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Today: January 21, 2025
Today: January 21, 2025
The Los Angeles Post

The Los Angeles Post

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Arts

Essence Festival of Culture 2023 kicks off in New Orleans

Nearly 30 years ago, creators of Essence Magazine came to New Orleans to celebrate the publication’s 25th anniversary with a salute to Black women highlighting culture, empowerment conversations with the nation’s thought leaders and, of course, music. The Essence Music Festival has since morphed into the Essence Festival of Culture, which, in its 29th year, kicked off Thursday and goes through July 3 across various venues in downtown New Orleans. The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will hold most of the free workshops, vendor exhibits and celebrity meet-and-greets. Blocks away, the Superdome will host nightly ticketed

Essence Festival of Culture 2023 kicks off in New Orleans
Health

Older Americans can get RSV vaccine this fall after consulting their doctor, CDC says

Americans 60 and older can get a new RSV vaccine but should discuss it with their doctor first, U.S. health officials recommended Thursday. The newly approved vaccines are expected to be ready in the fall, a time when flu shots and updated COVID-19 shots also will be available. Those eligible for the RSV vaccine should talk with their doctor to see if it is right for them, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement. The CDC said adults with chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems and those living in long-term care facilities are at

Older Americans can get RSV vaccine this fall after consulting their doctor, CDC says
World

EU leaders pause talks as Poland and Hungary's anti-migrant governments block progress

European Union leaders broke off migration talks early Friday as Poland and Hungary blocked progress after they were outvoted earlier this month on a plan to share out refugees arriving in Europe among the 27 member countries. Few leaders spoke to reporters as they left the summit venue after talks long into the night. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander DeCroo put on a brave face after what he described as a “rather difficult” discussion. Poland and Hungary refused to endorse a summit statement, which requires unanimity. “There are two options. Either we continue, or we give up and

EU leaders pause talks as Poland and Hungary's anti-migrant governments block progress
World

Novak Djokovic’s bid for Wimbledon title No. 8 and Grand Slam trophy No. 24 starts on Monday

Listen to Novak Djokovic’s opponents explain why he is as successful as he is — why he will begin his pursuit of a fifth consecutive and eighth overall Wimbledon championship on Monday; why he also will be attempting to claim an Open era-record 24th Grand Slam trophy over the coming fortnight on the All England Club’s grass courts — and they’ll offer plenty of answers. His best-in-the-game return of serve. His dangerous two-handed backhand. His elasticity. His stamina. His defense. His ability to read someone else’s intentions, get to where a ball is headed and send

Novak Djokovic’s bid for Wimbledon title No. 8 and Grand Slam trophy No. 24 starts on Monday
Health

Ringworm fungal infections are common in the US and are becoming increasingly resistant to treatment – 6 questions answered

Ringworm is often easy to spot with its characteristic red rings on the skin. Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library via Getty Images The World Health Organization considers antimicrobial resistance to be one of the most serious threats for global health. Similar to the way bacteria have developed resistance to antibiotics, fungal infections throughout the world are becoming more drug-resistant and more deadly. In early 2023, the New York State Department of Health reported two cases of severe tinea, a contagious type of ringworm infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later reported that they were caused by a species of

Ringworm fungal infections are common in the US and are becoming increasingly resistant to treatment – 6 questions answered
Environment

Bridge collapses, road repairs, evacuations: How transportation agencies plan for large-scale traffic disruptions

A structural crack on the I-40 Hernando de Soto Bridge in Memphis, Tenn., required an emergency repair in 2021. Tennessee DOT via Getty Images Twelve days after a portion of Interstate 95 collapsed in north Philadelphia during a truck fire, officials opened a temporary six-lane roadway to serve motorists while a permanent overpass is rebuilt. This was a major success after the June 11, 2023, disaster was predicted to snarl traffic for months. U.S. cities often face similar challenges when routine wear and tear or natural disasters damage roads and bridges. Transportation engineer Lee D. Han explains how planners, transit

Bridge collapses, road repairs, evacuations: How transportation agencies plan for large-scale traffic disruptions
Arts

