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Messi mania engulfs Miami over the arrival of the Argentine soccer superstar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:50 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — A hamburger and drink combination called the Lionel Messi. A huge sketch of the soccer star’s smiling face on a restaurant wall beside a viral meme from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. A beer with a pink label matching the color of the Inter Miami jersey he will wear.Wherever you turn in Miami these days something reminds you of the arrival of the Argentine soccer legend.There is no hiding the euphoria generated by Messi in Miami as he begins the new Major League Soccer phase of his career in one of the most Latino cities in the United States. But his arrival is also bringing a note of sadness as fans know that at age 36 he is nearing the end of his career.Messi announced on June 7 that he will play for Inter Miami in a move that is expected to revitalize soccer in the United States and South Florida with one of the sporting world’s best-known figures. More than 100,000 Argentines live in Miami, which will host World Cup matches in 2026.The seven-time winner of the Ballon ...

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

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:50 GMT

(KTLA) – Universal Studios Hollywood will soon break ground on its newest "Fast and Furious"-themed roller coaster, park officials announced on Wednesday.Park officials said the new coaster will "engulf" guests in the "Fast and Furious" universe through “innovative and technological achievements never previously employed,” according to a press release.A view of the construction for Universal Studios Hollywood's new roller coaster. ( KTLA) Rumors about the park's new roller began swirling 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. Official says Carowinds coaster may have developed crack a week before it was noticed “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 ...

Recipient of historic face transplant says he's doing well, still sees 'another person' in the mirror

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:50 GMT

(KTLA) – A Los Angeles man who underwent a historic face transplant after suffering extensive burns in a 2013 crash is recovering well and happy for a second chance at life.Robert Chelsea, 68, was driving home from church in 2013 when his car overheated, so he pulled over on the side of the freeway. While waiting for roadside assistance, a drunk driver crashed into his car, causing it to explode on impact. Chelsea suffered third-degree burns on over 50% of his body as a result.Chelsea underwent an extensive 16-hour surgery in July 2019, which, as he noted at the time, made him the oldest person and the first African American to get a face transplant.Robert Chelsea, a Los Angeles man who underwent a historic face transplant after suffering extensive burns in a 2013 crash, is recovering thanks to the surgeries providing him with a second chance at life. (KTLA)"After enduring more than 30 surgeries, three years of tests, physical and psychological evaluations, and a longer than usual w...

Food fighters: New Chicago-based U.S. Army Reserve unit provides meals, morale to soldiers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:50 GMT

The United States Army Reserve is establishing a new unit outside of Chicago, but these soldiers won’t be carrying out battle plans, they’ll be following recipes. During a ceremony at the Army’s Fort Sheridan complex this week, officials established an entirely new unit: The 238th field feeding company — the first-ever feeding company based in the Midwest.“Fielding a new unit is very rare -- even in the active army -- so to be able to do it here at Ft. Sheridan in the reserves, is even more special,” said Jim Bland, the civilian aide to Secretary of the United States Army.Sergeant Crystal Melendez, 29, from Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood is one of 150 reservists selected to serve in the unit. “I like being around all the cooks,” Melendez said. “I like being around so many people, I’ve never been at an at where there are so many cooks – and everybody brings something different.”Bland said that that food is the backbone of any fighting force, and cited the example of the starvi...

Texas Department of Public Safety says it will keep patrolling despite Austin suspending partnership

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Interim City Manager Jesús Garza announced Wednesday that he has suspended the City's partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety with the approval of Mayor Kirk Watson. "I feel like we had a partnership that had promise to it," Watson said. "But when you can't defend certain actions, you have to, as I've said from the very beginning, you have to make changes."Watson defended DPS' presence in Austin when KXAN sat down with him Monday to discuss the partnership, a stark contrast from Wednesday's move to pull the program just two days later. A spokesperson for Texas DPS told KXAN on Wednesday night, "DPS will continue patrol operations in the city of Austin as part of its responsibility to protect and serve Texas," in the same capacity as outlined in the partnership. Mixed reactions as City of Austin suspends partnership with DPS The mayor said the tipping point was an incident where Watson said troopers pulled a gun on a 10-year-old boy. "Wel...

