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Taylor Swift is a financially savvy pop star

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:47 GMT

Don't mess with Tay-Tay when it comes to financial regulation.A class-action lawsuit is targeting some celebrities, including Shaquille O'Neal and Tom Brady, for allegedly promoting scandal-plagued crypto exchange FTX without first doing their homework.But the lawyer spearheading the suit, Adam Moskowitz, told "The Scoop" podcast that Taylor Swift was the exception when it came to due diligence."The one person I found that did that was Taylor Swift," Moskowitz said.Swift reportedly was approached by FTX in 2021 to partner on her upcoming tour.Moskowitz recalled: "In our discovery, Taylor Swift actually asked them, 'Can you tell me that these are not unregistered securities?'"A security is defined as a tradeable asset that reflects value. Think stocks and bonds.All U.S. securities must be registered with financial authorities.The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint against FTX last year alleging that the company was offering securities without registering them.In oth...

AI-generated Drake and The Weeknd song pulled from streaming services, but more pop up

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:47 GMT

Universal Music Group (UMG) is going after those who created an AI-generated song that sounds like Drake and The Weeknd. The song "Heart On My Sleeve" went viral after it was first released on TikTok under the name Ghostwriter 997 over the weekend. The anonymous account cryptically said, "I'm just getting started." Drake fans upset at Ticketmaster over ticket prices for the rapper’s It’s All A Blur Tour The full song then ended up on digital streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube, The Verge reported. The song itself was a hit, racking up 600,000 streams on Spotify. The TikTok video received over 277,000 likes, according to Billboard.On Monday, UMG, which has distribution deals with both Canadian artists, had the song pulled from digital streaming platforms."UMG’s success has been, in part, due to embracing new technology and putting it to work for our artists–as we have been doing with our own innovation around AI for some time already," a statement from James M...

Ganja glut? With excess weed, growers seek interstate sales

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:47 GMT

TUMWATER, Wash. (AP) — The email went out to legal cannabis growers around Washington state, alerting them that another of their colleagues had gone under. “Liquidation sale,” it said. Attached was a spreadsheet of items up for grabs: LED grow lights for $500 apiece. Rotary evaporators for hash oil, $10,000.Across the Columbia River in Oregon, where the state’s top marijuana regulator recently warned of an “existential crisis” in the industry, it's an open secret some licensed growers have funneled product to the out-of-state black market just to stay afloat.California’s “Apple store of weed,” MedMen, is teetering with millions in unpaid bills, while the Canadian cannabis company Curaleaf has shuttered most of its cultivation operations in California, Oregon and Colorado. Along the West Coast, which dominated U.S. marijuana production long before states began to legalize it, producers face what many call the failed economics of legal pot.There is vast supply, thanks to great growing...

California ranked among the top 20 'best' states for retirement, study says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:47 GMT

California is ranked among the top 20 “best” states for retirement in America, according to a January report from Wallethub.The personal finance company compared 47 retirement-related metrics and compiled them into three categories: affordability, quality of life, and health care. States were graded on a 100-point graded scale, with 100 being the highest possible score. Some metrics, such as the cost of living, were given double weight. Many Los Angeles County residents dissatisfied with the quality of life, UCLA study says California took the 18th spot, earning an overall score of 51.64.Researchers found that Virginia was considered the “best” state for retirement, earning an overall score of 57.55 while Kentucky was considered the “worst.”The entire study can be viewed here.Settling down in the Golden State for retirement can be an enjoyable experience for many, but high living expenses and housing costs can damper the lifestyle.

Los Angeles dinged yet again by air quality report

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:47 GMT

Los Angeles' parks, beaches, mountains and more offer plenty of changes to get some fresh air — well, maybe fresh isn't the right word.The American Lung Association's "State of the Air" report gave L.A. failing scores on ozone levels, 24-hour particle pollution and annual particle pollution."Residents in the region face some of the most polluted air in the country," said Will Barrett, senior director of National Clean Air Advocacy. "Despite decades of progress and cleanup, there's still a long way to go." ‘The difference is astonishing’: Graph shows how much better California smog is now Nearly 10 million Angelenos are endangered by air pollution, including more than 2 million children and 1.4 million seniors. More than 7.3 million are people of color, and nearly 1.4 million live in poverty.Statewide, 38.5 million Californians live in a county that got an F from the ALA, according to the Los Angeles Times.The California Air Resources Board will consider two air-related measures ne...

