offered at the scene.

Sheriff Glenn Smith said she was charged with assault of a public servant and was arraigned over the weekend, when her bond was set at $5,000. A female jailer found her about 9 a.m. Monday, Smith said. Paramedics were called and CPR was administered, he said, but she was pronounced dead shortly afterward.

We understand that she was stopped, Cooper said. We understand that she felt that she was handled very harshly. That she was handled in a way that was overzealous from her perspective.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston performed an autopsy on Blands body Tuesday, with the death ruled a suicide by hanging, according to Tricia Bentley, an institute spokeswoman.

Shante Needham, another sister of Blands, said she talked to her Saturday afternoon.

I told her that I would work on getting her out, Needham said, her voice cracking.

Mathis said it was typical protocol for the Texas Rangers, the investigative arm of Texas Public Safety Department, to be called in to investigate. The process could take a few weeks or a few months, Burse said.

Posts featuring #JusticeForSandy and #WhatHappenedToSandyBland trended on Facebook and Twitter in recent days, questioning the official account of the womans death. Blands Facebook page featured a post from Thursday with #WallerCountyLine.

If I receive information that theres something nefarious going on, or foul play, we will certainly get to the bottom of that, Mathis said. I understand there"s some disbelief among some friends and family that she would do this to herself. Thats why its very important that the Texas Rangers be allowed to conduct a thorough investigation.

A video circulating on YouTube purports to be the police stop of Bland. The familys attorney said Thursday they were in touch with the creator of the video but would not reveal that persons name.

We have little reason to believe its not her, Lambert said of the video. We have every reason to believe that it was.

In the video, a woman can be seen held on the ground by two state troopers and can be heard criticizing them for the arrest.

This is real good. Real good for a female. Yall strong, yall real strong, the woman can be heard saying.

Then, a trooper tells a bystander, who is recording the stop, that the person needed to leave. The bystander appears to keep recording, and the woman complains of being treated too roughly for what she says was a traffic stop.

Really? Really? she says. I just drove down to this m-----------. Yall so full of s---. I swear to G*d yall are so full of s---.

I cant even feel my arm. You just slammed my head into the ground, you do not care about that. I cant even hear. He slammed my f------ head into the ground. All of this for a traffic signal. I swear to G*d, all of this for a traffic signal.

As a trooper pulls her to her feet and places her in the back of the police car, she yells to the bystander recording.

Thank you for recording. Thank you. For a traffic signal. Slammed me into the ground and everything.

The family also thanked the videographer who shot the footage.

I would advocate that any time that people see a situation that rises to a level of concern, that they video, Lambert said. Sandy herself said thank you.

Bland and her family have been members of the DuPage African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lisle for about 18 years, the churchs pastor, the Rev. James Miller, said Thursday.

She was a commendable, active young adult, and she was a very spirited individual who was prayerful, Miller said. We were very encouraged with her being a young adult and active because most times its hard to get that population active.

The church will host a prayer walk and a petition signing at 10 a.m. Sunday as a public expression of unity and a desire for justice, Miller posted in a message on the churchs Facebook page. The petition will call for a comprehensive investigation regarding the circumstances surrounding her death.

Its quite a coincidence that these events keep happening, Miller said. I think that its evidence of an unresolved cultural issue of some kind that these young African-Americans keep suffering some form of violence.

In response to Blands death, the Houston chapter of the NAACP has launched its own investigation. The group plans to request an independent autopsy and request police records to determine how she died while in a jail cell with no shoestrings or a blanket, said James Douglas, president of the local chapter and a law professor at Thurgood Marshall School of Law.

It doesnt make sense that this young lady who appeared to be healthy would have reason to commit suicide, Douglas said. Supposedly she had some damage when she was thrown to the pavement. She may have suffered a concussion or internal brain damage. Thats what we want to make sure.

Bland graduated from Prairie View A&M in 2009 with a degree in agriculture, university spokeswoman Yolanda Bevill said. She was in the band at school and a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority.

