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UCLA files lawsuit against Mattel after the company walked back $49 million children's hospital donation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

UCLA and its health system have filed a lawsuit against Mattel, the company behind popular toy franchises like Barbie, Hot Wheels and American Girl, claiming the toy company failed to make good on its pledge to donate $49 million to the university's children's hospital.The lawsuit states that in 2017, Mattel agreed to donate $49 million in installments over 12 years to the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital.The two organizations have had a partnership since 1998, when Mattel donated a separate $25 million to the UCLA Foundation to help support the construction of the children’s hospital Westwood campus, the Los Angeles Times reported. In exchange, the hospital agreed to include Mattel in its name.The deal seemed to proceed smoothly, with Mattel delivering the initial funds by 2004 and agreeing to host an annual party at the Santa Monica Pier to raise money for the hospital, according to the publication. Thousands of children have been treated at the hospital in the years since.But afte...

Snoop Dogg says he's giving up smoking weed

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

West Coast rap legend Snoop Dogg is dropping smoke like it's hot. The Long Beach native made a shocking announcement on social media Thursday morning. "I’m giving up smoke," he posted to Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.Snoop Dogg performs a DJ set as "DJ Snoopadelic" during the "Concerts In Your Car" series on Oct. 2, 2020, in Ventura. (Chris Pizzello/Associated Press)The caption accompanied a black-and-white photo of Snoop with text that read: "After much consideration and conversation with my family, I've decided to give up smoke."He ended the note saying, "Please respect my privacy at this time."Fans immediately flooded the comment section and thought either the 52-year-old-old was joking or he was just making the switch to edibles. "I'm sure his account got hacked," commented one follower. "But what about our 420 deal?" asked Carl's Jr. "This is like me giving up Taquitos," 7-Eleven commented alongside a few heartbreak emojis. "I know an 'I’m doing edibles now' post w...

Why Bitcoin (BTC) Continues to Dominate the Cryptocurrency Arena

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

Sponsored ContentBitcoin’s undeniable dominance in the world of cryptocurrencies is evident. Since its creation in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto to its emergence as a force in the financial landscape, Bitcoin has consistently held a strong position setting the stage for the development of other digital currencies. The question that often arises is: Despite competitors, what keeps Bitcoin at the forefront of the market?The power of Bitcoin lies in its decentralized nature. Unlike currencies that depend on authorities  like banks or governments to regulate their circulation and value, Bitcoin operates differently. It functions through a peer-to-peer network, facilitating interactions among users without the need for any governing body. This decentralized structure goes beyond being a theoretical benefit. It guarantees that no single entity has control over Bitcoin, establishing trust through cryptography and consensus mechanisms. Anyone interested in Bitcoin (BTC) can visit Binance, ...

Man convicted in vicious 2019 attack on woman along Mountain View trail

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

MOUNTAIN VIEW — A man was convicted this week of viciously assaulting a woman on the Stevens Creek Trail in 2019, a rare stranger attack that raised serious public safety fears and risked going unsolved if not for a chance arrest a few days later, according to authorities and court records.Michael Wendy Adonis, 34, shown here in a 2019 booking photo, is a French citizen who was convicted of kidnapping and attacking a woman on the Stevens Creek Trail in Mountain View on Feb. 25, 2019 in what authorities described as a stranger assault. (Mountain View Police Dept.) Jurors found 34-year-old Michael Adonis guilty Tuesday of kidnapping for the purpose of rape as well as several other felony counts including assault, dissuading a witness by threatening force and criminal threats.Adonis, a French citizen, faces seven years to life in prison for the kidnapping conviction. A second trial phase will begin Dec. 14 to determine his sentence for the remainder of the convictions, which...

After meeting with Xi, Biden pivots to Asia-Pacific economies

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

By Colleen Long and Aamer Madhani | Associated PressSAN FRANCISCO — Fresh off his meeting with the leader of China, President Joe Biden on Thursday is addressing CEOs who are grappling with the risks to their businesses from world crises. He’ll also spend time trying to persuade other Indo-Pacific leaders that the U.S. is committed to nurturing economic ties throughout the region.“We’ve got a few busy days ahead of us,” Biden said during a welcome reception, ticking off a list of concerns and challenges for the leaders to examine. “Our strongest tools to meet those challenges remain the same … connection, cooperation, collective action and common purpose.”Biden is courting world leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and through his administration’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a group that includes most of the 21 APEC member economies and a few others, like India, that aren’t members of the larger forum.Mike...

