Rachel Lindsay and Jodi Walker kick off today’s Morally Corrupt with a breakdown of the piping hot tea concerning Heather Gay’s Beauty Lab + Laser and Monica Garcia’s legal battle over injections (14:09), followed by an in depth discussion of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 4, Episode 9 (20:52). Then, Jodi and Rachel recap The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 13, Episode 3 (42:08), before Callie Curry returns to the pod to dish about the Real Housewives of Potomac Season 8 premiere (1:04:16).
Crouching at the entrance of San Francisco City Hall, Jason Jacobs brushed gold paint onto the ornate doorway of the Beaux-Arts building.
“Whether I paint the gates or not, they’re gonna get their breath taken away,” said Jacobs, a San Francisco native who often marvels at the stunning architecture.
Fresh paint. Street cleanings. Homeless sweeps. Colorful art. Workers like Jacobs beautified the city, days before politicians, executives and journalists from around the world descend on San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference. From Saturday to Nov. 17, the international event is expected to bring more than 20,000 people to the city and attract thousands of protesters.
APEC is made up of 21 member economies, including the U.S., China, Japan, Russia and Canada. The members account for nearly 50% of global trade and 40% of the global population, giving the U.S. a big platform to promote policies that advance free and open trade in the Asia-Pacific region.
A highly anticipated meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the summit could also help ease tensions between the two countries.
The stakes are high for the U.S. but also for San Francisco, which is hosting the APEC summit for the first time. It’s the biggest gathering of world leaders in San Francisco since 1945, when representatives from 50 nations signed a charter that established the United Nations.
The global spotlight will shine on a city filled with stark contrasts — home to billion-dollar tech companies and streets lined with homeless encampments.
“You can go to the deepest, darkest parts of the Tenderloin or you can go to the top of the Hyatt Regency,” said Jacobs, a painter at City Hall.
Blocks away from the Moscone Center, where the summit’s main events will be held, Christie Palominos sorted through her belongings. Palominos said she’s trying to figure out what she wants to keep before she moves into permanent housing. Piles of clothing, a shopping cart, bags, coloring books and a variety of objects surround her.
Christie Palominos, 47, sorts through her belongings blocks away from the Moscone Center, where main events for the APEC summit are scheduled to be held.
(Queenie Wong/Los Angeles Times)
Palominos, 47, didn’t know world leaders would be in town, but she said one of her homeless friends has been asked by the same police officer to move multiple times.
“They’re clearing out the homeless people because they don’t want them to see this,” she said.
Grappling with family issues, drug addiction and mental health problems, Palominos said she’s been hopping among San Francisco homeless shelters for more than a year. It’s not easy for homeless people to find a spot in a shelter.
“Usually I stay as long as I can, but it’s kind of hard because there are certain people who pick on you. They think they’re better than you,” said Palominos, who has a bruise under her eye and a bandage wrapped around a bloody finger.
On the streets, Palominos said she’s seen traumatic acts of violence like a shooting and stabbing. Struggling with addiction to crystal meth, Palominos said she’s been clean for five days.
“Walk a day in my shoes,” she said. “I guarantee that some of these rich people who walk around in these high-rises wouldn’t survive.”
Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition for Homelessness, said her organization has been hearing about more homeless encampment sweeps ahead of the international conference. With shelters seeing spaces already filling up or limiting openings, Friedenbach said it’s “really frustrating” because the city is just displacing groups of homeless people when they’re moved around. Instead, advocacy groups were hoping for more temporary housing for the homeless during the conference.
“They want to clean up the city’s image and use this conference as a way to draw back tourism,” she said. “These efforts never work because folks don’t have disappearing power. People are out there because there’s not enough housing. There’s not enough shelter.”
In 2022, 7,754 people experienced homelessness in San Francisco. About 43% or 3,357 were staying in shelters, according to city data.
