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East St. Louis man sentenced in drug trafficking ring

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - A federal judge has sentenced an East St. Louis man who served as a local leader in a national drug ring. Jeffrey Taylor, 40, was sentenced to 16.5 years in prison Thursday. The Drug Enforcement Administration says Taylor was the leader of a drug trafficking ring from February 2017 to August 2018 in Madison and St. Clair counties, primarily operating in East St. Louis. ‘Rudderless ship of chaos,’ judge says after Gardner’s court absence According to court documents, Taylor ran operations in the drug organization, recruited members for illegal activities and provided direction. In the Metro East, the conspiracy involved at least 240 pounds of ice methamphetamine and 48 kilograms of cocaine.“The defendant was responsible for bringing significant quantities of illicit, destructive narcoticsacross state lines and into southern Illinois,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Thissentence demonstrates the severity of drug trafficking, and I applaud DEA’s effort...

Two Missouri crayfish listed as 'threatened' under the endangered species act

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS, Mo.— Two species of Missouri crayfish are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says that the Big Creek and St. Francis River crayfish are suffering steep population declines because of competition with other species and pollution from former lead mines in the area.The Big Creek crayfish - Image from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceThe Big Creek Crayfish is olive and the St. Francis River crayfish is dark brown. They can only be found in southeast Missouri, in the Upper St. Francis River watershed. The woodland crayfish has displaced the native species along much of the Big Creek and St. Francis River. The streams may be taken over by invasive species if nothing is done over the next 50 years. ‘Rudderless ship of chaos,’ judge says after Gardner’s court absence The runoff from the old lead mines is also a contributing factor to the native species decline. The pollution can affect their metabolism, and respiration.The ...

Ravens have 5-year agreement with QB Lamar Jackson

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

By NOAH TRISTER (AP Sports Writer)The Baltimore Ravens agreed in principle with Lamar Jackson on a five-year deal Thursday, securing their star quarterback for the foreseeable future and ending a contract negotiation saga that was dominating the team’s offseason.The Ravens announced the deal hours before the first round of the NFL draft, and it’s fair to say that in Baltimore at least, this news will overshadow whoever the team might take in the first round. Jackson was the NFL’s MVP in 2019, but after playing out his rookie contract, his future was in doubt. Baltimore put the franchise tag on Jackson last month, but the Ravens kept expressing confidence that they could reach a long-term agreement with him — even after Jackson made a trade request public.The Ravens did not disclose contract terms, but their tweet announcing the deal did include a video of Jackson talking.“For the last few months, there’s been a lot of he said, she said, a lot of n...

Bellflower mural could be taken down over municipal code violation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

A Bellflower mural depicting Los Angeles greats like Vin Scully, Danny Trejo and Oscar De La Hoya could be taken down because it violates the city’s municipal code.The owners of Speedy Auto Tint, located at 17149 Woodruff Ave., hired an artist to paint the mural, which took a month to complete. But now that it’s done, they might be forced to remove it.And while the owners have received positive feedback, it might not be enough to save it.“It’s the best thing to happen to Bellflower,” Steve Smith, who lives in the city, said. “We don’t want to take it down, they put so much work into it.”Artist Louie “Sloe” Palsino said L.A. natives will understand the unity the mural brings to the community.A mural on the side of a Bellflower business seen on April 27, 2023, could be taken down because it violates a municipal code. (KTLA)Boxer Oscar De La Hoya is featured in the Bellflower mural. April 27, 2023. (KTLA) Rapper Tupac and actor Danny Trejo are featured in the Bellflower mural. April 27...

Ex-LAPD officer accused of raping child no longer in custody

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

A former Los Angeles police officer who was arrested last week on suspicion of raping a child is no longer in custody, authorities said Thursday.Diego Jose Miranda Lopez , who was a probationary officer assigned to the North Hollywood area, was arrested April 20 in connection with an incident that occurred before he worked with the LAPD, according to the department.He resigned when confronted with the allegations. Former Los Angeles police officer arrested for alleged rape of a child Lopez was arrested on suspicion of forcible rape of a child under 14 years old. He was held without bail at LAPD’s Valley Jail, but police on Thursday said he was no longer in custody.Authorities did not elaborate on his release, and referred filing questions to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Disneyland guests can soon meet live-action Ariel in May

