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Scalise secures GOP Speaker nomination

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:26 GMT

House Republicans on Wednesday nominated Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) to be the next Speaker, sending his candidacy to the House floor following Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) stunning ouster last week, multiple lawmakers told The Hill.Scalise secured the nomination 113-99 in a closed-door GOP conference meeting, defeating House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in a close race that did not have a clear front-runner heading into the internal vote.Scalise will now take his candidacy to the House floor, where he will be up against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who Democrats nominated for Speaker on Tuesday night. The floor fight could get messy. Candidates need the support of a majority of the chamber to take control of the gavel and Republicans hold a razor-thin majority. McCarthy required 15 rounds of voting to secure the gavel.Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Bob Good (R-Va.), two of the eight who voted to oust McCarthy, didn't say Wednesda...

Jason Momoa coming to St. Louis County on vodka tour

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:26 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Jason Momoa is set to tour Missouri on October 17 and 18, with stops in Des Peres, Crestwood, and Chesterfield. He will be visiting the St. Louis area next week to promote Meili Vodka, a brand he co-founded.  The glass bottles are crafted from recycled materials. Their tour includes a visit to Missouri next week. Here are the details: October 17th from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. CDT at Schnucks (12332 Manchester Rd, Des Peres, MO 63131). October 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CDT at Dierbergs (9555 Watson Rd, Crestwood, MO 63126). October 18th from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm CDT at Total Wine & More (1781 Clarkson Rd, Chesterfield, MO 63017). The event is open to individuals aged 21 and older and is free of charge. Attendees have the opportunity to win an exclusive bottle of Meili Vodka, signed live by the co-founders. 

Why Taylor Swift, Beyoncé concert films are ineligible for Oscars documentary category

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:26 GMT

Jami Ganz | New York Daily NewsTaylor Swift and Beyoncé’s mega-world tours may have rocked economies and stages all summer long, but neither Grammy winner will be taking the Oscar stage on behalf of their upcoming concert films — even if they dominate the box office.Neither “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” (hitting North American theaters Friday), nor Beyoncé’s “Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce” (out Dec. 1), were digitally submitted for consideration in the documentary category by the Oct. 2 deadline, Variety reports.But even if the “Anti-Hero” songstress or “Cuff It” singer had ensured their flicks were submitted on time, current Academy guidelines would rule out either as technical or documentary contenders, according to the outlet.Whether either film is — as the Academy requires — “dealing creatively with cultural, artistic, historical, social, scientific, economic or other subjects” is unclear. But the Academy deems documentaries that are “essentially promotional or instructional” t...

States are trying to prop up the child care industry. It isn’t enough

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:26 GMT

Robbie Sequeira | Stateline.org (TNS)State efforts to prop up child care might spare some providers from the worst effects of last month’s expiration of pandemic-related aid — at least temporarily. But the unraveling of a system plagued by a lack of affordability and access, low wages, staffing turnover and burnout will continue, experts say.“The basic business model of child care, where it costs more to produce than parents can afford, is further complicated when there is a gap in the workforce where very few receive a reasonable pay for a demanding job,” said Linda Smith, director of the Early Childhood Initiative at the Bipartisan Policy Center think tank.“Child care has widely been seen as a classic example of market failure,” Smith said. “It’s worth understanding because it was bad before COVID, and it has gotten worse since then.”The 2021 American Rescue Plan Act included $24 billion to stabilize child care centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Child care providers used the mo...

Gas prices keep falling, but California now stands alone

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:26 GMT

Californians are enjoying a little more relief at the gas pump these days.Statewide, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded fell 3 cents on Wednesday to $5.73, according to the American Automobile Association. That's 24 cents lower than one week ago, when California drivers were paying nearly $6 per gallon on average.In the Los Angeles area, regular unleaded fell from $5.95 per gallon to $5.92 per gallon Wednesday, down 28 cents from last week. Why do Californians pay so much for gas? AAA says prices are falling nationwide due to “slack demand” and the falling cost of crude oil, which is now hovering near $82 per barrel.“Drivers are finally seeing some relief at the pump as the seasonal swoon picks up momentum,” said AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross.California Gas Prices (10/11/23)RegularMid-GradePremiumDieselCurrent Average$5.735$5.987$6.130$6.386Yesterday Avg.$5.765$6.018$6.158$6.401Week Ago Avg.$5.975$6.229$6.370$6.454Month Ago Avg.$5.439$5.635$5.798$6.097Year Ago Avg....

