Latest news with #Leyva
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
KABC's Ellen Leyva signs off after 30 years in moving final broadcast: ‘I'm really lucky'
News anchor Ellen Leyva's decades-long tenure with KABC has officially come to an end. During her final broadcast this week, she said 'I cannot believe my luck to be here for 30 years.' Leyva bid an emotional farewell on Wednesday to the KABC newsroom and the viewers she helped inform and entertain during her send-off. She announced her decision to retire in February, telling the audience at the time, 'I'm ready to make a move on and focus on my next great adventure in life.' During the broadcast, Leyva became a story subject herself, inspiring a tender segment that walked viewers down the memory lane of her tenure. Her retirement also prompted a sit-down conversation with her longtime co-anchor David Ono. Leyva, an Arizona native, came to the Glendale-based station in 1995 as a health reporter and later joined the anchor desk, moving from morning news to the evening news post, where she remained for 25 years. 'I didn't know what to expect, I just knew that I couldn't believe I was working at KABC,' she recalled to Ono. 'My biggest fear was I would not make it and I wouldn't be good enough to stay on the air.' Leyva, despite her concerns, managed to do just that and more. Over the years, she has co-hosted Oscars red carpet arrivals, flown with the Blue Angels and provided Angelenos with a steady on-air presence. Earlier this year, Leyva kept viewers informed during the destructive wildfires that ripped through the region, including the Eaton fire. She said Wednesday that she was displaced from her Altadena home during the blaze. Beyond the desk, Leyva represented the KABC newsroom at several Los Angeles parades, was a team leader for AIDS Walk Los Angeles and advocated for mental health services for underserved communities. 'I'm really lucky,' she said during the segment. The final moments of Leyva's bow at KABC saw her behind the desk, surrounded by newsroom staff, friends and family who applauded her. 'This place has been the most incredible place to work,' she said. 'I cannot believe my luck to be here for 30 years.' Leyva turned her attention to her viewers: 'It has been an honor and a privilege to be welcomed into your living rooms every afternoon. You always made me feel like a welcomed guest.' As she begins her retirement, Leyva said she is looking forward to being on the other side of the screen as a supporter and viewer of KABC. For Leyva, it seems breaking news is not her problem anymore — at least that's according to a cheeky retirement gift candle the anchor posted to Instagram. Times staff writer Meg James contributed to this report.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Riley Co. Health Department talks measles
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Dr. Jacob Clarke, the supervisor for the Riley County Health Department (RCHD) Public Health Clinic, joined the 27 News morning newscast to discuss measles. This interview comes as measles cases in Kansas are on the rise. According to information shared by Vivienne Leyva with Riley County, as of May 16, there are no confirmed cases in Riley County. However, Kansas has reported multiple cases, and neighboring states like Texas and New Mexico are experiencing significant outbreaks, with over 700 cases in Texas alone. Leyva said Riley County is being proactive to educate and protect the community. Kansas gov. calls measles outbreak 'serious,' urges parents to vaccinate children 'Measles is a highly contagious viral disease,' Dr. Clarke said. 'It's spread through the air. So it's respiratory transmission. So it is in fact, you can spread it by talking, coughing, breathing in an area so again it's highly transmissible.' Dr. Clarke emphasized that prevention is going to be key. 'Yes, the prevention,' Dr. Clarke said. 'I think it's definitely the name of the game when it comes to measles. Measles is highly preventable with a vaccine called MMR. It has a basically an attenuated or like kind of a weakened version of the virus. And it really, what it does is it helps train the immune system. It gives it the opportunity to learn measles in a controlled environment so that when we do encounter measles in public, our immune system is well equipped to fight that measles.' 27 News obtained information from Riley County about a vaccination timeline: 12 to 15 months old Babies as young as six months old can get an early dose of the MMR vaccine. 4 to 6 years old, second dose Adults If an adult is not considered immune a dose of the MMR vaccine is recommended If you're not sure of your status, contact a healthcare provider The US has 1,001 measles cases and 11 states with active outbreaks Dr. Clarke discussed the importance of talking about the disease. 