California’s black bear population is soaring, and Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick is taking action. On February 24, she introduced Assembly Bill 1038, a bold measure aimed at tackling the state’s growing bear numbers with non-lethal management strategies. The bill proposes reintroducing a “pursuit season” that would […]
The post Californias Bear Population Boom Spurs New Legislation for Non-Lethal Management appeared first on SierraDailyNews.com.
A MUM was stabbed to death with a zombie knife in front of her three-year-old daughter on Notting Hill family day, a court heard.
Cher Maximen, 32, was knocked off her feet when a brawl erupted on August 25 last year.
The Old Bailey heard Shakeil Thibou, 20, had attempted to stab Adjei Isaac when he instead knifed the mum in the groin.
Adjei had managed to survive by just “centimetres” after moving his body away from the zombie knife, jurors were told.
Cher, who was with her daughter, was rushed to hospital but sadly couldn’t be saved and died six days later.
Shakeil denies murder, attempted murder, and having an offensive weapon, namely a knife.
His brothers Sheldon Thibou, 25, and Shaeim Thibou, 22, are accused of being involved in the fight.
Opening the trial today, prosecutor Ed Brown KC said the “truly shocking” violence erupted at around 5.48pm.
The defendants and two men allegedly began fighting – causing the crowd to part and a police officer, PC Oliver Mort, to step in.
Sheldon Thibou, who was holding a stun gun, allegedly attacked the officer with Shaeim.
Meanwhile, Shakeil Thibou thrust a “huge” knife repeatedly towards Adjei’s stomach – only missing him because the victim moved back.
Prosecutor Edward Brown KC said: “You will see that Cher Maximen had been knocked to the ground in the immediate events as Adjei Isaac recoiled from Shakeil Thibou’s knife.
“In his efforts to save himself from the knife attack, he had come into contact with Cher.
“It is clear that she had simply got caught up in the events.”
The court heard after she was knocked over, Cher attempted to pull herself up using Shakeil Thibou’s coat.
She then attempted to “strike out” at Shakeil, who allegedly raised the zombie knife and “deliberately thrust it towards her, stabbing her in the groin”.
He then fled the scene with his brothers as Cher fell injured to the ground, jurors heard.
Shakeil, of Hammersmith, denies murder, attempted murder and having an offensive weapon.
Sheldon, of Fulham, and Shaeim, of West Kensington, deny violent disorder and assault on an emergency worker.
The trial continues.
TRIBUTES have been paid following the tragic death of a rugby player whose family is pleading for help to bring him home to Ireland.
Graham Murray, 34, died in a crash on Thursday, February 20 in the UK, where he has lived since moving from Cork.
His death prompted a deluge of tributes for a man who was described as a “proud Irishman and true gentlemen”.
Before moving to England, he was a popular figure in his hometown of Douglas, having played for the local rugby club from a young age.
After moving to England, meanwhile, ‘Poochie’ kept up his rugby exploits with Beckenham RFC.
In a loving tribute to him, Douglas RFC revealed that all of the club’s sporting fixtures were postponed last weekend as a mark of respect.
A club statement read: “Graham was a devoted husband, father, son, son-in-law, brother, and brother-in-law.
“He was a fantastic clubman, teammate and friend to all that knew him.
“He played for Douglas RFC from underage to J1 level and was part of the team that won the Martin O Sullivan Cup.
“He certainly did not fit the mould of a traditional prop with his side steps, drop goal attempts and his ability to confuse the opposition and indeed his own team mates at times!
“He will be fondly remembered for his match day kits which were often a mix and match from several clubs.
“Grahams passing will be deeply felt by everyone that knew him as a great character who always lifted the spirits of anyone who came into contact with him.
“He will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and the wide rugby community.
“We wish to pass on our heartfelt condolences to his beloved wife Aisling, son Tadgh, parents Theresa and James, brothers Alan and Jason and in-laws.”
Murray was laid to rest last Sunday in his adopted home of Beckenham.
And a GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds in order to bring him home to his home county of Cork.
The campaign, set up up Colin Andrews, has raised £57.000 at time of writing.