Think being a NASCAR driver isn't as physically demanding as other sports? Think again

Race car drivers compete in full-body safety gear while sitting in a piping hot car, which puts tremendous strain on the heart. Grant Halverson/Getty Images for NASCAR Imagine an NBA game played outdoors. In August. In Phoenix. Tip-off is at noon. There are no timeouts. There is no halftime. There are no substitutions. And players must wear snowsuits, gloves, and ski masks. Sounds ridiculous, right? Yet race car drivers routinely compete under similar conditions. On July 1, 2023, for the first time in over 60 years, NASCAR, the nation’s premier stock car series, will hold a race on the streets

Think being a NASCAR driver isn't as physically demanding as other sports? Think again
Political

Yes, debates do help voters decide – and candidates are increasingly reluctant to participate

Republican nominee Donald Trump gestures as Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton looks on during the final presidential debate in 2016. Mark Ralston/ AFP via Getty Images Former President Donald Trump’s threat to skip the first Republican presidential debate, scheduled for Aug. 23, 2023, may be a sign that candidate debates will be the next casualty in the highly polarized political environment in the United States. For Trump, the leading contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, refusing to participate in a debate is nothing new. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he skipped a general election debate because it was moved

Yes, debates do help voters decide – and candidates are increasingly reluctant to participate
World

Caroline Wozniacki is returning to tennis 3 years after retiring. She will get a US Open wild card

Caroline Wozniacki, a former No. 1-ranked tennis player and the 2018 Australian Open champion, announced Thursday that she is returning to competition three years after she retired to start a family. The U.S. Tennis Association said it will grant Wozniacki a wild-card invitation to participate in the U.S. Open, which begins in New York on Aug. 28. She also is receiving a wild-card entry for a tournament in Montreal that begins earlier in August, she intends to play in the Australian Open next January and hopes to represent Denmark at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Another aim: She wants to show

Caroline Wozniacki is returning to tennis 3 years after retiring. She will get a US Open wild card
Arts

2024 Grammys will be held Feb. 4 in Los Angeles

The Grammy Awards are returning to Los Angeles on the first Sunday in February. The Recording Academy announced several key dates ahead of its 66th annual show honoring the best in music. CBS will air the main ceremony starting at 8 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 4 from Crypto.com Arena, and it will be livestreamed on Paramount+. The ceremony will feature several new changes. Earlier this month, the Recording Academy announced that three new categories will be added to the Grammys in 2024: best pop dance recording, best African music performance, and best alternative jazz album. They

2024 Grammys will be held Feb. 4 in Los Angeles
Political

Russian general is believed to be detained in aftermath of Wagner mutiny, AP sources say

Gen. Sergei Surovikin, the deputy commander of the Russian group of forces fighting in Ukraine, is believed to have been detained days after mercenaries staged a revolt inside Russia, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Thursday, citing U.S. and Ukrainian intelligence assessments. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. It’s not clear whether Surovikin faces any charges or where he is being held, reflecting the opaque world of the Kremlin’s politics and uncertainty after the revolt. But his reported detention comes days

Russian general is believed to be detained in aftermath of Wagner mutiny, AP sources say
Political

3 charged in insider trading case related to taking Trump media firm public, accused of making $22M

Three Florida men were charged Thursday with making more than $22 million through illegal insider trading before the public announcement that an acquisition firm was going to take former President Donald Trump’s media company public. The charges were outlined in an indictment unsealed in New York that did not in any way implicate Trump or Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns his Truth Social platform. The charges make it less likely that Trump Media will be able to pocket the $1.3 billion promised upon completion of a merger with the acquisition firm. The merger is

3 charged in insider trading case related to taking Trump media firm public, accused of making $22M
Science

Central US is now getting worst of the drought. Corn crops are stressed, rivers are running low