Prairie View spokeswoman Candace Johnson confirmed that Bland was supposed to begin working as a summer program associate for the university cooperative extension Aug. 3. It was a temporary position scheduled to last through Aug. 31, Johnson said.

Bland recently left a job as a member of the administrative staff of Cooks, a food service equipment and supplies dealer headquartered on Diehl Road in Warrenville.

A graduate of Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Bland ran track and played volleyball, was in the marching band and was a varsity cheerleader as well as a member of the Neo-Phi Steppers, a student-led dance troupe that performed at pep rallies and other functions. She also was a member of the schools World Languages Honor Society, which required students to have attained at least an A average, and also was one of a group of about a dozen Student Assistants who helped the school administrators communicate with the rest of the student body.

According to the Harris County clerks office in Houston, Bland was convicted of possession of marijuana in 2010, a misdemeanor. According to court documents, Bland was assessed a penalty of 30 days in the Harris County Jail and given four days of credit. She was charged court costs of $373.

Prior to 2014, her Illinois driver"s license had been suspended three times because she had no insurance, according to court records. In 2014, she was stopped on suspicion of DUI and was given supervision in Illinois. Records show her license was due to be suspended July 31 for lack of insurance.

Because of the history of racial hostility in Prairie View and Waller County, it is important to note that there is an atmosphere of distrust whether justified or not, said Presiding Judge Morris Overstreet of the Municipal Court who recently ran for district attorney of the county there and lost.

So when news spread about Bland being found dead, it raised suspicions among the black residents.

No one should be stopped for a simple traffic violation and end up dead, he said. As far as we know, all of this was started with a simple traffic stop. How did it escalate to this level? I want to know myself.

Ziezulewicz and Bird are Naperville Sun reporters; Bowean is a reporter for the Chicago Tribune. Sun reporters Maggie Angst and Suzanne Baker, Beacon-News reporter Sarah Freishtat, and Tribune reporters Matthew Walberg and Rosemary Regina Sobol contributed. The Associated Press also contributed.

Copyright 2015, Chicago Tribune

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-sandra-bland-texas-jail-death-met-0717-20150717-story.html

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Button leads tributes to Bianchi

Former world champion Jenson Button has led tributes to "real fighter" Jules Bianchi after the Frenchman died as a result of severe head injuries in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old had been in a coma since crashing his Marussia car into a recovery vehicle nine months ago.

McLaren driver Button tweeted on Saturday: "Last night we lost a truly great guy and a real fighter #RIPJules.

"My sincerest condolences to his family and friends."

Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton also tweeted: "A sad, sad day today, guys. Please pray for Jules" loved ones. RIP Jules. G*d bless."

The accident happened when Bianchi"s car slid off the wet Suzuka track and into a crane picking up the Sauber of German driver Adrian Sutil, who had crashed at the same spot one lap earlier.

Bianchi was part of the Ferrari young driver programme.

Former team-mate Chilton remembers Bianchi

Max Chilton shared this image of himself and Jules Bianchi on Twitter

Ex-Marussia driver Max Chilton, 24, raced as team-mate to Bianchi for two years in F1. They also competed in karting from the age of 10 before rising through the racing ranks together.

The Briton tweeted: "No words can describe what his family & the sport have lost. All I can say is it was a pleasure knowing and racing you."

Chilton (right) also shared this image from his days in karting with Bianchi (left)

A "shining talent" for Manor Marussia

Bianchi made his debut for Marussia in 2013 and a year later he scored both his and his team"s first points in F1 after finishing ninth in Monaco.

John Booth, team principal for Manor Marussia, said in a statement on Saturday: "Jules was a shining talent. He was destined for great things in our sport; success he so richly deserved.

"He was also a magnificent human being, making a lasting impression on countless people all over the world. They recognised, as did we, that at the same time as being a fiercely motivated racer, he was also an extremely warm, humble and intensely likeable person, who lit up our garage and our lives."