Alongside photos of Murray, the page described him as a “dear colleague” whose professional life was “marked by his kindness, generosity, and willingness to help anyone in need.”
It read: “Graham was a beloved husband to Aisling, a devoted father to Tadhg, and was eagerly anticipating the birth of their second child. He was a cherished son, son-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, and friend.
“A proud Irishman and true gentleman, at O’Halloran and O’Brien Graham’s professional life was marked by his kindness, generosity, and willingness to help anyone in need.
“His unwavering politeness and professional demeanour made him a pleasure to work with and speak to every day.
“His thoughtful words and actions continue to inspire us to lead with kindness and compassion.
“His love for rugby was evident throughout his life—from his childhood club, Douglas Rugby Club in Cork, to his dedicated support and play for Munster and Beckenham RFC.
“Known affectionately as ‘Poochie’ at Douglas RFC, he carried his remarkable skill, infectious smile, and generous spirit to Beckenham RFC, where he became legendary for his unpredictable play—his dynamic running, offloading, and kicking game—and for providing the club with the worst excuse for being late to training: “concrete Tuesdays.”
“Most recently, Graham was captain of Beckenham RFC 2XV, having previously been a key member of the 1XV squad for many seasons.
“With nearly 150 caps, he played an essential role in the 1XV league-winning sides of 2018/19 and 2021/22 and was instrumental in the 2XV’s promotion last season.
“Graham’s deep connection to his heritage will be honoured with his repatriation to Ireland, where he will be laid to rest in his homeland.”
Hollywood and anime are interconnected in more ways than you’d think. For decades, American directors like Quentin Tarantino have been inspired by Japanese animation. This also ties well with the actors partaking in animation projects headlined by Japanese Studios but this isn’t boding well in any case. This is particularly true with a recent dub […]
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
IRISH fashion fans are going wild for Dunnes Stores fleece collection – and their latest release won’t disappoint.
The Cropped Zip Through Fleece is available online and in shops across the country.
The cute cropped fleece s a gorgeous pastel pink and has purple detail.
Dunnes Stores designers said the fleece has “added warmth”.
They said: “Cut to a comfortable, cropped fit, this fleece jacket is designed to keep you warm during active days.
“It features a funnel neck for added warmth, a zip-through front, and a secure zip pocket for your essentials.”
For just €25, the coloured fleece will brighten up any gym outfit.
Or style it with seamless leggings for a relaxed look.
The cosy fleece is available in sizes XS to XXL.
The retailer styled the fleece with purple leggings and a white top.
Get the look with their Marl Seamfree Leggings in purple for only €10.
The Essential Half Zip Fleece is perfect for those who like a longer, oversized fleece.
The soft fleece has a high collar, quarter zip and pockets
Dunnes Stores bosses said the fleece has a “relaxed fit”.
They said: “This cosy fleece is designed with contrasting trims for an eye-catching look.
“Cut to a relaxed fit, it features a funnel neck for added warmth, a half-zip fastening, two zip pockets for your essentials, and a drawstring hem for an adjustable fit.”
Retailing for just €15, it’s a piece you will keep turning to all year long.
The cosy fleece, available in sizes XS to XXL, comes in a midnight purple or grey-pink combination.
It’s the perfect fleece for lounging or keeping cosy on walks.
The fashion giant has also dropped the eye-catching Helen Steele Animal Print Hoodie.
The hoodie is priced at just €35 and comes in sizes XS to XL.
The retailer said: “For casual wear, lounging, relaxing, and layering with active wear.”
“Feel: Soft and cosy.” Function: Combines trend with comfort, with stylish print all over.
“This style features a hood with drawstrings and two side pockets.
“Brought to you by Irish designer Helen Steele, exclusively for Dunnes Stores.”
The pink, orange and cream hoodie is easily styled with leggings or jeans depending on the occasion.
DUNNES Stores opened its first store on Patrick Street in Cork in 1944 - and it was an instant hit.
Shoppers from all over the city rushed to the store to snap up quality clothing at pre-war prices in Ireland’s first ‘shopping frenzy’.
