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  • Grand Jury Refuses To Indict Democratic Lawmakers In Connection With Illegal Military Orders Video – KXL

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    Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., speaks to reporters outside of federal court in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

    WASHINGTON (AP) — A grand jury in Washington refused Tuesday to indict Democratic lawmakers in connection with a video in which they urged U.S. military members to resist “illegal orders,” according to a person familiar with the matter.

    The Justice Department opened an investigation into the video featuring Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin and four other Democratic lawmakers urging U.S. service members to follow established military protocols and reject orders they believe to be unlawful. All the lawmakers previously served in the military or at intelligence agencies.

    Grand jurors in Washington declined to sign off on charges in the latest of a series of rebukes of prosecutors by citizens in the nation’s capital, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter. It wasn’t immediately clear whether prosecutors had sought indictments against all six lawmakers or what charge or charges prosecutors attempted to bring.

    Grand jury rejections are extraordinarily unusual, but have happened repeatedly in recent months in Washington as citizens who have heard the government’s evidence have come away underwhelmed in a number of cases. Prosecutors could try again to secure an indictment.

    Spokespeople for the U.S. attorney’s office and the Justice Department didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

    The FBI in November began contacting the lawmakers to schedule interviews, outreach that came against the backdrop of broader Justice Department efforts to punish political opponents of the president. President Donald Trump and his aides labeled the lawmakers’ video as “seditious” — and Trump said on his social media account that the offense was “punishable by death.”

    Besides Slotkin and Kelly, the other Democrats who appeared in the video include Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania.

    Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who represents Michigan, said late Tuesday that she hopes this ends the Justice Department’s probe.

    “Tonight we can score one for the Constitution, our freedom of speech, and the rule of law,” Slotkin said in a statement. “But today wasn’t just an embarrassing day for the Administration. It was another sad day for our country,” she said.

    Kelly, a former Navy pilot who represents Arizona, called the attempt to bring charges an “outrageous abuse of power by Donald Trump and his lackies.”

    “Donald Trump wants every American to be too scared to speak out against him,” Kelly said in a post on X. “The most patriotic thing any of us can do is not back down.”

    In November, the Pentagon opened an investigation into Kelly, citing a federal law that allows retired service members to be recalled to active duty on orders of the defense secretary for possible court-martial or other punishment. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has censured Kelly for participating in the video and is trying to retroactively demote Kelly from his retired rank of captain.

    The senator is suing Hegseth to block those proceedings, calling them an unconstitutional act of retribution. During a hearing last week, the judge appeared to be skeptical of key arguments that a government attorney made in defense of Kelly’s Jan. 5 censure by Hegseth.

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    Jordan Vawter

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  • The Valley, the South Bay and beyond: These are L.A.’s newest million-dollar neighborhoods

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    In 2021, during the peak of the pandemic housing market that saw L.A. home prices skyrocket, The Times compiled a list of the newest neighborhoods to join the proverbial “million-dollar club,” where the typical single-family home value is above $1 million.

    Five years later, plenty more have made the cut.

    Whereas the previous group featured trendy L.A. neighborhoods (Echo Park, Highland Park), South L.A. enclaves (Crenshaw, Leimert Park) and slices of the San Fernando Valley (Porter Ranch, Woodland Hills), the latest batch is a bit more outlying.

    Now, million-dollar homes are flung farther north into the Valley, farther south into the South Bay, and farther east into the foothills of the Verdugo and San Gabriel mountains.

    Home values across the region haven’t spiked in the same way they did during the pandemic. Instead, they steadily rose month after month, turning once-semi-affordable communities into seven-figure spots, according to Zillow’s Home Value Index.

    The data suggest single-family homes across the outskirts of L.A. County are more valuable than you might think.

    Here are 12 of the newest million-dollar neighborhoods around L.A., in alphabetical order.

    Adams Hill (Glendale)

    2021 value: $983,515
    2025 value: $1.12 million

    Once tied to the now-defunct city of Tropico, Adams Hill was annexed to Glendale in 1918. The hilly neighborhood is tucked on the southeast tip of the city near Glassell Park and Atwater Village and features a vibrant mix of 1920s bungalows and Spanish Colonial-style retreats. Smaller homes can be found in the $800,000 range, but anything with a view fetches well over $1 million. There are also plenty of buildable lots, if you’re feeling ambitious.

    Chatsworth

    2021 value: $925,501
    2025 value: $1.02 million

    Once a hot spot for western film sets, Chatsworth now serves as a suburban retreat for those seeking space, with relatively low population density compared with other San Fernando Valley neighborhoods. There’s a variety of price points here: new construction on the west side sells for millions, but manufactured homes on leased lots are listed for less than $200,000. The plethora of tract houses built from the ‘50s to the ‘70s go for around $1 million.

    El Dorado South / El Dorado Park / Los Altos

    2021 value: $906,912
    2025 value: $1.04 million

    The million-dollar typical home has made its way to the working and middle class flats of east Long Beach, where a trio of neighborhoods eclipsed the mark in 2023 and 2024. The three enclaves circle El Dorado Regional Park, the city’s largest park, and feature classic California ranches that typically sell for $800,000 to $1.2 million.