Homelessness has been a contentious issue in San Francisco. In December, a federal judge temporarily blocked the city from clearing certain homeless encampments without offering shelter. The court order stemmed from a 2022 lawsuit the Coalition on Homelessness filed against San Francisco, alleging that city workers are trying to drive homeless people out of town and are seizing and destroying their property “with the express purpose of removing visible signs of homelessness from San Francisco’s street.” The city is still allowed to clear streets for emergencies, health and safety reasons and to temporarily clean.
Emily Cohen, deputy director for communications and legislative affairs at the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, said in an email the city isn’t expanding shelter capacity just for the summit but did set aside funding to add roughly 300 shelter beds as winter approaches.
The Interfaith Winter Shelter, which has a site at Natoma and 8th streets, is scheduled to be open during the summit and the city is expanding shelter capacity at three adult congregate shelters, she said.
“When our community hosts events, like APEC, we want to put our best foot forward,” she said.
That hasn’t stopped Republicans from holding up San Francisco as an example for what happens when Democratic politicians are in charge. In June, Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, shot a campaign ad that portrayed San Francisco as city that has “collapsed because of leftist policies.”
“We came in here, and we saw people defecating on the street,” said DeSantis, standing next to a graffiti-sprayed buildings. “We saw people using heroin. We saw people smoking crack cocaine, and you look around, the city is not vibrant anymore. It’s really collapsed because of leftist policies.”
The city has been struggling to recover from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, when San Francisco grappled with office and business closures partly due to government-mandated shutdowns that affected a vibrant downtown filled with retailers, restaurants and bars.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed said in a press conference Thursday that the tattered urban images people see on social media about San Francisco capture a snapshot in time in certain neighborhoods, ignoring the rest of the picturesque city.
“I see a lot of beauty all over San Francisco…,” she said. “My hope is that people will have the opportunity to experience San Francisco for themselves and tell the whole story.”
The skyline of downtown San Francisco with the Golden Gate bridge.
(Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Later in the day, Breed and Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a new plant nursery and education center in the Soma neighborhood.
Newsom, who met China’s president last month, said before a big event like the APEC summit everything’s got to “get dialed up” just like when people clean up their house before they have visitors.
“This place is beloved and its best days are in front of it, not behind it,” he said. “And all those doomsdayers. All those negative folks. You know what? They haven’t offered anything.”
Still, business closings have also heightened fears about the future of downtown San Francisco. Major retailers including Nordstrom, T-Mobile, Whole Foods and Anthropologie have left amid concerns about less foot traffic, sluggish sales and safety. The pandemic also fueled more online shopping, which meant people didn’t feel the need to visit stores as often. Still, businesses such as Ikea, are also opening new stores in San Francisco and artificial-intelligence startups have been flocking to the city.
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rodney Fong said cities are re-imagining what their urban centers feel like as technology changes the way people work. With APEC expected to generate $53 million for the local economy, according to the San Francisco Travel Assn., businesses throughout the city also have an opportunity to rope in more sales.
“This is a really important moment for San Francisco and we’re really looking forward to showcasing all the innovations,” Fong said.
Ahead of the conference, the Webster Street pedestrian bridge, which was once light gray, is now freshly painted red in Japantown. Two new decorative crosswalks were being installed in Chinatown and North Beach. The green grime that once covered the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, located near the conference, is gone.
On a sunny day before the summit, workers washed the streets and placed new grass at the Yerba Buena Gardens because of heavy use over the summer. A green fence, scheduled to be removed Tuesday, wrapped around the park with a sign that read “Improvements in Progress.”
At the Moscone Center, some of the city’s most picturesque spots are on signs about the event. The Palace of Fine Arts. City Hall. The Golden Gate Bridge, next to blue water and a sandy beach. “APEC is going to be EPIC,” one sign reads.
Longtime San Francisco natives like Jacobs can’t envision living anywhere else.