1 Hurt in Hit-and-Run Crash near Cave Creek Road [Phoenix, AZ]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:47 GMT

Bicyclist Hurt in Hit-and-Run Crash near Beardsley RoadPHOENIX, AZ (April 19, 2023) – Early Monday morning, a hit-and-run crash near Cave Creek Road left a bicyclist with injuries.The incident happened on March 27th, at around 12:30 a.m., near the intersection of Cave Creek Road and Beardsley Road.According to reports, a bicyclist was riding in the area when a vehicle struck him. The impact of the collision left the rider with serious injuries.Emergency crews at the site of the collision transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.Meanwhile, the driver that struck the cyclist was nowhere to be found in the area. No description of the vehicle is available at this time.No additional information was released and an active investigation is still underway.Those with further information regarding the accident are encouraged to contact local authorities as soon as possible.A driver must stop and take certain actions when involved in a motor vehicle accide...

Family Business to Hollywood Prestige – How John D Hickman is Earning Praise Working with Critically Acclaimed Actors in Hollywood

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:47 GMT

Leaving your family business to step into showbiz is a risky journey. Still, many put their careers at stake to get a chance on the big screen, to relish the charms of Hollywood. However, only a handful of them succeed in making the breakthrough of a lifetime. One such example is John D Hickman, who left behind his decades-old family business and a six-figure corporate job to try his luck in the star-studded life of Hollywood.John Hickman is a rising star in the film industry, known for his roles in quality productions alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names. He has recently starred in “The Informer” opposite Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, and Common, and in “Jiu Jitsu” alongside Nicolas Cage. He has also played opposite Bruce Willis in many films, including his latest, “Fortress,” and a newly confirmed role that has recently been released.On TV, John has also made a name for himself, known for his role as Phil Wilson in the TV movie, ...

Passion Is Earned, Not Chased – Renowned Success Coach Seif El Hakim on Finding Your Passion

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:47 GMT

Passion is a term that is thrown around quite often, but how often have we actually thought about what it truly means to find our passion? Seif El Hakim, a successful entrepreneur and international businessman, has a different perspective on the concept of passion. According to him, passion is not something that we find; it is something that we practice and earn through our hard work and dedication.In Seif’s view, finding your passion is not about asking yourself what you’re passionate about; it’s about taking action and creating it. Passion is something that is built over time by putting in the effort and time required to achieve your goals. Seif believes that success is not left up to chance, but rather it is something that we can control.The subject of what you assume to be passionate about is not as important as the process of creation itself, according to Seif. He believes that one should enjoy the creative journey, including the trials, errors, and obstacles ...

Stephanie Guerra, Ashley Salinas Dead after Rollover Crash on 110 Freeway [Los Angeles, CA]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:47 GMT

Single-Car Accident on Harbor Freeway Left Stephanie Guerra and Ashley Salinas DeadLOS ANGELES, CA (April 19, 2023) – Early Thursday, Stephanie Guerra and Ashley Salinas were killed in a rollover crash on 110 Freeway.Officers responded to the crash around 1:40 a.m. along the southbound 110 Freeway and Gage Avenue.According to reports, a grey 4-door Nissan hit an embankment and flipped over. The rollover crash caused the occupants to be ejected from the vehicle. While the teens were on the road, a passing vehicle struck them and left them with fatal injuries.First responders to the site of the collision pronounced 19-year-old Stephanie Guerra and 18-year-old Ashley Salinas dead at the scene.Following the collision, the driver of the second involved vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Meanwhile, crews shut down the areas of the road surrounding the crash for cleanup and preliminary duties.The Sweet James team sends their warm and sincerest sympathies...

Woman Dies in Big-Rig Collision on Interstate 5 [Encinitas, CA]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:47 GMT

40-Year-Old Female Occupant Pronounced Dead after Semi-Truck Accident near Encinitas BoulevardENCINITAS, CA (April 19, 2023) – Late Monday morning, a woman was fatally injured in a big-rig collision on Interstate 5.Authorities responded to the scene around 10:45 a.m., near Moonlight Beach just south of Encinitas Boulevard on April 10th.Per reports, the 40-year-old female driver of a white Chrysler Pacifica veered onto the right shoulder and struck a parked gray Honda Civic. Upon impact, both vehicles were pushed into the right guardrail where they were hit by a passing semi-truck.The Chrysler then overturned, causing fatal injuries to a 40-year-old woman. In addition, the driver and an infant passenger suffered major injuries.Medics also took three children inside the Honda to a nearby hospital with minor to moderate injuries.Emergency crews closed off the surrounding area for a brief time during cleanup and preliminary duties. Once available, further details will be provided....