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L.A. man receives life sentence for sex trafficking, pimping teens

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:14:54 GMT

A Los Angeles man has been sentenced to life in prison for recruiting and enticing teens to work for him as prostitutes and abusing them if they tried to quit.Donavin Dwayne Bradford, 32, received his sentence on Thursday. He was also ordered to pay $67,000 in restitution and an additional $900 in additional fees.Bradford was convicted earlier this year on multiple counts related to sex trafficking minors, multiple counts related to child pornography and one count of sex trafficking through threats of force or coercion.One of his victims, a 15-year-old girl, was recruited to work as a prostitute on behalf of Bradford and a co-conspirator identified as Layla Kalani Valdivia, 24, of Ventura. The two used the internet to advertise the girl for sex work and directed customers to meet her at various hotels. Clients would pay Bradford and Valdivia for "dates" with that teen victim, or she was expected to bring them $1,000 per night, according to the United States Department of Justice.At ...

UNLV shooting suspect had list of targets at that campus and another university, police say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:14:54 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The suspect in the deadly shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, had a list of targets at the school and at East Carolina University in North Carolina, police said Thursday.Three faculty members were killed and a fourth was wounded by the gunman who opened fire on the campus Wednesday before dying in a shootout with police, according to university officials.Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill identified the suspect as Anthony Polito, a longtime business professor. Before the shooting, the gunman mailed 22 letters to university faculty members across the U.S., but the content of those letters wasn’t immediately known, McMahill said at a news conference Thursday.The sheriff said police have contacted everyone on the suspect's list, except for one person who was on a flight.“None of the individuals on the target list became a victim,” McMahill said.The sheriff said investigators were still looking into a motive but noted that Polito applied for several jobs a...

Dog soda? Yeah, that's a thing (and it's pricey)

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:14:54 GMT

If you're a dog owner and you've been thinking that there just aren't enough flavored beverages for pooches, worry no more.A company called Jones Soda Co. has rolled out dog sodas. That is, sodas for dogs, not flavored like dogs.The new Jones Craft Dog Soda comes in three tasty (for dogs) flavors: beef, chicken, and turkey and gravy."We here at Jones love our four-legged friends as much as the next person," the company says on its website. "So, the mad scientists we have working behind the scenes developed a beverage that is just as tasty for dogs as Jones Soda is for humans. And, to top it off, we added a pinch of good-for-you stuff to keep their joints jumping."In fact, the company says the canine coolers are sufficiently good-for-you that humans can enjoy them too (if beef-flavored soda is your cup of, um, beef).But they're pricey. A four-pack of dog soda will run you $25.Or you can follow this handy pro tip: What I do when my dog is thirsty is I hold my dog's bowl under the tap ...

Chris Bixi Li Wins Major Film Awards, Her Business Achievements Garner Widespread Attention

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:14:54 GMT

A Blend of Artistic and Commercial SuccessChris Bixi Li is emerging as a significant force in the film and television industry, not just for her creative prowess but also for her remarkable business acumen. Her dual expertise in artistic creation and commercial operations has earned her a stellar reputation in both the cinematic and business sectors. Her role as the production coordinator for the 2016 film “L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties” exemplifies this blend. She was pivotal in the film’s operation and coordination, leading to impressive box office earnings of $350,456 in the U.S. and a staggering $58,089,494 globally. These figures are a testament to her talent in balancing artistic vision with commercial success.Diverse Roles and Remarkable AchievementsIn addition to her cinematic triumphs, Chris Bixi Li’s tenure at Mahua Fun Age as the assistant of the Artist Management Department (01/2016-03/2016) further illustrates her versatility. During her ...

Brett M. Rosen, Esq. Named One of The Top Criminal Defense Attorneys of 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:14:54 GMT

A skilled defense attorney wields the power to profoundly alter the course of an individual’s life when faced with legal challenges. Their expertise extends far beyond courtroom strategies– it encompasses empathy, a deep understanding of the law, and the ability to navigate intricate legal systems.One of the most highly rated attorneys practicing in the Edison, New Jersey area is Brett M. Rosen, who has been consistently providing excellent legal representation in New Jersey for a variety of different issues. By providing top-tier guidance, support, and skilled representation, Rosen is able to instill hope, offer second chances, and ultimately transform the trajectory of his clients’ lives, emphasizing the importance of a fair and just legal system.After completing undergraduate studies, Brett Rosen attended law school, enrolled at Roger Williams University School of Law. He earned a juris doctor degree in 2015, after which he was admitted to the practice of law that same year...

