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Ridley-Thomas sentenced to 42 months on corruption charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

Former Los Angeles County Supervisor and City Council Member Mark Ridley-Thomas was sentenced to three and a half years in prison on Monday after being convicted on corruption charges. He must report to prison on Nov. 13. His sentence also includes three years of supervised release and a $30,000 fine.In March, Ridley-Thomas, 68, was convicted of seven corruption charges, among them bribery, fraud and conspiracy.Ridley-Thomas and Marilyn Louise Flynn, the former dean of USC’s School of Social Work, worked together to funnel $100,000 from a campaign fund through the school and ultimately to a nonprofit run by Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, the former supervisor's son.In exchange, USC received a "lucrative county contract," according to prosecutors. Flynn pleaded guilty to bribery last year, and she was sentenced to three years of probation, the Los Angeles Times reports.Ridley-Thomas, a longtime fixture in local and state politics, has been harshly criticized by prosecutors.Ridley-Thomas “d...

Sorry It’s Over Dominates with Original Sound and Songwriting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

Sorry It’s Over is a pop and alternative concept band formed by Louis Petrella. His authentic SoCal vibe and original style have quickly propelled him to the limelight as the rising artist to look out for.Having reached over 500,000 streams on Spotify, it is clear to see that Sorry It’s Over is rapidly growing its fan base. Listeners particularly enjoy the band’s masterful mix of classic and modern rock.  Louis draws heavily from an eclectic source of inspiration, resulting in an original sound. Hailing from Encinitas his music reflects that “good time” vibe.  Before establishing Sorry It’s Over, Louis moved to Santa Barbara and stayed there for a few years. He DJ’d all the Isla Vista Parties and recorded some original EDM songs that he was able to sell  to other artists .Upon his return home to Encinitas , he decided to get back to his roots and start a rock band. He has been playing guitar since the age of 8 when he got into his older sister’s Green Day records and then taught him...

Book Review: Musician and poet Chris Forrest publishes bracing debut work of poetry, Destination Nowhere

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

 The first poetry collection from Chris Forrest is filled with insightful musings on what it means to be human Accomplished musician and writer Chris Forrest, aka Exetera, has released his debut poetry collection, Destination Nowhere.The collection accompanies Chris’ third music project, Connected Disconnection, which is being released in November. Combined, these projects go to showcase Chris’ versatility across different mediums.Chris` journey to becoming a successful artist has been fraught with obstacles, which molded him into the person he is today. Against the backdrop of a turbulent childhood, Chris developed a love for reading at the age of 7. He began writing poetry to deal with emotional and physical trauma, pouring his heart into a Goosebumps journal he had as a kid.From this, he spent his teenage years turning unadorned ramblings into competent verses of poetry. In high school, late-night conversations and adventures with friends gave him the confidence to share his poem...

From Stigma to Self-Expression: How Herbarium is Leading the Cannabis Culture Shif

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

The world is on the path of a remarkable transformation, with perspectives on cannabis undergoing a metamorphosis unlike any other in history. Gone are the days when whispers of cannabis elicited hushed voices and sidelong glances. Today, it is a symbol of a vivacious and holistic way of life, shedding its once-forbidden cloak and emerging as a symbol of wellness, creativity, and togetherness.Herbarium: More Than a BrandEnter Herbarium. This isn’t just another brand in the ever-growing cannabis industry; this is a movement, an ethos, a lifestyle. Herbarium doesn’t just sell cannabis; it embodies the profound shift in how the world perceives this plant. It’s about crafting an experience that resonates with a generation yearning for authenticity, community, and a touch of nature’s magic.The idea behind the founding of Herbarium is that cannabis is an essential and healthy component of life. Open-minded curiosity about cannabis is something we promote. To promote inno...

Alec Celestin on Startup Powerhouses, Influencers, & Artists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

At the intersection of artistry and entrepreneurialism lies the unique talent of Alec Celestin, founder of the Nofhotos Group. This Gen Z crossover who aspires to be a combination of the legendary fashion designer/entrepreneur Virgil Abloh and the tech visionary Elon Musk, has rapidly made his presence known among both the entertainment and tech industries.With a flair for capturing mesmerizing visuals and an innate understanding of brand strategy, Celestin has carved a niche for himself within the world of start-ups. Alec’s dual expertise in both arts and business further adds a unique strategic lens that differentiates him from other entrepreneurs.Alec explains, “Many artists grapple with business nuances, and many business minds are lost in the art realm. My role is often to bridge these two worlds seamlessly.”The result? A clientele that includes entertainment startups like Flighthouse, Afterparty, and Fanfix as well as collaborations with chart-topping music icons l...

