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  • Man given plea deal in Orlando jogger attack failed to show for treatment, arrest warrant says

    Tyler Feight, the man who attacked a jogger in College Park and took a plea deal that allowed him to avoid a formal conviction, is back in jail. The plea deal put Feight on probation and requires him to undergo “psychosexual evaluation and treatment,” for which he failed to show, according to a Florida Department of Corrections arrest warrant. The Orange County Jail shows Feight was booked on Monday under new charges. What happened?According to court documents, 26-year-old Feight was arrested on April 10. Police say Feight attacked a woman jogging just after 4 a.m. as she passed a home on Northumberland Avenue.The victim reported that Feight tried to get on top of her, but he fled after she kicked and screamed.Original charges The incident led to Feight being charged with battery (one prior battery) and attempted sexual battery of a person over the age of 12.In November, Feight was offered the plea deal and was released for time already served.He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim and maintain a three-block distance from the location of the attack.While Orlando police arrested him for attempted sexual battery, State Attorney Monique Worrell said there was insufficient evidence to prove to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that he tried to sexually assault the jogger. Feight had been living with his grandparents, but his grandmother told police he had moved. She said she didn’t want him there because he was violent and his “current whereabouts is unknown.”

    Tyler Feight, the man who attacked a jogger in College Park and took a plea deal that allowed him to avoid a formal conviction, is back in jail.

    The plea deal put Feight on probation and requires him to undergo “psychosexual evaluation and treatment,” for which he failed to show, according to a Florida Department of Corrections arrest warrant.

    The Orange County Jail shows Feight was booked on Monday under new charges.

    What happened?

    According to court documents, 26-year-old Feight was arrested on April 10. Police say Feight attacked a woman jogging just after 4 a.m. as she passed a home on Northumberland Avenue.

    The victim reported that Feight tried to get on top of her, but he fled after she kicked and screamed.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    Original charges

    The incident led to Feight being charged with battery (one prior battery) and attempted sexual battery of a person over the age of 12.

    In November, Feight was offered the plea deal and was released for time already served.

    He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim and maintain a three-block distance from the location of the attack.

    While Orlando police arrested him for attempted sexual battery, State Attorney Monique Worrell said there was insufficient evidence to prove to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that he tried to sexually assault the jogger.

    Feight had been living with his grandparents, but his grandmother told police he had moved. She said she didn’t want him there because he was violent and his “current whereabouts is unknown.”

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  • Feds say they foiled New Year’s Eve terror plot in L.A., Southern California

    A plan to attack several Los Angeles-area businesses on New Year’s Eve was detailed, dangerous and already in motion, authorities said.

    But as four people allegedly tied to an anti-government group gathered last week in the Mojave Desert to make and test several test bombs, FBI officials foiled the terror plot.

    “They had everything they needed to make an operational bomb at that location,” First Assistant U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli said at a news conference Monday morning. “We disrupted this terror plot before buildings were demolished or innocent people were killed.”

    The four people were arrested on suspicion of plotting an attack that Essayli called “organized, sophisticated and extremely violent.” They were all tied to a radical faction of the Turtle Island Liberation Front called Order of the Black Lotus, which FBI Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis called “a violent homegrown anti-government group.”

    Officials wouldn’t say what buildings or businesses were planned to be targeted but Essayli said they were different “logistics centers” similar to ones that Amazon might have.

    Officials said they believe that everyone involved in the planned attack has been arrested, though the investigation into the plot remains ongoing.

    The four alleged conspirators, Audrey Carroll, Zachary Page, Dante Gaffield and Tina Lai, have been charged with conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device, Essayli said.

    “The subjects arrested envisioned planting backpacks with improvised explosive devices to be detonated at multiple locations in Southern California, targeting U.S. companies,” Davis said.

    The plans the FBI uncovered also included follow-up attacks after the bombings, which included plans to target ICE agents and vehicles with pipe bombs, Essayli said.

    Grace Toohey

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  • Man in custody after video shows him allegedly beating girlfriend in Daytona Beach

    The Volusia Sheriff’s Office says a man wanted after a video showed him allegedly beating and dragging his girlfriend in Daytona Beach earlier this week is now in custody.That man, 31-year-old Scott Knowlton, was taken into custody outside a residence in Ormond Beach on Saturday. The sheriff’s office released video on Friday that allegedly shows Knowlton beating and then dragging his girlfriend outside a business in Daytona Beach on Thursday. VSO Chief Deputy Brian Henderson witnessed the incident on Thursday and stepped in to interrupt the attack.Detectives received an anonymous tip about Knowlton’s location, and after several hours of surveillance, they spotted him exiting the home. VSO said Knowlton ran back inside after he realized he was spotted, before he then jumped out of a rear window.Knowlton was then arrested in the backyard by deputies who had surrounded the house.This is not Knowlton’s first run-in with law enforcement. In 2023, Knowlton pleaded no contest to drug trafficking and grand theft auto charges stemming from a 2022 arrest.Knowlton is now facing charges including kidnapping, possession of a weapon by an in-state felon, obstructing an officer without violence and tampering with evidence as well as being in violation of his probation.

    VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. —

    The Volusia Sheriff’s Office says a man wanted after a video showed him allegedly beating and dragging his girlfriend in Daytona Beach earlier this week is now in custody.

    That man, 31-year-old Scott Knowlton, was taken into custody outside a residence in Ormond Beach on Saturday.

    The sheriff’s office released video on Friday that allegedly shows Knowlton beating and then dragging his girlfriend outside a business in Daytona Beach on Thursday.

    VSO Chief Deputy Brian Henderson witnessed the incident on Thursday and stepped in to interrupt the attack.

    Detectives received an anonymous tip about Knowlton’s location, and after several hours of surveillance, they spotted him exiting the home.

    VSO said Knowlton ran back inside after he realized he was spotted, before he then jumped out of a rear window.

    Knowlton was then arrested in the backyard by deputies who had surrounded the house.

    This is not Knowlton’s first run-in with law enforcement. In 2023, Knowlton pleaded no contest to drug trafficking and grand theft auto charges stemming from a 2022 arrest.

    Knowlton is now facing charges including kidnapping, possession of a weapon by an in-state felon, obstructing an officer without violence and tampering with evidence as well as being in violation of his probation.

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  • Frost advisories issued as freezing cold temps continue in Central Florida

    Central Florida experienced some of the coldest air of the season so far, breaking records in several cities on Tuesday. This is the earliest we’ve experienced such a significant drop in temperatures since 1993. Highs on Tuesday are struggling to reach nearly 60 degrees. This weather is being described as Impact Weather due to the significant change in conditions.WednesdayCold weather and frost advisories are in place overnight into Wednesday for parts of the region. A light freeze is possible in Marion County.Looking aheadTemperatures are expected to slowly warm back to normal by the weekend.First Warning Weather Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.RadarSevere Weather AlertsDownload the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts. The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.What is Impact Weather?Impact Weather suggests weather conditions could be disruptive or a nuisance for travel and day-to-day activities.What is a Severe Weather Warning Day?A Severe Weather Warning Day suggests weather conditions that could potentially harm life or property.

    Central Florida experienced some of the coldest air of the season so far, breaking records in several cities on Tuesday.

    This is the earliest we’ve experienced such a significant drop in temperatures since 1993.

    Highs on Tuesday are struggling to reach nearly 60 degrees.

    This weather is being described as Impact Weather due to the significant change in conditions.

    Wednesday

    Cold weather and frost advisories are in place overnight into Wednesday for parts of the region. A light freeze is possible in Marion County.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    Looking ahead

    Temperatures are expected to slowly warm back to normal by the weekend.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    First Warning Weather

    Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.

    Download the WESH 2 News app to get the most up-to-date weather alerts.

    The First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.

    What is Impact Weather?

    Impact Weather suggests weather conditions could be disruptive or a nuisance for travel and day-to-day activities.

    What is a Severe Weather Warning Day?

    A Severe Weather Warning Day suggests weather conditions that could potentially harm life or property.

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  • ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump planned across the nation today

