Darius Rucker receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:35 GMT

Darius Rucker receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame Country singer Darius Rucker has landed a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Rucker first gained fame in the '90s as the leader singer of the Grammy-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish. The band sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, including their Double Diamond certified debut "Cracked Rear View." The album remains one of the top 10 best-selling studio albums of all time. The singer then went on to enjoy success as a solo artist. In 2008, he dropped his first country album, which marked his fourth number-one album on the Billboard Country chart. Darius Rucker attends the ceremony honoring Darius Rucker with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Dec. 04, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)Rucker has won three Grammys and was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2012."This is stuff you don't even dream about when you're from South Carolina. You know, struggling growing up and just wanting to be a singer, " Rucker told the crowd. "That's all...

Ex-Santa Clara city manager Deanna Santana alleges city didn’t pay out full six-figure severance package

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:35 GMT

Ex-Santa Clara city manager Deanna Santana alleges city didn’t pay out full six-figure severance package SANTA CLARA — Former city manager Deanna Santana, the once second-highest paid city manager in the state, has filed a claim against the city, accusing officials of not paying out her entire six-figure severance package and “clawing back” some of her owed benefits.Santana was hired in 2017 and then fired in February 2022 by the Santa Clara City Council, with a majority of councilmembers expressing  a “lack of confidence” in her ability to do her job. As part of her contract, Santana opted to receive her severance package — a year’s salary and benefits — over the span of 12 months instead of in one lump sum.In 2020, the ex-city manager made $765,152 in total compensation, making her the second-highest paid in the role in the state only behind the Fontana city manager.But according to a claim appended to Tuesday’s council meeting agenda, Santana alleges the city breached its agreement with her by not paying out all of her compensation and benef...

Johnny Depp and Will Smith reduced to helping the Saudi regime look good

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:35 GMT

Johnny Depp and Will Smith reduced to helping the Saudi regime look good Johnny Depp and Will Smith traveled to Saudi Arabia over the weekend, apparently to try to recapture some of the red carpet glory they once enjoyed as two of Hollywood’s most beloved and bankable stars.But the actors, whose careers have been separately damaged by various controversies, are apparently so eager to return to the limelight that they’ve opened themselves up to accusations of turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia’s “egregious” human rights abuses by attending the Red Sea International Film Festival, the Puck newsletter and Daily Mail reported. The Saudi culture minister chairs the foundation which runs the festival in Jeddah, prompting human rights groups to say that celebrities who participate are engaging in “art-washing,” or “image-laundering,” by lending their names and star power to the event.TMZ and other outlets reported that neither Depp nor Smith seemed particularly concerned about being complicit in this kind o...

Fast Payout Online Casinos in 2024: Instant Paying Casino Sites for Same-Day Withdrawals

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:35 GMT

Fast Payout Online Casinos in 2024: Instant Paying Casino Sites for Same-Day Withdrawals Sponsored ContentGames shouldn’t be the only fast-paced thing at an online casino – withdrawals have to keep up, too. After an in-depth review of the online gambling landscape, we’ve identified the best fast payout casinos with instant withdrawals.Ignition was our top choice due to its fast payouts, an excellent game library, and rewarding bonuses, but there are more sites worth your attention.If this sounds like something you’d like to learn more about, stick around and keep reading – you won’t regret it!Fastest Payout Online Casinos for Instant WithdrawalsIgnition: Fastest payout casino overallCasino Extreme: Big 1000% match bonusCafe Casino: 100+ slot games7Bit Casino: Crypto payouts under 10 minutesmBit Casino: 3,000+ online casino gamesRed Dog: Fastest payouts on mobileBovada: Up to $1,000 bonusJackbit: Instant crypto payoutsBovegas: Top pick for video pokerBitstarz: Most altcoins acceptedHeads up about our links! Adblock might get confused s...

Netanyahu corruption trial resumes after 2-month pause

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:35 GMT

Netanyahu corruption trial resumes after 2-month pause By Stephanie Halasz and Tamar Michaelis | CNNThe corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu restarted Monday after a two month pause that followed the state of emergency declared after the October 7 Hamas attacks.Israeli Minister of Justice Yaris Levin lifted the state of emergency effective December 1.Netanyahu’s corruption trial first began in January 2020, making him the first sitting Israeli prime minister to appear in court as a defendant, on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery. He denies any wrongdoing.The prime minister faces charges in three separate cases.In Case 1000, he is charged with fraud and breach of trust in connection with allegations that he received gifts like cigars and champagne from overseas businessmen.In Case 2000, he is also charged with fraud and breach of trust and is accused of seeking favorable coverage in one of Israel’s top newspapers in exchange for limiting the circulation of one of the paper’s main rivals.In t...

