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Tragic Collision: Wrong-Way Driver Kills Paramedic, Disputes Controversial Toxicology Report

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Inset: Sunshine Perez (Broward County Jail). Background: The aftermath of the crash on the Turnpike in Miramar, Florida, showing the ruined front of a Honda Civic hit by Perez. (WTVJ).

In a grave reminder of the perils of impaired driving, a Florida woman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after her reckless actions left a paramedic dead. The tragic incident unfolded when she drove the wrong way on a highway and collided with the young man’s Honda Civic.

Sunshine Perez, aged 46, accepted responsibility for her actions, pleading guilty to charges of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide in the heartbreaking death of 23-year-old Ezekiel Urrutia. On Friday, a judge handed her a two-decade prison term, emphasizing the severity of her crime.

The catastrophic event took place in the early hours of January 9, 2025. As Perez traveled south in the northbound lanes on Florida’s Turnpike near Miramar, she drove for at least two miles before striking Urrutia’s vehicle in a devastating head-on collision.

First responders arriving at the scene pronounced Urrutia dead, marking a tragic end to a promising life. Investigations later revealed that Perez’s blood alcohol content was nearly double the legal limit, and she displayed visible signs of intoxication, such as bloodshot eyes and the scent of alcohol. Moreover, a toxicology report uncovered the presence of THC, methamphetamine, and oxycodone in her system, painting a grim picture of impairment and its deadly consequences.

But Perez claimed the toxicology report was wrong.

“I was working, and when I got off of work, I went to one of my friends’ house, I had a drink, and I said my back was hurting, and I took what I thought was medication,” she said, according to a courtroom report from local NBC affiliate WTVJ. “Then I later found out in a toxicology report that there were things in my system that I do not do.”

While sobbing through her statement to the court, she poked fun of her first name and apologized to the victim’s family.

“Again, I struggle with knowing that my two hands caused so much trouble to a family. I mean, come on with a name like Sunshine, you expect that to be a happy, bubbly person which I typically am, but now it’s like a rain cloud over this family and anyone who knew him,” Perez said, per CBS affiliate WFOR.

Urrutia’s family said he was set to be hired as a paramedic for the City of Miami at the time of his death.

“In a single moment, Sunshine Perez put an end to everything,” his father Frank Urrutia told the court. “Absolutely no words can describe when two Florida Highway Patrol detectives came to our front door.”

The victim’s mother, Tiffany Urrutia, spoke about all the milestones she will miss with her son.

“I was supposed to watch my child grow up,” she said. “I was supposed to hold his children and spoil them and watch the life that he worked hard to build. Instead, I watched the news and his body in a bag next to his car.”

The post Woman drove wrong way down highway, slammed into car killing paramedic, then claimed toxicology report showed drugs she did not use first appeared on Law & Crime.

Shocking Tragedy: TikTok Star Accuser and Estranged Husband Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide

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In a shocking turn of events, popular TikTok influencer Sara Gilson, who went by the name Sara Duffey on the platform, was found dead alongside her husband in an apparent murder-suicide. This tragic incident unfolded weeks after Sara publicly accused her husband of being a pedophile through a viral video post.

Recently, Sara filed for a protective order against her 48-year-old husband, Jeremiah “Shawn” Duffey. On July 11, she shared a TikTok video with the impactful caption, “Preparing for when Netflix drops a documentary about my soon to be ex-husband who I just found out is a pedophile.” As of Saturday, the video remained visible to her followers.

Sara Gilson sits while a text overlay reads:

In her TikTok post, Gilson accused Duffey of inappropriate conduct with a minor, leading to escalating tensions between the couple. (TikTok/ @mrsgilson)

A mere 13 days after the unsettling video went live, police responded to a distress call at the home of the 41-year-old influencer on July 24. Upon arrival, officers discovered both Gilson and Duffey had died from what appeared to be gunshot wounds, as reported by local news station KTUL.

An extended family member identified the deceased as Sara and her husband Shawn, claiming that he likely forced entry into her home before taking both their lives. Police confirmed their identities but withheld confirmation of a murder-suicide, according to local outlet KRMG.

Police insisted there was no threat to the public at this time, according to KRMG.

Sara Gilson is shown next to police lights.

Police found Sara Gilson and Jeremiah “Shawn” Duffey dead after responding to a domestic call at her home, according to local reports. (TikTok/ @mrsgilson; Ajax9, iStock via Getty Images)

Authorities also said that the 911 call came from a juvenile in the house, the local media outlets reported.

Duffey had been ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from Gilson as part of her June 10 protective order against him.

On the same day she filed her protective order, another woman filed for a separate protective order against Duffey after he was allegedly spotted “kissing and fondling” her 15-year-old daughter, who played on the youth basketball team Duffey coached, according to The Oklahoman.

