Tag: Thing

Meet the un-Gavin. Kentucky’s governor sees a different way to the White House

[ad_1]

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gavin Newsom was in his element, moving and shaking amid the rich and powerful in Davos.

He scolded European leaders for supposedly cowering before President Trump.

He drew disparaging notice during a presidential rant and captured headlines after being blocked from delivering a high-profile speech, allegedly at the behest of the White House.

All the while, another governor and Democratic presidential prospect was mixing and mingling in the rarefied Swiss air — though you probably wouldn’t know it.

Flying far below the heat-seeking radar, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear leaned into the role of economic ambassador, focusing on job creation and other nutsy, boltsy stuff that doesn’t grab much notice in today’s performative political environment.

Like Newsom, Beshear is running-but-not-exactly-running for president. He didn’t set out to offer a stark contrast to California’s governor, the putative 2028 Democratic front-runner. But he’s doing so just the same.

Want someone who’ll match Trump insult for insult, over-the-top meme for over-the-top meme and howl whenever the president commits some new outrage? Look to Sacramento, not Frankfort.

“I think by the time we reach 2028, our Democratic voters are gonna be worn out,” Beshear said during a conversation in his state’s snowy capital. “They’re gonna be worn out by Trump, and they’re gonna be worn out by Democrats who respond to Trump like Trump. And they’re gonna want some stability in their lives.”

Every candidate enters a contest with a backstory and a record, which is condensed to a summary that serves as calling card, strategic foundation and a rationale for their run.

Here’s Andy Beshear’s: He’s the popular two-term governor of a red state that three times voted overwhelmingly for Trump.

He is fluent in the language of faith, well-liked by the kind of rural voters who have abandoned Democrats in droves and, at age 48, offers a fresh face and relative youth in a party that many voters have come to see as old and ossified.

The fact he’s from the South, where Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton emerged the last time Democrats experienced this kind of existential freak-out, also doesn’t hurt.

Beshear’s not-yet-candidacy, still in the fledgling phase, offers a mix of aspiration and admonition.

Democrats, he said, need to talk more like regular people. Addiction, not substance use disorder. Hunger, not food assistance.

And, he suggested, they need to focus more on things regular people care about: jobs, healthcare, public safety, public education. Things that aren’t theoretical or abstract but materially affect their daily lives, like the costs of electricity, car insurance and groceries.

“I think the most important thing we should have learned from 2024 is [Democratic voters are] gonna be looking for somebody that can help them pay that next bill,” Beshear said.

He was seated in the Old Governor’s Mansion, now a historic site and Beshear’s temporary office while the nearby Capitol undergoes a years-long renovation.

The red-brick residence, built in the Federal style and completed in 1798, was Beshear’s home from age 6 to 10 when his father, Steve, lived there while serving as lieutenant governor. (Steve Beshear went on to serve two terms as the state’s chief executive, building a brand and a brand name that helped Andy win his first public office, attorney general, in 2015.)

It was 9 degrees outside. Icicles hung from the eaves and snowplows navigated Frankfort’s narrow, winding streets after an unusually cold winter blast.

Inside, Beshear was seated before an unlit fireplace, legs crossed, shirt collar unbuttoned, looking like the pleasantly unassuming Dad in a store-bought picture frame.

He bragged a bit, touting Kentucky’s economic success under his watch. He spoke of his religiosity — his grandfather and great-grandfather were Baptist preachers — and talked at length about the optimism, a political rarity these days, that undergirds his vision for the country.

“I think the American people feel like the pendulum swung too far in the Biden administration. Now they feel it’s swung way too far during the Trump administration,” Beshear said. “What they want is for it to stop swinging.”

He went on. “Most people when they wake up aren’t thinking about politics. They’re thinking about their job, their next doctor’s appointment, the roads and bridges they drive, the school they drop their kids off at, and whether they feel safe in their community.

“And I think they desperately want someone that can move the country, not right or left ideologically, but actually forward in those areas. And that’s how I think we heal.”

Beshear doesn’t shy from his Democratic pedigree, or stray from much of the party’s orthodoxy.

Seeking reelection in 2023, he seized on the abortion issue and the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe vs. Wade to batter and best his Republican opponent.

He’s walked the picket line with striking auto workers, signed an executive order making Juneteenth a state holiday and routinely vetoed anti-gay legislation, becoming the first Kentucky governor to attend an LGBTQ+ celebration in the Capitol Rotunda.

“Discrimination against our LGBTQ+ community is unacceptable,” he told an audience. “It holds us back and, in my Kentucky accent, it ain’t right.”

For all of that, Beshear doesn’t shrink from taking on Trump, which, essentially, has become a job requirement for any Democratic officeholder wishing to remain a Democratic officeholder.

After the president’s rambling Davos address, Beshear called Trump’s remarks “dangerous, disrespectful and unhinged.”

“From insulting our allies to telling struggling Americans that he’s fixed inflation and the economy is amazing, the President is hurting both our families’ financial security and our national security,” Beshear posted on social media. “Oh, and Greenland is so important he’s calling it Iceland.”

But Beshear hasn’t turned Trump-bashing into a 24/7 vocation, or a weight-lifting contest where the winner is the critic wielding the heaviest bludgeon.

“I stand up to him in the way that I think a Democratic governor of Kentucky should. When he’s doing things that hurt my state, I speak out,” Beshear said. “I filed 20 lawsuits, I think, and we’ve won almost all of them, bringing dollars they were trying to stop from flowing into Kentucky.

“But,” he added, “when he does something positive for Kentucky, I also say that too, because that’s what our people expect.”

Asked about the towel-snapping Newsom and his dedicated staff of Trump trollers, Beshear defended California’s governor — or, at least, passed on the chance to get in a dig.

“Gavin’s in a very different situation than I’m in. I mean, he has the president attacking him and his state just about every day,” Beshear said. “So I don’t want to be critical of an approach from somebody that’s in a very different spot.

“But the approach also has to be unique to you. For me, I bring people together. We’ve been able to do that in this state. That’s my approach. And in the end, I’ve gotta stay true to who I am.”

And when — or make that if — both Newsom and Beshear launch a formal bid for president, they’ll present Democratic voters a clear choice.

Not just between two differing personalities. Also two considerably different approaches to politics and winning back the White House.

[ad_2]

Mark Z. Barabak

Source link

February 1, 2026
For these thrifters, their rental is 99% secondhand goods and that’s ‘part of the fun’

[ad_1]

After moving to Los Angeles from Palo Alto in 2023 with only a standing desk and a bed frame, Tess van Hulsen and Andrew Chait learned quickly how to furnish an empty rental without buying anything new.

Because they love thrifting, decorating together was actually fun for them.

In this series, we spotlight L.A. rentals with style. From perfect gallery walls to temporary decor hacks, these renters get creative, even in small spaces. And Angelenos need the inspiration: Most are renters.

Two years later, their love of thrifting, antiquing, bargaining and restoring has turned their Westwood rental into a showcase of “secondhand treasures,” says Van Hulsen, 28, who works as a commercial contract specialist.

“I have always liked things that have history and character and a story behind them,” she says. “Each piece represents a store we love, a lucky find or a successful haggle that ended with us carrying home something with history.”

Andrew Chait and Tess van Hulsen relax on their condo rooftop, sitting on patio furniture they bought in Venice through Facebook Marketplace.

Chait, meanwhile, enjoys the thrill of searching and bargaining. He likes making deals, and even if he walks away, he still feels like he’s won.

“I’m good at finding value, and Tess has the eye for style,” says Chait, 32, who works as a development director. “It’s something we really enjoy doing together.”

At a time when many millennials and Gen Z shoppers enjoy hunting for deals on secondhand items, Van Hulsen and Chait also wanted to avoid “fast furniture, poorly built materials and disposable design,” according to Van Hulsen. For them, gently used pieces make their rental feel special.

“People my age are taking an interest in having heirlooms and traditional items,” Van Hulsen says as she points to a silver-plated trinket tray that holds her jewelry. “I think it’s really fun to entertain and bring stuff out when guests come over. It makes the table look nice, and the platters are great for bringing food upstairs when we entertain on our rooftop patio.”

1

2

1. An assortment of vintage items on display in a hutch the couple purchased at the Santa Monica Flea Market. 2. Brass angel candlesticks scored for $2 apiece at a Palo Alto garage sale flank a silver-plated punch bowl. The couple purchased the lithograph in Beverly Hills through Facebook Marketplace.

Except for a few family heirlooms and some small dressers from IKEA and West Elm, nearly everything in their condo is thrifted.

In the living room, an elegant cream-colored linen sofa from the Home Consignment Center is the main piece. On either side are striped linen armchairs, and a wooden coffee table from Facebook Marketplace completes the look, giving the room a relaxed coastal feel.

A vintage ashtray Van Hulsen found on Etsy rests on top of a Cezanne book scored at a Palm Springs estate sale.

Dutch ceramic figurines and Asian ginger jars from various estate sales and thrift stores.

Next to the 2-year-old sofa is an antique Tiger Oak hutch from the Santa Monica Antique and Vintage Market. It’s filled with their thrifted finds including silver champagne buckets, candlesticks, colorful Mexican ceramics and a tall rotating server from the Council Shop, a thrift store chain that supports low-income women and families in Los Angeles.

“It’s dangerous living so close to the Council Shop,” Chait says of the nonprofit, which is within walking distance of the couple’s rental. “We probably walk down there every two weeks or so.”

As the couple walks through their home, they reminisce about how each item has its own story.

In the bathroom, a mint julep cup that was given as a trophy at the 1964 Peacock Hill National Horse show holds toothpaste and toothbrushes.

“I knew we wanted a neutral couch,” Van Hulsen says of the sofa that was originally on hold when they first saw it. “Luckily, it is modular, so my mother-in-law and I took it home in pieces in two cars.”

The china cabinet was discounted to $60 at the Santa Monica Antique and Vintage Market because it was missing some glass pieces. “We purchased it from a father and son who were so nice,” says Chait. “Tess and I couldn’t fit it in our car, so they delivered it to us for $40.”

Adds Van Hulsen: “It’s narrow and the perfect size.”

In the dining room corner next to a table and eight chairs from the UCLA Thrift Shop that they had to pick up in two trips sits a charming oak dresser with carved floral details. “I found it on the street during bulky item pickup day in Palo Alto and brought it down during a holiday car ride back,” van Hulsen says.

1

2

3

1. A matted frame with illustrations of St. Martin’s Church and St. James’ Palace in London. 2. Chait’s collection of vintage mechanical banks. 3. A bronze duck paperweight.

She also found a vintage print of Windsor Castle, now hanging in the entryway, on the street in Palo Alto. “That was the furthest thing we have thrifted,” she says.

Many of the accessories in their penthouse such as a bright blue Kitchen Aid mixer (which can cost up to $699 new), coffee-table books and a decorative clam shell remind the couple of their favorite place: Palm Springs.

“Palm Springs is our happy place,” Van Hulsen says. “We often go there for a night or a long weekend, and there’s a reliable string of antique stores there that we love: Sunny Dunes Antique Mall and the Antique Galleries. We keep extending our thrifting to Rancho Mirage — we love Victoria’s Attic Antiques and Collectibles — and La Quinta, and we also go to estate sales.”

The couple play Phase 10 on the dining room table they purchased from the UCLA Thrift Shop.

Now that they’re settled, it’s easy to forget how tough it was to find a rental near Chait’s new job in Santa Monica. “It was hard,” Van Hulsen says. “It was around Christmas, and there wasn’t a lot available.”

“People were making deals and offering to pay more than the listed rent,” says Chait.

Eventually, they found a bright two-bedroom, two-bath unit in Westwood with high ceilings, a loft and a rooftop patio. “We applied to two other places before we saw this one. It was worth waiting for,” van Hulsen says.

Chait grew up in L.A. and spent 10 years in the Bay Area. He believes buying secondhand from strangers is a great way to get to know the city. “When I went to buy a wine fridge from someone yesterday, we ended up talking about surfing for half an hour,” Chait says. “It’s fun to meet new people and hear the stories behind what they’re selling. Plus, exploring new parts of L.A. is always interesting.”

A ceramic beagle rests next to two silver toothpick holders.

For them, sticking to a budget is a way to get creative. Whether it’s silver platters or things left out on the street during bulky item pickup day, the couple is always searching for stylish, affordable finds.

The result is a surprisingly cohesive look with jute rugs, light woods and striped linens creating a relaxed California coastal vibe with touches of Palm Springs and France. “My mom has always been a thrifter,” says Van Hulsen. “When we lived in London for four years, we collected all sorts of bits and baubles.”

“From the beginning, Tess and Andrew’s relationship was stitched together through a shared love for the hunt,” her mother Dana McCue said in an email. “Their weekends away were never just about the destination, but about the ‘treasures’ hidden in dusty corners and the thrill of the ‘find.’ Today, their beautiful Westwood Penthouse serves as a living gallery of their love story. Each curated piece is more than just decor; it is a physical milestone that captures their journey from that first shared discovery to the life they have built together.”

The couple’s bed and side tables are among the new items in their condo.

Though some couples who are making a home together for the first time prefer to buy new furniture, Van Hulsen and Chait have stuck with secondhand pieces except for their upholstered panel bed, which they purchased at Living Spaces. “That is our only big furniture purchase,” Chait says. “Things are so expensive, and so many things fall apart. And besides, we like the stories. That’s what we get excited about: the story, talking to people, imagining the life it had before.”