Brock Purdy is the MVP betting favorite after 49ers rout Eagles

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:35 GMT

Brock Purdy is the MVP betting favorite after 49ers rout Eagles Move over, Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts. There’s a new leader in the race for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award: the increasingly relevant Brock Purdy.Purdy is now the betting favorite at many gambling sites. Caesars Sportsbook has him leading the field with 3-to-1 odds after the 49ers demolished the Eagles Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia.The Niners are the consensus Super Bowl favorites, too. Caesars lists them at +300, with the Chiefs (+575), Eagles (+600) and Ravens (+700) next in line. Every sportsbook tracked by VegasInsider.com has the 49ers at the top of its pile, reflecting what oddsmakers expect the public to be thinking after their NFC Championship revenge game. Of course, losses by Kansas City and Philadelphia, as well as Baltimore’s bye week gave the 49ers extra room to climb.Christian McCaffrey’s MVP odds are among the shortest for non-quarterbacks: He’s listed at 15-to-1 by Caesars and 16-to-1 by DraftKings, where he is tied with Dolph...

Recordings show how Mormon church protects against abuse claims

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:35 GMT

Recordings show how Mormon church protects against abuse claims By Michael Rezendes and Jason Dearen | Associated PressHAILEY, Idaho — Paul Rytting listened as a woman, voice quavering, told him her story.When she was a child, her father, a former bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, had routinely slipped into bed with her while he was aroused, she said.It was March 2017 and Rytting offered his sympathies as 31-year-old Chelsea Goodrich spoke. A Utah attorney and head of the church’s Risk Management Division, Rytting had spent about 15 years protecting the organization, widely known as the Mormon church, from costly claims, including sexual abuse lawsuits.Rytting had flown into Hailey, Idaho, that morning from Salt Lake City, where the church is based, to meet in person with Chelsea and her mother, Lorraine.After a quick prayer, he introduced himself and said he was there “to look into” Chelsea’s “tragic and horrendous” story.Chelsea and Lorraine had come to the meeting with one clear req...

Woman killed in Walmart parking lot covered in dense fog

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:35 GMT

Woman killed in Walmart parking lot covered in dense fog (KRON) -- A woman was killed Monday morning in a fatal traffic collision in a Walmart parking lot, according to the City of Mountain View. Dispatchers with the Mountain View Police Department received calls reporting a vehicle versus pedestrian crash in the parking lot on the 500 block of Showers Drive.Responding to the scene, officers learned that a woman in her 60s was in the middle of the parking lot when an employee driving to work drove over her. At the time of the crash, the parking lot was dark and covered in dense fog, according to officials. Places with the lowest cost of living in California: study The woman was transported to the hospital where she later died. Officials do not believe that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the collision. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.KRON On is streaming live news now.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container ifr...

California's tallest lighthouse getting $16-million makeover

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:35 GMT

California's tallest lighthouse getting $16-million makeover (KRON) -- A lighthouse perched on an ocean cliff halfway between Santa Cruz and Half Bay Moon has guided ocean mariners since 1872. Standing at 115-feet-tall, Pigeon Point is the tallest operating lighthouse on the West Coast. In 2024, Pigeon Point Lighthouse will receive a $16-million makeover with hopes of reopening the beloved historic landmark to the public, state parks officials announced Monday.Construction for the rehabilitation project is slated to be completed within two years, according to California State Parks.(Image Courtesy of California State Parks) The lighthouse has been closed to the public since late 2001, when it was deemed unsafe after two large pieces of brick and iron fell from the top of the building. The lighthouse's closure dragged on for more than two decades because of several obstacles, including a lack of funding and the COVID-19 pandemic, parks officials said.Contractors will refurbish or replace ironwork throughout the lighthouse. A major focus of the...

AP names LSU’s Daniels unanimous SEC offensive player of year; Watson named top defensive player

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:41:35 GMT

AP names LSU’s Daniels unanimous SEC offensive player of year; Watson named top defensive player LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is the unanimous pick as Associated Press Southeastern Conference offensive player of the year, while Mississippi State linebacker Nathaniel Watson is defensive player of the year.Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz won coach of the year honors Monday after leading the ninth-ranked Tigers into the Cotton Bowl against No. 7 Ohio State. Alabama safety Caleb Downs is the top newcomer.Daniels, a leading contender for the Heisman Trophy, leads the nation in total offense (412.2 yards per game), passing for 3,812 yards and a nation’s best 40 touchdowns against only four interceptions. Daniels has also run for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns.Watson is the SEC’s leading tackler with 137 and also has a league-best 10 sacks. Watson has two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.Downs led No. 5 Alabama with 99 tackles as a freshman, well ahead of No. 2 tackler Jihaad Campbell’s 65. He also has two interceptions and returned a punt 85...