Duffey had allegedly been sending the girl inappropriate messages and had given her money “to keep her quiet,” the outlet reported.

After the coach was allegedly spotted with the girl, a report had been filed to the Owasso Police Department.

Sara Gilson faces the camera while a text overlay reads:

Gilson posted a TikTok video, following the format of a popular trend, in which she alleged her estranged husband was a “pedophile.” (TikTok/ @mrsgilson)

Gilson had also filed two previous protective orders against Duffey, though both were dismissed after Gilson failed to appear at the hearings, People reported.

Gilson and Duffey had reportedly shared children of their own.

News Media contacted the Owasso Police Department for confirmation and further details.

Sepp Kuss Narrowly Escapes Death in Heart-Stopping Tour de France Cliff Incident

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In a hair-raising moment at the Tour de France, American cyclist Sepp Kuss found himself entangled in netting, narrowly averting a perilous plummet down a cliffside.

Amid a fierce competition for the Stage 20 triumph, Kuss misjudged a sharp right turn as he led during the race’s final four kilometers. His bicycle skidded across three lanes, colliding with a barrier that stood between the road and the sheer mountainside. Miraculously, he landed on his shorts, supported by the safety netting.

However, video analysis reveals how close Kuss came to disaster. A mere few inches further, and the netting ends—highlighting the split-second timing that prevented him from a dangerous descent down the mountain.

Commentator Matt Stephens from TNT Sports reflected on the incident, noting that the protective barrier “potentially saved his life.”

“This was a moment that could have been fatal,” Stephens remarked. “Beyond that net, there’s a deadly drop. The race organizers made a crucial safety decision.”

It was the second crash of the stage for the Colorado native Kuss, who also slipped inside a dark, wet tunnel.

Sepp Kuss during the 20th stage of the Tour de France on July 25, 2026.

Sepp Kuss during the 20th stage of the Tour de France on July 25, 2026. YOAN VALAT/EPA/Shutterstock

Sepp Kuss after the 20th stage of the Tour de France on July 25, 2026.

Sepp Kuss after the 20th stage of the Tour de France on July 25, 2026. Pierre Teyssot/Shutterstock

“I was so on the limit, I misjudged the corner a bit,” Kuss said to the Tour’s media team. ‘First in the tunnel, and then after that I was still trying to make up too much time. It was a bit scary. Sorry to my wife and my family watching at home! That’s racing.”

A bloodied Kuss remounted his bike and finished third in the stage.

Kuss said that he wasn’t “entirely clear-headed.”

“I wasn’t too scared,” he told France Télévisions. “I thought I’d read the right line. Luckily, there were nets.

There have been four deaths in the history of the Tour de France, including the last in 1995 when Italian Olympic gold medalist Fabio Castarelli sustained a fatal head injury during a high-speed crash in the 15th Stage.

Tragedy to Justice: Parade Attacker Fatally Ends in Final Showdown

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A terrorist connected to ISIS, responsible for a deadly attack at a Pride parade, has been fatally shot. The attacker, of Lebanese-German descent, claimed one life and left 29 others injured during this violent episode.

The incident occurred when Abdul Ballout drove a van through Berlin’s annual Christopher Street Day Pride parade on Saturday, targeting the celebratory crowd with malice.

On Sunday, German news outlets confirmed the 21-year-old’s death, revealing that he was killed during a police operation at a garden complex in Spandau, located in the western part of Berlin.

According to the police, Ballout allegedly charged at officers wielding a weapon. In response, the Special Operations Command, known as SEK Berlin, was compelled to open fire.

A police spokesperson noted that, despite the swift application of emergency medical procedures, the suspect could not be revived and died on the scene.

The force said it is ‘not currently looking for others’ in connection with the attack.

Officials had launched a largescale manhunt for the terrorist, who had previously tried to join the Islamic State (IS) group. 

Police sources, quoted by German media, said Abdul B, a German citizen, had travelled to Lebanon in 2025 in an unsuccessful attempt to join the IS group.

Abdul Ballout has been shot and killed, according to German media. It comes after he rammed a van into a crowd at Berlin's annual Christopher Street Day Pride parade on Saturday

Abdul Ballout has been shot and killed, according to German media. It comes after he rammed a van into a crowd at Berlin’s annual Christopher Street Day Pride parade on Saturday

Police officers with automatic weapons are seen in an allotment complex in the western Spandau district of Berlin on Sunday

Police officers with automatic weapons are seen in an allotment complex in the western Spandau district of Berlin on Sunday

German media reported on Sunday that the 21-year-old had been shot and killed during a police operation at the complex

German media reported on Sunday that the 21-year-old had been shot and killed during a police operation at the complex

He had been in pre-trial detention until May 2026, and was ordered to take part in a de-radicalisation programme. 

