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Los Angeles the 'top mosquito city' in the U.S., according to Orkin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:45 GMT

When one thinks of mosquitos, swampy, humid southern states might come to mind first.But according to Orkin, Los Angeles is actually the top “mosquito city” in the United States – for the third straight year.The pest control company didn’t measure mosquitoes, but instead came up with the list based on cities where they performed the most mosquito control services between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. The rankings include residential and commercial mosquito services, Orkin said.Los Angeles ranked #1, followed by Chicago, New York, Atlanta and Dallas/Ft. Worth. San Francisco dropped eight spots to land at #16. Sacramento ranked #36, San Diego was #38, while Bakersfield and Fresno cracked the top 50 for the first time.1.       Los Angeles2.       Chicago3.       New York4.       Atlanta (+1)5.       Dallas/Ft. Worth (+1)6.  ...

Jason Porter Pronounced Dead Following Motorcycle Crash on Walerga Road [Antelope, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:45 GMT

Motorcycle-Auto Collision near Shandwick Drive Kills 39-Year-Old Antelope ManANTELOPE, CA (June 20, 2023) – Friday evening, Jason Porter was fatally injured in a motorcycle crash on Walerga Road.The deadly collision occurred around 8:18 p.m. along the southbound Walerga Road, near Shandwick Drive.According to CHP, a motorcycle traveling south in Walerga collided with a northbound red Mazda turning left onto Shandwick.Tragically, the motorcyclist sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. Meanwhile, the Mazda driver stayed at the site of the incident and cooperated with the investigators.On Saturday, the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased rider as 39-year-old Jason Porter of Antelope.No further details regarding the Walerga Road motorcycle crash have been released to the public. The California Highway Patrol will provide more information once available.No words can mend the broken hearts and sorrow felt during this delicate moment. Deepest condolenc...

Patriarchy and More at Dum Dum Fest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:45 GMT

Patriarchy and More at Dum Dum Fest: Dum Dum Records has assembled a wonderful lineup for their Dum Dom Fest at the Echo, with filmmaker Actually Huizenga’s three-piece Patriarchy headlining. “Exploring themes of sex, power, subversion, and death, the group draws inspiration from interests in everything from Ancient Greek Mythology to 80’s slasher films,” they say. Also on the bill is Taleen Kali, Iress, and Lauren Lakis.Last year, Huizenga told us about her love for Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine album.“I, Actually Huizenga of Patriarchy, discovered NIN through my obsession with David Bowie as a pubescent child,” she said. “Trent Reznor scared/intrigued me when I saw him driving the cab in the video for ‘I’m Afraid of Americans.’ So I started my research listening to the albums. Pretty Hate Machine was the first album to make me cry and masturbate; to question my childish romantic preconceptions.”“Of course Downward Spiral blew ...

Three people wounded, dog killed in Oakland shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:45 GMT

OAKLAND — Three people were wounded and a dog belonging to one of them was killed in a shooting Monday night in East Oakland, authorities said.The people shot — a 31-year-old woman and two men, ages 20 and 22 — were reported to be in stable condition. Police did not say if the three knew each other.The shooting was reported just before 4 p.m. Monday in the 8900 block of MacArthur Boulevard.Authorities said a group of people were standing outside when two men approached them on foot and began shooting at them.The woman’s pit bull dog was also hit by the gunfire and died, authorities said.The suspects fled before police got to the scene.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Investigation underway into I-880 shooting Crime and Public Safety | Oakland police investigating 50th homicide of 2023 Crime and Public Safety | Woman shot inside East Oakland apartment Crime and Public Safety | Fremont man gets 40 years to...

George and Martha Washington were early fans of ice cream at Mount Vernon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:45 GMT

By Gretchen McKay, Pittsburgh Post-GazetteIce cream has been a quintessential summer treat for generations, whether you prefer a twist of soft-serve chocolate and vanilla on a cake cone or two scoops of gourmet mint chip stacked on a hand-rolled waffle.But back in the 18th century, the treat brought to America by the French was a rich man’s dessert.You can’t make ice cream without three key ingredients — ice, salt and sugar — that most colonial families simply could not afford. Ice required a separate icehouse to store chunks of ice cut on a nearby river or creek in winter. Sugar and salt were expensive commodities imported from the Caribbean. Colonial home cooks would also have to own at least one cow whose milk the family didn’t need to sell to make cream.Our nation’s first president — a wealthy man with a sizable enslaved community manning the house and gardens — was without those obstacles.The large number of “ice pots” used for holding ice cr...