    Protesting the direction of the country under President Donald Trump, people gathered Saturday in the nation’s capital and communities across the U.S. for “ No Kings ” demonstrations — what the president’s Republican Party is calling “Hate America” rallies.They rallied with signs like “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” or “Resist Fascism,” and in many places it looked more like a street party. There were marching bands, a huge banner with the U.S. Constitution’s “We The People,” preamble that people could sign, and protesters in frog costumes, which have emerged as a sign of resistance in Portland, Oregon.This is the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and comes against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services, but is testing the core balance of power as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that organizers warn are a slide toward American authoritarianism.Demonstrators packed places like New York City’s Times Square, the historic Boston Commons, Chicago’s Grant Park, Washington, D.C., and hundreds of smaller public spaces.Many protesters were especially angered by attacks on their motives. In Washington, Brian Reymann said being called a terrorist all week by Republicans was “pathetic.”“This is America. I disagree with their politics — but I don’t believe that they don’t love this country. I believe they are misguided. I think they are power hungry,” Reymann said, carrying a large American flag.Trump himself is spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.“They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in a Fox News interview airing early Friday, before he departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser at his club. Protests are expected nearby Saturday.Organizers hope to build opposition movementMore than 2,600 rallies are planned Saturday in cities large and small, organized by hundreds of coalition partners.“Big rallies like this give confidence to people who have been sitting on the sidelines but are ready to speak up,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy said in an interview with The Associated Press.While protests earlier this year — against Elon Musk’s cuts in the spring and Trump’s June military parade — drew crowds, organizers say this one is uniting the opposition. Top Democrats such as Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are joining in what organizers view as an antidote to Trump’s actions, from the administration’s clampdown on free speech to its military-style immigration raids.“There is no greater threat to an authoritarian regime than patriotic people-power,” said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, among the key organizers. In April, the national march against Trump and Elon Musk had 1,300 registered locations. In June, for the first “No Kings” day, there were 2,100 registered locations.Before noon, several thousand people had gathered in Times Square, chanting “Trump must go now,” and waving sometimes-profane signs with slogans insulting the president and condemning his immigration crackdown. Some people carried American flags.Retired family doctor Terence McCormally was heading to Arlington National Cemetery to join others walking across the Memorial Bridge that enters Washington directly in front of the Lincoln Memorial. He said the recent deployment of the National Guard made him more wary of police than in the past.“I really don’t like the crooks and conmen and religious zealots who are trying to use the country” for personal gain, McCormally said, “while they are killing and hurting millions of people with bombs.”Republicans denounce ‘Hate America’ ralliesRepublicans have sought to portray Saturday’s protesters as far outside the mainstream and a prime reason for the government shutdown, now in its 18th day.From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders disparaged the rallygoers as “communists” and “Marxists.” They say Democratic leaders, including Schumer, are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut down to appease those liberal forces.“I encourage you to watch — we call it the Hate America rally — that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.“Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said, listing groups including “antifa types,” people who “hate capitalism” and “Marxists in full display.”Many demonstrators responded to such hyperbole with silliness in part because they say Trump leans heavily on theatrics — like claiming cities he sends troops to are war zones — said Glen Kalbaugh, a Washington protester.“So much of what we’ve seen from this administration has been so unserious and silly that we have to respond with the same energy,” said Kalbaugh, who wore a wizard hat and held a sign with a frog on it.Democrats try to regain their footingDemocrats have refused to vote on legislation that would reopen the government as they demand funding for health care. Republicans say they are willing to discuss the issue later, only after the government reopens.But for many Democrats, the government closure is also a way to stand up to Trump, and try to push the presidency back to its place in the U.S. system as a co-equal branch of government. It’s also a way to draw a moral line in the sand, said Murphy, the senator from Connecticut.“Trump does think that he’s a king,” Murphy said at the Washington rally, “and he thinks that he can act more corruptly when the government is shut down. But he cannot.”The situation is a potential turnaround from just six months ago, when Democrats and their allies were divided and despondent. Schumer in particular was berated by his party for allowing an earlier government funding bill to sail through the Senate without using it to challenge Trump.“What we are seeing from the Democrats is some spine,” said march organizer Levin. “The worst thing the Democrats could do right now is surrender.”___Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking, and Chris Megerian in Washington, Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, and Safiya Riddle in Montgomery, Alabama, contributed to this report.

    WASHINGTON —

    Protesting the direction of the country under President Donald Trump, people gathered Saturday in the nation’s capital and communities across the U.S. for “ No Kings ” demonstrations — what the president’s Republican Party is calling “Hate America” rallies.

    They rallied with signs like “Nothing is more patriotic than protesting” or “Resist Fascism,” and in many places it looked more like a street party. There were marching bands, a huge banner with the U.S. Constitution’s “We The People,” preamble that people could sign, and protesters in frog costumes, which have emerged as a sign of resistance in Portland, Oregon.

    This is the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and comes against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services, but is testing the core balance of power as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that organizers warn are a slide toward American authoritarianism.

    Demonstrators packed places like New York City’s Times Square, the historic Boston Commons, Chicago’s Grant Park, Washington, D.C., and hundreds of smaller public spaces.

    Many protesters were especially angered by attacks on their motives. In Washington, Brian Reymann said being called a terrorist all week by Republicans was “pathetic.”

    “This is America. I disagree with their politics — but I don’t believe that they don’t love this country. I believe they are misguided. I think they are power hungry,” Reymann said, carrying a large American flag.

    Trump himself is spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

    “They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in a Fox News interview airing early Friday, before he departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. fundraiser at his club. Protests are expected nearby Saturday.

    Organizers hope to build opposition movement

    More than 2,600 rallies are planned Saturday in cities large and small, organized by hundreds of coalition partners.

    “Big rallies like this give confidence to people who have been sitting on the sidelines but are ready to speak up,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy said in an interview with The Associated Press.

    While protests earlier this year — against Elon Musk’s cuts in the spring and Trump’s June military parade — drew crowds, organizers say this one is uniting the opposition. Top Democrats such as Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are joining in what organizers view as an antidote to Trump’s actions, from the administration’s clampdown on free speech to its military-style immigration raids.

    “There is no greater threat to an authoritarian regime than patriotic people-power,” said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, among the key organizers. In April, the national march against Trump and Elon Musk had 1,300 registered locations. In June, for the first “No Kings” day, there were 2,100 registered locations.

    Before noon, several thousand people had gathered in Times Square, chanting “Trump must go now,” and waving sometimes-profane signs with slogans insulting the president and condemning his immigration crackdown. Some people carried American flags.

    Retired family doctor Terence McCormally was heading to Arlington National Cemetery to join others walking across the Memorial Bridge that enters Washington directly in front of the Lincoln Memorial. He said the recent deployment of the National Guard made him more wary of police than in the past.

    “I really don’t like the crooks and conmen and religious zealots who are trying to use the country” for personal gain, McCormally said, “while they are killing and hurting millions of people with bombs.”

    Republicans denounce ‘Hate America’ rallies

    Republicans have sought to portray Saturday’s protesters as far outside the mainstream and a prime reason for the government shutdown, now in its 18th day.

    From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders disparaged the rallygoers as “communists” and “Marxists.” They say Democratic leaders, including Schumer, are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut down to appease those liberal forces.

    “I encourage you to watch — we call it the Hate America rally — that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

    “Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said, listing groups including “antifa types,” people who “hate capitalism” and “Marxists in full display.”

    Many demonstrators responded to such hyperbole with silliness in part because they say Trump leans heavily on theatrics — like claiming cities he sends troops to are war zones — said Glen Kalbaugh, a Washington protester.

    “So much of what we’ve seen from this administration has been so unserious and silly that we have to respond with the same energy,” said Kalbaugh, who wore a wizard hat and held a sign with a frog on it.

    Democrats try to regain their footing

    Democrats have refused to vote on legislation that would reopen the government as they demand funding for health care. Republicans say they are willing to discuss the issue later, only after the government reopens.

    But for many Democrats, the government closure is also a way to stand up to Trump, and try to push the presidency back to its place in the U.S. system as a co-equal branch of government. It’s also a way to draw a moral line in the sand, said Murphy, the senator from Connecticut.

    “Trump does think that he’s a king,” Murphy said at the Washington rally, “and he thinks that he can act more corruptly when the government is shut down. But he cannot.”

    The situation is a potential turnaround from just six months ago, when Democrats and their allies were divided and despondent. Schumer in particular was berated by his party for allowing an earlier government funding bill to sail through the Senate without using it to challenge Trump.

    “What we are seeing from the Democrats is some spine,” said march organizer Levin. “The worst thing the Democrats could do right now is surrender.”

    ___

    Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking, and Chris Megerian in Washington, Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, and Safiya Riddle in Montgomery, Alabama, contributed to this report.

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  • ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump planned across the nation today

    Protesting the direction of the country under President Donald Trump, people will gather Saturday in the nation’s capital and communities across the U.S. for “No Kings” demonstrations — what the president’s Republican Party is calling “Hate America” rallies.This is the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and it is expected to be the largest. It comes against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services, but is testing the core balance of power as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that organizers warn are a slide toward American authoritarianism.Trump himself is away from Washington at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.“They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in a Fox News interview airing early Friday. He later departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. super PAC fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago. Protests are expected nearby Saturday.While the earlier protests this year — against Elon Musk’s cuts in spring, then to counter Trump’s military parade in June — drew crowds, organizers say this one is building a more unified opposition movement. Top Democrats such as Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are joining in what organizers view as an antidote to Trump’s actions, from the administration’s clampdown on free speech to its military-style immigration raids.“There is no greater threat to an authoritarian regime than patriotic people-power,” said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, among the key organizers.As Republicans and the White House dismiss the protests as a rally of radicals, Levin said their own sign-up numbers are growing. More than 2,600 rallies are planned in cities large and small, organized by hundreds of coalition partners. They said rallies are being planned within a one-hour drive for most Americans.Overseas, a few hundred Americans already gathered in Madrid to chant slogans and hold signs at a protest organized by Democrats Abroad, with similar rallies planned in other major European cities.Republicans have sought to portray participants in Saturday’s rallies as far outside the mainstream of American politics, and a main reason for the prolonged government shutdown, now in its 18th day.From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders disparaged the rallygoers as “communists” and “Marxists.”They say Democratic leaders, including Schumer, are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut down to appease those liberal forces.“I encourage you to watch — we call it the Hate America rally — that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.“Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said, listing groups including “antifa types,” people who “hate capitalism” and “Marxists in full display.”Democrats have refused to vote on legislation that would reopen the government as they demand funding for health care. Republicans say they are willing to discuss the issue later, only after the government reopens.But for many Democrats, the government closure is also a way to stand up to Trump, and try to push the presidency back to its place in the U.S. system as a co-equal branch of government.In a Facebook post, Sanders of Vermont, himself a former presidential contender, said, “It’s a love America rally.”“It’s a rally of millions of people all over this country who believe in our Constitution, who believe in American freedom and,” he said, pointing at the GOP leadership, “are not going to let you and Donald Trump turn this country into an authoritarian society.”The situation is a potential turnaround from just six months ago, when Democrats and their allies were divided and despondent, unsure about how best to respond to Trump’s return to the White House. Schumer in particular was berated by his party for allowing an earlier government funding bill to sail through the Senate without using it to challenge Trump.In April, the national march against Trump and Elon Musk had 1,300 registered locations. In June, for the first “No Kings” day, there were 2,100 registered locations. The march Saturday will have more than 2,600 registered locations, Levin said.“What we are seeing from the Democrats is some spine,” Levin said. “The worst thing the Democrats could do right now is surrender.”House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he wasn’t sure if he would join the rallygoers Saturday, but he took issue with the Republicans’ characterization of the events.“What’s hateful is what happened on January 6th,” he said, referring to the 2021 Capitol attack, as Trump’s supporters stormed the building to protest Joe Biden’s election victory. “What you’ll see this weekend is what patriotism looks like, people showing up to express opposition to the extremism that Donald Trump has been unleashing on the American people.”Riddle reported from Montgomery, Alabama. Associated Press writer Chris Megerian contributed.

