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Wife of LASD deputy who died by suicide files claim against department

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

The widow of a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy is considering legal action after her husband died by suicide.Arturo Atilano-Valdez was one of four department employees to die by suicide in a 24-hour span in early November.Arturo's wife, Michele Atilano, said for years that her husband had complained about long hours at work and stressful jail conditions. She claims he didn’t receive the necessary support or help from his employers that could’ve saved his life.“My daughters cry every night when they go to sleep,” Michele said. “It's just me and my daughters left now.”The grieving widow is speaking out as she recalls the day her husband died.She said Arturo was home one night, sitting on the couch. She and her daughters were in their bedrooms when they heard a single pop that sounded like fireworks. It was gunfire. Arturo had fatally shot himself. Upon the gruesome discovery, Michelle said she threw a blanket over her husband, who was still bleeding, and quickly tried t...

Californians will be able to recycle these beverage containers beginning in 2024

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

Californians will be able to recycle wine, liquor and large juice bottles and earn cash for doing so beginning next year.The beverage containers will now be considered in the California Redemption Value Fee, a statewide program implemented after the 1986 Bottle Bill, which requires consumers to pay a fee when purchasing aluminum, glass, plastic, or metal-packaged beverages. Planned Parenthood sues Fontana for allegedly blocking abortion access Previously, the bill applied to nonalcoholic beverages such as juice, soda, and water but excluded milk, vegetable juice over 16 ounces, beer, wine coolers, distilled spirits coolers, and drinks in refillable containers.As with containers already included in the program, the fee will be refundable when the containers are returned to a recycling center beginning on Jan.1, 2024, according to CalRecycle.Wine, liquor, alcoholic coolers and juice in containers 24 ounces or less will be redeemable for five cents, those over 24 ounces will be redee...

Lights, Camera, Take Action! A star-studded telethon benefitting the MPTF

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

Join KTLA 5 and a long list of celebrities from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, for a live telethon benefiting the Motion Picture & Television Fund airing live on L.A's Very Own KTLA 5 and streaming live on KTLA.com and KTLA+.MPTF supports working and retired members of the entertainment community with a safety net of health and social services, including temporary financial assistance, case management, and residential living.Yvette Nicole Brown and Tom Bergeron return as hosts and serve as two of the producers for this uplifting, entertaining evening of stories, songs, and celebrities all to raise emergency relief funds for workers in need. MPTF’s first telethon last December received an LA Area Emmy® nomination and raised over $850K to provide for the entertainment community’s most vulnerable community members. Tap here to donate to MPTFNow the need is even more urgent with tens of thousands of industry workers impacted by the two strikes in 2023,...

US vetoes UN resolution demanding cease-fire in Gaza war

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

By Edith M. Lederer | Associated PressUNITED NATIONS — The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution Friday backed by almost all other Security Council members and dozens of other nations demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. Supporters called it a terrible day and warned of more civilian deaths and destruction as the war goes into its third month.The vote in the 15-member council was 13-1, with the United Kingdom abstaining. The United States’ isolated stand reflected a growing fracture between Washington and some of its closest allies over Israel’s monthslong bombardment of Gaza. France and Japan were among those supporting the call for a cease-fire.In a vain effort to press the Biden administration to drop its opposition to calling for a halt to the fighting, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey were all in Washington on Friday. But their meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinke...

Thousands pay tribute to Pogues singer Shane MacGowan

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

By Jill Lawless | Associated PressLONDON — Thousands of people lined the streets of Dublin on Friday to say goodbye to The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan as his coffin wound through the Irish capital before a small-town funeral attended by family, neighbors and friends including Johnny Depp and Nick Cave.MacGowan died Nov. 30 at the age of 65 after a lifetime of drinking, carousing and writing songs that fused Irish traditional music with the spirit of punk.He became an Irish cultural icon, and Ireland’s President Michael D. Higgins was among hundreds of people who packed St. Mary of the Rosary Church in the town of Nenagh for the funeral Mass.Mourners at the service, in MacGowan’s ancestral home county of Tipperary some 100 miles (160 kilometers) southwest of Dublin, included former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and Irish actor Aidan Gillen, who both gave readings. There was also a recorded reading from Bono of U2. Depp, a friend of the musician, was among those who help...

