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Adam Frank: Science could finally discover aliens. What does that mean?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:36 GMT

Are we alone? Is life around us a cosmic accident that only happened once on this lonely planet, making human beings the only technological civilization anywhere? Or is the universe teeming with life, and perhaps even intelligence and self-awareness?These questions have haunted humanity for millennia. Science is now poised to take a fantastic leap forward in answering them.Over the next few decades, we will finally gain hard data that will help us answer our questions about alien life. But as we come ever closer to that milestone, another equally pressing question emerges. What would finding alien life — or not — mean for us all?Many people believe that answers about life in the universe will come from Earth’s own skies via UFOs — or as our government has taken to calling them, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. Recent years have seen the Pentagon acknowledging pilots’ reports of UAP and creating a related office, Congress holding UAP hearings and NASA laun...

Multiple people shot at while driving on 91 Freeway in Corona

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:36 GMT

At least one person was hospitalized following a drive-by shooting on the 91 Freeway on Friday night. The shooting took place just after 10:30 p.m. near McKinley Street in Corona, according to law enforcement officials. A woman driving eastbound on the freeway said that she passed a slow-moving vehicle as she approached McKinley, and upon doing so, the suspect in that vehicle drove up next to her and opened fire. At least one person was hospitalized following a shooting on the 91 Freeway on Friday night. (OnSceneTV)At least one person was hospitalized following a shooting on the 91 Freeway on Friday night. (OnSceneTV)At least one person was hospitalized following a shooting on the 91 Freeway on Friday night. (OnSceneTV)Her car was hit twice but she was not injured, according to police.  LAPD pursues vehicle in L.A. County Authorities said that another man driving eastbound on the 91 Freeway was also struck in the leg by a bullet. He was transported to a local h...

Suspects flee in foot after high-speed chase in L.A.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:36 GMT

At least one person is in custody following a high-speed pursuit through Los Angeles County on Friday night.The two suspects inside the car were initially wanted for an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.As the vehicle traveled at high speeds through freeways and surface streets, the suspects eventually pulled over in a neighborhood near West Louise Street and Pacific Avenue in Long Beach.At least one person is in custody following a high-speed pursuit through Los Angeles County on Nov. 3, 2023. (KTLA)At least one person is in custody following a high-speed pursuit through Los Angeles County on Nov. 3, 2023. (KTLA)At least one person is in custody following a high-speed pursuit through Los Angeles County on Nov. 3, 2023. (KTLA)At least one person is in custody following a high-speed pursuit through Los Angeles County on Nov. 3, 2023. (KTLA)At least one person is in custody following a high-speed pursuit through Los Angeles County on Nov. 3, ...

SAG-AFTRA negotiators close to reaching a deal with studio executives

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:36 GMT

After 113 days on the picket lines, the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike could finally be in sight as negotiators are reportedly in the home stretch of finalizing a deal. On Friday, SAG-AFTRA members were on standby waiting to hear from studio executives on their most recent counter-proposal. “It could be over soon,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the national executive director and chief negotiator of SAG-AFTRA. "The focus today is trying to bring this deal home, and the fact is, there are still some issues between us. We're waiting for a response from the studios and streamers, but I am hopeful."In what could be the final hours for picketing, Crabtree-Ireland told KTLA that he met with studio executives up until 9 p.m. Thursday evening, but the studios and streamers have not responded to the union’s counter-proposal since then. Both sides seem frustrated and unwilling to budge on the use of artificial intelligence. "These are really important things that we're out here fi...

Elderly woman found in Chinatown; ID unknown

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:36 GMT

Los Angeles General Medical Center is asking for help identifying an elderly woman found in Chinatown.The patient, believed to be approximately 90 years old, was recently found on North Broadway, hospital officials said. The circumstances were not released, but efforts to identify her have been unsuccessful thus far.The woman is 5-feet tall, weighs 91 pounds, and has "salt/pepper" hair and brown eyes. A photo released by the hospital shows her apparently awake in bed.Anyone with information is asked to contact Dayanira Diaz, a social worker at Los Angeles General Medical Center at 323-409-3377.