Bianchi celebrates with his Marussia team following his ninth-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2014

"A world champion in the making"

F1 pundit Eddie Jordan told BBC Breakfast that Bianchi was developing into a world-class driver.

"Very seldom do we find a real jewel, like Lewis Hamilton, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. Jules had the potential to be in that league," said Jordan, a former team boss and BBC Sport expert.

"It was unfortunate circumstances. We have things to learn but the virtual safety car has improved things and it couldn"t be safer now.

"Bianchi was so well respected, loved and adored. A smashing boy and a world champion in the making."

British former F1 driver and BBC commentator Allan McNish added: "He had a huge smile. It wasn"t just about what he could do on the circuit, it was about what he did off it as well. He lifted that team.

"If you look back to Monaco 2014, it was one of his best drives and it gave Manor their first ever points in F1. It gave them hope to be able to continue and try and revive the team for 2015.

"It"s not just about the loss of a friend and a colleague, it"s about the loss of someone with such a huge talent. He was taken away far too young."

BBC Sport chief F1 writer Andrew Benson

The Frenchman was one of the most promising of a new generation of Formula 1 drivers. In only 34 races he had done enough with the back-of-the-grid Marussia team to suggest he had a bright future in the sport.

Read Andrew"s thoughts here.

Social media reaction

Lotus tweeted this tribute to Jules Bianchi on Saturday

McLaren"s Fernando Alonso : "Friend, companion, talent, smile. Eternal. Rest in peace Jules. Always with us."

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg: "Extremely sad to hear that Jules Bianchi passed away. Thinking about Jules and his family."

Former McLaren and Benetton driver Martin Brundle : "RIP Jules Bianchi. It was a pleasure and privilege to have known him in his all-too short life. Sad day, condolences to his family and friends."

Manor Marussia driver Roberto Merhi : "Very sad day for motorsport, the best driver that I raced against has left us after nine months fighting for his life. RIP my friend Jules."

Toro Rosso driver Max Verstappen : "Today we have lost an amazing talent and person. Words can"t describe our feelings right now. We will all miss you Jules."

Red Bull team : "A tragic loss. All of our thoughts are with the family and friends of Jules Bianchi. #RIPJules #JB17."

Force India team : "Our thoughts are with Jules"s family and friends in this moment. You will be sorely missed, Jules. Rest in Peace."

Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz Jr : "Horrible news. Rest in peace mate. A great example of fight and courage for all of us. You will always be with us."

Former McLaren and Lotus driver Heikki Kovalainen : "RIP Jules Bianchi. My sincerest condolences to all of his family."

Jules Bianchi (pictured as a 17-year-old) started his career in karting before moving to French Formula Renault 2.0

Bianchi tested a Formula 1 car for the first time at the young drivers" test at Jerez in 2009 for Ferrari

Bianchi became a member of Ferraris young driver programme in 2011

Ferrari loaned Bianchi to Force India for 2012, where he took part in nine Friday practice sessions as test and reserve driver

At the Japanese GP during lap 41, Bianchi crashed into a recovery vehicle as it lifted Sauber driver Adrian Sutil"s car

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/33578997

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Hear Calvin Harris" New House Banger "How Deep Is Your Love"

TIMEEntertainmentMusicHear Calvin Harris New House Banger How Deep Is Your LoveThe DJ-producer teams up with the Disciples for a fresh sound

Calvin Harris last studio album, 2014s stagnant Motion, succeeded when he let his guest-stars shinethe Haim team-up Pray to G*d should be textbook EDM-rock fusionand strayed from the beats for which hes best known. So its a good sign that latest song from the highest-paid DJ in the world, How Deep Is Your Love, doesnt evoke the pummeling build-ups and synthesizer onslaughts of Rihannas We Found Love or Cheryl Coles Call My Name. Instead, Taylor Swifts boyfriend opts for some slow-burning house with the help of London-based producers Disciples and Norwegian songwriter Ina Wroldsen. If his next album sounds this fresh, the love will go pretty deep, actually.