They have a dresser from the Venice Canals that Tess squeezed into her Jeep Cherokee, etchings from an estate sale in Carmel, a lamp from the Guy on Motor at Venice in Palms and a vintage mirror from San Diego. “We have thrifted all over California,” says Van Hulsen.

Silver platters are everywhere: on side tables, under cabinets and also under the bed. “Stubbing my toe on silver is not that bad of a life,” she adds, laughing.

1

2

3

4

5

1. A vintage soldier decanter. 2. A vintage case of Navy Cut cigarettes from Palm Springs. 3. Legos, a Nintendo Game Boy and figurine sit on top of a Sony Playstation 4 console. 4. A bronze woman purchased in Laurel Canyon rests to other thrifted items in the dining room. 5. Leather-bound books are sandwiched in between brass duck bookends the couple found at an estate sale in Northern California.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned. For example, Chait recently bought a Frigidaire wine refrigerator for $100 on Facebook Marketplace, but when he got it home, he saw it was too big for their space. (They’re still trying to make it work.) Van Hulsen adds: “I’ve gotten some coffee tables that I ended up flipping because they didn’t work in our space.”

Making a cheap mistake isn’t a big deal when you can just resell the item online.

Now that their condo is furnished, do they have a rule about not bringing in too much stuff?

A photograph of the couple rests next to a painting of Manhattan Beach the couple found on Facebook Marketplace.

“You’re looking at him,” Van Hulsen says, grinning at her fiancé.

“You’re making me sound like the bad guy!” Chait says, laughing.

“That’s part of the fun,” Van Hulsen says as she brings over a sterling silver ice cream scoop engraved with “There’s nothing wrong with me that ice cream can’t fix” in barely perceptible cursive.

“We’re never really done,” Van Hulsen says. “It’s exciting to find new things and imagine how they’ll fit in our home.”

[ad_2]

Lisa Boone

Source link

January 28, 2026
Commentary: They said Katie Porter was dead politically. I checked her pulse

[ad_1]

SAN FRANCISCO — Katie Porter’s still standing, which is saying something.

The last time a significant number of people tuned into California‘s low-frequency race for governor was in October, when Porter’s political obituary was being written in bold type.

Immediately after a snappish and off-putting TV interview, Porter showed up in a years-old video profanely reaming a staff member for — the humanity! — straying into the video frame during her meeting with a Biden Cabinet member.

Not a good look for a candidate already facing questions about her temperament and emotional regulation. (Hang on, gentle reader, we’ll get to that whole gendered double-standard thing in a moment.)

The former Orange County congresswoman had played to the worst stereotypes and that was that. Her campaign was supposedly kaput.

But, lo, these several months later, Porter remains positioned exactly where she’d been before, as one of the handful of top contenders in a race that remains stubbornly formless and utterly wide open.

Did she ever think of exiting the contest, as some urged, and others plainly hoped to see? (The surfacing of that surly 2021 video, with the timing and intentionality of a one-two punch, was clearly not a coincidence.)

No, she said, not for a moment.

“Anyone who thinks that you can just push over Katie Porter has never tried to do it,” she said.

Porter apologized and expressed remorse for her tetchy behavior. She promised to do better.

“You definitely learn from your mistakes,” the Democrat said this week over a cup of chai in San Francisco’s Financial District. “I really have and I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how do I show Californians who I am and that I really care about people who work for me. I need to earn back their trust and that’s what campaigns are literally about.”

She makes no excuse for acting churlish and wouldn’t bite when asked about that double standard — though she did allow as how Democratic leader John Burton, who died not long before people got busy digging Porter’s grave, was celebrated for his gruff manner and lavish detonation of f-bombs.

“It was a reminder,” she said, pivoting to the governor’s race, “that there have been other politicians who come on hot, come on strong and fight for what’s right and righteous and California has embraced them.”

Voters, she said, “want someone who will not back down.”

Porter warmed to the subject.

“If you are never gonna hurt anyone’s feelings, you are never gonna take [JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive] Jamie Dimon to task for not thinking about how his workers can’t afford to make ends meet. If you want everyone to love you, you are never gonna say to a big pharma CEO, ‘You didn’t make this cancer drug anymore. You just got richer, right?’ That is a feistiness that I’m proud of.”

At the same, Porter suggested, she wants to show there’s more to her persona than the whiteboard-wielding avenger that turned her into a viral sensation. The inquisitorial stance was, she said, her role as a congressional overseer charged with holding people accountable. Being governor is different. More collaborative. Less confrontational.

Her campaign approach has been to “call everyone, go everywhere” — even places Porter may not be welcomed — to listen and learn, build relationships and show “my ability to craft a compromise, my ability to learn and to change my mind.”

“All of that is really hard to convey,” she said, “in those whiteboard moments.”

The rap on this year’s pack of gubernatorial hopefuls is they’re a collective bore, as though the lack of A-list sizzle and failure to throw off sparks is some kind of mortal sin.

Porter doesn’t buy that.

“When we say boring, I think what we’re really saying is ‘I’m not 100% sure how all this is going to work out.’ People are waiting for some thing to happen, some coronation of our next governor. We’re not gonna have that.”

Gavin Newsom, she noted, was a high-profile former San Francisco mayor who spent eight years as lieutenant governor before winning the state’s top job. His predecessor was the dynastic Jerry Brown.

None of those running this time have that political pedigree, or the Sacramento backgrounds of Newsom or Brown, which, Porter suggested, is not a bad thing.

“I actually think this race has the potential to be really, really exciting for California,” she said. “… I think everyone in this race comes in with a little bit of a fresh energy, and I think that’s really good and healthy.”

Crowding into the conversation was, inevitably, Donald Trump, the sun around which today’s entire political universe turns.

Of course, Porter said, as governor she would stand up to the president. His administration’s actions in Minneapolis have been awful. His stalling on disaster relief for California is grotesque.

But, she said, Trump didn’t cause last year’s firestorm. He didn’t make housing in California obscenely expensive for the last many decades.

“When my children say ‘I don’t know if I want to go to college in California because we don’t have enough dorm housing,’ Trump has done plenty of horrible attacks on higher ed,” Porter said. “But that’s a homegrown problem that we need to tackle.”

Indeed, she’s “very leery of anyone who does not acknowledge that we had problems and policy challenges long before Donald Trump ever raised his orange head on the political horizon.”

Although California needs “someone who’s going to [buffer] us against Trump,” Porter said, “you can’t make that an excuse for why you are not tackling these policy changes that need to be.”

She hadn’t finished her tea, but it was time to go. Porter gathered her things.

She’d just spoken at an Urban League forum in San Francisco and was heading across the Bay Bridge to address union workers in Oakland.

The June 2 primary is some ways off. But Porter remains in the fight.

[ad_2]

Mark Z. Barabak

Source link

January 28, 2026
Orange County Democrats claim ICE is taking things too far in Central Florida

[ad_1]

ACCURATE SEVEN DAY FORECAST. NEW AT NOON DEMOCRATS IN ORANGE COUNTY ARE NOW CALLING ON PEOPLE HERE TO STAND UP TO ICE. IT ALL COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IS REPORTEDLY INCREASING ITS PRESENCE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. WESH TWO BOB HAZEN TELLS US LOCAL DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING MORE PEOPLE WILL ORGANIZE AND GET INVOLVED. THE ORANGE COUNTY JAIL SAYS THERE ARE MORE THAN 130 PEOPLE BEHIND BARS HERE RIGHT NOW WITH IMMIGRATION HOLDS, BUT NO LOCAL CHARGES AND DEMOCRATS HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY SAY ICE HAS GONE TOO FAR. I ASKED A UNITED STATES CITIZEN EVERY TIME I GO OUT, I’M LIKE, DO I HAVE MY PASSPORT CARD? SAMUEL VILCHEZ SANTIAGO CAME HERE FROM VENEZUELA. HE’S NOW A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR STATE HOUSE IN ORANGE COUNTY. HE AND A GROUP OF OTHER CANDIDATES AND COUNTY PARTY LEADERS CAME TOGETHER TODAY TO CALL ON PEOPLE TO JOIN THEM AND TRY TO PUSH BACK ON ICE. MY CALL TO ACTION TO YOU IS SIMPLE JOIN THE MOVEMENT. WESH TWO REPORTED LAST WEEK THAT ICE IS NOW LOOKING AT OPENING A FACILITY NEAR THE BEACH LINE IN ORANGE COUNTY, AND THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF LARGE NUMBERS OF IMMIGRATION AGENTS RENTING HOTEL ROOMS. I GOT NUMBERS FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY JAIL SHOWING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING HELD ON ICE DETAINERS AS OF 5:00 THIS MORNING, THERE WERE 201 PEOPLE HERE WITH AN IMMIGRATION HOLD AND LOCAL CHARGES AND 138 PEOPLE WITH AN ICE HOLD AND NO LOCAL CHARGES. ACTIVISTS HERE SAY FAMILIES WHO HAD BEEN TRYING TO FOLLOW THE RULES NOW LIVE IN FEAR. THEY DIDN’T CALL ON PEOPLE TO CONFRONT ICE DIRECTLY, BUT THEY DO WANT PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED. THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING ACROSS THE COMMUNITY TO GET ACTIVE WITH, WHETHER THAT BE PROTESTS OR KNOWING YOUR RIGHTS OR BEING ABLE TO TRACK THE SITUATION AT HAND. EVERYBODY HAS A VOICE AND I ENCOURAGE THOSE WITH THE PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP IN THIS MOMENT, TO COME TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE FIGHT. COVERING ORANGE COUNTY IN ORLANDO, BOB HAZEN WESH T

Orange County Democrats claim ICE is taking things too far in Central Florida

Updated: 1:49 PM EST Jan 21, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Democrats in Orange County are urging residents to organize and oppose the increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Central Florida, as the agency reportedly plans to expand its operations in the area.Samuel Vilchez Santiago, a Democratic candidate for the state House in Orange County who immigrated from Venezuela, joined other candidates and county party leaders to encourage community involvement. Reports indicate that ICE is considering opening a facility near the Beachline in Orange County, and there have been accounts of large numbers of ICE agents renting hotel rooms.According to the Orange County Jail, as of 5 a.m. on Wednesday, there were 201 individuals held with immigration holds and local charges, and 138 people with ICE holds and no local charges. Activists express concern that families trying to comply with the law now live in fear. While the activists did not call for direct confrontation with ICE, they emphasized the importance of community involvement. “There are organizations that are working across the community to get active, whether that is protests, or knowing your rights or being able to track the situation in hand. Everyone has a voice and I encourage everyone with the privilege to come to the forefront of the fight,” Jarred Cornell said.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —

Democrats in Orange County are urging residents to organize and oppose the increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Central Florida, as the agency reportedly plans to expand its operations in the area.

Samuel Vilchez Santiago, a Democratic candidate for the state House in Orange County who immigrated from Venezuela, joined other candidates and county party leaders to encourage community involvement.

Reports indicate that ICE is considering opening a facility near the Beachline in Orange County, and there have been accounts of large numbers of ICE agents renting hotel rooms.

According to the Orange County Jail, as of 5 a.m. on Wednesday, there were 201 individuals held with immigration holds and local charges, and 138 people with ICE holds and no local charges.

Activists express concern that families trying to comply with the law now live in fear.

While the activists did not call for direct confrontation with ICE, they emphasized the importance of community involvement.

“There are organizations that are working across the community to get active, whether that is protests, or knowing your rights or being able to track the situation in hand. Everyone has a voice and I encourage everyone with the privilege to come to the forefront of the fight,” Jarred Cornell said.