Kevin Sinfield to run seven ultra-marathons in seven days to raise funds for motor neurone disease; 43-year-old will start in Leeds, then head to Cardiff, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Dublin and Brighton before finishing in London; Sinfield has raised millions for MND since Rob Burrow diagnosis
Last Updated: 08/11/23 10:30am
Kevin Sinfield will run seven ultra-marathons in seven days in December to raise funds for MND
Kevin Sinfield will undertake a new challenge to help those affected by motor neurone disease by running seven ultra-marathons in seven days in December.
Sinfield has raised millions of pounds for MND charities since his former Leeds Rhinos team-mate and great friend Rob Burrow was diagnosed in 2019.
The 43-year-old, currently defence coach of the England men’s rugby union team, will start in Leeds on December 1.
He will then head to Cardiff, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Dublin and Brighton before finishing in London on December 7, when he runs from Twickenham Stadium to The Mall.
Sinfield will run 27.2 miles a day – full marathon length plus an extra mile to show how people can always do even more to help friends needing support.
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Sinfield says carrying Rob Burrow over the finish line at the Leeds Marathon was ‘really, really special’
Sinfield says carrying Rob Burrow over the finish line at the Leeds Marathon was ‘really, really special’
This will be Sinfield’s fourth fundraiser, with the former Rhinos man telling the BBC: “I did say last year that the Ultra 7 in7 would complete the trilogy, but there was always that caveat that Rocky 4 was my favourite Rocky film.”
“For the MND community, every second counts and we will be making the most of every step on this challenge to raise awareness, funds and support for that community.
“The MND community have always given us incredible support and we wanted to find a way we could show that support for more people around the country.
The charities supported by this latest challenge include the Rob Burrow Centre for MND in Leeds.
Donations will also go to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, the Irish MND Association, the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, and the 4ED campaign, with the latter supporting former Leicester rugby union player Ed Slater.
Slater, who also represented Gloucester and Nottingham, was diagnosed with MND in 2022.
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Jamie Carragher and Daniel Sturridge analyse the high defensive line Tottenham persisted with after going down to nine men and what this meant for the Chelsea forwards.
San Bernardino police were recently investigating a squatters case at a residence when they made a surprising discovery inside: two baby alligators.
The alligators, which were apparently being kept as pets, were discovered at a home on Santa Fe Street late last month, according to police and local media reports.
The reptiles were initially taken to the city’s animal shelter but, with the assistance of California Fish and Wildlife, they have since been relocated to the Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Phelan, officials said.
“They weren’t kept in the best of conditions, but they’re doing OK,” said Kiah Almquist, the sanctuary’s manager and daughter of founder Joel Almquist. The animals each measured 12 to 24 inches long and were covered in white paint, Almquist said. Keepers are still working to remove the white paint from the animals, heal their dry skin, and put the alligators on a balanced diet of raw meat and “pinkies” — previously frozen baby mice often fed to reptiles.
Loki and Sylvie, named after characters on the Disney+ show “Loki,” are being held in a quarantine environment while the sanctuary raises money to build them a more permanent home. It will likely be years before the babies are big enough to be introduced into the sanctuary’s main pond, which is inhabited by eight adult alligators that each measure about 8 feet long.
Exotic animals like alligators are not allowed to be kept as pets in most cities, including San Bernardino. Nonetheless, it is not unusual for people to keep a wide range of animals in and around their homes.
Almquist said she routinely receives calls asking the sanctuary to accept animals that include alligators, snapping turtles, ferrets and sugar gliders — though the sanctuary is also home to tigers, bears and hyenas. The sanctuary is left to piece together the clues of what happened to the animals, like why the baby alligators arrived with white paint all over them. A Capuchin monkey once arrived who had been fed nothing but candy.
“The sad part is that if [the government] can’t find a place to bring these animals, they have to be euthanized,” she said. And although a baby alligator might seem like an appealing companion, it can become quite dangerous as it grows older and larger.