Jose Aguilera Killed, Melecio Hernandez-Ayala Arrested after Hit-and-Run Crash on Englehart Avenue [Fresno, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

Hit-and-Run Collision Left Jose Aguilar Dead, Suspect ArrestedFRESNO, CA (August 28, 2023) – Wednesday morning, Jose Aguilera was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Englehart Avenue.The incident occurred on August 23rd, at around 10:30 a.m., near 10535 Englehart Avenue.Per reports, Melecio Hernandez-Ayala, 40, who works for Foster Farms via a short-term agency, got into a business van with no authorization and drove around the site on Englehart Avenue in Reedley.During that drive, he allegedly hit another employee, Jose Aguilera, 25, who was walking.Ayala drove away from the property, northbound on Englehart Avenue, without pausing to offer aid or report what had occurred.Medics arrived and pronounced the victim, Aguilera, dead at the scene.Meanwhile, authorities located and arrested Ayala. He was charged with felony hit and run and theft of a vehicle.No other information was disclosed by deputies, and the crash is still under investigation.No words can mend the broken hearts and sorr...

Feds charge Hayward man who they claim was driving Cadillac in this iconic Bay Area sideshow photo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

OAKLAND — Federal prosecutors say they have identified the man who was driving a Cadillac in what became an iconic photograph of a Bay Area sideshow, depicting a young woman hanging out the window of the moving vehicle with a mini AK-47 in her hands.In a recent court filing, prosecutors identified the driver as 26-year-old Christopher Gonzalez-Nunez, a Hayward with alleged ties to a Norteño subset, and said the woman in the picture was Gonzalez-Nunez’s “significant other,” who is not mentioned by name. The longtime Bay Area mystery was solved thanks to Instagram users, according to authorities.“Not only does the car match a vehicle that Gonzalez-Nunez owned at the time, but Instagram users ‘tagged’ him in photos from the incident and mentioned him by name,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Leif Dautch wrote in a legal motion. “Perhaps most tellingly, Gonzalez-Nunez posted a photo on his Instagram account of what appears to be him wearing ...

Pope Francis slams some US conservatives as ‘backward’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

Associated PressROME — Pope Francis has blasted the “backwardness” of some conservatives in the U.S. Catholic Church, saying they have replaced faith with ideology and that a correct understanding of Catholic doctrine allows for change over time.Francis’ comments were an acknowledgment of the divisions in the U.S. Catholic Church, which has been split between progressives and conservatives who long found support in the doctrinaire papacies of St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI, particularly on issues of abortion and same-sex marriage.Many conservatives have blasted Francis’ emphasis instead on social justice issues such as the environment and the poor, while also branding as heretical his opening to letting divorced and civilly remarried Catholics receive the sacraments.Francis made the comments in a private meeting with Portuguese members of his Jesuit religious order while visiting Lisbon on Aug. 5; the Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica, which is vetted by...

Detached house in Hayward sells for $1.5 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

A 1,878-square-foot house built in 1974 has changed hands. The property located in the 3500 block of Skyline Drive in Hayward was sold on July 13, 2023, for $1,500,000, or $799 per square foot. This single-story house offers a capacious living environment with its four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The home’s exterior showcases roofing materials crafted from wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, a fireplace enhances the ambiance of the living area. The property is equipped with forced air heating and central A/C. In addition, the house includes a two-car garage. The property’s backyard also boasts a pool.Additional houses that have recently changed hands close by include:On High Country Drive, Hayward, in April 2023, a 2,552-square-foot home was sold for $1,350,000, a price per square foot of $529. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,678-square-foot home on the 3400 block of Pinewood Drive in Hayward sold in September 2022, for $1,000,000, a price per square foo...

Map: Smith River wildfire at edge of Northern California town

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:00 GMT

The Smith River wildfire complex has passed 70,000 acres, and over the weekend the fire approached the edge of the evacuated community of Gasquet.There is no containment yet of the main fire — the merged Kelly/Holiday fire — although secured lines on smaller fires brought the containment figure for the complex to 6% on Monday, Aug. 28, said fire managers for the U.S. Forest Service. The area was at 70,716 acres (110 square miles).Burning operations and bulldozer lines are expected to keep the flames from residences in Gasquet’s North Fork area, the fire managers said.Twenty miles to the southeast, the Elliot and Swillup fires of the Happy Camp Complex merged over the weekend. On Monday, they accounted for 7,877 acres of that complex’s 19,205 (30 square miles). Containment was 2% for the merged fire now called Elliot and 35% for the complex’s Head Fire, near Scott Bar.The Smith River and Happy Camp fires started during lightning storms on Aug. 15-16. In ...