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Opinion: Casa Bonita’s decision on tipping makes good sense in a world gone mad with tipflation

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

To tip or not to tip: that is the question. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the wilting gaze of the clerk or to tip everyone everywhere to allay the guilt and satisfy all. I’m going to ask my AP English teacher Carol Samson if I got the iambic pentameter right. Either way, this is the question many are asking this summer while eating out, ordering in, at the drive-through, or even at retail shops.Like anyone who has ever worked in the service industry, I definitely tip and for exceptional service, I enjoy tipping beyond the customary amount. It feels good. Back in my waitressing and pizza delivery days, 10% was the norm. Today it’s 18-20% and some credit card machines suggest 22% or even 25%.Sometimes a tip charge is added to the bill automatically. That’s understandable in the case of large groups which demand more time of wait staff and may under-tip as members dicker over the check. The “gratuity included,” however, makes the charge feel less like a tip for good s...

Co-operation key to releasing Central Asia’s green energy potential

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

The Central Asian states have been moving rapidly up the EU’s political agenda. The process has been taken to the next level by the Brussels Energy Club, with the European capital’s first ever conference on energy security and sustainability in the entire Central Asia region, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.Opening the high-level conference, the Principal Representative of the Brussels Energy Club, Marat Terterov, said Central Asia has come out of the shadows. One of the fastest growing areas of the world, both economically and demographically, had arrived. Acknowledging that much of Europe’s focus has been on the region as an east-west trade route and as a source of oil and gas, Mr Terterov said that it was time to not only look through the prisms of connectivity, transportation and conventional energy.In the sign that the EU’s attention to Central Asia is fully reciprocated, all five countries had a strong diplomatic presence at the conference, including four ambassadors. Kaza...

The FBI took her $40K and kept it for more than 2 years. She wants to make sure the 'mind-boggling' seizures end

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

To the average passerby, the strip mall in the 9100 block of Olympic Boulevard in Beverly Hills must look like yet another nondescript shopping center in an area full of them. But if one Los Angeles County woman is successful, what happened there in March 2021 will forever change the way federal law enforcement operates.Linda Martin was one of hundreds of people who had the contents of their safety deposit boxes confiscated by the FBI when it raided U.S. Private Vaults.Federal agents were looking for evidence that the company was helping criminals hide drugs, cash and other valuables. The company pleaded guilty last year to a federal money laundering charge.But while not everyone who stored their property in the vaults was participating in criminal activity, everyone with at least $5,000 in cash or goods had their assets seized by the FBI.The Los Angeles Times reported that agents took more than $86 million in cash, plus gold, silver, jewelry, rare coins and luxury watches made by R...

Manhole cover explosion forces evacuations

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

Several businesses in Los Angeles’ Mission Hills neighborhood were evacuated Thursday morning due to an explosion involving a manhole cover, officials said.The city fire department responded to Sepulveda Boulevard just north of the 118 Freeway around 8 a.m. where they found smoke coming from a manhole in front of the famous Bear Pit Bar-B-Q restaurant.Los Angeles fire and utility crews responded to an explosion along Sepulveda Boulevard in Mission Hills. July 13, 2023. (KTLA)Transportation and utility crews blocked southbound lanes of Sepulveda and several parking lots, creating a safety perimeter that encompassed the Bear Pit and a CoCo's Bakery, according to Sky5 reporter Rich Prickett.No injuries were reported, and the cause of the explosion was not immediately known.

LeBron James confirms he will play another season

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

LeBron James will play another season for the Los Angeles Lakers.The 38-year-old superstar announced his intentions on stage at The ESPYS on Wednesday night after accepting the record-breaking performance award for becoming the NBA's career scoring leader.At the end of last season, in which he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's mark, James had said he wasn't sure if he would be back.“In that moment I’m asking myself if I can still play without cheating the game. Can I give everything to the game still? The truth is I’ve been asking myself this question at the end of the season for a couple years now. I just never openly talked about it,” James said.LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts prior to game four of the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on May 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)“I don’t care how many more points I score or what I can and cannot do on the floor. The real question for me is can I play without cheat...