    Granada Hills

    2021 value: $894,428
    2025 value: $1.02 million

    Another suburban staple of the San Fernando Valley, Granada Hills became a million-dollar neighborhood in 2024. The deals are found on the south side, where four-and five-bedroom homes still list in the $900,000 range. The luxury properties are tucked on the north end, including the historic Balboa Highlands tract — a pristine collection of 108 Midcentury gems designed by Joseph Eichler. Those typically sell for $1.7 million or more.

    Historic Quarter (Agoura Hills)

    2021 value: $974,384
    2025 value: $1.1 million

    Million-dollar homes are nothing new for Agoura Hills, the slow-growth bedroom community between L.A. and Thousand Oaks, but the city’s Historic Quarter section hit the mark in 2022. It’s been tough to find a home for less than $1 million ever since. The neighborhood, a small sliver at the city’s southeast corner, features sizable 1980s houses that fetch anywhere from $1 million to $2 million.

    Mid-Central (Pasadena)

    2021 value: $993,704
    2025 value: $1.11 million

    Seven-figure typical home values are slowly creeping east in Pasadena, and the Mid-Central neighborhood hit the million mark in 2022. Homes here don’t quite command the prices of neighborhoods to the west, such as Oak Knoll or Madison Heights, but smaller bungalows typically start at $700,000, while bidding wars for century-old Craftsmans or well-preserved Tudors drive prices to $1.5 million or more.

    Montrose-Verdugo City

    2021 value: $990,002
    2025 value: $1.09 million

    Technically in Glendale, Montrose-Verdugo City sits just south of La-Crescenta Montrose, the scenic community set beneath the Angeles National Forest. There’s a small-town feel here, with a walkable district and charming homes looking up at the mountains. Fixer-uppers sell in the $900,000 range, but most homes these days go for $1.1 million or more.

    Northeast Torrance / Old Torrance

    2021 value: $906,287
    2025 value: $1.01 million

    A pair of east Torrance neighborhoods joined their western counterparts in the million-dollar club in recent years: Old Torrance in 2022 and Northeast Torrance in 2024. There’s plenty of variety here: Small project properties still sell in the $600,000 range, while larger remodels or well-kept Craftsmans can go for as much as $1.7 million.

    Northridge

    2021 value: $970,785
    2025 value: $1.1 million

    This San Fernando Valley neighborhood houses Cal State Northridge, so rentals make up the majority of the market here, but there’s always a healthy mix of homes up for sale, too. The larger 4,000-square-foot houses on the north end of Northridge typically command at least $1.4 million, while the smaller two- and three-bedroom homes scattered throughout the rest of the area fall in the $800,000 to $900,000 range.

    Riverside Rancho (Glendale)

    2021 value: $951,705
    2025 value: $1.08 million

    A hidden equestrian haven next to Griffith Park, Riverside Rancho has homes surrounded by riding trails and other horse amenities. Small ranches can occasionally be found for less than $1 million, but the handful of equestrian properties complete with stables and barns go for $2 million or more.

    Valley Glen

    2021 value: $952,921
    2025 value: $1.03 million

    The Valley Glen neighborhood broke off from Van Nuys and North Hollywood in 1998, and since then, its home values have outpaced both. While values linger in the $800,000 range in Van Nuys to the west and North Hollywood to the east, Valley Glen became a million-dollar neighborhood in 2023. These days, the majority of its single-family homes sell for over $1 million, but smaller ranches can be found for cheaper.

    West Hills

    2021 value: $951,441
    2025 value: $1.04 million

    Another million-dollar suburb of the San Fernando Valley, West Hills is pricier than eastern neighbors like Canoga Park and Winnetka, but much cheaper than the affluent communities to the south such as Hidden Hills and Calabasas. You won’t find many condos or apartment buildings here; the single-family homes range from $700,000 up to $1.5 million or so, while the Simi Hills and El Escorpion Peak offer a natural escape from the suburban sprawl.

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    Jack Flemming

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  • Invest 92-L could become next tropical storm; NHC monitoring new area of interest

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    The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas in the Atlantic. Tropical wave Invest 92-LThe tropical wave, designated as Invest 92-L, is located between the Windward Islands and the coast of West Africa and is producing showers and thunderstorms.Dry and stable air could likely limit this system’s development over the next few days, but a tropical depression or named storm could form by the middle to latter part of this week.The system is expected to move west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph over the central tropical Atlantic, the NHC said.Related: Tracking Invest 92-L: Maps, path, spaghetti models Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 90%Formation chance through the next 7 days: 90%At this time, the development is not expected to affect the U.S.Eastern tropical wave The NHC tagged a new area to monitor off the west coast of Africa. The tropical wave is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Slow development of the system is possible as it moves from the eastern to the central portion of the Atlantic. Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 10%Formation chance through the next 7 days: 20%Hurricane season 2025The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.>> More: 2025 Hurricane Survival GuideThe First Warning Weather team includes First Warning Chief Meteorologist Tony Mainolfi, Eric Burris, Kellianne Klass, Marquise Meda and Cam Tran.>> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast>> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

    The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two areas in the Atlantic.

