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Menendez accused of acting as foreign agent to Egyptian government in superseding indictment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:55 GMT

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) faces a new charge of acting as a foreign agent of Egypt, less than a month after the New Jersey Democrat was hit with federal charges of accepting luxurious bribes in exchange for his political influence.Menendez is accused of conspiring with his wife, Nadine Arslanian, and New Jersey businessman Wael “Will” Hana to act as an agent of the Egyptian government between January 2018 and June 2022, according to a superseding indictment filed Thursday.“Among other actions, Menendez provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt,” the indictment reads.As a member of Congress, Menendez is prohibited by law from agreeing to be or acting as a foreign agent — even as registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a law requiring any person acting in the U.S. as an “agent of a foreign principal” to register with the U.S. attorney general.The law is meant to prevent covert influen...

Chris Stapleton reschedules tour dates, says he is 'unable to perform'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:55 GMT

LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – Country artist Chris Stapleton is apologizing to fans and rescheduling several shows after he says a sickness has left him "unable to perform" for some time. Upcoming weekend shows in Texas and Louisiana will be postponed until mid-November, the singer-songwriter announced on Instagram. "To all my friends in Corpus Christi, Houston, and Lafayette, I am very sorry to let you all know that I am unable to perform this weekend's shows," Stapleton wrote. "I have bronchitis and laryngitis, and on doctor's orders am on vocal rest through the weekend in order to heal." Better than Whitney? You be the judge of Chris Stapleton’s Super Bowl national anthem Stapleton is currently on his All-American Road Show tour. His next regularly scheduled concert is set for next Thursday in San Antonio. The three canceled shows are being rescheduled for Nov. 16–18. Tickets can still be used for the rescheduled date, but those who can no longer attend are advised to contact their ...

Tracy Man Killed in Big-Rig Crash on Interstate 580 [Richmond, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:55 GMT

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Truck Accident Left 41-Year-Old Man DeadRICHMOND, CA (October 12, 2023) – Monday night, a male truck driver was killed in a big-rig crash on Interstate 580.The fatal incident happened shortly before 10:00 p.m. in the westbound lanes of the freeway of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.According to California Highway Patrol, a Peter Built tractor-trailer combination crashed into a toll booth for unknown reasons. The impact of the collision caused both the booth and the truck to go up in flames.Emergency personnel responding at the scene had to remove the engine of the big rig to extricate one occupant. Tragically, the 41-year-old male driver from Tracy sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.Authorities are working to determine whether drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash.In the end, Richmond officials closed down all the lanes of Interstate 580 as crews cleared the area. The CHP advises motorists to expect delays and take alternate routes to ...

Oktoberfest at Brews Hall And Conversations with Chef Keith Corbin – Here’s What’s Popping Up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:55 GMT

The Brews Hall is hosting an Oktoberfest feast featuring live music from Ladyhosen. L.A.’s ’ only all-female Oktoberfest band, on Friday, Oct.  20 and Saturday, Oct. 21   The beer hall is celebrating Oktoberfest all month long with festive bites including giant German soft pretzels, port brats, smoked turkey legs and chicken schnitzel alongside brews including Buzzrock Oktoberfest, Hofbrau Dunelweizen and more. The menu will be available until Sunday, Oct.  22 at both Brews Hall locations in Torrance and Hermosa Beach.The WeHo Sausage Co. at Citizen Public Market in Culver City will celebrate Oktoberfest with Hofbrau, one of Munich’s largest breweries, as well as games, prizes, beer and traditional Bavarian bites on Monday, Oct. 16. Free to join, must be 21 to participate. San Antonio Winery is hosting a Tour of France Wine & Food Pairing on Sunday, Oct.  15 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. For $85 per person famous wine regions of Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundy will be featured wi...

Jesus Moreno Fatally Struck in Motorcycle Accident on Chestnut Avenue [Fresno, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:55 GMT

29-Year-Old Fresno Man Dies in SUV Collision near Weldon AvenueFRESNO, CA (October 12, 2023) – Monday evening, Jesus Moreno lost his life in a motorcycle accident on Chesnut Avenue.The incident unfolded at approximately 6:30 p.m. near the intersection of Weldon Avenue.According to the findings, the driver of a southbound silver Toyota SUV attempted a left turn, crossing directly into the path of a northbound motorcycle. As a result of the collision, the motorcycle rider was forcibly ejected from his vehicle, sustaining fatal injuries.The Fresno Police Department confirmed the motorcyclist’s passing at the scene. The deceased rider has been identified by authorities as 29-year-old Jesus Moreno of Fresno.Currently, an active investigation is still in progress. Fresno officials will release further information as it becomes available.The team at Sweet James offers their warm and sincerest sympathies go out to the friends and family of Jesus Moreno. May you find comfort and ...