[ad_2]

Source link

January 21, 2026
Why bald eagles may hold clues in bird flu fight

[ad_1]

A spike in wild bird flu cases across Iowa has researchers watching migration patterns, testing carcasses, and swabbing beaks daily at the State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Ames. Since 2022, more than 30 million poultry and wild birds have died from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Iowa.As the virus settles into a fall-and-winter cycle, one species is drawing particular interest from scientists: the bald eagle. Despite frequently scavenging infected carcasses, adult bald eagles appear to be surviving at higher rates than many other birds. Researchers believe understanding why could help unlock new insights into the disease.Hearst sister station KCCI spoke with Rachel Ruden, the state wildlife veterinarian for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, about what’s driving the latest outbreak — and why the nation’s symbol may be key to understanding it.Q: What are researchers seeing with bird flu in Iowa right now?Ruden: We had a spike back in September. We saw Dubuque impacted heavily and parts of central and north central Iowa, then things went quiet through October and November. After the first week of December, we started getting reports of sick and dead geese again. What’s interesting is southern Iowa has been impacted pretty heavily. In the past, south of I-80, we really didn’t see mass mortality events related to HPAI.Q: How has bird flu changed since it first appeared in Iowa?Ruden: We were first impacted with highly pathogenic avian influenza in March of 2022. Prior to that, it was not a virus that circulated in our wild bird population in North America or South America. It was in other parts of the world.In March of 2022, it arrived during spring migration — a vulnerable time in terms of birds nesting and producing young. Now we’ve really seen it transition into this fall and winter pattern, oftentimes late fall into winter. Q: Which species are being hit the hardest?Ruden: The animals that have been impacted have primarily been Canada geese. They’re a numerous winter resident. They also do their fall migration in mid-December. So those birds bring virus from other parts and they flyway.Other things that we see very commonly are red tail hawks because these are raptors, a bird that is likely scavenging on carcasses of dead geese. That is also why there is public concern about bald eagles. Q: Many people worry about bald eagles scavenging dead geese. What are you finding?Ruden: I have been testing bald eagles since late 2024. Evidence shows that they’ve been exposed and actually survived that exposure. In adult bald eagles, 70% have had antibodies. That’s a good indicator of resilience in that population. Q: Why are bald eagles so important to this research?Ruden: We can learn a lot and maybe leverage that for therapeutics. That disparity in deaths amongst raptor species that might be scavenging on the same sick birds … if one tends to die and one tends to live, that’s interesting, so I would love to push that further.Q: Does that mean bald eagles are immune to bird flu?Ruden: We’ve seen hatch-year eagles — younger birds — that are more vulnerable, similar to what we see in young swans or other juvenile birds. But adult eagles appear to have a much higher survival rate.Q: How does this affect Iowa’s poultry industry?Ruden: Iowa leads the country in egg and poultry production, so there’s always concern. Early in the outbreak, the impact was significant. But improved biosecurity and better surveillance have made a big difference. This season, only two poultry sites have been affected so far, even with widespread bird flu activity in wild birds.Q: What should people do if they find a sick or dead bird?Ruden: The best step is to contact your county conservation department or a local wildlife professional. They’ll decide whether testing is needed and notify our lab if it could help research. If a dead bird is on private property, people can safely remove it using disposable gloves and double-bagging it before placing it in the trash.Q: Is bird flu a concern for human health?Ruden: Human cases in the U.S. have primarily been linked to poultry or dairy workers with close, prolonged exposure. There’s no known transmission from wild birds to humans in casual encounters. Still, people should avoid handling sick birds and use basic precautions if removing a dead one.Q: What’s next for bird flu research in Iowa?Ruden: We’re still learning. Bird flu is now a global phenomenon, and there’s always a risk of reintroduction. The goal moving forward is to use what we’re observing — especially species that survive exposure, like bald eagles — to guide future research. That takes time and funding, but every test helps us better understand what we’re dealing with.As outbreaks continue to shape Iowa’s wildlife landscape, researchers say one thing is clear: bird flu is no longer a one-time event, but a recurring reality — and the answers may be soaring overhead.

A spike in wild bird flu cases across Iowa has researchers watching migration patterns, testing carcasses, and swabbing beaks daily at the State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Ames. Since 2022, more than 30 million poultry and wild birds have died from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Iowa.

As the virus settles into a fall-and-winter cycle, one species is drawing particular interest from scientists: the bald eagle. Despite frequently scavenging infected carcasses, adult bald eagles appear to be surviving at higher rates than many other birds. Researchers believe understanding why could help unlock new insights into the disease.

Hearst sister station KCCI spoke with Rachel Ruden, the state wildlife veterinarian for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, about what’s driving the latest outbreak — and why the nation’s symbol may be key to understanding it.

Q: What are researchers seeing with bird flu in Iowa right now?

Ruden: We had a spike back in September. We saw Dubuque impacted heavily and parts of central and north central Iowa, then things went quiet through October and November. After the first week of December, we started getting reports of sick and dead geese again. What’s interesting is southern Iowa has been impacted pretty heavily. In the past, south of I-80, we really didn’t see mass mortality events related to HPAI.

Q: How has bird flu changed since it first appeared in Iowa?

Ruden: We were first impacted with highly pathogenic avian influenza in March of 2022. Prior to that, it was not a virus that circulated in our wild bird population in North America or South America. It was in other parts of the world.

Mark Vancleave
Angel, a 26-year-old bald eagle from Wisconsin that was too gravely injured to be returned to the wild, serves as “ambassador” to visitors at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minn., on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

In March of 2022, it arrived during spring migration — a vulnerable time in terms of birds nesting and producing young. Now we’ve really seen it transition into this fall and winter pattern, oftentimes late fall into winter.

Q: Which species are being hit the hardest?

Ruden: The animals that have been impacted have primarily been Canada geese. They’re a numerous winter resident. They also do their fall migration in mid-December. So those birds bring virus from other parts and they flyway.

Other things that we see very commonly are red tail hawks because these are raptors, a bird that is likely scavenging on carcasses of dead geese. That is also why there is public concern about bald eagles.

Q: Many people worry about bald eagles scavenging dead geese. What are you finding?

Ruden: I have been testing bald eagles since late 2024. Evidence shows that they’ve been exposed and actually survived that exposure. In adult bald eagles, 70% have had antibodies. That’s a good indicator of resilience in that population.

Q: Why are bald eagles so important to this research?

Ruden: We can learn a lot and maybe leverage that for therapeutics. That disparity in deaths amongst raptor species that might be scavenging on the same sick birds … if one tends to die and one tends to live, that’s interesting, so I would love to push that further.

Q: Does that mean bald eagles are immune to bird flu?

Ruden: We’ve seen hatch-year eagles — younger birds — that are more vulnerable, similar to what we see in young swans or other juvenile birds. But adult eagles appear to have a much higher survival rate.

Q: How does this affect Iowa’s poultry industry?

Ruden: Iowa leads the country in egg and poultry production, so there’s always concern. Early in the outbreak, the impact was significant. But improved biosecurity and better surveillance have made a big difference. This season, only two poultry sites have been affected so far, even with widespread bird flu activity in wild birds.

Q: What should people do if they find a sick or dead bird?

Ruden: The best step is to contact your county conservation department or a local wildlife professional. They’ll decide whether testing is needed and notify our lab if it could help research. If a dead bird is on private property, people can safely remove it using disposable gloves and double-bagging it before placing it in the trash.

Q: Is bird flu a concern for human health?

Ruden: Human cases in the U.S. have primarily been linked to poultry or dairy workers with close, prolonged exposure. There’s no known transmission from wild birds to humans in casual encounters. Still, people should avoid handling sick birds and use basic precautions if removing a dead one.

Q: What’s next for bird flu research in Iowa?

Ruden: We’re still learning. Bird flu is now a global phenomenon, and there’s always a risk of reintroduction. The goal moving forward is to use what we’re observing — especially species that survive exposure, like bald eagles — to guide future research. That takes time and funding, but every test helps us better understand what we’re dealing with.

As outbreaks continue to shape Iowa’s wildlife landscape, researchers say one thing is clear: bird flu is no longer a one-time event, but a recurring reality — and the answers may be soaring overhead.

[ad_2]

Source link

January 9, 2026
El Dorado Hills residents prepare for strong winds and possible power outages

[ad_1]

Residents of El Dorado Hills are preparing for strong winds expected to last through Christmas Day, with concerns about potential power outages in the area. Josh McGee expressed confidence in his Christmas-themed skeleton decoration, saying, “I got faith in Skully. He’s made it through a couple of winters with us already, so I have faith in him. The hat might be gone, but we’ll get it back.”McGee’s giant skeleton sits in the front yard of his El Dorado Hills home wearing a Santa hat and scarf.His neighbor Tom Molyneux-Elliot said that he is reconsidering his decision to put out the trash early, saying, “I might be picking up garbage in the morning.”Despite the subtle jokes from these two, the anticipated strong gusts have put residents on high alert for possible power outages. “I have generators and everything, but, you know, PG&E is notoriously unreliable during this kind of situation,” McGee said. “They don’t have the best track record of keeping power on.”Molyneux-Elliot added, “We used to lose power a lot, but the last couple of years, it’s been better. Hopefully, that won’t happen again this year. But I know up the hill it definitely gets a little worse.”PG&E has assured residents that they are fully staffed and have crews ready to respond to any outages caused by the high winds. Jeff Weeks from Ace Hardware at Town Center reported a steady flow of customers preparing for the storm. “We didn’t anticipate quite the run on things we have here,” he said. The lighting section shelves were bare on Tuesday night, and Weeks mentioned that the store plans to stay open on Christmas Eve for those who might need supplies during the storm.”Come in early, get the things that you think you’re going to need,” he advised. He emphasized the importance of being prepared with “generators, candles, lights, flashlights, huge things, batteries, we have all those kinds of things.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. —

Residents of El Dorado Hills are preparing for strong winds expected to last through Christmas Day, with concerns about potential power outages in the area.

Josh McGee expressed confidence in his Christmas-themed skeleton decoration, saying, “I got faith in Skully. He’s made it through a couple of winters with us already, so I have faith in him. The hat might be gone, but we’ll get it back.”

McGee’s giant skeleton sits in the front yard of his El Dorado Hills home wearing a Santa hat and scarf.

His neighbor Tom Molyneux-Elliot said that he is reconsidering his decision to put out the trash early, saying, “I might be picking up garbage in the morning.”

Despite the subtle jokes from these two, the anticipated strong gusts have put residents on high alert for possible power outages.

“I have generators and everything, but, you know, PG&E is notoriously unreliable during this kind of situation,” McGee said. “They don’t have the best track record of keeping power on.”

Molyneux-Elliot added, “We used to lose power a lot, but the last couple of years, it’s been better. Hopefully, that won’t happen again this year. But I know up the hill it definitely gets a little worse.”

PG&E has assured residents that they are fully staffed and have crews ready to respond to any outages caused by the high winds.

Jeff Weeks from Ace Hardware at Town Center reported a steady flow of customers preparing for the storm.

“We didn’t anticipate quite the run on things we have here,” he said.

The lighting section shelves were bare on Tuesday night, and Weeks mentioned that the store plans to stay open on Christmas Eve for those who might need supplies during the storm.

“Come in early, get the things that you think you’re going to need,” he advised.

He emphasized the importance of being prepared with “generators, candles, lights, flashlights, huge things, batteries, we have all those kinds of things.”

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

[ad_2]

Source link

December 23, 2025
Christmas cheer with bone-chilling twist in Florida

[ad_1]

Most homes decorate for Christmas with lights, wreaths, maybe a few reindeer.But Ron Levine’s house in Cape Coral, Florida? It’s rocking nearly 50 skeletons, some towering up to 12 feet tall. Some say the house looks straight out of a “Nightmare Before Christmas”: Cape Coral edition.There’s a skeleton hot cocoa bar, a “dead gift exchange,” a crew of skeletal construction workers, and some lawn ornaments that even move.”It’s called Cape Skeleton,” said Levine. “It’s a resort for snowbird skeletons, basically. They start showing up in September…There’s a few of them that are here year-round.” Levine used to work with a haunted house in New York, and when he retired to Cape Coral, he brought his spooky talent with him. Levine said it started small, with two skeletons and a dog. But small didn’t last long.“First thing I saw was this lawn,” he said. “And my brain went into overdrive.”Now, the display has become something of a local landmark. Cars honk. Families stop to take pictures. Levine says even police officers slow down to get a look.“We have to take a breath,” Levine jokes. “And if we’re not breathing… we might end up here.”A Christmas hit or a Halloween that won’t die? Some neighbors absolutely adore it.“The elaborate displays, the way he changes it from Halloween to Christmas — I think it’s outstanding,” said neighbor Marcia Dunn. “So many kids stop by and see it. So many people love that he does it.”But others would rather save skeletons for October.“I don’t like it,” said neighbor Joey Guidice. “Right now it’s Christmas. I’d rather see Santa Claus, his elves, not skeletons.”The reason for the holly-jolly boneyard? Levine says, it’s simple.“You’ve got to find that spark of joy sometime in the day,” he said. “That’s what I hope to do. Whether someone’s heading to work or coming home from a bad day.”Whether you think it’s festive, freaky, or fantastically Florida, one thing is certain… You’ll never drive past this house without slowing down.Levine doesn’t have any code violations on record related to his lawn decor. In fact, the city says there’s nothing in its code of ordinances that regulates holiday decorations.”Cape Skeleton” might not be the Christmas tradition you expected, but it’s definitely the one you’ll remember.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Most homes decorate for Christmas with lights, wreaths, maybe a few reindeer.

But Ron Levine’s house in Cape Coral, Florida? It’s rocking nearly 50 skeletons, some towering up to 12 feet tall. Some say the house looks straight out of a “Nightmare Before Christmas”: Cape Coral edition.

There’s a skeleton hot cocoa bar, a “dead gift exchange,” a crew of skeletal construction workers, and some lawn ornaments that even move.

“It’s called Cape Skeleton,” said Levine. “It’s a resort for snowbird skeletons, basically. They start showing up in September…There’s a few of them that are here year-round.”

Levine used to work with a haunted house in New York, and when he retired to Cape Coral, he brought his spooky talent with him.

Levine said it started small, with two skeletons and a dog. But small didn’t last long.

“First thing I saw was this lawn,” he said. “And my brain went into overdrive.”

Now, the display has become something of a local landmark. Cars honk. Families stop to take pictures. Levine says even police officers slow down to get a look.

“We have to take a breath,” Levine jokes. “And if we’re not breathing… we might end up here.”

A Christmas hit or a Halloween that won’t die?

Some neighbors absolutely adore it.

“The elaborate displays, the way he changes it from Halloween to Christmas — I think it’s outstanding,” said neighbor Marcia Dunn. “So many kids stop by and see it. So many people love that he does it.”

But others would rather save skeletons for October.

“I don’t like it,” said neighbor Joey Guidice. “Right now it’s Christmas. I’d rather see Santa Claus, his elves, not skeletons.”

The reason for the holly-jolly boneyard? Levine says, it’s simple.

“You’ve got to find that spark of joy sometime in the day,” he said. “That’s what I hope to do. Whether someone’s heading to work or coming home from a bad day.”

Whether you think it’s festive, freaky, or fantastically Florida, one thing is certain… You’ll never drive past this house without slowing down.

