Latest news with #Texas-born
Global News
2 days ago
- Global News
Tipster helps Toronto police make arrest in U.S. cold case where 2 people killed
An anonymous tip led police officers to recently arrest an American man allegedly hiding out in Toronto decades after a 1998 drunk driving collision in Florida left two people dead. Toronto police confirmed that officers from their fugitive squad arrested Patrick Lutts Jr. on Feb. 26, near Bloor and Jarvis streets at the request of U.S. authorities. Court records show that an anonymous tipster called a Florida tipster hotline back in November 2023 to provide details on his whereabouts. The 51-year-old, who was living in an apartment on Isabella Street, was also going by the alias of Pat Lighthelp, as Toronto police tracked his whereabouts several times over an 18-month span. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy According to court records, back in 1998, Lutts had been drinking with friends at an Orlando, Fla., home, where he was staying, when went out for a drive in his truck at around 5 a.m. on Christmas morning. Lutts was allegedly involved in a three-vehicle crash that left a man and a woman dead. Story continues below advertisement Lutts, who had a Georgia licence, allegedly had a blood alcohol level of .272 — three times the legal limit — when he was tested a few hours later, according to the court documents. The following March, Lutts was charged with DUI manslaughter and a warrant was issued for his arrest but the Texas-born man was never found in Florida. Three years later, he was arrested in Manchester, Conn., after being allegedly involved in another drunk driving incident before being shipped back to Florida. Lutts pled not guilty to the initial charges in Florida before he posted a US$5,000 bond. The 51-year-old man never showed up for his Oct. 1, 2003 trial. Court records show that Lutts initially attempted to come into Canada through Niagara Falls on Sept. 29, 2003, but was turned away. It is unclear when he came to Canada but it is believed it occurred over the next several years, as records are not available prior to 2010.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Musician and Entrepreneur Kelly Kidd is Revolutionizing the Immersive Family Entertainment Space
Musician and Entrepreneur Kelly Kidd is Revolutionizing the Immersive Family Entertainment Space originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Six years ago, when my daughter Ayla turned 10 years-old, we held a birthday party for her at Kidd's Jewelry Heist in South Pasadena. Back then, the immersive jewelry-making experience was housed in the rear of beloved children's toy store Dinosaur Farm on Mission Street. It was a dimly-lit space, moody and romantic, and exploding with a bounty of glimmering gems, bright-colored beads and golden baubles. My daughter and her friends spend two hours stringing together bracelets and necklaces adorned with unicorn and heart charms, decorating each keepsake with unfettered girlish glee. (Even the boys had fun; my son made himself a silver-chain necklace with a dangling skull charm). At the end of the birthday party, after a round of singing 'Happy Birthday' and eating slices of pink, buttercream-frosted cake, Aylas's friends presented to her a necklace they had custom-made for her, each charm representing one of Ayla's qualities they cherished: friendship, loyalty, her sense of humor. It was one of the most beautiful birthday parties I can ever remember attending. Not just because it was my kid–but because it was at Kidd's Jewelry Heist. Kidd's Jewelry Heist is the brainchild of Texas-born musician-cum-entrepreneur, Kelly Kidd. Kidd–a vocalist who, years ago, inked a deal with record producer Glen Ballard and will be touring with Katy Perry this summer as the face of her VIP concert experience–got his start in the business sector at 19 years old working as a district trainer at Discovery Zone, a popular but since-shuttered American chain of 'fun center." Think: ball pits, climbing walls, trampolines. Kidd's experience at Discovery Zone informed what he calls, 'the bigger picture.' 'No one had revolutionized the family entertainment business outside of theme parks in over 40 years,' he says. 'We've got Chuck E. Cheese, Build-A-Bear, American Girl, David & Buster's. Why can't we have immersive experiences for kids and adults outside of theme parks?' In 2012, Kidd's Jewelry Heist was born. In 2023, Kidd expanded, relocating to a new, bigger and brighter space on Huntington Drive in San Marino. Stepping inside the updated digs is like wandering into a real-life simulation of the pirate ship scene in "The Goonies". Comprising several rooms, each one centered on a different theme, Kidd's Jewelry Heist is an eclectic fusion of antique relics and fantastical artifacts, with lush, velvet-upholstered sofas, gold-trimmed ottomans, ornate lamps and gilded lighting fixtures recalling Louis XIV and the Palace of Versaille. A long wooden dining table is lined with glass trays and porcelain tea cups filled with beads and trinkets of every imaginable color. The day I visit, several birthday parties are booked (Kidd's Jewelry Heist is available via reservation only). Soon, the place will be crawling with kids–and parents–stacking beads for bracelets and dashing from room to room on a themed scavenger hunt searching for treasure and trinkets hidden amongst the furniture and decor. There's a stage, a grand piano, a library. It is a fairytale sprung to life. 