Roller coasters still awaiting assembly at COTA but overall expansion of F1 venue on track, execs say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:50 GMT

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- Dozens of pieces of blue roller coaster sit neatly organized into rows in one of the vast parking lots at the Circuit of The Americas race track in Southeast Austin. While they await assembly, they offer a hint of how the long-planned COTALand amusement park could take shape and advance track executives' goal of becoming more of a year-round entertainment destination. COTA’s chairman talks about future expansion after 10 years of MotoGP in Austin COTA won't hit a previously announced goal of opening the full park in 2023 but track operators have opened some rides near turns 19 and 20. COTA Chairman Bobby Epstein this month said they would have liked to have started the amusement park long ago but blamed delays on "significant" disruptions to production and shipping.Pieces of a roller coaster sit waiting for assembly in a Circuit of The Americas parking lot in late June. (Photo: MIKE CHRISTEN / ABJ)Pieces of a roller coaster sit waiting...

Furniture Shop opens in former Stewart's plaza in Milton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:50 GMT

MILTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A new Furniture Shop has opened in the former Stewart's plaza at 404 Geyser Road in Milton. The store is run by the nonprofit Gateway House of Peace, an end-of-life home that takes care of terminally ill people and their families during their last months of life. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! In February, the organization opened up the Gateway House Thrift Shop right next store at 408 Geyser Road. The shop is in the former Geyser Vacuum space.The Furniture Shop accepts gently used furniture artwork, lamps, and home decor, while the Thrift Shop accepts household items, toys, kitchenware, purses, jewelry, antique collectibles, holiday items, cookbooks, and small appliances. You can find a full list of what they do and do not accept on the Thrift Shop Facebook page. New bar and restaurant opening in Milton All the money made from the stores goes back to support the end-of-life care that Gateway Hou...

St. Peters boy enters 2023 USA Mullet Competition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:50 GMT

ST. PETERS, Mo. - An eight-year-old boy from St. Peters is competing for the title of best mullet in a kids' division of the USA Mullet Championship. Owen Williams enters the competition with a "Chez" mullet. He is one of more than 300 contestants competing for the best mullet for kids between the ages of five and eight. On Owen's mullet profile page, he says, "I started to grow my mullet about two years ago because I liked the way it looked. None of my family or friends have a mullet so I guess you could say that I am one of a kind." Lawmaker to review law ‘in-depth’ after cars with expired tags towed from driveways Mullet Champ USA just opened up voting for its kids' divisions on Wednesday. The first round of voting runs through Sunday. The next round of voting runs from July 19-23 and will consist of the top 100 contestants. A third and final round will consists of the Top 25 voter-getters from Aug. 7-11. Anyone looking to vote for Owen can submit one vote every 24 hours with ...

MTA driver douses fires set by arsonist in downtown Los Angeles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:50 GMT

A quick-thinking MTA worker helped stop an arsonist who was setting fires in downtown Los Angeles Thursday morning. The suspect was caught on video around 2 a.m. lighting brush and trees on fire on Alameda Street near Union Station.A man is seen lighting fires in downtown Los Angeles on July 13, 2023. (OC Hawk)Several people began calling 911 to report the incident but an MTA worker was the first to take action. The driver grabbed a fire extinguisher from his bus and doused the flames before firefighters arrived.An MTA worker douses a fire set by an arson suspect in downtown Los Angeles on July 13, 2023. (OC Hawk)The arson suspect was taken into custody when law enforcement arrived. The motive for the incident was unclear. Teacher charged with sexually assaulting 6 girls No injuries were reported in the incident and no structures were damaged.

Dangerous heat wave brings triple-digit temperatures, fire risk to California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:50 GMT

After a historically wet winter and a cloudy spring, California's summer was in full swing Thursday as a heat wave that's been scorching much of the U.S. Southwest brings triple-digit temperatures and an increased risk of wildfires.Blistering conditions will build Friday and throughout the weekend in the central and southern parts of California, where many residents should prepare for the hottest weather of the year, the National Weather Service warned.A man uses an umbrella to avoid the midday sun, Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)Midday highs were mostly expected to be above 100 degrees (37.7 C), and desert areas could reach 120 (48.8 C), forecasters said. Little relief was expected overnight, when temperatures could remain in the 80s (above 26.6 C). An excessive heat watch was in effect through Sunday for interior Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.“Please plan accordingly, this is not the time to be hiking or be outside for...