Merced County fire stations that were scheduled to close next week will keep their lights on – for now. In May, the Board of Supervisors voted to close McKee Fire Station 85 in the Merced area, along with Station 96 in Livingston. Those closures were scheduled to take place Oct....
Jury Awards Teen Pop Group OMG Girlz $71.5 Million in Battle With Toy Maker Over “L.O.L.” Dolls
NEW YORK — Toy maker MGA Entertainment must pay $71.5 million in damages for infringing on the name and likeliness of teen pop group OMG Girlz with one of its popular lines of dolls, a federal jury has decided. Monday's verdict hands a win to OMG Girlz — as well...
Coca-Cola Spiced Is Getting Canceled After 7 Months on the Market
Coca-Cola Co. is discontinuing its newest "permanent" flavor a little more than seven months after putting it on the market. The beverage giant said Wednesday that Coca-Cola Spiced and Coca-Cola Spiced Zero Sugar will be phased out and replaced with a new flavor that will be introduced next year. "We're...
Hezbollah Is Everyone’s Problem
Opinion by Bret Stephens on Sept. 24, 2024. In 2006, Hezbollah launched a guerrilla raid into Israel. It led to a 34-day war that devastated Lebanon, traumatized Israel, and concluded with a U.N. resolution that was supposed to disarm the terrorist militia and keep its forces far from the border....
As U.N. Meets, Israel Pounds Targets in Lebanon, Sending Civilians Fleeing
BEIRUT — Thousands fled their homes Tuesday as Israeli warplanes pounded more Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, in an offensive that has plunged the country into uncertainty over what Israel will do next and how the militant group might respond. The strikes came a day after a vast wave of Israeli...
C’mon Get Happy, Joker Is Back (This Time With Lady Gaga)
VENICE — "Joker" is a hard act to follow. Todd Phillips' dark, Scorsese-inspired character study about the Batman villain made over a billion dollars at the box office, won Joaquin Phoenix his first Oscar, dominated the cultural discourse for months and created a new movie landmark. It wasn't for everyone,...
Pac-12 Files Federal Lawsuit Against Mountain West Over $43 Million in ‘Poaching’ Penalties
SAN FRANCISCO - The Pac-12 is suing the Mountain West over what it calls an unlawful and unenforceable "poaching penalty" that would cost the rebuilding conference more than $40 million for adding Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State and San Diego State, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal...
Helene Becomes a Hurricane and Is Expected to Intensify as It Moves Toward Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Helene became a hurricane Wednesday after rapidly strengthening in the Caribbean Sea and moved north along Mexico's coast on a path toward the U.S., leading residents to evacuate, schools to close, and officials to declare emergencies in Florida and Georgia. The storm's center was near Mexico's Yucatan...
It’s Time to Roll Up Sleeves for New COVID, Flu Shots
WASHINGTON — Fall means it's time for just about everybody to get up to date on their flu and COVID-19 vaccines – and a lot of older adults also need protection against another risky winter virus, RSV. Yes, you can get your flu and COVID-19 shots at the same time....
Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw Is in ‘a Holding Pattern’ With No Current Plans to Face Hitters
LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw is in "a holding pattern" and there are currently no plans for the Dodgers' three-time Cy Young Award winner to face hitters as he tries to overcome a toe injury. No Improvement in Kershaw's Condition "I don't think there's been improvement," Los Angeles manager Dave...