During the excitement, a window was forced in and the police had to be called to help control the crowds hoping to bag founder Ben Dunne’s ‘Better Value’ bargains.
Dunnes later opened more stores in the 1950s and began to sell groceries in 1960 – starting with apples and oranges.
The retailer said: “Fruit was expensive at the time and Ben Dunne yet again offered Better Value than anyone else in town.
“Over time, our food selection has grown and that spirit of good value has remained strong.
“Now we offer a wide range of carefully-sourced foods from both local Irish suppliers and overseas.”
The retailer’s first Dublin store opened its doors in 1957 on Henry Street and a super store on South Great Georges Street was unveiled in 1960.
They added: “In 1971, our first Northern Irish store opened, and many others soon followed.
“Expansion continued in the 1980s in Spain, and later into Scotland and England.”
Dunnes now has 142 stores and employs 15,000 people.
TWO Eastenders stars “had a secret years long romance” that they hid from fans.
New reports claim Danelle Harold and Max Bowden, who played Lola Pearce and Ben Mitchell on the BBC favourite, kept their relationship under wraps and away from the public eye.
However, even though they have now split, their relationship has suddenly come to light – sparked after they unfollowed each other on Instagram last week.
A source told Daily Mail: “Danielle and Max dated for a number of years.
“Of course, it was known among the EastEnders cast and everyone thought they were sweet together.
“Their relationship hasn’t ended on the best terms, and they have even unfollowed each other on Instagram.
“There are a lot of emotions after they were friends, colleagues, and romantically involved for such a long time.”
The Sun Online has contacted representatives for comment.
On the show, the pair acted frequently alongside each other, with their characters sharing a child together.
Even after leaving the soap, they had appeared on screen together for an episode of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, coinciding with EastEnders 40th anniversary.
While chatting to co-host Ishy Khan, former I’m A Celeb star Danielle spoke about her former co-star and best friend and praised: “We’re really close, really close.
“It’s nice to do something fun. With EastEnders, our storylines are really heavy and really sad.”
Max added: “We did some really dark and beautiful storylines together so we’ve spent a lot of time in each other’s pockets, which is why we’re so comfortable with each other.”
Danielle, who joined the soap in 2011, left the soap in 2023 after a devastating brain tumour storyline that saw Lola die, but continued to have sporadic appearances via videos her character left behind.
Max joined the soap in 2019 as the sixth actor to play Ben on the Square, and left the show as well in 2024.
In the soap, he was written out after being extradited to America after being caught out in a credit card fraud.
He had previously been in the States in a bid to find medical care Lola needed to stop her from dying.
His exit was swift, with characters revealing he had left during a chat in the café, saying he had pleaded guilty to the charges against him.
Max had previously dated Shona McGarty, who plays Whitney on EastEnders, but the pair split after just six months in 2022.
He has a son, Reginald, from a past relationship with insurance exec Roisin Buckle, but the pair split in 2022.
ASHANTI has revealed her ‘overwhelming’ experience as a mom as she embraces motherhood for the very first time.
The Grammy-winning singer recently welcomed her first son with husband Nelly, marking a brand new chapter in the couple’s lives.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun the singer, 44, opened up about motherhood: “Sometimes it gets a little bit overwhelming just because I’m so infatuated with my baby.
“I would prefer to just spend every day, all day with him.
“So sometimes when I have to leave and come back or if I’m doing Zoom calls, I’d rather be in there hanging out.
She continued: “You definitely have to balance it out because it’s important to remain who you are and keep your individuality, that’s some advice that I had heard and taken from a few moms.
“Don’t get lost too much in your child or your husband for that matter.
“But, you still have to maintain and keep alive who you are and continue to build and prosper.”
Ashanti first met her now-husband Nelly, 50, at a Grammy Awards press conference in 2003 and began dating shortly after.
In 2009, rumours circulated that the couple had called it quits.
They squashed the chatter when they attended rapper TI’s wedding the following year.
After 10 years of dating, Nelly and Ashanti eventually split in 2013.
Fast forward 10 years later to February 2023, rumours began circulating that the exes had rekindled their relationship after fans spotted clues on social media.
