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World Orca Week: A look at the ocean’s largest predator

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:40 GMT

It’s World Orca Week (World Orca Day is July 14) so here’s a few things you may not know about the ocean’s top predator.What’s in a name?Orcas, often referred to as killer whales, are a toothed whale but are technically the largest member of the dolphin family.There are three main types of killer whales in the North Pacific: Resident, transient and offshore. There are 10 different types around the world.Moms are pregnant a long timeFemales reach sexual maturity when they are between 10 and 13 years old. They are typically pregnant for 15 to 18 months and give birth to a single calf. Calves nurse exclusively for at least a year but remain in close association with their mother for the first two years.They are really fastKiller whales are among the fastest swimming marine mammals and can reach speeds over 30 mph for short distances. The fastest human on land, Usain Bolt’s 100-meter dash, was about 27 mph.Killer whales usually cruise at much slower speeds, less than 8 mph.Protected, bu...

California man gets life sentence for murdering 3 teens, injuring 3 in ding-dong ditch car chase

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:40 GMT

Right to the end, Anurag Chandra refused to say the two words the families of his victims most wanted to hear: I’m sorry.Chandra did not look at those who were making victim impact statements or address the court himself on Friday, July 14, before he was sentenced to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for murdering three teenagers and critically injuring three others in a traffic collision he caused after they had played ding-dong ditch at his Temescal Valley home.Jacob Ivascu, 16, of Riverside and 16-year-old Corona residents Daniel Hawkins and Drake Ruiz died on Jan.19, 2020, when an enraged Anurag Chandra pursued their car on Temescal Canyon Road — at one point driving 99 mph — and slammed into the teens’ car, sending it careening into a tree, authorities said.The driver of that car, Sergio Campusano, 18 at the time, Joshua Ivascu, 14, and Joshua Hawkins, 13, suffered broken bones and other injuries.The boys were described as inseparable.Chandra, 45, was convi...

Whether rain or a leaky pipe, water is the likely culprit in Southern California landslide

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:40 GMT

Residents won’t know what triggered the landslide that destroyed 12 homes in Rolling Hills Estates until a geological engineering firm completes a probe slated to begin this week. But while there’s no clear smoking gun, as of yet, history — and the natural geology of the Palos Verdes Peninsula — all point to one leading suspect: water.Whether from heavy rainfall, or an undiscovered leaky pipe, almost all of the landslides on the Palos Verdes Peninsula have been caused by water weakening the clay layers weaving through the region’s bedrock, says El Hachemi Bouali, an assistant professor of geosciences at Nevada State University.“This weak clay is widespread across the entire Peninsula,” said Bouali, who along with two others published a research paper in 2019 that used radar and GPS to expand maps tracking subsurface instability in the area.A sudden burst of water, such as a water main break, could create a landslide, but so could prolonged rainfall, or a tiny leak from a damaged poo...

Does having a pet help those with Alzheimer’s disease? Let’s take a look

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:40 GMT

Q. My wife is in the mid-stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, her memory continues to decline and she slowly is becoming isolated. She relies on others for conversation, speaking very little and cannot be left alone. Would having a dog be a comfort to her or even lessen some of her symptoms? Many thanks. D.J. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia is demanding and often consuming of one’s time and energy. This disease is progressive with no agreed-upon cause or cure. Yet we have some encouragement with a newly approved drug that slows its progression but just for a period of time. The cure cannot come fast enough as an estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are reported to have this brain disease in 2023. So, what can we do in the meantime? Having a pet seems to help. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that animal therapy can help people navigate dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association cites several studies that evaluate the impa...

On the 50th anniversary of his death, a life-size Bruce Lee statue is unveiled in L.A.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:40 GMT

A life-size statue of martial arts legend and Hollywood icon Bruce Lee, who died 50 years ago this month, is on display near L.A.’s Chinatown.The Chinese American Museum opened its latest exhibit of works by Hong Kong master sculptor Chu Tat Shing at the Pico House, at 424 N. Main Street, across from the museum. Shing, a lifelong Bruce Lee fan, has created many sculptures honoring Asian icons, artists and visionaries.Officials said the 5-foot-8 Lee statue, the highlight of the exhibit, is the only one of its kind in his iconic “sidekick” pose in North America, and “epitomizes the act of overcoming adversity with unwavering determination.”Chu Tat-Shing, Chinese sculptor and visual artist poses as his life-sized, 5”8 sculpture of martial arts master and Hollywood icon Bruce Lee in his side kick stance is unveiled in honor of the 50th anniversary year of Lee’s death during the Chu Tat Shing Art Exhibition at Pico House in Los Angeles on Friday, July 14, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham...