Levine doesn’t have any code violations on record related to his lawn decor. In fact, the city says there’s nothing in its code of ordinances that regulates holiday decorations.

“Cape Skeleton” might not be the Christmas tradition you expected, but it’s definitely the one you’ll remember.

[ad_2]

Source link

December 11, 2025
QR code scams: How to avoid falling victim to ‘Quishing’

[ad_1]

Cybersecurity experts are warning about scammers using QR codes to take advantage of unsuspecting victims.What is a QR code?Short for “quick response” code, the small barcodes are ubiquitous, getting scanned using a phone’s camera to link to restaurant menus, online payment systems or any other digital task.”We’re all familiar with these things,” said Jean-Paul Bergeaux, the federal chief technology officer for GuidePoint Security. “The concept is, ‘How do we give people a way to get to a link, where they don’t have to enter it, to simplify our life,’ which it does very well.”How does ‘Quishing’ work?Unfortunately, like most things, scammers are finding ways to use QR codes as part of a scam that’s known as “Quishing.””You’re just scanning it and hitting it and saying go, and so you can go anywhere, and the bad guys can send you anywhere,” Bergeaux said. “That’s the hook for them, right? It’s not only just ubiquitous and everywhere, but there’s a bit of (anonymity) to it.” Bergeaux said scammers most commonly use QR codes to send you to a dummy website to get your information — and money.”They’re going to steal things from your phone. They’re going to steal your information. They’re going to steal your accounts just by scanning it,” Bergeaux said.It happened in BaltimoreSo, say you’re trying to park your car. A fake QR code posted on a parking meter could take you to a website that looks like you’re paying for parking, when in reality, a scammer just stole your credit card information.It’s a problem that was reported in Baltimore earlier this year, when the Parking Authority of Baltimore City warned drivers not to scan QR codes on its meters.How do I avoid QR code scams?There are ways to protect yourself. For one, check whether the QR code has been tampered with, or whether it’s just covered up by a sticker or piece of paper. You could also avoid using them altogether.”You can simply just go to the app store, download the ParkMobile app — or whatever the app is —yourself, and don’t take the risk of being sent somewhere you potentially don’t want to go,” Bergeaux said.It’s also good practice to not reuse passwords and to turn on multi-factor authentication to keep information safe in your most important accounts.What do I do if I fell victim to a QR code scam?If hackers do access your phone, don’t wait to act.”The first thing is, what did they get? If they got an account, reset the account, retake control over that account, whatever that account is,” Bergeaux said.Bergeaux warned that even if a QR code is made with good intentions, the websites used to create the QR codes can sometimes do so maliciously. So, if something seems off or doesn’t seem right, check with the company or organization before scanning a QR code or clicking any links.

Cybersecurity experts are warning about scammers using QR codes to take advantage of unsuspecting victims.

What is a QR code?

Short for “quick response” code, the small barcodes are ubiquitous, getting scanned using a phone’s camera to link to restaurant menus, online payment systems or any other digital task.

“We’re all familiar with these things,” said Jean-Paul Bergeaux, the federal chief technology officer for GuidePoint Security. “The concept is, ‘How do we give people a way to get to a link, where they don’t have to enter it, to simplify our life,’ which it does very well.”

How does ‘Quishing’ work?

Unfortunately, like most things, scammers are finding ways to use QR codes as part of a scam that’s known as “Quishing.”

“You’re just scanning it and hitting it and saying go, and so you can go anywhere, and the bad guys can send you anywhere,” Bergeaux said. “That’s the hook for them, right? It’s not only just ubiquitous and everywhere, but there’s a bit of (anonymity) to it.”

Bergeaux said scammers most commonly use QR codes to send you to a dummy website to get your information — and money.

“They’re going to steal things from your phone. They’re going to steal your information. They’re going to steal your accounts just by scanning it,” Bergeaux said.

It happened in Baltimore

So, say you’re trying to park your car. A fake QR code posted on a parking meter could take you to a website that looks like you’re paying for parking, when in reality, a scammer just stole your credit card information.

It’s a problem that was reported in Baltimore earlier this year, when the Parking Authority of Baltimore City warned drivers not to scan QR codes on its meters.

How do I avoid QR code scams?

There are ways to protect yourself. For one, check whether the QR code has been tampered with, or whether it’s just covered up by a sticker or piece of paper. You could also avoid using them altogether.

“You can simply just go to the app store, download the ParkMobile app — or whatever the app is —yourself, and don’t take the risk of being sent somewhere you potentially don’t want to go,” Bergeaux said.

It’s also good practice to not reuse passwords and to turn on multi-factor authentication to keep information safe in your most important accounts.

What do I do if I fell victim to a QR code scam?

If hackers do access your phone, don’t wait to act.

“The first thing is, what did they get? If they got an account, reset the account, retake control over that account, whatever that account is,” Bergeaux said.

Bergeaux warned that even if a QR code is made with good intentions, the websites used to create the QR codes can sometimes do so maliciously. So, if something seems off or doesn’t seem right, check with the company or organization before scanning a QR code or clicking any links.

[ad_2]

Source link

November 27, 2025
Commentary: Up from the ashes: How fire survivors rebuilt in time to get home for Thanksgiving

[ad_1]

A month or so ago, with construction crews still plugging along, Ted Koerner lost sight of the finish line. He wasn’t sure when he’d be able to move back home to Altadena with Daisy May, his 13½-year-old golden retriever.

Koerner’s home was destroyed in the Eaton fire in January, but he has pushed and persisted, trying to speed the rebuilding for Daisy’s sake as much as his own. Whatever time she had left, Koerner told me back in October, he wanted her to spend it where she’s comfortable and happy.

“She’s almost 14,” he said, and that’s well beyond the average lifespan for her breed.

On Tuesday, they made it back home, and it was hard to tell who was happier.

“She’s been out here doing zoomies,” Koerner said on the front lawn, his favorite place to spend time with Daisy at their hilltop home. He has his morning cup of coffee out there while Daisy sniffs around, works her guard duty shifts, and takes in the million-dollar view, which stretches all the way to Santa Catalina Island.

Koerner said friends and neighbors would be coming by over the holiday weekend to help celebrate the homecoming.

“A neighbor down the street, who didn’t burn, is cooking three turkeys,” Koerner said.

When the county inspector showed up Tuesday afternoon and told Koerner he was clear to move in, Koerner activated the video tab on his phone and asked the inspector to repeat what he’d just said.

“You have permission to move in tonight,” the inspector said.

Ted Koerner, 67, drinks a cup of coffee with a mug that makes an appropriate statement after moving back into his newly rebuilt home in Altadena.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Koerner is believed to be the first person to move into a rebuilt house in Altadena, where 19 people were killed and nearly 9,400 structures were destroyed. Another Altadena project, an accessory dwelling unit, was also completed this month. And on Friday, I visited the nearly completed Pasadena home of Jun Li and Bobby Lujan, who were about to move in.

“We already made final inspection,” Jun Li Lujan told me. “I don’t want to miss any holidays.”

She said her new stove was on the way, and she planned to go with a classic Thanksgiving meal of turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing.

“And pumpkin pie,” she said.

Speedy returns are not the norm for victims of the Eaton and Palisades fires. The vast majority have either not yet begun the permitting process or are still in the early stages, and many are still undecided about rebuilding, due in part to financial considerations.

In the Palisades, the first certificate of occupancy was issued recently for a “showcase” home that was built to market the work of the development company. Meanwhile, Palisades resident Craig Forrest, who lost everything in January, thinks his new house could be finished within a week or so, although he might not move in until the new year because the contract on his Santa Monica rental runs through December.

So what’s the secret for him and others who have managed to rebuild in the same calendar year as the fires? In Forrest’s case, he said, the recipe included “fortitude, guts, will, strength, pushing through, making fast decisions, and having the financial wherewithal.”

Having three teenagers was also a factor, Forrest told me. He said that rather than sink in despair, he chose to remain optimistic and keep moving to “show them what you do when something this traumatic and dramatic happens to you.”

In the case of Jun Li Lujan, she had an insider’s edge. She builds houses for a living.

Ted Koerner, 67, prepares to feed his dog Daisy May. Koerner plans on having friends over for Thanksgiving. “The accomplishment alone is just getting home,” Koerner said.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

“Being a contractor, a designer and a project manager for many years, she knew what to do and how to do it quickly. … She’s a force of nature,” said her husband, Bobby Lujan, a musician and brother of the late Chicano artist Gilbert “Magu” Lujan.

L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who attended an open house at the Lujan residence on Tuesday, told me that bureaucratic hurdles and other challenges have hampered rebuilding efforts. But she met neighbors of the Lujans who were encouraged by their rapid return.

“It gives people hope,” Barger said. “Next week, two homes are going to get certificates of occupancy. One leads to two, leads to five, leads to 10. I feel like we’re on that road.”

Koerner had Daisy as a motivator, along with a figure-things-out mentality from running an investigations and fraud-prevention company that deals with government agencies and multiple businesses. And he knew he didn’t want to live in limbo any longer than he had to, especially after staying in an Old Pasadena hotel for several weeks with other evacuees.

“Every single person in the building was a victim,” Koerner said. “Every time the elevator opened … there were people standing there, leaning against the wall, sobbing. And I mean openly sobbing.”

Landlords in the area were gouging renters, Koerner said, and he briefly considered living in his car before one of his employees offered a La Crescenta space that had just become available.

Koerner was told by an Army Corps of Engineers official to pour his new foundation as soon as the contamination was cleared, even if he hadn’t gotten an insurance check yet. You don’t want to be “number 2,200 in line,” Koerner was told.

Ted Koerner, 67, sits in the front yard of his newly built home with his dog Daisy May in Altadena.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

That was good advice, and it fit Koerner’s personality. He’s not one to waste time overthinking things, which is best illustrated by his philosophy that a house is a house, not a museum to one’s creativity.

“OK, are you going to spend nine days deciding what color toilet?” Koerner said. “Or are you just going to pick one and live with it. It’s a toilet. It’s not a trophy.”

Koerner robbed his retirement fund to front the start of construction and said that once insurance payments are added up, he’ll be a few hundred thousand dollars in the hole. But he’ll be home.

Whenever there was a pause in the county’s permit machinery, Koerner said he let everyone up to and including the governor’s office know about it. He said U.S. Rep. Judy Chu and Barger — one of whose staffers called Koerner “tenacious” — helped keep things moving.

Koerner also credits building manager Jossef Abraham of Innova Creative Solution for understanding that this was not simply about building a house. It was about getting a 67-year-old man struggling mightily with displacement, and a dog on her home stretch, back where they needed to be.

“We were here on Sunday for six hours, just us, and I brought a bed for her and I fed her here,” Koerner said. “And when I laid down on the floor next to her … she leaned over and started catching the tears, one at a time, as they were rolling down my cheek.”

Koerner stood in his new kitchen, going through everything and everyone he’s grateful for this holiday season. The longtime friends who offered support, the new friends he made in La Crescenta near his temporary home, his builder and his therapist, who taught him “how to let things flow through and get behind you.”

“I’m first and foremost grateful that Daisy has been strong enough to hang in there,” Koerner said. “She has just stayed with me, and that is an answer to a daily prayer.”

Koerner and Daisy May frolicked for a while in his new office, which had a golden glow in the morning light.

Daisy seemed to have turned back the clock and had that expression dogs get, mouth open and eyes aglow, when it looks like they’re smiling.

Koerner looked like he was celebrating a double holiday — Thanksgiving and Christmas all in one.

steve.lopez@latimes.com

[ad_2]

Steve Lopez

Source link

November 27, 2025
Boil water notice issued for parts of Tavares ahead of Thanksgiving

[ad_1]