    Tropical wave Invest 92-L

    The tropical wave, designated as Invest 92-L, is located between the Windward Islands and the coast of West Africa and is producing showers and thunderstorms.

    Dry and stable air could likely limit this system’s development over the next few days, but a tropical depression or named storm could form by the middle to latter part of this week.

    The system is expected to move west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph over the central tropical Atlantic, the NHC said.

    Related: Tracking Invest 92-L: Maps, path, spaghetti models

    Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 90%

    Formation chance through the next 7 days: 90%

    At this time, the development is not expected to affect the U.S.

    Eastern tropical wave

    The NHC tagged a new area to monitor off the west coast of Africa. The tropical wave is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

    Slow development of the system is possible as it moves from the eastern to the central portion of the Atlantic.

    Formation chance through the next 48 hours: 10%

    Formation chance through the next 7 days: 20%

    Hurricane season 2025

    The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Stay with WESH 2 online and on-air for the most accurate Central Florida weather forecast.

    >> More: 2025 Hurricane Survival Guide

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

    >> 2025 hurricane season | WESH long-range forecast

    >> Download Very Local | Stream Central Florida news and weather from WESH 2

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  • Cal Raleigh hits 50th homer, joining Mickey Mantle as switch-hitters to reach mark

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    Cal Raleigh hits 50th homer, joining Mickey Mantle as switch-hitters to reach mark

    So this is not the bat that the Yankees were using to pound out 36 runs in 3 games. This is not *** torpedo bat. This is like *** traditional bat. Yeah, if that’s the bat they were using, we wouldn’t be talking about. Oh there you go. What is going on here with this? I, so basically the Yankees have apparently over for 2 years have been working on this, and they have figured out. That all the all the rules say *** bat needs to be is it can’t be bigger than *** certain length it can’t be fatter than *** certain, but otherwise, as long as it’s ***. Straight stick that the fattest part fits within these measurements and they’re hitting it out they they move the barrel basically down and they’re taking guys like Anthony Volpe where they collect so much data now, right? They know where Anthony Volpe typically hits right and if he’s not consistently hitting it on the barrel. Their solution was let’s not teach Anthony Volpe to hit different. Let’s just move the barrel. So they basically so simple bats that are customized to these hitters and to where they’re making contact. It’s, I mean, it’s very unusual and when they come out of the gate like this with *** 20 run game where, you know, like 9 homers in the game, it’s gonna get *** whole lot of attention, but by the rules this seems to be allowed. It’s just wild to see *** team do it and come out like this, right? And it’s the Yankees. Oh, it’s the Yankees, Chad. So, um, so there’s gonna be *** tension there anyway, but it’s, it’s fascinating. And I mean, who, you know, is this something that’s gonna catch on? We’re, I think everybody 2 my other teams my outlet included are all trying to chase this going where, where is this going, you know.

    Cal Raleigh hits 50th homer, joining Mickey Mantle as switch-hitters to reach mark

    Updated: 12:15 AM EDT Aug 26, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Cal Raleigh hit his 50th homer on Monday night, extending his major league record for home runs by a catcher and entering some elite company.Raleigh joined Mickey Mantle as the only switch-hitters to hit 50 homers in a season, and he became the eighth player in major league history to reach the half-century mark in August.Video above: Baseball writer explains new ‘torpedo’ bats in MLBBatting from the right side, the Big Dumper sent a 3-2 fastball from San Diego’s JP Sears 419 feet into the second deck in left field.He’s the second Mariners player to hit 50 homers in a season. Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. hit 56 in 1997 and again in ’98.Raleigh has three homers in the past two games. He hit Nos. 48 and 49 during Sunday’s 11-4 win over the Athletics. Salvador Perez had the previous record for homers by a catcher with 48 in 2021.

    SEATTLE —

    Cal Raleigh hit his 50th homer on Monday night, extending his major league record for home runs by a catcher and entering some elite company.

    Raleigh joined Mickey Mantle as the only switch-hitters to hit 50 homers in a season, and he became the eighth player in major league history to reach the half-century mark in August.

    Video above: Baseball writer explains new ‘torpedo’ bats in MLB

    Batting from the right side, the Big Dumper sent a 3-2 fastball from San Diego’s JP Sears 419 feet into the second deck in left field.

    He’s the second Mariners player to hit 50 homers in a season. Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. hit 56 in 1997 and again in ’98.

    Raleigh has three homers in the past two games. He hit Nos. 48 and 49 during Sunday’s 11-4 win over the Athletics. Salvador Perez had the previous record for homers by a catcher with 48 in 2021.

