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LA Hosts Lemon Cherry Gelato Battle 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

Los Angeles recently hosted Connect Community’s Lemon Cherry Gelato Battle Royale. The classy name for the event was Cultivation Chronicles “Crop Steering Candies.” After previous community-building events in Sacramento and Palm Springs, this was the first installment in the Los Angeles area.Organizers noted that cultivators came together to create a collaborative environment to showcase the heat of a specific cultivar and share knowledge in cultivation and level each other up. “The LCG Battle Royale was introduced to celebrate the wonderful cultivation work of one of the most popular cultivars in the industry — Lemon Cherry Gelato,” said the event’s producer Sergio Picazo. “Candies are dominating the market right now, however, they can be challenging to grow. We aim to bring value to the cultivation community by having a focused panel discussion with killers sharing their perspective and grow tech on how to grow these small bud trait cultiv...

Yoosung Jung: Orange County’s Newly Rising Creative

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

In the vibrant landscape of Orange County, California, one name stands out as a beacon of creativity and innovation—Yoosung Jung, a multifaceted music producer and filmmaker. His journey from a financially struggling household to an accomplished artist is a testament to the power of creativity and determination. Through his unique blend of electronic dance music (EDM) and filmmaking, Yoosung has not only overcome adversity but has also carved out a distinctive artistic path.“I grew up in a financially struggling household. Unlike my friends who had Nintendo DS’s and Xbox’s, I had to rely on my imagination for entertainment,” Yoosung recalls. These early challenges instilled in him the ability to think creatively and outside the box. With limited access to conventional forms of entertainment, he turned to music and filmmaking as his outlets for self-expression and solace.Yoosung’s early life was marked by constant change. His family moved nearly a dozen ...

Mean Machine Music: Bridging the Gap Between the Advertising World and the Music Industry

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

Photo Credit: Shaugn and JohnIn a groundbreaking move, Mean Machine Music is revolutionizing how original music and sound are crafted for advertising, film, broadcast, and digital media. By bringing together a team of award-winning musicians and industry creatives, Mean Machine Music is filling a much-needed gap between the ad world and the music world.Founded by Executive Creative Director Clemente Bornacelli, Executive Producer Martin Estrada, and Musical Director Devin Hoffman, Mean Machine Music is unique in its approach to creating original compositions. The team works closely with a network of professional musicians and producers, including Martin and Devin, to deliver scores that are authentic, rich in substance, and memorable.Executive Producer Martin Estrada’s collaborations with top artists like Selena Gomez and Lady Gaga highlight the caliber of talent that Mean Machine Music brings to the table. Martin’s work with Selena Gomez showcased his versatility as a m...

Safety, Affordability and Accessibility: Salubrum’s Blueprint for Reinvigorating Global Medical Tourism

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

When it comes to elective procedures, fewer people are turning to their neighborhood clinic or family doctor. More than 14 million people around the world elect for medical care outside of their home countries, and over $7 billion USD is spent every year by Americans traveling for care in Mexico. Salubrum Inc., a Toronto based health-tech startup, has staked its claim in the growing global market while working to make medical tourism safe, affordable, and easy through its new free-to-use product, the Travelwise Passport.“Choosing an elective procedure isn’t a small decision, let alone choosing to travel to a different country to have it done,” says Salubrum’s founder, Osama Usmani. “We’re helping travelers explore their treatment and travel options with more clarity and confidence.”Understanding the Healthcare Travel TrendMedical tourism, once viewed with skepticism, has surged in recent years as patients look beyond borders for high-quality, affordable elective care. From fertility...

Feds search NYC home of top fundraiser for Mayor Adams

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

By Jake Offerhartz and Michael Balsamo | Associated PressNEW YORK — Federal agents on Thursday raided the home of a top fundraiser and longtime confidante to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who abruptly ditched a planned White House meeting and flew home from Washington.Agents searched the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed that a court-authorized law enforcement action had been carried out at the address, but declined to comment further.Vito Pitta, an attorney for the Adams campaign, said the mayor was not contacted as part of the inquiry. “The campaign has always held itself to the highest standards,” Pitta added. “The campaign will of course comply with any inquiries, as appropriate.”Suggs, who did not respond to a request for comment, is a campaign consultant to Adams who raised money for his election effort and also lobbied his administration on behalf of a real estat...

