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U.S. theme parks blame ‘extreme weather’ for attendance drops and financial loses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:33 GMT

Theme parks across the country have endured an onslaught of wild weather this year ranging from unprecedented rainfall and excessive heat warnings to Canadian wildfires and California hurricanes that have led to lower attendance and reduced revenue.The owners of Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain and SeaWorld San Diego are blaming “extreme,” “challenging” and “adverse” weather for their most recent attendance and revenue woes.Cedar Fair, the parent company of Knott’s Berry Farm, blamed unprecedented rainfall in California, wildfires in Canada and extreme temperatures on the East Coast for a decline in attendance and season pass sales in the most recent quarter.Park closures and reduced crowds caused by the California rains contributed to a 17% drop in attendance at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park and California’s Great America in Santa Clara during Cedar Fair’s second quarter.California’s heavy rains were also blamed for a 9% decrease in 2023 season pass sales — largely a...

Wealth dentist convicted of killing wife on African safari given life sentence and over $15 million in penalties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:33 GMT

By COLLEEN SLEVIN | Associated PressDENVER — As a wealthy dentist convicted of killing his wife at the end of an African safari listened in court, her brother vowed on Monday to move her remains to a place that Larry Rudolph would never discover.Shortly before a judge sentenced Rudolph to life in prison in the 2016 death of Bianca Rudolph, Vincent Finizio also predicted Larry Rudolph would “die alone and unmourned” and that his future grandchildren will never know he existed.“Even Judas would be afraid to be in your company,” Finizio said, referencing the home of Jesus’ traitor — the worst circle of hell imagined by Dante.U.S. District Judge William Martinez also imposed over an estimated $15 million in financial penalties against Rudolph, who was also convicted of mail fraud for cashing in nearly $5 million in insurance policies for his wife as he began a new life with his longtime girlfriend.Rudolph has claimed throughout the case that his wife’s death in the southern African nati...

SF Giants sign former Cardinals All-Star shortstop, rumored trade deadline target: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:33 GMT

PHILADELPHIA — As they continue to seek to shore up their middle infield, the Giants reportedly agreed to terms with a former All-Star shortstop who was recently designated for assignment.Paul DeJong, the former Cardinal, will join the Giants on Wednesday after signing a major-league deal, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. The club has not made the move official, and the terms have not been reported, though as a recently released player, it should be close to the prorated MLB minimum.DeJong, 30, was a rumored target of the Giants leading up to the Aug. 2 trade deadline but was ultimately sent from St. Louis, where he spent the first six-and-a-half years of his career, to the Toronto Blue Jays.Batting .233/.297/.412 for the Cardinals, DeJong was enjoying his best offensive season since being named an All-Star in 2019 but recorded only three hits in 44 at-bats — with 18 strikeouts and no walks — after joining the Blue Jays. Toronto DFA’d him over the weekend when i...

Person robbed, dragged by 2 armed suspects in Oakland: video

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:33 GMT

(KRON) -- A person was robbed by two armed individuals last week in the 1700 block of International Boulevard, according to the Oakland Police Department.On Aug. 16, just before 6:30 p.m., officers responded to the area and located a victim suffering from injuries sustained during an armed robbery.  The victim was transported to a local hospital, police said. SJ man sentenced to 12 years for selling fentanyl-laced pills to Los Gatos High students An investigation into the incident revealed the victim was approached by two armed individuals. The suspects pistol whipped and robbed the victim of their belongings. Video above, provided by Seneca Scott, shows the victim being dragged after trying to hold onto another item that was being taken from them, OPD said. A passerby confronted the suspects before they fled the scene in a car. The investigation remains open and active. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPD Robbery Unit at 510-238-3728. 