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  • RECAP: Chock comes on strong for Joan, Mark finally gets his ‘Golden Bachelorette’ 1-on-1

    RECAP: Chock comes on strong for Joan, Mark finally gets his ‘Golden Bachelorette’ 1-on-1

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    NEW YORK — The mansion was quiet at the start of this week’s episode, but not for long. We got a tight shot of Pascal in his tighty whiteys steaming his clothing. The guys were a bit sad that they were down to just 7 of them. The house was feeling empty. Keith is hoping to get a one-on-one date after his disastrous conversation with him during the cocktail party last week. He said he wasn’t himself and he feels that he’ll be able to show off who he really is on a date with just Joan.

    Gina: It’s getting so real for these guys. You know they’re analyzing every single interaction. I do love that they’re all supportive of each other.

    Trista Advises Joan

    Joan met up with the OG Trista. She said her biggest regret was not sharing with Ryan that she had fallen in love with him earlier on. She felt like she left him hanging. Trista and Joan shared a special moment where she told Joan that her husband John would have been proud of her and wanted her to find happiness.

    Gina: First of all, to our LA readers, La La Land has some yummy coffee! Ok, onto the conversation. Trista’s take is so interesting and you can see just how much the show has evolved from the first “Bachelorette.” Her advice was spot-on and I do think that’s what we’ve seen Joan doing throughout, being more open and vulnerable.

    Keith’s One-on-One Date

    The first date card read, “Keith I want a love that gets better with age.” Note, that there are no date roses. Joan wants to make the decision on which hometowns to visit after all of the men have had a chance on a date. Mark was disappointed to miss out on that first date. Keith met Joan at a helicopter where they toured the area. She said that his big personality reminds her of her husband John. She’s hoping to get to know the depth of him as the date goes on. They swooped by the mansion and the guys waved, but boy, were they jealous! Especially Chock who said he hopes they don’t have a connection because he wants to be with Joan.

    Gina: The foreshadowing in this episode was epic. Props to the story producers!

    Keith and Joan landed in the helicopter at a winery where they did a tasting. They spoke with the couple there about how Keith got the first impression rose and now they were trying to get to know each other. The couple at the winery were married for 32 years and Joan was also married to John for 32 years. It struck a chord. “I could’ve been them,” Joan said. That was like a gut punch. Poor Keith is going to have to do his best to pull her back up.

    Gina: You could see the emotional shift happen in Joan. My heart went out to her in that moment.

    Mark Struggles

    At the mansion, Mark was having doubts. He said the loss of his wife still deeply affects him. He said that he feels a connection to Joan but he’s losing hope. Mark said he’s not sure he’s doing the right thing anymore. He cried as he spoke to Pascal and Jordan about his feelings. Get out the tissues. He told a beautiful story about how his wife Denise could put out her hand and hummingbirds would land on her! He said that he saw a hummingbird as he was out walking and it took his breath away. Mark said it’s like Denise is telling him that being there is right. He’s starting to feel better.

    Gina: Aaaand, we’re crying. For Joan, the sign is hawks. For Mark, the sign is hummingbirds. This story and the way Mark talks so lovingly about Denise is why Bachelor Nation fell in love with him in the first place. He’s just a genuine guy. And his pals supporting him? Just love it.

    Keith and Joan Connect

    Back on Keith’s date, he told Joan that he hopes to show her another side of him. Joan said that she already likes the side that she sees. Keith told her about his ex-wife’s addiction and how he and his daughters haven’t spoken to her in over a decade. He said that he just had to separate them from that situation for their own good. Keith said that he has a lot of emotions and even cries at dog movies. Joan said that she appreciates what a strong man and good father he is. He said that if he gets to take Joan to his hometown she would meet his three daughters and they would do a backyard BBQ. They shared a kiss! Joan worried that her kiss tasted like wine and Keith assured her that it was perfect. He seems like such a wonderful guy.

    Gina: Joan rightfully observed that she felt he was holding back and she’s glad that he’s showing more. He does seem like a great guy.

    Group Date

    The men sat around in the living room anxiously awaiting a date card. There was a knock at the door and Jonathan read it. “Guy, Jordan, Jonathan, Pascal, Chock, our love has no time to spare.” Looks like they are bowling, and Mark finally gets his one-on-one date! He is so relieved! Pascal and Jordan jumped up to give him a hug. My goodness, this show is so heartwarming. The guys on the group date worried that their senior aches and pains might make them bad bowlers but they knew it was all in fun!

    Gina: I love that they wanted to do stretches to make sure they didn’t pull a muscle while bowling! Also, I don’t think we realized before this episode just how close Mark and Pascal are!

    On the group date, Joan warmed up as the men arrived. She seems like she’s pretty good at it. She liked this date because it was an activity that her family would go to do. Pascal was not impressed with the bowling shirt and shoes. But he’s a good sport so he wore it and said “Blue looks good on me.” He’s only bowled once in his life! “I’m not afraid to make a fool of myself,” he said. And it turns out, he’s not half bad!

    Gina: It’s not Gucci or Prada, but Pascal did make it work!

    Jordan got a strike, Jonathan got a strike, Chock got a strike, and Guy, was maybe a little shaky. He was put off that Chock was coming on strong and on Joan’s bowling team, and putting his arm around her. Jonathan said it seemed like they were a couple and they were all buddies. Guy asked Chock to let Joan have some time with the other guys, but he pretty much ignored that request.