WEBSITE. BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. SPENCER. THANK YOU. IN LAKE COUNTY, PEOPLE IN PARTS OF TAVARES ARE HAVING TO MAKE SOME ALTERNATE PLANS FOR TOMORROW’S THANKSGIVING FEAST. HOMES ON MULTIPLE STREETS ARE UNDER A BOIL WATER NOTICE AFTER A WATER MAIN BREAK ON TUESDAY. WESH 2’S HAYLEY CROMBLEHOLME IS LIVE IN TAVARES TONIGHT. AND HAYLEY, YOU SPOKE WITH ONE RESIDENT WHO ACTUALLY CHANGED UP HIS DINNER PLANS BECAUSE OF ALL THIS. YEAH THAT’S RIGHT. HE’S MOSTLY BEEN RELYING ON BOTTLED WATER AND EATING OUT RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH THE HASSLE OF HAVING TO BOIL IT. HE HAD BEEN PLANNING ON MAKING A FEW THINGS AT HOME, AND EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT GET THE RESULTS OF SOME OF THAT WATER TESTING ON THE HOLIDAY, HE STILL FELT LIKE HE NEEDED AN ALTERNATE PLANS. THE TIMING COULDN’T HAVE BEEN WORSE. DOUG EVANS SAID HE GOT THIS NOTICE ON HIS DOOR TUESDAY FROM THE CITY OF TAVARES, LETTING HIM KNOW THERE WAS A PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE IN HIS AREA FOR ANY WATER USED FOR THINGS LIKE DRINKING, COOKING, WASHING DISHES AND MAKING ICE. THE SIMPLE STUFF WE STILL USE BOTTLED WATER. IT’S NOT THAT BAD, BUT DOING DISHES, LAUNDRY NOT HAPPENING. IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. IT’S JUST TOO MUCH OF A HASSLE. EVANS NOW HAS LARGE WATER BOTTLES PLACED THROUGHOUT THE HOME AND HAND SANITIZER SITTING NEXT TO THE SINK. THE CITY SAID THE ADVISORY CAME TUESDAY AFTER A BROKEN SIX-INCH MAIN LED TO A WATER SHUT OFF. NOW WATER SAMPLES HAVE TO BE TESTED BEFORE RESIDENTS ON PARTS OF WEST BURLEIGH BOULEVARD, NORTH AVE AND CLIFFORD STREET CAN BE GIVEN THE ALL CLEAR. ALL AS PEOPLE ARE PREPARING FOR THANKSGIVING, WE HAVE OUR GRANDKIDS. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THEM HERE AND DO A FEW THINGS, ENJOY US JUST HAVING THE HOLIDAYS AND HAVING THEM HERE FROM OUT OF STATE. BUT NOW NOT SO MUCH. EVANS SAID THEIR INITIAL THANKSGIVING PLANS HAVE HAD TO CHANGE. ABSOLUTELY NO COOKING? NO, NOT AT ALL. WE HAD PLANNED TO COOK A FEW THINGS, BUT NO, THAT’S THAT’S NO LONGER GOING TO HAPPEN. THE CITY SAID TYPICALLY, THE RESULTS OF WATER TESTING CAN BE BACK WITHIN 48 HOURS, WHICH WOULD BE THANKSGIVING DAY. BUT THEY CAN’T SAY IF THE RESULTS WILL BE BACK OR WHAT THOSE RESULTS WILL BE. BUT IF THE WATER GETS THE ALL CLEAR, THE CITY SAID STAFF WILL BE KNOCKING ON DOORS AND LEAVING NOTICES, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW. EVEN ON THE HOLIDAY. IT’S ALL GOOD. BUT IN CASE THE RESULTS DON’T GO THE WAY THEY’D LIKE, EVANS HOPES FOLKS HAVE A BACKUP PLAN. I HOPE SO, I HOPE SO, BECAUSE IT’S NOT GUARANTEED. BUT AGAIN, THOSE RESULTS COULD COME BACK ON THANKSGIVING DAY. THE CITY WILL BE GETTING THE WORD OUT, AND YOU CAN USE THE WATER IN YOUR HOME IF YOU LIVE ON THOSE PARTS OF THOSE STREETS AFFECTED, YOU SHOULD JUST BOIL IT FIRST. COVERING LAKE COUNTY. LIVE I

Boil water notice issued for parts of Tavares ahead of Thanksgiving

Updated: 10:44 PM EST Nov 26, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

The City of Tavares announced a boil water notice for parts of several streets Tuesday. The city said it came after a broken six-inch main led to a water shutoff. Now residents at 105 W. Burleigh Blvd. through 201 W. Burleigh Blvd., 802 N. Joanna Ave. through 1102 N. Joanna Ave., and 120 W. Clifford St. are being told to boil any water needed for things like drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and washing dishes. “The timing couldn’t have been worse,” said Doug Evans, who lives in one of the impacted areas. Evans said he got a notice on his door Tuesday from the city of Tavares, letting him know there was a precautionary boil water notice in his area. “The simple stuff, we still use bottled water, it’s not that bad, but doing dishes, laundry, not happening. It’s not gonna happen. It’s just too much of a hassle,” Evans said. The city said water samples have to be tested before residents can be given the all-clear. All as people are preparing for Thanksgiving. “We have our grandkids, and we were going to have them here, do a few things, enjoy just having the holidays and having them here from out of state. Now not so much,” Evans said. Their initial Thanksgiving plans have had to change. “Oh, absolutely no cooking. No. Not at all,” he said. “We had planned to cook a few things, but that’s no longer going to happen.”The city said typically the results of the water testing can be back within 48 hours, which would be Thanksgiving Day. But they can’t say if the results will be back, or what those results will be. But if the water gets the all clear, the city said staff will be knocking on doors and leaving notices letting people know, even on the holiday.

TAVARES, Fla. —

The City of Tavares announced a boil water notice for parts of several streets Tuesday.

The city said it came after a broken six-inch main led to a water shutoff. Now residents at 105 W. Burleigh Blvd. through 201 W. Burleigh Blvd., 802 N. Joanna Ave. through 1102 N. Joanna Ave., and 120 W. Clifford St. are being told to boil any water needed for things like drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and washing dishes.

“The timing couldn’t have been worse,” said Doug Evans, who lives in one of the impacted areas.

Evans said he got a notice on his door Tuesday from the city of Tavares, letting him know there was a precautionary boil water notice in his area.

“The simple stuff, we still use bottled water, it’s not that bad, but doing dishes, laundry, not happening. It’s not gonna happen. It’s just too much of a hassle,” Evans said.

The city said water samples have to be tested before residents can be given the all-clear. All as people are preparing for Thanksgiving.

“We have our grandkids, and we were going to have them here, do a few things, enjoy just having the holidays and having them here from out of state. Now not so much,” Evans said. Their initial Thanksgiving plans have had to change.

“Oh, absolutely no cooking. No. Not at all,” he said. “We had planned to cook a few things, but that’s no longer going to happen.”

The city said typically the results of the water testing can be back within 48 hours, which would be Thanksgiving Day. But they can’t say if the results will be back, or what those results will be.

But if the water gets the all clear, the city said staff will be knocking on doors and leaving notices letting people know, even on the holiday.

[ad_2]

Source link

November 26, 2025
Bride helps crash victim while still in her wedding dress

[ad_1]

Moments after tying the knot on her wedding day, a bride who works as a nurse stepped in to save a life while she was still wearing her wedding dress.The same night Heather Schubert walked down the aisle celebrating her new union, she ended up at a crash scene.”We saw a man laying across the road, and his car, all the airbags were deployed,” Heather Ramsey Schubert said.Schubert and her husband were driving home on a Louisiana highway Saturday night, and the off-duty nurse saw a call to action.”When you’re a nurse and you always put other people first, that’s always my first instinct,” Schubert said.She wasted no time, rushing to help a man critically injured in a crash, before EMS arrived.”I assisted in the manner of seeing what his pupils were like if we had any trauma responses, which he, in fact, did have trauma. His pupils were not reactive to light,” Schubert said.Schubert works to save lives every day as a nurse at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. She says it’s just in her blood to protect.”There’s never a question or a hesitation; I will probably always be the person to run into the accident and see if I can help,” Schubert said.Critical care paramedic Steven Tafoya said emergency teams are trained on how to respond to situations like this.”Just because we’re off the clock doesn’t mean that instinct stops,” Tafoya said. “So what this lady did on her wedding day was remarkable and shows her commitment to health care in general.”Although it was not the ending Heather expected for her wedding day, she said she would not change a thing.”I would hope that anybody, whether they’re a nurse or not, anybody if they see someone in trouble would run and do the same thing,” Schubert said.The victim’s condition is unclear, but everyone involved hopes for a full recovery.

NEW ORLEANS —

Moments after tying the knot on her wedding day, a bride who works as a nurse stepped in to save a life while she was still wearing her wedding dress.

The same night Heather Schubert walked down the aisle celebrating her new union, she ended up at a crash scene.

“We saw a man laying across the road, and his car, all the airbags were deployed,” Heather Ramsey Schubert said.

Schubert and her husband were driving home on a Louisiana highway Saturday night, and the off-duty nurse saw a call to action.

“When you’re a nurse and you always put other people first, that’s always my first instinct,” Schubert said.

She wasted no time, rushing to help a man critically injured in a crash, before EMS arrived.

“I assisted in the manner of seeing what his pupils were like if we had any trauma responses, which he, in fact, did have trauma. His pupils were not reactive to light,” Schubert said.

Schubert works to save lives every day as a nurse at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. She says it’s just in her blood to protect.

“There’s never a question or a hesitation; I will probably always be the person to run into the accident and see if I can help,” Schubert said.

Critical care paramedic Steven Tafoya said emergency teams are trained on how to respond to situations like this.

“Just because we’re off the clock doesn’t mean that instinct stops,” Tafoya said. “So what this lady did on her wedding day was remarkable and shows her commitment to health care in general.”

Although it was not the ending Heather expected for her wedding day, she said she would not change a thing.

“I would hope that anybody, whether they’re a nurse or not, anybody if they see someone in trouble would run and do the same thing,” Schubert said.

The victim’s condition is unclear, but everyone involved hopes for a full recovery.

[ad_2]

Source link

November 24, 2025
‘Peaceful’ Kai Trump improves in second round of the LPGA Annika event

[ad_1]

Kai Trump, a high school senior playing in an LPGA Tour event for reasons beyond her ability to hit a golf ball, went from “definitely really nervous” in the first round to “very calm and peaceful” Friday in the second.

All in all, an impressive improvement.

Still, Trump, 18, didn’t make the cut, not after finishing last among 108 players with a two-round total of 18-over, 27 shots behind leader Grace Kim and 17 away from the projected cut line. The granddaughter of President Trump improved eight strokes to a 75 in the second round of the tournament hosted by Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla.

How dramatic was the improvement? Trump had nine bogeys, two doubles and one birdie Thursday. A day later she was briefly under par when she birdied the par-3 third hole, but she bogeyed the fourth and triple-bogeyed the par-4 fifth hole.

Trump rebounded to birdie three of her next six holes. How relaxed was she? She literally laughed off her triple bogey.

“Things are going to happen,” she said. “Once it happens, you can’t go back in time and fix it. The best thing I could do is move on. Like, I told my caddie, Allan [Kournikova], kind of just started laughing, ‘it is what it is.’

“We got that out of the way, so let’s just move on. It was pretty easy to move on after that.”

Especially on the three-par No. 12 where she nearly made the first hole-in-one of her life.

“I hit like a tight little draw into it,” Trump said. “Tried not to get too high because of the wind. Yeah, it was a great shot.”

What would she tell her grandfather about the round? “That I hit a great shot on 18 two days in a row.”

“I did everything I could possibly have done for this tournament, so I think if you prepare right, the nerves can … they’re always going to be there, right?,” she said. “They can be a little softened. So I would just say that.”

Critics among and beyond her nearly 9 million social media followers were relentless in noting her obvious privilege for securing a sponsor invitation. Dan Doyle Jr., owner of Pelican Golf Club, cheerfully acknowledged that Trump’s inclusion had little to do with ability and a lot to do with public relations.

“The idea of the exemption, when you go into the history of exemptions, is to bring attention to an event,” Doyle told reporters this week. “You got to see her live, she’s lovely to speak to.

“And she’s brought a lot of viewers through Instagram, and things like that, who normally don’t watch women’s golf. That was the hope. And we’re seeing that now.”

Trump attends the Benjamin School in Palm Beach and will attend the University of Miami next year. She is ranked No. 461 by the American Junior Golf Assn.

Stepping up to the LPGA, complete with a deep gallery of onlookers and a phalanx of Secret Service agents surrounding her, could have been daunting. Trump, though, said the experience was “pretty cool.”

It was an eventful week for Trump. She played nine holes of a pro-am round Monday with tournament host Sorenstam, who empathized with the difficulty of handling an intense swirl of criticism and support.

“I just don’t know how she does it, honestly,” Sorenstam said. “To be 18 years old and hear all the comments, she must be super tough on the inside. I’m sure we can all relate what it’s like to get criticism here and there, but she gets it a thousand times.”

Sorenstam recalled her own exemption for the Bank of America Colonial in 2003 when she became the first woman to play in a men’s PGA Tour event in 58 years. She made a 14-foot putt at the 18th green to give her a 36-hole total of five-over 145. She hurled her golf ball into the grandstand, wiped away tears and was hugged by her husband, David Esch.

“That was, at the time, maybe a little bit of a controversial invite,” Sorenstam said. “In the end, I certainly appreciated it. It just brings attention to the tournament, to the sport and to women’s sports, which I think is what we want.”

[ad_2]

Steve Henson

Source link

November 14, 2025
This stylish L.A. rental is designed so they never have to worry about pet hair again

[ad_1]

Jeffrey Hamilton came to live in an empty condominium, as many do, after a painful breakup.

“It was a stressful time even though it was an amicable breakup,” says the 38-year-old anesthesiologist. “I had two weeks to move and was desperate to find something.”

In this series, we spotlight L.A. rentals with style. From perfect gallery walls to temporary decor hacks, these renters get creative, even in small spaces. And Angelenos need the inspiration: Most are renters.

Hamilton, who is drawn to “gallery-esque white boxes,” ultimately settled in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects-designed condo four blocks away in West Hollywood. With few possessions other than his cats, he proceeded to furnish the unit with secondhand items he found primarily on Facebook Marketplace.

During the process, he says, he found himself.

“It was the first time I had lived on my own in a long time and it was nice to listen to my own instincts,” says Hamilton, sitting in the living room of his elegant condo, which he now shares with his boyfriend David Poli, his cats Romulus and Remus and Poli’s Husky mix, Janeway (named for Kathryn Janeway, the first female captain on the television series “Star Trek: Voyager”). All the pets are rescues.

Not to be upstaged by Romulus the cat, Janeway, a husky mix adopted from Hollywood Huskies, makes a statement in the living room.

Black CB2 shelves Hamilton found on Facebook Marketplace store artfully arranged ceramics, books and his and his boyfriend’s shoes.

“Jeffrey likes to say that everything in his apartment is a rescue, including me,” says Poli jokingly.