    WASHINGTON —

    Protesting the direction of the country under President Donald Trump, people will gather Saturday in the nation’s capital and communities across the U.S. for “No Kings” demonstrations — what the president’s Republican Party is calling “Hate America” rallies.

    This is the third mass mobilization since Trump’s return to the White House and it is expected to be the largest. It comes against the backdrop of a government shutdown that not only has closed federal programs and services, but is testing the core balance of power as an aggressive executive confronts Congress and the courts in ways that organizers warn are a slide toward American authoritarianism.

    Trump himself is away from Washington at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

    “They say they’re referring to me as a king. I’m not a king,” Trump said in a Fox News interview airing early Friday. He later departed for a $1 million-per-plate MAGA Inc. super PAC fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago. Protests are expected nearby Saturday.

    While the earlier protests this year — against Elon Musk’s cuts in spring, then to counter Trump’s military parade in June — drew crowds, organizers say this one is building a more unified opposition movement. Top Democrats such as Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders are joining in what organizers view as an antidote to Trump’s actions, from the administration’s clampdown on free speech to its military-style immigration raids.

    “There is no greater threat to an authoritarian regime than patriotic people-power,” said Ezra Levin, a co-founder of Indivisible, among the key organizers.

    As Republicans and the White House dismiss the protests as a rally of radicals, Levin said their own sign-up numbers are growing. More than 2,600 rallies are planned in cities large and small, organized by hundreds of coalition partners. They said rallies are being planned within a one-hour drive for most Americans.

    Overseas, a few hundred Americans already gathered in Madrid to chant slogans and hold signs at a protest organized by Democrats Abroad, with similar rallies planned in other major European cities.

    Republicans have sought to portray participants in Saturday’s rallies as far outside the mainstream of American politics, and a main reason for the prolonged government shutdown, now in its 18th day.

    From the White House to Capitol Hill, GOP leaders disparaged the rallygoers as “communists” and “Marxists.”

    They say Democratic leaders, including Schumer, are beholden to the far-left flank and willing to keep the government shut down to appease those liberal forces.

    “I encourage you to watch — we call it the Hate America rally — that will happen Saturday,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

    “Let’s see who shows up for that,” Johnson said, listing groups including “antifa types,” people who “hate capitalism” and “Marxists in full display.”

    Democrats have refused to vote on legislation that would reopen the government as they demand funding for health care. Republicans say they are willing to discuss the issue later, only after the government reopens.

    But for many Democrats, the government closure is also a way to stand up to Trump, and try to push the presidency back to its place in the U.S. system as a co-equal branch of government.

    In a Facebook post, Sanders of Vermont, himself a former presidential contender, said, “It’s a love America rally.”

    “It’s a rally of millions of people all over this country who believe in our Constitution, who believe in American freedom and,” he said, pointing at the GOP leadership, “are not going to let you and Donald Trump turn this country into an authoritarian society.”

    The situation is a potential turnaround from just six months ago, when Democrats and their allies were divided and despondent, unsure about how best to respond to Trump’s return to the White House. Schumer in particular was berated by his party for allowing an earlier government funding bill to sail through the Senate without using it to challenge Trump.

    In April, the national march against Trump and Elon Musk had 1,300 registered locations. In June, for the first “No Kings” day, there were 2,100 registered locations. The march Saturday will have more than 2,600 registered locations, Levin said.

    “What we are seeing from the Democrats is some spine,” Levin said. “The worst thing the Democrats could do right now is surrender.”

    House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he wasn’t sure if he would join the rallygoers Saturday, but he took issue with the Republicans’ characterization of the events.

    “What’s hateful is what happened on January 6th,” he said, referring to the 2021 Capitol attack, as Trump’s supporters stormed the building to protest Joe Biden’s election victory. “What you’ll see this weekend is what patriotism looks like, people showing up to express opposition to the extremism that Donald Trump has been unleashing on the American people.”

    Riddle reported from Montgomery, Alabama. Associated Press writer Chris Megerian contributed.

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  • Rite Aid has closed its final doors after 63 years in business

    Rite Aid has closed its final doors after 63 years in business

    Updated: 10:47 AM PDT Oct 5, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Rite Aid, once one of America’s biggest pharmacy chains, shuttered its remaining 89 stores this week after filing for bankruptcy in May for the second time in less than two years.”All Rite Aid stores have now closed. We thank our loyal customers for their many years of support,” the company said in a statement on its website.The company’s website, which has since removed all of its services, remains available for former customers to request pharmaceutical records or locate another nearby pharmacy to fulfill prescriptions.The full-service pharmacy first opened in 1962 and became well-known for its cult-favorite ice cream brand, Thrifty, which has since been sold due to the store’s bankruptcy. Rite Aid first filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, largely because of competition from bigger chains and its debt pile, which topped $4 billion due to expensive legal battles for allegedly filling unlawful opioid prescriptions.Rite Aid emerged from that bankruptcy in September 2024, having slashed $2 billion in debt, securing $2.5 billion in funds to maintain operations and closing about 500 locations. In May, Rite Aid had about 1,250 remaining stores, cut by about half from its 2023 operations.The drugstore announced in May that it sold most of its US stores’ pharmacy services to rivals CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Albertsons and Kroger, which collectively claimed more than 1,000 locations.It’s a saving grace for former Rite Aid customers, who may have otherwise lost access to their nearest pharmacy. When drugstores permanently close, as has been the trend in recent years, patients often have to travel farther to get their medications, posing a larger risk to older adults.CVS announced in November 2021 that it would close 900 stores by 2024 after it had closed 244 stores between 2018 and 2020. Former Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth had told the Wall Street Journal last year that about 25% of its stores aren’t profitable, and the company announced in October 2024 that it would close 1,200 stores.

    CNN —

    Rite Aid, once one of America’s biggest pharmacy chains, shuttered its remaining 89 stores this week after filing for bankruptcy in May for the second time in less than two years.

    “All Rite Aid stores have now closed. We thank our loyal customers for their many years of support,” the company said in a statement on its website.

    The company’s website, which has since removed all of its services, remains available for former customers to request pharmaceutical records or locate another nearby pharmacy to fulfill prescriptions.

    The full-service pharmacy first opened in 1962 and became well-known for its cult-favorite ice cream brand, Thrifty, which has since been sold due to the store’s bankruptcy. Rite Aid first filed for bankruptcy in October 2023, largely because of competition from bigger chains and its debt pile, which topped $4 billion due to expensive legal battles for allegedly filling unlawful opioid prescriptions.

    Rite Aid emerged from that bankruptcy in September 2024, having slashed $2 billion in debt, securing $2.5 billion in funds to maintain operations and closing about 500 locations. In May, Rite Aid had about 1,250 remaining stores, cut by about half from its 2023 operations.

    The drugstore announced in May that it sold most of its US stores’ pharmacy services to rivals CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Albertsons and Kroger, which collectively claimed more than 1,000 locations.

    It’s a saving grace for former Rite Aid customers, who may have otherwise lost access to their nearest pharmacy. When drugstores permanently close, as has been the trend in recent years, patients often have to travel farther to get their medications, posing a larger risk to older adults.

    CVS announced in November 2021 that it would close 900 stores by 2024 after it had closed 244 stores between 2018 and 2020. Former Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth had told the Wall Street Journal last year that about 25% of its stores aren’t profitable, and the company announced in October 2024 that it would close 1,200 stores.

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  • Eggplant, giant peach sprouting controversy in Maryland town

    An eggplant and a giant peach are sprouting controversy on the century-old Main Street in Ellicott City, Maryland. Business owners are being told the public art is too distracting for the historic area, but they feel the towering tributes to produce are fun and add character. Now, they’re fighting to keep the fruit.A massive Georgia peach sits outside Georgia Grace Cafe, where owner Paula Dwyer was happy to see it installed several months ago.”It was this big, beautiful orange peach. And, at first, honestly, I was like, ‘Wow, this is amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it,’” Dwyer said.Across the street sits an enormous eggplant known as the Aubergine. Both produce have been popularized over texting language as playful nods to body parts.David Carney, owner of The Wine Bin, said the Aubergine has brought in business for years.”I guess I don’t quite understand the innuendo because I have one of those body parts and it doesn’t look like that and it’s not purple, so I’m not sure really how that came about. It’s kind of weird. So, it’s kind of comical that people think that,” Carney said.Now, the merchants have since been told to take the art down. Both sculptures are supported through the Fund for Art in Ellicott City.Both pieces of art were also discussed at last week’s meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission, which expressed concern about the art “detracting from the historic buildings.””The Historic Preservation Commission approved the artwork of the aubergine for 12 months, as amended by the applicant. The peach was denied at the proposed location, but the applicant may submit an application for a different location. The established process allows for the petitioner to appeal the decision or propose an alternate location for the artwork,” officials said. “History is really important. So, this is great artwork, but I guess it’s not historic enough for them,” said Ken McNaughton, an Ellicott City resident.Don Reuwer, who manages numerous Main Street properties as president of the Waverly Real Estate Group, helped gather hundreds of signatures to keep the sculptures.”Unfortunately, the chairperson told me that they weren’t interested in the petitions that actually said that the merchants are only temporary, so they don’t matter. And frankly, that was just the straw that broke the camel’s back for me,” Reuwer said.People are far from giving up on the eye-catching produce. “I feel like they fit in with the town. I mean, everyone likes them. We’re a community of business owners and people, and all of them seem to like it. So, I feel like we are the town, also, not just the history. And we are now the history,” said Mark Johnston, an Ellicott City resident. Without approval, the statues must be taken down. Those in support of art plan to appeal the decision, and are even willing to take the issue to circuit court.