Mike Shane’s Illinois farm got a nice soaking on May 8, shortly after he planted his corn crop. Since then, rain has been hard to come by. Plenty of storms have ventured close only to fizzle out before making it to Shane’s 200-acre spread near Peoria. “It comes across the Mississippi River and then just disappears,” Shane, 47, said. “My corn looks absolutely terrible right now.” Without substantial rain soon, “I just don’t see any hope for it,” he said. Heavy rain over the winter eased the drought in the West, but now the middle of

Central US is now getting worst of the drought. Corn crops are stressed, rivers are running low
Health

Mexico acknowledges 112 heat-related deaths so far this year, almost triple the figures in 2022

Mexican health authorities say there have been at least 112 heat-related deaths so far this year, acknowledging the deadliness of a recent heat wave that the president previously said was being overblown by alarmist journalists. The report, released late Wednesday, also shows a significant spike in heat-related fatalities in the last two weeks. So far this year, the overall heat-related deaths are almost triple the figures in 2022. The Health Department normally issues a report on heat-related fatalities each week, but in June — at the height of the heat wave — it skipped a week,

Mexico acknowledges 112 heat-related deaths so far this year, almost triple the figures in 2022
World

NFL suspends 3 players indefinitely for violating the gambling policy and a fourth gets 6 games

Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. lost the biggest bet of his life Thursday. He was waived by the Indianapolis Colts shortly after the NFL suspended Rodgers and two other players indefinitely for gambling on NFL games last season. The Colts also cut backup defensive end Rashod Berry after Berry and free agent defensive tackle Demetrius Taylor received the same punishment for the same infraction. None of the three can seek reinstatement until after next season. Tennessee Titans right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere received a six-game suspension for betting on non-NFL sports at the team’s facility, though he can participate

NFL suspends 3 players indefinitely for violating the gambling policy and a fourth gets 6 games
World

Venezuelan women are increasingly taking up the grueling work of fishing in the Caribbean

Long before sunrise, dozens of people gather around more than 50 boats along this portion of Venezuela’s vast Caribbean coast, their tanned bodies showing scars and maimed hands from years of fishing. Most of them are men, but women are increasingly among them. The women may be joining a family tradition of fishing, or in some cases launching new careers after losing jobs during Venezuela’s economic crisis, enlisting in the physically demanding work that may pay $8 after five consecutive 12-hour shifts. That’s only a fraction of the estimated $390 that a Venezuelan family would need

Venezuelan women are increasingly taking up the grueling work of fishing in the Caribbean
Arts

J.J. Watt signs multi-year deal to be a studio analyst for CBS Sports

J.J. Watt has signed a multi-year deal with CBS Sports to serve as a studio analyst. The announcement was made Thursday by CBS Sports President David Berson. Watt’s first appearance will be on “The NFL Today” during Week 1 on Sept. 9. He’ll also be an analyst for NFL shows on CBS Sports Network and online. “I love the game too much to be away from it entirely. I’m very excited to be joining CBS Sports to contribute across all their NFL shows and platforms, including working alongside and learning from JB, Coach, Boomer, Phil and

J.J. Watt signs multi-year deal to be a studio analyst for CBS Sports
World

Was your flight canceled due to bad weather? What you need to know about rebooking, refunds and more

Hundreds of thousands of air travelers are facing potential flight cancellations and delays this weekend, the peak of summer travel, as thunderstorms threaten the East Coast, West Coast and points in between. Nearly 270 U.S. flights were canceled early Friday, according to flight tracking service FlightAware, and more than 1,100 U.S. flights were delayed. It’s been a terrible week for United Airlines and it is leading all major domestic carriers again Friday both canceled and delayed flights. Staying calm — and knowing your rights — can go a long way if your flight is canceled, experts say.