    Guy slid in when Chock had to get up to take his turn. Pascal decided to play it cool because “It’s in Joan’s hands.” Jonathan said that his mother was on a game show called “Bowling for Dollars” and he took out an envelope full of photos and letters from his family to show Joan. He had a picture of his mom, childhood pictures of himself, and pictures of his children when they were little. Seeing the pictures of his children brought tears to his eyes. Joan told him that he’s a pretty incredible human being. They shared a kiss, too!

    Guy feels very strongly about Joan and is dying to bring her home. He told her that she is the variable in this experience and in his life that is making him happy. “I have not been this happy in years,” Guy said. Pascal said that he would also love for Joan to meet his children so they can give him the thumbs up. Jordan also wants Joan to meet his kids and he tells her that if they do, they will love her. The other guys talked about how Chock was glued to Joan, and they worried that Guy might brawl with Chock.

    Gina: This is the one time this entire season that I thought there was going to be some high drama in the house!! But they kinda handled it. Look, I think we all see the connection with Joan and Chock but for the guys, they feel they’re still in the game here too. So I get why they’d be upset. But also, if you want that time with her, make that time with her! Chock is taking every advantage that he can. You can’t fault him for that, really.

    Chock and Joan took some time to talk privately and they shared the experience of how living alone is not what they want anymore. She said that she worried that starting a new life would be selfish but now she wants that. Chock said that he sees a beautiful future with her and Joan said that she feels the same way! They did a lot of passionate kissing! That said, Joan said that she is falling for several men and she wishes she could go to all of their hometowns. Pascal noted that he saw tears in Joan’s eyes and that it was going to be a tough decision for her.

    Mark’s One-on-One Date

    It was finally time for Mark’s long-awaited one-on-one date. Mark had the sweetest smile as he waited for Joan to arrive and pick him up in a red convertible. He said that he had put off dating for years after his wife’s death because he just wasn’t ready, but he feels he is now. Pascal and the other guys gave him a pep talk and told him he was ready for this! “Keep smiling Mark, you have a beautiful smile,” Pascal said to Mark. Aw! Guess who sidled up to Joan as she sat next to Mark…Chock! Did you notice that?

    Gina: Yep, noticed! But here’s the thing, Chock makes the most of every single opportunity he has in front of Joan, even if it’s only for a moment like this one.

    Joan said that Mark is very shy and she worries that he might not open up or make a connection in time. Mark and Joan arrived at a yacht and he was blown away! It was beautiful! They sailed off, enjoyed each other’s company, and drank some champagne. Then it seemed, silent… Mark! What are you doing buddy? Speak up, this is your moment! Joan said that she’s having fun, but they haven’t hit an easy flow yet.

    Gina: This was so uncomfortable for many reasons. First, we’ve all been waiting for them to finally get this one-on-one time and perhaps too much has been made of it because of his franchise connection and the fact that she was so happy to see him come out of that limo with Kelsey on the first night. Bachelor Nation definitely has been rooting for them, so it’s a lot of pressure. Second, he has said he hadn’t really dated since Denise passed, so this had to be a completely strange situation for him. Third, when he had those little moments on group dates or cocktail parties, you know it’s a finite amount of time and it’s not this long, extended day. Perhaps he is more comfortable in that situation at this point in his life? No matter what, I felt so bad. Like, just say anything!

    The captain arrived and gave them a letter from Jesse! He gave them a letter to do a scavenger hunt so that they could learn about each other. Aw! Jesse is awesome – this is the icebreaker they needed! They played never have I ever, it was very PG and they did learn a lot about each other. Joan said to Mark that she really wants to be part of a couple again because it’s more fun with someone and she sees herself in that situation in five years. Mark said that he feels his life will flourish due to this show and it’s given him the confidence to continue. Joan and Mark talked about the sense of loss they both felt for their spouses. He said that she could always talk to him about that. Joan said it felt good to talk to someone who got it.

    Gina: I wondered if the producers had that scavenger hunt kind of at the ready in case things weren’t going well? They know Mark, so they know he is on the quieter side and might need a little push to get things going.

    Mark described how his wife had the longest hair and that losing it from cancer was hard. He said they really made the most of their time together, but then time ran out. Joan said I don’t think that you’ll ever fully heal. Then they shared the signs of their spouses. For Mark, it’s hummingbirds and he shared the story of the one he saw at the mansion. Joan said that she finds comfort in the signs. She teared up and Mark said that he understood and Joan said that she hopes John never goes away. Mark reassured her that he wouldn’t. “To the best day I’ve had since arriving in California,” Mark said as he toasted Joan. He really wants to show Joan off to his kids and show that he’s happy. Joan said that she loved learning more about Mark. “I feel like we have a much deeper connection,” Joan said. But, “There still seems to be something missing.” No!!!!

    Gina: Whew, what a rollercoaster! First, we get the emotional conversation about their losses and the bond they have over their grief journeys. Then, we get Mark talking about how it’s his best day in California. AND THEN, we get an unsure Joan. I was not quite ready for what was about to happen.

