Latest news with #TheWashingtonTimes
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man faces more than 15 years in prison after chainsaw rampage destroys $350,000 worth of trees: 'Profoundly disturbing'
A man is facing several charges after being accused of illegally cutting down several trees in the Los Angeles area, per The Washington Times. According to a press release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Samuel Patrick Groft used a chainsaw to chop down eight trees in downtown L.A. Police say that surveillance footage revealed the alleged suspect, who was spotted wearing all black and riding a BMX-style bike. Groft has been charged with eight felony counts of vandalism that caused nearly $350,000 worth of damage. If found guilty, he faces more than 15 years in state prison. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman emphasized the significance of the alleged crimes. "What took years to grow only took minutes to destroy," Hochman said in the press release. "Trees not only provide shade and comfort but nourish those who live and work in our communities," he added. "Selfish and senseless acts that strip away a vital piece of our ecosystem are profoundly disturbing and my office will prosecute anyone who engages in such criminal conduct to the fullest extent of the law." For residents who live in urban areas, trees can improve air quality, reduce heat and help manage stormwater. In addition, trees can also offer numerous health benefits. It has long been noted that trees can potentially boost mental health and even lead to cardiovascular improvements. During a press conference on April 24, Los Angeles Councilmember Ysabel Jurado admonished the destruction of the trees. "Over the weekend, downtown L.A. suffered from an unconscionable act of vandalism when someone cut down several trees in the public right-of-way," Jurado said. "For many of our downtown L.A. residents, the public right-of-way is their front yard, it is their backyard. So the loss of these trees is personal," Jurado added. Jurado then explained that the city would quickly act to replace two trees for every one that had been cut down. "No one could have foreseen this random act of violence. But here's the thing about downtown L.A. and this community: It's resilient, it's dynamic, and it's ever-evolving," Jurado said. "And this is not the first time the community here in downtown L.A. has put their hands together to fix the problems and make their own solutions." Do you think the government should ban gas-powered lawn tools? No way Definitely Only certain tools I don't know Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
What is Pope League? TikToker creates viral fantasy game around papal conclave
As the world mourns the passing of , a TikToker has found a viral way to keep younger audiences engaged in the otherwise secretive process of choosing the next Pope by turning it into a fantasy league, reports The Washington Times. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The papal conclave , set to begin on May 7 at the Vatican, will see cardinals from across the globe gather behind closed doors to vote for the next head of the Catholic Church . While the centuries-old process is steeped in tradition, one content creator on TikTok is bringing a modern twist to it. The Tik Toker named Max, going by the username of @itismaxhooray has launched what he calls the Pope League , a fantasy football-style game where users pick a cardinal and earn points based on how their pick performs in the voting rounds. 'There are 10 times the number of people in this sweepstakes as there are cardinals in the Catholic Church, making it bigger and therefore more legitimate than the real conclave,' Max was quoted as saying by the Independent. The idea quickly went viral. The Washington Times reported that over 2,000 people signed up for the game on the very first day, after Max's videos were viewed more than 100,000 times. Participants can earn "Pope points" and even imagine themselves 'becoming the next Pope' through the game. The real conclave is expected to be closely watched, especially since most of the cardinals voting were appointed by Pope Francis himself. This has raised questions about whether the next Pontiff will continue the current path of reform or shift to a more moderate direction. Pope Francis died on April 21 at the age of 88 in Vatican City. His funeral was attended by world leaders, dignitaries, and thousands of mourners from around the globe.
