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Britney Spears addresses being struck by Victor Wembanyama's security guard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:31 GMT

Britney Spears is speaking out after she was struck by an NBA star's security guard. Spears took to social media to release a statement after she was allegedly assaulted by a member of Victor Wembanyama's security team while in Las Vegas Wednesday night. "Traumatic experiences are not new to me and I have had my fair share of them," her statement started. "I was not prepared for what happened to me last night."She then explained her side of the story."I recognized an athlete in my hotel lobby as I was heading to dinner. I later went to a restaurant at a different hotel and saw him again. I decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success. It was really loud, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. I am aware of the player's statement where he mentions 'I grabbed him from behind,' but I simply tapped him on the shoulder.""His security then back-handed me in the face without looking back, in front of a crowd," she continued. "Nearly knocking me down and causin...

‘Resting zone’ set up for sick sea lions along Marina del Rey coast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:31 GMT

Wildlife officials have set up a temporary resting zone along the Marina del Rey coast for sea lions sickened by a toxic algae bloom.The area is surrounded by fencing at Charlie Beach, where eight sea lions are currently being treated by volunteers.Wildlife experts, along with Los Angeles city and county officials unveiled the resting area during a news conference Thursday addressing an alarming spike in cases.Overall, there’s been more than 1,000 sea lions reported sick or dead because of the toxic algae. Experts say domoic acid from the algae gets into the sea lions through their food and causes several health problems. Sick sea lions, dolphins overwhelming Southern California rescue organization The toxic bloom is making sea lions aggressive and the mammals have been attacking beachgoers and surfers who have gotten too close.“I have personally witnessed what happens when sea lions are in distress, it’s a heart wrenching sight. These normally vibrant creatures have seizures,” Lo...

Los Angeles teen in finals for annual duct tape prom dress contest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:31 GMT

When you think about duct tape, your first thought probably isn't elegant promwear, but for a Los Angeles teen, it's just that. Karla Torres dedicated 120 hours of her life and used 14 rolls-worth of duct tape to construct a one-of-a-kind prom dress as part of a nationwide contest.Karla is in the finals of Duck brand's annual Stuck at Prom contest, which challenges high school students to transform the utility do-it-all tape into lavish and unbelievable fashion pieces as either a prom dress or tuxedo.Karla drew on inspiration from 18th Century French art for her duct tape prom gown. (Karla Torres)The duct tape brand reviewed hundreds of entries before narrowing down the field to the top 10. Color, craftsmanship, originality and accessories were all considered in the judging criteria, with grand prizes for the two categories of $10,000 in scholarship money being awarded to the winners.For Karla, the amateur fashionista drew inspiration from 18th-century French art to design her duct ...

16 victims of ‘serial’ Los Angeles rapist identified, police searching for more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:31 GMT

Police have identified 16 victims of a “serial” rapist in Los Angeles and are now searching for more. The suspect, Terrance Hawkins, 41, was arrested in downtown L.A. in April on multiple counts of forcible rape, intimate partner violence, and stalking.“Hawkins has a long history of briefly dating women, abusing them, and filming them during sexual intercourse,” according to Los Angeles police.Hawkins generally met his victims on various social media platforms, police said.Detectives believe there are additional unidentified victims of Hawkins and are looking to speak with them.He is being held without bail at Men's Central Jail and is due to appear in L.A. Municipal Court on July 24, according to jail records.The Los Angeles Police Department provided this undated photo of Terrance Hawkins.LAPD has released a photograph of Hawkins as the investigation remains ongoing.Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer J. Roman at Operations-Central BureauFamily Justice Center at 21...

Hawaii-bound Southwest flight diverted to California after AirDropped bomb threat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:31 GMT

A Southwest Airlines flight (#3316) from Las Vegas to Maui was diverted to Oakland on Monday after photos suggesting a bomb was on board were sent to a flight attendant, the Alameda County Sheriff's Department confirmed. The images were sent to the flight attendant using Apple's "AirDrop," according to ACSO. Oakland Airport Operations, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Airport Police Services evacuated the plane once it touched down in Oakland. All of the plane's passengers and their luggage was searched, and no explosive materials were found, per ACSO. The plane later continued to its intended destination in Hawaii. Nobody has been arrested in connection with the incident, ACSO said. The FBI has an investigation ongoing. Southwest Airlines sent the following statement regarding the diversion: "We can confirm flight 3316 on Monday afternoon diverted to Oakland from its intended path, Las Vegas to Maui, and later continued on to Maui. We’d defer additional questions t...

