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As a transgender woman, a New York City subway icon finds her own voice

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:00 GMT

CRANFORD, N.J. (AP) — The voice is familiar to the millions who ride New York City's subways, its deep and resonant tone ringing through tunnels and across the tracks. For more than a decade, Bernie Wagenblast, 66, has lent that voice to automated announcements alerting passengers to train arrivals and politely directing people to “please stand away from the platform edge.” Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! For decades, Wagenblast’s voice—low, authoritative and benign all at once—has provided a career and livelihood. But earlier this year, Wagenblast, went on the radio to publicly reveal a different voice—higher pitched and softer spoken—that is more reflective of the transition from the man she was to the transgender woman she was always meant to be.Commuters wait on a platform as the L subway train arrives in a station, Aug. 16, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) New York State updates guidance to support t...

Illinois State Police: Collinsville officers shot gun-wielding suspect

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:00 GMT

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. - An investigation is underway after officers with the Collinsville Police Department reportedly shot a gun-wielding suspect earlier this week. The shooting happened Tuesday in the 1100 block of St. Clair Avenue. Investigators say several Collinsville officers responded to the suspect with a gun over an undisclosed matter. Woman charged with ramming, shooting thieves who stole sister’s car The suspect, a 30-year-old man, allegedly pointed a gun at officers. After that, several officers fired at the suspect and struck him. The suspect was treated for undisclosed injuries at a hospital. No officers were hurt in the incident. An Illinois State Police criminal investigations unit is investigating the case. Additional details are limited, but ISP says the investigation is "active and ongoing."

PHOTOS: Coloradans see large hail as severe thunderstorms move across Front Range

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:00 GMT

The National Weather Service is warning that Thursday afternoon’s storms will be severe and could potentially produce large hail. NWS said at about 2 p.m. that the storm could hit the metro area in the next two to four hours.For the latest news on the storm, read our live weather updates here. Share your photos of the storm with us by emailing [email protected] are already sharing photos of the large hailing raining down on social media.EXPLAINER: Why is Colorado one of the most susceptible places in the world for large hail?Much bigger hail in this storm moving toward Lakewood than the one last night. Take cover! #cowx pic.twitter.com/y9dHoUFkE8— Mateo (@Fly_Agaric) June 22, 2023Hot damn! Hail! #cowx pic.twitter.com/7o2xyIQLSn— Scott Edwards (@ScottyShortness) June 22, 2023Wait I found a bigger piece of hail – more like a hail boulder the size of a small boulder #COwx This is in the foothills near Evergreen pic.twitter.com/c91GqvHtj7— Hayley Vat...

LAPD officer accused of assaulting man inside bathroom of Upland bar

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:00 GMT

A Los Angeles Police Department officer was arrested after allegedly assaulting a man inside the restroom of an Upland bar Wednesday, authorities said.The incident occurred around 2:20 p.m. at a bar in the 1600 block of North Mountain Avenue, Upland police Lt. Moe Duran told KTLA.Arthur Contreras, 55, allegedly assaulted the victim in the restroom. The victim and other witnesses then followed Contreras until police arrived and took him into custody, Duran said.The victim suffered a minor laceration and was treated at the scene.Contreras, a 28-year veteran of the LAPD, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, police said.He is out of custody and was put on administrative leave, the LAPD said in a short news release.The LAPD has started an administrative investigation being conducted at the same time as the criminal case.“The Department is fully cooperating with the District Attorney’s Office and the Upland Police Department’s investigation relating to Contreras’ all...

Woman allegedly attempted to avoid arrest by hiding on Disneyland ride

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:00 GMT

A woman was arrested at Disneyland after allegedly sneaking into the park and attempting to evade police by hiding on an attraction on June 17.Police officers with the Anaheim Police Department assisted the resort’s security team in apprehending the woman who allegedly entered the park without paying. Disneyland extends pause on ‘Fantasmic!’ performances after fire  A spokesperson with the Anaheim Police Department told KTLA that the unidentified woman entered the park by jumping over the turnstiles at the park’s entrance.  At about 7 p.m. that day, the woman was arrested on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, an attraction based in Frontierland at Disneyland Park. The woman was arrested for a misdemeanor without incident, according to the spokesperson.The case will be presented to the Anaheim City Attorney’s Office, which could then decide if the woman will be charged and will issue fines and possible jail time, a department spokesperson said. ‘San Fransokyo Square’ at Dis...