Getting to Know Ensie Durin, Locsanity’s New Brand Ambassador

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:55 GMT

Hair is as integral to identity as voice is to speech. How a person wears their hair can speak volumes about their self expression, heritage or cultural identity. While some hairstyles are celebrated by the mainstream, others showcasing the beauty of Afro-textured hair have not received the same embrace. Laws, such as the CROWN Act, protect against discrimination in employment and education, ensuring that natural hairstyles such as locs, Afros and Bantu knots do not eliminate opportunities for the people who predominantly wear them.Additionally, companies such as Locsanity, a Florida-based loc, natural hair, and personal care brand, have been helping to increase awareness and acceptance. The brand has developed a line of hair care products that women, men, and children can use to bring out the beauty and versatility of their locs.And now, Locsanity is taking things even further…Enter Ensie Durin, The New Face of LocsanityEnsie Durin is a professional model based in Atlanta, Georgia....

WCC preseason poll: Saint Mary’s men picked to win over Gonzaga

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:55 GMT

Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga shared the West Coast Conference men’s basketball title last year as both teams finished 14-2 in league play.This year’s race for the conference crown might be similarly tight, if the WCC coaches are proven correct, and the Gaels may end up on top.The conference’s preseason coaches’ poll, released Thursday, projected Saint Mary’s to win the league with 61 total poll points and five first-place votes. Gonzaga was immediately behind them with 60 points and four first-place votes among the nine head coaches.The Gaels lost lead guard Logan Johnson and forward Kyle Bowen as key contributors to last year’s team, which lost to eventual champion Connecticut in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Guard Aidan Mahaney, a Campolindo graduate, returns for his sophomore year, alongside 2022-23 rotation players Mitchell Saxen (senior), Alex Ducas (fifth year) and Augustas Marciulionis (junior).Gonzaga added guard Ryan Nembhard...

76% of California’s pandemic pay hikes lost to inflation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:55 GMT

Inflation has gobbled up three-quarters of the buying power Californians’ got from pandemic-era pay hikes.That’s what my trusty spreadsheet tells me when I compare stats from September’s Consumer Price Index report and recent earnings data for four metro areas – Los Angeles-Orange County, San Francisco, the Inland Empire and San Diego.On average, weekly wages in these four markets rose 24% from the end of 2019 through 2023’s first quarter. Meanwhile, the local cost of living inflated by 19% through September.That adds up to higher prices cutting the value of recent raises by 76%. It’s no wonder why so many folks in the Golden State are grumpy. It may help explain why we’ve seen a rash of labor unrest such as strikes in Hollywood and at Kaiser health care.To be fair, inflation has improved modestly. Look at the most recent rate of California pay hikes of 5.7% pay jumps compared to a 4% bump in the cost of living. So that’s only 71% lost to inflation.Related ArticlesEconomy | ...

From McDonald’s to Wienerschitzel, these fast food giants were born in California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:55 GMT

Southern California was a hotbed of fast food innovation in the middle of the 20th century.In-N-Out Burger, which opened in 1948 and will mark its 75th anniversary on Oct. 22, is credited with introducing a speaker system that allowed customers to order in advance of reaching the window.RELATED: 75 years of In-N-Out Burger history, year by yearSeveral other famous chains were founded about the same time. Founders either knew each other or watched what the others were doing to find out what worked and what didn’t. Sometimes they helped each other out.This was especially true in San Bernardino, where McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Del Taco all had their roots.Here are six of those chains in chronological order.Carl’s Jr.: Carl Karcher opened a hot dog cart at Florence and Central in Los Angeles in 1941. He opened the first Carl’s Jr. in Anaheim in 1945. The menu has mutated many times and now has burgers and chicken sandwiches, but no hot dogs. Signature burgers include the Famous Star and...

Feds charge Menendez with being unregistered foreign agent

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:42:55 GMT

By Larry Neumeister | Associated PressNEW YORK — Federal prosecutors have rewritten their indictment against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his wife to charge them with conspiring to have him act as an agent of Egypt and Egyptian officials.The superseding indictment, filed in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, accuses Menendez of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires people to register with the U.S. government if they are acting as “an agent of a foreign principal.” As a member of Congress, Menendez was prohibited from being an agent of a foreign government, even if he did register as one.Messages left with Menendez’s Senate staff and attorney on Thursday were not immediately answered.The indictment says the conspiracy occurred from January 2018 to June 2022. It alleges that in May 2019, Menendez, his wife and a business associate, Wael Hana, met with an Egyptian intelligence official in Menendez’s Senate office in Washingt...