In an update this afternoon, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed the number of people injured had risen from 16 to 29, three of whom have suffered life-threatening injuries.

He said ‘everything we are seeing here indicates that we have experienced an Islamist attack’.

Mr Dobrindt said the suspect ‘rammed into a crowd with a car’ and ‘then attacked the crowd with some type of blade, it might have been a machete, and also severely injured those people’.

The minister said: ‘We cannot rule out the possibility that further terrorist attacks might take place.’

Mr Dobrindt added that Abdul B was born in Germany in 2005 and has a Lebanese background. His mother became a naturalised German citizen in 2002. 

This May, he was convicted in Germany of ‘preparing a serious act of subversive violence,’ the papers report, but according to Spiegel news magazine, Abdul B received a suspended sentence.

According to Bild newspaper, he was arrested in Lebanon while attempting to join IS and sent back to Germany as he is a German citizen.

The Citroen Spacetourer used in the attack in Tiergarten park is removed from the crash scene by police

The Citroen Spacetourer used in the attack in Tiergarten park is removed from the crash scene by police

Berliners gather at Brandenburg Gate after a deadly incident in which a vehicle crashed into a crowd celebrating Pride

Berliners gather at Brandenburg Gate after a deadly incident in which a vehicle crashed into a crowd celebrating Pride 

People comfort each other in fas they gather on July 26, 2026 in front of the Brandenburg Gate for a 'community mourning'

People mourn together in front of a rainbow flag as they gather on July 26, 2026, at the Brandenburg Gate

A woman wipes away tears as she attends the memorial site commemorating the victims near the scene where a car rammed into a crowd

A woman wipes away tears as she attends the memorial site commemorating the victims near the scene where a car rammed into a crowd

Police form a perimeter around the vehicle which crashed into a crowd near Berlin's annual Christopher Street Day Pride parade on Saturday

Police form a perimeter around the vehicle which crashed into a crowd near Berlin’s annual Christopher Street Day Pride parade on Saturday

Police officers secure the area at an allotment garden complex in the Berlin suburb of Spandau

Police officers secure the area at an allotment garden complex in the Berlin suburb of Spandau

The force said it is 'not currently looking for others' in connection with the attack after Abdul Ballout was shot and killed

The force said it is ‘not currently looking for others’ in connection with the attack after Abdul Ballout was shot and killed

An emergency vehicle at the site of an allotment garden complex in the Berlin suburb of Spandau

An emergency vehicle at the site of an allotment garden complex in the Berlin suburb of Spandau

Spiegel reported that a few weeks ago there was a tip-off that Abdul B had posted a photo online posing with a weapon. 

However, a search of his apartment turned up only a toy replica. Police had been deployed to the suspect’s alleged address, around one kilometre south of the scene of the attack.

Following Saturday’s attack, Berlin’s mayor, Kai Wegner, said: ‘This was an attack on all of us. It was an attack on our way of life and coexistence… and our way of life. Ladies and gentlemen, this must end. We must be very clear about this.’

Police and prosecutors said the suspect was believed to have injured several people with a moving vehicle before one or more people left the van.

Several people were also apparently stabbed, they added.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the incident as ‘an attack on our society’.

‘What an abhorrent act in Berlin,’ Merz wrote in a post on X. He added that Germany loves freedom, ‘and we will preserve and defend that’.

The attack unfolded near the city’s annual Pride celebrations on Saturday evening, triggering a major emergency response and prompting authorities to launch a large-scale manhunt.

Police have not yet disclosed a motive but are investigating the incident as a suspected extremist attack.

According to police, a white van drove into the Tiergarten park around 10pm and hit several people before colliding with a tree.

The closing party at the Pride festival, known as Christopher Street Day, was going on nearby at the time, following a parade with some 80 trucks that had made its way through downtown Berlin earlier in the day.

Julian Miethig, who had attended the LGBTQ+ party earlier, said he had just wanted to go to an afterparty when he heard from a friend that ‘something bad happened’.

He said he went to Tiergarten and was shocked that something like this could have happened at Berlin’s Pride celebrations. ‘It’s a dark day for the community,’ he added.

The Pride event next to the Brandenburg Gate was called off around 10:15pm and a band’s performance on stage was interrupted.

Organisers of the Christopher Street Day pride celebrations in Berlin have cancelled a further two events following the attack.

Hundreds of thousands of people had come to Berlin to be at one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations on Saturday, although it is unclear how many were still at the festival by late evening.

The word ‘Evacuation’ was displayed in bright colours on a large screen near the Brandenburg Gate, as people were urged to go home and to avoid taking the route through the Tiergarten park, with an Instagram post instructing them to leave in an ‘orderly manner’.

‘Please avoid the Victory Column and the Tiergarten. Leave the area in the direction of the main train station,’ the post read.

