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Student loan payments start again soon. Supreme Court’s ruling means higher bills for many

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:19 GMT

By COLLIN BINKLEY (AP Education Writer)WASHINGTON (AP) — In a good month, Celina Chanthanouvong has about $200 left after rent, groceries and car insurance. That doesn’t factor in her student loans, which have been on hold since the start of the pandemic and are estimated to cost $300 a month. The pause in repayment has been a lifeline keeping the 25-year-old afloat.“I don’t even know where I would begin to budget that money,” said Chanthanouvong, who works in marketing in San Francisco.Now, after more than three years, the lifeline is being pulled away. More than 40 million Americans will be on the hook for federal student loan payments starting in the fall. Many of those borrowers hoped their debt would be reduced or wiped out entirely under President Joe Biden’s forgiveness plan, which the Supreme Court struck down on Friday. Without cancellation, the Education Department predicted borrowers would fall behind on their loans at historic rates. A...

Safe-stealing serial burglar caught with unregistered gun, purloined electric skateboard, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:19 GMT

A man will likely face a slew of charges after he was connected to multiple thefts and burglaries in Riverside and, while already in custody, was found to possess an unregistered handgun and a valuable stolen electric skateboard, police said.The investigation began with the burglary of a business in the 2000 block of Iowa Avenue in Riverside last month, resulting in the theft of "several thousand dollars" from an ATM and damage to the business, the Riverside Police Department said in a news release. "The break-in was captured on video and the assigned detective recognized the suspect as a local man on probation for theft-related crimes, 27-year-old Michael Aria Javdani," the release said. Detectives then began to connect Javdani to additional thefts and burglaries, police said. The targets included a sushi restaurant, tea spot, sandwich shop, the County of Riverside Department of Child Support Services building and the VIP Nightclub. The county building and the nightclub were burgla...

Disneyland cancels general ticket sales for Oogie Boogie Bash amidst technical issues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:19 GMT

General ticket sales for Oogie Boogie Bash, a popular Halloween party at Disney California Adventure, were paused and ultimately canceled on Thursday after technical difficulties plagued the virtual queue.Disneyland Resort officials shared a message on the ticket website regarding the cancellation of general ticket sales. Disneyland Resort sets opening date for ‘Rogers: The Musical’ “Guests can visit Disneyland.com/oogieboogiebash on Thursday, July 6 at 9 a.m. for an update, which may include the date and time when new sales will resume,” the ticket queue website said. “We commit to providing advance notice prior to activating new sales and strive to make the process as smooth as possible. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.A screenshot from Oogie Boogie Bash ticket queue. (Disney)Magic Key holders got early access to the ticket queue for Oogie Boogie Bash on June 27. The pre-sale tickets sold out that same day. Last year, all ticket sales sold out in less than a week.The e...

7 ways to keep your dog calm during fireworks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:19 GMT

Even though personal fireworks are illegal in many cities, we know many people ignore the law around the July 4th holiday weekend.This means the sight and sound of crackling bottle rockets, Roman candles, flowers and sparklers – legal or illegal – will echo through neighborhoods for several nights, which poses a unique risk to dogs.There are two main reasons why man’s best friend is easily spooked by fireworks.The first is the most obvious. Fireworks are loud.“Dogs have exceptional hearing,” Purina explains. “If a dog comes running to the sound of a crinkling food wrapper from a different part of the house, you can imagine how sensitive they are to firecrackers.“Smithsonian digs a little deeper.“Dogs hear more than twice as many frequencies as humans, and they can also hear sounds roughly four times further away. Reacting to every sound would demand too much energy, and so dog brains must determine which sounds are significant and which can be tuned out.”Fireworks, Smithsonian expla...

From Aqua to Madness – the New LA Weekly Playlist is Live

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:19 GMT

From Aqua to Madness: The 163rd LA Weekly playlist, reviewing the musicians that we’ve been writing about all week, is live now. There’s electronic music from Grabbitz, hip-hop from A.R. The Mermaid, pop from Bebe Rexha, punk from the Vandals, ska from Madness, and so much more.Find us on Spotify here,or on Soundcloud here.Don’t forget to “Like” the playlists and “Follow” the profiles.Man On Man (A.F. Cortés)From Aqua to MadnessAlso this week:Joey Holman of print stars Man On Man told us that, “Just because there are laws created doesn’t introduce a new form or paranoia, but it certainly adds weight to the existing paranoia. Even in liberal cities like L.A. or New York, it’s cute to pretend that we’re all good and safe, but we’re not. People are still targeted in these bigger cities. To present that part of yourself to the world is dangerous. It wasn’t safe for me as a teenager to be gay. It just wasn’t. It wasn’t safe for Roddy either, and we grew up in very different places. Roddy...

Emmy-Considered Laura Hopper: A Resolute Force in the Film Industry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:19 GMT

In the glitz and glamor of the film industry, where dreams are both shattered and fulfilled, Laura Hopper stands as a true powerhouse. With her recent Emmy consideration for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for her role as Rachel Herschberger in Netflix’s Umbrella Academy, she carved a niche for herself in an industry notorious for its challenges and obstacles. Hopper’s extraordinary journey as an actor and filmmaker reveals her unwavering determination and belief in herself, and her willingness to advocate for women in her field is inspiring.It all began in a small town where Hopper’s passion for the arts ignited. As a young girl, she lost herself in the magic of movies, watching in awe as her favorite actors brought their characters to life. She didn’t realize that one day she would be the one captivating audiences.However, Hopper’s path to success was not without its hurdles. Like any aspiring artist, Hopper faced countless rejections, auditions that ...

Toll Brothers announces clubhouse grand opening

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:19 GMT

Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL), the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes, announced the July grand opening of The Resort clubhouse at Regency at Folsom Ranch, an exclusive gated 55+ master-planned community featuring an array of luxury home designs with access to first-class amenities, dog parks and miles of outdoor trails and biking paths in Folsom, California. Homebuyers are invited to tour the new clubhouse during the grand opening celebrations, which will be held July 15, July 22 and July 29 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 3561 Olive Orchard Drive in Folsom.The Resort clubhouse at Regency at Folsom Ranch in Folsom, California, offers a luxurious 55+ active-adult lifestyle and stunning resort-style amenities. The 18,000-square-foot clubhouse features a wide array of amenities including indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, an on-site market, fire pits, gathering areas, bocce and pickleball courts, and a state-of-the-art fitness center showcasing premier opportunities for recreation ...

Southern California bakeries, smokehouses may be first in U.S. required to go electric

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:19 GMT

Dozens of businesses across Southern California that churn out popular baked goods, smoked meats and other products soon could be required to swap their gas-powered commercial ovens for emissions-free electric versions under a set of rules due for a vote by the local air quality district this summer.Major tortillerias, food dehydrators, and coffee and nut roasters also would have to upgrade equipment to reduce how much nitrogen oxide, or NOx, they produce under the proposed regulations.It’s the latest touchpoint in a growing culture war over how we cook our food, as mounting research links gas and wood-burning stoves with both health and environmental harms.The limits on commercial ovens are aimed at helping Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties — a region now home to the worst pollution in the country — hit federally mandated air quality targets by cutting in half the 0.2 tons of NOx these company’s 218 ovens now emit each day, according to South Coast Air Qual...

Lessons from hummingbirds: Instilling wonder and curiosity in nature

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:19 GMT

By Ayala Berger | Contributing ColumnistHummingbirds are a reminder to appreciate and discover the wonder of nature.Throughout my time studying hummingbirds they have taught me many lessons. I have learned about the sounds they make, where they live, what they eat, where they nest and about the incredible feats of athleticism they display. Hummingbirds have also taught me to continue to wonder, to become ever more curious, observant, and appreciative of the natural world around me.During my time working toward my doctorate at UCR, I studied the sounds hummingbirds make, specifically the sounds of Anna’s and Costa’s hummingbirds (Calypte anna, C. costae). Anna’s and Costa’s are common residents of much of Southern California. They can be seen fluttering among native flowers, fighting over hummingbird feeders, searching building edges for cobwebs with which they build their nests, hovering in the air while catching and eating gnats and flashing their colorful iridescent throat feather...

South Bay dim sum eateries pair traditional with fusion to appeal to changing tastes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:19 GMT

Editor’s note: This story is part of the annual Mosaic Journalism Workshop for Bay Area high school students, a two-week intensive course in journalism. Students in the program report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.From the decor to different flavors, both Asian fusion food and traditional dim sum can provide a feeling of comfort and acceptance.Modern eatery Dumpling Time, which has several locations in the Bay Area, aims to bring good vibes to everybody, said Manager Nghia Nguyen, who runs the San Jose location at Santana Row.Their mixed Asian cuisine and aesthetic have evolved in many ways. Nguyen said he chooses to take a slight turn from traditional dim sum, thought to originate in China’s southern Guangdong region. “You will see a restaurant like this — the neon sign, color theme, the dumpling logo, as well as the chair and table,” Nguyen said.Other cultural foods are also on the menu, like Southeast Fried Rice Noodles “that are pret...