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Duct tape prom dress winner describes tedious work of making one-of-a-kind gown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

Just days after being crowned the winner of Duck Brand's national Stuck at Prom contest for her elegant and jaw-dropping duct tape gown, Karla Torres described the inspiration, attention to detail and the long, tedious task of making her winning dress a reality."Well, it took a lot of trial and error," Torres said during an appearance on the KTLA 5 Weekend Morning News. "My mom has a lot of like crafting machines, so maybe that gave us an advantage."Torres said the base of the dress is a petticoat and a deconstructed bra was critical in giving the dress its shape.A deconstructed bra was a critical part of the gown's design and shape, Karla Torres said. "Most of the part is using wax paper and then putting duct tape on top of it, which helped us with creating the whole gown," Torres said.The gown was inspired by 18th-century French art, with pastel colors and gold highlights. She stumbled onto her creative inspiration while visiting the Getty Museum."I took a field trip to the Getty ...

TikTok influencer raises money for family living in van during sweltering L.A. heat wave

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

A TikTok influencer with more than 3.5 million followers is using her large following to help out a man and his three kids who are living in their car in Los Angeles.Jackie Gansky is asking for community donations to help out Hugh, a single father originally from Belize, who has been struggling to make ends meet and facing homelessness with his kids aged 3, 5, and 6. Hugh and his children were living out of their van in the midst of a sweltering Southern California heat wave when Gansky first spoke to them. Upon meeting the vibrant family, she said she was compelled to help."Hugh spends his days begging for money on the street and stays up all night watching the kids sleep with a window cracked in the 90-110 degree heat," Gansky wrote in a verified Gofundme fundraiser. She described Hugh as "a bright soul" who is eager to work and is just trying to keep his kids healthy, safe and off the streets.His three kids have never attended school, Gansky said, and they are in need of medical ...

FedEx Driver Saves Man from Burning Vehicle after Single-Car Crash on Interstate 15 [San Diego, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

Good Samaritan Pulls Man from Burning Sedan near Highway 52SAN DIEGO, CA (July 26, 2023) – Early Wednesday morning, a FedEx driver saved a man from a fiery single-car crash on Interstate 15.The incident occurred around 2:55 a.m., on the southbound lanes of the freeway near Highway 52.For reasons under investigation, the male driver of a sedan slammed into a guardrail on the right shoulder of southbound I-15. Upon impact, the vehicle bursted into flames while the sole occupant was still inside.Shortly after, a passing FedEx truck driver stopped and pulled the man from the burning vehicle. Paramedics arrived and transported the man to Sharp Memorial Hospital with serious leg injuries.Following preliminary duties, officers do not believe that drugs or alcohol played a factor. Once available, further details will be provided about the single-car crash on Interstate 15.Operating a vehicle is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. Maintain focus on the road, and avoid di...

Whistleblower claims US is concealing UFO evidence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

By Nomaan Merchant | Associated PressWASHINGTON — The U.S. is concealing a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers unidentified flying objects, a former Air Force intelligence officer testified Wednesday to Congress. The Pentagon has denied his claims.Retired Maj. David Grusch’s highly anticipated testimony before a House Oversight subcommittee was Congress’ latest foray into the world of UAPs — or “unidentified aerial phenomena,” which is the official term the U.S. government uses instead of UFOs. While the study of mysterious aircraft or objects often evokes talk of aliens and “little green men,” Democrats and Republicans in recent years have pushed for more research as a national security matter due to concerns that sightings observed by pilots may be tied to U.S. adversaries.Grusch said he was asked in 2019 by the head of a government task force on UAPs to identify all highly classified programs relating to the task forceR...

How invasive—or effective—will Berkeley’s new license plate readers be?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

BERKELEY — Can a city tackle spikes in violent property crimes, auto thefts and traffic violations without violating privacy rights and increasing police enforcement stops that might be racially biased?Berkeley officials say they can walk that line with the upcoming installation of 52 license plate readers along the city’s busy streets and bustling public corridors, as part of a two-year pilot program to help the city’s understaffed police force investigate criminal activity.The technology — Automatic License Plate Readers or ALPRs — captures images of license plates, then cross-references them with law enforcement crime databases. Police are alerted when plates match descriptions of vehicles involved in active crimes or connected to missing person reports, according to police Sgt. Joe Ledoux.While similar readers are currently used in several Bay Area cities along freeways, bridges and many parking lots, the community was sharply divided during Tuesday’s Berkeley ...