Little Debbie’s Timeless Treats: A Sweet Legacy Endures

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In the throes of the Great Depression, a humble snack once priced at just 5 cents has transformed into one of the top-selling products for Little Debbie, maintaining its popularity over the span of more than 90 years.

Pioneering the line of Little Debbie snack cakes, the Oatmeal Creme Pie was first created in 1935 by O.D. McKee. His entrepreneurial journey began with a small operation selling baked goods from the rear of his 1928 Whippet, as recounted on the company’s official site.

According to their historical records, in 1934, the McKee family took a significant step by acquiring a bakery in the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, using their family automobile as financial leverage.

“Faced with financial hardships, the family resorted to hanging a sheet at the back of the bakery to carve out a living space,” the company’s history notes.

By the 1960s, Little Debbie, named in honor of McKee’s granddaughter, had firmly established itself as a beloved brand in the American snack food market.

Oatmeal Creme Pies are “the snack that started it all!” Little Debbie’s website proclaims.

“Oatmeal Creme Pies have been satisfying families since 1960 as the very first snack baked under the Little Debbie brand name,” the website’s product description says. “Whole grain oats, molasses and irresistible crème filling combine to create this classic treat.”

The original family packs of baked goods contained the Oatmeal Creme Pie and were sold for 49 cents a carton.

“After its initial introduction, more than 14 million cakes were sold within 10 months,” Little Debbie’s website says. “While the Oatmeal Creme Pie was the original Little Debbie snack cake, there were 14 different varieties by 1964, including the ever-popular Nutty Buddy wafer bars and Swiss Cake Roll.”

Little Debbie has rolled out various iterations of the Oatmeal Creme Pie, including Oatmeal Creme Pie Ice Cream Sandwiches and Oatmeal Creme Pie Ice Cream Bars. Home bakers have also created many copycat versions of the iconic snack.

Today, McKee Foods, still based in Tennessee, describes itself as “America’s largest family bakery.”

The company produces more than 75 Little Debbie products. Oatmeal Creme Pies, along with Swiss Rolls and Nutty Buddy wafer bars, remain the company’s most popular items. More than 200 million cartons of these three products are sold each year.

Little Debbie continues as a family-run company, and Little Debbie herself is still involved. The fourth generation of the McKee family is learning the business, and Debbie McKee-Fowler serves as chair of the McKee Foods Board of Directors.

The company is “honored” by the success of the Oatmeal Creme Pie and the brand’s other products, McKee Foods said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

“Our success ultimately means we are delivering a product that people genuinely love,” the company said. “The Oatmeal Creme Pie, for instance, has been a part of family gatherings and shared moments with friends for over 60 years. Being family-run keeps us grounded in our core values.”

Oatmeal Creme Pies have stood the test of time, according to McKee Foods, because the flavor appeals to many different demographics and generations.

“The spiced cookies are nostalgic of a home-baked oatmeal cookie, and the sweet crème middle adds extra whimsy to the product for younger consumers. It’s a little treat that isn’t polarizing.”

A customer recently relayed a story to McKee Foods that the company said captures the essence of how the Oatmeal Creme Pie is often associated with fond memories. The customer would eat an Oatmeal Creme Pie every time he went fishing with his grandfather. 

“Today, every time he eats an Oatmeal Creme Pie, it instantly brings back the good memories of those fishing trips,” the company said. “That powerful sense of nostalgia and comfort is what makes our products so much more than just a snack for so many people.”

William and King Urged to Unite After Prince Harry Visits

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A royal commentator suggests that the key to the Royal Family’s stability lies in Prince William and King Charles collaboratively managing Prince Harry’s visits. The Prince of Wales reportedly has reservations about how Harry’s presence could impact the positive public image and crucial initiatives of the monarchy.

According to author Richard Fitzwilliams, who spoke with the Daily Mail, King Charles is likely eager to maintain a connection with his distant grandchildren, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, who reside in Montecito. Meanwhile, his successor exhibits a more cautious stance.

“A dispute between King Charles and Prince William would be the monarchy’s worst nightmare,” Fitzwilliams stressed, emphasizing the combined significance of the King and William’s familial unit to the monarchy’s continuity.

Despite the King’s understandable desire to engage with his grandchildren and the Sussexes’ personal silence, indirect communications continue to emerge, indicating ongoing tension.

Future plans clearly involve more visits, with the Sussexes keen for their children to spend time with their grandfather. Efficient arrangements for these visits, especially concerning hospitality and security, are expected to improve going forward.

In turn, Richard added, it may result in the King’s possible attendance at next year’s Invictus Games in Birmingham.

‘After all, he is the head of the armed forces and it undeniably is a valuable military charity.’

The expert also shared: ‘William showed public disdain for his (wayward) brother by playing polo with Catherine’s support on the day the Sussexes met the King and Queen.