Tiny ‘nation’ in California desert might be worth a day trip, or not

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:40 GMT

According to Worldometer, there are 200 countries of which 193 are member states of the United Nations and seven are not for various reasons. The breakdown of U.N. countries consists of 54 in Africa, 48 in Asia, 44 in Europe, 33 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 14 in Oceania and two in Northern America.It’s pretty hard to imagine running out of travel destinations, right?Actually, Randy “R Dub” Williams, a well-known San Diego late-night DJ, has visited all 200 countries, which is why he created his own on an 11.07-acre plot of arid land in California that he purchased for $19,000. In December 2021, Williams broadcast the Republic of Slowjamastan’s secession from the United States from his open-air government office in Dublandia, the capital. To date, there are 500 registered citizens, with 4,500 more conditionally approved and waiting in line for citizenship.“I like to put it simply,” says Randy “R Dub!” Williams, a late-night “slow jams” DJ from San Diego who’s also known as “t...

Maryland’s budget deficits loom in the wake of the 2023 session

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:40 GMT

This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.The most recent 90-day legislative session swung the Maryland’s fiscal picture from hundreds of millions in surplus to increasing projected deficits over the coming four years, according to the Department of Legislative Services.Deficits projected in the report for 2028 exceed $1 billion and approach levels not seen since The Great Recession. The new projections pose a test to the ability of Gov. Wes Moore (D) to deliver on a number of priorities and promises.Lawmakers said they were not surprised by the numbers but acknowledged challenges lie ahead.“We’ve made some real commitments, and they are robust,” said House Appropriations Chair Ben Barnes (D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s), noting new investments in education reform and transit. “ … We need to fulfill these commitments and to do that we certainly are going to need to take ...

Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham is on its way to the United States after being given the Hollywood treatment

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:40 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Ryan Reynolds has already taken Hollywood to Wrexham. Now the Welsh soccer team is on its way to Tinseltown.The club, which was down on its luck and languishing in the fifth tier of English soccer before being given the A-list treatment by Reynolds and co-owner Rob McElhenney, is embarking on a U.S. tour this month, when fans of the globally-streamed docuseries “Welcome to Wrexham” will get to see its unlikely stars in the flesh.The series has made household names of the likes of manager Phil Parkinson, a coach who has spent his entire career in the lower levels of the sport.Likewise Paul Mullin, a striker who has never been close to playing in the Premier League but is getting a taste of David Beckham-levels of exposure courtesy of being featured on Reynolds’ Instagram feed, which has 49 million followers.Wrexham will play games against Chelsea, Manchester United, LA Galaxy II and Philadelphia Union II at venues in North Carolina, Los Angeles, San D...

Carlos Alcaraz’s Wimbledon trophy keeps him at No. 1. Marketa Vondrousova’s lifts her to No. 10

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:40 GMT

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz held onto No. 1 in the ATP rankings on Monday by virtue of his victory over No. 2 Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final, and Marketa Vondrousova’s first Grand Slam title pushed her all the way up to a career-high No. 10 on the WTA list.Vondrousova jumped 32 places from No. 42 thanks to her 6-4, 6-4 win against Ons Jabeur in Saturday’s final at the All England Club. Vondrousova, a 24-year-old from the Czech Republic, was the lowest-ranked and first unseeded women’s champion at the grass-court major.Alcaraz’s 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 defeat of Djokovic on Sunday marked the third time in the past four major tournaments that the men’s title match determined who would be at No. 1.At last September’s U.S. Open, Alcaraz became the first teenager to lead the ATP by beating Casper Ruud in the final. At January’s Australian Open, it was Djokovic — who has spent more weeks atop the rankings than anyone in tennis hi...

2 Orange Line stations reopen, Metro moves on to Green Line construction

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:40 GMT

The Vienna and Dunn Loring stations on Metro’s Orange Line reopen Monday after weeks of construction work, the transit agency said in a news release.Metro closed the four Orange Line stations west of Ballston-Marymount University in early June to replace some of the oldest rails in the system. The East and West Falls Church stations reopened earlier this month.“Replacing this section of rail was critical to ensuring the Orange Line is safe and reliable for years to come,” said Metro Chief of Infrastructure Andy Off in a statement. “We appreciate our customers’ patience while we completed this important work to improve our system.”In the latest phase of its four-part maintenance initiative, the transit agency said it replaced nearly 25 miles of rail and cleared more than 97,000 feet of vegetation to keep areas around the tracks clear in case of storms. Metro also said it installed fiber-optic cables along the corridor to modernize communications and allow for more efficient fut...