Latest news with #Mosca
Asharq Al-Awsat
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Alligator that Appeared in Films Dies of Old Age in Colorado
An alligator that appeared in numerous TV shows and films over three decades, most notably the 1996 Adam Sandler comedy 'Happy Gilmore,' has died at a gator farm in southern Colorado. Based on his growth rate and tooth loss, Morris the alligator was at least 80 years old when he died, the Colorado Gator Farm said in a Facebook post Sunday. He was nearly 11 feet (3.3 meters) long and weighed 640 pounds (290 kilograms), The Associated Press reported. "He started acting strange about a week ago. He wasn't lunging at us and wasn't taking food,' Jay Young, the farm's owner and operator, said in a video as he tearfully stroked Morris' head in an animal enclosure. 'I know it's strange to people that we get so attached to an alligator, to all of our animals. ... He had a happy time here, and he died of old age," he said. Morris, who was found in the backyard of a Los Angeles home as an illegal pet, started his Hollywood career in 1975 and retired in 2006, when he was sent to the Colorado Gator Farm in the tiny town of Mosca. He appeared in several films, including 'Interview with the Vampire,' 'Dr. Dolittle 2" and 'Blues Brothers 2000." He also appeared on 'Coach,' 'Night Court' and 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' featuring the late wildlife expert Steve Irwin. But his most famous role was in 'Happy Gilmore,' a film about a failed and ill-tempered hockey player who discovers a talent for golf. The title character played by Sandler confronts Morris after hitting a golf ball that ends up in the gator's mouth. Sandler posted a tribute to Morris on Instagram on Wednesday. 'We are all gonna miss you. You could be hard on directors, make-up artists, costumers — really anyone with arms or legs — but I know you did it for the ultimate good of the film," Sandler wrote. "The day you wouldn't come out of your trailer unless we sent in 40 heads of lettuce taught me a powerful lesson: never compromise your art.' The Colorado Gator Farm, which opened to the public in 1990, said it plans to preserve Morris' body. 'We have decided to get Morris taxidermied so that he can continue to scare children for years to come. It's what he would have wanted," the farm posted on Facebook on Monday.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Alligator that starred in 'Happy Gilmore' dies of old age in Colorado
An alligator that appeared in numerous TV shows and films over three decades, most notably the 1996 Adam Sandler comedy 'Happy Gilmore,' has died at a gator farm in southern Colorado. Based on his growth rate and tooth loss, Morris the alligator was at least 80 years old when he died, the Colorado Gator Farm said in a Facebook post Sunday. He was nearly 11 feet (3.3 meters) long and weighed 640 pounds (290 kilograms). "He started acting strange about a week ago. He wasn't lunging at us and wasn't taking food,' Jay Young, the farm's owner and operator, said in a video as he tearfully stroked Morris' head in an animal enclosure. 'I know it's strange to people that we get so attached to an alligator, to all of our animals. ... He had a happy time here, and he died of old age," he said. Morris, who was found in the backyard of a Los Angeles home as an illegal pet, started his Hollywood career in 1975 and retired in 2006, when he was sent to the Colorado Gator Farm in the tiny town of Mosca. He appeared in several films, including 'Interview with the Vampire,' 'Dr. Dolittle 2" and 'Blues Brothers 2000." He also appeared on 'Coach,' 'Night Court' and 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' featuring the late wildlife expert Steve Irwin. But his most famous role was in 'Happy Gilmore,' a film about a failed and ill-tempered hockey player who discovers a talent for golf. The title character played by Sandler confronts Morris after hitting a golf ball that ends up in the gator's mouth. Sandler posted a tribute to Morris on Instagram on Wednesday. 'We are all gonna miss you. You could be hard on directors, make-up artists, costumers — really anyone with arms or legs — but I know you did it for the ultimate good of the film," Sandler wrote. "The day you wouldn't come out of your trailer unless we sent in 40 heads of lettuce taught me a powerful lesson: never compromise your art.' The Colorado Gator Farm, which opened to the public in 1990, said it plans to preserve Morris' body. 'We have decided to get Morris taxidermied so that he can continue to scare children for years to come. It's what he would have wanted," the farm posted on Facebook on Monday.