    An eggplant and a giant peach are sprouting controversy on the century-old Main Street in Ellicott City, Maryland.

    Business owners are being told the public art is too distracting for the historic area, but they feel the towering tributes to produce are fun and add character. Now, they’re fighting to keep the fruit.

    A massive Georgia peach sits outside Georgia Grace Cafe, where owner Paula Dwyer was happy to see it installed several months ago.

    “It was this big, beautiful orange peach. And, at first, honestly, I was like, ‘Wow, this is amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it,’” Dwyer said.

    Across the street sits an enormous eggplant known as the Aubergine. Both produce have been popularized over texting language as playful nods to body parts.

    David Carney, owner of The Wine Bin, said the Aubergine has brought in business for years.

    “I guess I don’t quite understand the innuendo because I have one of those body parts and it doesn’t look like that and it’s not purple, so I’m not sure really how that came about. It’s kind of weird. So, it’s kind of comical that people think that,” Carney said.

    Now, the merchants have since been told to take the art down. Both sculptures are supported through the Fund for Art in Ellicott City.

    Both pieces of art were also discussed at last week’s meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission, which expressed concern about the art “detracting from the historic buildings.”

    “The Historic Preservation Commission approved the artwork of the aubergine for 12 months, as amended by the applicant. The peach was denied at the proposed location, but the applicant may submit an application for a different location. The established process allows for the petitioner to appeal the decision or propose an alternate location for the artwork,” officials said.

    “History is really important. So, this is great artwork, but I guess it’s not historic enough for them,” said Ken McNaughton, an Ellicott City resident.

    “This is great artwork, but I guess it’s not historic enough for them.”

    Don Reuwer, who manages numerous Main Street properties as president of the Waverly Real Estate Group, helped gather hundreds of signatures to keep the sculptures.

    “Unfortunately, the chairperson told me that they weren’t interested in the petitions that actually said that the merchants are only temporary, so they don’t matter. And frankly, that was just the straw that broke the camel’s back for me,” Reuwer said.

    People are far from giving up on the eye-catching produce.

    “I feel like they fit in with the town. I mean, everyone likes them. We’re a community of business owners and people, and all of them seem to like it. So, I feel like we are the town, also, not just the history. And we are now the history,” said Mark Johnston, an Ellicott City resident.

    Without approval, the statues must be taken down. Those in support of art plan to appeal the decision, and are even willing to take the issue to circuit court.

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  • Supreme Court upholds ‘roving patrols’ for immigration arrests in Los Angeles

    WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Monday for the Trump administration and agreed U.S. immigration agents may stop and detain anyone they suspect is in the U.S. illegally based on little more than working at a car wash, speaking Spanish or having brown skin.

    In a 6-3 vote, the justices granted an emergency appeal and lifted a Los Angeles judge’s order that barred “roving patrols” from snatching people off Southern California streets based on how they look, what language they speak, what work they do or where they happen to be.

    In a concurring opinion, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh said federal law says “immigration officers ‘may briefly detain’ an individual ‘for questioning’ if they have ‘a reasonable suspicion, based on specific articulable facts, that the person being questioned … is an alien illegally in the United States’.”

    “Immigration stops based on reasonable suspicion of illegal presence have been an important component of U.S. immigration enforcement for decades, across several presidential administrations,” he said.

    The three liberal justices dissented.

    Justice Sonia Sotomayor called the decision “yet another grave misuse of our emergency docket. We should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job. Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent.”

    “The Government … has all but declared that all Latinos, U.S. citizens or not, who work low wage jobs are fair game to be seized at any time, taken away from work, and held until they provide proof of their legal status to the agents’ satisfaction,” Sotomayor wrote.

    Sotomayor also disagreed with Kavanaugh’s assertions.

    “Immigration agents are not conducting ‘brief stops for questioning,’ as the concurrence would like to believe. They are seizing people using firearms, physical violence, and warehouse detentions,” she wrote. “Nor are undocumented immigrants the only ones harmed by the Government’s conduct. United States citizens are also being seized, taken from their jobs, and prevented from working to support themselves and their families.”

    The decision is a significant victory for President Trump, clearing the way for his oft-promised “largest Mass Deportation Operation” in American history.

    Beginning in early June, Trump’s appointees targeted Los Angeles with aggressive street sweeps that ensnared longtime residents, legal immigrants and even U.S. citizens.

    A coalition of civil rights groups and local attorneys challenged the cases of three immigrants and two U.S. citizens caught up in the chaotic arrests, claiming they’d been grabbed without reasonable suspicion — a violation of the 4th Amendment’s ban on unreasonable searches and seizures.

    On July 11, U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong issued a temporary restraining order barring stops based solely on race or ethnicity, language, location or employment, either alone or in combination.

    On July 28, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed.

    The case remains in its early phases, with hearings set for a preliminary injunction this month. But the Department of Justice argued even a brief limit on mass arrests constituted a “irreparable injury” to the government.

    A few days later, Trump’s lawyers asked the Supreme Court to set aside Frimpong’s order. They said agents should be allowed to act on the assumption that Spanish-speaking Latinos who work as day laborers, at car washes or in landscaping and agriculture are likely to lack legal status.

    “Reasonable suspicion is a low bar — well below probable cause,” Solicitor Gen. D. John Sauer wrote in his appeal. Agents can consider “the totality of the circumstances” when making stops, he said, including that “illegal presence is widespread in the Central District [of California], where 1 in every 10 people is an illegal alien.”

    Both sides said the region’s diverse demographics support their view of the law. In an application to join the suit, Los Angeles and 20 other Southern California municipalities argued that “half the population of the Central District” now meet the government’s criteria for reasonable suspicion.

    Roughly 10 million Latinos live in the seven counties covered by the order, and almost as many speak a language other than English at home.

    Sauer also questioned whether the plaintiffs who sued had standing because they were not likely to be arrested again.

    That argument was the subject of sharp and extended questioning in the 9th Circuit, where a three-judge panel ultimately rejected it.

    “Agents have conducted many stops in the Los Angeles area within a matter of weeks, not years, some repeatedly in the same location,” the panel wrote in its July 28 opinion denying the stay.

    One plaintiff was stopped twice in the span of 10 days, evidence of a “real and immediate threat,” that he or any of the others could be stopped again, the 9th Circuit said.

    Days after that decision, heavily armed Border Patrol agents sprang from the back of a Penske moving truck, snatching workers from the parking lot of a Westlake Home Depot in apparent defiance of the courts.

    Immigrants rights advocates had urged the justices not to intervene.

    “The raids have followed an unconstitutional pattern that officials have vowed to continue,” they said. Ruling for Trump would authorize “an extraordinarily expansive dragnet, placing millions of law-abiding people at imminent risk of detention by federal agents.”

    The judge’s order had applied in an area that included Los Angeles and Orange counties as well as Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

    Savage reported from Washington, Sharp from Los Angeles.

    David G. Savage, Sonja Sharp

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  • Two LAPD officers transported to hospital in Van Nuys

    Two Los Angeles Police Department officers were transported to the hospital Saturday afternoon in Van Nuys, city police and fire officials said.

    Few details about what happened are available other than it occurred in a McDonald’s parking lot on the 7000 block of Van Nuys Boulevard at 4:12 p.m., according to a police spokesperson. Los Angeles Fire Department ambulances were called to the scene to transport officers to the hospital, a fire spokesperson said.

    Neither department had information on the officers’ condition, but by Saturday evening police said the situation was no longer an emergency and no further assistance was needed at the location.

    CBS News Los Angeles reported that a damaged minivan surrounded by crime scene tape was seen in the parking lot and nearby a person appeared to be handcuffed in an LAPD patrol car.

    Liam Dillon

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  • Erewhon to open an exclusive tonic bar in New York City

    The Southern California grocery brand that has become synonymous with luxury and wellness is taking its first steps into New York City.

    Erewhon said it plans to open a tonic bar within an exclusive West Village members’ club later this fall.

    The tonic bar will serve members at Kith Ivy, a lifestyle and fitness club from Ronnie Fieg, chief executive of the popular streetwear brand Kith.

    Kith Ivy will open to an “extremely limited” number of members this fall, the Kith website said.

    The miniature Erewhon will be tucked away near cold plunge pools and a sauna at 120 Leroy Street in New York City, according to blueprints Fieg posted on Instagram.

    The members’ club, which will also feature rooftop padel courts and dining from Cafe Mogador, reportedly comes with a hefty initiation fee of $36,000 and an annual fee of $7,000.

    The price and exclusivity of Kith Ivy aligns with Erewhon’s own high-end reputation. In Los Angeles, the grocer is known for expensive specialty goods and celebrity-inspired drinks, like the $20 Hailey Bieber strawberry smoothie.