‘If this was a one-off, few could object.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, author Richard Fitzwilliams said that while the King most likely wants to connect with his grandchildren Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five - who are an ocean away in Montecito - the heir is more wary

Speaking to the Daily Mail, author Richard Fitzwilliams said that while the King most likely wants to connect with his grandchildren Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five – who are an ocean away in Montecito – the heir is more wary

‘However, it is clearly part of a strategy. Harry and Meghan’s royal links mean everything, and Harry is wonderful with children.

‘Whilst appreciating his father’s approach, William is likely to be concerned about the effects of future visits. These are likely to overshadow the valuable work the monarchy is doing in the media.

‘It would be best if they happened privately with no one knowing and great progress might then be made, though that does not tend to be the Sussexes’ way.

‘Also, the idea of a form of “half in half out”, which Queen Elizabeth rejected, could be revived, according to reports, but it might be difficult to agree how this could be handled in practice.’

Richard stressed, however, that William and Charles must present a united front as the King’s future relationship with Harry progresses.

‘When there are disputes between families, reconciliation should always be welcomed. However, it often comes at a cost,’ he explained.

‘The Royal Family will bear in mind that the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death is coming up and Netflix would clearly like first refusal on anything the Sussexes were involved in to commemorate this.

The Royal Family's future relies on William and Charles having a 'joint approach' when it comes to Harry's visits, a royal expert has claimed. Harry in Birmingham earlier this month

The Royal Family’s future relies on William and Charles having a ‘joint approach’ when it comes to Harry’s visits, a royal expert has claimed. Harry in Birmingham earlier this month

Richard stressed, however, that William and Charles must present a united front as the King's future relationship with Harry progresses. William and Kate at the polo during Harry's visit

Richard stressed, however, that William and Charles must present a united front as the King’s future relationship with Harry progresses. William and Kate at the polo during Harry’s visit

‘There is a lot to play for and obviously we must hope one of the world’s most public family disputes is gradually resolved.

‘However, it is essential for the future of the monarchy that the King and Prince William agree a joint approach – both publicly and privately – on how this should be handled.

‘The optics of the way the King and William are handling this issue are fuelling reports, backed up by royal author Tina Brown last September, of serious divisions between them.

‘Since it is essential for the future of the monarchy that they speak with one voice on substantive issues, this is damaging for the monarchy and confusing for the public.’

He added: ‘Since the institution cannot afford deep divisions between them, perhaps Queen Camilla and Catherine will play a part in ensuring that, even if their priorities are different from the Sussexes’, that they present a more united front publicly.

‘If it was ensured that future visits by the Sussexes were private, that would obviously help.’

Ms Brown also said that Charles’s ‘alternation from his exasperating younger son is a constant heartache, made more painful by the fact that his paternal relationship with William, who was staunchly against his visit, is civil at best’.

She also suggested that ‘many in William’s camp considered the Highgrove rapprochement a reward for Harry’s manipulation and emotional blackmail’.

Karen Bass Tackles ‘Graffiti Towers’ Cleanup in Downtown L.A.

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Two neglected skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles, often referred to as the “graffiti towers,” are finally undergoing a much-needed revitalization. However, Mayor Karen Bass is facing criticism for allowing the site to become a glaring representation of the city’s urban decay.

Detractors point to these skyscrapers as a clear indication of the city’s decline, highlighting issues such as homeless encampments, pervasive litter, rampant illegal drug use, and a general neglect of public nuisances under her leadership.

One particular news outlet delivered a harsh critique of Mayor Bass, who governs the United States’ second-largest city, only surpassed by New York.

“She let criminals run riot over $1bn skyscraper development for YEARS. Now LA’s mayor has the audacity to hail the clean-up of city’s infamous ‘graffiti towers,’” declared the Daily Mail in their Sunday headline.

The ambitious Oceanwide project began over a decade ago when a Chinese company, Oceanwide Holdings, acquired the plot opposite the Crypto.com Arena for a staggering $1.2 billion.

An aerial view of colorful graffiti spray-painted an abandoned real estate project in downtown Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The company planned luxury condos and a hotel on the site. However, work ceased in 2019 after the Chinese government cut back on overseas investments and Oceanwide ran out of funds.

The city has attempted to solve the matter in bankruptcy court, as the desolate towers remained empty for years while vandals scaled the structure and covered the development with floor after floor of huge tags.

The site also became a destination for thrill seekers who filmed stunts like base jumping and tightrope walking, resulting in dozens of arrests, news outlets have reported.

According to the Mail:

Mayor Karen Bass enhanced a police presence in the area and blocked off access to the towers in 2024, but the development stood as a visual reminder of LA’s economic woes. Signs of hope for an end to the madness came earlier this month when the city withdrew its objections to a modified bankruptcy plan proposed by a new buyer. Although the site was initially bought for $1.2 billion, the new buyer purchased the towers for $470 million.

