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Thousands gather for writers strike rally in downtown Los Angeles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:24 GMT

Thousands gathered for a massive rally in downtown Los Angeles on Friday to support the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike.More than a dozen unions joined the writers in solidarity including the United Teachers of Los Angeles, the Service Employees International Union, Sag-Aftra and more. California Congressman Adam Schmidt also made an appearance.Attendees can be seen marching on streets while holding signs saying, “Unions Strike Back,” the theme of Friday’s gathering.“This is the first time that we’re all together and that’s what we really needed," said Kristen Thomas, who has been picketing with WGA for the last four weeks. "We needed to have support. We needed to know other people wanted to help out and stay connected. 'United not divided' as we say.”Writers have been on strike since May 2, marking the fourth week of strikers seen picketing outside studios every day.The Friday rally’s location near South Figueroa and West 12th Streets was chosen to coincide with an annual C...

Robbery suspect accused of attempting to speak to children at Rancho Cucamonga daycare

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:24 GMT

A robbery suspect was arrested after allegedly attempting to speak to children at a Rancho Cucamonga daycare on Thursday.The suspect was identified as 38-year-old Cristian Rodriguez by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.Deputies responded to reports of a man trying to speak to children at a daycare near the 9600 Block of Baseline Road around 9:10 a.m.Arriving officers spotted Rodriguez across the street from the daycare facility. While taking him into custody, they found a concealed replica firearm.Authorities also discovered Rodriguez was a wanted suspect for strong-arm robbery.Rodriguez was booked into the West Valley Detention Center where he is being held on $50,000 bail. Authorities believe Rodriguez may be a homeless person.Anyone who may have been a victim of Rodriguez is asked to contact the Rancho Cucamonga Station at 909-477-2800. Anonymous tips can be submitted to the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-7827-463 or online at www.wetip.com.

Angels’ Bachman becomes first top-10 pick from 2021 draft to reach majors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:24 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Sam Bachman was promoted by the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, making him the first top-10 pick from the 2021 amateur draft to reach the majors.Bachman, the ninth overall selection by the Angels out of Miami University in Ohio, is primarily a starter but will pitch out of the bullpen for manager Phil Nevin’s club. Los Angeles took a four-game winning streak into the opener of a weekend series against the Miami Marlins.The 23-year-old right-hander was pitching for Double-A Rocket City and got the call at 1 a.m. Thursday morning in Alabama that he was being elevated to the majors.“I called everyone and they all answered. Not a lot of people slept that night, including myself,” Bachman said. “It was great. Still so surreal.”Bachman joins pitcher Chase Silseth and shortstop Zach Neto on the Halos’ roster as players who came up to the majors from Double-A.Silseth was the first player from the 2021 draft to reach the majors last May and Neto became the fi...

Gruden present for QB Carr’s early work with Saints, AP source says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:24 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Former Raiders coach Jon Gruden was among a handful of invited guests who observed New Orleans Saints voluntary offseason practices this week.A person familiar with the situation confirmed Gruden’s presence during the Saints’ first week of voluntary practices with new quarterback Derek Carr, who posted some of his best career passing numbers in Gruden-designed offenses. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the club did not publicly disclose the names of non-Saints coaches who attended practices.Several active college coaches also were there, the person said.Gruden last coached in 2021, resigning five games into that season following the leaks of emails in which he criticized people — including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell — with homophobic and misogynistic terms. The Saints held three practices this week. Only the first of those — on Tuesday — was open to media.The Times-Picayune first reported Gruden’s visit. N...

Bicyclist killed in hit-and-run crash, 1 arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:24 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — Police say a driver crashed into a bicyclist Thursday night and left the man to die on the road.Jose Moya, 21, of Denver, faces counts of vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a deadly crash, according to the Aurora Police Department.The crash was reported around 11:12 p.m. Thursday, police said. Responding officers found the bicyclist, a 56-year-old man, lying on the road near East Colfax Avenue and North Joliet Street. He died at the scene. Gunman wanted in bar shooting Investigators learned a black 2020 Nissan Altima was involved, according to the police department. Around 3 a.m., police found the car and Moya along East Colfax, just west of Interstate 225."The Altima had damage consistent with striking a bicycle and Moya admitted to being involved in a crash," Aurora Police spokesperson Joy Moylan wrote in a release.East Colfax Avenue was closed in both directions between North Joliet and Kingston streets. The road reopened around 3 a.m.The victim'...

