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Officials warn beachgoers of high surf, dangerous rip currents as tropical storm churns off SoCal coast 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

While there is no imminent threat to land, Tropical Storm Jova continues to create high surf conditions and bring dangerous rip currents to SoCal beaches.Officials are urging beachgoers to exercise caution if they plan on swimming this weekend and are advising those who live near the beach to beware of the potential for coastal flooding, beach erosion and walkway damage. “Waves are expected to top out in the four-to-seven-foot range...for south facing beaches both Saturday and Sunday,” the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Lifeguard Division said on Instagram. “With increased air temperatures throughout the greater L.A. area, if you decide to come to the beach, please be advised to know your limits and check in with a lifeguard before entering the water.”  Click here to view the weather radar for your community According to the National Weather Service, south facing beaches from the Central Coast to Los Angeles County could see surf heights of up to eight feet. T...

The abandoned plans to bring another Disney theme park to California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

In addition to Anaheim, another California city could have been home to a Disney theme park.Visitors from various destinations worldwide have traveled to Anaheim to visit the “Happiest Place on Earth” to see Mickey, Minnie and friends, indulge in one of Disneyland’s famous treats, or ride classic attractions like Space Mountain. But another Southern California city was almost home to its own Disney magic: Long Beach. Back in the '90s, former Disney CEO Michael Eisner announced the Disney Decade, a plan that looked at how the company would expand across all sectors. New ‘Avatar’ experience coming to Disneyland, movie sequels for popular franchises in the works Included in those plans was the idea for Port Disney and a DisneySea theme park similar to the one the company currently has in Tokyo. But those theme park plans never materialized.The elaborate proposed resort in Long Beach would have included six hotels, shopping and dining districts, in addition to a theme park and a cruis...

Sexton returns and leads a record-setting day for Ireland at Rugby World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

BORDEAUX, France (AP) — Jonathan Sexton was bent over, clutching his left wrist, and Ireland and its supporters held their breath.Uh oh.Ireland’s prized asset in their determined bid to win the Rugby World Cup for the first time was playing his first match in six months on Saturday and appeared in pain.Sexton had turned casually to flop between the posts for a try and braced his fall with his left arm — the same arm that Romania back Jason Tomane, too late to spoil the try, slid in and slammed.Sexton hung behind the posts, rubbing his wrist. Then the flyhalf converted his try and all was OK, as was Ireland in a record-setting 82-8 win against Romania.The 82 was Ireland’s highest World Cup score, and second highest all time. Ireland also extended its record-long winning streak to 14 tests.But this Pool B match was all about Sexton, sidelined since the Six Nations Grand Slam-clinching win over England in March.A groin injury and suspension had kept him off the field, but a...

New data from DC’s 911 call center reveals short staffing, slow answering

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

Short staffing and longer answer times are plaguing D.C.’s 911 call center, according to newly released data from the Office of Unified Communications — highlighting the struggles of the agency.Of 180 employees to pull from, the 911 operations aim to have 44 employees for day shifts and 37 employees for night shifts, according to a statement. New data shows that around a third of shifts in July at the 911 call center were short staffed. In August, it was 39%.While the majority of calls were answered in 15 seconds or less, about one in four took longer. The standard set by the National Emergency Number Association is that 90% of calls be answered in 15 seconds or less.Numerous calls shown in the data took several minutes to be connected to a call taker.Earlier this summer, D.C.’s council passed emergency legislation requiring the Office of Unified Communication to publish call and staffing data every month. The new dashboard also features the number of dropped calls and t...

Commanders’ owner Josh Harris talks 12th man, team name ahead of season opener

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio Part 1 of WTOP Sports Director George Wallace's interview with Commanders' owner Josh Harris $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); Maryland’s own and new Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris is excited for the new season — but knows eyes are on him. Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris speaks with a member of the medi...

