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Romance scam artist steals nearly $1 million, gets 6 years in prison

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:35:20 GMT

A 32-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York, has been sentenced to nearly 6 years in federal prison for laundering almost $1 million stolen from victims of romance scams and email scams, including a Pasadena resident, the United States Department of Justice announced Tuesday.  Referred to as the “kingpin" of the group of swindlers and the “personification of evil” by U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, Okechukwu Nwofor pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering on Feb. 21.  “Nwofor admitted to leading a money laundering conspiracy from at least July 2018 to August 2019. Nwofor used a network of individuals who received fraudulent proceeds obtained from the victims of romance and business email compromise scams. Once the illicitly obtained funds were received, Nwofor and his co-conspirators quickly withdrew or transferred into accounts they controlled,” a news release from the USAO’s Central District of California stated. &nb...

Dog named 'Taylor Swift' gives birth to pups named after singer's hits — now she's looking for a home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:35:20 GMT

As Taylor Swift's six-night stint at SoFi Stadium comes to a close and the popstar moves onto the next city, a local animal shelter is hoping that her fans will welcome their own Taylor Swift into their homes permanently.Best Friends Animal Society is trying to find a home for "Taylor Swift," a 5-year-old American Staffordshire terrier mix that recently gave birth to a litter of puppies.This dog named after popstar Taylor Swift is ready for her forever home. (Los Angeles Best Friends Animal Society)Dog Taylor Swift gave birth to nine pups, each one named after a hit song from human Taylor Swift.Her pups were named Bejeweled, Enchanted, Paper Rings, Style, Wildest Dreams, Fearless, Cardigan, Gorgeous, and Tim McGraw.All of her puppies have been adopted, but now the animal welfare organization is hoping to find the perfect fit for Taylor Swift.A litter of puppies named after Taylor Swift songs were adopted from Los Angeles Best Friends Animal Society."She’s hoping to find a home with ...

Fire ban issued for Joshua Tree National Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:35:20 GMT

Fire restrictions have been enacted for Joshua Tree National Park due to hot, dry weather conditions and increased fire danger, park officials announced Tuesday.Wood burning and charcoal fires are prohibited, along with smoking within ten feet of vegetation. Generators can only be used if they have approved spark arrestors and are at least three feet from any vegetation, officials said.The York Fire, which erupted on July 28, scored over 90,000 acres of land within the park, including countless iconic Joshua trees.The park is also seeing invasive grass growth that is “three times greater than average,” the National Park Service said, which only adds to the fire risk.Joshua Trees burn in the York Fire, Sunday, July 30, 2023, in the Mojave National Preserve, Calif. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)“The fire restrictions will reduce the risk of fire, to promote public health and safety, and to protect resources during this time,” NPS said in a statement.The restrictions will remain in effe...

No more penis pills: Robert H Cohen, M.D. reveals new ‘BoCox’ treatment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:35:20 GMT

Let’s face it we’ve all heard of Botox– that miracle worker that smoothes out wrinkles and keeps Hollywood stars looking “forever young.”But did you know this powerful little neurotoxin has a new claim to fame? It’s now being used in the world of sexual health, revolutionizing penile treatments and enhancing the effects of procedures like the P-shot.You might be wondering if you read that right. Botox for the penis? B, in the P? Yep, that’s right! Time to put the pills down.Buckle up because we’re diving into an unexpected bone-anza, that has men all across the globe getting-it-up, after dropping their pants and getting a prick.Botox Isn’t Just for Wrinkles AnymoreRemember when we used to associate Botox only with frozen faces and the endless mockery of late-night talk show hosts? Those days are long gone. Botox is now being used in surprising ways, and its latest application might just make you raise an eyebrow (if you haven’t had Bot...

TV’s ‘This Is Cayman’ Monica Walton Showcases The Island And Its Unique Offerings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:35:20 GMT

The TV Broadcaster & creative with a focus on the Caribbean travel scene is reminding globetrotters & holiday-goers why the Cayman Islands is one of the world’s must-visit vacation spots. Monica Walton – whose extensive experience has taken her career internationally – shows the world that the Cayman Islands is more than a sugar-white sand, crystal-clear water haven.When Monica Walton’s tourism channel, This is Cayman TV, was halted due to the effects of the pandemic, the Cayman-born journalist, TV Broadcaster, and founder of Vagabond MediaGroup was well-connected globally that she could step away from the Caribbean lens and focus on her various endeavors, such as filmmaking and journalism.When the borders to the island opened up and business began taking-off once again, Monica knew it was the right time to relaunch her channel.This is Cayman TV, the official tourism channel in the Cayman Islands, is a comprehensive guide to all things Cayman. With a focus on cul...