“When they’re babies, they’re cute. No one thinks anything will happen to them — a bite will be like a little pinch. But when they’re older they do something called a death roll,” in which the alligator bites their prey and then spins around quickly in the water to remove a chunk of meat. “They don’t care that you take care of them. They’re a reptile and they’re going to eat what’s in front of them.”
Owners often release the alligators into lakes and rivers as they get larger, Almquist said, where they out-compete the native species or just pass away. In March, the sanctuary rescued two alligators that had been dumped into a river in Temecula.
As for Loki and Sylvie, Almquist said everyone at the sanctuary is “super excited about them right now.” She invites members of the public to visit the juvenile alligators along with the sanctuary’s more than 200 other animals. The sanctuary charges an admission and the money goes towards the care of the animals, she said.
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Sky Sports’ Sue Smith discusses possible destinations for Emma Hayes following the news that the Chelsea manager will leave the club at the end of the season.
Recording live from a Vegas hotel room on BravoCon Eve, Chelsea Stark-Jones and Jodi Walker begin today’s Morally Corrupt with a recap of the news of the week (5:36) before launching into a recap of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 13, Episode 2 (12:57). Then, Chelsea and Jodi move on to discuss The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 4, Episode 8 (37:37) before finally breaking down The Real Housewives of New York reunion, Part 2 (59:16). Finally, Chelsea gives her thoughts on The Real Housewives of Miami Season 6 premiere (1:15:48).
Dave Chisnall: “I’m playing some good darts. I think I played better yesterday than I did today, but luckily for me I got away with a few games early on and did the job”
Last Updated: 02/11/23 9:35pm
Dave Chisnall proved too strong for Jim Williams in Thursday’s Players Championship 30, triumphing 8-4
Dave Chisnall claimed a fifth ranking title of 2023 as the ProTour season concluded with Players Championship 30 in Barnsley on Thursday.
Morecambe-based Chisnall has enjoyed a superb year on the circuit, winning three European Tour events and September’s Players Championship 23 in a memorable campaign.
He added a further title to end the Players Championship season in style on Thursday, overcoming Jim Williams 8-4 to scoop the £12,000 top prize.
Chisnall warmed up for the forthcoming Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts and Cazoo Players Championship Finals in style with seven superb victories in Event 30, with the highlight being a 111.35 average in a 6-2 quarter-final win over Scott Waites.
Chisnall also averaged over 105 in his Last 16 win over Jamie Hughes, and averaged at least 92 in each of his other five wins, which included early round defeats of Jeffrey Sparidaans and Irish duo Dylan Slevin and Steve Lennon.
He followed up his super-show in the quarter-finals by overcoming Winmau World Youth Championship finalist Gian van Veen 7-4, opening up a 4-1 lead before holding out for victory.
Chisnall then proved too strong for Williams in the decider, with a devastating six-leg burst seeing him open up a 6-1 advantage over the Welshman.
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Michael Bridge and Mark Webster give out their awards for the 2023 World Grand Prix.
Michael Bridge and Mark Webster give out their awards for the 2023 World Grand Prix.
Williams won two of the next three to maintain his hopes, but Chisnall followed up a 167 checkout in leg ten with a seventh 180 of the contest as he closed out victory – going one better than on Wednesday when he was the runner-up to Gerwyn Price.
“I’m playing some good darts,” said Chisnall. “I think I played better yesterday than I did today, but luckily for me I got away with a few games early on and did the job.
“I know I can play the game, I’m playing well and it shows – it’s a good job there was no Gezzy here today to stop me!
“If I can keep winning these, it keeps me up the rankings. If I put some time in, I’ll definitely be better – I’m alright at the moment.”
Williams’ run to the final was his best result on the circuit this year – bettering his semi-final appearance in Players Championship 25 – as he won through to the decider.
