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Despite security fixes, Hyundai and Kia thefts keep rising

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:28 GMT

Nearly three months ago, Hyundai and Kia unveiled software that was designed to thwart an epidemic of thefts of their vehicles, caused by a security flaw that was exposed on TikTok and other social media sites.So far, it hasn’t solved the problem. Across the country, thieves are still driving off with the vehicles at an alarming rate.Data from seven U.S. cities gathered by The Associated Press shows that the number of Hyundai and Kia thefts is still growing despite the companies' efforts to fix the glitch, which makes 8.3 million vehicles relatively easy targets for thieves. Hyundai, Kia update security after TikTok challenge thefts From Minneapolis, Cleveland and St. Louis to New York, Seattle, Atlanta and Grand Rapids, Michigan, police have reported substantial year-over-year increases in Hyundai and Kia theft reports through April. An eighth city, Denver, which was hit early by the theft outbreak, reported a 23% decline from 2022 levels but still endured a high number of thefts...

Utah mom accused of killing husband with fentanyl, wrote grief book following death

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:28 GMT

A Utah woman who wrote a children's book about coping with grief following the death of her husband has been charged with murder, according to court documents obtained by KTLA sister station KTVX.Kouri Richins was arrested on May 8 in Summit County for aggravated murder and three counts of possession of drugs with intent to distribute, court records show. The alleged murder occurred on March 3, 2022, a day before Richins' husband, Eric Richins, died "unexpectedly," per his obituary. He and Kouri were married for nine years and had three young sons together.Kouri Richins appears on KTVX in Salt Lake City, Utah. (KTVX)This photo provided by KPCW.org shows Kouri Richins at the KPCW studio in Park City, Utah, April 12, 2023. Richins was arrested on Monday, May 8, in Utah and is accused in charging documents of poisoning her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl at their home in Kamas, a small mountain town near Park City. (KPCW.org via AP)According to court documents, Eric was found de...

Desert Fungi: Canyon Creek Mushrooms Are Feeding The Coachella Valley

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:28 GMT

When snowbird Jim Shaffer emigrated from his frigid Michigan roots to the warm breezes of the Coachella Valley, the only thing he really missed was finding fresh mushrooms to satisfy his love for fungi. After spending a few hundred hours on YouTube, he created his own farm in a spare bedroom, and within three years, his Canyon Creek Mushrooms could hardly keep up with the desert demand.The one-room operation started in 2019, when Shaffer built his first fruiting room in his garage, followed by an incubation room and a lab. What was just meant to be a source of fresh fungi for family and friends, Canyon Creek Mushrooms outgrew its garage-based farm and moved into its current 4,500-square-foot facility in Palm Desert in 2021.“When most people think of mushrooms, they think of dark caves and manure;  that’s so not us,” Shaffer tells L.A. Weekly in the sterile climate-controlled fruiting chamber located in an industrial section of the Washington Business Park. Jim Shaffer at Canyon Cree...

10 Facts About Memorial Day You May Or May Not Know

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:28 GMT

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance and honor for those who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It’s a time for Americans to pay tribute to the brave men and women who have sacrificed everything to defend our freedoms. But did you know that there are some fascinating and little-known facts about this national holiday? From its origins to its traditions, Memorial Day has a rich history that many people are unaware of. Read the full article on our sister site, the Fort Bend Star, here. Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.The post 10 Facts About Memorial Day You May Or May Not Know appeared first on LA Weekly.

Robert Miller Killed in Pedestrian Accident on State Route 246 [Buellton, CA]

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:28 GMT

Pedestrian Crash Near Casino Drive Kills 69-Year-Old Solvang ManBUELLTON, CA (May 9, 2023) – Friday midnight, a pedestrian crash on State Route 246 claimed the life of Robert Miller.The incident happened around 12:00 a.m., along the eastbound State Route 246, just west of Casino Drive.According to reports, Miller was wearing dark clothing as he traveled on foot across State Route 246. At that time, a 2011 Ford pickup was traveling on the westbound lanes of the highway as Miller was crossing its path. The driver of the Ford attempted to stop but could not do it in time, striking Miller, leaving him with serious injuries.Responding paramedics transported 69-year-old Robert Miller of Solvang to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.The California Highway Patrol said the involved driver was uninjured.In addition, Chumash Casino provided a surveillance video from the establishment that captured the collision.No words can mend the broken hearts and sorrow felt during t...

