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TikTok trend did not cause recent drownings, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:08 GMT

You might have heard about the social media trend called "boat jumping" over the past couple of weeks. The challenge, which supposedly involves jumping off a fast-moving boat, was featured prominently in the media around and after the July 4 holiday celebrations.It even garnered a segment on NBC's "Today" show, among other large platforms.Contrary to reports, however, this scary stunt seems to be based on more fiction than fact, according to KTLA sister station WIAT.The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency stated Monday that despite the attestations of Rescue Squad Capt. Jim Dennis of Childersburg, Alabama, no recent drownings have been tied to jumping off of a fast-moving boat. Former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett dies in apparent drowning in Florida "Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division does not have any record(s) of boating or marine-related fatalities in Alabama that can be directly linked to TikTok or a trend on TikTok," officials wrote.Dennis had claimed f...

14-year-old girl found in barracks at Camp Pendleton: What we know

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:08 GMT

A 14-year-old girl was found in the barracks at a California Marine Corps base last month, two weeks after her grandmother in San Diego reported she had run away from home, and a Marine was detained for questioning, officials said Monday.The Marine has since been released to his command while federal law enforcement officials investigate, said Marine Capt. Charles Palmer of the 1st Marine Logistics Group at Camp Pendleton, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of San Diego.It was unclear how the girl and the Marine came into contact before military police found her in the barracks during the daytime on June 28, Palmer said. 14-year-old girl found in barracks at Camp Pendleton in alleged sex trafficking case According to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, her grandmother reported her missing on June 13 and told authorities she had run away from home four days earlier. The grandmother told the deputy who interviewed her that the girl had run away before but only for brief periods.Th...

CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER ADVICE: INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN BE FORCED TO PAY YOU MORE IF THEY REJECT YOUR INJURY CLAIM

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:08 GMT

If you live in Los Angeles, chances are you’ve been involved in a car accident, or know someone who has. In a car-dependent city like LA, car accidents just come with the territory, and insurance companies who refuse to pay for your injuries, are all too common.Fortunately, “there is a way to turn the tables when insurance companies refuse to pay.” According to Ben Charchian, whose Big Ben Lawyers billboards you may have seen around town, “car insurance companies routinely take advantage of people who don’t know any better by refusing injury claims or trying to settle for pennies on the dollar.” If this happens, Charchian says, “you may be able to force the insurance company to pay you a whole lot more.”Under the Bad Faith laws in California, insurance companies have a duty to protect their negligent drivers by settling your valid injury claim and not subjecting their negligent drivers to lawsuits. Per Charchian, “if a car insurance company unreasonably refuses to pay your injury cl...

Cindy Maram: A Force in the Entertainment Industry from Los Angeles to Cannes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:08 GMT

Photo credit: Paul Smith/ Feature FlashFrom the red carpet of the Cannes Film FestivalThe entertainment industry has come a long way – from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the glimpses of cutting-edge fashion exclusively seen on the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival, set against the stunning backdrop of the French Riviera. And while the industry is constantly breaking conventions, it continues to captivate and inspire with its promising allure.And amidst this grand narrative of progress and transformation, one exceptional multi-skilled professional has emerged as a trailblazer, journeying through uncharted territories with boundless determination and unwavering spirit: Cindy Maram. Known for her unconventional creation and appearances, Cindy has successfully owned the title as an emerging Filmmaker, Fashion Model, Content Creator, Actress, and Entrepreneur.From producing Max’s ‘Women Is Losers’ to crafting thought-provoking short films that challen...

How Adam Nelson Became the Class Clown of Creative Communications 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:08 GMT

The Founder of independent creative agency, Workhouse, Defies Convention with Broken Rules Learned From DetentionPhoto Credit: @Holtz_photographyIn a world consumed by the relentless pursuit of profit, the essence of genuine connection has been cast aside. We yearn for the days when conversations held weight. In today’s barren landscape of superficiality, we seek renegades who dare to defy the norm, who infuse their dealings with raw, unfiltered humanity. These individuals, like flickering stars amidst a darkened sky, remind us of the irreplaceable value of connection.Photo Credit: @Holtz_photographyCelebrated for his unique humor and wit, Adam Nelson is widely appreciated as the “Class Clown of Creative Communication” for his unique perspective on PR. His is an approach that defies conventional wisdom and standard practices. “I’d rather be sent to the principal’s office than have to listen to best practices. I’m trying to do something that promotes dev...

