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Michael Gambon, veteran actor who played Dumbledore in ‘Harry Potter’ films, dies at age 82

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:59:08 GMT

By SYLVIA HUI (Associated Press)LONDON (AP) — Michael Gambon, the Irish-born actor knighted for his illustrious career on the stage and screen and who went on to gain admiration from a new generation of moviegoers with his portrayal of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight “Harry Potter” films, has died. He was 82.The actor died on Wednesday following “a bout of pneumonia,” his publicist, Clair Dobbs, said Thursday.“We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside,” his family said in a statement.While the Potter role raised Gambon’s international profile and found him a huge audience, he had long been celebrated as one of Britain’s leading actors. His work spanned TV, theater, film and radio, and over the decades he starred in dozens of movies from “Gosford Park” a...

NOAA releases 2023-2024 winter predictions for San Diego

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:59:08 GMT

(WGHP) – For the first time in years, an El Niño winter is upon us. That means this year's winter outlook, release by the Climate Prediction Center, looks a little different than it has in several years.The last three winters have been dominated by La Niña, which typically means a dry winter in the southern half of the country and colder, wetter conditions in the Pacific Northwest. But that's not the case this year, as a strong El Niño looks very likely to stick with us through early next year. How will El Niño affect winter? New long-range outlook released NOAA outlook for winter temperaturesThis year the CPC, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is forecasting above-normal temperatures across the northern United States through the winter months. The best chance for a warmer-than-normal winter to occur in the Northeast, the Pacific Northwest and the upper Great Lakes states. For the southern half of the country, the temperature outlook for Decemb...

2 accused of false Alzheimer’s diagnoses get prison terms for fraud convictions

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:59:08 GMT

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A former director of an Ohio memory-loss clinic accused by dozens of patients of falsely diagnosing them with Alzheimer’s disease has been sentenced on federal fraud charges, along with her physician husband.Sherry-Ann Jenkins received nearly six years in prison on Tuesday, while Oliver Jenkins got a 41-month sentence. The couple was convicted in March on conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and health-care fraud charges after being indicted in May 2020.The U.S. Justice Department has said Sherry-Ann Jenkins was not trained or licensed to provide any medical care but presented herself as a doctor and billed patients for unneeded treatments.The indictment did not directly accuse the couple of falsely diagnosing her patients, but more than 60 people filed lawsuits beginning in 2017 that said Sherry-Ann Jenkins lied and told them they had Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.The patients said they spent months undergoing treatment while planning out their final yea...

Ukrainian junior golfer gains attention but war not mentioned by Team Europe at Ryder Cup

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:59:08 GMT

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy (AP) — The notes to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” in the European anthem rang out into the massive crowd assembled on the lawn at the Marco Simone Golf Club.The Frecce Tricolori acrobatic air team flew overhead leaving behind a stream in Italy’s colors of green, white and red.And European captain Luke Donald traded the traditional pleasantries with American counterpart Zach Johnson.But there was no mention of the conflict in Ukraine during the elaborate opening ceremony of the Ryder Cup on Thursday — even though Team Europe represents the war-torn country.There was a Ukrainian presence at the course outside Rome earlier, though, when 15-year-old Lev Grinberg was the youngest member of the Europe team that romped to a record 11-point victory over the United States in the Junior Ryder Cup.“We won the junior one but I also want to win the men’s one and I want to win all the four majors. And then I would satisfy my career,” the precocious Grinberg told The Associat...

Colleges should step up their diversity efforts after affirmative action ruling, the government says

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:59:08 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is asking America’s colleges to renew their efforts to make campuses more racially diverse, urging schools to boost scholarships and minority recruiting and to give “meaningful consideration” to the adversity students face because of their race or finances.The Education Department issued a report Thursday promoting strategies to increase diversity in the wake of a Supreme Court decision in June barring colleges from considering the race of applicants in the admission process. It fulfills a request from President Joe Biden to help colleges advance diversity without running afoul of the court’s decision.In announcing the report, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona called on state and local education leaders to “break down barriers for underserved students and reimagine pathways into higher education.”“Our future is brighter when we prepare students of all backgrounds to lead our multiracial democracy together,” Cardona said in a st...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs law to raise minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:59:08 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California fast food workers will be paid at least $20 per hour next year under a new law signed Thursday by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.When it takes effect on April 1, fast food workers in California will have among the highest minimum wages in the country, according to data compiled by the University of California-Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education. The state’s minimum wage for all other workers — $15.50 per hour — is already among the highest in the United States. Cheering fast food workers and labor leaders gathered around Newsom as he signed the bill at an event in Los Angeles.“This is a big deal,” Newsom said.Newsom’s signature on Thursday reflects the power and influence of labor unions in the nation’s most populous state, which have worked to organize fast food workers in an attempt to improve their wages and working conditions.It also settles — for now, at least — a fight between labor and business groups over how ...