When Hamilton adopted his cats six years ago during his medical residency in San Diego, they were kittens; now, as adults, he says, the spotted Bengal cats have not just grown but have influenced his design choices in his new home.

The den features more pet-friendly choices including a Rove Concepts modular sofa that Hamilton bought on clearance. “It’s a little small for two grown men and three pets,” he says.

“My original inspiration was to match the furniture to the kitties so I don’t see their cat hair,” he says. “The cats very much informed the color scheme. I find them so handsome; it felt like having matching furniture was practical.”

In the living room, for instance, Hamilton chose a camel-colored Curvo sofa in velvet by Goop for CB2, which he found on Facebook Marketplace. Similarly, the accompanying swivel chairs from HD Buttercup and the barstool seats in the kitchen are upholstered in Bengal and Husky-durable textiles that camouflage pet hair.

Actor Kit Williamson, a Hollywood friend who has tackled many of his own interior design projects, says Hamilton and Poli’s home is more than just a safe place to land. “I love that Jeffrey’s design for the apartment was inspired by his cats — and that David’s dog not only gets along with the cats, but complements the color palette,” he says. “It’s not just cohesive, it’s kismet.”

A second-hand desk from Facebook Marketplace in the bedroom provides a place for remote work.

No need for lint rollers as Janeway blends in with the furnishings.

Hamilton grew up in the Bay Area but has moved around the country for his education and medical training, including stints in New York City, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle. So when he moved to Los Angeles for good in 2022, he found shopping for furnishings on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace to be a great way to get to know the city.

“It was nice originally because I was new to L.A., and it helped me get a better sense of Los Angeles,” he says. “I ventured to Woodland Hills and Calabasas — I got a lot of vintage stuff in Woodland Hills.”

Living alone, Hamilton says, is what allowed him to “find space and time to honor” his own interests a little more.

Hamilton’s condo in West Hollywood, which was designed by Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects, includes an outdoor patio and a rooftop deck with views of the Hollywood Hills.

“I think with medical school, residency and fellowship training, I didn’t have much time and space or resources to self-examine, as so much of my time was occupied working and thinking about the wellness of others,” he says.

For him, part of his process for creating a welcoming home was focusing on “sustainable goods — things that were used, vintage or local,” he says.

That accounts for some of Hamilton’s home decor selections: The CB2 bookshelves from Facebook Marketplace, which store artfully arranged ceramics, books and the couple’s neatly stacked shoes and a travertine dining room table, also from Facebook Marketplace.

Down the hall, in their bedroom, is a second-hand desk from Facebook Marketplace where Poli can work from home several days a week. “It’s a little beat-up, which I like,” Hamilton says. “I like things that are shiny and nice but also beat-up around the edges. Nothing too perfect. “

Romulus reclines on the camel-colored velvet sofa in the living room.

And then there is the art. “It was important to me to have pieces from either local artisans or artists who are L.A.-based,” he says, noting the tall, plaster lamp in the living room by Kate O’Connor and a graphic stoneware bowl by Chad Callaghan atop his marble coffee table.

In the living room, Hamilton hung a large-scale artwork by Texas-based painter Jason Adkins for General Public, a company developed by Portia de Rossi that licenses and 3D-prints artworks. In the den, another Adkins piece for General Public hangs alongside a vintage print by Cy Twombly. “They feel like real paintings,” he says of the Synographs. “You can’t tell the difference. “

Elegant, clutter-free and homey, the condominium is a calm place to come home to after working long shifts, including overnights, at Children’s Hospital. “A sense of calm and serenity was probably a very important implicit priority,” Hamilton says. “My work can be very stressful at times, so having a place of refuge came naturally.”

Luckily, balancing comfort and pets is another thing that came naturally to the couple after they moved in together.

The open-concept kitchen is modern and streamlined.

“We have a nice synergy,” Hamilton says of Poli. “We tend to agree when it comes to interior design.”

“I’m more of a minimalist,” Poli says. “Jeffrey likes pillows too much. It’s getting a little busy in here,” he adds, teasing his partner.

“I do like pillows,” Hamilton says, noting that he recently bought a sewing machine so he can make his own soft furnishings. “I’ve learned that the best outdoor pillows for pets are from Arhaus. They don’t stain, and they are really durable.”

Like many millennials his age, Hamilton often thinks about buying a home but finds real estate prices, combined with the housing shortage in Los Angeles, daunting. “It’s so expensive,” he says. “I keep doing the math, get approved for a mortgage, then see the interest rates and how much you have to put down — and I just can’t do it. My rent is ridiculous, but it’s more economical than any mortgage I’ve seen in West Hollywood.”

For now, Hamilton enjoys living in a 30-unit building in a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with a rooftop deck overlooking the Sunset Strip. “I don’t need a ton of space,” he says. “Maybe a condo in West Hollywood would be a nice starting point someday.”

After all, he’s learned he’s good at starting over.

[ad_2]

Lisa Boone

Source link

November 10, 2025
Orlando police discuss how to stay safe this Halloween

[ad_1]

Orlando police discuss how to stay safe this Halloween

The Orlando Police Department will hosts its annual trunk-or-treat event on Thursday, Oct. 30 from 4-7 p.m.

AGENCIES ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA ARE GOING INTO OVERDRIVE TO HELP KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AND MAKE THE MOST OF HALLOWEEN. YOU SEE OUR COUNTDOWN TO DAYS 14 HOURS, 17 MINUTES AND 45 SECONDS. BUT WHO’S GETTING SPECIFIC? CORPORAL MICHELLE ROGERS AND SERGEANT RODNEY VANCE FROM THE ORLANDO POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE JOINING ME THIS MORNING. THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING IN, GUYS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. WE’RE HAPPY TO BE HERE. LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT PARENTS GUARDIANS NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT. WE IT’S A VERY EXCITING TIME OF YEAR. BUT ALSO WHAT KIND OF CONVERSATIONS MAYBE WE SHOULD BE HAVING WITH OUR KIDS AHEAD OF FRIDAY. IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ALWAYS ABOUT SAFETY, AND SAFETY IS ALWAYS PARAMOUNT WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING FUN, AND SOMETIMES WE GET CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT, SO IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE REMINDING YOURSELF ABOUT THINGS OF SAFETY, LIKE WEARING REFLECTIVE CLOTHING, STAYING WELL LIT, THINGS THAT GLOW, MAKING SURE THAT PARENTS ARE CHECKING CANDY IF THINGS ARE UNWRAPPED, MAKE SURE YOU JUST TOSS IT. DON’T EVEN BOTHER FOLLOWING TRAFFIC RULES. THINGS OF THAT NATURE. LET’S TALK SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR YOUNGER KIDS, WHEN THEY GO OUT TRICK OR TREATING, MINE ARE SEVEN AND NINE AND THEY ASK, MOM, CAN WE GO OUT BY OURSELVES? I SAID, NO, SORRY, I’M GOING TO BE GOING WITH YOU. WHAT KIND OF CONVERSATION SHOULD WE BE HAVING WITH THAT AGE? SO WITH THAT AGE AND I HAVE LITTLE ONES TOO, SO I CAN RELATE. I USUALLY SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND TALK ABOUT A PLAN. INVOLVE THEM IN YOUR PLAN. PLAN YOUR ROUTE. ALSO TALK ABOUT WE’RE ONLY GOING TO VISIT HOMES THAT ARE WELL LIT, THAT HAVE DECORATIONS OF HALLOWEEN, AND THEY’RE PARTICIPATING IN THE FESTIVITIES. ANOTHER THING TO REMIND OUR LITTLE ONES TOO, IS THAT USE THE SIDEWALK. THEY KNOW. LOOK TO THE LEFT. LOOK TO THE RIGHT. BEFORE CROSSING. USE MOMMY’S HAND. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT THAT THEY ALREADY KNOW. BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE, SOMETIMES THEY GET EXCITED AND CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT MOMENT. SO STRENGTH IN NUMBERS RELY ON YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR FRIENDS, MORE EYES. TRICK OR TREAT. AS A GROUP. IT’S A GREAT THING AND A GREAT TOOL TO HAVE AS YOUR FRIENDS. MINE IS A WEREWOLF AND EVEN HIS MASK. I WAS LIKE, I MIGHT HAVE TO CUT THE HOLES AROUND THE EYES A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE I FELT LIKE HE COULDN’T EVEN SEE, YOU KNOW, WHERE HE WAS WALKING. SO HAVING TO BE CAREFUL. THAT’S A GREAT IDEA ABOUT OUR TEENS. I KNOW OUR TEENS PROBABLY WANT TO GO OUT AND BE BY THEMSELVES. SO WHAT SHOULD WE TELL OUR KIDS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT OLDER, A LITTLE BIT OF THE SAME TIPS THAT GO ALONG WITH THE YOUNG ONES. MAKE SURE THEY STAY IN GROUPS. MAKE SURE THEIR COSTUMES THAT IF THEY’RE CARRYING ANYTHING THAT MAY LOOK LIKE A WEAPON, THAT THE WEAPONS CLEARLY LOOK LIKE THEY’RE FAKE. SO PEOPLE DON’T CONFUSE THEM WITH BEING REAL. MAKE SURE THAT THEY ALL HAVE PHONES THESE DAYS. SO MAKE SURE IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO BE WITH THEM THAT THEY HAVE THEIR LOCATION SERVICES ON THEIR PHONE ON. SO IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE, AS A PARENT, HAVE A GENERAL IDEA OF WHO THEY’RE GOING OUT WITH. DON’T JUST LET THEM GO ON OUT WITH PEOPLE WHO YOU MAY NOT KNOW. THAT WAY, IF YOU CAN’T GET IN CONTACT WITH THEM, THERE’S SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE GROUP THAT YOU CAN GET IN CONTACT WITH. I WAS RAISED BY MILITARY FOLK. THEY SAID, FILE THE FLIGHT PLAN AND STICK TO IT. THAT’S RIGHT. MISCONCEPTIONS, THINGS THAT WE DON’T THINK ABOUT THAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW, THINGS THAT WE DON’T THINK ABOUT SOMETIMES IS JUST TRICK OR TREATING AS A GROUP. SOMETIMES WE JUST GET SO CAUGHT UP IN THE RUSHING OF GETTING THE COSTUMES ON AND RUSHING AND TRYING TO GO BEFORE IT GETS DARK OUT. BUT ONE THING THAT YOU CAN REMEMBER IS BRING A FLASHLIGHT. A FLASHLIGHT CAN ALSO LIGHT YOUR PATH ONCE THE STREETLIGHTS COME ON, IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT IT’S TIME TO STOP HAVING FUN. IT JUST MEANS THAT WE’RE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR SAFETY. AND IF WE WORK TOGETHER, IT’S GOING TO BE AWESOME AND YOU GUYS CAN HAVE A SAFE HALLOWEEN. SPEAKING OF SAFE, YOU GUYS HAVE AN EVENT. WHAT ARE THE DETAILS FOR THAT? YES. SO ON THURSDAY AT OUR HEADQUARTERS BUILDING ON SOUTH STREET, WE’LL BE HAVING A TRUNK OR TREAT EVENT FROM 4 TO 7 P.M. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE OFFICERS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT ARE GOING TO BE SETTING UP THEIR CARS. WE’LL HAVE PLENTY OF CANDY AND EVENTS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES TO COME OUT AND ENJOY IN THE SAFETY OF THE POLICE STATION. YOU KNOW IT’S SAFE AND YOU GET TO MEET SOME OF YOUR LOCAL HEROES, TOO. THAT IS A GREAT WAY TO DO THAT. WE DID HAVE THE INFORMATION UP ON THE SCREEN. WE’LL ALSO POST A LINK TO THIS ON OUR WEBSITE WESH.COM. SERGEANT VANCE

Orlando police discuss how to stay safe this Halloween

The Orlando Police Department will hosts its annual trunk-or-treat event on Thursday, Oct. 30 from 4-7 p.m.

Updated: 9:24 PM EDT Oct 28, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Sergeant Rodney Vance and Corporal Michelle Rogers of the Orlando Police Department join WESH 2 to discuss how kids, teens and families can stay safe this Halloween.OPD will hosts its annual trunk-or-treat event on Thursday, Oct. 30 from 4-7 p.m. The free community event will be held at the department’s headquarters on West South Street.Click here to learn more.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Sergeant Rodney Vance and Corporal Michelle Rogers of the Orlando Police Department join WESH 2 to discuss how kids, teens and families can stay safe this Halloween.

OPD will hosts its annual trunk-or-treat event on Thursday, Oct. 30 from 4-7 p.m.

The free community event will be held at the department’s headquarters on West South Street.

Click here to learn more.

[ad_2]

Source link

October 28, 2025
Commentary: She was highly qualified to be California governor. Why did her campaign fizzle?

[ad_1]

Among the small army of prospects who’ve eyed the California governorship, none seemed more qualified than Toni Atkins.

After serving on the San Diego City Council, she moved on to Sacramento, where Atkins led both the Assembly and state Senate, one of just three people in history — and the first in 147 years — to head both houses of California’s Legislature.

She negotiated eight state budgets with two governors and, among other achievements, passed major legislation on abortion rights, help for low-income families and a $7.5-billion water bond.

You can disagree with her politics but, clearly, Atkins is someone who knows her way around the Capitol.

She married that expertise with the kind of hardscrabble, up-by-her-bootstraps backstory that a calculating political consultant might have spun from whole cloth, had it not been so.

