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Taylor Swift's new romance, debt-erasing gifts and the eclipse are among most joyous moments of 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:04:47 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A romance that united sports and music fans, a celestial wonder that drew millions of eyes skyward and a spiritual homecoming for some Native American tribes were just some of the moments that inspired us and brought joy in 2023.In a year that saw multiple wars, deadly mass shootings, earthquakes, wildfires, sexual harassment stories and other tragedies, these events were among those that broke through the tumult of 2023 and made people feel hopeful.As Taylor Swift would say, “Hold on to the memories.” Here are a few of them:A FRIENDSHIP BRACELET WITH A PHONE NUMBERThat’s how Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce planned to woo superstar Taylor Swift when he went to her Eras Tour concert stop in the Missouri capital. It didn’t work — at first.But the romantic gesture, and public admission of defeat on his “New Heights” podcast, caught the Grammy Award-winner’s attention. After the power pair took their relationship public — she went to a Chiefs ...

Gun owners and conservative groups file lawsuit against Colorado’s new ghost-gun law

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:04:47 GMT

A pair of gun-rights groups have filed a lawsuit against Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to block enforcement of a new state law banning so-called “ghost guns,” in the latest legal challenge of a slew of new firearms reform measures.The suit was filed in federal court Monday, when some provisions of the law took effect, by three Colorado gun owners and by the National Association for Gun Rights and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners. It alleges that the law violates the Second Amendment and doesn’t comport with America’s history of firearms and gun regulations.Passed by the state legislature and signed into law in June, the law makes it a misdemeanor to possess, sell or create unserialized guns and gun parts. The gun owners and groups seek an immediate hold on the law and a wider declaration that the ban is unconstitutional.As Colorado voters embrace gun reform and Democrats exercise full control over the Capitol, conservative opponents increasingly have turned to the court...

Woman assaulted, believed to be kidnapped in Aurora

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:04:47 GMT

An armed man “violently assaulted” a woman before forcing her into his vehicle in Aurora Friday night, and Aurora police believe the man kidnapped the woman.Police are asking anyone with information to contact them as they search for the man and woman.Officers responded to reports of an assault about 10:30 p.m. near Shawnee Street and East 42nd Avenue just east of Denver’s Green Valley Ranch neighborhood, according to a police department post on X.#APDAlert Officers are investigating an assault and believed kidnapping and we are asking for the public’s help.On December 29th, officers responded to a report of an assault near Shawnee Street and East 42nd Avenue around 10:30 pm.When officers arrived, all individuals were… pic.twitter.com/JPb8EyiI7Y— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) January 2, 2024Everyone was gone when police arrived, according to the police department, but witnesses told officers a heavyset bald Black man — who was about 6 foot 3 inches and...

Beloved L.A. bakery chain abruptly closes

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:04:47 GMT

A popular Los Angeles bakery chain, Sweet Lady Jane, has abruptly closed its doors. The bakery announced on its website and social media that its last day was on New Year's Eve. "After 35 years we are closing our doors. Our last day of business was December 31, 2023," the statement read. "We did not come to this decision lightly nor quickly."Despite customer loyalty, the bakery said sales were not strong enough to continue to do business in California while servicing lease obligations and paying its employees a living wage. In the statement, Sweet Lady Jane said it did not want to pass the costs to its customers. Instagram: Sweet Lady Jane"For more than three decades, we didn’t just build a loyal customer base, we created a real community. It has been a privilege to be included in your sweetest moments. Big and small," the bakery continued. "L.A.’s most beloved Triple Berry Cake will live on in your memories, and in ours."The bakery is a favorite among Angelenos and celebrities like...

Ian Ziering addresses Hollywood biker brawl; calls it 'hooliganism'

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:04:47 GMT

Actor Ian Ziering described a confrontation between himself and a group of mini-bikers who attacked him on Hollywood Boulevard over the weekend as "hooliganism" on social media Monday."While stuck in traffic, my car was approached aggressively by one of these riders leading to an unsettling confrontation," Ziering posted on Instagram one day after the attack. The "Beverly Hills, 90210" actor said he got out of his car to assess any damage when the situation escalated into a physical altercation. Video of the incident obtained by TMZ shows several of the mini-bikers surrounding Ziering when one of them throws a punch that appears to hit the actor in the face. Ziering is seen fighting off several of the bikers as he runs toward safety across the street. Ziering is seen in another video consoling his daughter in the street when the group eventually backs off and leaves the scene."I am relieved to report that my daughter and I are both completely unscathed, but the incident has left me ...

