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Danny Masterson convicted of 2 counts of rape; ‘That '70s Show’ actor faces 30 years to life

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:58 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “That '70s Show” star Danny Masterson was led out in handcuffs from a Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday and could get 30 years to life in prison. A jury found him guilty on two of three counts of rape at his second trial, in which the Church of Scientology played a central role. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Masterson's wife, actor and model Bijou Phillips, gasped when the verdict was read and wept as he was taken into custody, with a group of family and friends who sat stone-faced behind him throughout both trials. Masterson, 47, will be held without bail until he is sentenced.No sentencing date was set. The jury of seven women and five men reached the verdict after deliberating for seven days spread over two weeks. They could not reach a verdict on the third count, that alleged Masterson raped a longtime girlfriend. They had voted 8-4 in favor of conviction. What led to Danny Masterson’s rape retrial ...

Cardinals keep flip-flopping Gallegos, Helsley in closer spots... Why?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:58 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Right around this time last year, the St. Louis Cardinals changed course with their bullpen and started handing Ryan Helsley more opportunities in traditional closer spots than Giovanny Gallegos. Lately, it seems that script has flipped a bit, but not completely. Gallegos has earned saves in each of the last three Cardinals' victories, all within the past calendar week. On Tuesday, he passed Helsley in saves this season, now leading seven to six. Heading into June, Gallegos and Helsley are the only Cardinals' relief pitchers with at least one save this season. It seems the Cardinals, for now, are flip-flopping between Helsley and Gallegos when it comes to closing out games, rather than letting one hurler firmly grasp the role like years past. RELATED - Diamond Sports out, MLB in for Padres streams; Could Cardinals follow? For the season, Helsley has taken the mound in slightly more save opportunities than Gallegos, 10-8. In the month of May, save opportunities trended...

Sean Payton hopes tight end Greg Dulcich can be Broncos’ “Joker”

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:58 GMT

It was hard to miss Greg Dulcich at Broncos OTAs on Thursday.During 11-on-11s, quarterback Russell Wilson rolled to his right, escaping defenders before connecting with the tight end on a short reception. Moments later, he arguably had one of the best plays of the afternoon.With backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham under center, Dulcich sped down the middle of the field, slipping past the secondary before making an impressive over-the-shoulder catch.Thursday was one of Dulcich’s best practices, according to head coach Sean Payton. As the first-year Broncos coach works on installing a new offense, he hopes the second-year player can use his unique skill-set to become the team’s “Joker” — a player who creates mismatches and provides versatility on the field.“Man, he can run and has good ball skills,” Payton said. “I think his menu is going to be lengthy in the passing game, and there’s enough stuff we can do in the run game.”Joker is the widely used the nickname of Nuggets star bi...

Broncos coach Sean Payton impressed by Nuggets’ culture and ownership: “Man, good to be a Kroenke for the past two years, right?”

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:58 GMT

Broncos safety Justin Simmons grew up in South Florida.So, too, did cornerback Pat Surtain II.Both had Nuggets hats on while chatting with reporters after Thursday’s OTA session, a few hours before the local hoops team tipped off its first-ever NBA Finals game against the Miami Heat.“A good amount of my family is Heat fans, but I grew up a Kobe fan so I naturally just cheered for the Lakers for most of my life,” Simmons said. “I think it would be pretty cool to see the Nuggets win the Finals, so that’s who I’m going for.”Surtain hesitated when asked if he was a Heat fan and played the “I’m looking for a good series,” card, but he also said he’s been in his Florida friends’ ears about Nikola Jokic and company.“I told ’em I like the Nuggets, so they already know what’s going on,” he said.Coach Sean Payton took in a Denver win against Phoenix earlier in the playoffs and said he had a conversation last week with former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski about how the Nuggets and Heat matc...

Former Dodger Steve Garvey considers U.S. Senate bid in California

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:58 GMT

You'd have to go back a generation — to 1988 — to find the last time a Republican candidate won a U.S. Senate race in heavily Democratic California. This time, the party might get an MVP on the ballot.Baseball legend Steve Garvey, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, is meeting with voters and senior GOP officials as he weighs a potential 2024 Senate bid in a race that already has several prominent Democratic contenders in the field. He appeared at a recent fundraiser for Republican Rep. Michelle Steel in Orange County, where he signed baseballs and talked about his potential candidacy.“He is seriously considering entering the race,” said veteran consultant Andy Gharakhani, who is advising Garvey. Former VP Pence rips Dodgers over gay ‘nun’ group invitation The 74-year-old Garvey had an 18-year major league career. He was National League MVP in 1974 and retired from baseball in 1987.Garvey has flirted with the possibility of entering politics before, includ...