Atkins grew up in rural Appalachia in a rented home with an outdoor privy. Her first pair of glasses was a gift from the local Lions Club. She didn’t visit a dentist until she was 24. Her family was too poor.

Yet for all of that, Atkins’ gubernatorial campaign didn’t last even to 2026, when voters will elect a successor to the termed-out Gavin Newsom. She quit the race in September, more than eight months before the primary.

She has no regrets.

“It was a hard decision,” the Democrat said. “But I’m a pragmatic person.”

She couldn’t and wouldn’t keep asking “supporters and people to contribute more and more if the outcome was not going to be what we hoped,” Atkins said. “I needed sort of a moonshot to do it, and I didn’t see that.”

She spoke recently via Zoom from the den of her home in San Diego, where Atkins had just returned after spending several weeks back in Virginia, tending to a dying friend and mentor, one of her former college professors.

“I was a first-generation college kid … a hillbilly,” Atkins said. She felt as though she had no place in the world “and this professor, Steve Fisher, basically helped turn me around and not be a victim. Learn to organize. Learn to work with people on common goals. … He was one of the first people that really helped me to understand how to be part of something bigger than myself.”

Over the 22 months of her campaign — between the launch in January 2024 and its abandonment on Sept. 29 — Atkins traveled California from tip to toe, holding countless meetings and talking to innumerable voters. “It’s one thing to be the speaker or the [Senate leader],” she said. “People treat you differently when you’re a candidate. You’re appealing to them to support you, and it’s a different conversation.”

What she heard was a lot of practicality.

People lamenting the exorbitant cost of housing, energy and child care. Rural Californians worried about their dwindling access to healthcare. Parents and teachers concerned about wanton immigration raids and their effect on kids. “It wasn’t presented as a political thing,” Atkins said. “It was just fear for [their] neighbors.”

She heard plenty from business owners and, especially, put-upon residents of red California, who griped about Sacramento and its seeming disconnection from their lives and livelihoods. “I heard in Tehama County … folks saying, ‘Look, we care about the environment, but we can’t have electric school buses here. We don’t have any infrastructure.’ ”

Voters seemed to be of two — somewhat contradictory — minds about what they want in their next governor.

First off, “Someone that’s going to be focused on California, California problems and California issues,” Atkins said. “They want a governor that’s not going to be performative, but really focused on the issues that California needs help on.”

At the same, they see the damage that President Trump and his punitive policies have done to the state in a very short time, so “they also want to see a fighter.”

The challenge, Atkins suggested, is “convincing people … you’re absolutely going to fight for California values and, at the same, that you’re going to be focused on fixing the roads.”

Maybe California needs to elect a contortionist.

Given her considerable know-how and compelling background, why did Atkins’ campaign fizzle?

Here’s a clue: The word starts with “m” and ends with “y” and speaks to something pernicious about our political system.

“I hoped my experience and my collaborative nature and my ability to work across party lines when I needed to … would gain traction,” Atkins said. “But I just didn’t have the name recognition.”

Or, more pertinently, the huge pile of cash needed to build that name recognition and get elected to statewide office in California.

While Atkins wasn’t a bad fundraiser, she simply couldn’t raise the many tens of millions of dollars needed to run a viable gubernatorial race.

That could be seen as a referendum of sorts. If enough people wanted Atkins to be governor, she theoretically would have collected more cash. But who doubts that money has an unholy influence on our elections?

(Other than Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who spent much of his career fighting campaign finance reform, and members of the Supreme Court who green-lit today’s unlimited geyser of campaign spending.)

At age 63, Atkins is not certain what comes next.

“I’ve lost parents, but it’s been decades,” she said. “And to lose Steve” — her beloved ex-college professor — “I think I’m going to take the rest of the year to reflect. I’m definitely going to stay engaged … but I’m going to focus on family” at least until January.

Atkins remains optimistic about her adopted home state, notwithstanding her unsuccessful run for governor and the earful of criticisms she heard along the way,

“California is the place where people dream,” she said. “We still have the ability to do big things … We’re the fourth-largest economy. We’re a nation-state. We need to remember that.”

Without losing sight of the basics.

[ad_2]

Mark Z. Barabak

Source link

October 22, 2025
Commentary: This Las Vegas Republican had high hopes for Trump. But a ‘Trump slump’ made life worse

[ad_1]

LAS VEGAS — Aaron Mahan is a lifelong Republican who twice voted for Donald Trump.

He had high hopes putting a businessman in the White House and, although he found the president’s monster ego grating, Mahan voted for his reelection. Mostly, he said, out of party loyalty.

By 2024, however, he’d had enough.

“I just saw more of the bad qualities, more of the ego,” said Mahan, who’s worked for decades as a food server on and off the Las Vegas Strip. “And I felt like he was at least partially running to stay out of jail.”

Mahan couldn’t bring himself to support Kamala Harris. He’s never backed a Democrat for president. So when illness overtook him on election day, it was a good excuse to stay in bed and not vote.

He’s no Trump hater, Mahan said. “I don’t think he’s evil.” Rather, the 52-year-old calls himself “a Trump realist,” seeing the good and the bad.

Here’s Mahan’s reality: A big drop in pay. Depletion of his emergency savings. Stress every time he pulls into a gas station or visits the supermarket.

Mahan used to blithely toss things in his grocery cart. “Now,” he said, “you have to look at prices, because everything is more expensive.”

In short, he’s living through the worst combination of inflation and economic malaise he’s experienced since he began waiting tables after finishing high school.

Views of the 47th president, from the ground up

Las Vegas lives on tourism, the industry irrigated by rivers of disposable income. The decline of both has resulted in a painful downturn that hurts all the more after the pent-up demand and go-go years following the crippling COVID-19 shutdown.

Over the last 12 months, the number of visitors has dropped significantly and those who do come to Las Vegas are spending less. Passenger arrivals at Harry Reid International Airport, a short hop from the Strip, have declined and room nights, a measure of hotel occupancy, have also fallen.

Mahan, who works at the Virgin resort casino just off the Strip, blames the slowdown in large part on Trump’s failure to tame inflation, his tariffs and pugnacious immigration and foreign policies that have antagonized people — and prospective visitors — around the world.

“His general attitude is, ‘I’m going to do what I’m going to do, and you’re going to like it or leave it.’ And they’re leaving it,” Mahan said. “The Canadians aren’t coming. The Mexicans aren’t coming. The Europeans aren’t coming in the way they did. But also the people from Southern California aren’t coming the way they did either.”

Mahan has a way of describing the buckling blow to Las Vegas’ economy. He calls it “the Trump slump.”

::

Mahan was an Air Force brat who lived throughout the United States and, for a time, in England before his father retired from the military and started looking for a place to settle.

Mahan’s mother grew up in Sacramento and liked the mountains that ring Las Vegas. They reminded her of the Sierra Nevada. Mahan’s father had worked intermittently as a bartender. It was a skill of great utility in Nevada’s expansive hospitality industry.

So the desert metropolis it was.

Mahan was 15 when his family landed. After high school, he attended college for a time and started working in the coffee shop at the Barbary Coast hotel and casino. He then moved on to the upscale Gourmet Room. The money was good; Mahan had found his career.

From there he moved to Circus Circus and then, in 2005, the Hard Rock hotel and casino, where he’s been ever since. (In 2018, Virgin Hotels purchased the Hard Rock.)

Mahan, who’s single with no kids, learned to roll with the vicissitudes of the hospitality business. “As a food server, there’s always going to be slowdowns and takeoffs,” he said over lunch at a dim sum restaurant in a Las Vegas strip mall.

Mahan socked money away during the summer months and hunkered down in the slow times, before things started picking up around the New Year. He weathered the Great Recession, from 2007 to 2009, when Nevada led the nation in foreclosures, bankruptcies soared and tumbleweeds blew through Las Vegas’ many overbuilt, financially underwater subdivisions.

This economy feels worse.

Over the last 12 months, Las Vegas has drawn fewer visitors and those who have come are spending less.

(David Becker / For The Times)

With tourism off, the hotel where Mahan works changed from a full-service coffee shop to a limited-hour buffet. So he’s no longer waiting tables. Instead, he mans a to-go window, making drinks and handing food to guests, which brings him a lot less in tips. He estimates his income has fallen $2,000 a month.

But it’s not just that his paychecks have grown considerably skinnier. They don’t go nearly as far.

Gasoline. Eggs. Meat. “Everything,” Mahan said, “is costing more.”

An admitted soda addict, he used to guzzle Dr Pepper. “You’d get three bottles for four bucks,” Mahan said. “Now they’re $3 each.”

He’s cut back as a result.

Worse, his air conditioner broke last month and the $14,000 that Mahan spent replacing it — along with a costly filter he needs for allergies — pretty much wiped out his emergency fund.

It feels as though Mahan is just barely getting by and he’s not at all optimistic things will improve anytime soon.

“I’m looking forward,” he said, to the day Trump leaves office.

::

Mahan considers himself fairly apolitical. He’d rather knock a tennis ball around than debate the latest goings-on in Washington.

He likes some of the things Trump has accomplished, such as securing the border with Mexico — though Mahan is not a fan of the zealous immigration raids scooping up landscapers and tamale vendors.

He’s glad about the no-tax-on-tips provision in the massive legislative package passed last spring, though, “I’m still being taxed at the same rate and there’s no extra money coming in right now.” He’s waiting to see what happens when he files his tax return next year.

He’s not counting on much. “I’m never convinced of anything,” Mahan said. “Until I see it.”

Something else is poking around the back of his mind.

Mahan is a shop steward with the Culinary Union, the powerhouse labor organization that’s helped make Las Vegas one of the few places in the country where a waiter, such as Mahan, can earn enough to buy a home in an upscale suburb like nearby Henderson. (He points out that he made the purchase in 2012 and probably couldn’t afford it in today’s economy.)

Mahan worries that once Trump is done targeting immigrants, federal workers and Democratic-run cities, he’ll come after organized labor, undermining one of the foundational building blocks that helped him climb into the middle class.

“He is a businessman and most businesspeople don’t like dealing with unions,” Mahan said.

There are a few bright spots in Las Vegas’ economic picture. Convention bookings are up slightly for the year, and look to be strengthening. Gaming revenues have increased year-over-year. The workforce is still growing.

“This community’s streets are not littered with people that have been laid off,” said Jeremy Aguero, a principal analyst with Applied Analysis, a firm that provides economic and fiscal policy counsel in Las Vegas.

“The layoff trends, unemployment insurance, they’ve edged up,” Aguero said. “But they’re certainly not wildly elevated in comparison to other periods of instability.”

That, however, offers small solace for Mahan as he makes drinks, hands over takeout food and carefully watches his wallet.

If he knew then what he knows now, what would the Aaron of 2016 — the one so full of hope for a Trump presidency — say to the Aaron of today?

Mahan paused, his chopsticks hovering over a custard dumpling.

“Prepare,” he said, “for a bumpy ride.”

[ad_2]

Mark Z. Barabak

Source link

October 19, 2025
California physicist and Nobel laureate John Martinis won’t quit on quantum computers

[ad_1]

A California physicist and Nobel laureate who laid the foundation for quantum computing isn’t done working.

For the last 40 years, John Martinis has worked — mostly within California — to create the fastest computers ever built.

“It’s kind of my professional dream to do this by the time I’m really too old to retire. I should retire now, but I’m not doing that,” the now 67-year-old said.

Born and raised in San Pedro, Martinis said his California high school teachers influenced him to pursue his career. A physics teacher got him interested in the topic, he said, and a math teacher taught him rigor, work ethic and organization.

“I think before then I’d just write down the solution” rather than showing his process, he joked in an interview with The Times.

As an undergraduate senior at UC Berkeley in the 1980s, he met John Clarke, a British physicist and professor who would become his graduate advisor and Michel Devoret, a French physicist who worked with him as a postdoctoral researcher.

John Clarke, right, a professor emeritus of physics, looks on during a celebration at UC Berkeley on Oct. 7, 2025, after he and fellow physicists Michel Devoret and John Martinis were awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in physics for their work on quantum tunneling.

(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

“This was a fantastic experience, to be mentored by two wonderful people,” he said during a news conference Tuesday at UC Santa Barbara, where he works as a professor. “I learned so much from them that, through my whole career, I was kind of trying to re-create that spirit that we had in there.”

Martinis was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in physics, alongside Clarke and Devoret, for his doctoral project, a series of experiments in the mid-1980s that proved quantum tunneling was possible with large objects, which became the basis for the development of quantum computers as well as much of the current research in that field.

Both Clarke and Devoret are based in the U.S. and associated with the University of California system — Clarke as a professor emeritus at Berkeley and Devoret as a professor at UC Santa Barbara.

“I loved Berkeley. It was great to be taught by these really amazing professors,” Martinis said, noting the university’s cutting-edge facilities that supported the experiments. “As a student, I could focus on just being a good scientist.”

Martinis went on to do a postdoctoral fellowship in France, then returned stateside to Boulder, Colo., where he worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a U.S. government lab. In 2008 he moved back to California to work at UC Santa Barbara as a professor, and in 2014, Google hired him and Devoret to create an experimental quantum processor faster than any human supercomputer — which his team completed five years later.

“It really was all this basic research we did for decades that enabled this to happen and enabled us to have a vision … to build this thing,” Martinis said.

He chose UC Santa Barbara as a workplace not just because of the great location and weather, but also for its advanced facilities and community. Researchers from other disciplines — such as engineers and materials scientists who build semiconductors — are able to freely communicate and collaborate with his team.