    “Erewhon is going after those really premium customers,” said Jeff Wells, lead editor of the trade publication Grocery Dive. “If you’re succeeding in Southern California, New York would be the next logical place to go.”

    Erewhon’s new tonic bar will offer a limited selection of drinks and smoothies, a company spokesperson said Wednesday. Only Kith Ivy members will be able to order in-person, but other New Yorkers within a select radius of the club can order drinks for delivery through Postmates and Uber Eats.

    Erewhon has a loyal following in the Los Angeles area, where the company operates 11 locations and plans to open three more in West Hollywood, Glendale and Thousand Oaks. The company got its start in the 1960s as a health foods store in Boston before relocating to the West Coast.

    The grocer’s foray into New York comes as other supermarket chains have cut back on costs. Kroger, the parent company of Ralphs and Food 4 Less, is in the midst of closing locations and recently laid off nearly 1,000 corporate employees.

    Unlike Ralphs, Erewhon has established itself as a luxury destination that caters largely to wealthy customers.

    “Erewhon is all about being at the cutting edge of food and beverage, for a premium price,” Wells said. “Your average middle-class shopper can’t afford to shop there.”

    Caroline Petrow-Cohen

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  • Polk County restaurant inspections: Moldy parmesan, medication next to salt

    The following is a snapshot of the inspections conducted by the Polk County Health Department.

    Twice annually, licensed restaurants receive unannounced inspections that focus on food temperatures and preparation practices, worker hygiene, dishwashing and sanitizing, and equipment and facility cleanliness.

    Violations: Scores are based on a 100-point scale. Priority violations deduct 5 points, and priority foundation violations deduct 3 points. Violations recorded on consecutive inspections result in point deductions being doubled.

    Scoring: Scores of 70 or higher are considered compliant. Restaurants scoring below 70 must be reinspected within 30 days or face closure or other administrative action. Restaurants display a placard by the entrance to indicate whether they have passed their last inspection.

    The most recent inspections are here.

    The following are scores for semiannual restaurant inspections from July 8 to August 4.

    KFC/A&W

    Location: 444 S Pacific Highway, Monmouth

    Date: Aug. 4

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Bugles Espresso

    Location: 444 Pacific Highway S, Monmouth

    Date: Aug. 4

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Dairy Queen Monmouth

    Location: 320 Pacific Ave. S, Monmouth

    Date: Aug. 4

    Score: 95

    Priority violations: Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Tomatoes in prep unit are 50 degrees, operator states they were prepared two hours prior. Product on bottom of unit is 40 degrees. Point deduction: 5

    Flame and Fork Grill

    Location: 1233 Riverbend Rd. NW, Salem

    Date: Aug. 4

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Checkpoint 221

    Location: 1233 Riverbend Rd. NW, Salem

    Date: Aug. 4

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Little Caesars West Salem

    Location: 1395 Edgewater St. NW, Suite 100, Salem

    Date: Aug. 4

    Score: 90

    Priority violations: The use of time as a public health control is not properly applied, specifically: No timers set for pizzas on two metal racks. Operators states pizzas were prepared two hours prior. Point deduction: 10

    Butter, Sugar, Coffee

    Location: 319 S 10th St., Independence

    Date: Aug. 1

    Score: 90

    Priority violations: Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Several food items in glass reach-in are at 53 degrees (whipped cream cheese, half and half, sliced cheese. Thermometer in unit reads 49 degrees. Point deduction: 10

    The Inferno mobile unit

    Location: 915 N Main St., Independence

    Date: July 30

    Score: 97

    Priority violations: The operations and/or equipment are not an integral part of the mobile food unit, specifically: several outdoor cooking units : Large green smoker/grill on trailer located north of mobile unit approximately 115 feet, a smoker, and spigot roasters located approximately 65 feet north of mobile unit next metal storage container and two barrel shaped grills with ash in bottom located in close proximity, south of mobile unit. Point deduction: 3

    Food employees eat, drink or use tobacco in unapproved areas or use an inappropriate beverage container for drinking, specifically: Operator’s plastic cup of ice water and container of food with a fork is sitting next to a cutting board on the counter. Point deduction: 3

    Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Ribs in a Cambro sitting on the counter are at 56 degrees. Point deduction: 10

    Medicines are improperly stored or labeled, specifically: A pill bottle and medications stored on top of a metal shelf next to salt. Point deduction: 5

    Pad Thai King

    Location: 955 Main St., Dallas

    Date: July 30

    Score: 97

    Priority violations: Incorrect methods are used to cool potentially hazardous foods, specifically: A container of sauce sitting out is 135 degrees. Operator states it was cooked four hours prior. Point deduction: 3

    Brooks & Terry’s Espresso

    Location: 100 Ellendale Ave., Dallas

    Date: July 30

    Score: 92

    Priority violations: Sewage and other liquid waste are not removed properly or at an approved location, specifically: Sub-pump contains wastewater/grease and is kept outside the unit. The pump and/or wastewater tank is producing odor which can attract pests. Point deduction: 3

    Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: The white reach-in fridge is holding food at 45 degrees. Operator states it has been opened frequently in the last four hours. Fridge is set to the warmest setting. Small black reach-in is holding milk at 54 degrees. Operator states all product has been in back fridge for over four hours. Point deduction: 5

    Kellis Cafe

    Location: 1089 Edgewater Ave. NW, Salem

    Date: July 29

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Starbucks Monmouth

    Location: 1505 Monmouth Independence Highway, Monmouth

    Date: July 29

    Score: 95

    Priority violations: Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: A carton of oat milk on the counter is 54 degrees. Operator states it has been out for less than four hours. Point deduction: 5

    Island Bietz

    Location: 154 S Main St., Independence

    Date: July 29

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Baobab

    Location: 154 S Main St., Independence

    Date: July 29

    Score: 95

    Priority violations: Food that is adulterated, contaminated, unsafe or from an unapproved source is not reconditioned or discarded, specifically: A container of parmesan cheese has black mold throughout product. Point deduction: 5

    Dairy Queen West Salem

    Location: 1141 Wallace Rd. NW, Salem

    Date: July 29

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Java Crew

    Location: 779 Wallace Rd., Salem

    Date: July 28

    Score: 97

    Priority violations: Handwashing sink is not accessible for employee use at all times, is used for purposes other than handwashing or is not operated properly, specifically: Back handwashing sink has a metal tub in the basin. Point deduction: 3

    Dutch Bros. Coffee Dallas

    Location: 515 Jefferson St., Dallas

    Date: July 28

    Score: 95

    Priority violations: Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: The freeze machine is cold holding mix at 46 degrees. Operator is unsure of what time freeze mix was put into the machine. Point deduction: 5

    Dairy Queen Dallas

    Location: 586 SE Jefferson St., Dallas

    Date: July 22

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Abby’s Legendary Pizza

    Location: 174 W Ellendale Ave., Dallas

    Date: July 22

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Bobablastic Dallas

    Location: 955 Main St., Dallas

    Date: July 21

    Score: 94

    Priority violations: Unauthorized personnel are on the premises or employees are not properly trained in food safety or food allergy awareness, specifically: Two small children are in the unit. Point deduction: 3

    The use of time as a public health control is not properly monitored, food is not properly marked or written procedures have not been developed, specifically: Container of tapioca pearls made one hour prior have not been date marked. Point deduction: 3

    Ugo’s Pizza Parlor

    Location: 967 Main St., Dallas

    Date: July 21

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Dreamies Creamery

    Location: 141 SW Court St., Dallas

    Date: July 21

    Score: 95

    Priority violations: Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food has not been consumed within the required period or is not properly date-marked, specifically: Open container of whipped cream is date-marked July 3, 18 days prior. Point deduction: 5

    West Valley Taphouse

    Location: 957 Main St., Dallas

    Date: July 21

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Domino’s Pizza Dallas

    Location: 772 Main St., Dallas

    Date: July 21

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    The Tap Station

    Location: 87 S Main St., Independence

    Date: July 18

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Fro-zone Yogurt

    Location: 1389 Monmouth St., Independence

    Date: July 18

    Score: 95

    Priority violations: Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Whipped dairy topping, butter, and fresh-cut strawberries in the fruit fridge are 63 degrees. Operator states strawberries were cut three hours prior and everything else was in fridge overnight. Point deduction: 5

    Rookie’s

    Location: 641 E Clay St., Monmouth

    Date: July 17

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Dutch Bros. Coffee Monmouth

    Location: 165 Pacific Ave., Monmouth

    Date: July 17

    Score: 92

    Priority violations: A handwashing sink is not accessible for employee use at all times, is used for purposes other than handwashing or is not operated properly, specifically: Operator rinsed two clear squirt bottles in the handwashing sink. Point deduction: 3

    Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: An aerosol can of whipped cream sitting on the counter is at 56 degrees. Point deduction: 5

    The Back Porch

    Location: 1142 NW Edgewater St., Salem

    Date: July 17

    Score: 90

    Priority violations: Raw or ready-to-eat food is not properly protected from cross-contamination, specifically: Raw ribs are above cheese in the white reach-in fridge. Point deduction: 5

    Chemical sanitizers are not approved, specifically: Quats in sanitizer buckets are over 400 parts per million. Point deduction: 5

    Subway Edgewater

    Location: 1554 Edgewater St. NW, Salem

    Date: July 17

    Score: 95

    Priority violations: Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Meatballs are hot holding at 97 degrees in the warmer. Operator states they were microwaved and put in the warmer one hour prior. Point deduction: 5