New York Post
22-04-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Myths — and perks — of ‘working out for two,' according to a pregnant fitness trainer
Getting to the gym is tough enough — throw a baby bump into the mix, and it can feel nearly impossible. Studies show that many pregnant women fall short of recommended exercise guidelines, thanks in part to outdated myths that make working out while you're expecting seem risky. But Alissa Mosca, 33, isn't sweating the skeptics. The USA Weightlifting coach and Planet Fitness trainer is still powering through seven months into her first pregnancy. Advertisement 4 Mosca is seven months pregnant with her first child. Courtesy of Planet Fitness 'We all need to make the choices that make the most sense for us and that feel right, but the benefits of keeping up with a fitness and strength journey outweigh the risks,' she said. Mosca gave The Post an inside look at her prenatal fitness routine, shared the most common misconceptions she hears about exercising while pregnant, and explained why staying active might be the best gift a mom can give herself — and her baby. Working out with a baby on board Advertisement Like any seasoned athlete, Mosca eases into her workouts with a good stretch before diving into high-intensity interval training (HIIT) paired with strength moves like front or back squats. Then it's 15 to 25 minutes of conditioning, followed by accessory strength training with a rotating cast of heavy-hitters: Bulgarian split squats, Arnold presses, pull-ups and bench presses. 'You hear, 'You are now eating for two!' but I look at it differently. We are working out for two, staying healthy for two.' Alissa Mosca 'As far as weight goes, I stay in tune with my body and go off what feels good,' Mosca said. 'Where I would normally be able to max out pre-pregnancy, I strength train at around 60-70% of that currently.' Advertisement Mosca also carves out one day a week just for cardio, mixing in incline treadmill walks, Arc Trainer sessions and stair stepper climbs. 4 Mosca said giving up exercise while pregnant can take a toll on your body and your baby. Courtesy of Planet Fitness But don't worry if you're not slinging kettlebells or cranking out HIIT sets before breakfast. Advertisement The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that expectant moms with uncomplicated pregnancies aim for 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week — whether that's walking, lifting light weights or spinning on a stationary bike. Working out for two A top misconception Mosca hears isn't about training. It's about food. 'Mostly you hear, 'You are now eating for two!' but I look at it differently,' she said. 'We are working out for two, staying healthy for two, making better choices for two.' 4 Pregnant women generally need to eat more calories each day, but those should come from nutritious foods. Prostock-studio – The healthier the heart and body stay, Mosca said, the better the blood flow to the baby and the easier it will be for new moms to bounce back after childbirth. 'We are connected through everything that I do,' she said. 'If I continue to support my baby throughout my journey by making healthier choices, it's going to benefit both of us.' And the science backs her up: According to ACOG, prenatal physical activity can lower the risk of gestational diabetes, preterm birth, preeclampsia and C-sections. It may also shorten recovery time after birth and help prevent postpartum blues. Pregnancy perks Advertisement While most expectant moms battle with aches and pains, Mosca's been mostly spared. 'I attribute that to continuing a fitness journey focused on strength and overall health,' she said. Staying active, she explained, helps with everything from back pain and constipation to bloating, swelling and poor sleep. 'I haven't really experienced the typical 'mom brain' that a lot of women speak to,' Mosca said, noting that exercising during pregnancy keeps blood flowing to the brain, improving cognitive function. Advertisement 4 Experts recommend continuing strength training if you were already doing it before pregnancy. Courtesy of Planet Fitness As for pregnancy cravings? Mosca said exercising has helped her keep them mostly in check — except for one thing: fruit. 'I can't get enough of it,' she said. Advertisement While staying active can help ease many common pregnancy woes, Mosca recommended that women consult their doctor before starting a new workout routine to stay safe. 'Every pregnancy body is different and what is easy for one may not be easy for someone else,' Mosca said. If you're ready to start exercising while pregnant, Mosca said 'less is more' and consistency is key — advice that works for anyone, pregnant or not. 'Twenty minutes a day of strength training is more beneficial than one-hour long session once a week,' she said. Advertisement At the end of the day, Mosca said her fitness journey is just as much about nurturing her body and baby during pregnancy as it is about setting them both up for success after delivery. 'By continuing what I am passionate about and comfortable doing, my baby will grow up seeing my husband and I lead that lifestyle and hopefully follow suit as well,' she said. 'It will be her normal instead of the uncommon, and I look forward to that.'
