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'Please don't ruin my life': Despite pleas, Tory Lanez denied new trial in Megan Thee Stallion shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

Canadian rapper Tory Lanez has been denied a new trial in the 2020 shooting of fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion.Lanez — real name Daystar Peterson — shot Megan in the feet after a party at Kylie Jenner's home in the Hollywood Hills on July 12, 2020.Megan — real name Megan Pete — told a jury that he fired five shots while yelling “Dance, b——-!”“I hear the gun going off, and I can’t believe he’s shooting at me," she said in court.He was convicted on Dec. 23 of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.Megan Thee Stallion accepts an award onstage during Glamour Celebrates 2021 Women of the Year Awards on Nov. 8, 2021, in New York City. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Glamour)With his request for a new trial denied, Lanez will face sentencing, which could send him to jail for more than 20 years. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled, according to James Queally of the Los Angeles Times. Wi...

This is where the most home burglaries occur in California, study says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

Home security is a top priority for homeowners and prospective buyers nationwide, and a new study shows that some cities are more prone to home burglaries than others.One California city was considered to have the most home burglaries, according to a study from Insurify.By analyzing the most recent Uniform Crime Reporting data from the FBI, researchers determined that Bakersfield was where the most home burglaries occurred. Here is where home prices have increased the most in California According to the report, the city had 847 burglaries per 100,000 residents, while the national average is 347 burglaries per 100,000 residents.Researchers found that home burglaries are 2.4 times more common in Bakersfield. The average home price of a home in the area is $370,099, according to Zillow.Bakersfield took the top spot for the city with the most home burglaries. Another California city, Vallejo, took the second spot, with researchers finding that 834 home burglaries occur yearly in the a...

Here's how much Black Californians could individually receive in reparations payments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

California’s reparations task force has voted to approve recommendations on how the state may compensate and apologize to Black residents for generations of harm caused by racism and discriminatory policies.The recommendations include financial payouts which, if approved by the State Assembly, could total hundreds of billions of dollars, experts say.The panel’s vote approved a detailed account of historical discrimination against Black Californians in areas such as voting, housing, education, disproportionate policing and incarceration, and others.CalMatters, a non-partisan, nonprofit news organization, has created a calculator to help residents estimate how much they could individually receive under the task force’s proposal.The tool, titled, “How much reparations are African American residents owed?” includes a breakdown of the itemized amounts for “Health Harms,” “Mass Incarceration & Over-policing,” Housing Discrimination” and “Devaluation of Businesses.” California task f...

The Power of Mentorship for Women

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

An exploration of the role of mentorship in helping women achieve their goals and reach their full potentialThe idea of mentorship is not a new one. We have mentors, whether intentionally or unintentionally, from the moment we are born. A mentor is an experienced person who guides someone else in the area of their learned experience. Our parents are often our first mentors, followed by immediate family, friends, school peers, etc. As we become older, we often have to seek a mentor and ask for guidance and teachings to help us navigate the world of work, business, and life as adults.For women, in particular, having a mentor can be an invaluable resource. It is an incredibly powerful tool for women who want to reach their goals and realize their full potential. Throughout history, mentors have played a vital role in helping women succeed in numerous fields—from business and academia to politics and the arts. By providing guidance, advice, and support, a mentor can help open doors, rem...

Top Beauty Educator; Bobbi Vargas Rises As A Public Speaker And Leader To Entrepreneurs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

Celebrity make-up artist turned entrepreneurial coach, Bobbi Vargas has a stunning story of triumph over adversity. The self-made woman’s tale of spirited success following a troubled childhood is inspiring for all the right reasons.As a young girl living in Kuwait, she was born to a wealthy businessman and a stay-at-home mother. But In the ‘90s, her congenial life unexpectedly came to a halt.On chance, Bobbi, her mother, and her sisters were visiting relatives in the United States right before the start of the Persian Gulf war. When the war broke out during their stay, things took a sharp turn, and they found themselves in a sudden hostile milieu as immigrants in a foreign country.She describes the sudden shift from that of a vacation mindset to one of immigrant status overnight, “At a time when having an accent wasn’t cool and having dark features made you somewhat of an outcast, it was challenging coming to terms with the changes that life threw our way. The family that was happy...