They further fuelled rumours that they were back together that April when they were seen together at a boxing match in Las Vegas, holding hands as they left the venue.
Nelly confirmed that he and Ashanti were an item again during an interview in September 2023.
Ashanti and Nelly announced that they were expecting a child in April 2024, and it was later revealed that the couple secretly tied the knot months earlier.
Ashanti revealed her pregnancy news in April through a comedy skit starring her mom.
The Rain on Me singer shared that she and Nelly were expecting their first child in the comedic Instagram video.
The video showed the singer about to take the stage as her mother, Tina Douglas, asked her how long it would be until show time.
Ashanti walked through the curtains with a pregnancy test, saying she would need “about nine months.”
The video was captioned, “Baby, baby, baby, baby,” a nod to her classic 2002 hit, which she circled back to in her birth announcement.
The birth of their son Kareem marks Ashanti’s first and Nelly’s fifth.
The mom-of-one keeps her son’s life private, not sharing pictures of the soon to be one-year-old.
Now, the singer is set to take the UK by storm this April with her biggest tour here yet alongside global superstar Sean Paul.
The legendary duo will unite for their highly anticipated Bring It Tour, hitting 13 cities up and down the UK and Ireland.
Since her rise to fame in the early 2000’s Ashanti has sold over 15 million records, across six studio albums and is also a songwriter and actress.
As a teenager she signed to Def Jam and was featured on Fat Joe’s What’s Luv and Ja Rule’s Always on Time – two of the biggest hits of 2002.
The singer then released her debut album, which went triple platinum with its hit No.1 single Foolish.
Speaking on her upcoming tour, she admitted: “It’s always great to travel and come over overseas and just get the love from the UK.
“It’s always a great feeling, the energy is always great and this is going to be my first time, being a mom and being on the road.”
MIKEL ARTETA says Arsenal will give up on the Prem title “over my dead body”.
And the Gunners boss admits this gruelling season of injuries and suspensions is one of his “proudest moments” at the club – because it could have left them in MID-TABLE.
Prem leaders Liverpool have one hand on the title with an 11-point gap on second-placed Arsenal after Arteta’s men slumped to a 1-0 home defeat to West Ham last weekend.
Barring an unprecedented collapse from Arne Slot’s Reds with 12 games left, Arsenal are on course for a THIRD successive year as the top flight nearly boys.
Yet ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Nottingham Forest, asked if the title race is over, Arteta said: “Over my dead body.
“You cannot control [Liverpool’s lead]. At the end, you’re going to have to set a certain number of points to win in this league.
“And we’re going to have to hit that number if we’re going to have any chance of doing that. But we’re certainly going to continue to try.
“If not, I’ll go home. Mathematically, it’s possible. You are there, you have to play every game. Suddenly, three days ago, we could close the gap and you are one and a half games away.
“It doesn’t matter. We have to continue to go. The players know, especially because we’ve been in the other position recently and we know how quickly things can change.
“You have to be there and we all deserve to continue in that fight.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
“The thing is that when you are there, you want more and you want more and you want more. And I’m not going to stop. Over my dead body.
“We’ll put everything that we possibly can to increase the probability of us winning and being better than the opponent and hitting that performance and those standards constantly, regardless of what happens.
“The difficulty is higher than three days ago. But if you want to win the Premier League, you’re going to have to do something special.
“You’re going to have to win with the circumstances that we have. You’re probably going to have to do something that nobody else has done in the history of the Premier League.”
Despite their drop-off in the title race, Arteta insists he remains proud of what his team have achieved so far this campaign – in the Prem and in Europe.
The Spaniard cited the fact that from November 9, 2024 to February 16, 2025, Arsenal matched Liverpool with 10 wins and five draws, with an identical goal difference of +23.
And that run included injuries to the key figures like Ben White, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli, as well as two red cards to Myles Lewis-Skelly, alongside the reds also picked up by Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and William Saliba earlier in the season.
They are also in the Champions League last 16 – facing PSV next week – having finished third in the brand new league phase format, just two points behind winners Liverpool.