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Las Vegas homeless camps just move when outreach comes, but proposal might change that
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — When homeless camps get out of control, local governments send teams to clean up. That can be a disaster, costing people what few possessions they have. But trash and unsanitary conditions are becoming a bigger priority as residents go to elected officials demanding action. The problem exists all over the valley, and one state lawmaker is drawing attention to east Las Vegas. Democratic Assem. Erica Mosca lives on the east side, and her passion on the subject showed on Thursday as she presented a bill that would eliminate one barrier that's holding up progress. Mosca fought back tears as she called the east side 'a forgotten community.' Clark County homeless census shows 20% increase in a single year 'But I live on the eastside because it reminds me of how I grew up and is a place where I'm comfortable with my identity and where I could build a home,' Mosca said. She is sponsoring Assembly Bill 263 (AB263), and she picked up some co-sponsors at the hearing who don't just appreciate her efforts — they see some of the same problems in their districts. Mosca worked with Clark County Commission Chair Tick Segerblom on AB263, a bill with a simple goal: allow outreach teams to cross lines on a map. When outreach teams arrive, the camps sometimes just move to an area that's out of the county's jurisdiction. At that point, the outreach team can't do anything. The camps go over or through fences, often into land controlled by the Nevada Department of Transportation. In Mosca's district, that means tents and makeshift shelters along Interstate 11/U.S. 95. between Charleston Boulevard and Boulder Highway. But it happens throughout the valley. The bill would allow county teams to go into NDOT rights-of-way to finish the job. It would also direct resources to help in areas like the one she represents, Assembly District 14, which runs along East Charleston. More generally, 'near schools, parks and senior housing in areas of the county in which pervasive poverty, unemployment or economic distress exist.' Segerblom emphasized that it's about more than simply busting up homeless camps. 'We are bending over backwards to provide resources, rehabilitation, anything that people need. But at the end of the day, these camps become just so large that they become very unsafe and very unsanitary,' Segerblom said. Mosca said constituents aren't just alarmed by the homeless problem. They don't think government is doing enough to help. Mosca showed a photo that her husband took on Tuesday along with a personal video of cleanup efforts. She said she took part in the work over the past year and a half with 20 volunteers. They did more than a dozen cleanups. She also took part in two town hall meetings, two ride-alongs with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and meetings with nonprofits. She toured several city and county facilities that work to help homeless individuals. Residents want change after increase in homeless encampments in east Las Vegas valley community She proudly talked about how they are involved in working alongside constituents and outreach teams. She described her husband's effort to help a homeless man who had overdosed at Winterwood Park next to Wengert Elementary School. And she showed more photos from the cleanup efforts. 'The one on the right, I cleaned up all of that because it's the number one thing that my constituents talk to me about,' Mosca said. 'It's a very political statement to make, but I know in places like Summerlin, maybe Damonte Ranch, I don't know, but higher income places don't look like this. And that's really what this bill is about. AB263 would only affect Clark County. Segerblom said the county already has outreach teams so there's really no additional funding required. Las Vegas homeless count moves to every-other-year schedule after population hits 10-year high Lawmakers asked if the bill might be the start of more cooperative efforts to address homelessness, citing the limited effectiveness of each city working in silos. More than a dozen people testified in support of the bill. Notably, the City of Las Vegas was neutral, a spokesperson saying the city has spent millions on efforts similar to the county's, supporting five outreach teams. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed state fund could help rural counties replace dilapidated school buildings