Mario Liborio Aguilar Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash on 5 Freeway [Burbank, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:31 GMT

Traffic Collision near Burbank Boulevard Kills 30-Year-Old ManBURBANK, CA (July 6, 2023) – Early Saturday morning, a traffic collision along 5 Freeway claimed the life of Mario Liborio Aguilar.The crash happened at around 3:05 a.m., in the northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway, just east of Burbank Boulevard.Upon arrival, authorities discovered at least four vehicles blocking several lanes of the freeway.Emergency crews at the site of the collision pronounced one person dead at the scene. Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office later identified the deceased man as 30-year-old Mario Liborio Aguilar.Meanwhile, crews shut down the areas of the 5 Freeway surrounding the crash. They then performed cleanup and preliminary duties.At this time, no further details regarding the crash on the 5 Freeway are currently available. However, Los Angeles County Officials will provide more information once it becomes available to the public.The team at Sweet James sends their sincere sympathies to...

1 Fatally Injured in Three-Vehicle Crash in Hazel Avenue [Orangevale, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:31 GMT

Motorcyclist Killed in Head-On Collision Near Central AvenueORANGEVALE, CA (July 6, 2023) – Saturday evening, a three-vehicle crash on Hazel Avenue involving a motorcycle left one person dead.CHP officers responded to the fatal incident around 6:20 p.m. on Hazen Avenue, just south of Central Avenue.Upon arrival, authorities learned that a northbound Scion sedan driven by an adult male veered into the southbound lanes for unknown reasons. As a result, the Scio collided head-on with a Hyundai SUV traveling in the opposite direction.Additionally, a motorcyclist traveling behind the SUV failed to stop on time and also collided with the SUV. Responding medical personnel declared the male rider dead at the scene.Meanwhile, the female SUV driver and the Scion driver were transported to a hospital for treatment of minor to major injuries.The identity of the deceased motorcyclist remains undisclosed to the public, pending notification from the next of kin.The CHP is investigating wheth...

Le Tigre Still Have Plenty to Growl About

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:31 GMT

As the late 90s’/early aughts continue to gain a wistful rewind in popularity, the return of Le Tigre’s buoyant beats are more needed than ever.The trio (Kathleen Hanna, JD Samson, and Johanna Fateman), which formed in ‘99 –when bedroom electroclash and dance floor driven indie rock was having a moment– took what was trendy and spun it on its head, infusing the same kind of socially relevant rants heard in Hanna’s seminal “riot grrl” band Bikini Kill, into fresh and arty new material.The band’s punky rhythms and synthy samples were sonically conceived as the soundtrack “for the party after the protest,” even while lyrically, songs like “Deceptacon,” “Hot Topic,” “TKO” and “Bang Bang” kept much-needed conversations going about queer culture, racism, feminism and more. Decades later, they’re sure to be as fun and fierce as ever live, bringing their collective charisma and signature multimedia elements together to create a movement of bodies and minds that comments on, but ...

Sources: US will provide cluster munitions to Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:31 GMT

By Nomaan Merchant, Lolita C. Baldor and Ellen Knickmeyer | Associated PressWASHINGTON — The Biden administration has decided to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine and is expected to announce on Friday that the Pentagon will send thousands as part of a new military aid package worth up to $800 million for the war effort against Russia, according to people familiar with the decision.The decision comes despite widespread concerns that the controversial bombs can cause civilian casualties. The Pentagon will provide munitions that have a reduced “dud rate,” meaning there will be far fewer unexploded rounds that can result in unintended civilian deaths.U.S. officials said Thursday they expect the military aid to Ukraine will be announced on Friday. The weapons will come from Pentagon stocks and will also include Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles and an array of ammunition, such as rounds for howitzers and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, known as HIMARS, offici...

Threads: All your questions about Meta’s new Twitter rival answered

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:31 GMT

By Wyatte Grantham-Philips | Associated PressNEW YORK — Threads, a text-based app built by Meta to rival Twitter, is live.The app, billed as the text version of Meta’s photo-sharing platform Instagram, became available Wednesday night to users in more than 100 countries — including the U.S., Britain, Australia, Canada and Japan. Despite some early glitches, 30 million people had signed up before noon on Thursday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Threads.New arrivals to the platform include celebrities like Oprah, pop star Shakira and chef Gordon Ramsay — as well as corporate accounts from Taco Bell, Netflix, Spotify, the Washington Post and other media outlets.Threads, which Meta says provides “a new, separate space for real-time updates and public conversations,” arrives at a time when many are looking for Twitter alternatives to escape Elon Musk’s raucous oversight of the platform since acquiring it last year for $44 billion. But Meta’s new app has al...