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Our jazz columnist reveals his favorite releases from 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:34 GMT

As 2023 winds down, I gaze in awe upon a particularly robust stack of jazz- and improv-oriented releases. It would be easier to compile a list of my 30 or 40 favorites, but there’s only so much space.It’s worth mentioning that most of what I found exciting was released on independent labels, and it hasn’t always been that way. While Blue Note, Impulse! and others attached to the big corporations are still releasing creative music, it’s the scrappy little guys who will truly fill your mind with the joy of discovery. Thank you to Pi Recordings, ESP-Disk, Pyroclastic Records and more for keeping the flame burning this past year.Kris Davis, “Diatom Ribbons Live At The Village Vanguard” (Pyroclastic)Kris Davis, “Diatom Ribbons Live At The Village Vanguard” (Pyroclastic): Davis follows through on her remarkable promise as a pianist, composer and bandleader with a double-length set recorded on-stage, even though the samples and other sonic additions are typically mo...

1 killed, 2 hospitalized in fatal Aurora crash Sunday night

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:34 GMT

One person died and two others were hospitalized after a fatal, single-vehicle crash in southeast Aurora on Sunday night.Aurora officers responded to reports of a crash at East Pinewood Drive and South Wheatlands Parkway just after 9 p.m. Sunday, according to a post from the police department on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.The intersection is located in Aurora’s Wheatlands neighborhood, across from the Wheatlands Community Park.When officers arrived on scene, they found three victims. One person died from their injuries at the scene, and paramedics transported two others to the hospital, police stated on social media. The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office will identify the victim.The crash investigation team determined that a Mazda SUV carrying two adult, male passengers and an adult, male driver was traveling northbound on South Wheatlands Parkway at a high rate of speed when it struck the median and rolled several times, coming to rest on th...

Driving on the PCH in Malibu is about to change

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:34 GMT

An ambitious multi-million-dollar project begins Monday to improve safety and traffic flow along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, including the area where four Pepperdine University students were killed in a crash in October.As part of the “Traffic Signal Synchronization Project,” crews will install communication lines between existing traffic signals on the PCH between John Tyler Drive and Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Officials said this will allow signals to be controlled remotely by Caltrans to lower speeds and reduce congestion.The Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. (Getty Images)“The new equipment will capture real-time traffic data and send it to the traffic signal controllers, which will use state-of-the art software to adjust the traffic signal timing to actual traffic volume,” the City of Malibu said on its website. “Vehicles going the speed over the speed limit will encounter red lights, while those going the speed limit will encounter green lights.”The project ...

Lower heating costs expected after 'shockingly high' bills of last winter

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:34 GMT

It's finally starting to cool down in Southern California, and as people turn on their heaters, they can do so knowing that this year likely won't hurt their pocketbooks like gas bills did last winter.In January, a lengthy period of cold temperatures drove natural gas prices up, resulting in "shockingly high" gas bills for many. This year, however, gas bills are expected to be lower, "due, mainly, to lower natural gas prices," according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. ‘Shockingly high’ gas bill headed your way: SoCalGas In the West region, which includes California, average winter natural gas costs are expected to fall from $843 last year to $590 this year. Percentage-wise, it's the steepest decline of any area of the country."Our forecast of regional winter natural gas expenditures declines by 30% in the West, more than in any other U.S. region, because we forecast less winter natural gas consumption in that region and lower natural gas prices," the EIA said.The U....

3 California cities ranked among the 'most fun' in U.S.

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:34 GMT

Fun isn’t something you can scientifically measure, but that hasn’t stopped researchers at WalletHub from trying.The personal finance website has released a list of the “Most Fun Cities in America,” and three California cities, San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles made the top 20.WalletHub ranked more than 180 cities on 65 factors including the number of attractions, restaurant diversity, bars per capita, the number of amusement parks and sports venues and costs. Cities were then scored on a 100-point scale.Las Vegas ranked #1 with a score of 71.38 followed by Orlando (62.42), Miami (55.91) and Atlanta (55.73). San Francisco landed at number five with 53.35 points.“Sin City is known for partying, and it’s one of the only cities in our study where public drinking is allowed in most or all places – whether that’s a plus or not will depend on your personality, though,” WalletHub said in its report. “When it comes to activities, Vegas unsurprisingly has the largest number of casinos...