    Joan Breaks Up With Mark

    The guys felt like Mark would be getting a hometown. Yet, Joan showed up and asked to talk to Mark. The other men thought her pulling him aside was good, but alas, it was not. Joan told Mark that she felt something was missing. She couldn’t sleep the whole night and said that she didn’t see herself in their conversation and she felt she came into it a bit too early for him. She asked him if he was ok, and he said he was. He said he understood that it was her journey and Joan said that she really loves him. “This experience here has really changed me,” Mark said. “I’m leaving here I know that I’m a better human being, a better man, a better father.” Joan cried about what a great person he was and said he “doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.” They shared a very heartfelt hug and Joan told him that he’s made a big difference to her heart. She just knew that he wasn’t the one and that they weren’t in the same place yet.

    Gina: And this is why we take off all our makeup when we watch this show because we cry it all off! Another teary moment, but just the most lovely conversation. Joan felt bad. She WANTED it to work, she really did. But when you know, you know and she knew. I think this experience is probably going to be more beneficial to his journey than anything else. It was so nice getting to “know” Mark on this season.

    Then Mark had to walk in and tell the guys that Joan cut him loose. The guys felt so bad for him! They all genuinely care about each other and I just love that. Mark told them that he knew that no matter who she chose that Joan would be getting a great guy. They all shared their love and Pascal cried. They made a real connection and Pascal said Mark was his best friend!

    Gina: Why does Pascal have to make me cry even more?!

    Mark packed up his suitcase and talked about how it was an incredible experience but that he just wasn’t what she was looking for. Mark said that everything he looks for in a person he felt like was in Joan. He hoped that he would find his great love one day but that Joan would forever have a little corner of his heart.

    Rose Ceremony

    1) Pascal

    2) Chock

    3) Guy

    4) Jordan

    That meant that Keith and Jonathan were eliminated. Jonathan’s eyes looked shocked, and Keith looked disappointed. Joan walked Jonathan out and told him that he made such an imprint on her heart. Jonathan said that he validated a lot of his values and he felt seen. “You are worthy, don’t forget it,” Joan told him.

    This is the first time I think the two one-on-one dates didn’t get hometowns! Joan apparently just needed confirmation that she knew these were her final four men.

    Next Week

    It’s time to meet the men’s children and travel to their hometowns! Joan meets their kids, grandkids, and other family members and it looks like the men are getting anxious for answers!

    Gina: The grandchild asking “have you kissed my grandpa” had me laughing. We love a good hometown episode. Can’t wait to see Joan and her man take this next step!

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    WABC

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  • Actor Mark Hamill Gets a Rise From Wieners Circle’s 3-Inch Trump Dogs

    Actor Mark Hamill Gets a Rise From Wieners Circle’s 3-Inch Trump Dogs

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    The Democratic National Convention was obsessed with Chicago dogs last week with politicians and celebrities making social media posts and recording video segments from various street food stands. Over the weekend, Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill posted a photo of himself in front pointing to the Wieners Circle’s famous sign while making a hand gesture, referring to the hot dog’s stand’s DNC special mocking former President Donald Trump. The sign read: “Now Serving Trump Footlongs It’s 3 Inches.”

    Wieners Circle first offered the special back in 2016 as a response to Trump’s comments during a Republican debate. Hamill attended the DNC and was at a fan convention over the weekend in the suburbs. He’s been an outspoken critic of Trump. The post may have reminded fans of the Spaceballs, a parody of Star Wars in which galactic rivals Darth Helmet (Rick Moranis) and Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) debate the sizes of their “Schwartzes.”

    Now, if only the Wieners Circle could have served Hamill a Blue Milkshake.

    More hot dog shrinkage

    Speaking of hot dogs, news has spread about how a new investor at Portillo’s wants to shake things up. On Thursday, August 15, Engaged Capital disclosed it held a 10 percent stake in the company with a mission to “improve operations, optimize restaurant performance, increase margins and grow brand awareness as Portillo’s expands nationally.” Crain’s described this as the agenda of an activist investor writing Engaged wants Portillo’s to open smaller locations; a signature trait of the chain was large spaces with historical artifacts. The goal is to cut costs as the hot dog giant aims to open “at least 920 restaurants around the country in about 20 years,” according to Crain’s.

    Roti declares Chapter 11

    Chicago-based fast-casual chain Roti has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is seeking investors or new owners to rescue its 20 locations scattered across Chicago, Minnesota, and Washington, D.C. Ownership hopes to keep the restaurants open during the process, according to Restaurant Business. The assembly-line chain was vaguely Mediterranean and has attempted to reinvent itself with new branding and tweaks to the menu over the years. The chain was founded in 2007.

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    Ashok Selvam

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  • Another Milestone

    Another Milestone

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    I started at 370lb on March 22nd 2023. I was 24 and had never been below 300lb since middle school. Just a little past the 1 year mark and I’m 25 and almost into the 240s now. My ultimate goal is 185 and it feels more achievable than ever before. It still doesn’t feel real, I can fit into regular Large clothing sizes now, granted they’re still snug but they won’t be in another 20lb or so. A year ago I was almost fitting just right into 4XL.