New York Post
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Trump's first-100-days wins, red alert for ActBlue and other commentary
Eye on DC: Trump's First-100-Days Wins 'America is well on its way to being great again,' as we approach Trump's 100th day in office, cheers David N. Bossie at The Washington Times. Trump 'has been laser-focused on the major structural reforms that will save our country for future generations.' He addressed 'the shameful situation at our open border' and is pushing to cut 'taxes and regulations' to boost the economy. 'With the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency, the Trump administration has shown fantastic initiative to get federal spending under control.' And he fortified our national security by 'getting dangerous diversity, equity, and inclusion policies out of the armed forces and rebuilding the warrior ethos.' It's 'refreshing to have a president who is focused on what's truly important — putting America first.' From the right: Red Alert for ActBlue Trump's executive order taking aim at the Democratic Party's online fundraising platform ActBlue is 'long overdue,' argue the Washington Examiner's editors. 'Investigations by House Republicans revealed anomalies' on the platform like 'sudden and frequent donations from elderly citizens, uncharacteristic donations from voters registered for one party but voting for another, and unusually large donations from voters with little money.' And even before the order, ActBlue began to fall apart, losing top execs and seeing its 'last remaining lawyer feel the need to remind everyone of whistleblower protection policies.' 'The public deserves to know what happened at ActBlue.' Those behind any wrongdoing 'should be brought to justice. Trump has not just a right but a duty to make sure the nation's campaign finance laws are being followed.' Culture critic: We Failed Shapiro — and Balmer Days after Cody Balmer's mother tried 'to initiate a psychiatric evaluation, he allegedly scaled the gates of Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro's estate and firebombed his house,' notes City Journal's John Hirschauer about a man with a history of violence, 'schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.' Balmer's case is a familiar one: 'Loved ones seek involuntary treatment' of a mentally ill relative or friend only to be denied on the grounds there's no imminent danger—until someone 'snaps, harms himself or someone else, and only then is sequestered and treated.' Modern commitment laws try 'to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and protect individuals' civil liberties.' But 'the status quo is failing people like Balmer' and 'the cost of doing nothing is growing ever steeper' for the rest of us. Advertisement Econ desk: Gavin Newsom's Tariff Lies 'Fifty-four percent of Californians say things in the state are generally going in the wrong direction' — up 14 points from when Gavin Newsom became governor, scoffs The Wall Street Journal's Allysia Finley. 'But by his telling, everything in the Golden State is going swimmingly, or was until Donald Trump started his tariff barrage.' No: Tariffs aren't why 'filling up a Jeep will cost you $100.' Or why 'Pacific Gas & Electric recently proposed another rate increase, following six last year.' Or why, to afford 'a typical home in the state,' Californians 'need to earn nearly $200,000.' The basic idea of the progressive agenda 'is that an enlightened liberal government can direct private resources to better social purposes and create a utopia. California shows otherwise.' Border watch: Dems' Deportation 'Resistance' 'Most Americans support the deportation of people living in the U.S. illegally,' notes David Catron at The American Spectator, but 'when a Wisconsin judge was arrested for aiding a 'migrant' in his effort to escape immigration officials,' the Democrats backed the alleged criminals: Judge Hannah Dugan and Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 'a Mexican national living in the country illegally.' Dugan and other judges acting lawlessly on immigration issues 'see themselves as part of 'the resistance.' But what are they resisting? It isn't just Trump or even the will of the people. It's the rule of law. The Democrats insist that no one is above the law. But neither Judge Dugan nor her fellow travelers really believe it.' This 'hubris' is 'worse than a crime — it's a blunder.' — Compiled by The Post Editorial Board
NDTV
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Kim Kadashian To Testify In Paris Jewel Theft Trial Of 'Grandpa Robbers'
