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Residents raise questions, concerns about proposed closure of Vincent Thomas Bridge

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:24 GMT

Commuters and residents alike are raising questions about the expected closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge for construction.People who attended a recent online public meeting indicated that residents did not have enough notice about the project and are concerned about how the closure will impact traffic in the area.Caltrans plans to replace the deck of the bridge, which connects San Pedro, Wilmington and Harbor City to Terminal Island, to enhance safety and preserve the bridge’s structural integrity.The construction is expected to impact travel on State Route 47 and nearby streets, and Caltrans is in the process of finding out how much of an impact it would have on the community.Los Angeles Councilmember, Tim McOkser, who represents District 15 where the bridge is located, said Caltrans is considering multiple preliminary options: Closing the bridge for nine months to an entire year, or leaving one lane open in each direction, which would prolong the closure.“That has a tremendous ...

South Pasadena police car fleet going all-electric

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:24 GMT

A small Southern California city is transitioning to an all-electric police car fleet.The city of South Pasadena is acquiring 20 Teslas for patrol duties, administration and detective work, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.The plan includes 10 Tesla Model Y vehicles, 10 Tesla Model 3 cars and more than 30 charging ports at South Pasadena City Hall, including some for public use.Some vehicles are already in use and others still need to be outfitted, Deputy City Manager Domenica Megerdichian told the Times.While many Americans aren’t yet sold on going electric, South Pasadena took the plunge after a lengthy study."We have been investigating this transition for five to six years and determined that these electric vehicles will be the best operationally for us,” South Pasadena Police Chief Brian Solinsky said in a statement.The transition is expected to be complete by next February.South Pasadena has a population of about 26,000 in an area of 3.4 square miles (8.81 s...

'Please don't ruin my life': Despite pleas, Tory Lanez denied new trial in Megan Thee Stallion shooting

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:24 GMT

Canadian rapper Tory Lanez has been denied a new trial in the 2020 shooting of fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion.Lanez — real name Daystar Peterson — shot Megan in the feet after a party at Kylie Jenner's home in the Hollywood Hills on July 12, 2020.Megan — real name Megan Pete — told a jury that he fired five shots while yelling “Dance, b——-!”“I hear the gun going off, and I can’t believe he’s shooting at me," she said in court.He was convicted on Dec. 23 of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.Megan Thee Stallion accepts an award onstage during Glamour Celebrates 2021 Women of the Year Awards on Nov. 8, 2021, in New York City. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Glamour)With his request for a new trial denied, Lanez will face sentencing, which could send him to jail for more than 20 years. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled, according to James Queally of the Los Angeles Times. Wi...

This is where the most home burglaries occur in California, study says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:24 GMT

Home security is a top priority for homeowners and prospective buyers nationwide, and a new study shows that some cities are more prone to home burglaries than others.One California city was considered to have the most home burglaries, according to a study from Insurify.By analyzing the most recent Uniform Crime Reporting data from the FBI, researchers determined that Bakersfield was where the most home burglaries occurred. Here is where home prices have increased the most in California According to the report, the city had 847 burglaries per 100,000 residents, while the national average is 347 burglaries per 100,000 residents.Researchers found that home burglaries are 2.4 times more common in Bakersfield. The average home price of a home in the area is $370,099, according to Zillow.Bakersfield took the top spot for the city with the most home burglaries. Another California city, Vallejo, took the second spot, with researchers finding that 834 home burglaries occur yearly in the a...

Here's how much Black Californians could individually receive in reparations payments

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:24 GMT

California’s reparations task force has voted to approve recommendations on how the state may compensate and apologize to Black residents for generations of harm caused by racism and discriminatory policies.The recommendations include financial payouts which, if approved by the State Assembly, could total hundreds of billions of dollars, experts say.The panel’s vote approved a detailed account of historical discrimination against Black Californians in areas such as voting, housing, education, disproportionate policing and incarceration, and others.CalMatters, a non-partisan, nonprofit news organization, has created a calculator to help residents estimate how much they could individually receive under the task force’s proposal.The tool, titled, “How much reparations are African American residents owed?” includes a breakdown of the itemized amounts for “Health Harms,” “Mass Incarceration & Over-policing,” Housing Discrimination” and “Devaluation of Businesses.” California task f...

