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L.A. city workers' one-day strike comes to an end after impacting services

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:24 GMT

Thousands of city workers in Los Angeles took part in a one-day strike Tuesday to bring attention to what they describe as unfair labor practices and the city's failure to bargain in good faith.More than 11,000 city workers for SEIU Local 721, including sanitation workers, heavy-duty mechanics, engineers, gardeners, custodians, lifeguards and many others, started walking the picket lines early Tuesday morning.The union says the city has failed to address the crisis of recruitment and retention of city workers and claimed vacancy rates in some departments are as high as 40 percent.Workers say they are tired of vacant positions requiring workers to take on large amounts of overtime and they are ready to send a message about what they describe as unfair labor practices. “We’re being very overworked, we’re understaffed, the city has disrespected us and we’re tired of it. If they continue to disrespect us we’re gonna shut it down,” said Dion Cornelious, a bus operator and executive board...

'Senseless violence': 7 men indcited in string of fatal shootings in L.A. County

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:24 GMT

Seven men have been charged in connection with a string of fatal shootings that occurred in Los Angeles, Compton and Inglewood in late 2021 and early 2022, officials announced Tuesday. The charges stemmed from a 37-count grand jury indictment that was unsealed on Monday and involved four separate incidents in which seven victims lost their lives to "senseless violence," according to the L.A. County District Attorney's Office. Authorities called the investigations into the shootings “complex,” and the men were described as gang members. Seven men charged in a string of shootings in Los Angeles County are seen in images released by the DA's Office on Aug. 8, 2023. (KTLA) The first in the series of shootings occurred at an RV park in South Los Angeles on Dec. 6, 2021.Two victims, Jose Palma and Hector Cervantes, were killed when shots were fired into an RV.Six of the seven defendants were charged in the case: Kendale Taylor, Cory Ervin, Kalil Santos, Kevin Salter, Terrance Adams and Ma...

Romance scam artist steals nearly $1 million, gets 6 years in prison

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:24 GMT

A 32-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York, has been sentenced to nearly 6 years in federal prison for laundering almost $1 million stolen from victims of romance scams and email scams, including a Pasadena resident, the United States Department of Justice announced Tuesday.  Referred to as the “kingpin" of the group of swindlers and the “personification of evil” by U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, Okechukwu Nwofor pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering on Feb. 21.  “Nwofor admitted to leading a money laundering conspiracy from at least July 2018 to August 2019. Nwofor used a network of individuals who received fraudulent proceeds obtained from the victims of romance and business email compromise scams. Once the illicitly obtained funds were received, Nwofor and his co-conspirators quickly withdrew or transferred into accounts they controlled,” a news release from the USAO’s Central District of California stated. &nb...

Dog named 'Taylor Swift' gives birth to pups named after singer's hits — now she's looking for a home

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:24 GMT

As Taylor Swift's six-night stint at SoFi Stadium comes to a close and the popstar moves onto the next city, a local animal shelter is hoping that her fans will welcome their own Taylor Swift into their homes permanently.Best Friends Animal Society is trying to find a home for "Taylor Swift," a 5-year-old American Staffordshire terrier mix that recently gave birth to a litter of puppies.This dog named after popstar Taylor Swift is ready for her forever home. (Los Angeles Best Friends Animal Society)Dog Taylor Swift gave birth to nine pups, each one named after a hit song from human Taylor Swift.Her pups were named Bejeweled, Enchanted, Paper Rings, Style, Wildest Dreams, Fearless, Cardigan, Gorgeous, and Tim McGraw.All of her puppies have been adopted, but now the animal welfare organization is hoping to find the perfect fit for Taylor Swift.A litter of puppies named after Taylor Swift songs were adopted from Los Angeles Best Friends Animal Society."She’s hoping to find a home with ...

Fire ban issued for Joshua Tree National Park

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:24 GMT

Fire restrictions have been enacted for Joshua Tree National Park due to hot, dry weather conditions and increased fire danger, park officials announced Tuesday.Wood burning and charcoal fires are prohibited, along with smoking within ten feet of vegetation. Generators can only be used if they have approved spark arrestors and are at least three feet from any vegetation, officials said.The York Fire, which erupted on July 28, scored over 90,000 acres of land within the park, including countless iconic Joshua trees.The park is also seeing invasive grass growth that is “three times greater than average,” the National Park Service said, which only adds to the fire risk.Joshua Trees burn in the York Fire, Sunday, July 30, 2023, in the Mojave National Preserve, Calif. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)“The fire restrictions will reduce the risk of fire, to promote public health and safety, and to protect resources during this time,” NPS said in a statement.The restrictions will remain in effe...