Street takeover mob raids Compton bakery, smashes car into store

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:04:47 GMT

A street takeover in Compton resulted in the break-in and possible burglary of a Compton bakery early Tuesday morning.Ruben's Bakery & Mexican Food Inc. at 2701 N. Santa Fe Ave. was the site of a street takeover at about 3:30 a.m., according to Lt. Collins of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.Shortly after the takeover was reported to deputies, another caller said that about 100 people had broken into the bakery.The front door of the business was rammed with a vehicle, which the driver left at the scene before fleeing, Collins said. The other suspects left on foot and in vehicles, and when deputies arrived, they found a trash bin on fire in the middle of the intersection, according tot he LASD.No arrests have been made, and the owner of the store has not yet detailed what — if anything — was taken.No injuries were reported.

Zeros at Zebulon

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:04:47 GMT

Zeros at Zebulon: In March 2022, we reviewed another Zeros at the Whisky for this very publication. That’s the purple-haired glam rock version of the band with this name. There’s also a UK punk band from the ’70s, and there are probably more.It’s taken this long for us to review the L.A. pioneering punk band but we got here in the end. This Zeros played their first show on a bill with the Germs (also playing their first show) and the Weirdos. They’re very much a part of Los Angeles punk history, often referred to as L.A.’s Ramones.We interviewed frontman Javier Escovedo last week, and he said that, “There’s a bunch of bands called the Zeros. There’s one in the Midwest, like in Chicago. They kind of get a lot of attention. In ’77. There was an English band called the Zeros. And actually, when we finally toured England a few years ago, the guy wrote to me and said he was gonna come on his show, but I don’t think he made it.”He also told ...

World’s best-selling jazz instrumentalist kicks off 2024 with Bay Area run

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:04:47 GMT

Want to see Chris Botti in concert?Well, you’ve got plenty of chances to do so as the famed trumpeter plans to perform eight shows in six nights, Jan. 9-14, at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco.That’s a rare kind of a multi-show run for a jazz instrumentalist to enjoy, well, basically anywhere outside of New York City. Yet, Botti isn’t just any jazz instrumentalist. According to SFJAZZ, he’s “the world’s best-selling jazz instrumentalist.” Not coincidentally, he can draw the type of big crowd numbers to warrant eight consecutive shows in the same venue.What’s so great about Botti? Let’s start off with his amazing tone and sense of lyricism, which pay off in various enchanting ways in both his studio recordings and on the live stage.The list of all stars who have called upon Botti’s talents over the years include Buddy Rich, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Sting and, yes, even Frank Sinatra. The Portland, Oregon,-born trumpeter ...

Best of music 2023: Premieres and reborn classics thrilled Bay Area classical fans

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:04:47 GMT

Concerts, operas, new works and visiting artists: classical music presenters offered a thrilling array of performances throughout the Bay Area in 2023. Here are some of the most memorable events among the highlights.“Eden”: Joyce DiDonato brought this semi-staged concert focusing on climate and the natural world to Stanford Live and Cal Performances in January; backed by the early music ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro, with music spanning Baroque to new works, the great mezzo-soprano made it an enchanting experience.A French rarity: The music of Olivier Messiaen doesn’t get performed nearly often enough, but under music director Michael Tilson Thomas, the San Francisco Symphony gave a lustrous performance of the French composer’s 1944 “Trois petites liturgies de la Présence divine” in January at Davies Symphony Hall. Featuring pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet as soloist, with essential contributions from Cynthia Millar on the ondes Martenot, and members of the S.F. Symphony Chorus, “divine” descr...

Bay Area News Group high school football coach of the year: Acalanes’ Floyd Burnsed

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:04:47 GMT

After Acalanes coach Floyd Burnsed, 76 years young, raised his first state championship trophy at Saddleback College in Orange County last month, the football lifer didn’t think about what the title meant for his already-decorated coaching legacy. Instead, he praised the town that saw him turn the Lafayette school’s program into state champions.“It’s huge, it’s huge,” Burnsed said in front of Acalanes fans after the team defeated Birmingham of Lake Balboa. “They’ve been big supporters for such a long time, they deserve a great football program.” No one can argue that Acalanes, which before the playoffs had never even won its section, was a great team this season. The Dons won a shared Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division title, routed San Marin 24-7 to win the NCS Division IV title, crushed Escalon 49-14 to collect the NorCal 3-AA trophy, and then triumphed 33-21 over Birmingham. “Three firsts in a row,” Burnsed remarked. For this, Burnsed is the Bay Area News Group coach ...