Jada Pinkett reveals Chris Rock asked her out years before Oscars slap

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:26 GMT

Before he was cracking jokes about her appearance and getting slapped, Chris Rock wanted to date Jada Pinkett Smith.The actress claimed he had asked her out amid rumors she and Will Smith were divorcing.She told PEOPLE this happened around the summer of 2016, about six years before Smith slapped him onstage at the 94th Academy Awards."I think every summer all the reports would come out that me and Will were getting a divorce. And this particular summer, Chris, he thought that we were getting a divorce," she explained. "So he called me and basically he was like, 'I'd love to take you out.' And I was like, 'What do you mean?' He was like, 'Well, aren't you and Will getting a divorce?' I was like, 'No. Chris, those are just rumors.' He was appalled. And he profusely apologized and that was that."Pinkett Smith said she hasn't spoken to Rock since that infamous slap on Oscar night, but told the outlet she hopes those involved can move on. “[Do I have] any desire to talk to Chris? Here's ...

2 Dead after Fiery Car Accident on Charleston Boulevard [Las Vegas, NV]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:26 GMT

Two Fatally Struck in Fiery Auto Accident on Westwind RoadLAS VEGAS, NV (October 11, 2023) – Late Saturday evening, a car accident on Charleston Boulevard resulted in the loss of two lives.Around 11:20 p.m. on September 30th, police responded to the incident near Westwind Road after receiving multiple dispatch calls.Police say a 2006 Chrysler 300 was racing eastward, attempting to overtake another vehicle when the driver lost control, careening off the road and colliding with a streetlamp post. Continuing east, the vehicle eventually collided with two parked cars near Tap House Bar, erupting into a fiery inferno.The impact trapped both the 18-year-old driver and the 60-year-old passenger inside the vehicle. Medical personnel arrived on the scene and extricated the occupants.Due to the severity of their injuries, they were pronounced dead by emergency crews. Currently, an active investigation is underway to gather additional information surrounding this devastating incident.In ...

Enrique Carrillo Arrested after Police-Vehicle Crash on Merle Haggard Drive [Oildale, CA]

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:26 GMT

Officer Injured in Pursuit Collision near Airport DriveOILDALE, CA (October 11, 2023) – Early Sunday, Enrique Carrillo was apprehended following a collision involving a police vehicle on Merle Haggard Drive.The incident transpired at approximately 1:10 a.m. in the vicinity of Airport Drive and Perkins Avenue. Law enforcement made an effort to initiate a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle, but the driver evaded the scene, eventually colliding with a KCSO deputy’s vehicle.The deputy reported that the suspect deliberately rammed his patrol car, resulting in significant damage to both vehicles. Ultimately, the 21-year-old driver, identified as Enrique Carrillo, surrendered to the officers. The deputy who was in the patrol car sustained minor injuries due to the collision. Currently, the California Highway Patrol is conducting an investigation into the crash.Thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination are essential in operating a vehicle safely. However, these are impaired w...

Israel forms unity government as strikes hammer Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:26 GMT

By Joseph Krauss and Wafaa Shurafa | Associated PressJERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a leading opposition figure on Wednesday created a war-time Cabinet overseeing the fight to avenge a stunning weekend attack by Hamas militants. In the sealed-off Gaza Strip ruled by Hamas, Palestinian suffering mounted as Israeli bombardment demolished neighborhoods and the territory’s only power plant ran out of fuel.The new war-time Cabinet establishes a degree of unity after years of bitterly divisive politics, and as the Israeli military appears increasingly likely to launch a ground offensive into Gaza.The Cabinet, which will focus only on issues of war, will consist of Netanyahu, Benny Gantz — a senior opposition figure and former defense minister — and current Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a statement released by Gantz said.The government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its militants stormed through a border fence Saturday and massacred...

GOP nominates Scalise to be the new House speaker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:51:26 GMT

By Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking | Associated PressWASHINGTON — Republicans nominated Rep. Steve Scalise on Wednesday to be the next House speaker and will now try to unite to elect the conservative in a floor vote after ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy from the job.In private balloting at the Capitol, House Republicans pushed aside Rep. Jim Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chairman, in favor of Scalise, the current majority leader, lawmakers said. The Louisiana lawmaker is seen as a hero to some after surviving a mass shooting on lawmakers at a congressional baseball game practice in 2017. He is now battling blood cancer.Republicans who have been stalemated after McCarthy’s historic removal last week will seek to assemble their narrow House majority around Scalise in what is certain to be a close vote of the full House. Democrats are set to oppose the Republican nominee.A floor vote of the whole House could come as soon as Wednesday afternoon.“I don’t know how the hell...