With the incumbent mayor trying to hold onto her post in November’s general election against upstart city councilwoman Nithya Raman, Bass appears to be focusing on quality of life conditions that have led to the city’s decline for the past two decades.

“Oceanwide Plaza sits at the center of one of Downtown Los Angeles’ most important economic corridors, linking the Convention Center, Crypto.com Arena, LA LIVE, and the broader South Park district,” Bass said in a statement earlier in the week.

She continued, “Completing this project is about far more than finishing a building. It’s about restoring confidence, reconnecting a vital commercial corridor, and unlocking the economic potential of one of the city’s most strategic destinations ahead of a transformative decade for Los Angeles.”

Officials have been under pressure to clean up the streets ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the city’s widespread street blight the leading issue in Spencer Pratt’s unsuccessful mayoral primary campaign.

KPC Development Co emerged as a potential buyer of the structures earlier this year, with the properties previously developing commercial properties in California and India.

Despite its interest to develop the towers into a hotel and residential structure, the sale had been stalled in bankruptcy court since April as the city struggled to agree on terms, according to the Mail.

“City attorneys withdrew their objections on Monday, conceding that KPC had agreed to ‘meaningful improvements’ that serve the interests of downtown residents,” the Mail reported.

Among the terms of the agreement was the immediate removal of graffiti within 30 days.

– contributor Lowell Cauffiel is the best-selling author of the Los Angeles crime novel Below the Line and nine other crime novels and nonfiction titles. See lowellcauffiel.com for more.

Discovering Chicago: A Hub for Innovative American Medical Cures

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Could a staggering $750 billion investment unlock the door to remedies for life-altering conditions like diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and various types of cancer? Lou Weisbach, a proactive Chicago entrepreneur, is wholeheartedly convinced of this potential. He leads the charge as a co-founder of The American Center for Cures, an ambitious project with monumental goals.

Their bold agenda seeks to assemble the funds and allocate them across 16 specialized teams tasked with focusing on these debilitating diseases. With a significant career history including a stint in the Bill Clinton administration, Weisbach is no stranger to initiatives of grand scale and importance.

“My journey with this began more than two decades ago with Dr. Rick Boxer, currently serving on the National Cancer Advisory Board,” Weisbach recalled. “We posed a straightforward, albeit ambitious question: If we genuinely aimed to conquer Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and breast cancer, what steps would be indispensable? Armed with just a blank page, we sketched out every conceivable action, only to realize that the existing framework back then—and even today—lacks the capacity to achieve these paramount goals.”

Back when the idea first emerged, attempts to pass supportive legislation hit a brick wall.

“The dynamics shifted recently, somewhat unexpectedly, due to changes under Donald Trump’s administration,” Weisbach explained. “Cuts to research funding served as a wake-up call, galvanizing American researchers to reconsider our proposal. It’s about having the U.S. Treasury sell $750 billion in bonds, with plans to issue $125 billion annually. The initial year’s interest cost would be $6 billion, increasing to $12 billion the following year. Imagine instilling hope in every American battling such diseases by assuring them that a dedicated team is working tirelessly, with minimal fiscal impact. Amidst our current national divisiveness, here’s a cause that unites us all, as everyone has felt the pain of watching loved ones suffer. Now there’s a strategy poised to make a difference,” Weisbach expressed with conviction. With resources and expertise synced, he believes progress could be swift, adding, “It’s time to seize every opportunity, and I’m confident the American Center for Cures is a step in the right direction.”

Part 1:

Could $750 billion lead to cures for diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s and many forms of cancer?

Part 2:

Could $750 billion lead to cures for diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s and many forms of cancer?

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Illegal Migration Backlash in South Africa: A Global Parallel

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In a mass exodus, more than 160,000 undocumented immigrants have departed from South Africa amid rising public demonstrations. Thousands of South African citizens have taken to the streets, demanding that foreigners leave the country, with frustration growing over the government’s management of border controls. This discontent echoes sentiments seen across Western nations.

A local South African organization has reported the staggering figure of up to 30 million undocumented immigrants residing in the nation. This number stands in stark contrast to South Africa’s documented populace of approximately 63 million. These undocumented immigrants are frequently blamed for escalating crime rates, seizing employment opportunities, and overwhelming public hospitals and educational institutions.

In areas such as Soweto, near Johannesburg, some groups have gone so far as to visit homes, issuing deadlines for immigrants to leave. Earlier this month, Reuters reported the arrest of 900 individuals during a day marked by nationwide protests. Although protests were largely conducted peacefully, some regions experienced violent outbreaks that necessitated police intervention. Tragically, one fatality was reported in the Johannesburg vicinity.