Lolo Zouai Wants to Play

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:28 GMT

Lolo Zouai Wants to Play: The last time we saw Zouaï, she was opening for Dua Lipa at the massive Kia Forum. She certainly didn’t look out of place that day, wowing somebody else’s crowd in an arena setting. The day when she headlines such a place might not be too far away, especially considering the quality of last year’s PLAYGIRL album. This is the latest stop on The Playgirl Tour, so expect her to pull out all the stops. Amelia Moore also performs.“This whole album is about not boxing myself into any one genre or sound,” she said in a statement. “Once I had that revelation – that my album could be like my life itself – it unlocked an entirely new outlook on making music for me.”Of that show at the Forum, we said last year, “Lolo Zouaï was born in Paris and raised in San Francisco and, as a result, she sings in a combination of French and English. Like, literally, she switched languages within the same song. It made for some fascinating musical moments, particularly on excel...

Mark Maglione Killed in Pedestrian Crash on Ramon Road [Palm Springs, CA]

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:28 GMT

Pedestrian Collision on Crossley Road Left 63-Year-Old Palm Springs Man DeadPALM SPRINGS, CA (May 9, 2023) – Thursday evening, Mark Maglione was killed in a pedestrian crash on Ramon Road.The incident happed at around 9:45 p.m. at the intersection of Ramon Road and Crossley Road.Upon arrival, police located the unresponsive man lying in the roadway. First responders declared the victim dead at the scene.Meanwhile, the involved driver stayed at the site of the incident and cooperated with the investigators.Later, the Riverside County Coroner’s office identified the deceased pedestrian as 63-year-old Mark Maglione of Palm Springs.At this time, the circumstances that led up to the incident remain unknown. Authorities said that drugs and alcohol did not play a role in the collision.Those with additional information about the fatal pedestrian crash are encouraged to contact the Palm Springs police traffic division at 760-323-8125.The team at Sweet James sends their warm and sincere...

Why Office Sex Is (Pretty Much Always) A Bad Idea

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:28 GMT

Whether it’s a Hollywood fantasy that roused your curiosity or a real-life colleague shared some of his own intriguing exploits with you, office sex is a temptation for many at one point or another. According to a Business Insider survey, 85% of those who were surveyed have thought of having sex with a colleague before — and 4% even switched jobs because of the sexual tension they had with someone at work.Office Sex 101: Should You or Should You Not?Many have contemplated doing it and a good many of those turned the dream into a reality (as 54% of those who were polled actually had office sex with a colleague. Unfortunately, a little office fling can lead to major consequences your career (and primary relationship) may not survive. Consider the following scenarios. The consequences of office sex with the bossThe majority find power to be an attractive attribute that a person can possess. To some, money is sexy to have as well. That’s why many fantasize about office sex with their bo...

SF Giants calling up infield prospect Casey Schmitt, Darin Ruf designated for assignment

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:28 GMT

The Giants are getting younger.Tuesday morning, the club announced it was promoting infielder Casey Schmitt, their second-round pick in 2020 who is considered by Baseball America to be the team’s third-best prospect.Schmitt comes to the Giants hitting .313 with 10 doubles and one home run in 32 games with Triple-A Sacramento. He wasn’t originally known as a power hitter, but some mechanical adjustments led to a big season last year, when he hit 21 home runs in 526 plate appearances across three levels.While Schmitt is primarily a third baseman who projects as a future Gold Glover, he’s also spent about 30% of his minor league innings at shortstop, where he is likely to find playing time as Brandon Crawford works his way back from a calf strain. Schmitt also has three games of experience at second base.Thairo Estrada has played every game at shortstop since Crawford’s injury, but with Schmitt on the squad, Estrada could move back to second base. J.D. Davis (.875 OPS) has been the hot...

The buzziest California wine region isn’t Napa or Sonoma

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:28 GMT

By Elin McCoy | BloombergIf you’re on an all-out quest to make great cabernet, you might aim for Napa or Bordeaux.Not Daniel Daou. After a decade-long global search for the right plot of land to start growing the grape, he found the ideal combo of soil and climate for his dream in Paso Robles, a land of oak-studded hills and winding back roads, a three-hour drive south of San Francisco. “Paso,” he says, “has a climate between Pauillac in Bordeaux and Oakville in Napa. It was my destiny.”Once sleepy and overlooked, the region has new energy and a definite wow factor. It’s California’s shiny new wine hot spot, and not just for cabernet. It’s where to go for top Rhone style wines, and tourism is booming.Brothers George and Daniel Daou helped push Paso into the current spotlight with their wines and compelling story. After fleeing the bombs of the 1973 civil war in Lebanon with their family (one rocket hit their house and almost killed them), they ended up in France, where they grew up....