    Taqueria Arandas

    Location: 1233 Riverbend Rd. NW, Salem

    Date: July 17

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Dreaming of Sushi

    Location: 1233 Riverbend Rd. NW, Salem

    Date: July 17

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Bobablastic West Salem

    Location: 1233 Riverbend Rd. NW, Salem

    Date: July 17

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Pastatastic

    Location: 233 Riverbend Rd. NW, Salem

    Date: July 17

    Score: 95

    Priority violations: Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food has not been consumed within the required period or is not properly date-marked, specifically: A container of garlic in oil is date-marked July 2, 15 days prior. Operator is unsure if this date is correct. Point deduction: 5

    Odd Moes Pizza

    Location: 1594 Edgewater St., Suite 160, Salem

    Date: July 17

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Burgerville USA

    Location: 615 E Main St., Monmouth

    Date: July 17

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Habanero’s

    Location: 601 Clay St. E, Monmouth

    Date: July 17

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Brew Coffee And Tap House

    Location: 211 S Main St., Independence

    Date: July 16

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Quesadilla Wizard

    Location: 240 Monmouth St., Independence

    Date: July 15

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Jersey Mikes

    Location: 555 Edgewater St. NW, Salem

    Date: July 14

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Domino’s Pizza West Salem

    Location: 590 Taggart Dr. NW, Salem

    Date: July 14

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Carl’s Jr

    Location: 555 Edgewater St. NW, Suite 150, Salem

    Date: July 14

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Pizza Hut West Salem

    Location: 560 Wallace Rd. NW, Salem

    Date: July 11

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Taco Bell 9507

    Location: 450 Wallace Rd. NW, Salem

    Date: July 11

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Jamba Juice 1149

    Location: 515 Taggart Dr. NW, Salem

    Date: July 11

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Baskin Robbins

    Location: 1124 Wallace Rd., Salem

    Date: July 11

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    McDonald’s West Salem

    Location: 570 Wallace Rd. NW, Salem

    Date: July 11

    Score: 90

    Priority violations: Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Two flats of raw eggs are sitting out at room temperature. Operator states they have been out for one hour. Point deduction: 5

    The use of time as a public health control is not properly applied, specifically: Two dispensers of sauce are marked for disposition 24 hours ago. Point deduction: 5

    Starbucks Coffee 9611

    Location: 1124 Wallace Rd. NW, Suite 105, Salem

    Date: July 11

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Panda Express

    Location: 655 Taggart Dr., Suite 150, Salem

    Date: July 11

    Score: 95

    Priority violations: Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: A container of chopped peppers and a container of sliced mushrooms are on top of other foods in the prep unit, not close enough to the cooling device in the prep unit. Peppers and mushrooms are 56 degrees and 62 degrees, respectively. Point deduction: 5

    Pizza Hut Dallas

    Location: 244 Main St., Dallas

    Date: July 10

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Subway Dallas

    Location: 242 Main St., Dallas

    Date: July 10

    Score: 97

    Priority violations: Hand towels or a hand drying device is not provided at the handwashing sink, specifically: Paper towels are not provided at the back handwashing sink. Point deduction: 3

    Starbucks Coffee 10170

    Location: 244 E Ellendale Ave., Dallas

    Date: July 10

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    McDonald’s Independence

    Location: July 9

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Subway Independence

    Location: 1379 Monmouth St., Independence

    Date: July 9

    Score: 92

    Priority violations: Hand towels or a hand drying device is not provided at the handwashing sink, specifically: Handwashing sink in the back kitchen area is out of paper towels. The handwashing sink basin has an accumulation of debris and buildup. Point deduction: 3

    Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Four metal containers of sliced deli meats are between 50-62 degrees. Operator states these have been out for 10-20 minutes. Point deduction: 5

    La Herradura Mexican Food

    Location: 994 Main St., Dallas

    Date: July 9

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Painted Pony Coffee & Cream

    Location: 226 S Main St., Suite A, Independence

    Date: July 9

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Main Street Ice Cream Parlor

    Location: 109 Main St. E, Monmouth

    Date: July 8

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Habebah Coffee & Cuisine

    Location: 110 Main St. W, Monmouth

    Date: July 8

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    Yeasty Beasty

    Location: 167 Main St., Monmouth

    Date: July 8

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    The Sippery

    Location: 169 W Main St., Monmouth

    Date: July 8

    Score: 100

    No priority violations

    This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Polk County restaurant inspections: Dutch Bros., Ugo’s Pizza, KFC

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  • Central Florida opens sandbag locations ahead of potential tropical weather

    Central Florida opens sandbag locations ahead of potential tropical weather

    Central Florida is preparing for Milton’s potential impacts with sandbag distributions across different counties.Orange CountyCity of Winter Park Rollins Softball Field parking lot: 452 Harper St.Winter GardenWest Orange Recreation Center: 309 S West Crown Point RoadOrlandoBarnett Park: 4801 W. Colonial DriveDowney Park:10107 Flowers AvenueMeadow Woods Recreation Center: 1751 Rhode Island Woods CircleBithlo Community Park: 18501 Washington Avenue ApopkaClarcona Horse Park: 3535 Damon RoadPickup is available at these locations on Monday, Oct. 7, and Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.Seminole CountyOviedo Location: 1725 Evans St.City of Oviedo sandbag operations will start Monday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.Volusia County City of EdgewaterCity officials announced that the city of Edgewater will have sand piles at two locations in the city as residents prepare for a possible heavy rain event. The locations are: • Hibiscus: 2616 Hibiscus Drive (in the parking lot of Edgewater Fire Rescue Association Fire Hall)• Mango Tree Lake: 901 Mango Tree DriveThe Mango Tree Lake location will be staffed from Oct. 5 to Oct. 9 from noon to 6 p.m.Both locations are accessible 24 hours a day, but only the Mango Tree Lake location will have staffed hours. Residents should bring their own shovels and bags to the Hibiscus location and the Mango Tree Lake location outside of staffed hours.Ten bags will be available per household with proof of Edgewater residency while supplies last.Port OrangeREC Center: 4655 City Center Circle Pickup is available Saturday from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will reopen Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for Port Orange residents. More: See the latest maps, models and paths for MiltonOsceola CountyKissimmeeOsceola Heritage Park: 1211 Shakerag RoadPick-up is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, October 6, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, October 7.>> This list will be updated as more pickup locations become available.

    Central Florida —

    Central Florida is preparing for Milton’s potential impacts with sandbag distributions across different counties.

    Orange County

    City of Winter Park

    • Rollins Softball Field parking lot: 452 Harper St.

    Winter Garden

    • West Orange Recreation Center: 309 S West Crown Point Road

    Orlando

    • Barnett Park: 4801 W. Colonial Drive
    • Downey Park:10107 Flowers Avenue
    • Meadow Woods Recreation Center: 1751 Rhode Island Woods Circle
    • Bithlo Community Park: 18501 Washington Avenue

    Apopka

    • Clarcona Horse Park: 3535 Damon Road

    Pickup is available at these locations on Monday, Oct. 7, and Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

    Seminole County

    Oviedo

    City of Oviedo sandbag operations will start Monday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

    Volusia County

    City of Edgewater

    City officials announced that the city of Edgewater will have sand piles at two locations in the city as residents prepare for a possible heavy rain event.

    The locations are:

    • Hibiscus: 2616 Hibiscus Drive (in the parking lot of Edgewater Fire Rescue Association Fire Hall)

    • Mango Tree Lake: 901 Mango Tree Drive

    The Mango Tree Lake location will be staffed from Oct. 5 to Oct. 9 from noon to 6 p.m.

    Both locations are accessible 24 hours a day, but only the Mango Tree Lake location will have staffed hours. Residents should bring their own shovels and bags to the Hibiscus location and the Mango Tree Lake location outside of staffed hours.

    Ten bags will be available per household with proof of Edgewater residency while supplies last.

    Port Orange

    • REC Center: 4655 City Center Circle

    Pickup is available Saturday from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will reopen Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for Port Orange residents.

    More: See the latest maps, models and paths for Milton

    Osceola County

    Kissimmee

    • Osceola Heritage Park: 1211 Shakerag Road

    Pick-up is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, October 6, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, October 7.

    >> This list will be updated as more pickup locations become available.

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  • Middle Brow Will Open a Second Location in Michigan

    Middle Brow Will Open a Second Location in Michigan

    Middle Brow, the Chicago brewpub that earned a James Beard Award earlier this year as a semifinalist for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, is opening a second location in Michigan. Ownership is keeping the exact address a secret, but say they’ve signed a lease to take over a space off Red Arrow Highway in Sawyer, Michigan, about 50 miles west of Downtown Chicago. Sawyer is along Lake Michigan and is a popular tourist destination. Co-owner Pete Ternes says they’ll take over a one-acre plot where customers can enjoy the outdoors.

    “We’ve got the drawings done, and we’ve got a lot of the engineering work done,” Ternes says. “We’re putting out bids and getting permitting in place now. We think that by summer, we’ll be able to — you know, at the very least — throw some fun parties.”

    First established as a brewery in 2011, Middle Brow would open a brewpub in Logan Square, Bungalow by Middle Brow, and offer pastries, bread, and eventually Neapolitan pizzas, and those pies deployed farm fresh ingredients from Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Indiana. By relying on a farm where they’ll grow their own hops, barley, and other ingredients, the unnamed Michigan Middle Brow project takes a hyperlocal strategy to procure ingredients.

    With lighter lagers, saisons, and kolsches the brewery features the kind of brews that drinkers could enjoy while camping or by a lake, a kind of counterpoint to over-hopped beers that were once trendy. Middle Brow centers on yeast-forward beers and letting yeast ferment spontaneously: “It’s exciting and it’s weird and it’s risky, and it makes the beer taste like nothing else you’ve tasted,” Ternes says.

    Last year, Middle Brow expanded operations becoming Chicago’s first natural winery with refreshing wines that, again, shared the same commitment to using wild fermentation. Natural wine is made with minimal intervention that, in theory, better showcases the grapes from the region.