How SF Giants could make history after promotion of top prospect Marco Luciano 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

The rookie movement has arrived in San Francisco, where the Giants called up yet another prospect on Wednesday.With the arrival of 21-year-old shortstop Marco Luciano, the organization’s top position player prospect and one of the best prospects in baseball, the Giants have a chance to make baseball history.Luciano is the sixth rookie position player to make his debut with the Giants this year. He joins Casey Schmitt, Patrick Bailey, Luis Matos, Brett Wisely and Blake Sabol. All six of them have a very good chance at acquiring at least 200 plate appearances with the Giants this year.If they do, and if the Giants maintain their position as a National League Wild Card team, they’d become the first team in MLB history to use six rookies with at least 200 plate appearances and still qualify for the postseason.According to Baseball Reference, the current record for most rookies with 200 PAs on a playoff team belongs to the 2005 Atlanta Braves, who debuted Wilson Betemit, Jeff Francoeur, ...

Mountain View: Il Fornaio ready to open its first new Bay Area restaurant in 7 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

The Marin County-based Italian dining group Il Fornaio is preparing to unveil its newest location — a spacious indoor/outdoor restaurant at The Village at San Antonio Center in Mountain View.Lunch, happy hour and dinner service will start Monday, July 31. It’s the first new Il Fornaio in the Bay Area since the Santa Clara Square location opened in 2016.In a departure from the classic Il Fornaio design featured at many NorCal locations, the group opted for a more casual and contemporary look for this eatery. Arcanum Architecture redesigned the space that was formerly home to Paul Martin’s American Grill. The 6,285-square-foot restaurant offers seating for 214 inside and 56 outside on the year-round patio, which is equipped with fire pits (and a dog-friendly policy).Pasta and pizza dough will be made fresh daily by the team headed by Il Fornaio’s executive chef, Roberto Gerbino, and local chef Davide De Falco.Leading off their long lineup of antipasti are Brusc...

There was a problem with Scott Shaw’s defense expert in SJSU athletic trainer’s criminal trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

SAN JOSE – Defense lawyers representing the former San Jose State athletic trainer accused of sexually assaulting female athletes suffered a setback on the first day presenting their case Tuesday when the federal judge ruled their expert witness was not qualified to testify “in the area of athletic trainers.”Further, the defense lawyers were unable to convince U.S. District Judge Beth Labson-Freeman that sports medicine doctor Brett DeGooyer from rural Washington knew enough about the individual allegations against Scott Shaw to determine whether the trainer’s treatment was legitimate, only whether it was “potentially legitimate.”The distinction could be key for a case that will rely on whether the eight-woman, four-man jury has reasonable doubt about whether Shaw is guilty of six federal charges when he touched female athletes under their bras and underwear during treatment sessions.Shaw, who resigned as Director of Sports Medicine at San Jose State in 2020, has pleaded not guilty ...

Trump drives Republicans efforts to impeach Biden

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

By Lisa Mascaro | Associated PressWASHINGTON — Donald Trump wants to see President Joe Biden impeached, and the former president’s allies in Congress and his 2024 GOP presidential rivals are eager to join that fight as his own legal challenges mount.Trump’s chief opponent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, this week said the House Republicans “are absolutely within their rights” to consider an impeachment inquiry against Biden. Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, also running for president, also said Republicans would be “justified to do it.” And House GOP leaders aligned with Trump are foreshadowing what’s ahead.“House Republicans will leave no stone unturned,” said Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, the fourth-ranking House GOP leader and a top Trump ally, who is sometimes mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick.This week, the prospect of impeaching Biden over the business dealings of his son, Hunter Biden, emerged from the far ...

Three-bedroom home sells in Oakland for $2 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:20 GMT

4331 Bridgeview Drive – Google Street ViewA 3,377-square-foot house built in 1936 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 4300 block of Bridgeview Drive in Oakland was sold on June 14, 2023. The $1,960,000 purchase price works out to $580 per square foot. This two-story house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Additionally, the house provides a garage. Nestled on a spacious 5,070-square-foot lot, this property boasts a pool.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:In August 2022, a 1,288-square-foot home on Clemens Road in Oakland sold for $1,472,000, a price per square foot of $1,143. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Leimert Boulevard, Oakland, in April 2023, a 3,040-square-foot home was sold for $2,300,000, a price per square foot of $757. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,219-square-foot home on the 1800 block of Clemens Road in Oakland sold in June 2022, for $2,285,000, a price per square foot of $1,030. The home has 3 bedrooms and ...