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  • Parents of boys killed by Grossman take solace in her murder conviction: ‘We finally can move on’

    Parents of boys killed by Grossman take solace in her murder conviction: ‘We finally can move on’

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    Nancy Iskander arrived at the graves of her two young sons a few hours after a jury on Friday convicted Rebecca Grossman of murdering them.

    It was the end of a wrenching day. Three years after Grossman sped through a Westlake Village crosswalk in her Mercedes-Benz, hitting Iskander’s sons as she watched in horror, she had finally found some level of closure.

    “Someone was held accountable for your murder sons. Sleep tight. Rest in peace,” she wrote on X along with a dusk photo of the marble headstone.

    It took jurors a little over one day to convict Grossman on all charges.

    In doing so, the jurors appeared to embrace the prosecution’s case that Grossman — the scion of a prominent medical family — was reckless and impaired by margaritas and Valium when she plowed through the residential intersection and hit the children in a marked crosswalk.

    The jury convicted Grossman on two counts of murder, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and one count of hit-and-run resulting in death. Those were the maximum charges sought by prosecutors. The jury could have opted for lesser charges, such as vehicular manslaughter with ordinary negligence.

    Mark Iskander, left, and his brother Jacob in a family photo.

    (Courtesy of the Iskander family)

    For Iskander, it was a moment of satisfaction and grief. She had been bearing witness for her boys, testifying in court and demanding authorities take the case seriously.

    “My family has been waiting for this for 3½ years now. I’ve been waiting for the trust of the justice system. So today we’re just giving glory to God; the God of Mark and Jacob has been with us through that time and helped us through, carried us,” she said outside court.

    She said sitting through the high-profile trial “felt like I am attending the funeral of the boys again, day after day. That’s how it felt, seeing the defendant and defense attorneys.”

    But with the conviction, she felt, it was all worth it.

    “We were trusting the justice system,” she said. “We have a justice system you can trust from our experience. It’s not a justice system where people get away with things just under the color of their skin or their wealth or anything. You commit a crime, you will be held accountable.”

    1

    Mark Iskander.

    2

    The Iskander family, including Nancy Iskander and her husband

    1. Mark Iskander 2. Jacob Iskander. (Courtesy of the Iskander family)

    On Sept. 29, 2020, when Iskander and her three sons approached the crosswalk, wearing inline skates, she began to cross Triunfo Canyon Road at Saddle Mountain Drive. Her youngest son, Zachary, was next to her on his scooter. Mark, on a skateboard, and Jacob, also wearing inline skates, followed a little over arm’s length behind.

    Prosecutors accused Grossman of reaching 81 mph before lightly braking and hitting the brothers at 73 mph, based on the car’s data recorder and the distance Mark was found from the crosswalk.

    Prosecutors allege Grossman, 60, had cocktails with her then-boyfriend Scott Erickson, a former Dodgers pitcher, and then raced with him — he in his black Mercedes sport utility vehicle and she in her white Mercedes SUV — along Triunfo Canyon Road until they reached a crosswalk.

    Iskander boys

    (Courtesy of the Iskander family)

    Prosecutors also alleged that Grossman traveled a third of a mile after hitting the children before safety features in her car automatically shut it down.

    Iskander’s witness testimony was a highly charged moment in the trial, as she described watching Grossman’s SUV plowing into her sons.

    “I heard the loud noise, and I heard the driver of that car kept going,” Iskander told jurors. “I started screaming, ‘I can’t find them.’”

    “Nobody came back to help,” Iskander said. “She did not come back to the scene.”

    “She killed my kids,” Iskander said of Grossman. “They aren’t at school. They are not playing sports. They are at the cemetery.”

    Grossman was taken into custody after the verdict. She faces a sentence of 34 years to life in prison based on the conviction. Grossman’s lead attorney, Tony Buzbee, called the verdict unexpected and vowed to appeal.

    A woman, a man and three boys

    Nancy and Karim Iskander with their children, Mark, Jacob and Zachary.

    (Courtesy of the Iskander family)

    Nancy Iskander said it didn’t bring her any joy to see Grossman in handcuffs. Grossman’s daughter was overcome with emotion and yelled, “Oh, my God,” as the first word “guilty” echoed across the courtroom.

    “No one wishes that on anyone,” Iskander said. “I promise I do not have any hate for her. My heart broke for her children. … It wasn’t easy, but it will bring me closure.”

    Iskander also took time to talk about her sons.

    “Well, they were golden-age children. They loved God. They were raised at the church. They were hardworking. They were honest. They cared about the truth,” she said. “And they were spoken for by a prosecution who’s also just that hardworking, honest, who cared about the truth.

    “Mark and Jacob didn’t die. Mark and Jacob were murdered,” she added.

    She said her family was able to cope with the tragedy because of a large support group. “We’re thankful for our community. We’re thankful to everyone here.” Her son Zachary, who was 5 on the day of the crash, continues to deal with the trauma of losing his brothers.