    Ternes promises the new location will contain elements of the Logan Square venue. There might be a small menu of fresh breads for the weekend, and doughnuts and ice cream. Middle Brow Logan Square offers Chicago-style tavern pizza on Tuesdays. Those pizzas won’t make their way to Michigan, but Middle Brow may offer Detroit-style squares as a limited special. Beyond bottles and cans of wine and beer, they’ll also have robust to-go offerings for travelers making a quick pit stop.

    Much of Middle Brow’s wines were made from grapes grown in Michigan with ownership often hauling tanks of juice back to Chicago in trucks filled with tanks. Middle Brow already has ties to the Mitten State. Ternes points out they buy hops from Hop Head Farms, which is about 50 miles south of Grand Rapids, Michigan. They also source fruit for various barrel-aging projects from nearby farms. Ternes recalls family vacations in Michigan City, Indiana; and Michiana, Michigan. The concept of farmhouse brewing, using hops and barley made on the same premises, was pioneered by companies like Allagash in Portland, Maine; and Jester King in Austin, Texas. Those breweries inspired Ternes and Middle Brow.

    Middle Brow searched for the right land but knew when they needed a record of success before investors and banks would fund their operations. Fourteen years later they’re in the position to open the way they intended.

    Middle Brow Sawyer, Michigan planned for a summer opening

    Ashok Selvam

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  • Candlelite, Rogers Park’s Iconic Tavern-Style Pizzeria, Is Opening a Second Location

    Candlelite, Rogers Park’s Iconic Tavern-Style Pizzeria, Is Opening a Second Location

    Lately, there’s been a rising tide of anger from so-called Chicago pizza purists who object to the term “tavern-style pizza.” The objections have coincided with the increased national popularity of the thin-crust pizza which is cut into squares and triangles. Even Pizza Hut has a Bizarro version.

    Through these civic shenanigans, a 74-year-old Rogers Park pizzeria is trying to adapt to the times. Candlelite, founded in 1950, has established itself as one of the city’s most beloved spots for thin-crust pies. Instantly recognizable along Western Avenue for its neon sign, it’s become a pillar of the Loyola University community and is Sister Jean-approved. They’ve been selling frozen pizzas via Gold Belly and briefly opened a stall inside the Time Out Chicago Market food hall.

    After looking at a few spots, the esteemed pizzeria is ready to open a second location this month, treading on rival DePaul University’s turf in Lincoln Park. Candlelite is partnering with the iO Theater, 1501 N. Kingsbury Street, taking over the comedy club’s food and drink service. Candlelite owner Pat Fowler says the theater’s co-owner, Larry Weiner, is a loyal customer in Rogers Park and floated the idea.

    “It’s like having two businesses in one building — two iconic Chicago businesses,” Fowler says.

    The bar will seat about 80 and be friendly to sports fans with games shown on TVs. A separate dining room — which will feel more like the original Candlelite — will seat an additional 100. They’ll also serve on two patios with 50- and 100-seat capacities. They’ve already redone the kitchens, bringing in conveyor-style pizza ovens, similar to the ones they have on Western.

    Pizzas will be available during shows with servers bringing them to tables. The tables are smaller than traditional dining room tables, so Fowler and staff had to find the appropriate pizza stands to hold full-size pies while allowing room for drinks.

    “What’s cool for us, from that standpoint, is iO is a destination, right?” Fowler says. “You know, people want to go to a show, and they’re willing to come from far away or nearby. So we’re able to draw from that.”

    Candlelite has changed hands several times over seven decades, and Fowler — a former pizza delivery man who started in 2008 — purchased the business in 2012.

    The original restaurant’s full menu — with burgers, sandwiches, and options for kids — will be available, and Fowler says they’re working on their beverage selections, hoping to potentially work with Off Color Brewing whose taproom is across the street. They’ll have some fun cocktails as Fowler reminds us that Candlelite’s famous neon sign features a martini. Speaking of the sign, crews in October will install a replica of the original outside the new restaurant. They’ve turned the sign into a logo, using it for their line of frozen pizzas.

    In Rogers Park, Candelite has become a community icon and part of the Loyola Rambler community. Fowler wants to enjoy a tight relationship with the Lincoln Park area, even if that means cavorting with Loyola’s rivals at DePaul.

    “I’ll either need Sister Jean’s permission or I’ll have to ask for forgiveness,” Fowler says with a laugh. “But we love supporting local so DePaul will definitely be something we want to incorporate openly with Sister Jean’s permission.”

    Candlelite Lincoln Park, 1501 N. Kingsbury, planned for a mid-September opening.

    Ashok Selvam

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  • Fake QR codes posted on Redondo Beach parking meters to scam drivers, police say

    Fake QR codes posted on Redondo Beach parking meters to scam drivers, police say

    Someone affixed fraudulent QR codes to parking meters in popular areas of Redondo Beach in an attempt to scam residents and visitors, authorities warned.

    The QR codes — which direct people to a website that’s not affiliated with the city or its official parking meter system — were found on about 150 parking meters along the Esplanade and in the Riviera Village area, the Redondo Beach Police Department said Saturday in a news release. When users reached that website, poybyphone.online, they were prompted to enter their location and payment information.

    The stickers, all of which have since been removed, were placed next to labels for legitimate companies that allow people to make parking fee payments online by either scanning a QR code, downloading an app or visiting a website. The city contracts with two companies, ParkMobile and PayByPhone, to take those payments.

    Anyone who may have been defrauded by the fake QR codes, who received a parking citation after making a payment through the fraudulent website, or who has information about those responsible for the scam stickers is asked to contact the Redondo Beach Police Department at (310) 379-2477.

    The scam has precedent. QR codes directing users to the same fraudulent website were recently discovered on at least 51 parking meters in Ottawa, Canada, according to the Ottawa Citizen.

    And earlier this month, Alhambra police warned residents that someone was leaving fake parking tickets on vehicles that included a QR code directing to a website not affiliated with the city. Authorities warned people not scan the code, as it might install a virus on their phone.

    In fact, the practice is now so commonplace that it has a name: “quishing,” short for “QR code phishing,” according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. This brand of identity fraud scam typically sees criminals try to lure victims into providing personal or financial information by placing QR codes in high-traffic locations or sending them via email or text message. The codes direct unsuspecting users to fraudulent websites that often attempt to masquerade as sites affiliated with government agencies or banks, according to the USPIS. The information the scammers obtain can then be used to commit other crimes such as financial fraud.

    Alex Wigglesworth

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  • Snapchat is rolling out new safety tools aimed at protecting teens from sextortion

    Snapchat is rolling out new safety tools aimed at protecting teens from sextortion

    Snapchat is working to make it harder for teenagers to be contacted on the app by people they don’t know, its latest effort to stop the sexual and financial exploitation scam known as sextortion.The company on Tuesday announced a set of new safety features, including expanded warning pop-ups that appear when a teen receives a message from someone they don’t share mutual friends with or have in their contacts. Now, teens will also receive a warning message if they receive a chat from a user who has been blocked or reported by others or who is from a region where the teen’s other contacts aren’t located, “signs that the person may be a scammer,” Snapchat said in a blog post Tuesday.Related video above: FBI warns of growing sextortion threat targeting young peopleAnd Snapchat will now prevent the delivery of friend requests for teens to or from an account that they don’t share mutual friends with that is also located in regions often associated with scammers.In addition to expanding Snapchat’s broader suite of youth safety measures, the new features are aimed specifically at preventing financial sextortion, a worrying and growing type of scam across social media where bad actors gain the trust of young users, convince them to send sexual or explicit photos and then demand payment in exchange for keeping the pictures a secret.”These features were designed to better protect teens from potential online harms and to enhance the real-friend connections that make Snapchat so unique,” Snap’s Global Head of Platform Safety Jacqueline Beauchere said in an exclusive statement to CNN ahead of the announcement.Video below: FBI agent shares tips for parents to prevent sextortionLaw enforcement officials have in recent years warned of an uptick in online sextortion scams, in which bad actors, typically located overseas, target children and teens, often with profiles that appear to belong to friendly fellow teenagers. In some cases, sextortion has resulted in suicides.Meta in April also announced new features aimed at combating sextortion, including informing users when they’ve interacted with someone who engaged in financial sextortion. And the chief executives of Meta and Snap, along with other social media leaders, were called to testify earlier this year in a Senate subcommittee hearing about their efforts to protect young people from online exploitation.Also among Snapchat’s announcements on Tuesday are improvements to the app’s blocking tools, which will prevent users from simply creating new accounts to get around a block. Now, when a user blocks another account, any new accounts created on the same device will also automatically be blocked.Snapchat is also introducing more frequent reminders to all users, including teens, about their location settings on the app’s “Snap Map” feature, which is toggled off by default but which users can update to share their location live with friends. The company said it will make it possible for users to update their location settings, remove their location from the map and customize which friends they share their location with – all in one spot on the app.The updates build on Snapchat’s existing teen safety features, which include a “Family Center” where parents can supervise the behavior of 13- to 17-year-old users, and mechanisms for removing age-inappropriate content.Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 (or 800-273-8255) to connect with a trained counselor or visit the NSPL site.

    Snapchat is working to make it harder for teenagers to be contacted on the app by people they don’t know, its latest effort to stop the sexual and financial exploitation scam known as sextortion.

    The company on Tuesday announced a set of new safety features, including expanded warning pop-ups that appear when a teen receives a message from someone they don’t share mutual friends with or have in their contacts. Now, teens will also receive a warning message if they receive a chat from a user who has been blocked or reported by others or who is from a region where the teen’s other contacts aren’t located, “signs that the person may be a scammer,” Snapchat said in a blog post Tuesday.

