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New 'Fast and Furious'-themed roller coaster coming to Universal Studios Hollywood

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

Universal Studios Hollywood will soon break ground on its newest "Fast and Furious"-themed roller coaster, park officials announced on Wednesday.The new coaster is expected to fully engulf guests in the "Fast and Furious" universe through “innovative and technological achievements never previously employed,” a news release said. What we know about Universal Studios’ new coaster News about the new roller coaster initially made headlines in October when a screenshot of a geotechnical study submitted by the theme park was shared on Twitter.The study showed that officials planned for the ride’s track to begin in the upper lot, go over the Starway Escalator, descend toward the lower lot, and then back up again.“When I saw the permit, I got excited because this was something that was only rumored, but then to see the permit, it shows that they are testing to see whether this is possible,” Alicia Stella, a theme park blogger who spoke to KTLA about the new coaster, said in October.After ...

Two Men Injured in Plane Accident on Lake Murray Boulevard [La Mesa, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

Plane Crash in La Mesa Church Parking Lot Left Two HospitalizedLA MESA, CA (July 12, 2023) – Saturday afternoon, a small plane accident on Lake Murray Boulevard left two men onboard with injuries.The crash occurred around 3:00 p.m. in a canyon beside the Lake Murray Evangelical Community Church on Lake Murray Boulevard.A passing American Medical Response ambulance discovered the pilot and the passenger 50 feet below the parking lot of the church.According to reports, the pilot managed to walk out of the plane and help himself out of the hill with the help of the paramedics. Meanwhile, rescue units extricated the passenger using a rope system and a stretcher.Eventually, both patients were transported to a hospital for treatment of mild to moderate injuries.Heartland spokesperson Andy McKellar claimed that the single-engine Cessna 185 did not explode or catch fire at the time of the crash. However, the plane took down the nearby power lines and caused a blackout in the area.At t...

One Hospitalized after Two-Truck Collision on Interstate 80 [Richmond, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

Traffic Accident near Portero Avenue Left Traffic DisruptedRICHMOND, CA (July 12, 2023) – Early Tuesday morning, police responded to a two-truck collision on Interstate 80.According to CHP Officer Adib Zeid, it happened in the westbound lanes near Portrero Avenue at around 1:45 a.m., June 20th.Furthermore, the authorities determined that one of the trucks was hauling sugar that spilled on the highway after the collision.Investigation showed that the truck carrying sugar rear-ended the other truck loaded with carnival equipment.Consequently, one of the big rig drivers suffered serious injuries and authorities transported the victim to John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek.Meanwhile, the crash blocked the lanes on the westbound Interstate due to the debris left by the big rigs.Motorists were advised to use other routes. The lanes have now been reopened following the incident.No additional information was added by the officials and an active investigation is still ongoing.Like other...

Five Sailors Injured in Boat Accident near Zuniga Point Jetty [San Diego, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

Navy Routine Training Operation near Coronado Base Resulted in InjuriesSAN DIEGO, CA (July 12, 2023) – Early Friday, five sailors were injured in a boat accident near Zuniga Point Jetty.The incident happened on June 16th, at around 1:50 a.m. when a Navy training operation ended in a crash off the Naval Air Station North Island.According to the U.S. Navy, the vessel struck the Zuniga Point Jetty, near Coronado Base, while entering San Diego Bay. At this time, the circumstances that led up to the crash remain undisclosed.Responding medical personnel transported at least five sailors to UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest for non-life-threatening injuries. Reports indicated that one of the victims is a Navy Seal and the other four patients are support personnel.The U.S. Navy continues to investigate the Zuniga Point Jetty boat accident.One small navigational error can lead to a catastrophic boating accident. This is why it is crucial to drive boats defensively and strictly a...

Elderly Woman Fatally Injured in Bicycle Accident on Lower Sacramento Road [Stockton, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

Bicycle-Auto Collision Near Hammer Lane Klls 71-Year-Old WomanSTOCKTON, CA (July 12, 2023) – A bicycle accident on Lower Sacramento Road took the life of an elderly woman Friday evening.The fatal collision happened around 6:30 p.m. on Lower Sacramento Road and Hammer Lane.According to Stockton police, a car and the woman riding a bicycle collided for reasons under investigation.Tragically, the 73-year-old woman died at the scene despite the life-saving efforts of the paramedics. Her identity remains undisclosed, pending notification from her next of kin.Meanwhile, the driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with the investigators.The Stockton Police Department is investigating whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident.No further details regarding the Lower Sacramento Road bicycle accident have been released to the public. Officials will provide more information once available.Sweet James sends out their heartfelt sympathies to the friends and family of the victi...