    Iskander’s husband, Karim, said he hoped the verdict would be a turning point.

    Two boys wearing matching clothes hold each other

    Jacob, left, and Mark Iskander.

    (Courtesy of the Iskander family)

    “We finally can move on. Finally. We have been waiting for the closure,” he said.

    He also thanked the jury, saying they saw past “the imaginary conspiracy theories and tricks…. and focused on the evidence and they took it seriously.”

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    Richard Winton

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  • Please Watch This Amazing Overwatch X Dallas Mavericks Video

    Please Watch This Amazing Overwatch X Dallas Mavericks Video

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    Last night I was scrolling through TikTok in the midst of an edible comedown, and I stumbled upon something so ridiculous, so cringe, so brilliant, that I couldn’t believe I had yet to see it before. It’s called Maverwatch, and it’s a 2018 hype video for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks that features its star players doubling as Overwatch characters.

    This Wacky Magical Girl Anime Is Studio Trigger-Coded To Perfection

    Read More: NBA Star Luka Doncic Is A Grandmaster Overwatch Player, Mains Zarya

    Edited to look like an Overwatch play-of-the-game clip, which highlights a particularly gnarly play (usually a multi-kill) at the end of every match, this minute-long video feels like something my high brain cooked up in a daydream. But it’s not. This clip is real, and every second is transfixing, a strange mix of car-wreck tragedy and knee-slapping comedy. You can’t deny, however, that the editing is top-tier, with the all-too-familiar ding sounds indicating an Overwatch kill, the Overwatch font showing off “eliminations” of rival players getting stunted on, and the in-game music swelling in-between each wooden NBA player delivery of a hero’s line.

    Athletes are, by and large, not known for their acting and line-reading skills. In the rare chance that you get an athlete with a glittering personality who can actually say dialogue without sounding like a kid forced to read out loud during class, teams will push them to the forefront of marketing materials and commercial opportunities (Eli Manning, Tom Brady) or even let them play the lead in a film (LeBron James, Michael Jordan). I can say with some confidence that none of the 2018 Dallas Mavericks players have the same je ne sais quoi as James or Brady, but that only makes the Maverwatch experience better.

    The man behind Maverwatch

    The clip begins with Dirk Nowitzki aping Soldier: 76’s ultimate ability line (“I’ve got you in my sights”) while pretending to activate an imaginary visor before cutting to clips of him sinking threes.

    “Dirk got Soldier because he’s the rugged old leader of the team,” Austin Guttery, former in-game media creator for the Dallas Mavericks and creator of Maverwatch, told Kotaku via email.

    The second player highlighted is former Mavs center Deandre Jordan, who pretends to pop a Lucio ult (“oh, let’s break it down”) under the nickname “Shootscio.” Help me. “Jordan got Lucio because of his great defensive plays and his ability to keep the team alive,” Guttery explained.

    But when it came time to assign Mavericks point guard and Grandmaster Overwatch player Luka Doncic a character, things got a little heated. “Luka actually reeeeeally wanted to be Hanzo, since that’s who he usually plays, but there was a player on the team, Wes Matthews, who was known for pretending to shoot a bow and arrow after each shot during the games, so naturally we HAD to make him Hanzo,” Guttery said. “I picked Luka to be Junkrat because of his blonde hair. Luka was the tiniest bit salty and tried to talk us into making him Hanzo, but we had already shot Wes’s part, and we only got one quick shot with each player every year.”

    The other players were assigned based on any connections Guttery could make between them and an Overwatch hero—or if he thought they could manage to pull off a good enough mime of a character’s moves. No, I cannot stop laughing at Luka pretending to pull a Junkrat RIP-Tire.

    Aside from the drama that came with assigning Mavs players their Overwatch counterparts, Guttery says that it took ages for him to get the video approved because his boss “didn’t actually know what Overwatch was.” But telling him that Doncic was a huge Overwatch fan “really helped sell it.” The clip was shot during the team’s media day, and aired on the in-arena screens during a lull in gameplay to a “pretty good reaction” from fans.

    But when Guttery shared the video to Reddit, which is presumably where this TikToker found it, he got in a fair bit of trouble.

    “I almost got fired!” he related cheerily. “After our videos air in-game, we usually don’t put them out online until after the season, or unless we get permission from [owner Mark] Cuban to run them. But I was so excited about how this one turned out, I really wanted to see how the Overwatch community would react to it. So I posted it on Reddit and within the day it BLEW UP…It eventually caught the eye of my boss who got, um, pretty upset that it was out there, and he was afraid that if Cuban saw this, we wouldn’t be making videos for them anymore, so I removed it. Luckily Cuban never got wind of it, so it was a non-issue.”

    But Overwatch developer Blizzard did indeed see the video, and sent Guttery a “really nice Widowmaker figure” that the team kept on display at the office. And now, that very same video is making the rounds on social media yet again. Time is a flat circle, but Luka Doncic is no longer a Hanzo main. It’s Zarya now.

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    Alyssa Mercante

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