Los Angeles: Kim Kardashian is due to testify in the Paris trial that begins Monday of the "grandpa robbers" accused of stealing $10 million worth of jewellery from the billionaire high priestess of social media. The ageing French underworld figures accused of tying her up and threatening her with a gun in the heist during Paris Fashion Week in 2016 reportedly did not know who she really was. Yet few under 50 on the planet with a smartphone could have escaped the rise of one of the world's most famous influencers over the last two decades. Kardashian has been a constant presence in popular culture, an uber-celebrity whose every move commands attention, yet who never seems to be anything other than in complete control. While lesser stars have been consumed by fame, Kardashian remains at the height of her powers, defying criticism that she is really only famous for being famous. It is thought Kardashian's frequent posts about her wealth, personal life and whereabouts may have helped put the robbers on her trail. When they burst into her exclusive Paris suite they shouted that they wanted the $4-million (3.5-million euro) diamond engagement her now ex-husband, US rapper Kayne West, gave her, and that she had shown off on social media. Fame Los Angeles-born Kardashian, 44, spent her childhood on the periphery of fame. Her mother Kris married the 1976 Olympic decathlon winner then known as Bruce Jenner, who has since transitioned to life as Caitlyn, after divorcing her late father Robert Kardashian. He was one of the high-flying lawyers who defended American football legend OJ Simpson in his 1995 murder trial. As a teenage friend of Los Angeles socialites Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton, Kardashian garnered the first inklings of her own fame, being photographed with them at popular nightspots and appearing in their reality show "The Simple Life." But it was in 2007 that she was catapulted into popular consciousness when an explicit four-year-old home movie she had made with her then-boyfriend singer Ray J was posted online. Cynics noted the tape appeared as Kardashian and her family were readying to promote "Keeping up with the Kardashians," a fly-on-the-wall reality TV look at the family's life of wealth, luxury, unbelievable cattiness -- and startling mundanity. Planted or not, the footage burned Kardashian onto the public's collective retina. "Keeping up with the Kardashians," which followed the personal and professional trials of sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe and their half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, was one of television's longest-running reality shows. For some, it was must-see entertainment offering an insight into celebrity through the prism of a unique family. For others, as The Washington Times once wrote, it was vapid chaff that "illustrates our nation's moral, spiritual and cultural decay." Either way, the show was very, very good for business. A series of enterprises including KKW Beauty and KKW Fragrance established Kardashian as a serious player in the fashion and lifestyle sector, propelled by the rise of social media, where she regularly posted titillating thirst traps to build her brand. But it was the apparel label Skims that really brought in the big bucks. The firm unapologetically celebrates the female form, boasting "technically constructed shapewear that enhances your curves." A 2023 investment round valued the company at $4 billion, and Forbes estimates Kardashian's personal net worth is now $1.7 billion. Marriage to Kanye... and divorce Her forays into the fashion and beauty worlds were supercharged by her relationship with West, her third husband. Their marriage in 2014 -- the year of that "Break the Internet" photoshoot involving her shapely bare buttocks and lots of champagne -- was a "historic blizzard of celebrity," according to The New York Times. They flew to France for a pre-wedding rehearsal at the Palace of Versailles, where they arrived in a gold-plated carriage before flying on to Italy to tie the knot. Four children later, the couple's relationship ran into difficulties, as West's behavior became increasingly erratic. His bizarre but truncated 2020 bid for the US presidency degenerated into rambling self-confession. Kardashian appealed for empathy for her husband, who at one time spoke of living with bipolar disorder, but by 2021 was filing for divorce. Kardashian said she has tried to protect the couple's children from the inevitable hurt of their parents' split. "You want to be sensitive because they're just kids, and it's hard to go through no matter what age," she told GQ in 2023. "Ultimately what matters is that kids feel loved and heard." They are certainly seen: Kardashian's 357 million Instagram followers are given regular updates on the children. Since her split with West, Kardashian had a high-profile romance with comedian Pete Davidson, and was linked to NFL player Odell Beckham Jr. Amid the parenting, the television shows, the endless red carpets and the multi-billion-dollar business, Kardashian has also found time to launch a legal career. After embarking on an apprenticeship with a prison reform group, she successfully petitioned US President Donald Trump to pardon a grandmother serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense -- and then visited him at the White House. In 2021 and on her fourth attempt, she passed California's "baby bar" exam, a seven-hour slog for first-year law students with a pass rate of only around 20 percent. Her late father, she mused, "would be so proud." "He would actually be so shocked to know that this is my path now." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Malay Mail
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris courtroom over US$10m jewellery heist in 2016