Lanie Volant Has Learned To Love Being Different

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:14:54 GMT

 Beauty influencer Lanie Volant always knew she was different. Learning to express herself and show the world how her differences are beautiful has been a long and difficult journey. Today, Lanie is proud to mix her passion for makeup and beauty with art and dance to create powerful messages for her followers.Originally from Iran, Lanie was unable to practice anything even remotely feminine growing up. She was grounded for dancing and looked down upon for participating in any artsy hobbies like drawing and painting. She always had a passion for makeup, but her concern about it being taken away kept her from using it. Growing up in a religious community where queer people could be put to death made Lanie’s childhood difficult and scary. One of the things that stood out to her was that there was no one in the media like her. Thinking about how she would have liked to grow up with a role model, Lanie thought about starting a YouTube channel.When she was sixteen, Lanie convinced her par...

Transforming Tennessee Tech University through Master Planning

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:14:54 GMT

 A dedicated architectural designer based in the United States, Samuvel Benhursha boasts an impressive and inspiring journey that is a symbol of his unwavering passion and dedication to the field of architecture. His career is evidenced by his participation in many exciting projects at prestigious architectural firms, with an outstanding achievement being his integral role in the university’s master planning project, a key aspect of urban development.Samuvel deeply appreciates the importance of university master plans in shaping infrastructure and the urban landscape. These plans require careful attention to the clients’ long-term visions and careful planning. Drawing inspiration from the indelible marks left on college campuses by famous American architects such as Frederick Law Olmsted and Eero Saarinen, it provides a source of guidance and motivation for Samuvel and aspiring architects.Participating in university master planning initiatives offers aspiring architects ...

Three-bedroom home sells in Oakland for $1.8 million

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:14:54 GMT

12155 Blythen Way – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 12100 block of Blythen Way in Oakland was sold on Oct. 16, 2023. The $1,755,000 purchase price works out to $854 per square foot. The house, built in 1969, has an interior space of 2,056 square feet. This single-story house has three bedrooms and two baths. Additionally, the home is equipped with a garage.Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby:In August 2023, a 3,859-square-foot home on Bell Waver Way in Oakland sold for $2,200,000, a price per square foot of $570. The home has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.A 2,111-square-foot home on the 5800 block of Balmoral Drive in Oakland sold in September 2023, for $1,550,000, a price per square foot of $734. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Shawnee Court, Oakland, in December 2022, a 3,032-square-foot home was sold for $2,020,000, a price per square foot of $666. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. 

Deluge of violent threats ‘could take down a democracy’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:14:54 GMT

By Rob Kuznia, Majlie de Put, Alex Leeds Matthews, Kyung Lah, Anna-Maja Rappard and Yahya Abou-GhalazaBy the time the FBI first showed up at Kevin Patrick Smith’s home in early February, he’d already left dozens of threatening voice messages for US Senator Jon Tester.“You stand toe to toe with me, I rip your head off. You die.”FBI agents admonished Smith – who lived about a mile from the Montana Democrat’s office in Kalispell – to stop the threats, which were making the senator’s staff members afraid to come to work. But the middle-aged contractor couldn’t bring himself to stop. After 10 days, he resumed the calls in ramped-up fashion, leaving messages that now alluded to guns.All said, Smith left about 60 messages for Tester’s office, sometimes over the din of a TV or radio blaring in the background. Aside from some vague accusations (“you’re pedophiles and you’re criminals”), Smith’s threats contained few specifics about why he was so angry.When FBI agents returned to arrest Smith...

Santa Clara: Berkeley’s Boichik Bagels, made famous by New Yorkers, opens first South Bay shop

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:14:54 GMT

Berkeley’s Boichik Bagels, hailed by the New York Times as some of the finest New York-style bagels in the country, are now available in the South Bay.Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | McDonald’s unveils spinoff CosMc’s, weirder than expected Restaurants, Food and Drink | 7 amazing Bay Area things to do this weekend Restaurants, Food and Drink | Michelin Bib Gourmand Mexican restaurant Flores opens in San Mateo Restaurants, Food and Drink | Map: 7 new Bay Area restaurants, and 3 that are closing Restaurants, Food and Drink | Panera hit with another wrongful death suit over its caffeinated ‘charged lemonade’ On Thursday morning, self-made bagel master Emily Winston opened her largest retail shop to date in the Mission Park Marketplace in Santa Clara’s northern tech corridor.Here, Winston and her team will feed local residents, Silicon Valley companies and commuters (it’...