San Jose, San Francisco rank last in 'housing happiness' study

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The two most populated cities in the Bay Area -- San Francisco and San Jose -- ranked dead last, and second-to-last in a new study on "housing happiness" of homeowners. The nationwide study by allstarhome.com used American Housing Survey data to analyze where Americans have made the best return on their housing investments, and the worst. Homeowners rated local attitudes about their homes and neighborhoods overall. Median home values were compared to homeowners' rankings. The study found that people who live in San Francisco and San Jose pay the most for their "housing happiness," with high average costs of homes and low happiness scores.The top reasons why Americans dislike their neighborhoods are "weird people, homes too close together, rude people, and noisy people," the study states. (Data courtesy allstarhome.com) On the opposite end of the spectrum, Detroit, Rochester, and Birmingham ranked #1, #2 and #3 for "best bang for your buck." Happiness wi...

DC says Empower rideshare is in violation of city law

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

D.C.-area residents have another alternative to Uber or Lyft — it’s called Empower.The Virginia-based company claims to be “transforming the gig economy” by providing drivers with 100% of their earnings from riders’ fares.“We provide software and support services to drivers who want to build and run their own businesses,” Empower CEO Joshua Sear told WTOP.Sear’s company is a third-party vendor that lets drivers set their own rates and be paid directly in-app by riders.“In exchange, drivers pay Empower a subscription fee, which is significantly less than Uber/Lyft are withholding from drivers in taking over 40% of the fare on average from each ride,” the company says on its website. “Empower takes ZERO commission from rides.”Riders can access the service through the company’s app.But, according to D.C.’s Department of For-Hire Vehicles, Empower has refused to register with the department to operate in...

Live updates | UN resolution demanding immediate cease-fire in Gaza fails

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, where Israeli troops rounded up Palestinian men in the northern part of the territory for interrogation, seeking Hamas militants. The U.N. vote came after Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the first time invoked Article 99 of the U.N. Charter, which enables a U.N. chief to raise threats he sees to international peace and security. He warned of a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said halting military action would allow Hamas to continue to rule Gaza and “only plant the seeds for the next war.”Around 1,200 people have died on the Israeli side, mainly civilians killed during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war. The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said the death toll in the territory has surpassed 17,400, with more than 46,000 wounded. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but said 70% of the...

Saints QB Derek Carr clears concussion protocol, could play vs. Panthers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saints quarterback Derek Carr cleared the concussion protocol on Friday evening, increasing the liklelihood that he’ll start on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.Carr, who left New Orleans’ 33-28 loss to Detroit last week with a concussion as well as shoulder and rib injuries, was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report.However, he participated — at least on a limited basis — in every practice this week.“I have felt better, but I’m doing great,” Carr, who was concussed twice in 22 days, said after clearing the protocol.“I don’t really have any concerns,” Carr added. “Our doctors and the non-affiliated doctor said everything was perfect.”Carr’s injury came after he’d been booed repeatedly by the Superdome crowd when taking the field, starting in pre-game warmups and throughout much of last Sunday’s game.Aided by an interception on Carr’s first pass of the game, the Lions raced to a 21-0 l...

Braves get David Fletcher and Max Stassi from Angels for Evan White and Tyler Thomas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:08 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves obtained infielder David Fletcher and catcher Max Stassi from the Los Angeles Angels on Friday for infielder Evan White and left-hander Tyler Thomas.Fletcher, 29, hit .247 with two homers and 12 RBIs in 33 games with the Angels this season and batted .331 with four homers and 38 RBIs in 85 games at Triple-A Salt Lake. An Orange County native, he has a .277 batting average with 16 homers and 168 RBIs in parts of six seasons with the Angels.Fletcher is owed $14 million as part of a $26 million, five-year contract, a deal that calls for him to receive $6 million next year and $6.5 million in 2025 and includes a $1.5 million buyout of a 2026 team option.Stassi, 32, did not play this season. He strained his left hip in spring training, and the team said on Sept. 9 that while he was capable of resuming baseball activities, he would miss the rest of the season because of a serious family medical issue.Stassi has a .212 career average with 41 homers and 128...