'Cases are up,' Dr. Clarke said. 'So Kansas especially is seeing a rise in our case count as well. I think the latest data I saw from KDHE was around in the mid-fifties that I believe 56 cases here in the state of Kansas. So it's more than we're accustomed to seeing, especially for several years.' Leyva told us symptoms typically include: High fever Cough Runny nose Red, watery eyes A rash (large flat spots and small raised bumps) can appear 3 to 5 days after symptoms begin To hear more about what Dr. Clarke had to say about treatment, symptoms, how to keep you and your family safe and more you can watch the interview above. Walk-in immunizations are available at the Public Health Clinic at 2030 Tecumseh Road. Patients can call ahead to schedule an appointment at (785) 776-4779 through extension 7675. More information on measles can be found by clicking here. You can learn more about the 2025 Kansas measles outbreak by checking the KDHE's website by clicking here. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Korea Herald
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Colombia president warns of plot to remove him as former ally calls him drug 'addict'
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — President Gustavo Petro said Tuesday that an 'international plot' to oust him from office is underway after his former foreign minister accused him of being a drug 'addict' for the second time in three weeks. Alvaro Leyva published a seven-page letter on the social platform X calling for Petro's resignation and alleging that he is 'dependent on substances that affect emotional and mental equilibrium.' Petro, who was elected in 2022 and has a year left in office, vehemently denied the accusation during a speech in Bogota, saying he is a 'revolutionary' who will not be 'enslaved' by drugs. Leyva, a seasoned politician and former presidential candidate, first leveled the accusation against Petro in a letter published April 22, in which he said the president 'went missing' for two days during a state visit to Paris and attributed that to purported drug use. Petro replied that he had taken time off to visit relatives in France. Leyva doubled down Tuesday, saying Petro also failed to show up at meetings during a 2023 visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as well as a high-profile visit to Chile's Supreme Court while on an official trip to that country. 'You must recognize, President, that your disappearances and inexplicable behaviors are the result of your sickly condition' Leyva said in the new letter. 'The president of Colombia, the country of coca, has fallen into the trap of vice.' Petro's unpredictable schedule and unexplained absences from official events have long been a source of debate, with the Colombian opposition accusing him of being erratic and unreliable. On multiple occasions lawmakers have urged Petro, who once said in a televised Cabinet meeting that cocaine 'is no worse than whiskey,' to undergo medical examination to prove he is not consuming illegal substances. Also Tuesday, Sen. Miguel Uribe drafted a petition calling on the Senate to create a commission of three medical specialists who can investigate Petro's health and help determine whether he 'has a permanent physical incapacity,' a move that could eventually lead to his removal from office. The petition has not been discussed on the Senate floor so far. Petro said the opposition and Leyva, a former ally, are out to oust him and called it 'an attempt to undermine Colombia's sovereignty, its democracy and the freedom of Colombians.' The president also accused United States Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican, of being a leader of the purported plot, but without providing evidence. 'Don't try to overthrow the President of Colombia' Petro said in a message on X. 'Or you will unleash the Colombian revolution.' Diaz-Balart replied on the same platform, writing in Spanish that Petro is 'an embarrassment.' "I hope that with professional help you can fight your addiction and get better,' Diaz-Balart said. Leyva, who long worked to facilitate negotiations between the Colombian government and rebel groups, supported Petro during his presidential campaign and became foreign minister in August 2022. He was removed from his position in February 2024 after the Inspector General's office found him guilty of illegally interfering with a contract for a company to print passports. Petro said Tuesday that Leyva is 'bitter' about his ouster. 'The Inspector General removed him,' he said. 'But he is trying to take it out on me.'