    Related video above: FBI warns of growing sextortion threat targeting young people

    And Snapchat will now prevent the delivery of friend requests for teens to or from an account that they don’t share mutual friends with that is also located in regions often associated with scammers.

    In addition to expanding Snapchat’s broader suite of youth safety measures, the new features are aimed specifically at preventing financial sextortion, a worrying and growing type of scam across social media where bad actors gain the trust of young users, convince them to send sexual or explicit photos and then demand payment in exchange for keeping the pictures a secret.

    “These features were designed to better protect teens from potential online harms and to enhance the real-friend connections that make Snapchat so unique,” Snap’s Global Head of Platform Safety Jacqueline Beauchere said in an exclusive statement to CNN ahead of the announcement.

    Video below: FBI agent shares tips for parents to prevent sextortion

    Law enforcement officials have in recent years warned of an uptick in online sextortion scams, in which bad actors, typically located overseas, target children and teens, often with profiles that appear to belong to friendly fellow teenagers. In some cases, sextortion has resulted in suicides.

    Meta in April also announced new features aimed at combating sextortion, including informing users when they’ve interacted with someone who engaged in financial sextortion. And the chief executives of Meta and Snap, along with other social media leaders, were called to testify earlier this year in a Senate subcommittee hearing about their efforts to protect young people from online exploitation.

    Also among Snapchat’s announcements on Tuesday are improvements to the app’s blocking tools, which will prevent users from simply creating new accounts to get around a block. Now, when a user blocks another account, any new accounts created on the same device will also automatically be blocked.

    Snapchat is also introducing more frequent reminders to all users, including teens, about their location settings on the app’s “Snap Map” feature, which is toggled off by default but which users can update to share their location live with friends. The company said it will make it possible for users to update their location settings, remove their location from the map and customize which friends they share their location with – all in one spot on the app.

    The updates build on Snapchat’s existing teen safety features, which include a “Family Center” where parents can supervise the behavior of 13- to 17-year-old users, and mechanisms for removing age-inappropriate content.

    Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 (or 800-273-8255) to connect with a trained counselor or visit the NSPL site.

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  • Loyola’s Upcoming Cambodian Restaurant Serves Food Fit for Royalty

    Loyola’s Upcoming Cambodian Restaurant Serves Food Fit for Royalty

    Reservations are now live via for the newly relocated Khmai, the Cambodian restaurant that earned accolades after two years in Rogers Park. Khmai 2.0 is sleeker and more upscale than the original, and with its new location along Sheridan Road near Loyola University, chef and owner Mona Sang has added a casual new sister spot in Kaun Khmai.

    Before the restaurants’ debuts on Thursday, June 13 in Rogers Park, Sang previewed her restaurant to friends and media members earlier in the month. Those who attended witnessed firsthand just how far the restaurant has come since its founding in 2022. “This is a huge upgrade,” one diner audibly whispered to her companion.

    The menu draws inspiration from Khmer royal cuisine, or mahob preah barom reacheaveang, a style developed in palace kitchens and one of three overarching culinary genres in Cambodia. It’s distinguished by the quality of ingredients and more elaborate cooking techniques — a style that’s evident in new menu options like the show-stopping trei chien chuyen, a whole fried red snapper that smacks of powerful umami, ginger, garlic, and fresh herbs.

    Another addition, bangkea tuk ampil — large and juicy head-on shrimp marinated in Khmer spices, breaded, and slathered in spicy tamarind sauce with palm sugar and shrimp paste stars. Meanwhile, an old standby, kaw ko — a braised oxtail with bone marrow, galangal, star anise, and fragrant lemongrass, soothed. Sang offered a special preview menu for guests, with Khmai’s signature “dips” — in essence Khmai’s answer to crudités. The beloved egg rolls — filled with ground chicken, shallot, onion, garlic, and taro —were also available. The restaurant was still waiting for its liquor license, so a wine list wasn’t available.

    A royal Khmer dancer watches over the dining room.
    Naomi Waxman/Eater Chicago

    The new space, the former Onward Chicago, is more striking than the original Khmai and includes a soaring arched ceiling and a stunning wall-size mural of a Khmer dancer. The ornate Regency-style gold and black tableware is a product of Sang’s Bridgerton fandom. Chopsticks, forks, knives, and spoons sat on the tables.

    The reopening represents a pivotal moment in the saga of Khmai, which Sang originally conceived as a therapeutic project with her mother, Sarom Sieng, a survivor of the Cambodian genocide. Their endeavor rapidly grew and they soon accrued a customer base with church catering gigs before opening a permanent location on Howard Street near the Evanston border. A rare specialist in traditional Cambodian cuisine, it was a surprise smash hit that garnered a semifinalist nod from the James Beard Foundation. In 2022, Sang and Sieng were named co-winners of Eater Chicago’s Chefs of the Year award and Khmai was dubbed one of the 15 Best New Restaurants in America.

    A plate of Cambodian fried rice topped with grapefruit.

    Kaun Khmai will offer a meaty Cambodian fried rice.
    Naomi Waxman/Eater Chicago

    Behind the scenes, pressure on Sang and her team was mounting. Between a contentious dynamic with her former landlord and the structural limitations of the original location, she knew that a move was essential to the restaurant’s survival. Khmai closed in November 2023, and in the intervening months, Sang has slowly unfolded her plans to the public — including the pending debut of a relaxed second restaurant that would feature fruity cocktails and Khmer street food like skewers of grilled beef, chicken, and squid. A smash burger made with spicy, sour twa ko (Cambodian sausage) will also appear.

    Both restaurants share the space on the ground floor of the Hampton Inn, but Khaun Khmai channels a more relaxed energy without reservations. There’s a large rectangular bar, large windows that fill the room with light, and colorful Cambodian artwork displayed on the walls and around the room. Sang will also launch the city’s only Cambodian brunch services at both restaurants alongside dinner and hopes to begin offering breakfast and lunch in August.

    Khmai and Kaun Khmai, 6580 N. Sheridan Road, scheduled to open Thursday, June 13, reservations via OpenTable.

    Naomi Waxman

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  • Suspected Marina del Rey gunman ID’d; reported self-employed chef accused of firing from rooftop

    Suspected Marina del Rey gunman ID’d; reported self-employed chef accused of firing from rooftop

    A man suspected of spraying gunfire from atop a Marina del Rey apartment complex over the weekend was identified Monday by authorities.

    The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department identified the suspect as 41-year-old Victoryloc Nguyen, who remains jailed in lieu of $2-million bail.

    No one was injured in the Saturday night shooting in the 4100 block of Via Marina, according to a written statement from the Sheriff’s Department.

    The incident began at 10:15 p.m. when deputies from the Marina del Rey sheriff’s station responded to reports of gunshots from inside the apartment complex.

    Later, a sheriff’s helicopter “observed a male suspect on the roof of the location, firing rounds from a rifle,” the statement read.

    The shooting prompted deputies from other nearby stations to respond to the location, and armored SWAT-style vehicles were dispatched.

    Videos posted on social media show a man shooting from the balcony of an apartment who can be heard saying: “I can shoot a car right now and no one would give a s—.” In other videos, bystanders shelter at home or take cover while gunfire can be heard in the background.

    Witnesses told KTLA that as many as 100 rounds were fired from the building. Jeff Rubin, who was hiding with his wife in their apartment’s bathroom, said there were at least 20 minutes of silence.

    “Then another round of gunshots and that went on for three hours,” he told the news station.

    A pair of photographs of the scene released by the sheriff’s SWAT unit show two rifles, a handgun and tactical gear lying on the ground after the suspect’s arrest early Sunday.

    City News Service reported that the suspect was a self-employed chef who specializes in organic traditional Vietnamese cuisine and might have been live-streaming the shooting.

    Authorities said the motive for the shooting was not known. Nguyen is due in court Tuesday.

    Ruben Vives

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  • New York’s Chip City Cookies Will Soon Open Its First Chicago Location

    New York’s Chip City Cookies Will Soon Open Its First Chicago Location

    Late this month, a New York-based cookie chain is opening its first Chicago location. Chip City, which debuted seven years ago in Queens, New York, will debut in late April in Gold Coast. The chain also has plans for Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, and Lakeview, according to a news release.

    The chain has 35 locations in New York, New Jersey, and Florida, and last year it arrived in the Washington, D.C. area. Started by friends Peter Phillips and Teddy Gailas in 2017, the expansion has been funded, in part, by a $10 million investment by New York restaurateur Danny Meyer. Meyer, the founder of Union Square Hospitality, is perhaps best known around Chicago for his investment in Shake Shack and GreenRiver, a shuttered Streeterville restaurant that earned a Michelin star. His fingerprints are seen elsewhere in the expansions of chains such as Tacombi, a casual Mexican restaurant with a West Loop location with a Wicker Park outlet on its way.

    A rendering of Chip City Gold Coast.
    Chip City

    Chip City goes through more than 40 flavors each year with options like peanut butter & jelly, oatmeal apple pie, and cannoli, and blueberry cheesecake. Other than cookies, there’s also a new “Chip Crookie” — a croissant stuffed with cookie dough.

    In 2022, another New York chain, Levain Bakery, opened a Chicago location. With contenders like Levain, Insomnia, and Crumbl, the world of cookie chains has come a long way since Mrs. Fields debuted in the late ‘70s. Getting cookies delivered via a third-party company has its charm, but true Chicagoans just want a true Maurice Lenell comeback.

    Chip City Chicago, 55 E. Chicago Avenue, scheduled for opening on Friday, April 26, 2024

    Ashok Selvam

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