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

Disneyland guests will soon be able to meet Ariel from the upcoming live-action movie “The Little Mermaid” at the theme park beginning in late May, Disneyland officials announced Thursday.Guests will be able to meet Ariel at the promenade near the “It’s a small world” attraction. Officals announced the new meet and greet as a way to celebrate the film's upcoming release. Disney releases new ‘Little Mermaid’ trailer, gives 1st look at Ursula “We’re always looking for ways to build connection through the power of our stories, and we are excited for fans to enjoy meeting Ariel from both the animated and live-action stories at Disney Parks,” the Disney Parks Blog said.Disneyland officials didn’t specify how long the meet and greet will be available.Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris will also have its version of the Ariel meet and greet. Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ live-action movie poster released The new film, directed by Rob Marshall, is a live-action reimagination of the ...

Woman at the center of the lynching of Emmett Till dies at 88 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

The white woman who accused Black teenager Emmett Till of whistling at and accosting her — which caused his 1955 lynching in Mississippi and galvanized a generation of activists to rise up in the Civil Rights Movement — has died at 88.Carolyn Bryant Donham died in hospice care Tuesday night in Westlake, Louisiana, according to a death report filed Thursday in the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office.Her death marks the last chance for anyone to be held accountable for a kidnapping and brutal murder that shocked the world.Till's mother, Mamie Till Mobley, insisted on an open-casket funeral in their hometown of Chicago so the world could see her 14-year-old son's mutilated body, which was pulled from a river in Mississippi. Jet magazine published photos.In August 1955, Till had traveled from Chicago to visit relatives in Mississippi. Donham — then 21 and named Carolyn Bryant — accused him of making improper advances on her at a grocery store where she was working in the small community o...

New feature on California Lottery website puts players' lucky numbers to the test

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

A new feature on the California Lottery website puts your lucky numbers to the test.State Lottery officials recently added the “Lucky Numbers” website feature, allowing players to enter their lucky numbers and see how often they have hit the jackpot within the last five years.By entering the lucky numbers on the website, state lottery players can see how often their lucky numbers have hit the Powerball, Mega Millions and Super Lotto Plus jackpots. California Lottery player wins nearly $4 million from Powerball ticket For those who don’t have any go-to lottery numbers, researchers at USA Mega and Lotto Numbers analyzed which numbers were the most chosen during lottery drawings.The California numbers are based on 2,327 drawings and the national ones are based on the last 100 drawings. KTLA’s sister station Kron reported.The analysis was limited to the top five most drawn numbers for the Powerball, Mega Millions and Super Lotto Plus. Two California lottery players win a total of $1...

Master of Illusion: Iain He, VFX Compositor Transforming Film and TV

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

Step into the mesmerizing world of Iain He, a visionary VFX compositor who weaves his magic into popular TV series and films like Tulsa King, The Equalizer, and Gossip Girl. With his unique set of skills and extensive experience, Iain has emerged as a game-changer in the realm of visual effects.An adept user of industry-standard software like Nuke, Iain excels in numerous VFX techniques such as 2D tracking, rotoscoping, green screen compositing, and 3D compositing. His expertise enables him to achieve professional-level results, transforming ordinary scenes into visual masterpieces.Iain’s excellent communication and collaboration skills help him work efficiently with other VFX artists, supervisors, and producers. As a critical element in the VFX pipeline, his role as VFX compositor is instrumental in creating the stunning visual effects that captivate audiences in movies, TV shows, and other media.One fascinating aspect of Iain’s work is the subtle VFX touches that go un...

Visualizing Raw Emotion and Cinema Verite in SOFT With Cinematographer Liam Higgins

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

As viewers, we may not always consciously notice the color, light, and movement in a film. However, when used effectively, these elements can enhance the story and elicit emotions from the audience. Rising from a small Canadian city, Liam Higgins is an acclaimed cinematographer who has mastered the art of using visual elements to tell a story. With the recent release of his first feature film as a director of photography, the critically acclaimed SOFT, the entertainment industry has had a front-row seat to Higgins’ innovative approach to cinematography.What sets Higgins apart is his ability to tell stories through his visuals. As he did in the coming-of-age drama SOFT, Higgins has made a name for himself in the industry by bringing a unique perspective to every project he works on. His synesthesia and attention to detail allow him to create a visual language that speaks to his audience.The inventive cinematographer’s skill and hard work have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, ...