Was your flight canceled due to bad weather? What you need to know about rebooking, refunds and more
World

Ukraine's Zelenskyy meets Greta Thunberg and others to address the war's effect on ecology

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Thursday with Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg and prominent European figures who are forming a working group to address ecological damage from the 16-month-old Russian invasion. The meeting in the Ukrainian capital came as fighting continued around the country. The governor of the Kherson region, Oleksandr Prokudin, said two people were killed in the region’s capital in a Russian strike that hit residences, a medical facility and a school where residents were lined up to receive humanitarian aid. Another person was killed in a morning strike on the village of Bilzoerka,

Ukraine's Zelenskyy meets Greta Thunberg and others to address the war's effect on ecology
Arts

Naomi Campbell welcomes her second child, a boy

Naomi Campbell has welcomed baby No. 2. “My little darling, know that you are cherished beyond measure and surrounded by love from the moment you graced us with your presence,” she posted Thursday on Instagram. “A True Gift from God – blessed!” The supermodel and host of the reality competition series “The Face” confirmed the baby is a boy. Campbell, 53, did not offer further the details. In May 2021, she introduced her firstborn on Instagram, followed by the cover of British Vogue, saying only that the child, a girl, “wasn’t adopted. … She’s my child.” On Thursday, Campbell’s post

Naomi Campbell welcomes her second child, a boy
Health

Cheaper competition for Humira is hitting the market, but savings will depend on your insurance

Patients who take the autoimmune disease treatment Humira may see some price relief when several lower-cost, biosimilar versions of the AbbVie drug reach the U.S. market in July. But lower pharmacy bills may not happen right away — or at all — for some patients. That’ll depend largely on your insurance coverage. Here’s a closer look. WHAT IS HUMIRA? It’s an injectable biologic drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Patients usually take it twice a month. Biologic drugs are made from living cells instead of by mixing chemicals and have led to major advances in

Cheaper competition for Humira is hitting the market, but savings will depend on your insurance
Health

Wildfire smoke drives traditional summer camp activities indoors

The Canadian wildfires that have shrouded much of the nation in smoky haze are making it much harder for American kids to enjoy one of the staples of summer camp: fresh country air. As a result, many camps in the Midwest and the East have been moving activities indoors, seeking advice from medical professionals and hoping the air quality improves soon so campers can get back to hiking, playing tetherball and waging games of capture the flag. “There’s certainly a concern, considering that we take children from the cities,” Mark Zides, chairman of the Pennsylvania Camp Association, said Thursday. “Coming

Wildfire smoke drives traditional summer camp activities indoors
Health

Deadly germ behind infant formula shortage joins CDC watchlist of bad bugs

U.S. health officials will start formally tracking infections caused by the rare but potentially deadly germ that sickened babies and triggered a nationwide shortage of infant formula last year. A group that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agreed Thursday to add infections caused by cronobacter to the list of serious conditions reported to the agency. There are about 120 infections and diseases on the national watchlist. States will be asked, but not required, to notify the CDC about cronobacter infections, although they usually comply. Such infections are required to be reported now in only two states, Minnesota

Deadly germ behind infant formula shortage joins CDC watchlist of bad bugs
World

Deputy acquitted of all charges for failing to act during deadly Parkland school shooting

A Florida sheriff’s deputy was acquitted Thursday of felony child neglect and other charges for failing to act during the 2018 Parkland school massacre, concluding the first trial in U.S. history of a law enforcement officer for conduct during an on-campus shooting. Former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson wept as the verdicts were read, while the fathers of two students murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb, 14, 2018, stared straight ahead and quickly left the courtroom. The jury had deliberated for 19 hours over four days. After court adjourned, Peterson, his family

Deputy acquitted of all charges for failing to act during deadly Parkland school shooting
Health

$2.9 million gene therapy for severe hemophilia is approved by FDA

U.S. officials on Thursday approved drugmaker BioMarin’s gene therapy for the most common form of hemophilia, a $2.9 million infused treatment that can significantly reduce dangerous bleeding problems. The Food and Drug Administration approved Roctavian for adult patients with severe cases of hemophilia A, the inherited blood-clotting disorder that can lead to bleeding after minor injuries or scrapes. It’s the first gene therapy for those patients. The IV therapy is a long-awaited alternative to current treatments, including weekly doses of a protein needed to help blood clot. Some patients take a newer, longer-acting biotech drug that replaces

$2.9 million gene therapy for severe hemophilia is approved by FDA

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