Suspect who allegedly brandished gun in Pacifica road rage incident arrested

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:45 GMT

(KRON) -- A suspect who allegedly brandished a gun during a road rage incident in Pacifica over the weekend has been arrested, the Pacifica Police Department announced Tuesday. Officers responded on Saturday to an area of Highway 1 near Rockaway Beach Avenue on a reported road rage incident involving a firearm possibly being brandished. Group of bicyclists rides onto 580 freeway, prompting CHP warning Police made contact with the reporting party and got a description of the vehicle and the suspect. The vehicle was located at Linda Mar Shopping Center, and through a coordinated effort, the suspect was identified as 32-year-old Ian Austin of San Leandro.An investigation revealed that Austin had allegedly brandished a firearm at another motorist while traveling south on Highway 1. Police found a loaded firearm in his vehicle along with brass knuckles. Bay Area home sales at lowest level in 20 years Austin was arrested without incident, police said. He was arrested and booked into C...

Over 100 firefighters called to battle blaze at abandoned Antioch warehouse

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:45 GMT

(BCN) -- A warehouse fire in Antioch left the abandoned structure badly damaged Tuesday morning, but no injuries were reported.More than 100 firefighters were called to the fire reported at 10:52 p.m. Monday in the area of Marina Plaza.Firefighters from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded along with multiple other fire agencies. They were able to stop the flames from spreading beyond the warehouse, according to Assistant Chief Chris Bachman, a fire district spokesman.Firefighters from the Contra Costa Fire Protection District and other agencies extinguished a warehouse fire in Antioch on June 20, 2023. No injuries were reported. (Contra Costa Fire Protection District via Bay City News)Firefighter with a handheld device with an image captured by an aerial drone inside a burning warehouse in Antioch on June 20, 2023 (Contra Costa County Fire Protection District via Bay City News)Fire crews used images captured by aerial drones inside a burning warehouse to help ...

EU nations vote to back nature restoration plans, but tough fight in parliament still awaits

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:45 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union achieved a small political breakthrough Tuesday when a majority of the 27 member states backed controversial plans for restoring nature across the continent. The 27-nation EU has long been at the forefront of fighting climate change and protecting the environment but is struggling to push the latest piece of legislation through a long-winding legal procedure. Some member states and the biggest party in the legislature, the right-wing European People’s Party, turned against the proposed plans because of fear they would negatively affect the economy.“It’s been hard work from all parties involved,” said Swedish Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari, who chaired the meeting. “It is a good day for nature,” she said. The plans proposed by the EU’s executive commission set binding restoration targets for specific habitats and species, with the aim by 2030 to cover at least 20% of the region’s land and sea areas. For the next step, the file would ...

Alcaraz finds some late inspiration to rally to win in 1st match at Queen’s Club

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:45 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz’s first grass-court match outside Wimbledon proved to be a tricky one.Playing for the first time at the Queen’s Club Championships, the top-seeded Alcaraz came from a set down Tuesday to win 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3) against lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech — a No. 83-ranked Frenchman who only found out he was playing following the withdrawal of Arthur Fils a couple of hours before the match.“It has been a really tough match,” Alcaraz said. “It was really difficult for me at the beginning to adapt my tennis, my game, to the grass.”Alcaraz faced difficulties in dealing with the tall Rinderknech’s big serve and net coverage in what was the No. 2-ranked Spaniard’s seventh career match on grass, and first away from the All England Club.Alcaraz rallied from going down a break early in the third set and dominated the tiebreaker, which started with an epic point that saw Alcaraz tumble to the ground after racing to the net to hit a cross-court winner.The fourth poi...

Taliban carry out 2nd known public execution since seizing power in Afghanistan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:37:45 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers Tuesday carried out what is believed to be the second confirmed public execution since the religious group took power in 2021, according to the country’s Supreme Court.The court had sentenced to death a man identified only as Ajmal from the capital Kabul who was found guilty of murdering five people in two separate incidents last year. The execution was carried out with an assault rifle by the son of Siad Wali, one of five men killed by Ajmal. It took place outside a mosque near the offices of the provincial governor in eastern Laghman province according to Islamic law, the high court said in a statement.Relatives of the four other men who were killed by Ajmal witnessed the execution.The latest public execution is likely to draw criticism from the international community. It comes just a month after the United Nations in a report strongly criticized the Taliban for carrying out public executions, lashings and stonings since seizing...