His best display statistically came in a Last 16 victory over Mario Vandenbogaerde, where he averaged 105.27, in a result which was sandwiched between averages of 99 and 98 in wins over Josh Rock and Danny Noppert respectively, while he saw off Damon Heta 7-5 in a see-saw semi-final.
Heta was a semi-finalist for the 12th time on the PDC ProTour this year, seeing off World Champion Michael Smith in another strong day of darts.
Van Veen, meanwhile, followed up last weekend’s run to the semi-finals of the Machineseeker European Championship by reaching the last four of a third Players Championship in his breakthrough year.
Smith, Noppert and Waites were joined in the quarter-finals by youngster Cam Crabtree – who won through to the last eight for the second time on the ProTour but narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Players Championship Finals.
Former Grand Slam champion Waites needed to reach Thursday’s final to snatch qualification for the Players Championship Finals, and defeated Krzysztof Ratajski and Ross Smith in his valiant run to the last eight, meaning that he also missed out on a spot in Minehead later this month.
Ricky Evans held on to claim the 64th place in the Players Championship Finals on a memorable day which saw him land a nine-dart finish in the second leg of his first round win over Callan Rydz – taking just 36 seconds to complete a perfect leg!
European Championship winner Peter Wright headlined the stars who missed out on qualifying for the Players Championship Finals following his first round exit on Thursday.
Former finalist Mervyn King, World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall and Mensur Suljovic will also miss the Minehead event, which features the top 64 from the Players Championship Order of Merit following this year’s 30 events.
Welshman Price, who won four of the last eight events he competed in during 2023, topped the final Players Championship Order of Merit, ahead of Gary Anderson, Heta and Chisnall.
Parking restrictions are in effect in parts of Los Angeles where fire officials have determined that roads need to be clear for potential evacuations — the latest precaution against possible wildfires as strong Santa Ana winds hit Southern California.
A red flag warning for Los Angeles and Ventura counties will last through at least Monday, with rapid spread expected if a fire were to start, fanned by gusts of 40 to 60 miles an hour and as high as 70 miles an hour in some spots according to the National Weather Service.
Early Sunday, winds reached 70 miles an hour at Boney Mountain in the Santa Monica Mountains and 83 miles an hour at Magic Mountain Truck Trail near Santa Clarita.
Southern California Edison officials have warned that precautionary power shutoffs could be necessary to prevent fires.
In Calabasas, officials said that Southern California Edison, which provides power to most of the city, could implement a public safety power shutoff “for virtually ALL circuits” there on Sunday because of the strong winds. “Downed power lines can ignite dry brush and cause wildfires,” the city said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In Los Angeles, vehicles may be towed in areas where parked cars could pose a problem for firefighters or for evacuees needing to get out of the city quickly, such as very narrow roads, hairpin turns, tight curves and intersections that could create “a choke point,” according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Drivers can type an address into the fire department’s website to see if the red flag parking restrictions, which are in effect until at least Monday morning, apply.
In parts of the Antelope Valley, Salinas Valley and San Luis Obispo County, residents will also be dealing with cold temperatures. Those areas are under a freeze warning, with temperatures as low as 25 degrees expected Monday and Tuesday.
Weather officials advise that people facing freeze warnings bring their animals inside, protect sensitive crops and keep a windshield scraper handy.
Parts of the Bay Area, including the San Mateo Coast and Santa Clara Hills, are also facing powerful winds and red flag warnings this weekend.
“People need to just be careful right now with anything that could ignite a fire, because if it gets started in the right spot, it has the potential to spread very quickly,” said Rich Thompson, a meteorologist with the Los Angeles/Oxnard National Weather Service office.
Activities that should be avoided include tossing cigarettes out of moving vehicles and leaving a campfire smoldering, Thompson said.
Last fall, strong Santa Ana winds and red flag warnings downed trees and left thousands of Southern Californians without power during the Thanksgiving holiday.
“This is a very typical Santa Ana event. It’s nothing unusual for this time of the year,” Thompson said.