Rob Manfred: A’s had no ‘viable path forward’ in Oakland, John Fisher has been ‘a good owner’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

Shortly after MLB owners unanimously approved the relocation of the Oakland A’s franchise to Las Vegas on Thursday morning, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred shared some insight into the process and what’s next for the A’s.Among the topics discussed were the A’s temporary home until their new ballpark is expected to be ready in 2028, MLB’s relationship with the city of Oakland and whether or not it would be a viable location for an expansion team.“I know this is a terrible day for fans in Oakland,” Manfred told reporters at the owners’ meetings in Arlington, Texas. “I understand that. That’s why we always had a policy of doing everything humanly possible to avoid a relocation, and I truly believe that in this case.”He added, “I think it’s beyond debate that the status quo in Oakland was untenable … I am absolutely convinced there was not a viable path forward.”Here’s the remaining portion of the press conference as it relates to the A’s:Q: Talk a...

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao responds to MLB approving A’s relocation to Las Vegas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

Major League Baseball’s team owners voted Thursday morning to approve the A’s move from Oakland to Las Vegas, with a proposed stadium expected to be built for the 2028 season.Below is Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s statement in response to the vote:We are disappointed by the outcome of this vote. But we do not see this as the end of the road. We all know there is a long way to go before shovels in the ground and that there area a number of unresolved issues surrounding this move. I have also made it clear to the Commissioner [Rob Manfred] that the A’s branding and name should stay in Oakland and we will continue to work to pursue expansion opportunities. Baseball has a home in Oakland even if the A’s ownership relocates.East Bay Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), who has pushed for the A’s to stay, also released a statement:Related ArticlesOakland Athletics | Timeline: All the times A’s ownership has tried to move out of Oakland ...

DePape convicted for hammer attack on Paul Pelosi

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

By Olga R. Rodriguez | Associated PressSAN FRANCISCO — A jury on Thursday convicted the man who broke into former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home seeking to hold her hostage and attacked her husband with a hammer of federal charges of attempted kidnapping and assault.The jury deliberated for about eight hours before finding David DePape guilty of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official. He faces up to 50 years in prison.The attack on then-82-year-old Paul Pelosi that was captured on police body camera video just days before last year’s midterm elections sent shockwaves through the political world.DePape, 43, admitted during trial testimony that he broke into the Pelosis’ home on Oct. 28, 2022, intending to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage and “break her kneecaps” if she lied to him. He also admitted to bludgeoning Paul Pelosi with a hammer after San Francisco police office...

Large stretches of California are without maternity care as hospitals close labor wards

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

By Kristen Hwang, Ana B. Ibarra and Erica Yee | CalMattersEl Centro Regional Medical Center delivered the last baby at its 67-year-old maternity ward in early January. Then it closed its obstetrics department, leaving just one other hospital to deliver the approximately 2,500 babies born every year in Imperial County.A month later and 625 miles north, Sonoma County residents lambasted the health system Providence for its decision to cease labor and delivery services at Petaluma Valley Hospital despite promises to keep it open through 2025.Last month, Tri-City Medical Center in northern San Diego County and Centinela Hospital in Inglewood joined the growing list of hospitals nixing their labor and delivery wards.These closures are among the latest in an accelerating trend: At least 46 California hospitals have shut down or indefinitely suspended labor and delivery since 2012, according to a CalMatters analysis of hospital records submitted to the state. This includes seven hospitals ...

Pac-12 football: Our inaugural coaching Hot Seat breakdown of the 2023 hiring cycle

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

The 2023 coaching carousel has started to spin and should reach full speed within weeks as schools act before the transfer portal opens in early December and recruiting peaks with National Signing Day in the middle of the month.In the Pac-12 footprint, changes in conference affiliation could impact decisions, as well.Welcome to the Hotline’s inaugural Hot Seat ratings of the 2023 hiring cycle, in which we assess the status of each school’s head coach from two angles: The likelihood of a school-initiated dismissal; and the chances of a voluntary departure.The ratings will be updated regularly until the carousel stops spinning. When that will be, we cannot guess.(Note: Compensation figures taken from USA Today’s invaluable salary database.)Here we go …ArizonaCoach: Jeff Fisch (third season)Seat heat: Sub-zeroNitty gritty: Fisch has worked wonders in Tucson, turning an 1-11 team (in 2021) into a contender for the Pac-12 championship. His use of the transfer port...