The Power of Mentorship for Women

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:24 GMT

An exploration of the role of mentorship in helping women achieve their goals and reach their full potentialThe idea of mentorship is not a new one. We have mentors, whether intentionally or unintentionally, from the moment we are born. A mentor is an experienced person who guides someone else in the area of their learned experience. Our parents are often our first mentors, followed by immediate family, friends, school peers, etc. As we become older, we often have to seek a mentor and ask for guidance and teachings to help us navigate the world of work, business, and life as adults.For women, in particular, having a mentor can be an invaluable resource. It is an incredibly powerful tool for women who want to reach their goals and realize their full potential. Throughout history, mentors have played a vital role in helping women succeed in numerous fields—from business and academia to politics and the arts. By providing guidance, advice, and support, a mentor can help open doors, rem...

Top Beauty Educator; Bobbi Vargas Rises As A Public Speaker And Leader To Entrepreneurs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:24 GMT

Celebrity make-up artist turned entrepreneurial coach, Bobbi Vargas has a stunning story of triumph over adversity. The self-made woman’s tale of spirited success following a troubled childhood is inspiring for all the right reasons.As a young girl living in Kuwait, she was born to a wealthy businessman and a stay-at-home mother. But In the ‘90s, her congenial life unexpectedly came to a halt.On chance, Bobbi, her mother, and her sisters were visiting relatives in the United States right before the start of the Persian Gulf war. When the war broke out during their stay, things took a sharp turn, and they found themselves in a sudden hostile milieu as immigrants in a foreign country.She describes the sudden shift from that of a vacation mindset to one of immigrant status overnight, “At a time when having an accent wasn’t cool and having dark features made you somewhat of an outcast, it was challenging coming to terms with the changes that life threw our way. The family that was happy...

Stephanie Gilbert, LMFT Takes Her Readers through the Major Reasons behind Internalized Stigma and How We Can Deal With It

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:24 GMT

Mental health stigma is a widespread issue that affects everyone, regardless of their background. This can include the negative attitudes and beliefs we hold towards ourselves, as well as the ones imposed on us by society and loved ones. Expert mental health therapist Stephanie Gilbert, LMFT takes us through the four major reasons why people face internalized stigma and how we can deal with it.Picture credits: Kate Haus, photographer from Los Angeles“Simply put, internalized stigma is stigma turned inward,” Stephanie explained. “It may show up as invalidating one’s own experience, minimizing symptoms, refusing the need for treatment, or expecting one’s recovery to go much quicker than could be expected.”Like external stigma, internalized or self-stigma can negatively impact a person’s quality of life and overall health. According to Stephanie, it can reduce your self-worth and make you feel less valuable than others.Discussing the root cause, Stephanie ...

A Sneak Peek into Shirley Wantland’s Journey From an Immigrant Child to the Co-founder of Recovery Consultants

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:24 GMT

There is a persistent stigma around mental health, addiction and recovery in society. Even though we have made progress in this area, there is still a long way to go. All over the world, many mental health practitioners and counselors are working religiously to reduce prejudice against mental illness and substance abuse. One such person is Shirley Wantland, the co-founder and principal of Recovery Consultants, aiming  to provide empathetic and non-judgmental treatments to such individuals and creating  a safe healing space for them.Belonging to a Vietnamese immigrant family in Oklahoma City, Shirley struggled to fit in during her childhood and adolescence. Her parents worked day and night to put food on the table for her and her brother. The Wantland’s financial burdens were to this  extent that they couldn’t afford to send the kids to school. However, Shirley’s father viewed hard work and education to thrive later in life.  So, he asked the Headmaster of the school where he w...

Meet The Woman Behind Qeblawi Cosmetics: Diana Qeblawi On Breaking Barriers And Making History In The Beauty & Fashion Industry

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:01:24 GMT

The beauty and cosmetics industry has experienced a boom in recent years with the rise of social media influencers and beauty vloggers. The pandemic has further fueled this trend, as more people turned to online shopping and experimenting with makeup and skincare products while stuck at home. This resulted in the market becoming saturated with numerous types of cosmetics and makeup products, making it more critical than ever for brands to stand out and differentiate themselves.One brand that has been making waves in the industry is Qeblawi Cosmetics. Focusing on inclusivity and quality, it offers a range of makeup products catering to different skin tones and types. Diana’s passion for the beauty and fashion industry and her business savvy have propelled Qeblawi Cosmetics to become one of the up-and-coming brands to watch out for. In a recent interview, Diana Qeblawi shared her journey of breaking barriers and making history in the beauty and fashion industry.Can you tell us a...