Anti-migrants protest in South Africa

During a demonstration in Pinetown, south of Durban, protesters from the March and March movement brandished banners and chanted slogans on July 16, 2026. (Rajesh Jantilal/AFP via Getty Images)

In response, some undocumented immigrants have opted to leave by bus or have been repatriated on flights organized by their home countries across Africa. On a June flight bound for Ghana, South African border authorities discovered that 321 out of 332 Ghanaians attempting to leave Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport were undocumented residents.

Up to five immigrants have been killed by protesters so far this year, but the most prominent anti-immigrant civic group in South Africa, the March and March movement, claims that it is against violence. It is their followers who march the country’s streets, often with large traditional sticks called knobkerries, “encouraging” foreigners to leave.

Their founder and leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, told News Media, “We’ve had enough,” claiming the number of illegal immigrants living in South Africa is “between 15 and 30 million, and that’s an arguable number because everyone is always debating what the actual number is.”

Illegal migrants South Africa

Undocumented migrants line up near a bus at the Durban Drive In in Durban, on June 29, 2026, preparing to leave before the camp will shut down and the operation will be transferred to the border with Zimbabwe. South Africans President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed on June 25 to crush any attempts to destabilize the nation during planned anti-immigrant marches next week, amid a wave of xenophobia.  (Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images)

The number 30 million is contentious. The only official published figures are from a census taken in 2022 by Statistics SA, queried by some critics because the organization is controlled by the ANC government, under attack for reportedly causing the illegal immigration crisis and therefore seen to be benefiting from low statistics. The body claims there are up to 3 million immigrants in the country, but Ngobese-Zuma points out this figure includes people who have documents “they’re just using the numbers from those who were admitted to being in the country legally.”

Immigrants have frequently been seen running away when requested by officials, including Stats SA officials, to show their documents. The head of Statistics SA, Risenga Maluleke, even admitted to the local Eyewitness News that his officials don’t check information on the occasions that they can find immigrants, saying “when people say I was born outside South Africa, we take what they say because we have not had a way of proving it other than relying on what they say.”

fire in middle of street protest

Protesters start a fire in the streets of Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 30, 2026. (Reuters)

Ngobese-Zuma added, “The country is being invaded, and we decided to do something about it. There’s too much crime going on at the hands of foreign nationals. The actual truth is that a lot of them go unfound because nobody knows who they are. They’re not on record. Their fingerprints are not on the system. So there [are] a lot of cases actually that are outstanding when it comes to the issue of illegal immigrants.”

Statistics South Africa recently reported that the official unemployment rate for the country is 32.7%. Yet almost all illegal immigrants have found work here, with the country’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, admitting to the nation in a televised address last month, “Some employers hire undocumented immigrants because they pay them wages that are well below the minimum wage and make them work longer hours without due compensation.”

DHS ISSUES $84B IN FINES TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS UNDER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

This led March and March’s Ngobese-Zuma to say, “The issue of jobs is also very important. In our community, where there’s the highest unemployment in the world, it only makes sense that South Africans are out there demanding that they be prioritized when it comes to employment.”

Several reports claim that in a local Johannesburg government hospital, built to offer practically free care to South Africa’s citizens, patients, even in the ER, have to wait up to 36 hours to be seen, because so many foreigners come to the hospital and use the facilities. At least one patient has died waiting to be seen at the Helen Joseph hospital, near to the center of the city.

Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma leads a demonstration in Mtwalume, south of Durban, on July 9, 2026. (Rajesh Jantilal/AFP via Getty Iamges)

Ngobese-Zuma pointed out, “We have a welfare (health and education) system in the country, and currently people are flocking in from all over the African continent and the world to come and take advantage of these free things that they think are free when it’s actually taxpayers that are paying for it.”

Border controls are so lax that it’s said hundreds of thousands have simply waded across low rivers in some cases to enter South Africa, with crocodiles a bigger problem than police or immigration officials. Bribery and corruption at border posts is endemic. But following the public outcry, and perhaps significantly with local elections coming up, President Ramaphosa has now vowed to “crack down” on immigration issues. As of July 11, the government claims a total of 53,449 foreign nationals have been processed for deportation and repatriation. 

This represents less than 0.2% of the illegal immigrants said to be in the country by March and March. Public pressure groups, and politicians such as Herman Mashaba, are calling on the government to do much, much more. Mashaba is president of Action SA, a small but campaigning party in South Africa’s parliament that has been battling illegal immigration for 10 years.

Mashaba told News Media, “Action SA is deeply frustrated by the government’s weak and reactionary response to South Africa’s immigration crisis, which is ultimately the consequence of three decades of ANC (the ruling party) failure to secure our borders,”

crowds of marchers walk through street

Anti-immigrant marchers walk through the streets of Johannesburg on the day of an unofficial deadline set by anti-immigrant groups for all undocumented migrants to leave, in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 30, 2026. (Reuters/Oupa Nkosi)

“Rather than presenting a meaningful shift in approach, which we believe must center on mass deportations and the urgent strengthening of immigration enforcement capacity, the government appears determined to simply repackage the same failed and outdated policies that have done nothing to address the consequences of weak border controls and chronic underinvestment in enforcing our immigration laws.”