4 Dead after Fiery Crash on 110 Freeway [Los Angeles, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

Fiery Single-Vehicle Crash near Slauson Avenue Left FatalitiesLOS ANGELES, CA (July 12, 2023) – Late Thursday night, at least four people died following a fiery crash on 110 Freeway.The incident happened on June 15th, just before 11:45 p.m., in the southbound lanes of the freeway at Slauson Avenue on-ramp.According to reports, the driver of a vehicle was traveling along the 110 Freeway, with multiple passengers, when he lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle crashed into a barrier. As a result, the car overturned and burst into flames, causing everyone inside to sustain serious injuries.First responders arrived at the site of the collision shortly after. There, they pronounced four people dead at the scene.At this time, officials only describe the victims as people in their 20s. Their identities have not yet been released.At this time, authorities suspected speed as the main factor of the incident. An active investigation is still ongoing.The Sweet James law firm sends out t...

Cool news hits part of Bay Area, as weekend heat wave begins to build

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

The foundation for the summer’s second heat wave   — a searing blast that will take inland temperatures past 100 degrees and is bringing warnings from state officials— continued to be formed Wednesday, but the National Weather Service did have one bit of cool news for the Bay Area.“Normally, when you see these heat waves with these strong high-pressure ridges, we get off-shore winds that are warm and that just makes it miserable for everyone,” NWS meteorologist Sean Miller said. “This time, we will still be getting the on-shore winds that are cool. So some of the places near the beaches and water are not gonna get so hot.”That likely will mean a few degrees of consolation for most Bay Area residents. Temperatures in many areas that were forecast to go past 100 degrees during the heat wave instead may top out in the high 90s, according to weather services forecasts.The weather service said Morgan Hill will be under 100 by Sunday, and that San...

Elon Musk announces new company xAI as he seeks to build ChatGPT alternative

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

By Rachel Metz | BloombergElon Musk, who has hinted for months that he wants to build an alternative to the popular ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot, announced the formation of what he’s calling xAI, whose goal is to “understand the true nature of the universe.”On a website unveiled Wednesday xAI said its team will be led by Musk and staffed by executives who have worked at a broad range of companies at the forefront of artificial intelligence, including Google’s DeepMind, Microsoft Corp. and Tesla Inc., as well as academic institutions such as the University of Toronto.Musk was involved in the creation of OpenAI, the highest-profile AI startup and developer of ChatGPT. But he has frequently and publicly criticized OpenAI since he left the board in 2018, especially after it created a for-profit arm the following year. He has said he believes it to be “effectively controlled by Microsoft.” Microsoft has invested some $13 billion into OpenAI.Despite his work in AI, Musk has exp...

CSU appoints Mildred García as Chancellor, first Latina to oversee mammoth university system

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

The California State University Board of Trustees announced a new leader to oversee its 23 campuses during its Wednesday, July 12 meeting — putting an end to a year-long search to replace former CSU Chancellor Joseph Castro, who resigned last year amid blowback from allegations that he mishandled sexual harassment complaints against another administrator.Mildred García, who currently serves as president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and was formerly president of both CSUs Fullerton and Dominguez Hills, will take over the role on Oct. 1. She’s the first Latina appointed to the prestigious role, according to the announcement.The chancellor is responsible for overseeing the mammoth university system, including its 460,000 students and 56,000 faculty and staff. She’ll have an annual salary of $795,000, a $96,000 yearly housing stipend, a $1,000 monthly car allowance, and other standard benefits offered to CSU employees, according to a Wednesday board rep...

US inflation hits lowest level in 2 years as prices ease

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:17 GMT

By Christopher Rugaber | Associated PressWASHINGTON — Squeezed by painfully high prices for two years, Americans have gained some much-needed relief with inflation reaching its lowest point since early 2021 — 3% in June compared with a year earlier — thanks in part to easing prices for gasoline, airline fares, used cars and groceries.The inflation figure the government reported Wednesday was down sharply from a 4% annual rate in May, though still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. From May to June, overall prices rose 0.2%, up from just 0.1% in the previous month but still comparatively mild.Even with Wednesday’s better-than-expected inflation data, the Fed is considered all but sure to raise its benchmark rate when it meets in two weeks. But with price increases slowing — or even falling outright — across a range of goods and services, many economists say they think the central bank could hold off on what had been expected to be another rate hike in September, shoul...