Expert advice Kevin Costner ignored before telling kids about divorce in 10-minute Zoom call

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:00 GMT

Parenting experts may debate whether Kevin Costner’s estranged wife Christine Baumgartner really needs $250,000 a month in child support to keep their three teenagers “in their accustomed lifestyle.”But judging from parenting advice that numerous experts make available online, they probably would agree that Baumgartner has a point in saying that the “Yellowstone” star didn’t act in their children’s best interest when he took it upon himself to break the news on his own that he and their mother were divorcing in a brief Zoom call from his Las Vegas hotel.In a court filing obtained by People, Baumgartner, 49, said Costner, 68, told their kids Grace, 13, Hayes, 14, and Cayden, 16, about their divorce during a Zoom call that lasted about 10 minutes. He had apparently been in Las Vegas working, and Baumgartner said she wanted to wait until he returned to their home in Santa Barbara.“The children’s welfare has always been my highest priority...

Pac-12 business affairs: New CFO hired with revenue growth, financial controls in mind

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:00 GMT

The dead-of-summer appointment of a senior-level staffer by one of the Power Five conferences typically wouldn’t rise to the level of significant news. But when the conference is the Pac-12, the role is chief financial officer and the executive is Morane Kerek, our attention feels warranted.Kerek joins the conference in the midst of its existential crisis following her seven-year tenure as CFO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee — a major role in the sports space that seemingly prepared her for the unique challenges awaiting in the Pac-12.The terms of her contract were not revealed, but we suspect the deal comes with unlimited use of a bucket and mop.The conference has been without a full-time CFO since Brent Willman was fired in January for his role in the Comcast financial scandal, which resulted in the media company overpaying the Pac-12 Networks by at least $50 million over the course of a decade even though Willman and networks president Mark Shuken were aw...

Stanford Health Care ultrasound technician arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting patients

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:00 GMT

PALO ALTO — A Stanford Health Care ultrasound technician arrested Wednesday stands accused of fondling two patients, according to Palo Alto police.Mitchell Van Vu, 56, was arrested at his Bay Point home on suspicion of six counts of sexual battery after two male victims alleged he touched their genitals during ultrasound procedures, police said.One of the men contacted Palo Alto police on April 10 claiming to have been sexually assaulted by an ultrasound technician at Stanford Health Care on 500 Pasteur Drive two weeks earlier. The victim said he was assaulted on two separate occasions and police identified Vu as the suspect with help from hospital staff, authorities said.A second man contacted police on May 16, alleging that Vu fondled his genitals during a procedure the previous day. The man told hospital staff immediately following the incident and police said that the hospital placed Vu on administrative leave.Police said a forensic medical examination was performed on the secon...

Defending champion Hurkacz out of Halle Open in dramatic tiebreaker as Rublev and Sinner advance

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:00 GMT

HALLE, Germany (AP) — Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner reached the quarterfinals of the Halle Open on Thursday as defending champion Hubert Hurkacz was eliminated after a dramatic final-set tiebreaker.Rublev won his second-round match against German wild card Yannick Hanfmann 7-6 (6), 6-3 after turning around a 5-3 deficit in the first-set tiebreaker. Rublev lost to Hanfmann in Rome last month.“The last time he beat me and he’s playing better and better,” Rublev said. “Especially on grass, he’s even tougher to play against because he has such a good serve and a good game at the net. I was able to win the match in two sets so I’m really happy.”Rublev next faces Tallon Griekspoor after the Dutch player upset Hurkacz 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (8). Griekspoor converted his fifth match point for the win after saving a match point at 8-7 down. Griekspoor is coming off his second title of the season at the Libema Open.Sinner needed nearly three hours to win 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4 against fellow ...

Dude, where’s my car? DC region sees a dramatic spike in auto thefts

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:00 GMT

The number of cars being stolen continues to rise in the D.C. area.Compared to this time last year, auto thefts are up 84% in Montgomery County, 118% in D.C. and a staggering 180% in Prince George’s County.“We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of auto thefts, compared to last year, so far this year,” said Nicholas Augustine, assistant chief of police for the Montgomery County Police Department.He said a majority of cars are stolen by teenagers, many of whom are inspired by TikTok challenges involving Kia and Hyundai cars.Augustine said while many of the cars taken have been made by those manufacturers, they are not the only ones disappearing. While most stolen cars are recovered, not all are, according to Augustine.Some stolen cars being shipped overseas“We also are seeing an increase of vehicles being stolen, and then taken into certain ports and sent overseas for sales,” Augustine said.While cars are being stolen from all over the county, Augustine said the ...