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How can LA combat its fentanyl crisis? MacArthur Park offers clues

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:22 GMT

A walk through the alleyways around MacArthur Park reveals the harsh landscape of Los Angeles’s fentanyl epidemic.People pass out with a burned piece of tin foil in one hand and a butane torch lighter in the other. Those who are awake often hunch over to cope with the bone-deep aches of withdrawals.A man passes out in a Los Angeles alley near MacArthur Park after using fentanyl as others watch to make sure he was not overdosing. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG) But a closer look also shows seeds of hope.There are grassroots efforts working to connect people who use fentanyl with help. There’s a passionate young councilmember trying to launch an overdose prevention team and a harm reduction center offering resources to people who use drugs. There are public health professionals advocating for easier access to addiction-fighting medication.“We are trying to saturate this area with life-affirming responses and services,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernand...

Joe Montana gives his take on 49ers’ QB situation, Nick Bosa holdout

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:22 GMT

If there’s anyone who would know all about the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback controversies, it’d be Joe Montana.The four-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Super Bowl MVP had plenty to say as he made a media blitz while promoting a new whiskey on Thursday morning, when he appeared on 95.7 The Game, KNBR and ESPN’s First Take, all in the 8 a.m. PR hour.What did the Hall of Famer who had a years-long QB saga with another Hall of Famer in Steve Young think of the 49ers’ trade of Trey Lance? Montana called it a “tough situation” but thinks it may work out for all parties involved.“I think the biggest thing for Trey is that he needs to find a place that he’s comfortable in the system, and I don’t think I ever saw a comfort level for him in that 49ers’] system,” Montana said on ESPN. “It’s a system that is played inside the pocket and he came from a system in college that always got outside and he had different reads that happened. The pocket is not a place to learn to throw fr...

Map: Two wildfires merge in Northern California’s Smith River complex

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:22 GMT

The Smith River wildfire complex surpassed 80,000 acres on a day of increased fire activity.Amid strong wind and low humidity Wednesday, the Kelly and Coon fires merged at the complex’s southwest edge, said the daily report from the forest service’s fire managers.The acreage burned was at 83,974 acres (131 square miles), with 8% containment. The control line remained secure at the edge of the evacuated community of Gasquet, the report said.To the southeast, the Happy Camp complex also saw the merging of two fires, Ufish and Malone. That complex is at 25,503 acres (40 square miles) with 45% containment.The map above shows the mandatory evacuation areas in reddish tint and the approximate perimeters of the largest fires in black.A cold front was moving in to northwest California on Thursday, and cloudy, cool weather was expected for the rest of the week.The Smith River and Happy Camp fires started during lightning storms on Aug. 15-16, and Smith River is California’s...

Fearing economic disaster, Maui wants tourists to return. But feelings are complicated

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:22 GMT

By Julia Wick, Jaweed Kaleem, Christopher Reynolds and Emerson Drewes, Los Angeles TimesKIHEI, Hawaii — The line at Paia Fish Market usually extends so far down the main drag that staffers can’t see the end of it through their front window.But that hasn’t been the case as of late, with tragedy on Maui slowing foot traffic in typically busy spots to a trickle.“Today is the lowest it’s been so far,” said Lehua Jimenez, 21, a cashier at the popular restaurant in Paia — a windsurfing destination on Maui’s North Shore. “It’s continually decreasing.”Paia is half an island away from Lahaina, where the restaurant’s other location was among more than 2,000 structures destroyed in a wildfire this month. But the Paia location was seeing about a fifth of typical sales, said Jimenez. The Maui native and her co-workers were far from the only ones feeling the economic pain.The restaurant had only been open a few hours on a recent weekday and five people had already come in looking for jobs, Jimene...