Stephanie Gilbert, LMFT Takes Her Readers through the Major Reasons behind Internalized Stigma and How We Can Deal With It

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

Mental health stigma is a widespread issue that affects everyone, regardless of their background. This can include the negative attitudes and beliefs we hold towards ourselves, as well as the ones imposed on us by society and loved ones. Expert mental health therapist Stephanie Gilbert, LMFT takes us through the four major reasons why people face internalized stigma and how we can deal with it.Picture credits: Kate Haus, photographer from Los Angeles“Simply put, internalized stigma is stigma turned inward,” Stephanie explained. “It may show up as invalidating one’s own experience, minimizing symptoms, refusing the need for treatment, or expecting one’s recovery to go much quicker than could be expected.”Like external stigma, internalized or self-stigma can negatively impact a person’s quality of life and overall health. According to Stephanie, it can reduce your self-worth and make you feel less valuable than others.Discussing the root cause, Stephanie ...

A Sneak Peek into Shirley Wantland’s Journey From an Immigrant Child to the Co-founder of Recovery Consultants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

There is a persistent stigma around mental health, addiction and recovery in society. Even though we have made progress in this area, there is still a long way to go. All over the world, many mental health practitioners and counselors are working religiously to reduce prejudice against mental illness and substance abuse. One such person is Shirley Wantland, the co-founder and principal of Recovery Consultants, aiming  to provide empathetic and non-judgmental treatments to such individuals and creating  a safe healing space for them.Belonging to a Vietnamese immigrant family in Oklahoma City, Shirley struggled to fit in during her childhood and adolescence. Her parents worked day and night to put food on the table for her and her brother. The Wantland’s financial burdens were to this  extent that they couldn’t afford to send the kids to school. However, Shirley’s father viewed hard work and education to thrive later in life.  So, he asked the Headmaster of the school where he w...

Meet The Woman Behind Qeblawi Cosmetics: Diana Qeblawi On Breaking Barriers And Making History In The Beauty & Fashion Industry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

The beauty and cosmetics industry has experienced a boom in recent years with the rise of social media influencers and beauty vloggers. The pandemic has further fueled this trend, as more people turned to online shopping and experimenting with makeup and skincare products while stuck at home. This resulted in the market becoming saturated with numerous types of cosmetics and makeup products, making it more critical than ever for brands to stand out and differentiate themselves.One brand that has been making waves in the industry is Qeblawi Cosmetics. Focusing on inclusivity and quality, it offers a range of makeup products catering to different skin tones and types. Diana’s passion for the beauty and fashion industry and her business savvy have propelled Qeblawi Cosmetics to become one of the up-and-coming brands to watch out for. In a recent interview, Diana Qeblawi shared her journey of breaking barriers and making history in the beauty and fashion industry.Can you tell us a...

Double Blind Study Reveals Los Angeles-Based, EZC Pak’s, as an Effective Alternative to Antibiotics for Treating Upper Respiratory Infections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

A groundbreaking double-blind study announced on May 3rd by Los Angeles-based EZC Pak has uncovered a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating upper respiratory infections (URIs). This NIH-registered clinical trial spanned nine months, enrolling 360 patients from across the United States. Findings reveal that participants who took EZC Pak’s immune support pack recovered 1.39 days faster (p=0.017), experienced a 17.43% reduction in symptom severity (p=0.029), and had 2.9 times greater patient satisfaction (p=0.012) compared to those taking a placebo.These results substantiate EZC Pak‘s immune support formula and five-day tapered system as an effective, evidence-based solution to antibiotic misuse in managing colds, flus, and other URIs. This is especially significant given the urgent global public health threat posed by antibiotic resistance, which the CDC estimates to be associated with 1.27 million deaths each year.The vast majority of URIs, approximately 80%, ...

Several Hurt in Semi-Truck Crash on Highway 101 [Salinas, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:56 GMT

Semi-Truck Overturned near John Street Left Lanes BlockedSALINAS, CA (May 9, 2023) – Saturday morning, a semi-truck crash on Highway 101 left several several people hurt and lanes blocked.The incident occurred on April 15th, at around 10:30 a.m., in the northbound lanes of the Highway near John Street.According to reports, a semi-truck overturned on the highway which resulted in minor injuries. At this time, the total number of injuries from the crash remains unclear.Furthermore, officials blocked the lanes on the highway and diverted traffic at Airport Boulevard.Meanwhile, crews reopened the lanes at around 6:00 p.m. Authorities have not yet stated what caused the semi-truck crash on Highway 101.Simply by driving defensively and following the conditions of the road, you can prevent a reckless driving accident. Do not engage in any non-driving activity which creates a potential distraction. Follow the speed limit and do not be pressured to keep up with the speed of other vehic...