No more penis pills: Robert H Cohen, M.D. reveals new ‘BoCox’ treatment

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:24 GMT

Let’s face it we’ve all heard of Botox– that miracle worker that smoothes out wrinkles and keeps Hollywood stars looking “forever young.”But did you know this powerful little neurotoxin has a new claim to fame? It’s now being used in the world of sexual health, revolutionizing penile treatments and enhancing the effects of procedures like the P-shot.You might be wondering if you read that right. Botox for the penis? B, in the P? Yep, that’s right! Time to put the pills down.Buckle up because we’re diving into an unexpected bone-anza, that has men all across the globe getting-it-up, after dropping their pants and getting a prick.Botox Isn’t Just for Wrinkles AnymoreRemember when we used to associate Botox only with frozen faces and the endless mockery of late-night talk show hosts? Those days are long gone. Botox is now being used in surprising ways, and its latest application might just make you raise an eyebrow (if you haven’t had Bot...

TV’s ‘This Is Cayman’ Monica Walton Showcases The Island And Its Unique Offerings

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:24 GMT

The TV Broadcaster & creative with a focus on the Caribbean travel scene is reminding globetrotters & holiday-goers why the Cayman Islands is one of the world’s must-visit vacation spots. Monica Walton – whose extensive experience has taken her career internationally – shows the world that the Cayman Islands is more than a sugar-white sand, crystal-clear water haven.When Monica Walton’s tourism channel, This is Cayman TV, was halted due to the effects of the pandemic, the Cayman-born journalist, TV Broadcaster, and founder of Vagabond MediaGroup was well-connected globally that she could step away from the Caribbean lens and focus on her various endeavors, such as filmmaking and journalism.When the borders to the island opened up and business began taking-off once again, Monica knew it was the right time to relaunch her channel.This is Cayman TV, the official tourism channel in the Cayman Islands, is a comprehensive guide to all things Cayman. With a focus on cul...

Skin Is In: Hollywood Beauty Guru Robyn Newmark Launches Skin Rituals, Her New Ayurvedic Skincare Range

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:24 GMT

Skin Rituals is the culmination of Hollywood Beauty Guru Robyn Newmark’s  20+ years as a leading beauty industry professional and med spa owner. Specializing in regenerative therapies crafted and scientifically formulated, Newmark fuses her artistic skills, cosmetic ingredient acumen, and long-standing interest in Ayurvedic wisdom into a line of products.Inclusivity, Functionality, and SimplicityWho has time for a nine-step, twice daily skincare regimen? Very few of us, including Newmark. Her goal was to create a gender-neutral, accessible brand that doesn’t require a lot of fuss or guesswork. Each product is multi-use and is equally appealing to men and women. For example, the award-winning Balancing Face Oil can be used as a night time serum or worn alone as a moisturizer. It also works great as a beard treatment or even to nourish cuticles and the area around the lips. The Regenerating Face Serum + Moisturizer works double duty day or night to regenerate and protect the skin’s li...

Butta: From Grammy Nominations to Musical Mastery

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:24 GMT

In the universe of music production, several stars shine brightly, but few illuminate  as vibrantly as Keith “Butta” Justice. Four-time Grammy nominee, Soul Train Award winner, and platinum selling music producer, Butta, as he is popularly known, has been carving a niche for himself in the music industry.Raised on the rhythmic streets of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Butta began his journey in tandem with his high school friend Allen “Bizkit” Arthur. Together, they forged B & B Entertainment, LLC, a platform that has become a touchstone of remarkable tunes. Butta’s hands have been instrumental in shaping the music of eminent stars such as John Legend, Miguel, Neyo, and Yo Gotti. One of his most distinguished works  has been John Legend’s #1 Billiard single, “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”, featuring Ludacris, a track that found its groove in the film, Think Like a Man.For Butta, the melody never stops. His recent collaborations with Bi...

University of California admits a record-number of California freshmen for the fall of 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:24 GMT

The University of California has admitted an unprecedented number of California students for the fall of 2023, with 88,285 first-year applicants coming from the Golden State alone.It’s an increase of 3.5% from last year, and part of an ongoing effort to get more Californians into the state’s higher education system. This year, the state’s budget included a 5% boost for the UC system — part of a multi-year agreement between Governor Gavin Newsom and the University of California — with the expectation that campuses would use that money to enroll more California students, among other educational objectives.Across the UC system, that seems to be exactly what happened. Admission rates for Californians increased to nearly 67% this year, as opposed to 64% in 2022.The surge was more prominent at UC Santa Cruz than any other campus. This fall, the school admitted 10,200 more first-year Californian students than the year prior, a 44.5% jump. Though final enrollment num...