Pedestrian killed, driver arrested for alleged DUI in Fairfield

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:22 GMT

(BCN) -- A pedestrian was struck and killed by an allegedly impaired driver Wednesday night in Fairfield, police said. A man on a motor scooter was crossing Travis Boulevard and Clay Street shortly before 10:45 p.m. when he was struck by a black 2001 Honda Accord, Fairfield police said. The pedestrian, who is not being identified at this time, suffered severe injuries and died at the scene. Beyoncé gives ‘Beyhive’ a show to remember at Levi’s Stadium Police arrested the driver of the Honda, 60-year-old Willie Weaver of Fairfield, on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. He was booked into jail on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter. The collision shut down traffic in both directions on Travis Boulevard between Clay and Washington streets for several hours. Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Your phone will be blaring on this day for nationwide test alert

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:22 GMT

(KRON) -- The Federal Communications Commission and FEMA will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts this fall.The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4.The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all cellphones. The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. All wireless phones will receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:Beginning at 5:20 p.m., cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. A message will appear on your phone reading, "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed."Phones set to Spanish will display: "ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción."The alerts will be accompanied by a loud unique tone and vibration. The purpose of the Octobe...

No. 20 Oklahoma seeks strong start under second-year coach Brent Venables

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:22 GMT

Arkansas State at No. 20 Oklahoma, Saturday, Noon EDT (ESPN).Line: Oklahoma by 36 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Oklahoma leads 2-0.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Oklahoma opens its final season as a Big 12 member before leaving for the Southeastern Conference. The Sooners seek a strong start after finishing 6-7 last season under first-year coach Brent Venables. Oklahoma needs to make its biggest jump on defense. The Sooners ranked towards the bottom of the nation in points and yards allowed per game. Arkansas State is coming off a 3-9 season under Butch Jones and needs to at least see something positive on Saturday. KEY MATCHUPOklahoma pass rush vs. Arkansas State offensive line. The Sooners had their moments rushing the passer last season, and the team has solid depth at defensive end. Ethan Downs, the Big 12’s top returner in tackles for loss, anchors the group. Oklahoma State transfer Trace Ford and Wake Forest transfer Rondell Bothroyd provide depth. Arkansas State&...

Wisconsin’s new liberal Supreme Court justice hasn’t heard a case but Republicans may impeach

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:22 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Even before the newly elected justice who gave liberals a one-seat majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court has heard a case, Republican lawmakers are talking about taking the unprecedented step of impeaching and removing her from office.And they have the votes to do it.Republicans worry that the legislative districts they drew 12 years ago, which are widely viewed as among the most gerrymandered in the country, will be undone in one of the court’s first actions under liberal control. It’s a legitimate concern, as Democratic-friendly groups brought two lawsuits in the first week of newly elected Justice Janet Protasiewicz’s term asking the new liberal-controlled court to toss the maps.They waited to bring the challenges until after Protasiewicz started her 10-year term the the court Aug. 1, flipping majority control to 4-3 liberals for the first time in 15 years.The moves came after Protasiewicz said during her winning campaign that the maps are...

Stock market today: Wall Street wavers on its way to a loss in August

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:22 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks turned mixed in afternoon trading on Wall Street Thursday, on their way to closing out what has been a mostly miserable August.The S&P 500 gave up an early gain and fell 0.1%. The benchmark index is on track for its first monthly loss since February, though gains earlier this week helped chip away at the severity of the decline.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 63 points, or 0.2%, to 34,821 as of 12:51 p.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq rose 0.1%.Technology and communications stocks notched some of the biggest gains. Software company Salesforce jumped 3.3% after raising its profit forecast for the year. Cloud-based security company CrowdStrike rose 8.8% after reporting strong financial results.Dollar General was among several retailers slipping after reporting weak earnings and forecasts. It slumped 12.9% after cutting its profit forecast for the year.The government reported that a measure of inflation closely tracked by the Federal Reserve remained low in July....

PSG and Mbappe get tough Champions League draw in group with Milan, Dortmund and Newcastle

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:02:22 GMT

MONACO (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain and its star forward Kylian Mbappe landed in the toughest group in the Champions League draw Thursday with former champions AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, plus Newcastle.Bayern Munich’s new signing Harry Kane will return to England to face Manchester United in a group that also includes Copenhagen and Galatasaray. Man United beat Bayern in the 1999 final after an injury-time comeback. Record 14-time champion Real Madrid plays Napoli, Braga and debutant Union Berlin.Man City, the defending champion, got a favorable draw and will play Leipzig for the third straight season, plus Red Star Belgrade and Young Boys.Last season’s finalist Inter Milan will play Benfica – which it beat in the quarterfinals – plus Salzburg and Real Sociedad.Barcelona was drawn with Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp, another Champions League debutant which last played in the competition in the old European Cup in 1957.Arsenal’s return after six years away will be...