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Pacific Park’s new Sea Dragon ride welcomes guests aboard

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:45:15 GMT

The famed Sea Dragon ride, a staple at Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier, is back in action just in time for the weekend.In March, the popular ride briefly closed so officials could replace the original Sea Dragon cart after nearly 30 years in operation.The nearly identical dragon cart also comes with new features, such as lights but can still deliver the same thrills the original cart was known to provide.Thrill-seekers can experience up to 40 feet of airtime; a Pacific Park official told KTLA’s Andy Riesmeyer.To celebrate the new Sea Dragon cart, guests visiting the pier can receive a sea dragon-themed t-shirt, cotton candy and stickers while supplies last.Guests can also visit the Heal The Bay aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier and visit baby sharks on display or enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants along the pier.The original Sea Dragon, a classic swinging ship ride, debuted at Pacific Park on May 26, 1996. It has been enjoyed by millions of riders and served as the setting...

Former college swimmer says she was assaulted at SF State

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:45:15 GMT

By Natasha Chen and Cheri Mosburg | CNNFormer NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines said she was assaulted Thursday on the campus of San Francisco State University.Gaines was at the school to speak about her views opposing the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports, according to the event announcement.“I was physically assaulted by one person. I was struck twice, both times hitting my shoulder with the second strike grazing my face,” Gaines told CNN’s Natasha Chen. “The rest of the protestors just ambushed and cornered me before I was able to move out with the help of campus police.”A video Gaines posted from the event showed her moving quickly while surrounded by security officers. A protester can be heard shouting “trans rights are human rights,” but the video is shaky and does not appear to show an assault.“We are conducting an ongoing investigation into the situation. There were no arrests related to the event,” the un...

Stormy Daniels had ‘sad’ reaction to seeing Trump in court, but says she doesn’t hope for jail time in her case

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:45:15 GMT

Karu F. Daniels | (TNS) New York Daily NewsStormy Daniels was conflicted about her own reaction to Donald Trump’s historic arrest and arraignment on criminal charges linked to hush money payments made to her.The porn star at the center of the ex-president’s 34 felony counts has admitted she was shocked at the way she felt about seeing images of Trump appearing in front of a New York judge.In an exclusive interview with Piers Morgan on Thursday, Daniels revealed she had expected to be “excited” to see Trump face the law but instead admitted she found her emotions to be “shocking,” saying she felt “sad” to see Trump make history in this way.“I thought he was going to get away with not being held accountable. So, when I found out it was coming, or potentially coming, I thought I would feel excited or vindicated but it was kind of anticlimactic,” she told Morgan on TalkTV, which also streamed on YouTube.The award-winning adult film star, whose real name is Stephanie Gregory Clifford, sa...

Save Women's Sports advocate Riley Gaines says she was attacked after speech at SFSU

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:45:15 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Former Division 1 college swimmer Riley Gaines said she was verbally and physically attacked following a speech she made on behalf of Save Women's Sports at San Francisco State University. Save Women's Sports aims to bar trans women from competing in women's sports and instead create a new division for where trans athletes would be allowed to compete and has been labeled as an anti-trans organization."I was ambushed and physically hit twice by a man," Gaines tweeted. "This is proof that women need sex-protected spaces." Pro boxing organization announces transgender category Video posted to Twitter shows police escorting Gaines through a crowd yelling, "Trans rights are human rights."House Speaker Kevin McCarthy weighed in on Gaines's tweet saying, "This is an appalling attack on free speech on a college campus."Former Olympic decathlete and trans TV personality Caitlyn Jenner also offered Gaines support against the "radical rainbow mafia" saying, "Never bac...

Oakland PD: Armed robbers who allegedly targeted construction tools arrested

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:45:15 GMT

(KRON) -- Four suspects have been arrested in connection to a series of armed robberies in East Oakland that targeted victims for construction tools, according to the Oakland Police Department. The four armed individuals, described as two adults and two juveniles, are linked to at least nine armed robberies in the last three months, OPD said. Disturbing video shows tech mogul Bob Lee’s final moments Officers recovered four firearms, a replica firearm and evidence related to the robberies when serving search warrants at the homes of the four suspects. Two of the recovered firearms were equipped with devices that transformed them from semi-automatic to full automatic with the single pull of a trigger, police said.The arrests were a collaborative effort between OPD officers with the Violent Crime Operations Center, Ceasefire Division, Criminal Investigation Division, Intelligence Unit, Community Resource Officers, Air Support Unit, Tactical Team and non-affiliated agencies including ...