Judge denies student's plea to wear Mexican and American flag sash at graduation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:24 GMT

DENVER (AP) — A federal judge ruled Friday that a rural Colorado school district can bar a high school student from wearing a Mexican and American flag sash at her graduation this weekend after the student sued the school district.Judge Nina Y. Wang wrote that wearing a sash during a graduation ceremony falls under school-sponsored speech, not the student's private speech. Therefor, “the School District is permitted to restrict that speech as it sees fit in the interest of the kind of graduation it would like to hold,” Wang wrote.The ruling was over the student's request for a temporary restraining order, which would have allowed her to wear the sash on Saturday for graduation because the case wouldn't have resolved in time. Wang found that the student and her attorneys failed to sufficiently show they were likely to succeed, but a final ruling is still to come.It's the latest dispute in the U.S. about what kind of cultural graduation attire is allowed at commencement ceremonies, wi...

Gunman wanted in Denver bar shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:24 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Police need help identifying a man who was allegedly involved in a shooting at a Denver bar in the Westwood neighborhood.According to the Denver Police Department, the shooting happened on May 21 just after 9:30 p.m. at the Boogie Down Bar and Grill in the 5100 block of Morrison Road.The suspect was caught on camera holding out a gun and possibly aiming it at other patrons who were outside on the patio. Man killed in shooting involving Boulder Police officers No injuries have been reported from this shooting.Denver Police need help identifying the man pictured. He is wanted in connection to an alleged shooting at a Denver bar. (Metro Denver Crime Stoppers)Denver Police need help identifying the man pictured. He is wanted in connection to an alleged shooting at a Denver bar. (Metro Denver Crime Stoppers)Now, police want to identify the man in the video. He is described as the following:White manIn his 30s6 feet, 1 inch tallBaldHas tattoos on head, face, neckLast see...

Heavy rainfall floods parking lot of SW Miami-Dade shopping plaza following days of stormy weather

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:24 GMT

Heavy rains caused extensive flooding across parts of South Florida to flood, causing a parking lot in Southwest Miami-Dade to resemble a lake. Friday’s downpours flooded a shopping plaza near Quail Roost Drive and Southwest 114th Avenue.“Yesterday was the worst, and today was just like yesterday,” said driver Joseph Russ. Jan Carlos Gomez, who owns 7 Maravillas food truck, shot cellphone video of the rising floodwaters from inside his vehicle.“I got to work at around 12. Out of nowhere, it started raining,” he said. “Even the trash can was floating everywhere in the parking lot.”Gomez said that the rain slowed down his business a bit.“Most of the people complain about the flooding,” he said. “You can see the streets, it was pretty bad, so people don’t want to drive like that.”Cellphone video also showed a waterspout off Islamorada.Back in Southwest Miami-Dade, the standing water made it tricky for drivers to ge...

Fluffy fixings: Fort Lauderdale Marshmallow Co. gives bold gourmet spin to gooey campfire treat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:24 GMT

Marshmallow is ready for its closeup. For too long, this gooey fan favorite has been reduced to a supporting role in the dessert world. No more! A few bold dessert pioneers are blazing a trail and giving marshmallow its sweet time in the spotlight.Marshmallow? No, not Marshmello — marshmallows! From Fort Lauderdale Marshmallow Co.Jennifer Thomas-Sassone: “The Fort Lauderdale Marshmallow Company is a marshmallow company, we specialize in making gourmet marshmallows.”They’re crazy about it. I mean, that’s why they have so many flavors.Jennifer Thomas-Sassone: “We have 15 flavors. Our top sellers are Birthday Cake Oreo, the coconut, the Smurf, and the now popular pistachio.”These fluffy fixings are nothing like the squishy versions you get in stores.Jennifer Thomas-Sassone: “There’s a big difference between ours and what you can get at the store. For example, our Birthday Cake Oreo is a homemade fresh marshmallow base, with chopped-...

Madrid’s loose-cannon populist is an asset and a worry for Spain’s conservatives

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:24 GMT

MADRID — Isabel Díaz Ayuso is the Spanish political right’s most powerful electoral weapon. But, even as the president of the Madrid region heads toward another election victory, her divisive brand of libertarian populism is causing problems for her conservative Popular Party (PP).As elections are held for 12 regional assemblies and in municipalities across Spain on May 28, polls show that Díaz Ayuso will be reelected by a wide margin. The only uncertainty is whether the PP will increase its share of seats enough to give her a full majority in the Madrid regional assembly, a rare feat in Spain’s fragmented politics.Since taking power in 2019, her popularity and profile have given Díaz Ayuso a national presence that transcends regional politics.“Ayuso is a phenomenon,” said Lluís Orriols, a political scientist at Madrid’s Carlos III University. “Not only is she the president of the Madrid region, but she is also the main point of reference when it comes to confrontation with the cent...