Bruce Olsen Dies in Pedestrian Collision on State Route 308 [Kitsap County, WA]

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:34 GMT

61-Year-Old Motorcyclist Fatally Struck in Deadly Accident near Vincent RoadKITSAP COUNTY, WA (December 4, 2023) – Bruce Olsen died Wednesday night in a pedestrian crash on eastbound State Route 308 near Vincent Road. The incident occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m., on November 15th.Per reports, Olsen was involved in a motorcycle collision earlier in the day. Later, he returned to the scene to retrieve some of the debris when he was hit by a Honda CRV. The 35-year-old woman driving the Honda remained in the area and cooperated with the investigation. Police say impairment was not involved.Paramedics took 61-year-old Olsen to Harborview Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. Once available, more details will be provided.No words can mend the broken hearts and sorrow felt during this delicate moment. Deepest condolences and sympathies are with the family and friends of Bruce Olsen.If a family member has been killed in a pedestrian accident, please contact Sweet Jame...

Susan Rynas Fatally Struck in DUI Collision on West Charleston Boulevard [Las Vegas, NV]

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:34 GMT

81-Year-Old Woman Pronounced Dead after DUI Accident near South Merialdo LaneLAS VEGAS, NV (December 4, 2023) – Susan Rynas lost her life in a collision Sunday afternoon caused by a driver under the influence on West Charleston Boulevard. The incident occurred shortly before 2:00 p.m. near South Merialdo Lane.According to reports, the 80-year-old driver of a Toyota Corolla was traveling east on Charleston and attempted a left turn onto Merialdo Lane. Meanwhile, Fahid Amin, a 35-year-old driver, was speeding westward, leading to a collision between the two vehicles. Medics later pronounced the 81-year-old female passenger, Rynas, deceased at the scene.Emergency responders transported the Toyota driver to UMC Trauma with moderate injuries. During preliminary procedures, law enforcement officers observed signs of impairment in Amin. Consequently, he faced charges of suspicion of DUI. The LVMPD’s Collision Investigation Section is now overseeing the ongoing investigation.No words ...

Former US diplomat charged with spying for Cuba for decades

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:34 GMT

By Joshua Goodman and Eric Tucker | Associated PressMIAMI — A former American diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Bolivia has been charged with serving as a secret agent for Cuba’s intelligence services dating back decades, the Justice Department said Monday.Newly unsealed court papers allege that Manuel Rocha engaged in “clandestine activity” on Cuba’s behalf since at least 1981, including by meeting with Cuban intelligence operatives and providing false information to U.S. government officials about his travels and contacts.The complaint, filed in federal court in Miami, charges Rocha with crimes including acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government and provides a vivid case study in what American officials say are long-standing efforts by Cuba and its notoriously sophisticated intelligence services to target government officials who can be flipped.The 73-year-old Rocha, who was arrested at his Miami home Friday, was due in court later Monday a...

Strong atmospheric rivers are expected to wallop the Northwest with heavy rain and snow

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:34 GMT

By Allison Chinchar and Sara Tonks | CNNMultiple atmospheric rivers are expected to roll across the northwestern US over the next few days, bringing heavy rain, feet of snow and strong winds.In total, more than half a dozen western states are under some type of winter weather alert Sunday, as these atmospheric rivers spread from Washington and Oregon eastward into Colorado and Wyoming.An atmospheric river (AR) is a plume of moisture that helps carry saturated air from the tropics to higher latitudes, delivering unrelenting rain or snow.“The Winter Storm Severity Index (WSSI) shows major Impacts are possible in the highest elevations of the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies, likely causing hazardous to even impossible travel conditions in these impacted areas,” the Weather Prediction Center cautioned.At least 5 to 10 inches of rainfall is forecast along the coastal areas of Oregon, Washington and northwestern California. For higher elevations, as much as 1 to 3 feet of snow is expect...

Agent for pro-Harry and Meghan author shared book draft naming ‘royal racists’: report

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:19:34 GMT

A new report says that the agent for author Omid Scobie sent a Dutch publisher an earlier draft of his controversial new book “Endgame,” which identified King Charles and Kate Middleton as the two royals who allegedly expressed concern about the skin color of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son, Archie.The Times U.K. said that Scobie’s agent, United Talent Agency, also sent the Dutch publisher, Xander Uitgevers, a later, final version, which did not contain the names. Nonetheless, the Dutch translators apparently based the book’s Dutch-language interpretation on the earlier version, which contained the names of the king and the Princess of Wales, and that version was released in the Netherlands and Belgium last week.The Times report appears to answer some questions in the international mystery that erupted last week with the publication of Scobie’s book, whose Dutch-language version has once again thrust the British royal family into the center o...