Newark man becomes 4th person killed in Oakland over 2 days

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:33 GMT

(BCN) -- A Newark man was shot and killed Monday afternoon in Oakland, the city's fourth slaying over two days, police said Tuesday. The Newark man was shot just before 5 p.m. in the 4200 block of Jensen Street near the High Street Bridge to Alameda. Bay Area spa shuttered after 2 die from Legionnaires’ disease Police were initially told the shooting occurred in the 600 block of High Street, which is near Jensen Street, according to police. Officer located the man, who was pronounced dead after firefighters and paramedics tried to save his life, police said. Three people were killed in shootings on Sunday, according to police. Anyone with information about Monday's case is asked to please call the Police Department's homicide unit at (510) 238-3821 or a tip line at (510) 238-7950. Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Steve Kerr buys stake in Spanish soccer team

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:33 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has become a shareholder in Spanish La Liga team RCD Mallorca, according to an announcement on the club's website. Kerr joins the club as a minority stakeholder following a reshaping at the club that took place on July 1.Kerr, who in addition to the Warriors also currently coaches USA basketball, said he is friends with Mallorca's club president, former tennis star Andy Kohlberg."I'm a friend of Andy Kohlberg and we were talking this summer," Kerr said. "He told me about the change in ownership, and offered me the chance to be part of the new investment group." Dirt bikes, motorcycles take over San Francisco roads The coach, who has led the Warriors to four NBA Championships, said he became a fan of the club while visiting the Spanish island."I'm really looking forward to it, I was in Mallorca last summer to watch a match, supporting the team and becoming a fan. It's a very exciting opportunity," he said.Kohlberg ...

Dog injured in DUI Pleasanton crash, owner arrested

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:33 GMT

(KRON) -- A dog sustained severe injuries after its owner drove under the influence causing a solo vehicle crash Thursday on Stanley Boulevard, according to the Pleasanton Police Department.At around 1:15 a.m., officers located the driver and her dog, who had significant injuries to its face and legs. A relative of the woman took the injured dog from its owner for medical treatment, police said. SJ man sentenced to 12 years for selling fentanyl-laced pills to Los Gatos High students Officers conducted a field sobriety test on the woman and determined she was under the influence. The woman was found to have a fanny pack containing over 50 grams of meth and 60 grams of fentanyl, according to PPD. She was arrested and transported to Santa Rita Jail.

Chelsea loans top academy prospect Lewis Hall to Newcastle and Mavropanos joins West Ham

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:33 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Chelsea has loaned out of one of its most talented academy prospects amid another transfer window of big spending by the Premier League club.Lewis Hall, an 18-year-old left back, joined Newcastle on Tuesday on a season-long loan deal that includes an obligation for the Saudi-controlled northeast club to make the transfer permanent based on performance-related criteria.Hall, a boyhood Newcastle fan, was named Chelsea’s academy player of the year for the 2022-23 season. But he is deemed surplus at Chelsea, which has spent more than $400 million on new players in this window to take its total outlay in the first three transfer windows in the new regime under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital beyond $1 billion.Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill as options at left back in a season when the team has no European involvement.“Me and my family are Newcastle fans, and for me and my brother growing up, it was drilled into us that we were Newcast...

Russia’s Putin attends BRICS summit in South Africa remotely while facing war crimes warrant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:33 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were both absent as leaders from the BRICS group of emerging economies started a three-day summit in South Africa on Tuesday.Putin’s travel to Johannesburg was complicated by an outstanding International Criminal Court warrant for his arrest over the abduction of children from Ukraine. His participation as the bloc named for member nations Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa opened its first in-person meeting since before the COVID-19 pandemic came in the form of a 17-minute prerecorded speech. Xi, who was in South Africa and held a bilateral morning meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa, did not join his host and the leaders of Brazil and India for a business forum at the primary summit venue. No reason was given for his absence, and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao read Xi’s speech. The summit’s main session in Johannesburg’s financial district of Sandton is scheduled ...

Pakistani authorities say all 8 people trapped in a cable car suspended high above a canyon have been rescued

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:33 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani authorities say all 8 people trapped in a cable car suspended high above a canyon have been rescued.Source