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52 days on the road: A migrant family’s desperate journey to Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:26 GMT

Nell Salzman | Chicago TribuneEsperanza Beatriz Mendez didn’t get to say goodbye to her mother before leaving her home in Venezuela with her three children.Her mother, whom she called the most important person in her life, was so strongly opposed to her making the dangerous trek to the U.S. that she wouldn’t say goodbye. Esperanza sobbed outside her mother’s house, but she knew she needed to leave, she said.“I have plans: The first is to work and buy a house and bring my mom,” she said in Spanish. “I hope she’s doing OK, that she hasn’t fallen into depression, and that she’ll wait for me.”Esperanza and her children fled Venezuela to escape an economic collapse that had shut down her kids’ schools and her city’s grocery stores. Their goal now: to make it to Chicago and meet a relative.The group of five — Esperanza, her three kids and her son’s pregnant girlfriend, plus the family dog — trekked over 3,000 miles for more than seven weeks and survived Panama’s Darién Gap, a harrowing ju...

How to look at the pros and cons of independent living as we age

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:26 GMT

By Helen Dennis | Southern California News GroupQ. One of my concerns about getting older is losing my independence, particularly since I am a very independent older woman. The thought of having to rely on someone else for my well-being is not only uncomfortable but scary. How does one come to grips with this?  A.R.Most older adults have spent their entire lives living independently. They worked, earned money, supported themselves, raised families and made their own decisions for decades. Yet aging can bring about changes that lead to becoming more dependent. These include financial difficulties, inability to care for oneself both physically and mentally or having to relocate because of limitations.The topic is on many people’s minds as indicated by surveys as well as conversations with friends. One survey ranked fear of becoming dependent in later life as the No. 1 concern followed by safe issues and memory loss. Another survey ranked it No. 4 after loneliness, declining health and...

A trans girl testified against a Texas bill at 10. After death threats she moved to Connecticut to be safe.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:26 GMT

There were no questions from the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs when Kai Shappley, then 10, testified against a bill that would charge parents who affirm their transgender children’s gender identity with child abuse.“Seriously, none of y’all want to know more about me?” she asked as she rose from her chair.The bill failed, but Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order accomplishing the same goal.Plenty of people have learned about Kai, now 12, whose story as a trans girl went viral, including a story in Vogue magazine.Larry St. PierreKai Shappley, left, with her mother, Kimberly, and brother, KalebA year ago, Kai, her mother, Kimberly, and 10-year-old brother Kaleb, two of seven siblings, moved to Connecticut as “political refugees” to escape the death threats and anti-transgender attitudes in Texas, where they were subjected to abuse and the loss of family and friends.Now, Kai has “an army of crabs,” discovering the horseshoe crabs and hermit crabs in Long Island Sound ne...

Woman with car trouble hit, killed by semi-truck on 101 Freeway in L.A.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:26 GMT

A woman who got out of her vehicle was struck and killed on the 101 Freeway, prompting lane closures through the Echo Park area of Los Angeles Tuesday morning.California Highway Patrol units responded to the incident around 3:45 a.m. on the southbound side of the freeway near Alvarado Street. The victim apparently had some sort of car trouble and stopped on the freeway to check the problem, CHP Sgt. Jensen said.First responders investigate a fatal crash on the 101 Freeway in the Echo Park area on Aug. 8, 2023. (KeyNews.TV)For unknown reasons, she walked into traffic lanes and was struck, Jensen said. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity was not immediately released.There were no indications of foul play regarding the incident, which "seems like an accident," Jensen said. Third suspect arrested in connection with murder of teen in Irvine All lanes on the southbound side of the 101 Freeway were shut down at Alvarado for several hours for the investigation.

Optimize Your Trades: Top Crypto Apps of the Year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:26 GMT

As cryptocurrencies transition from an intriguing novelty to a booming mainstream industry, the demand for reliable, user-friendly, and richly-equipped trading platforms soars. Whether you’re an established investor or a newcomer charting the waters of digital currency, this review will introduce you to this year’s five preeminent crypto apps to elevate your trading game.Binance: The Titan of TradeFirst, we spotlight Binance, a platform whose reputation reverberates within the digital asset marketplace. This formidable player claims the highest global trading volume in the cryptocurrency sphere. From novices to experienced traders, Binance greets everyone with an extensive list of tradeable digital currencies, not just limited to Bitcoin and Ethereum.Binance garners attention for its sophisticated trading capabilities, including futures and margin trading, a boon for the daring. A blend of superior security measures and a smooth user interface makes Binance desirable for...