Letters: Prioritize climate | Kids and computers | Prop. 13

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.San Ramon shouldprioritize climateClimate change is a pressing issue affecting our daily lives, with wildfires in the San Francisco Bay Area and California highlighting its impact. The San Ramon City Council has been unresponsive for over two years to the San Ramon Valley Climate Coalition’s pleas for action.The Council’s responses, like “planting more trees” or shifting blame to regional authorities, fall short. We can no longer rely on tree planting to combat CO2 emissions, and we need an updated climate action plan. It’s time to push the San Ramon City Council for a climate emergency declaration and establish a sustainability task force. This task force can guide the city staff and other commissions in actively participating in climate solutions while saving money.It’s crucial that we unite to address this existential threat.Sue BockBoard Member, San Ramon Valley Cl...

Maine mass shooting highlights series of missed chances

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

By David Sharp and Lindsay Whitehurst | Associated PressPORTLAND, Maine — Across the nation, much of the debate around gun rights and restrictions centers on mental health. Many advocates on both sides agree that getting people with serious mental illness into treatment, and then preventing those who are dangerous from accessing guns, is key to preventing mass shootings.Yet in the weeks and months before the mass shooting in Lewiston, there were so many warning signs from the killer that people all around him were raising concerns to authorities. He was still able to massacre 18 people, wound another 13 and shatter a community’s sense of security.Lawmakers want answers as to why laws in two states — Maine and New York — didn’t prevent the tragedy.“It’s a massive failure,” said Republican state Sen. Lisa Keim, sponsor of Maine’s so-called “yellow flag” law. “This one, it seems that there were too many touchpoints for neither law t...

Letters: Valley’s gem | Climate change | Reform permitting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.Save Reid-Hillview,the Valley’s gemRe: “The EPA finally confirms the dangers of leaded airplane fuel” (Page A8, Oct. 22).Reid-Hillview Airport is a gem — the basis of dreams for kids, a safety net at a time of crisisand part of our world-renowned aviation industry.Cindy Chavez spent years trying to close Reid-Hillview Airport to further real estate interests, which will add traffic to already crowded streets, tax water, sewer, the electric grid and other infrastructure. Using fear of lead poisoning, she neglects to mention that Reid-Hillview no longer sells leaded aviation fuel, that the soil tested around the airport shows no more lead than other areas of the county and is not at a dangerous level. Reid-Hillview should be protected and promoted.Susan BatesSunnyvaleCongress must actto slow climate changeRe: “Warnings about climate change begin heating up” (Page A1, Nov. 1).K...

Smoke in San Francisco today is from prescribed burn in North Bay

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Smoke seen and smelled in San Francisco and around the Bay Area Thursday afternoon is related to a prescribed burn taking place in the North Bay, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. "Smoke from a prescribed burn near San Rafael is impacting Marin County and SF," the BAAQMD posted. "A temperature inversion is also trapping pollutants from sources like wood burning and vehicle pollution near the ground. If you smell smoke, avoid exposure." Contra Costa County health officials link tuberculosis cases to casino Firefighters are undertaking wildfire prevention work at China Camp State Park in San Rafael Thursday, according to the San Rafael Fire Department. Thursday's burn is the second of two prescribed fires and was scheduled for between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m."Neighborhoods surrounding China Camp State Park may see and smell smoke," SRFD said in a tweet.The Central Marin Fire District also addressed the smoke in the air, putting out a post th...

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried convicted of defrauding cryptocurrency customers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal jury convicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried on Thursday of fraud charges accusing him of stealing about $10 billion from customers and investors in what a prosecutor says was one of the biggest frauds in U.S. history.The verdict came quickly after a Manhattan federal court jury began deliberating midway through the afternoon. YouTube opens new offices in San Bruno Bankman-Fried, 31, could face decades in prison after prosecutors said he cheated thousands of customers of billions of dollars before the collapse of his companies in November, 2022. Prosecutors said he spent the money on investments, real estate, promotions for his cryptocurrency exchange and political contributions.He was extradited from the Bahamas to the United States in December. Originally freed on a $250 million personal recognizance bond to live with his parents in Palo Alto, California, he was jailed in August after Judge Lewis A. Kaplan concluded that he had tried to tamper with poss...