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Colombia president warns of plot to remove him as former ally calls him a drug 'addict'
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — President Gustavo Petro said Tuesday that an 'international plot' to oust him from office is underway after his former foreign minister accused him of being a drug 'addict' for the second time in three weeks. Alvaro Leyva published a seven-page letter on the social platform X calling for Petro's resignation and alleging that he is 'dependent on substances that affect emotional and mental equilibrium.' Petro, who was elected in 2022 and has a year left in office, vehemently denied the accusation during a speech in Bogota, saying he is a 'revolutionary' who will not be 'enslaved' by drugs. President Gustavo Petro addresses supporters outside Congress in Bogotá, Colombia, Thursday, May 1, 2025, before presenting questions for a referendum on his labor reform proposal to the Senate after two failed attempts in the legislature. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) Leyva, a seasoned politician and former presidential candidate, first leveled the accusation against Petro in a letter published April 22, in which he said the president 'went missing' for two days during a state visit to Paris and attributed that to purported drug use. Petro replied that he had taken time off to visit relatives in France. Leyva doubled down Tuesday, saying Petro also failed to show up at meetings during a 2023 visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as well as a high-profile visit to Chile's Supreme Court while on an official trip to that country. 'You must recognize, President, that your disappearances and inexplicable behaviors are the result of your sickly condition' Leyva said in the new letter. 'The president of Colombia, the country of coca, has fallen into the trap of vice.' Petro's unpredictable schedule and unexplained absences from official events have long been a source of debate, with the Colombian opposition accusing him of being erratic and unreliable. On multiple occasions lawmakers have urged Petro, who once said in a televised Cabinet meeting that cocaine 'is no worse than whiskey,' to undergo medical examination to prove he is not consuming illegal substances. Also Tuesday, Sen. Miguel Uribe drafted a petition calling on the Senate to create a commission of three medical specialists who can investigate Petro's health and help determine whether he 'has a permanent physical incapacity,' a move that could eventually lead to his removal from office. The petition has not been discussed on the Senate floor so far. Petro said the opposition and Leyva, a former ally, are out to oust him and called it 'an attempt to undermine Colombia's sovereignty, its democracy and the freedom of Colombians.' The president also accused U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, a Florida Republican, of being a leader of the purported plot, but without providing evidence. 'Don't try to overthrow the President of Colombia' Petro said in a message on X. 'Or you will unleash the Colombian revolution.' Díaz-Balart replied on the same platform, writing in Spanish that Petro is 'an embarrassment.' Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up 'I hope that with professional help you can fight your addiction and get better,' Díaz-Balart said. Leyva, who long worked to facilitate negotiations between the Colombian government and rebel groups, supported Petro during his presidential campaign and became foreign minister in August 2022. He was removed from his position in February 2024 after the Inspector General's office found him guilty of illegally interfering with a contract for a company to print passports. Petro said Tuesday that Leyva is 'bitter' about his ouster. 'The Inspector General removed him,' he said. 'But he is trying to take it out on me.'
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Latino festival canceled by Iowa organizers out of fear of mass ICE deportations
Organizers in a small town in southeast Iowa canceled their annual Latino heritage festival out of fear of a possible mass deportation sting that could have potentially separated families. The Latino Festival of Washington is a celebration of Latino heritage that includes Hispanic food, music and dance performances, said Latinos for Washington president and co-founder Sonia Leyva. Leyva said the nonprofit organizers decided to cancel the event after people started to speak out about a possible ICE raid at the event. 'We've had a lot of people scared in our community,' Leyva said. 'So many things are changing that we've just decided that it's best to keep our community safe. We'd hate for an event that is supposed to bring our community together end up affecting them for the worse.' Washington is a town of about 7,200 people in southeast Iowa. Hispanics make up about 11% of the population, according to the 2023 American Community Survey. 'It's quite devastating, to tell you the truth, because this is an event that our entire community looks forward to every year, not just Latinos, but also non-Hispanic people,' Leyva said of the one-day celebration in August. 'It's a community event that brings our community and people from outside the community to come celebrate and enjoy that day together.' The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said there have been more than 30,00 deportations since President Donald Trump took office in January. Other communities across the country also have canceled plans over fears ICE will be there to arrest undocumented immigrants or be an intimidating presence. Chicago's annual Cinco de Mayo Parade was canceled, according to CBS News, as was Philadelphia's El Carnaval de Puebla, CNN reported. Leyva said it was best that organizers canceled the Iowa event to focus their energy on providing educational workshops and U.S. citizenship classes. Although people have voiced their concern with ICE raids, the community still feels comfortable with local law enforcement, said Leyva, referencing a news release from the Washington Police Department in February. In the news release, Chief Jim Lester said the department's top priority is the safety and well-being of every member of the Washington community, regardless of their status. 'The mission of the Washington Police Department is to encourage community partnerships to solve problems and improve public safety in a manner that is consistent, fair, impartial and transparent,' Lester said in the news release. 'Our police officers do not and will not stop individuals only to determine their residency status.' Although the community was disappointed about the festival, it's important to keep on going, focus on the positives and look forward to the festival next year, Leyva said. 'In life there's always going to be times of uncertainty, times of change, times where we wish things could be different,' Leyva said. 'We shouldn't focus on those who are spreading negativity. We must stick together, keep our heads up, move forward, and like we always say, 'Sí se puede.' We can get through this together.' José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@ or follow him on X @mendiola_news. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Latino Festival of Washington canceled over fears of ICE raid