Skin Is In: Hollywood Beauty Guru Robyn Newmark Launches Skin Rituals, Her New Ayurvedic Skincare Range

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:35:20 GMT

Skin Rituals is the culmination of Hollywood Beauty Guru Robyn Newmark’s  20+ years as a leading beauty industry professional and med spa owner. Specializing in regenerative therapies crafted and scientifically formulated, Newmark fuses her artistic skills, cosmetic ingredient acumen, and long-standing interest in Ayurvedic wisdom into a line of products.Inclusivity, Functionality, and SimplicityWho has time for a nine-step, twice daily skincare regimen? Very few of us, including Newmark. Her goal was to create a gender-neutral, accessible brand that doesn’t require a lot of fuss or guesswork. Each product is multi-use and is equally appealing to men and women. For example, the award-winning Balancing Face Oil can be used as a night time serum or worn alone as a moisturizer. It also works great as a beard treatment or even to nourish cuticles and the area around the lips. The Regenerating Face Serum + Moisturizer works double duty day or night to regenerate and protect the skin’s li...

Butta: From Grammy Nominations to Musical Mastery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:35:20 GMT

In the universe of music production, several stars shine brightly, but few illuminate  as vibrantly as Keith “Butta” Justice. Four-time Grammy nominee, Soul Train Award winner, and platinum selling music producer, Butta, as he is popularly known, has been carving a niche for himself in the music industry.Raised on the rhythmic streets of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Butta began his journey in tandem with his high school friend Allen “Bizkit” Arthur. Together, they forged B & B Entertainment, LLC, a platform that has become a touchstone of remarkable tunes. Butta’s hands have been instrumental in shaping the music of eminent stars such as John Legend, Miguel, Neyo, and Yo Gotti. One of his most distinguished works  has been John Legend’s #1 Billiard single, “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”, featuring Ludacris, a track that found its groove in the film, Think Like a Man.For Butta, the melody never stops. His recent collaborations with Bi...

University of California admits a record-number of California freshmen for the fall of 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:35:20 GMT

The University of California has admitted an unprecedented number of California students for the fall of 2023, with 88,285 first-year applicants coming from the Golden State alone.It’s an increase of 3.5% from last year, and part of an ongoing effort to get more Californians into the state’s higher education system. This year, the state’s budget included a 5% boost for the UC system — part of a multi-year agreement between Governor Gavin Newsom and the University of California — with the expectation that campuses would use that money to enroll more California students, among other educational objectives.Across the UC system, that seems to be exactly what happened. Admission rates for Californians increased to nearly 67% this year, as opposed to 64% in 2022.The surge was more prominent at UC Santa Cruz than any other campus. This fall, the school admitted 10,200 more first-year Californian students than the year prior, a 44.5% jump. Though final enrollment num...

Santa Clara County unveils new residential mental health facility amid psychiatric bed shortage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:35:20 GMT

SAN JOSE — The rooms inside this building—modestly furnished with neatly made twin beds, tables, chairs and nightstands decorated with vases of faux orange-and-violet daises—may look unremarkable. But to Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, they represent hope.The 11 double-occupancy rooms and six singles—a total of 28 beds—will house adults with severe mental illnesses at the county’s newest residential mental health treatment center, which is set to open this fall. Across the street from Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in West San Jose, it will serve who are no longer in crisis, but need assistance transitioning back to their day-to-day lives.“Each one of these rooms offers the opportunity, the hope of a better life,” Simitian told an enthusiastic crowd gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility on Tuesday afternoon. “Each of these rooms promises the hope of a life that is full and richer and worth living.”The county’s new 2...

Eastern US cleans up as storms batter New England

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:35:20 GMT

By Sarah Brumfield | Associated PressSILVER SPRING, Md. — Crews across the eastern U.S. worked Tuesday to clear downed trees and power lines and restore electricity following severe storms that killed at least two people, cut power to more than a million customers at their peak, and forced thousands of flight delays and cancellations.The storms that pounded a swath of the country stretching from Alabama and Tennessee to the Carolinas and New York on Monday continued to lash northern New England with wind and rain a day later.The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down Tuesday in the Atlantic Coast town of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, though a survey team was still determining its strength.The twister damaged homes and vehicles, downed trees and power lines, and may have damaged the water treatment plant, which remained operational, according to a statement from the town’s Select Board. There were no reports of injuries.Rain also pounded Vermont, which ex...