The gym at David E. Normal Elementary School in Ely. (Photo courtesy of White Pine School District) In Nevada, the construction of new schools is typically decided and funded at the local level, using property taxes. That has made it mathematically impossible for poor rural districts to build new schools, regardless of how badly they may need them. Assembly Bill 224, which received a hearing Monday in the Assembly Committee on Government Affairs, could change that. The bill would dedicate $100 million in state general obligation bonds for high-needs school construction projects in low-population counties that cannot fund them through typical means. The bill was designed to address the needs of White Pine School District, which has the two oldest public school buildings in Nevada, but it could eventually help additional schools in rural counties with fewer than 15,000 residents. Assemblymember Erica Mosca, the Las Vegas Democrat sponsoring the bill, said the funding mechanism established by the bill is a 'creative' solution to the growing problem of replacing dilapidated school buildings, which in some rural counties are more than a century old. In 2023, a bill to appropriate $100 million to White Pine SD for school construction failed to advance. AB 224, Mosca emphasized, is 'not an appropriation' and the money would eventually be paid back. 'We have to do something,' said Republican Assemblymember Bert Gurr, whose expansive district includes all of White Pine County. He described the physical conditions as 'the scariest thing I have seen for our kids in Nevada.' Gurr, who Mosca noted helped on her bill, is sponsoring a bill this session to appropriate $100 million to White Pine SD. He acknowledged his bill is unlikely to pass. 'We all know where that's going to go,' he said. Gurr said he's received pushback from commissioners in Elko County, which is also a part of his district. '(They) think I'm crazy for pushing this because, 'Why not let White Pine build theirs; we build our schools,'' he said. 'But we had the ability to build schools. … White Pine doesnt have the tax base, doesn't have the economy.' White Pine plans to directly contribute $13 million to construction but doesn't have the debt capacity for anything beyond that, according to the school district's chief financial officer, Paul Johnson. The estimated cost of a new school is $98 million. AB 224 would revive and refund Nevada's Fund to Assist School Districts in Financing Capital Improvements, which lawmakers created in 1999 but has long laid dormant. To access the new funding, counties must be levying property tax at the highest amount allowable by state law. And the fund could only approve projects where at least one building has been condemned or is unsuitable for use due to safety hazards, or where the cost of renovating would be more than 40% the cost of constructing a new building. White Pine SD meets those requirements and then some, testified students, administrators and district officials. White Pine's elementary school was originally built in 1909, and its middle school was built in 1913. White Pine Middle School Principal Kristina Ernest told lawmakers the building is sinking and each hard rain brings tiles falling from the ceiling and new cracks in the foundation. 'My fear is we'll have a collapse of some sort and injuries and fatalities possibly,' she said. White Pine student Ty Willman said that when he broke his leg and required a straight-leg cast he was forced to temporarily pivot to online classes because he could not get up or down the school's numerous flights of stairs. 'If someone moved to town in a wheelchair, they would not be able to go to school,' Willman added. 'My condition may be temporary but not everyone's is.' The only ADA-compliant ramp in the school leads from outside to the first floor of the school. Lawmakers in prior sessions heard of students who were routinely carried up and down the stairs in order to get to classes. For yearlong accommodations, the school has had to relocate all of the classrooms for certain students onto the first floor. The gym lacks a sprinkler system to aid in the event of a fire. The school also lacks a dedicated playground and instead uses a public park across the street, leaving the school unable to enforce protective or custodial orders involving their students. Assemblymember Venise Karris, a Democrat from Las Vegas, recounted a recent trip to see the school for herself. 'As a former construction person, I could not take one step without thinking 'code violation, code violation,'' she said. Nevada has eight counties whose population is less than the 15,000 threshold listed in the bill. '(AB 224) will give hope to other counties who are in the same boat,' said Tom Clark for the Nevada Association of School Boards, which supports the bill. 'We have to have some sort of process, and a little bit of skin in the game from everyone across the state for these schools to be constructed.'