Here's the average cost of getting hitched in L.A.

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:58 GMT

Getting hitched? Get ready to write some hefty checks.The average cost of a wedding nationwide is now $29,000, up about a grand from last year, according to the wedding-planning site Zola.The price hike isn't just because people are in a marryin' mood. It's also because Mean Mr. Inflation is a wedding crasher, boosting prices for everything from gowns to cakes.And average costs will run higher in major metro areas. In Los Angeles, be prepared to shell out nearly $31,000 (and again, that's just an average figure; your Kardashian-style nuptials will run considerably more).Some brides-to-be are responding by sporting a vintage gown rather than something new.Many couples are cutting costs by limiting guest lists, which can run to 150 invitees or more.And some lovebirds are forgoing traditional ceremonies and looking instead for more off-beat knot tyings.Pinterest says searches for "alternative weddings" are up more than 300%, with "underwater weddings" leading the way."This intriguing c...

Disneyland celebrates Black Music Month in June

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:58 GMT

In addition to the Pride Month celebrations, June is also Black Music Month at the Disneyland Resort.Guests visiting the theme parks can enjoy live musical entertainment, specialty food items and more activities that honor Black heritage and culture, theme park officials announced. Disneyland guests take one last ride on Splash Mountain Musical guests will perform songs that cover “genres and decades across the history of Black music” at different locations across the resort every day in June.At Disney California Adventure, park visitors can listen to Black music throughout the decades at the Hollywood Backlot Stage in the evenings. Three bands will rotate at this location throughout the month and will perform songs from artists like Aretha Franklin to Bruno MarsHere is a breakdown of the schedule.Midnight Hour: a performance of legendary 1960s hits from artists such as The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations and more (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays)Finesse: a group cove...

Benjamin Brookhart Dead after Head-on Collision on West Picture Rocks Road [Tucson, AZ]

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:58 GMT

45-Year-Old Man Dead and 31-Year-Old Woman Arrested after Deadly Head-on Crash near Golden Date RoadTUCSON, AZ (June 1, 2023) – Wednesday evening, officers were dispatched in a head-on crash that claimed the life of Benjamin Brookhart.On May 17th, at around 7:00 p.m., a deadly two-vehicle collision occurred in the area of West Picture Rocks Road, just east of Golden Gate Road.According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, a Ford Fusion driven by 31-year-old Jacqueline Klukosky. The Hyundai Accent driven by 45-year-old Brookhart was involved in the incident.Upon investigation, the officers learned that Klukosky was headed east at high speeds and attempted to make a right turn.Consequently, Klukosky turned and crashed head-on with Brookhart. Unfortunately, Brookhart was extremely injured which later led to his death.Meanwhile, Klukosky and her passenger both suffered injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital.Moreover, both directions of the roadway were briefly shut...

The Game Awards and Hollywood Bowl Bring Video Visuals to Life 

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:58 GMT

The Game Awards (coming this December live from L.A. and across multiple streaming platforms) remain the video game industry’s banner event, bestowing top honors for the biggest titles and best ideas in digital game play. This year, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association has joined forces with the awards for a celebration that promises to get fans warmed up with a summer kick-off. A must-go for gamers, The Game Awards 10-Year Concert looks back at a decade of the sights and sounds of video gaming’s most enticing environments, graphics and, of course, music.Led by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the event features music selections and suites from the best known gaming franchises – including classic titles from the past and new titles, too. The scores are played and backdropped with immersive footage to make the crowd feel like they are essentially part of the games themselves. Much like the Bowl’s sing-along events for The Sound of Music and Nightmare Before Christmas, this experienc...

In era of team teardowns, SF Giants have balanced MLB competence with farm rebuild

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:13:58 GMT

It has taken a while for the first wave of hotshot prospects drafted and developed in the Farhan Zaidi era to arrive at the big league level for the San Francisco Giants.But the kids are getting here now, as Casey Schmitt, Patrick Bailey and Ryan Walker are already giving the Giants a needed jolt of youth, energy and winning baseball.More prospects seem to be on the way. Left-handed starter Kyle Harrison could come up at any point now. So could outfielder Luis Matos, maybe as soon as Friday. Shortstop Marco Luciano, outfielder Vaun Brown and right-handed pitcher Mason Black are headlining at Double-A Richmond. Left-hander Carson Whisenhunt may fly through the minors.This is what Zaidi has been building towards since taking over as the Giants’ president of baseball operations in the fall of 2018.“It’s exciting to have a number of players who are kind of at the doorstep when it hasn’t really felt like that the last few years,” Zaidi told The Athletic last month. “We’ve had guys that w...