Arteta continued: “It’s been extremely consistent for the last three and a half months, considering everything that we’ve been through.
“So, if somebody tells you at the start of the season, by this time, you have played five times with a red card over half an hour in each of those games, and you have lost this amount of players, what’s the bet?
“You are in the middle of the table, at least, you know, and you are out of the Champions League.
“That’s not the situation. So that tells you the resilience, the resources, the ambition that the team has, every individual has and that has been probably one of my proudest moments, in that sense.”
MYLES Lewis-Skelly’s second red card of 2025 appeared to put the final nail in Arsenal’s title dreams and any chances of them catching Liverpool.
The Gunners lost 1-0 to West Ham and failed to respond to Jarrod Bowen’s opener on the brink of half-time.
The Hammers’ wall stood firm as Arsenal registered just two shots on target before Lewis-Skelly’s last-man foul on Mohammed Kudus was upgraded to a red after ref Craig Pawson went to the monitor.
And Liverpool fans will breathe a sigh of relief given their recent dip in form as Arsenal remain EIGHT points behind Arne Slot’s men.
Here SunSport’s Charlie Wyett rates every Arsenal player from the Emirates Stadium.
DAVID RAYA – 5
Declan Rice indicated to Raya that he expected him to come off his line to deal with the cross for the goal.
Maybe he had a point but ultimately, Raya was let down by his defenders.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 6
West Ham did not offer much of a threat down their left so Timber had a reasonably comfortable game while he did try and get forward.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 6
Was ordered by Mikel Arteta to push forward more in the second half when Arsenal had possession and in the closing stages, seemed to spend more of his time in West Ham’s area.
GABRIEL MAGALHAES – 5
Switched off for the Bowen goal but he was not the only one.
Also found the impressive Kudus tough to handle when he cut inside.
Guilty of delivering an abysmal cross late in the game when Arsenal needed a bit of quality.
RICCARDO CALAFIORI – 4
A poor performance. Given the nod ahead of Lewis-Skelly but badly at fault for the opening goal as he did not get close enough to Aaron Wan-Bissaka who delivered the cross to Bowen.
Was replaced after he kept losing the ball.
DECLAN RICE – 5
Not a day he will want to remember against his former club and he got plenty of stick from West Ham’s fans, as you would expect.
Wasted one chance before the break and failed to track Bowen for the goal. Substituted shortly into the second half which was a surprise.
THOMAS PARTEY – 5
A sluggish performance from Partey whose passing was also poor. Lucky not to be replaced.
ETHAN NWANERI – 6
Had a fascinating battle with West Ham teenager Ollie Scaries, who was making his first Premier League start.
Nwaneri was excellent at Leicester but had less success against his fellow youngster although still had some bright moments.
But, at least he has a bit of a spark unlike some of his more experienced team-mates. The 17-year-old sparked concern when he came off injured in the final 10.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 5
Not having his best season at Arsenal.
This was the sort of game Arsenal needed their captain to deliver a moment of inspiration but he failed to do so.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 5
Not a surprise that he was not used as a false nine like that disastrous experiment against Leicester.
But he had no joy against the impressive Wan-Bissaka.
MIKEL MERINO – 5
Was the two-goal hero in his first ever appearance as a substitute striker at Leicester but had no success against West Ham’s well-drilled defence.
He looked lost out there as the makeshift No 9.
SUBS:
Myles Lewis-Skelly (for Calafiori 56 minutes) – 4
Got a red card – Arsenal’s fifth of the campaign – and although he was a long way out could have no complaints.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (for Rice 56 minutes) – 6
Raheem Sterling (for Nwaneri 81 minutes) – N/A
Ben White (for Saliba 87 minutes) – 5
Was handed his first Premier League minutes since returning to the squad for last week’s Leicester win.
Subs not used: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji.
Friendships can be dramatic and complicated at times, and even more so when you have the added pressure of being in the public eye. The latest saga involving Taylor Swift and Blake Lively is no exception. The latter’s legal battle with Justin Baldoni is threatening her relationship with Swift, and her $30 million empire. As […]
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire