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'I am a Jedi': Hundreds to meet for lightsaber battle in Balboa Park

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:10:31 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away … "force" sensitive beings wielded lightsabers in epic duels between light and dark. And once a year, those battles come to San Diego.During Comic-Con weekend, hundreds of "Star Wars" fans and martial artists meetup in Balboa Park for a night of simulated lightsaber combat, allowing them to live in the world of the franchise.The tradition started about seven years ago by Nick Murico, following the 2015 release of the first sequel movie to the classic trilogy, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Don’t have a Comic-Con badge? Check out these events that don’t require one Around the time, simulated lightsaber combat was already a go-to activity for some fans of the franchise, allowing them to reenact their favorite duels from the movies or play out some of their own battles."There (was) a lot of people who meet and play with lightsabers in the park," Murico said to FOX5SanDiego.com. "I was kind of like, 'Why is nobody doing this mor...

As he leaves Phoenix’s blistering sun, AP’s climate news director reflects on desert life

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:10:31 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — I blink, and the edges of my eyelids feel like they are being singed. My cheeks burn as if they are being pressed with a hot iron ready to tackle a pile of wrinkled shirts. It is 4 p.m. I look at my 12-year-old son, whose face is flushed. He lets out a groan and puts his hand on his forehead to shield his eyes from the blistering sun.It is 117 degrees Fahrenheit (47 degrees Celsius).My family knows being in temperatures like this is dangerous. We’ve lived here for four years. This time, though, we are outside for only a few minutes to conduct an important experiment: How long will it take to cook a quesadilla on the sidewalk? Such is life these days in Phoenix, one of the hottest cities in the world. But for us, this summer is our last here; this weekend, I’m moving with my family to New York for my job as — wait for it — The Associated Press’ global climate and environment news director.I’M LEAVING TOWN DURING A UNIQUE SUMMER FOR PHOENIXWorking with AP jo...

Elderly woman brutally beaten as East L.A. rape suspect remains at large

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:10:31 GMT

An elderly victim was hospitalized after possibly being assaulted by a rape suspect wanted for a series of attacks targeting older women in East Los Angeles.The victim, 84-year-old Angelica Fieros was hospitalized after being attacked, beaten and mugged on July 15, just outside her front door.The suspect, believed to be 21-year-old Sergio Andrew Garcia, stole her purse, keys, and vehicle before fleeing the scene during the early-morning attack.Angelica required facial surgery as she recovers at Los Angeles General Medical Center.Garcia is wanted in connection with six assaults in the L.A. area, including 67-year-old Rosalina Martinez who was brutally beaten in her garden on the same day as Angelica.“We see her come out of her sister's apartment, face full of blood,” said a neighbor who witnessed Angelica’s attack. “She was crying. He punched her in the face several times. She fell to the floor. She was screaming for help and he had taken her purse and her keys to her apartment.”Ange...

Police find child living in drug-infested Apple Valley home

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:10:31 GMT

Three suspects were arrested on Thursday after police recovered methamphetamine and heroin during a home search in Apple Valley where a young child was living.After receiving information about a drug house, authorities with the Apple Valley Police Department conducted a search of the residence located in the 13400 block of Kiowa Road, according to the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department. During the search, deputies found methamphetamine, heroin, a taser, and drug paraphernalia. They also found rat feces scattered throughout the home. The drugs and paraphernalia were accessible to a young child who was living at the home, police said. The child was later released to a family member.  The residents, David James Myers, 27, Amanda Michelle Smith, 39, and Michael Jay Myers 58, were arrested for child cruelty and operating a drug house. Michael was later released at the scene.David and Smith were booked in High Desert Detention Center and are currently being held ...

Woman allegedly steals watch from man while begging for job in L.A. County 

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:10:31 GMT

Police are searching for a woman after she allegedly stole a watch from a man in Palos Verdes Estates on Friday. According to a news release from the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department, a woman walked up to a home in the 2100 block of Via Visalia and rang the doorbell around 1:45 p.m. When the victim answered the door, the woman began begging for a job, while holding his arm. He then asked her to leave. After the woman left in a silver sedan, the victim noticed his watch was missing, police said.The suspect is described as a female, possibly Hispanic, with dark hair and a black dress. Anyone who sees someone matching the description in the area is urged to call Palos Verdes Estates Police Department at 310-378-4211.

Collared black bear hit, killed on 101 Freeway

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:10:31 GMT

BB-12, a black bear that was being tracked by the National Park Service died after it was hit by a vehicle on the 101 Freeway in Ventura County on Thursday, authorities said.A driver first reported the bear to the California Highway Patrol and, around 10:30 p.m., a NPS biologist found the carcass on the median at the top of the Conejo Grade between Newbury Park and Camarillo.The male bear, believed to be 3-4 years old, had a GPS radio collar that was attached in April when he was captured in the western Santa Monica Mountains south of the 101 Freeway, NPS said.This National Park Service photo shows BB-12 when he was captured and collared in April 2023. (NPS)“When any of our radio-collared animals get killed on the road, it’s sad but not that surprising after 20 years of studying these animals in the region,” said Jeff Sikich, the lead field biologist for the mountain lion study at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. “Roadkill is the number one source of mortality for ou...

Series of Bay Area robberies target postal workers

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:10:31 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – There are growing concerns after a series of robberies involving Bay Area postal workers. In one incident in San Francisco, a mail carrier was beaten before having their postal keys stolen.The thefts are threatening not only the workers but also the people getting the mail. The postal service inspector for the Bay Area says these crimes targeting mail carriers have become outrageous and alarming. Car crashes into Round Table Pizza in Hayward after road rage incident: police The robbers’ main target is usually the postal keys, which open up mailboxes, allowing the criminals to sift through or steal items. But the postal inspection service does have some tips to help keep your information out of the wrong hands.“Threatening violence against anyone who’s trying to do their job, certainly someone like a letter carrier who is such a vital member of the community, this is outrageous and unacceptable,” said U.S. postal inspector Matthew Norfleet. Norfleet says...

Teoscar Hernandez’s game-winner against former team gives Mariners 3-2 win over Blue Jays

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:10:31 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Teoscar Hernández lined a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to score Jose Caballero and the Seattle Mariners rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.Hernández jumped on the first pitch from Jordan Romano (4-5) and hit a line drive over the head of George Springer in right field and off the wall, allowing Caballero to jog home with the winning run.Seattle trailed 2-0, but scored once in the seventh, tied the game in the eighth and Hernández’s third hit of the game was the winner in the ninth. It was the eighth time in the past 10 games between the teams that the outcome was decided by either one run or in extra innings, including last year’s AL wild card series.Caballero walked on a 3-2 pitch to open the ninth and was sacrificed to second by J.P. Crawford. Toronto intentionally walked Julio Rodríguez and Caballero moved to third on Eugenio Suarez’s deep fly ball before Hernández’s winning hit.Paul Sewald (3-0) pitche...

Rangers All-Star SS Seager leaves game against former team after spraining right thumb

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:10:31 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager left Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers after he sprained his right thumb on a headfirst slide to beat out a double in the eighth inning against his former team. Seager was initially called out on right fielder Mookie Betts’ throw from the right-center field gap. The Rangers challenged the play, but Seager was already headed back to the dugout with his right arm hanging low, and the All-Star clearly in discomfort. Manager Bruce Bochy said X-rays on Seager’s thumb were negative. Seager’s right hand jammed awkwardly into the bag as he slid in and reached to beat the tag of second baseman Miguel Rojas.“So I’d put him day to day right now. Obviously, you hate to see that,” Bochy said after the 11-5 loss. “Hopefully he comes in feeling better tomorrow.”The out call was overturned on replay. Josh Smith then came in to run for Seager, who hit his 15th homer in the sixth to put the AL...

Dodgers beat Texas 11-5 in return to Globe Life Field, where they won 2020 World Series; Seager hurt

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 11:10:31 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mookie Betts insists that he didn’t even think about 2020, or hear the loud chants for the visiting team, when the Los Angeles Dodgers returned to Globe Field for the first time since winning a World Series title there.“That’s done and over with,” Betts said. “Great memory. But you know, today we have a different team, different lineup and same results.”Freddie Freeman hit a two-run double and a solo homer before scoring the go-ahead run as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Texas Rangers 11-5 on Friday night, snapping the AL West leaders’ six-game winning streak. J.D. Martinez, in his first season with Los Angeles, had two RBI singles and drew a bases-loaded walk.“We’ve been playing really good baseball for a while now. We came to hit today,” said Freeman, who got a World Series ring with the Braves in 2021 before joining the Dodgers last season. “When all of us are swinging the bats like that, it’s usually a good night for us.”Before beating...