“Working with talented and friendly people at the university is really special,” he said. “You can actually get things done.”

Martinis said he has enjoyed hearing back from former students who have reached out to celebrate his award. Speaking to students years after they take his classes and grasp the effect on their lives has been refreshing. His work over the years has spawned an industry that created thousands of well-paying jobs for people across the country, he said.

He praised the UC system for its culture and collaboration with the private sector and government, but said that research and development for quantum computers in the U.S. must urgently speed up if we expect to see it in our lifetimes.

After leaving Google in 2020, Martinis co-founded his private company, QoLab, in 2022 with a belief that advanced semiconductor chips are the path to achieving usable quantum computers. The company has begun collaborating with other startup companies and academic groups involved in semiconductor production, he said.

“I think this collaborative model is going to be more fruitful because we really get a lot of interesting ideas,” Martinis said. “We have a lot to catch up on. But it’s a very good atmosphere to invent things.”

[ad_2]

Sandra McDonald

Source link

October 9, 2025
Government shutdown threatens to drag on through weekend with lawmakers deadlocked

[ad_1]

As the Senate meets Friday for another vote to reopen the federal government, Democrats are refusing to yield without a deal from President Donald Trump — likely extending the government shutdown into next week.Democrats say not even the threat of mass firings and canceled federal projects will force them to accept the GOP short-term funding proposal without major policy concessions on health care.A top White House official warned Thursday that the number of federal workers who could be fired because of the shutdown is “likely going to be in the thousands.” Trump hasn’t made public his exact targets yet, though he met with White House budget chief Russ Vought on Thursday to discuss the plan.The White House already has a list – put together by Vought’s Office of Management and Budget in coordination with federal agencies – of the agencies they are targeting with the firings, according to two White House officials. While details are still being sorted, according to the officials, announcements could come in the coming days on which are on the chopping block for not aligning with the president’s priorities.Speaking on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries skewered the president and his team for what he called their “retribution effort” against Democrats, but made clear his party would not relent. He added that neither he nor Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have received a call from Trump or GOP leaders for negotiations since the group met at the White House Monday.“Democrats are in this fight until we win this fight,” Jeffries said when asked if Democrats could accept a deal without an extension of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies that his party has been seeking. “This is the first week of the shutdown but we’ve had months of chaos and cruelty unleashed on the American people.”With the two parties still bitterly divided, the deadlocked Senate is expected to leave town for the weekend, which means neither chamber will vote again until at least Monday. With no ongoing talks between the two parties, many Senate Republicans plan to decamp to Sea Island, Georgia, this weekend for a major weekend fundraiser. The National Republican Senatorial Committee informed attendees in an email this week that the event was non-refundable and contracted years in advance — long before the current organization’s leadership, according to two people familiar with the matter.Democrats, too, have a scheduled fundraiser later this month. That event in Napa, California, is set to take place on Oct. 13. A spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said they did not have information about whether the event was still on, though one of the featured attendees, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, has already informed organizers that she won’t be attending if there is a shutdown, according to a person familiar with the planning.Inside the Capitol, lawmakers and their staff are bracing for a lapse that could last into mid-October, with fears rising that government workers will miss a paycheck next week.GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota described Friday’s vote as “crucial,” warning that “things go south real quick” if the government isn’t reopened before the weekend.Rounds is one of the few Republicans publicly anxious about the potential harms of an extended shutdown on the federal workforce, and has worked behind the scenes with some Democrats to find a way out of it. The end needs to come as quickly as possible, he warned, suggesting that Democrats could soon see the White House take an ax to programs that they heavily favor if the shutdown doesn’t end.“I think it’s gonna bite them harder than it does us,” Rounds told reporters Thursday. “There’s a whole lot of things out there that the Democrats care about that are not consistent with the president’s policies, and those are the first things at risk.”Senate Majority Leader John Thune remained firm Thursday when asked about how the shutdown would end. He said Democrats would have a fourth chance on Friday to vote to open the government: “If that fails, then they can have the weekend to think about it, we’ll come back, we’ll vote again on Monday.”“My Democrat colleagues are facing pressure from members of their far-left base, but they’re playing a losing game here,” he added.

WASHINGTON —

As the Senate meets Friday for another vote to reopen the federal government, Democrats are refusing to yield without a deal from President Donald Trump — likely extending the government shutdown into next week.

Democrats say not even the threat of mass firings and canceled federal projects will force them to accept the GOP short-term funding proposal without major policy concessions on health care.

A top White House official warned Thursday that the number of federal workers who could be fired because of the shutdown is “likely going to be in the thousands.” Trump hasn’t made public his exact targets yet, though he met with White House budget chief Russ Vought on Thursday to discuss the plan.

The White House already has a list – put together by Vought’s Office of Management and Budget in coordination with federal agencies – of the agencies they are targeting with the firings, according to two White House officials. While details are still being sorted, according to the officials, announcements could come in the coming days on which are on the chopping block for not aligning with the president’s priorities.

Speaking on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries skewered the president and his team for what he called their “retribution effort” against Democrats, but made clear his party would not relent. He added that neither he nor Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have received a call from Trump or GOP leaders for negotiations since the group met at the White House Monday.

“Democrats are in this fight until we win this fight,” Jeffries said when asked if Democrats could accept a deal without an extension of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies that his party has been seeking. “This is the first week of the shutdown but we’ve had months of chaos and cruelty unleashed on the American people.”

With the two parties still bitterly divided, the deadlocked Senate is expected to leave town for the weekend, which means neither chamber will vote again until at least Monday. With no ongoing talks between the two parties, many Senate Republicans plan to decamp to Sea Island, Georgia, this weekend for a major weekend fundraiser. The National Republican Senatorial Committee informed attendees in an email this week that the event was non-refundable and contracted years in advance — long before the current organization’s leadership, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Democrats, too, have a scheduled fundraiser later this month. That event in Napa, California, is set to take place on Oct. 13. A spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said they did not have information about whether the event was still on, though one of the featured attendees, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, has already informed organizers that she won’t be attending if there is a shutdown, according to a person familiar with the planning.

Inside the Capitol, lawmakers and their staff are bracing for a lapse that could last into mid-October, with fears rising that government workers will miss a paycheck next week.

GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota described Friday’s vote as “crucial,” warning that “things go south real quick” if the government isn’t reopened before the weekend.

Rounds is one of the few Republicans publicly anxious about the potential harms of an extended shutdown on the federal workforce, and has worked behind the scenes with some Democrats to find a way out of it. The end needs to come as quickly as possible, he warned, suggesting that Democrats could soon see the White House take an ax to programs that they heavily favor if the shutdown doesn’t end.

“I think it’s gonna bite them harder than it does us,” Rounds told reporters Thursday. “There’s a whole lot of things out there that the Democrats care about that are not consistent with the president’s policies, and those are the first things at risk.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune remained firm Thursday when asked about how the shutdown would end. He said Democrats would have a fourth chance on Friday to vote to open the government: “If that fails, then they can have the weekend to think about it, we’ll come back, we’ll vote again on Monday.”

“My Democrat colleagues are facing pressure from members of their far-left base, but they’re playing a losing game here,” he added.

[ad_2]

Source link

October 3, 2025
Report: Lynx star Napheesa Collier tore ligaments in collision

[ad_1]

(Photo credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images)

Minnesota Lynx star forward Napheesa Collier’s injury in the WNBA semifinals has been determined to be a Grade 2 tear of three ligaments in her left ankle as well as a muscle in her shin, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon.

Collier injured her left ankle in the final seconds of Game 3 on Friday when no foul was called on the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas, who stripped the ball from her and made a steal.

The Mercury won the game 84-76 and then eliminated the short-handed Lynx — who were without Collier and head coach Cheryl Reeve (suspended by the league for her conduct and comments about officiating regarding the play Collier got injured on) — in Game 4 on Sunday in Phoenix to advance to the WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces.

Collier had said Tuesday that she would not have been able to play if the top-seeded Lynx, who had the league’s best record in the regular season, had gotten past the Mercury.

The injury, which requires a minimum of six weeks of recovery, per ESPN’s report, might not impact her availability next WNBA season. However, her involvement as a player for the Lunar Owls of the Unrivaled League, which returns in January, could be affected.

Collier co-founded the professional 33 basketball league for women that began play in January 2025 with New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart.

A face of the WNBA and runner-up for league Most Valuable Player for the second season in a row, Collier on Tuesday also criticized the league office for what she perceives as a ‘lack of accountability.’

‘I want to be clear this conversation is not about winning or losing,’ Collier began, referencing a written statement in front of her at her season-ending press conference. ‘It’s about something much bigger. The real threat to our league isn’t money, it isn’t ratings or even missed calls or even physical play. It’s the lack of accountability from the league office.’

Collier said in reading from a prepared statement lasting more than four minutes that ‘We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world. But right now we have the worst leadership in the world.

‘Since I’ve been in the league, you’ve heard the constant concerns about officiating and it has now reached levels of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity of which it operates,’ Collier said, who turned 29 on Sept. 23.

‘Whether the league cares about the health of our players is one thing, but to also not care about the product we put on the floor is truly self-sabotage. Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is the lack of accountability from our leaders.’

The league office released a response from commissioner Cathy Engelbert later Tuesday afternoon.

‘I have the utmost respect for Napheesa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA,’ Engelbert said. ‘Together we have all worked tirelessly to transform this league. My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game. I am disheartened by how Napheesa characterized our conversations and league leadership, but even when our perspectives differ, my commitment to the players and to this work will not waver.’

Collier has averaged 18.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 blocks in 193 regular-season games (all starts) in her career. She is a five-time All-Star in seven seasons, all with Minnesota. She was the WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2019 and first-team All-WNBA in 2023 and 2024.

–Field Level Media

[ad_2]

Source link

October 1, 2025
Sacramento Police Department dismisses dozens of reserve officers after CalPERS audit

[ad_1]

Sacramento police have let go 41 retired officers who were working part-time after a CalPERS audit found compliance issues with their employment conditions.These reserve officers, known as retired annuitants, were often considered extra help and included individuals brought in on an interim basis to fill vacancies or prevent emergencies.The audit found that one officer returned to work only 30 days after retirement, instead of the required 60 days. In another instance, some officers did not submit the required documentation showing they had not received unemployment insurance prior to their return to work.Dustin Smith, the president of the Sacramento Police Officers Association, said the audit marked the end of decades of service for dozens of officers. “For most of them, it’s just heart-wrenching because this is a big part of who you are and what you do in life,” Smith said. “We have 40-year employees that have given their life, their heart and soul to this community, that are all basically with a phone call, were told, ‘I’m sorry, we have to let you go.’”Smith said the reserve officers would generally help with things like cold case investigations, jail intake, and special events. He said losing them will hurt—especially amid a staff shortage.“There’s going to be more police officers pulled off the streets, trapped in a place like jail, doing basic admin work instead of coming back out to handle calls for service. So, call response times and all the things we talk about routinely to help the community are going to go down again,” Smith said. Sacramento Police shared a statement saying in part, “At this time, we are still working with City Human Resources to determine how the work previously performed by retired annuitants will be addressed, and we do not yet have details on what the impact will be to staffing.”Meanwhile, CalPERS released a statement saying, “We are working with the city to resolve the issues and ensure that the retired annuitants they want to utilize are processed correctly. CalPERS did not prohibit the hiring of any officers and ultimately the city is responsible for their hiring decisions.”Smith said this is a big loss for something he called a minor issue.“We really need the people at PERS and the city to get together and sit down and just use common sense. This was a technicality and it was an accident,” Smith said. “There’s a lot more to it than just numbers and response times. We’re losing some really good people.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Sacramento police have let go 41 retired officers who were working part-time after a CalPERS audit found compliance issues with their employment conditions.

These reserve officers, known as retired annuitants, were often considered extra help and included individuals brought in on an interim basis to fill vacancies or prevent emergencies.

The audit found that one officer returned to work only 30 days after retirement, instead of the required 60 days. In another instance, some officers did not submit the required documentation showing they had not received unemployment insurance prior to their return to work.

Dustin Smith, the president of the Sacramento Police Officers Association, said the audit marked the end of decades of service for dozens of officers.

“For most of them, it’s just heart-wrenching because this is a big part of who you are and what you do in life,” Smith said. “We have 40-year employees that have given their life, their heart and soul to this community, that are all basically with a phone call, were told, ‘I’m sorry, we have to let you go.’”

Smith said the reserve officers would generally help with things like cold case investigations, jail intake, and special events. He said losing them will hurt—especially amid a staff shortage.

“There’s going to be more police officers pulled off the streets, trapped in a place like jail, doing basic admin work instead of coming back out to handle calls for service. So, call response times and all the things we talk about routinely to help the community are going to go down again,” Smith said.

Sacramento Police shared a statement saying in part, “At this time, we are still working with City Human Resources to determine how the work previously performed by retired annuitants will be addressed, and we do not yet have details on what the impact will be to staffing.”

Meanwhile, CalPERS released a statement saying, “We are working with the city to resolve the issues and ensure that the retired annuitants they want to utilize are processed correctly. CalPERS did not prohibit the hiring of any officers and ultimately the city is responsible for their hiring decisions.”

Smith said this is a big loss for something he called a minor issue.

“We really need the people at PERS and the city to get together and sit down and just use common sense. This was a technicality and it was an accident,” Smith said. “There’s a lot more to it than just numbers and response times. We’re losing some really good people.”

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

[ad_2]

Source link

September 24, 2025