“As in Europe, South Africans have turned against their government on immigration policy,” analyst Frans Cronje told News Media. Cronje, president of the Washington-based Yorktown Foundation for Freedom, added, “Polls conducted earlier this year ranked immigration as the second most pressing concern from South Africans behind unemployment. Overall, 23% of South Africans cited unemployment as the most pressing issue for the government to address, followed by 11.7% who cited immigration, 10.1% who cited corruption and 9.8% who cited crime.”

Cronje continued, “Black South Africans (82% of the population) were three times as likely as their White counterparts to see immigration as a problem for the government to address. Hostility toward immigrants runs very high with regular protest marches and threats and intimidation directed at immigrant communities who are accused of taking jobs and businesses from South Africans, and driving high levels of crime”.

South Africa’s president speaks at a podium inside the parliamentary chamber during a nationally televised address.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the State of the Nation address in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 12, 2026. (Rodger Bosch/Pool via Reuters)

Responding when asked why activists such as March and March are taking action, Ngobese-Zuma said, “It’s the government that should be the one that’s making sure that when people say that they don’t want certain people in their communities, they remove them before the communities remove them themselves. I think the government is complacent about not only the issue of immigration, our government is just complacent about a lot of things, especially that have to do with crime.”

Protests against immigrants have turned nasty in previous years. Sixty-two were killed in riots in 2008, and at least five in 2015.

Ngobese-Zuma agrees March and March members are gatvol – Afrikaans slang, politely put to mean completely fed up – telling News Media, “We don’t care which country comes forward and tells us that we are xenophobic. We’ve had enough, and nobody can tell us that we must now accept people staying in our country illegally.”

News Media reached out to the South African government, but did not receive a response.

Prince Harry’s Awkward Call to Meghan Markle Steals the Spotlight on ‘MasterChef Australia

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In an unexpected twist on “MasterChef Australia,” viewers were treated to a surprise appearance by Prince Harry. The Duke of Sussex briefly joined the show via FaceTime to reach out to his wife, Meghan Markle, who was serving as a guest judge on the popular cooking competition.

During Sunday’s episode, as the Duchess of Sussex collaborated with fellow judges to critique the dishes served by the eager contestants, Harry made his surprise call into the studio, much to the delight of everyone present.

A member of the production crew approached Markle with the unexpected phone call and informed her, “We had a phone call to the studio.” Curiosity quickly turned to joy as the identity of the caller was revealed.

Initially appearing puzzled, Markle’s expression shifted to one of delight when she realized it was her husband, Harry. Her face lit up as she warmly greeted him with a heartfelt, “Hi, my love!”

The spontaneous cameo brought smiles and laughter to the judges’ table, including fellow culinary experts Poh Ling Yeow and Sofia Levin. In true Aussie spirit, Harry responded with a cheerful “G’day,” endearing himself further to the audience.

“My husband’s here,” the “Suits” alum told audience members, while showing them the phone.

The spectators shrieked and cheered in excitement as Harry, 41, waved, then joked, “What’s going on? Have I interrupted something important?”

“Well, we’re actually in the middle of tasting all the dishes,” Markle responded, while showing off the plates and gushing over her favorite bites.

The actress also introduced the “Spare” writer to the show’s contestants, including Aaron Kher, Casper Kenworthy and Petro Papathomas.

“It’s amazing,” she said, appearing giddy. “They’re so talented.”

“We wish you were here,” Markle continued, telling the judges that he was in Canberra, Australia, with veterans.

“Well, go and enjoy it. I’m very sorry to disturb you. All is well here. I’ll see you later,” the Invictus Games founder said before hanging up the call.

Several viewers online appeared to have enjoyed the “sweet” interaction, with one writing via X, “Wow, these two are so in love.”

“Prince Harry and Meghan will always do whatever it takes to show up and support one another and it’s one of the reasons their marriage is so successful,” another wrote, as a third chimed in, “Great moment! That’s a sweet marriage. Everyone present is going to recall this forever”

While several agreed it was a “cute moment,” other critics shared a different opinion, with one writing, “Absolute cringe.”

A second hater stated that they didn’t believe Harry “just happened to call a random phone number to talk” to Markle, with another agreeing it was “so fake.”

“So staged,” a fourth netizen added.

Markle stepped in as a guest judge for the competition series earlier this year while she and Harry were visiting Australia.

The couple, who wed in 2018, are the parents to Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. It’s unclear if the little ones joined them on the trip.

An insider told Page Six that Markle “had a great time” working on set alongside Poh and other judges.