QB Cam Rising out again for No. 12 Utah in its game at future Big 12 opponent Baylor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

WACO, Texas (AP) — Cam Rising was not in uniform for 12th-ranked Utah’s game at Baylor on Saturday and was not playing for the second week in a row while still recovering from the torn ACL he sustained in the Rose Bowl eight months ago.Rising was on the field before the game but was wearing shorts with a protective sleeve on the left knee. He did more in practice this week after not playing in the season-opening over Florida, but it was still unclear when he might play. The Utes host FCS team Weber State next week before their Pac-12 opener at home against UCLA on Sept. 23.Utah is in its final Pac-12 season before joining Baylor in the Big 12 next year.Junior Bryson Barnes was set to get his second start for Utah, with redshirt freshman Nate Johnson likely to play as well. Barnes completed 12 of 18 passes for 159 yards, with a 70-yard touchdown to Money Parks on their first offensive snap, while Johnson ran for 45 yards and a TD on six carries in wildcat-like sets.Baylor also ...

MATCHDAY: Netherlands seeks a win at Ireland, struggling Poland plays Albania

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

A look at what’s happening in European Championship qualifying on Sunday:GROUP BThe Netherlands visits Ireland for a game in which the losing team will have a tough job of qualifying. The Dutch team is in second place with six points, while Ireland has three, both far behind France on 15. That’s partly down to the schedule — France has played two games more than the Netherlands and one more than Ireland — but neither the Dutch nor the Irish have been particularly impressive so far. The Netherlands won 3-0 against Greece on Thursday and France beat Ireland 2-0. Greece (6 points) plays Gibraltar and will take second place with a win if the Dutch team doesn’t beat Ireland. France isn’t playing ahead of a friendly with Germany on Tuesday.GROUP ESecond-place Albania (7 points) hosts third-place Poland (6 points), with leader the Czech Republic (8 points) not in action. Poland is still trying to get its qualifying campaign into gear after a series of underwhelming result...

A man convicted of murder in Massachusetts in 1993 is getting a new trial due to DNA evidence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A Massachusetts judge granted a new trial to a man who found guilty of murder in 1993 after new DNA evidence called the conviction into question.Thomas Rosa was convicted of the 1985 killing of 18-year-old Gwendolyn Taylor. Rosa, who has always maintained his innocence, was tried three times for the killing.Suffolk Superior Court Justice Michael Ricciuti issued an order Wednesday that vacates Rosa’s conviction and opens the possibility of a new trial. Ricciuti wrote that new DNA evidence “casts doubt regarding the reliability of the eyewitness testimony” in the case.The New England Innocence Project and the Boston College Innocence Program said they will hold a news conference about the case on Monday in front of Suffolk Superior Court in Boston in which they will call for prosecutors to drop the charges. The groups said the district attorney should “end this almost forty-year nightmare, rather than try him again for a fourth time.”District Attorney Kevin H...

Massachusetts residents still losing home equity under state law foreclosure law despite Supreme Court ruling

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

Week after week, Massachusetts residents are still having their home equity taken under absolute title, according to advocates and lawyers working to have the practice stopped immediately and bolstered by a recent Supreme Court decision.In May, the nation’s highest court ruled in Tyler v. Hennepin County that a municipality in Minnesota had violated the Constitution’s takings clause when it sold a foreclosed property and kept proceeds beyond what the property owner owed in taxes.As a consequence, and according to Attorney General’s office testimony to the Legislature shortly after the Supreme Court’s ruling, a provision of Massachusetts law allowing cities and towns to foreclose on properties, sell them, and keep the entire proceeds of the sale is also unconstitutional.The practice of “home equity theft” by municipalities or third party companies acting on their behalf continues to occur in Massachusetts, according to attorney Chris Perry, while the legislature, courts, ...

Massachusetts State Police trooper shoots, kills armed man in Hancock after 911 call

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:52 GMT

A Massachusetts State Police trooper shot and killed a man Saturday morning during a “confrontation” after police were called to a residence in Hancock for a report of a domestic incident, authorities said.A state police trooper arrived at a residence on Richmond Road around 7 a.m. and encountered an adult male armed with a weapon, according to state police and the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office.“Initial investigations indicate that when the officer arrived an individual armed with a weapon approached and would not back down following requests to stop resulting in the officer discharging his weapon,” the district attorney’s office said in a statement.CPR was performed on scene, a county ambulance responded, and the individual was pronounced dead, authorities said.State police previously identified the person killed by law enforcement as an adult male.The district attorney’s office did not say what weapon the man was armed with.The district attorney’s office ...