Woman Seriously Injured After Hit-and-Run Crash near 29th Avenue [Anthem, AZ]

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

83-Year-Old Woman Badly Hurt after Fatal Vehicle Hit Near Desert Hills DriveANTHEM, AZ (July 13, 2023) – Sunday morning, a hit-and-run crash near 29th Avenue left one woman with injuries.The incident happened on June 25th at around 6:40 a.m. when a pickup truck slammed into an 83-year-old woman.According to the authorities, the woman was walking along the area when the pickup truck, suspected as a black 2017 to 2022 Chevrolet Colorado or GMC Canyon, hit her.Furthermore, the old woman suffered extreme injuries and was rushed to the hospital where she was listed in a critical state.Consequently, the officers have determined that the pickup truck obtained damage to the passenger side, including the side mirror.At this time, there were no leads on the whereabouts of the suspect and further investigation is still ongoing.Any witnesses are urged to contact the MCSO at (602) 876-TIPS or (602) 876-1011 and reference report IR23-016473.A driver must stop when involved in an accident th...

Alyssa Taylor Sandoval Arrested after Fatal DUI Crash on Elkhorn Boulevard [Sacramento, CA]

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

Man, and Woman Killed in Pedestrian-Auto Collision Near North HighlandsSACRAMENTO, CA (July 13, 2023) – Police arrested Alyssa Taylor Sandoval following a DUI crash on Elkhorn Boulevard that left two pedestrians fatally injured.The fatal collision happened around 8:30 p.m. at the 5100 block of Elkhorn Boulevard near North Highlands.According to CHP, a Honda Civic was traveling east on Elkhorn at “an unsafe speed for traffic conditions”.Subsequently, the driver swerved into the sidewalk and hit two pedestrians, believed to be a man and a woman in their 50s or 60s.Responding emergency personnel declared the two victims dead at the scene. At the same time, authorities arrested and booked the Honda driver in county jail for suspected DUI.The suspect was later identified as 20-year-old Alyssa Taylor Sandoval of North Highlands.Sacramento officials continue to investigate the Elkhorn Boulevard DUI crash.Sweet James sends out their warm and sincerest sympathies go out to the friends ...

2 Teen Girls Injured in Hit-and-Run Collision on 23rd Avenue [Phoenix, AZ]

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

Two Girls Hospitalized after Hit-and-Run Accident near Northern AvenuePHOENIX, AZ (July 13, 2023) – Early Monday morning, two teenage girls were injured in a hit-and-run collision on 23rd Avenue.The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m., near Northern Avenue on June 12th.According to reports, officers attempted to perform a traffic stop on a suspected stolen vehicle in an apartment complex. However, the driver failed to stop and sped down Butler Drive.The suspect then ran through a stop sign on 19th Avenue and slammed into a block wall, a metal fence, and a fire hydrant.Medical personnel arrived and located two teenage girls suffering from serious injuries. Paramedics transported them both to a nearby hospital for further treatment.At this time, the suspect is still at large. An active investigation to determine further information is still currently underway. Once available, more details will be provided about the hit-and-run collision on 23rd Avenue.A driver must stop and take...

Itania Unutoataleni Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash on Interstate 5 [Bakersfield, CA]

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

45-Year-Old Twentynine Palms Woman Killed in Three-Vehicle Collision near Twisselman RoadBAKERSFIELD, CA (July 13, 2023) – Wednesday morning, a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 claimed the life of Itania Unutoataleni.Officers responded to the collision on July 5th, at around 7:24 a.m., along the northbound Interstate 5, just north of Twisselman Road.Upon arrival, the CHP learned that a 2008 International semi-truck was traveling behind a 2023 Dodge Caravan towing a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder.According to the investigators, the truck driver failed to stop and hit the back of the Nissan. The impact sent the Nissan into the right shoulder and into the dirt embankment where it overturned. Police said the 45-year-old passenger of the Nissan was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle.The truck then continued moving forward and rear-ended the Dodge Caravan.Due to the impact of her injuries, the passenger that was ejected from the Nissan died from her injuries. The Ker...

Mark Lupercio Dead after DUI Crash on Interstate 80 [Elko, NV]

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:00:02 GMT

61-Year-Old Impaired Driver Dies in Solo-Vehicle Collision near Mile Marker 301 on Interstate 80ELKO, NV (July 13, 2023) – Late Friday night, a rollover DUI crash on Interstate 80 claimed the life of Mark Lupercio.The incident took place on June 30th, at around 10:10 p.m., on Interstate 80 near mile marker 301.According to reports, Lupercio was driving a silver Ford Ranger pickup truck, with a passenger, when he made a lane change. For reasons currently unknown, Lupercio lost control of the truck and it veered into the dirt area between the off-ramp and the highway. The truck then rolled over.At the time of the crash, Lupercio was not wearing a seatbelt. As a result, he was ejected from the vehicle.Emergency crews arrived at the site of the collision shortly after and transported him to a local hospital for treatment. At the hospital, officials pronounced 61-year-old Mark Lupercio dead, due to the extent of his condition.Meanwhile, the involved passenger is reported to not hav...