With the “Transformers” franchise clearly at a crossroads, its protectors have turned to their deep bench. But just adding more robots won’t transform this tired series, says Associated Press critic Mark Kennedy. “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” returns the franchise to its galaxy-wide, self-importance after taking a nice detour with 2018’s smaller “Bumblebee.” There's a new cast of animal robots and a very evil enemy in the planet-eating Unicron, but they're not used right and the movie limps from fight to fight. The problem is the same problem faced by all of the installments — balancing the humanity with the metal. The PG-13 movie opens Friday.

Albums from Janelle Monáe and Niall Horan, as well as a TV mov…

Plans to help build a stadium for the Oakland Athletics and lure major film makers to Las Vegas through tax credits are in flux after Nevada lawmakers adjourned their four-month legislative session. The future of the bills are now uncertain after the Democratic-controlled Legislature did not advance them before the midnight deadline as Monday turned to Tuesday. In a statement early Tuesday, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo said he would call a special session and set the agenda. He hadn't by Tuesday evening. A spokesperson for Democratic Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager confirmed later Tuesday those two items will not be under consideration in a special legislative session.