California to keep paying Walgreens despite abortion dispute

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:45:15 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California's Medicaid program will continue to pay Walgreens about $1.5 billion each year despite Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom declaring last month the state was done doing business with the pharmacy giant after it indicated it would not sell abortion pills by mail in some states.“California won’t be doing business with @Walgreens -- or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women’s lives at risk. We’re done,” Newsom tweeted March 6. San Jose police union executive fired for drug smuggling scandal He then ordered his administration not to renew a $54 million contract with the company to provide prescription medication to the state's prison system.But cutting ties with Walgreens wasn't as clear cut as the governor first indicated. Walgreens has a much more lucrative connection to California's Medicaid program — the joint federal and state health insurance program for people who are disabled or have low incomes. Federal law says Medicaid patien...

Stroman goes 6 scoreless in Cubs’ 2-0 win over Rangers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:45:15 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Marcus Stroman pitched six scoreless innings and Cody Bellinger delivered the go-ahead RBI to help the Cubs blank the Texas Rangers 2-0 on Friday.Stroman (2-0) struck out six and allowed two hits and three walks a few days after opening the season with a six-inning, eight-strikeout effort. Texas’ Nathan Eovaldi (1-1) allowed only a walk his first time through the order but the Cubs made the most of it when they got a few hits in the fourth. Dansby Swanson reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second before coming home on Bellinger’s RBI single for what turned out to be all the offense they’d need.Ian Happ doubled in a run two innings later to chase Eovaldi, who finished with six strikeouts while allowing five hits and a walk.Stroman loaded the bases in the sixth with a pair of walks but killed the threat by getting Josh Jung to gently ground out. Mark Leiter Jr. worked a clean seventh and Michael Fulmer came on for the final two to convert his first save...

UConn guard Jordan Hawkins declares for NBA draft

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:45:15 GMT

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — UConn guard Jordan Hawkins announced Friday that he will leave college and enter the NBA draft.The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Gaithersburg, Maryland averaged 16.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists this past season, helping lead the Huskies to the program’s fifth NCAA Tournament title. Hawkins also averaged 16.3 points in the Huskies’ six games in the NCAA Tournament and shot 50% from 3-point range (21 of 42). He scored 16 points in the Huskies win over San Diego State in the title game on Monday night. Hawkins made the announcement Friday while appearing with coach Dan Hurley on ESPN’s NBA Today show.Hawkins is known for his ability to come off a screen and quickly release a 3-point attempt. He shot 38.8% from beyond the arc this season. His 109 3-pointers this year are second behind Ray Allen’s 115 on UConn’s single-season list.Hawkins could be the first UConn player taken in the first-round of the draft since James Bouknight was selected at No. 11 ...

Washington shutters pot businesses due to old pesticide

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:45:15 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Cannabis regulators have halted operations at several outdoor pot farms and processing facilities on a stretch of former fruit orchards in north-central Washington state after testing found high levels of chemicals related to a dangerous pesticide used decades ago.The sweeping action announced Thursday night by the state Liquor and Cannabis Board renewed concerns about pesticides in marijuana and put dozens of people at least temporarily out of work just as they were preparing for spring planting. “We are very concerned about the jobs and businesses, but we felt we needed to get a message out to our licensees and to take action for public safety,” said board spokesperson Brian Smith.Over the last several months, officials collected samples from grow operations and processors along a nearly 5-mile (8-kilometer) stretch of the Okanogan River north of Brewster, a region of former orchards where fruit growers used the cancer-causing pesticide DDT before the U.S. banned it...

Mets walk to 9-3 win over Marlins in home opener

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:45:15 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Tylor Megill pitched six shutout innings, Starling Marte and Francisco Lindor hit their first home runs of the season, and the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 9-3 on Friday in their home opener. Miami starter Edward Cabrera (0-1) walked a career-high seven in 2 2/3 innings and was pulled without giving up a hit. New York took advantage of 12 free passes from six Marlins pitchers — four drawn by leadoff batter Brandon Nimmo.Pete Alonso also homered and drove in two runs for the Mets, who have won four straight home openers and eight of their last nine. They improved to 4-1 against Miami this season and rebounded from a three-game sweep in Milwaukee that completed a 3-4 road trip to start the season.In a game postponed a day because of a rainy weather forecast, Megill (2-0) filled in for injured ace Justin Verlander again and beat the Marlins for the second time in a week. The right-hander allowed three hits and struck out three, shaking off a line drive that stru...