Study: Heat deaths soared with temps in Europe last year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:08 GMT

By Frank Jordans | Associated PressBERLIN — Scientists say crushing temperatures that blanketed Europe last summer may have led to more than 61,000 heat-related deaths, highlighting the need for governments to address the health impacts of global warming.In their study, published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers examined official mortality figures from 35 European countries and found a marked increase in deaths between late May and early September last year compared with the average recorded over a 30-year period.The increase in heat-related deaths was higher among older people, women and in Mediterranean countries, they found. But the data also indicated that measures taken in France since a deadly heatwave two decades ago may have helped prevent deaths there last year.“In the pattern of summer mean temperatures in Europe during the summer of 2022, we don’t see borders,” said co-author Joan Ballester of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. ...

NATO meeting to focus on Ukraine, Sweden and Belarus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:08 GMT

Associated PressVILNIUS, Lithuania — Russia’s war in Ukraine will top the agenda when U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts hold a summit in Lithuania’s capital over two days starting Tuesday.They are expected to focus on ensuring that Ukraine has support as long as the conflict continues, how to bring the country even closer to NATO without actually joining, and security guarantees Kyiv might need to ensure that Russia doesn’t invade again after the war ends.The leaders meeting in Vilnius are set to endorse new defense plans in case Russian President Vladimir Putin tries to broaden Moscow’s war beyond Ukraine and westward into allied territory. They also weigh defense spending, and how to boost their budgets as aid to Ukraine eats into national military coffers.Sweden’s accession to the 31-nation alliance is up for discussion, too, as Turkey delays the Scandinavian country’s entry into the world’s biggest security organization....

Sharks add 23-year-old former top-10 draft pick in free agency

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:08 GMT

The Sharks took a flyer on a former top NHL Draft pick in free agency, announcing a deal with Filip Zadina on Monday morning as general manager Mike Grier continues to remake the San Jose roster.The 23-year-old Czech forward joins the Sharks on a one-year, $1.1 million contract.Zadina was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 draft by Detroit and has played parts of five seasons for the Red Wings, including 30 games last year, totaling three goals and four assists as he missed part of the season with a leg injury.The two prior seasons were his most productive at the NHL level, as he played 49 games and scored 19 points in 2020-21 and followed that with career-highs of 10 goals, 24 points and 74 games played in 2021-22.Prior to being drafted, Zadina excelled in his one season at the North American junior level, tallying 44 goals and 38 assists in 57 games for the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.Since then, though, he has struggled to live up to the expectatio...

Sale closed in Saratoga: $4 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:08 GMT

20278 Kilbride Drive – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 20200 block of Kilbride Drive in Saratoga has new owners. The 2,416-square-foot property, built in 1963, was sold on June 21, 2023, for $3,970,000, or $1,643 per square foot. The layout of this single-story home consists of three bedrooms and three bathrooms. In addition, the home includes a two-car garage, ensuring ample room for parking and storage. The lot of the property is substantial, measuring 0.3-acre, and boasts a pool for relaxation and recreation.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:A 1,990-square-foot home on the 20200 block of Kilbride Drive in Saratoga sold in April 2023, for $3,710,000, a price per square foot of $1,864. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Glen Brae Drive, Saratoga, in March 2023, a 2,411-square-foot home was sold for $4,150,000, a price per square foot of $1,721. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In May 2023, a 2,589-square-foot home on Hickory Hill ...

Biden meets with King Charles III at Windsor Castle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:08 GMT

By Betsy Klein | CNNPresident Joe Biden and King Charles III on Monday met for the first time since the British monarch’s coronation, with the US president visiting Windsor Castle for all the pomp and circumstance that comes with a royal meeting.Biden arrived to inspect an honor guard formed of the Prince of Wales Company of the Welsh Guards – with hundreds of uniformed troops, and its military band – positioned on the grassy quadrangle before a tent. The band played “God Save the King” upon the monarch’s arrival and “The Star-Spangled Banner” upon Biden’s entrance.The moment marked Biden’s second trip to Windsor Castle since taking office – the president met the King’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at her home just outside London in June 2021. The Queen met 12 US presidents spanning her reign, all but President Lyndon Johnson. The president said at the time the Queen wanted to know about Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Biden was meeting in Switzerland days after their visit, a...