LOS ANGELES, April 28 — Kim Kardashian is due to testify in the Paris trial that begins Monday of the 'grandpa robbers' accused of stealing US$10 million (RM44 million) worth of jewellery from the billionaire high priestess of social media. The ageing French underworld figures accused of tying her up and threatening her with a gun in the heist during Paris Fashion Week in 2016 reportedly did not know who she really was. Yet few under 50 on the planet with a smartphone could have escaped the rise of one of the world's most famous influencers over the last two decades. Kardashian has been a constant presence in popular culture, an uber-celebrity whose every move commands attention, yet who never seems to be anything other than in complete control. While lesser stars have been consumed by fame, Kardashian remains at the height of her powers, defying criticism that she is really only famous for being famous. It is thought Kardashian's frequent posts about her wealth, personal life and whereabouts may have helped put the robbers on her trail. When they burst into her exclusive Paris suite they shouted that they wanted the US$4-million diamond engagement her now ex-husband, US rapper Kayne West, gave her, and that she had shown off on social media. Fame Los Angeles-born Kardashian, 44, spent her childhood on the periphery of fame. Her mother Kris married the 1976 Olympic decathlon winner then known as Bruce Jenner, who has since transitioned to life as Caitlyn, after divorcing her late father Robert Kardashian. He was one of the high-flying lawyers who defended American football legend OJ Simpson in his 1995 murder trial. As a teenage friend of Los Angeles socialites Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton, Kardashian garnered the first inklings of her own fame, being photographed with them at popular nightspots and appearing in their reality show The Simple Life. But it was in 2007 that she was catapulted into popular consciousness when an explicit four-year-old home movie she had made with her then-boyfriend singer Ray J was posted online. Cynics noted the tape appeared as Kardashian and her family were readying to promote Keeping up with the Kardashians, a fly-on-the-wall reality TV look at the family's life of wealth, luxury, unbelievable cattiness — and startling mundanity. Planted or not, the footage burned Kardashian onto the public's collective retina. Keeping up with the Kardashians, which followed the personal and professional trials of sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe and their half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, was one of television's longest-running reality shows. For some, it was must-see entertainment offering an insight into celebrity through the prism of a unique family. For others, as The Washington Times once wrote, it was vapid chaff that 'illustrates our nation's moral, spiritual and cultural decay.' Either way, the show was very, very good for business. A series of enterprises including KKW Beauty and KKW Fragrance established Kardashian as a serious player in the fashion and lifestyle sector, propelled by the rise of social media, where she regularly posted titillating thirst traps to build her brand. But it was the apparel label Skims that really brought in the big bucks. The firm unapologetically celebrates the female form, boasting 'technically constructed shapewear that enhances your curves.' A 2023 investment round valued the company at US$4 billion, and Forbes estimates Kardashian's personal net worth is now US$1.7 billion. Marriage to Kanye... and divorce Her forays into the fashion and beauty worlds were supercharged by her relationship with West, her third husband. Their marriage in 2014 — the year of that 'Break the Internet' photoshoot involving her shapely bare buttocks and lots of champagne — was a 'historic blizzard of celebrity,' according to The New York Times. They flew to France for a pre-wedding rehearsal at the Palace of Versailles, where they arrived in a gold-plated carriage before flying on to Italy to tie the knot. Four children later, the couple's relationship ran into difficulties, as West's behaviour became increasingly erratic. His bizarre but truncated 2020 bid for the US presidency degenerated into rambling self-confession. Kardashian appealed for empathy for her husband, who at one time spoke of living with bipolar disorder, but by 2021 was filing for divorce. Kardashian said she has tried to protect the couple's children from the inevitable hurt of their parents' split. 'You want to be sensitive because they're just kids, and it's hard to go through no matter what age,' she told GQ in 2023. 'Ultimately what matters is that kids feel loved and heard.' They are certainly seen: Kardashian's 357 million Instagram followers are given regular updates on the children. Since her split with West, Kardashian had a high-profile romance with comedian Pete Davidson, and was linked to NFL player Odell Beckham Jr. Amid the parenting, the television shows, the endless red carpets and the multi-billion-dollar business, Kardashian has also found time to launch a legal career. After embarking on an apprenticeship with a prison reform group, she successfully petitioned US President Donald Trump to pardon a grandmother serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offence — and then visited him at the White House. In 2021 and on her fourth attempt, she passed California's 'baby bar' exam, a seven-hour slog for first-year law students with a pass rate of only around 20 per cent. Her late father, she mused, 'would be so proud.' 'He would actually be so shocked to know that this is my path now.' — AFP