Ex-MPP Randy Hillier’s request to move trial away from Ottawa denied

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:59:08 GMT

OTTAWA — A judge has denied a second request by former Ontario MPP Randy Hillier, who is facing charges related to his participation in the “Freedom Convoy” protest, to move his jury trial away from Ottawa.Hillier’s lawyer David Anber had argued that “widespread bias” against the 2022 protest, which disrupted the capital city’s downtown core for three weeks could taint the perspectives of jurors.Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne London-Weinstein says that although there is a probability of prejudice against Hillier in Ottawa, she is satisfied that legal safeguards will ensure he has a fair trial in the city.A summary of the judge’s decision also says that given the significant media attention paid to the embattled former politician’s case, a potential jury should be appropriately screened.Hillier, who represented an Ottawa-area riding from 2007 to 2022, is facing nine criminal charges related to his role in the demonstrations against...

Teddy Swims’ debut album is powered by toxic relationships and heartbreak

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:59:08 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — If you feel emotionally drained after listening to Teddy Swims’ debut album, “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1),” don’t worry — he understands.“I’m sure for anyone that’s not heartbroken, it’s probably exhausting. But there’s still upbeat and there’s fun (songs) — but everything that is also upbeat and fun is still very, very sad,” laughed the soulful singer, confirming it’s “absolutely” a heartbreak album. “But it’s helping me heal through a lot of things.”Irony has visited the 31-year-old during a time that should be among the most monumental of his life; Swims, who gained popularity by posting unique cover songs on YouTube, never imagined he’d be engulfed in a relationship severance while celebrating the release of his breakup-themed debut.“Our lives were very intertwined. And so, it’s quite nuts to have this come out at the same time this is all happening, and it’s all even more real to me now than it was when I was writing it, which is quite insan...

Lebanese police say US Embassy shooter was motivated by personal grudge against security guards

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:59:08 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese police said Thursday that a food delivery driver who opened fire outside the U.S. Embassy in Beirut last week allegedly did so because of a personal grudge against the guards at the compound.The police said they had arrested the suspected shooter on Monday, identifying him only by his initials M.K. and that he later confessed to the shooting. They cited an alleged confession by him saying he was upset as the guards had insulted him two months earlier, when he came to deliver an order.The Associated Press could not independently verify that claim.No one was hurt in the shooting in Beirut’s northeastern Christian suburb of Aukar, which left at least five bullet holes in the wall next to the embassy entrance.Police said that during the arrest, security forces confiscated an AK-47, a knife and the shooter’s food delivery motorcycle. The rifle was was allegedly hidden in a food delivery bag and the shooter changed his route to reach the U.S. Embassy compound ...

Police release video of suspects breaking into homes in search of key fobs

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:59:08 GMT

York Regional Police have released video surveillance as they search for a third suspect allegedly involved in residential break-and-enters targeting key fobs to commit auto thefts.Investigators say four suspects were arrested in June 2023. At the time, two men — identified as 21-year-old Jackson Lake of Richmond Hill and 21-year-old Christian Nunez-Garcia of London, Ont. — were charged with break-enter and theft crimes believed to be motivation to steal car keys or key fobs from inside homes.A third suspect remains wanted by police.In a news release, investigators said the vehicles of interest are often left in driveways overnight. On two occasions, the suspects targeted cars with their side mirrors extended, indicating they were unlocked.Surveillance footage from outside various homes shows the suspects at work. Police said once the perpetrators noticed that vehicles were unlocked, they would use the garage door opener to enter homes through the garage and obtain the k...