Isabel Carman Died in Single-Vehicle Accident on McCarran Boulevard [Reno, NV]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:26 GMT

18-Year-Old Passenger Dies after Deadly Solo-Car Accident near Rancho San Rafael ParkRENO, NV (August 8, 2023) – Early Wednesday morning, officers were dispatched to a vehicular accident that claimed the life of Isabel Carman.The incident took place on McCarran Boulevard, near Rancho San Rafael Park, at around 2:45 a.m., August 2nd.Upon investigation, the deputies learned that a vehicle driven by a teen girl was headed west.Furthermore, the driver veered off the road for unknown reasons and slammed into the park where it ended up in a ravine.Unfortunately, the passenger, later identified as 18-year-old Isabel Carman was ejected from the vehicle and she was pronounced dead.Meanwhile, the driver suffered injuries and she was transported to the hospital with minor wounds.Consequently, the authorities blocked the eastbound lanes and opened only one westbound. All lanes were back to normal by 6:00 a.m.At this time, it was unknown why the driver veered off the road. Further investig...

Three Killed in Solo-Car Crash on Carey Avenue [Las Vegas, NV]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:26 GMT

Two Injured in Fatal Car Crash on Martin Luther King BoulevardLAS VEGAS, NV (August 8, 2023) – Thursday midnight, a solo-car crash on Carey Avenue left three dead and two injured.The incident happened on August 3rd, at around 12:00 a.m. near the intersection of Carey Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard.According to reports, a 2017 Kia Soul was speeding in the southbound lanes of Martin Luther King Boulevard when the driver lost control of the vehicle.As a result, the Kia veered off the road and struck a light pole which resulted in the Kia being cut in half.Officials report that two occupants of the Kia died instantly at the scene. Meanwhile, three others were critically injured. Paramedics transported them to University Medical Center where one of them succumbed to his injuries.Later, officers determined that the Kia was stolen. At this time, authorities have not released the identities of the deceased victims.NLVPD urges any witnesses to the solo-car crash on Carey Avenu...

Woman, Pet Dead after Car Accident on Fourth Plain [Vancouver, WA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:26 GMT

Speeding Driver Slammed into Residential House on Fruit Valley Road Ended up Killing One Woman With PetVANCOUVER, WA (August 8, 2023) – Thursday evening, a car accident on Fourth Plain left a woman and a pet dead, reports say.The fatal incident happened on August 3rd, at around 6:40 p.m. when a vehicle slammed into a house at 2607 Unander Avenue.According to the investigators, a driver was speeding in the area when he struck a median curb and went into a fence causing it to slam into the house.Unfortunately, a woman inside the house together with a house pet was struck and they were pronounced dead.Furthermore, the crews worked on extricating two other people from the house for evacuation.Meanwhile, the driver suffered injuries and he was transported to the hospital with minor wounds.Consequently, the authorities stated that the driver would be facing charges of DUI and vehicular homicide once discharged. The crash is under investigation.No words can mend the broken hearts and...

See Monterey’s sea-otter paradise with a ride on a unique, electric catamaran

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:26 GMT

It’s a sunny summer afternoon, and our group is embarking on a tour of the Elkhorn Slough, a biodiverse tidal estuary on Monterey Bay. The slough is home to pupping harbor seals, endangered birds and the world’s densest concentration of southern sea otters – including a rogue otter that has learned a deadly new trick.You may have heard of people kayaking through this slough, but we’re boarding a very different watercraft, a 37-foot, ADA-compliant catamaran called the El Cat. We get comfortable on padded seats and whip out binoculars and birding guides.“This is an inland waterway and it’s calm,” says our Monterey Bay Eco Tours captain. “Feel free to stand up, stretch your legs and walk around. But please try to keep two-thirds of your child or husband inside the boat at all times.”The El Cat is unique in this world. Company owner Wendy Kitchell custom-built it with brother Joseph Kitchell using a proprietary epoxy-infusion system. It’s so strong and ligh...

Alameda drowning victim was on fishing trip when boat began sinking

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:26 GMT

ALAMEDA — An Oakland man who drowned Saturday was with three others on a fishing trip before their boat began sinking, forcing them into San Francisco Bay where strong currents made for difficult swimming before rescuers could get to them, authorities said Tuesday.The man who drowned has been identified as Tom Lovanh, 60, of Oakland.Alameda police said Tuesday that he and three friends — a 62-year-old man and his 17-year-old son, and a 58-year old man, all from Oakland — had departed Saturday from the Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline boat ramp on Doolittle Drive near the Oakland International Airport for a day of fishing in San Francisco Bay.What time they actually departed was not known. They were in a 14-foot fiberglass boat with a motor, a boat that had been built by one of the men, police said.The boat began to sink about 1:15 p.m., while the group was in the bay offshore of the Bay Farm Island Ferry Terminal, authorities said.Lt. Alan Kuboyama said police are still invest...