'I tried to imagine what it would be like to have a little hideout in San Marino,' says Kidd of the space's design elements. 'We have a mural of Hercules on the ceiling. We've hand-selected all the beads. They're in tea cups and saucers on the grand dining room table. We have mummies in our library. We have a Medusa head. I got most of this stuff from San Marino and Pasadena estate sales. I definitely benefited from the idea that everyone is doing mid-century and modern right now in the community. They just wanted to get rid of stuff. I got these cool trunks and tables. I have a $20,000 hand-carved oak buffet to put your cake on that I paid $500 for. I was able to find these monstrously cool pieces. The feel is very Night at the Museum.' Kidd's current mission is to expand his business even further. In particular, he is eyeing potential locations on the westside of Los Angeles and in the San Fernando Valley. Kidd's Jewelry Heist is also available to come to you–they've created custom parties and events poolside at hotels and at people's private homes. 'We have such a unique space and concept,' says Kidd. 'Moms, kids, grandparents–they all go absolutely crazy for it.' This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Long lines, big burgers: Whataburger opens first North Carolina location in Gastonia
GASTONIA, N.C (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The wait is finally over for North Carolina burger lovers. Whataburger opened its doors in Gastonia Thursday morning, May 29, drawing long lines of fans ready to get their hands on the iconic Texas-born burgers for the first time. Located at 3415 E Franklin Blvd., the Gastonia restaurant marks Whataburger's first North Carolina location, making it the 17th state to welcome the beloved fast-food restaurant. This grand opening kicks off a bigger plan for the region…ten Whataburger locations are scheduled to open across North Carolina and even parts of South Carolina by the end of 2025, including restaurants in Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Hickory. The Gastonia location is open 24/7. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Harmony Science Academy-Waco named school of character
Waco, Tx (FOX 44) – Harmony Science Academy Waco has been recognized as a National School of Character by a national advocate for character development in schools. Each year, certifies schools and districts at the state and national level that demonstrate a dedicated focus on character development, which the organization says has a positive effect on academic achievement, student behavior and school climate. Only 72 schools nation-wide were recognized. 'At Harmony, our mission is to empower every student with both intellectual strength and emotional integrity,' said CEO Fatih Ay. 'It's truly inspiring to witness how our scholars are integrating academic knowledge with Character Education to enhance our schools and make meaningful contributions to their communities.' 'There is an ethic of care at these schools,' said spokesperson Lori Soifer. 'Working together with students, parents and community members, these schools are creating stronger communities focused on character.' The announcement said each of these schools has put into place a comprehensive, multi-year approach to character education that inspires their students to understand, care about and consistently practice a set of core values that will enable them to flourish in school, in relationships, in the workplace, and as citizens. The schools then underwent a rigorous evaluation process to achieve their certification, documenting how they have implemented character education best practices and structures at each school. Harmony Public Schools is a Texas-born, Texas-wide public charter school system with campuses serving PreK-12 students in 23 cities across the state, placing a heavy focus on STEM skills, Character Education, project-based learning, and college readiness. Harmony Science Academy is located at 1900 North Valley Mills Drive in Waco. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Things You Never Knew About Kelly Clarkson
For fans of Kelly Clarkson, it might be hard to believe it's been over two decades since this pop-rock legend high-noted her way into our lives and into our hearts. From American Idol to America's sweetheart, we're so grateful to have this powerhouse vocalist and superstar and her chart-topping hits in our lives. From unforgettable songs like 'Since U Been Gone' and 'Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)' to her new, totally charming talk show, this multi-talented lady can't stop racking up the wins. But how much do you really know about Clarkson? This Texas-born celeb just recently relocated to New York City, and is all about her two kids, River Rose, born in 2014, and Remington 'Remy' Alexander, born in 2016. She shares them with her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock. Clarkson is a proud mom and loves her family, and she's managed to build a dream career on top of it, with The Kelly Clarkson Show recently cementing her status as an iconic TV personality. She's always had an unabashed and no-holds-barred attitude, whether she's clapping back on social media or asking the hard-hitting questions on-air, and Clarkson seems to be coming more into her own every year. So, we all know that Clarkson has the voice of an angel and a hilarious and candid personality — but there are plenty more little-known facts that will only make you love her even more. Ahead, some fun, obscure, and totally lovable facts you need to know about Kelly Clarkson. A version of this story was originally published in April 2019. More from SheKnows All the Celebrity Splits & Divorces We Never Saw Coming Best of SheKnows 20 Of Jackie Kennedy's Most Iconic Summer Outfits All the Best Photos of Jackie Kennedy With Her Young Kids JFK Jr. & Caroline Kennedy Kristen Stewart, Keke Palmer, & More Stars Who Had Dramatic Hair Changes Before Clarkson, no one had ever won more than one Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. This singer won for both Breakaway and Stronger. Kelly Clarkson had an incredible first few years as the host of The Kelly Clarkson Show, seeing ratings that matched former reigning talk show queen Ellen DeGeneres by 2020 and landing the highest ratings for a new talk show in daytime in seven years. That's Clarkson power, y'all! Following her divorce from Brandon Blackstock, Clarkson was ready for a whole new chapter, and marked it by making a major change. In February 2022, reports surfaced that the American Idol winner was changing her legal name to Kelly Brianne. On March 29, E! News reported the singer was granted her name change by a judge. 'There being no objections, the petition for change of name is granted,' court documents obtained by the outlet read. 'The Decree is signed and filed. The Petitioner's name is changed from KELLY BRIANNE CLARKSON to KELLY BRIANNE.' While the change is official, we're sure she'll still entertain the stage name Kelly Clarkson — how could you not?! Clarkson has written a series of children's books about a character inspired by her daughter, River Rose. Clarkson opened up to guest Gwyneth Paltrow in March 2021 when she came on her talk show as a fellow divorcée, but one who had gone on to marry again. For Clarkson, just nine months after separating from Brandon Blackstock, another marriage didn't necessarily seem in the cards. 'You've been married for two years,' Clarkson said to Paltrow. 'Coming from someone who's literally amidst a divorce, I can't even imagine doing it again.' Before appearing on American Idol, Clarkson was offered full-ride scholarships by both the University of Texas at Austin and the Berklee College of Music. She also turned down two record deals prior to her Idol stint. Here's one pop star we know is a good tipper — before she hit it big, Clarkson worked as a server at a few comedy clubs around Texas. Though they kind of knew of each other before, Clarkson and her ex officially met and hit it off at the Super Bowl in 2012, where Clarkson was performing. 'When I finally confessed that, 'I really dig you,' He was so shocked because he thought I hated him,' the songstress said in an interview with People. 'I hadn't let on that I liked him. Inside I was like, 'Ask me out!' but outside I was like, 'I love being single and coming home every night alone. It's awesome.'' 'I was so nervous because it wasn't that I didn't want to suck for the millions of people watching, I didn't want to suck because I was trying to impress a guy,' she joked. 'I wanted him to be like, 'Damn.' It had nothing to do with the Super Bowl!' Clarkson voices one of the lead characters in the UglyDolls animated feature, so when her daughter River Rose watched the trailer, Clarkson accidentally ruined her love of all things Frozen. 'I'm like, 'Look, this is mummy's voice!' I show her the trailer and she was kinda not getting it,' Clarkson hilariously recalled in an interview. 'I was like, 'You know like how Elsa and Anna…' and all of a sudden I was like, 'Did I just ruin that for my daughter?' So now she knows that Elsa and Anna are like, real humans and not (just cartoons).' Yikes! But also, LOL. In an interview with the Today Show, Clarkson revealed that an emotional scene between Meryl Streep and Martin Short inspired her son, 'Where Have You Been.' 'I've rarely done something like this but I was watching Only Murders in the Building — it's Martin Short's face. He says to Meryl Streep's character in the show, 'Where have you been?'' Clarkson said. 'He's like, in awe, and I was like, 'Has there been a— has anyone written a song?'' she asked. 'Because the song is happy. It's like you found something that you thought was almost basically a unicorn and did not exist.' Long before Kelly Clarkson's American Idol days, she spent some time working as an extra and even appeared for a brief moment on the TV show Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. Clarkson was married to Reba McEntire's stepson, Brandon Blackstock. McEntire was married to Brandon's father, Narvel, for 26 years and divorce in 2015. Despite their divorces, Clarkson and McEntire still remain close. Clarkson has even referred to McEntire as the 'coolest mother-in-law.' In an interview with Us Weekly, Clarkson said she wanted to be Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) from The Cosby Show when she was growing up. She also said she admired Dixie Carter from Designing Women. Clarkson has 13 tattoos — that we know about — including a cross on her wrist and a puzzle piece on her shoulder blade. The Japanese symbol on her neck means "blessed." Clarkson initially wrote the song 'Tell Me a Lie' for her 2011 album Stronger. However, she eventually decided to pass it on to the guys of One Direction because she said it didn't fit with her album.