Can U.S. Soldiers Take CBD While on Active Duty?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:36 GMT

Given the recent rise in CBD use amongst American civilians, it’s only natural for those in the US Armed Forces would be curious to try hemp-infused drinks, oils, or creams. After all, CBD is so ubiquitous nowadays. Plus, since CBD is non-psychoactive, it can’t interfere with work — right?Although the 2018 US Farm Bill legalized CBD products in the USA, these laws don’t apply to every profession. It’s essential for those serving in the Armed Forces to review the latest policies from the Department of Defense (DoD). Official military laws will always supersede the civilian policies on hemp and CBD consumption.So, Can People In The Military Take CBD Oil?According to the DoD, people serving in the US Armed Forces cannot take hemp-derived products. It doesn’t matter if CBD oils, beverages, or gummies have zero THC concentration — the military code clearly states CBD is a violated product.The DoD is most concerned with CBD oils containing minute traces of the federally illegal compound d...

The arts aren’t just good for us, they’re good for San Jose’s economy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:36 GMT

We hear all the time how important the arts are to building a strong community and how they provide real economic benefit to cities that invest in them. Now there are some numbers to back that up.The newly released Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study shows that nonprofit arts and culture organizations generated $292 million in economic activity in San Jose in 2022 — the major chunk of $384.5 million generated by arts groups in all of Santa Clara County.Randy Cohen, vice president of research at Americans for the Arts, talked about the results before nearly 100 arts and community leaders at a luncheon Friday co-hosted by the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs and SV Creates at the San Jose City Hall Rotunda. San Jose, he said, is a bit of an anomaly compared to the rest of the nation, with a stronger comeback in the arts sector since the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down.“San Jose has always been such a great arts epicenter for the region, and it just grows a...

In Concord, a push to reopen 1985 case of young Black man found hanging from a tree at BART station

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:36 GMT

CONCORD — Tragedy shook the Bay Area in 1985 after the body of a young Black man from Berkeley was discovered hanging from a fig tree near the Concord BART station — news that reverberated across Northern California and made national headlines.Timothy Charles Lee, a 23-year-old fashion design student and gay man, had fallen asleep on the train after work on Nov. 1, a Friday, in San Francisco. He awoke in Concord, which at that time was the end of the BART line, and called family and friends from a nearby payphone, trying to secure a ride home.Roughly 11 hours later, Lee was found hanging in the tree in a vacant dirt lot off Mt. Diablo Street.Local law enforcement quickly closed the case, deeming Lee’s death a suicide. Police said a suicide note was found nearby, and no evidence of a physical struggle had been recorded in Lee’s autopsy report, which also noted that his blood alcohol level was .13, just above the legal driving limit in the 1980s.But nearly four decades lat...

Live Oak completes incredible rally at Christopher, wins league crown. ‘This was our Super Bowl’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:36 GMT

GILROY — Unfazed by a 21-point deficit just seven minutes into the game, the Live Oak football team came all the way back to beat Christopher 28-24 in a matchup between undefeated teams from neighboring towns in front of a packed house at Christopher.“Unbelievable game,” Live Oak coach Mike Gemo said. “This is a great rivalry, Christopher and Live Oak, has been for years. It comes down to games like this, two teams and two groups of kids that know each other and like to battle against each other.”With the win Live Oak (9-0, 5-0) captures the Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division championship, the top division in the 24-team BVAL. Christopher (9-1, 4-1) fell just short.“If Live Oak and Christopher played 10 times in a year it would probably end up 5-5,” Christopher coach Darren Yafai said. “They got us this time. We’re proud of our kids. They played their hearts out to the very end.”Live Oak’s Josh Gagni...

Nepal rushes aid and rescue operations after strong quake shakes its northwest, killing at least 157

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:58:36 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The death toll of a strong earthquake that shook Nepal’s northwest has risen to 157, the National Emergency Operation Center announced Saturday.Most of those killed were crushed by debris when their houses — usually made by stacking rocks and logs — crumbled under the force of the tremblor midnight Friday, local media reported. While rescuers were scrambling to rush much-needed aid to the affected area, operations were hampered by the fact that many of the mountainous villages could only be reached by foot. Roads were also blocked by landslides triggered by the earthquake. Soldiers could be seen trying to clear the blocked roads.The government is trying to get as much aid to the affected areas, deputy prime minister, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, said on Saturday. Tents, food and medicine were flown in as thousands became homeless overnight.Besides aid, rescuers are focusing on finding survivors, officials said.“The priority is to find the survivors and take t...