Source: http://time.com/3963195/calvin-harris-how-deep-is-your-love-disciples/

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Friday, July 17, 2015

"X-Men: Apocalypse" star Olivia Munn on Psylocke"s latex costume | EW.com

Olivia Munn is visibly psyched to be joining the X-Men universe. The actress, last seen on HBOs The Newsroom, is a huge fan of the comic book series and takes it very seriously. Says Munn, My sister just graduated magna c*m laude from law school. My little brother just became a master physicist, hes going to go get his PhD. Thats where theyre at. And yet we talk about X-Men as if were talking about the Civil War.

One of the most striking aspects of Psylocke is her rather risqu outfit, a conscious choice made by Apocalypse, who dresses all of his minions. Psylockes outfit or uniform or suit or whatever you want to call it is very sexual, admits Munn. Ive got like my thigh-highs and a halter, but the thing about that, and that was important, is that it doesnt matter what Im wearing as long as were all aware of who she is. Shes very strong and shes very lethal and shes very powerful, and it doesnt really matter what shes wearing as long as you have that strength and that presence.

But wearing skin-tight latex does have its challenges. Now it fits like a glove, but its kind of hard because theres been times where Im pulling and it pops like a balloon, which did happen day one, admits Munn. Day one, I was like, Uh, guys, uh, do we have a backup? Sorry I popped my crotch.

To continue reading the cover story on X-Men: Apocalypse, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, on newsstands Friday.

Related StoriesThis Weeks Cover: First look at the new generation of mutants in X-Men: ApocalypseFirst look at X-Men: Apocalypse: 5 EW exclusive photosX-Men: Apocalypsedirector Bryan Singer gets candid on complete, absolute bullst s*x abuse chargesJennifer Lawrence on possibility of returning to X-Menfranchise: There is hopeOscar Isaac on finding the right look for Apocalypse inX-Men

To continue reading the cover story on X-Men: Apocalypse, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, on newsstands Friday.

Source: http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/17/xmen-apocalypse-star-olivia-munn-psylocke-latex-costume

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"X-Men: Apocalypse": First Sexy Look At New Generation Of Mutants

Image Courtesy of Michael Muller/Entertainment Weekly

The new mutants have arrived and theyre creepy/amazing looking. I mean, is isOlivia Munn as Psylocke; Oscar Isaac as the villain, Apocalypse; and Michael Fassbender as Magneto. The threesome landed the latest cover of EW, giving us the first look of the next film, X-Men: Apocalypse.

Lets talk about X, Baby. Thats the catch phrase on the new cover ofEntertainment Weekly, and well, its quite fitting. X-Men: Apocalypse will definitely have some familiar faces, but i twill also have a lot of new ones and theyre freaking amazing looking. First, look atOlivia Munnwith purple hair, electric powers and well, a lot of leather. However, its the new villain that has us asking questions.

Hes believed to be the first mutant, whatever that means, Oscar Isaactold EWin their cover interview. He is the creative-slash-destructive force of this earth. When things start to go awry, or when things seem like theyre not moving towards evolution, he destroys those civilizations.

Apocalypse takes place ten years later with A waking up in a world he doesnt approve of; he finds Angel (Ben Hardy); Storm (Alexander Shipp);Psylocke (Olivia); and Erik(Michael Fassbender), who has been keeping to himself and has fallen in love no, not with Raven (Jennifer Lawrence). She is still trying to rescue other mutants, but when she hears that Erik has been taken under Apocalypses wing, she knows she needs to step in to save him but naturally, asks for Charles Xavier (James McAvoy)s help. Hes not teaching anybody how to fight at the moment. Hes teaching people how to control their abilities so that they can work at a bank. But of course this movie challenges all of that, James told the mag.However, when he hears of the horrible things A wants to do basically destroy the world and make a new one, he too joins in.

Its a chaotic world of conflict and war and destruction, directorBryan Singersaid. Yeah, wed say. Whos excited?!

Emily Longeretta

Source: http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/07/16/xmen-apocalypse-pics-entertainment-weekly-cover/

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